Christmas Advent Bible Reading Plan: Jesus Is BornSample

To Be the Firstfruits of the Resurrection

How many times today have you gotten annoyed at a webpage that took more than five seconds to download? Do you know someone who gets annoyed when a fast food drive-through takes more than two minutes to get through, complaining of slow service? I mean, not you; you’re too spiritual for that. In a society that demands instant gratification, patience does not come naturally to us. And then we are posed with the timeline of Jesus - from the promise to his birth, death, resurrection and His promised return. It’s really anything but instant.

Life can be painful. We send our loved ones back to the dust. We grieve and weep with others in mourning (Romans 12:15). We fight against death with everything we have because death wasn’t supposed to be. Death can be bittersweet for the Christian because it reminds us of the mercy that awaits every believer: resurrection.

Jesus stood by the weeping sisters of Lazarus and told them so. “I am the resurrection and the life,” He said. “The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25–26). Martha confessed that she did believe (v.27), and Jesus then raised her brother from death, though not as a result of Martha’s faith.

Not long after that, Jesus died too, but three days later, He rose again, the first fruits of the promised resurrection of all believers (1 Corinthians 15:20). To be honest, sometimes this can be a hard concept to wrap our heads around. However, the resurrection of Jesus is a pinnacle event that our faith hinges on. It is the thing that gives us hope and life. Jesus didn’t just die. The story didn’t end in the grave. Jesus’ story kept on going, and, therefore, so does your story and mine. Because it is true, my hope in Christ is for this life and the one to come. Because of Jesus and His perfect life, death, and resurrection, I will also die and rise again.

Just as we wait for pages to load, traffic to clear, and fast food to be delivered, we also long for resurrection. (Same same, right?) Advent is an active waiting. It requires not that we sit quietly or idly but that we fight back against death by proclaiming the real end of the story: life everlasting.

Prayer

Jesus, I thank You for the power of Your resurrection. Thank You that Your story didn’t end in the grave and that mine doesn’t either. Show me how I can hold onto the promise of the resurrection in my every day. In Jesus' Name, Amen.