The First Among Many

Christ is risen - He is risen indeed! That's the joyous message of Resurrection Sunday. Death couldn't hold Him down. No, He rose from the dead. But what does that triumphant truth have to do with you and me, here and now? Good question … because for many, Easter's become so routine that it can be a struggle to get excited (yet again!) about the resurrection of Jesus Christ - if He is indeed risen. 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. (NRSV) So what's this talk about "first fruits", pray tell? Think of a wheat harvest. The first golden heads that ripen early in the season are called the first fruits. Farmers rejoice because they signal that the full harvest's coming. They're a guarantee—a foretaste of what's to follow. Just as the first sheaf of wheat isn't the end but the beginning, Jesus' resurrection isn't an isolated event—it's the guarantee that many will follow. Just as the earth yields its crop in season, God will raise all who belong to Christ in His time. This isn't just a metaphor; it's a promise rooted in the rhythms of creation and fulfilled in the redemptive plan of God. The resurrection of Jesus is your sign that death has been defeated, that your harvest of resurrection life is on its way. So not only did Jesus die for you, He rose again for you, so that by faith in Him, you too will receive the gift of eternal life. Death has been defeated … for you! And that's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.