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will you follow, lead, or get out of the way?

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Anticipating the First Fruits

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:20)

Barley is a grain that can be grown through the winter and harvested in the spring. God was to be given the first of all grain, but since barley was the first-harvested in any given year, it was the center of attention for the Jewish Feast of First Fruits. At this feast, the first barley sheaves of the year were presented to God in the temple. The people longingly anticipated this harvest presentation. Until the priests presented this first sheaf of barley to God, no grain could be harvested in Israel that year. After the Feast of First Fruits, the yearsÔÇÖ harvest could proceed.

The Feast of First Fruits powerfully portrays our SaviorÔÇÖs resurrection. The day when the priests presented the first fruit barley to the Lord was exactly the same day that Jesus rose from the dead! No wonder Paul would say, ÔÇ£Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.ÔÇØ

Jesus, like that barley, is the first to rise from the earth. Being the first implies that others will follow. Because of Him, other grain will be harvested, yes, because of Him; others will rise from the graves even as He did.

Lord of the harvest, we praise You for sending Your Son to be the first fruits from the dead. Amen