1 Corinthians 15:20-28: a reflection

20But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruit of those who are asleep. 21For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man. 22For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s at his coming. 24Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God the Father, when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 27For, “He put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when he says, “All things are put in subjection”, it is evident that he is excepted who subjected all things to him. 28When all things have been subjected to him, then the Son will also himself be subjected to him who subjected all things to him, that God may be all in all.

Paul declares the triumphant hope that flows from Christ's resurrection: because Christ is risen, death itself, the last enemy, will finally be destroyed. But now Christ has been raised from the dead, Paul says, the firstfruits of those who are asleep. And he looks to the end: the last enemy that will be abolished is death. Christ's resurrection is the firstfruits, the guarantee, of the resurrection of all who belong to him; and it sets in motion the final defeat of every enemy, including the last and greatest enemy, death itself, which will at last be abolished. Death, which seems to have the final word, will itself be destroyed. This shows the hope that death, the last enemy, will finally be destroyed through Christ. Death, the last enemy, will finally be destroyed. Christ's resurrection guarantees the final defeat of death. Death seems to have the last word, but will itself be abolished. Because Christ is risen, death's defeat is sure.

Notice the triumphant scope of the hope Paul sets out. Christ has been raised, the firstfruits; and his resurrection is not an isolated event but the beginning and guarantee of a great harvest, the resurrection of all who belong to him. Christ reigns, Paul says, until all his enemies are put under his feet; and the last enemy to be destroyed is death. Death, which seems to reign over all, which claims everyone in the end, which seems to have the final and unanswerable word, is itself an enemy that will be destroyed. Because Christ is risen, having himself conquered death, death's own final defeat is certain. This is our great hope. Death is a real enemy, and its power over us seems total; it takes those we love, and will take us, and casts its shadow over all of life. But death is not the final word. Christ has conquered it in his resurrection, and death itself will finally be destroyed, abolished forever. Those who belong to Christ will be raised, and death will be no more. We can face death, our own and others', not as those without hope, but knowing that death, the last enemy, will be destroyed, and that Christ, the risen firstfruits, guarantees it. Death is a defeated enemy that will finally be destroyed. Because Christ is risen, we have hope beyond death. Death is not the last word; it will itself be abolished. We face death knowing it is a conquered enemy.

That is worth resting in, for death, the last enemy, will finally be destroyed through Christ, whose resurrection guarantees it, so that death is not the final word. We can face death, our own and others', with the fear and hopelessness of those for whom it is the end; but Paul declares that Christ is risen, the firstfruits, and that the last enemy to be destroyed is death itself. Because Christ is risen, death's defeat is sure. When you face death and its shadow, remember that it is a conquered enemy that will finally be destroyed. Rest in the truth that death, the last enemy, will finally be destroyed through Christ, whose resurrection is the firstfruits and guarantee of the resurrection of all who belong to him, so that death is not the final word, as Paul declared that Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep, and that the last enemy to be abolished is death; for Christ's resurrection is not an isolated event but the beginning and guarantee of a great harvest, the resurrection of all who belong to him, and Christ reigns until all his enemies are put under his feet, the last being death, which seems to reign over all and claim everyone in the end and to have the final, unanswerable word, but which is itself an enemy that will be destroyed, since Christ, having conquered death in his own resurrection, guarantees death's final defeat, so that death, though a real enemy whose power over us seems total, taking those we love and casting its shadow over all of life, is not the last word but will itself be abolished forever, and we can face death, our own and others', not as those without hope but knowing it is a conquered enemy that will finally be destroyed.

Lord, Paul declares the triumphant hope that flows from Christ's resurrection: because Christ is risen, death itself, the last enemy, will finally be destroyed. But now Christ has been raised from the dead, Paul says, the firstfruits of those who are asleep. And he looks to the end: the last enemy that will be abolished is death. Christ's resurrection is the firstfruits, the guarantee, of the resurrection of all who belong to him; and it sets in motion the final defeat of every enemy, including the last and greatest enemy, death itself, which will at last be abolished. Death, which seems to have the final word, will itself be destroyed. Show me the triumphant scope of the hope Paul sets out. Christ has been raised, the firstfruits; and his resurrection is the beginning and guarantee of a great harvest, the resurrection of all who belong to him. Christ reigns until all his enemies are put under his feet; and the last enemy to be destroyed is death. Death, which seems to reign over all, which claims everyone in the end, which seems to have the final and unanswerable word, is itself an enemy that will be destroyed. Because Christ is risen, having himself conquered death, death's own final defeat is certain. This is my great hope. Death is a real enemy, and its power over me seems total; it takes those I love, and will take me. But death is not the final word. Christ has conquered it, and death itself will finally be destroyed, abolished forever. Those who belong to Christ will be raised, and death will be no more. Take that to my heart, for death, the last enemy, will finally be destroyed through Christ. When I face death and its shadow, my own and others', help me remember that it is a conquered enemy that will finally be destroyed, Lord, and face it not as one without hope but knowing that Christ, the risen firstfruits, guarantees death's defeat.