The first fruits of those who are asleep

On Wednesday morning, while cleaning up the kitchen, I took out our leftover veggies to put in our compost pile. We till this compost of grass, leaves, and kitchen garbage into the garden each year to enrich the soil. While I was out at the garden I took the opportunity to pick some early raspberries. The berries I picked were dark red, and juicy, and sweet! I really like a good helping of raspberries. How about you? However, these are just the so-called “first fruits.” The majority of berries are still green and will need to ripen as the season progresses. I expect to have a bumper crop of berries this year because of all the sun and the rain. Thank you, Lord!

As I was munching on the berries, I thought back to a conversation I had with Temple Christiansen after worship on Sunday, August 2. She asked me about a Bible verse in 1 Corinthians where Jesus is called, “The first fruits.”

The teaching on first fruits is a complicated teaching, with different layers of meaning. The most common usage in the Bible has to do with offerings. One of the first places this idea is taught is in Exodus 23. God tells the Israelites at Sinai, 16 “Also you shall observe the Feast of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field; . . . 19 “You shall bring the choice first fruits of your soil into the house of the LORD your God.” The “first fruits” offering was one which required AND which taught faith in God’s providing. The Israelites were to take the best of their first harvest and give it to the Lord and to His workers. The first harvest was often the best, so this offering was a real sacrifice. Also, what if there was bad weather and the rest of the crop did not come in? Those first fruits which had been given to God would be even more vital. This took faith in the Lord to give this sacrificial gift, and it taught faith in His providing.

Actually, God calls on us to give our offerings in the same way. He doesn’t call us to give what is “left over.” He doesn’t want us to give our excess, or what we don’t need. When we give off the top, when we give our “first fruits,” we are showing love and faith in God. When we give first fruits, God teaches us that He does provide, and not just in material things.

But, Temple was asking me about 1 Corinthians 15 where God inspires Paul to write, “20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming,”

At first, this title for Jesus can seem a mystery. What does it mean that Jesus is “the first fruits?” Yet, when we think that first fruits have to do with gifts and offerings, we see that Jesus is God’s GIFT to the people of this world. God did not wait for us to get it together. Actually, for people born in sin, we will never totally get it together in this world. We need a Savior. So, before we respond in love and faith, God gives Jesus, “the first fruits of those who are asleep.” When we deserve punishment and death because of our sin, God acts in grace by sending His Son to die and rise for us. Then our Lord waits for us to respond in faith and in love.

The fact that “Christ has been raised from the dead” is good news. This is THE Gospel! God loves His creation, even when and if we do not respond. Because Jesus is “the first fruits,” our response is not a “have to.” When we “have to” do something to earn God’s love, that action becomes law, not Gospel. But, when we see the amazing grace and love of God, that He gives His only Son as “the first fruits of those who are asleep,” when we begin to understand the depth of God’s sacrifice and His love for us, then we WANT TO trust in Jesus and to follow Him. Imagine, this IS an amazing mystery and the best news we will ever hear. “Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.”

My garden is doing well. The raspberries are coming in. In fact, with all the fruits and vegetables, and with all the fish, it is easy to see how God provides. At least it is easy to see the overflowing of our Lord’s love at this point in the summer. However, imagine that, through Jesus, God also provides for our eternity. Doesn’t your heart burn within you in a desire to trust and follow Jesus, the first fruits of those who are asleep?