By Jamin Roller
In AD 132, there was a Jewish leader named Simon bar Kokhba. He was a warrior leader who led a revolt against the Roman empire and secured temporary freedom for the Jewish people. They called him “messiah.” They printed coins with his face on them and dated them “year 1” because they believed a whole new era was starting because of him. Religious leaders said he was fulfilling Old Testament prophecies.
I don’t know this as fact, but I assume most of you reading this now, have never heard of this “messiah.” That is true because in AD 135, he died and stayed dead. He was killed by Rome and never came back to life.
There is no Christianity without resurrection. If Jesus died and stayed dead, His story would be much like all the others whose followers have falsely called their leader the messiah. Praise God that this is not how Jesus’s story ended. This is what much of 1 Corinthians 15 is about. Paul named the devastating reality of life with no resurrection, but in verse 20, He declared the truth of the resurrection with confident joy.
But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
—1 Corinthians 15:20
Jesus lives. He is our risen Lord who not only defeated death for Himself but shares His victory with all who trust Him for eternal life. That is what is meant by the “firstfruits” image that Paul used. Firstfruits are the very first crop that comes in early in harvest. If the crop was bad, it was a sign that the rest of the harvest would be the same. If the crop was good, it brought the hope that the entire harvest would be good.
Jesus’s resurrection is the firstfruits of new creation. There is a harvest of resurrection that is coming and will be just as glorious, imperishable, and eternal as the reality of our risen Lord. When Jesus returns, we will be raised and made like Him in glorified bodies that death can not touch.
Rejoicing is the most faithful response to these beautiful truths. We do not follow a false messiah whose claims were silenced by death. We are not without hope in the face of pain and death. We love and follow a risen Savior who is not only stronger than death, but He is loving enough to share his victory with us. All glory and honor and praise be to our risen Lord forever and ever.
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