Wednesday 3rd May
Read 1 Corinthians 15:20-28
“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For he ‘has put everything under his feet’. Now when it says that ‘everything’ has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.” (NIVUK)
Peter wrote that Paul sometimes says things that are hard to understand (2 Peter 3:16-17). Perhaps this passage falls in that category? To grasp what Paul is saying we almost need a doctoral level understanding of eschatology (the nature of the last things)! It may be enough to appreciate what the firstfruits are. The firstfruits reflect the promise of the full harvest. If Christ is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep, and he has been raised bodily from the dead, then we too who believe in Christ will be raised bodily from the dead – the full harvest of what Christ achieved. The reason this is true is what occupies the remaining verses and it is rich and dense and just a little complicated!
The biblical allusions to creation are many and varied and far more complex than the simple proof-texting that many believers today often use to justify their decisions and beliefs. Paul is arguing that the original ‘order’ of creation has finally been restored in Jesus. This ‘order’ is hidden by the English translation but ripples repeatedly through the passage. It literally says ‘But each in order…’ (v23). The next six verses describe the nature of that order (the refrain ‘put under’…). Originally the order of creation was ‘Creator, humanity, creation’ (Genesis 1). However, at the fall that order was broken and the consequence was death (Genesis 3). The resurrection of Jesus restored order and renewed creation itself. Jesus, the human made fully in God’s image, accepted the original order ‘Creator, humanity, creation’ and did not grasp above his station (cf Philippians 2:5-11) like Adam. In doing so Jesus put everything back in its place: Creator, Jesus (the true human), those who believe in Jesus (!), creation. Paul sees that the promise of Psalm 8 has now been fulfilled. I don’t think I fully understand the complicated argument – Paul is painting with a brush the size of all scripture!
The implications of what Paul is saying though are staggering. “But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.” (v23). We may not yet fully realise it, we may still suffer and die and be frustrated, but when he comes our place in ‘the restored order’ is truly glorious – beyond our comprehension. Paul longs for the Corinthian believers, and for us, to grasp what he has grasped, to know our place and live as those who know our place…to understand that we are his glorious inheritance.
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” (Ephesians 1:18-23) (NIVUK)
