Daily devotional · March 29
Firstfruits
“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits; then at His coming, those who belong to Him. Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”
Paul makes a bold claim: Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. In farming, firstfruits are the first part of the harvest, a promise that more is coming. Because Jesus rose, death is not the end for those who belong to him. Paul contrasts Adam and Christ: through one man death came into the world, and through another man came the resurrection of the dead. He adds that Christ must reign until every enemy is put under his feet, and the last enemy to be destroyed is death. Christians across traditions celebrate this as the heart of their faith. It changes how we grieve, how we take risks, and how we face our own mortality. Today, if you have lost someone, remember that death does not have the last word. Speak that hope aloud to someone who needs to hear it.
Prayer
Risen Lord, thank You for defeating death. Fill my grief with hope. Amen.