January 30, 2020 - THE FIRSTFRUITS

Day 30 - (Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 45:1-13; Psalm 28; John 12:12-26)

THE FIRSTFRUITS

And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12:23-24 ESV)

“Verse 24 emphasizes the necessity of Jesus’ death as the way to glorification and the blessing of many disciples. According to the time reckoning in John, Jesus rose from the dead on the 16th of  Nisan, the day barley firstfruits were offered in the temple.” (Concordia Study Bible, CPH 2009, page 1806).

St. Paul connected Jesus’ resurrection to firstfruits this way: “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:20 ESV)

What comfort we have in the fact that Jesus is the seed that died and bore eternal fruit on Easter. Now, because Jesus lives, you, too, will live.  

God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus; 
He came to love, heal, and forgive.
He lived and died to buy my pardon; 
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.
Because He lives I can face tomorrow; 
Because He lives all fear is gone; 
Because I know He holds the future, 
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
(“Because He Lives,”  The Other Son Book 11, vs 1)

Lord Jesus, thank you for dying and rising for me. May I always remember to find comfort in the fact that You are the firstfruits of all who die in the faith.  Amen.

Pastor David Paape 

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2019 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!