When I was pregnant with my first child I craved two things: Fresh grapes and orange soda. Luckily for me, we lived in California at the time, so both were readily available. I had a friend in my church choir named David who was still an active private pilot at age 80. One Sunday he arrived at the church with a large bag of grapes, freshly picked from a vineyard about 100 miles north of us. He had remembered my crazy desire for grapes and had flown up the day before to visit his friend’s vineyard and bring some back for me. It was an act of pure, sacrificial love and I have never tasted grapes that were as fresh, good, juicy, and satisfying. They tasted like sweet balls of liquid sunshine. Those grapes were the Firstfruit of the harvest of our friendship and the memory of that offering still blesses me today.

Paul likened Jesus to the Firstfruit of the harvest of those who died in our passage today. We remember from Leviticus 23:9-14 that the nation of Israel was directed to bring the Firstfruit of offering to the temple in the form of a single, perfect sheaf of wheat. This grain offering represented and anticipated the rest of the harvest and sacrifices to come. The Feast of Firstfruits was established to be observed on the day after the sabbath following Passover as a reminder to the people that everything they had was a provision given by God. Returning back to God a small but flawless portion of the harvest fruits was a way of demonstrating their appreciation for God’s goodness in all things. 

1 Corinthians 15:20-24 (Common English Bible)

²⁰ But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead. He’s the first crop of the harvest of those who have died. ²¹ Since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead came through one too. ²² In the same way that everyone dies in Adam, so also everyone will be given life in Christ. ²³ Each event will happen in the right order: Christ, the first crop of the harvest, then those who belong to Christ at his coming, ²⁴ and then the end, when Christ hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he brings every form of rule, every authority and power to an end.

Jesus’ resurrection represents the Firstfruit of the Second Coming, as Jesus will return in his resurrection body to claim those who belong to him. Not coincidentally, Jesus’ resurrection fell on the first day of the Feast of the Firstfruit.

At his Second Coming, all who are dead will rise and share in his resurrection (Romans 6:5). When all things are restored through him, our Lord will then present his Kingdom to God, bringing all earthly authority and power to an end. Oh, how we long for that day! This will fulfill God’s eternal purpose of re-establishing fellowship with God as we are gathered, heaven and earth, into one people. Finally we will be home with our Lord and under his reign.

Meanwhile, we wait. What first fruit of your resources, time, and effort can you bring to the altar? Where will you offer your gift of sacrifice so that the Kingdom of God might grow and flourish until Jesus returns? Is God calling you into the harvest?

Say yes.

Let There Be Grapes by Becca Ziegler