![[Photo of a Scripture verse]](https://www.deankwilson.com/Blog_images/1_Corinthians_15_20.jpg)
| “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” |
| —1 Corinthians 15:20 |
As a member of a group, when faced with some new situation, are you the one who steps forward to have the first go at whatever task lies ahead? Or, like me, do you tend to hang back and observe how others tackle the issue and then develop a strategy based on their success or failure?
There is something very special about those who will put themselves out there and go first. They have the joy of any initial success. And, they can comfort themselves in any failure because, after all, they took a chance and did it first.
What if the situation was such that no one could ever have possibly tackled the assignment? No one else was worthy. No one else had the necessary power. No one else had the needed persistence. No one else had the grace and perseverance. In such a case, that one would always and only become the first, and the last, to take on the challenge. And, just possibly because that one had succeeded, others would be able to follow in those footsteps. That one blunted the roadblocks, created a pathway, opened up the possibilities, and helped guarantee the success of others.
We probably don’t think about the resurrection of our Lord and Savior that way. But, Jesus was, in fact, the only one who could have ever possibly taken on the penalty for the sins of the world. He alone had the strength, the power, the necessary holiness, the sinless perfection, the persistence, and the blessing of His Father. We cannot possibly imagine the pain He felt as the weight of the sins of all humankind fell upon Him.
In His glorious resurrection, Christ opened up a pathway for us to follow in His footsteps. Just as He conquered sin, death, and Satan, so we also will become conquerors. He became the firstfruits of the glorious vine of salvation. We become the fruit of salvation, too, because He led the way.
As the Apostle Paul states in 1 Corinthians 15:20:
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
On this day, as light dawns upon the world once more, let us rejoice that our Savior is risen from the dead. Let us praise Him for the sacrifice He made in our behalf. And, let’s move forward along the pathway that He opened up for us—a pathway that leads us to eternal life with Him.
