"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)
Friday, May 31, 2024 - Day 152 (Through the Bible in a year readings for today:
2 Chron. 4-6; John 12:20-50)
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.
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. And as ever, THY WILL BE DONE. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
Daily Bible Reading Chart covering the entire Bible in one year.
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