1 Corinthians 15:20-23
Jesus Christ, the first of the firstfruits, willingly gave His life so others may receive forgiveness of sin. He was a holy, sinless sacrifice, and three days later, He was the first person resurrected to eternal life! In this, He fulfilled the symbolism of the wavesheaf offering.
Earl L. Henn
Holy Days: Pentecost
Related Topics: Christ's Sacrifice
| First of the Firstfruits
| Firstborn from the Dead
| Forgiveness
| Jesus Christ's Sacrifice
| Wavesheaf
| Wavesheaf Offering
Jesus Christ, the first of the firstfruits, willingly gave His life so others may receive forgiveness of sin. As a holy, sinless sacrifice, He was resurrected three days later to eternal life, fulfilling the symbolism of the wavesheaf offering. Paul presents the type and anti-type here: the type is the firstfruits of the harvest, while the anti-type is Christ's resurrection as the first and epitome of God's spiritual harvest. Stated plainly in verse 23, "Christ the firstfruits." Believers too are firstfruits, but He is the first of the firstfruits, just as the wave sheaf is cut and waved before God. The rest of the harvest occurs some 2,000 years later. The symbol, the grain offering, must match the spiritual reality.