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1 Corinthians

Listen: 1 Corinthians 15: 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came by a man, the resurrection of the dead also is going to come by a man. 22 For as in Adam they all die, so also in Christ they all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ as the firstfruits and then Christ’s people, at his coming. (EHV)

哥林多前书：15:20-23: 20但基督已经从死里复活，成为睡了之人初熟的果子。21死既是因一人而来，死人复活也是因一人而来。22在亚当里众人都死了；照样，在基督里众人也都要复活。23但各人是按着自己的次序复活，初熟的果子是基督，以后在他来的时候，是那些属基督的。

       保罗称耶稣为睡了之人初熟的果子。我还记得小时候，我的母亲在一大块地上种上草莓。到了六月，我们简直等不及草莓成熟，因为我母亲总是用草莓和冰激凌做松饼。我知道在商店我们也能买到大个的加利福尼亚草莓，但是在花园里能听到成熟草莓敲打葡萄树叶的声音。我们这些孩子每天都会到地里寻找第一颗成熟的草莓。它能让你品尝到即将到来的收成的滋味。

       耶稣是睡了之人初熟的果子。他的复活让我们品尝到我们将来复活的美好滋味。保罗在给腓立比人的书信中说（腓立比书3:21），我们卑贱的身体将被改变形状，以和他荣耀的身体相似。耶稣和门徒们一起坐席，他们触摸他。他有一个真实的身体，但却是为天堂预备的，毫无我们这些必死之人充满的污秽。约翰写到（约翰一书3: 2）：“我们必要像他，因为必得见他的真体。”亚当带给我们的是死亡，耶稣带给我的却是复活。

       复活也改变了我们对今生的看法。当我们上了年纪，身体也日渐衰残。这是一个痛苦的经历，因为人们将所有的指望放在今生。活到四十就很不容易，活到五十如同经历一场危机，活到六十就等于活了四分之三，而且还是你足够幸运的话。这是多么令人沮丧啊！但是，如果我们知道我们有复活的生命，不会衰残朽坏的生命，我又该怎样活呢？我会利用上帝给我的力量尽量活好上帝给我的每一天。但我不会仅仅指望今生，因为我知道我的盼望在于复活。

祷告：仁慈的耶稣，复活的主，我盼望末日复活的那天，我衰残朽坏的身体将会重新完美无缺。我最想感谢你的是，藉着你从死里复活，我确信我的罪得到完完全全的赦免！阿们。

Paul calls Jesus the “firstfruits” of those who have fallen asleep. I remember when I was a child and my mother had a huge strawberry patch. In June, we couldn’t wait for the berries to become ripe, because my mother always made shortcake with strawberries and ice cream. I know we can buy those great big California berries in the store, but nothing beats the vine ripened berries in the garden. As children, we would go out to the patch daily to look for the first ripe berry. It gave you a taste of what was yet to come.

Jesus is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  His resurrection gives us a wonderful taste of what it will be like for us. Paul wrote to the Philippians (3:21) that our bodies will be transformed to become like his glorious body. Jesus ate with his disciples. They touched him. He had a real body, but it was made for heaven without the corruption that these mortal bodies contain.  “We will be like him, for we shall see him as he is,” John wrote (1 John 3:2).  Adam gave us death, but Jesus gives us life.

Which changes our perspective on this life as well. As we age, our bodies wear out. That can be traumatic for people, if they think that this life is all they are going to get. Forty is traumatic. Fifty is over the hill. Sixty means your three quarters done, if you are lucky. How depressing! But if we know we have life in the resurrection, life that won’t fade, so what of this life of mine?  I will make the most of every day that God gives me with the strength that God gives me. But I will not put my hope in this life, because my hope is in the resurrection. 

Prayer:   Gracious Savior, risen Lord, I look forward to that day when this rusted out body of mine will be made whole and perfect in the resurrection on the last day.  And most of all, thank you for making sure my complete forgiveness by your resurrection from the dead!  Amen.