1 Corinthians 15:20 NKJV
“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
“When you have entered the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it, take some of the firstfruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the Lord your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name” (Deu 26:1-2 NIV). These were the words of Moses to Israel. He was guiding them about a very important command from the LORD. While the physical application of this command was about the giving of firstfruits to the LORD, the prophetic application touched the resurrection of the Messiah from the dead.
In our reference text, the Scripture says, “…now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep [are dead].” What did he mean by that? Just as the firstfruits was the first, best, and most valuable part of the harvest to be offered to the LORD, Jesus Christ is the first to rise from the dead to an immortal life. He is the “…firstborn among many brethren” (Rom 8:29 KJV). In having resurrected from the dead, Christ is the “Firstfruits” who presented Himself to God. He did that as our Representative; who are the rest of the bigger harvest (resurrection) to come on the last day. Hallelujah!
In the same way the firstfruits sanctified the rest of the harvest (Rom 11:16) and was a sure sign that the remaining bigger harvest is about, the resurrection of Jesus is a sure sign that our resurrection to an immortal life has also been secured by His. For the Scripture says, when the trumpet of God shall sound, “…the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thes 4:16-17 KJV). Therefore, Christ’s resurrection—as the Firstfruits—is proof that God is coming for the rest of the harvest soon. As the ones (in Christ) next in line for the bigger harvest, let us be found ready to meet the Lord on His soon return. Hallelujah!
Pst. Emmanuel