John has another such parable, in which the thought takes a deeper turn: «A grain of wheat remains a solitary grain
unless it falls into the
ground and dies; but if it dies, it bears a rich harvest»; 27 and then, with an echo of Luke's language about «hating» one's own life, «The man who loves himself is lost, but he who hates himself [in this world] will be kept
safe [for eternal life].»