1 Corinthians 15:21-28 NKJV 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
Some common questions that people usually ask in this fallen world fraught with trials, suffering, tension and death are: “So, how did we get into all of this mess anyhow?” “Why is there so much suffering in the world?” Or, “Why does there have to be death?” God’s Word reveals the answer: Through one man’s disobedience, the miserableness of human suffering and death had become the common lot of all. The first Adam blew it, so, thanks be to God, a Second Adam was sent; that through the obedience of Him, then resurrection and life would come to all.
Luther, as per usual, put it so well, even concluding by using a human/animal analogy, when he wrote:
“For the main and best part of this has already come to pass, namely, that Christ, our Head, has arisen. But now that the Head is seated on high and lives, there is no longer any reason for concern. We who cling to Him must also follow after Him as His body and His members. For where the head goes and abides, there the body with all the members must necessarily follow and abide. As in the birth of man and all animals, the head naturally appears first, and after this is born, the whole body follows easily.” (LW 28:110)
Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we give You thanks for rescuing us from our sinful flesh and an abysmal fallen world. Grant that we continue to stay fixed upon Him who is our Head, assuring us an easy entrance, through Him alone. Amen.