“The Firstfruits of Them That Slept” (Ready to Worship S9E9)

April 5, 2019

Ready to Worship Season 9, Episode 9 for Friday, April 5, 2019

This season on Ready to Worship, we are examining the resurrection of Christ. It is our hope that doing so will enrich our worship.
In the fifteenth chapter of First Corinthians, the resurrection chapter of the Bible, Paul gives an interesting description of Christ. He twice describes Christ as the first fruits. We read, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept…But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming” (1 Cor. 15:20, 23). The imagery that Paul employs in this passage is beautiful. On the day after the Passover, the priest raised a sheaf of grain as the firstfruits to the Lord (Lev. 23:9-14). This sheaf was proof of the complete harvest to come. True to the type, Christ was raised from the dead after the Passover sabbath (Mk. 16:9). His resurrection serves as a powerful promise of our own resurrection at the final harvest time (Mt. 13:39).
As you likely know, Christ was not the first person to be raised from the dead. In the Old Testament, a widow’s son was raised by Elijah (1 Kings 17) and a Shunamite couple’s son was raised by Elisha (2 Kings 4). In the New Testament, Jairus’ daughter (Mk. 5), the widow’s son (Lk. 7), and Lazarus (John 11) were raised by Jesús. Each of these resurrections preceded His own. Yet, Christ was the firstfruits because He was raised to never die again (Rev. 1:18). The others rose before Him, but returned to the grave. Furthermore, the others didn’t raise themselves. He did!
As we get ready to worship this week, let’s remember our Lord, the first fruits of them that slept. His resurrection allows us to gather in hope of an even greater harvest when we ourselves will be raised.