Firstfruits of Victory Over Death

Christ Triumphant - A Devotional by E.G. White

Firstfruits of Victory Over Death

Today's Text: And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Matthew 27:52, 53

The Message:      During His ministry Jesus raised the dead to life. He raised the son of the widow of Nain and Jairus' daughter and Lazarus. But these were not clothed with immortality. After they were raised they continued to be subject to death and decay. But those who came forth from the grave at Christ's resurrection were raised to everlasting life. They were the multitude of captives who ascended with Him as trophies of His victory over death and the grave....      These went into the city, and appeared unto many, declaring, "Christ has risen from the dead, and we be risen with him." Some were terrified at the sight. They bore the most undeniable evidence not only of their own resurrection, but of the resurrection of the crucified Redeemer. After His resurrection, Christ did not show Himself to any save His followers, but testimony in regard to His resurrection was not wanting. It came from various sources, [including] from the five hundred who assembled in Galilee to see their risen Lord. This testimony could not be quenched. The sacred facts of Christ's resurrection were immortalized.      Those who had been raised were presented as trophies to the heavenly universe-samples of the resurrection of all who receive and believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. They were a symbol of the final resurrection of the righteous. That same power that has raised Christ from the dead will raise His church-as His bride-and glorify it, with Christ, above all principalities, above all powers, above every name that is named, not only in this world, but in the heavenly courts, the world above....      Christ was the firstfruits of them that slept. This very scene, the resurrection of Christ from the dead, was observed in type by the Jews at one of their sacred feasts, called the feast of the Jews. They came up to the temple when the firstfruits had been gathered in, and held a feast of thanksgiving. The firstfruits of the harvest crop was sacredly dedicated to the Lord....      As Christ ascends while in the act of blessing His disciples, an army of angels encircles Him as a cloud. Christ takes with Him the multitude of captives as His trophy. He will Himself bring to the Father the firstfruits of them that slept, to present [them] to God as an assurance that He is conqueror over death and the grave.-Manuscript 115, 1897.

Commentary: My friend, the life that we have inherited from our parents is a life destined for the grave.  No matter how many good deeds we perform our destiny is the same.  The law of God was given to us that we may know God, for it is a transcript of His character, but eternal life is not in the law, for it has no power to save.  By the law is a knowledge of sin, and by this knowledge we see our great need.  As we contemplate the law of God we see the character of the great Lawgiver, and compared to our lives, we see how far ours is from His. The purpose of the law was not to condemn us but to show us our great need of a Savior, and that Savior is the Son of God.  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16).  In giving us His Son, God opened before us the treasure house of heaven.  By the law we are condemned to death, by the Son of God we find the offer of everlasting life. Jesus said "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3).  Everlasting life is from the Father, "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." (1 John 5:11).  "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;" (John 5:26).  "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" (1 Timothy 2:5). My friend, everlasting life is offered to us from the Father through the Son.  As He sent His Son to become a man and die on the cross for our sins, so by His life we may have everlasting life.  The Law reveals the character of God, but in Jesus is the fullness of God revealed.  As we look unto Jesus, we are transformed into His image, the very image of God. God bless,

Video of the Week What is Righteousness? - Nader Mansour What is righteousness according to the Bible? Does it mean right doing only? Is there something that precedes that? Why does it matter? Nader Mansour explores this important and practical topic in this study.  Presented in Toronto Canada, June 2018.