Jesus: The First Fruits of Resurrection!

Throughout the word of God, those who have died are often referred to as being asleep. Notice for example John 11:11-14: "These things [Jesus] said, and after that He said to them, 'Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.' Then His disciples said, 'Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.' However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead.'" Paul also uses sleep as a metaphor for death saying, "If Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." 1 Corinthians 15:17-20.

The ancient Jewish feasts and festivals all pointed to Christ. For more than a thousand years, at the conclusion of Passover, the people of God presented the first heads of ripened grain in a sheaf of first fruits by waving them as a thank offering before the Lord. Only then did they put in their sickles and reap the harvest of the rest of their fields. Did you know that the wave sheaf was a symbol of Jesus and His resurrection? Jesus' actual resurrection occurred on the exact day when the wave sheaf was to be presented before the Lord!!!

Jesus IS the first fruits, and His resurrection is our assurance that should we fall asleep in Him, we will be part of the final resurrection along with all who sleep in Him. He will return to gather His harvest. Today is a great day to thank God that our faith is not futile, and we are not still in our sins! Jesus is risen! "For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry!" Hebrews 10:37.