Biblical Text: John 20:1-18 and
1 Corinthians 15:20-22
“The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. [17] Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.”
1 Cor. 15:20-22
“ But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
Anyone who has ever undergone the scrutiny of the adoption process will testify that the sweetest words of the whole experience are, “The adoption is final”. From the first meeting with those in authority, to the last “inspection” and filing of all paperwork, all the “would-be” parents long to hear is that it’s over…it’s finished…the adoption is final.
This Easter morning, I want to preach to us about the spiritual adoption instituted by God and finalized by our Resurrected Savior. Those of us who have confessed Christ as our personal Savior have already experienced our final adoption into the family of God. But I wonder if we ever take the time to remember the complexity of the process…the great and awful sacrifice of God’s own flesh…that we might become the “sons of God”.
It’s Easter, and we celebrate that Christ has risen from the dead. He has become the “firstfruits of them that slept.” For centuries now, the Jewish farmer had pledged his first fruits as an offering unto God in appreciation for a bountiful harvest. The offering of the first fruit to God assured God’s blessing upon the rest of the harvest. It was the path of obedience established by God to justify His chosen people. As God’s chosen, the Jews were justified by their demonstration of faith in God, and thus they remained a part of the adoption process for centuries.
During each festival celebration, the Jews followed the path of obedience, bringing the firstfruits of their labors and their sacrificial lambs to God’s altar. The first fruits were holy to the Lord. They represented the Jews adherence to the original contract drafted by God, in His pre-ordained adoption process. “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
You see…it wasn’t the lamb or the first of the harvest that God really wanted. These were only symbolic of what God really wanted. What God really wanted was the spiritual first fruits of every soul. As the Jews wave-sheaf was the first of their harvest, so the spiritual life, and all the graces which adorn that life, are the first fruits of the Spirit of God in our souls. Note that in 2 Chronicles 7:14, the Lord speaks in the future tense….THEN will I hear….THEN will I forgive…THEN will I heal. The process of adoption would not be complete until provision would be made for every repentant heart.
And what is that provision of God? It is the sacrifice of His only Begotten Son on the Cross of Calvary, as the first fruit for all mankind. The first fruit requirement of God’s contract with His people has not changed, but the symbolic representation has changed. Jesus Christ has become the first fruit of our harvest, the first resurrection of a Man who would never die again. Eternal life is a benefit of our adoption. We celebrate this Easter morning that Christ’s resurrection guarantees that we, too, shall be raised from the dead. Romans 8:11 reminds us, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you”.
When Mary met Jesus in the graveyard garden, Jesus symbolically placed the news of the final adoption in her hands, saying “…go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God”. God, who had been HIS Father, is now OUR Father…by adoption. Christ had now become our elder brother, and the gateway to our inheritance as children of God.
1 Corinthians 15:20 confirms the completion of our adoption saying, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” Had Christ not risen from the dead, our preaching would be meaningless, our faith would be futile, our sins would be unforgiven, and we would be, of all men, most miserable.
“BUT NOW is Christ risen!” He is not dead; He is not lying as a decayed corpse in the grave. We are not living in hopeless misery. The very opposite is true. We have the greatest hope in the world, the hope of being resurrected from the dead. And the great guarantee of our resurrection is the resurrection of Jesus Christ Himself. He has risen; therefore, we shall arise. He is the first fruit—the guarantee, the seal, the assurance of our resurrection.
For those of us who have repented and accepted Christ as our Savior, our souls have been adopted! There remains only one more step in the adoption process…the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8:23 explains, “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body”. This is our FINAL INHERITANCE….eternal life. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4).
Christ has counteracted what Adam did. He has reversed the sin and death of Adam. As Adam is the pivotal point of the human race, bringing death to all mankind, so CHRIST is the pivotal point of the human race, causing life to spring out of death. While the sin of Adam brought death into the world, Jesus Christ brought the resurrection of life to the world. The sin nature we inherited from our earthly father and mother has been replaced by a new nature, an incorruptible nature…for in Christ we are all made alive!
We shout on Easter Sunday because the Lord has given us the victory over sin and death. God has finalized the adoption of our souls….but not every soul. Only those who are IN CHRIST, who have accepted Christ as their Redeemer, and entrusted their lives to a Risen Savior are adopted into the Body of Christ. Those who are “in Christ shall be made alive.”
The adoption has been made final. Christ has fulfilled and completed His purpose. He was the first to arise. He completed the work of salvation for man, so man could be saved and raised up from the dead. The thief on the cross knew that no man could save himself. That’s why he cried out, “Remember me, when though comest into thy Kingdom!” Christ had the power to conquer death and fulfill the requirements of God’s contract with His people.
Yes, we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ! But we also celebrate our own Resurrection to come. John says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live” (John 5:25). “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:28-29). And hear Jesus as He promised, “I am the Resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” (John 11:25).
Believest thou this? That’s the question for each of us this Easter morning. If we believe that Jesus died for our sins, and was raised from the dead, then it’s shouting time! “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we, which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
Believest thou this? Are you comforted by these words? Are you a member of the elect of God…the adopted sons and daughters of the Most High God? Can you cry “My Father” and “My God”?
Then find comfort in this….that Christ has been raised from the dead, and He is the first fruits of them that slept. … For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive!
He is our Ark that never leaks, and our Anchor that never shifts.
He is our Bridge, our Battle Axe and Brother.
He is our Counselor, our Conqueror, and our Champion.
He is our Faithful Friend, our Fountain, and our Feast.
He is our Good Shepherd, our Glory, and our Gain.
He is our Help, our Hope, and our Healer.
He is our Light, our Life, and our Love.
He is our Promise, our Provider, and our Protector.
He is our Rock, our Refuge and our Righteousness.
He is our True Vine, our Truth, and our Teacher.
He is our Water of Life, our Way and our Way-maker.
(Invitation)
