We shall do well to consider what great event in the history of the world occurred on the morrow after the sabbath. This is called in the New Testament the first day of the week. The four evangelists, all specially emphasize the first day of the week in connection with an event of surpassing importance. We read, " In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher... and the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said." (Matt. 28: I-6.)
" And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun.... and he [the angel] saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: He is risen; He is not here: behold the place where they laid Him." (Mark 16:2-62And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 3And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 4And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. 5And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. 6And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. (Mark 16:2‑6).)
" Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher... behold, two men stood by them in shining garments... they said... He is not here, but is risen. ' (Luke 24: 1-6.)
" The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher." (John 20: 1, 2.)
The waving of the sheaf of the firstfruits of the harvest was typical of the resurrection of our Lord. The sheaf was waved on the morrow after the sabbath. Our Lord rose the first day of the week. That was the day of all days when our Lord rose triumphant from the dead, having brought to completion the great atoning work of redemption on the cross, the declaration on God's part of His complete satisfaction with the work He sent His Son to perform. It was the outward and visible sign that the power of sin, death, and Satan's power was shattered, that salvation could be offered to sinful men. That was the astounding event, the importance of which it is impossible to exaggerate. It occurred on the morrow after the sabbath, on the first day of the week.
Just as the sheaf of the firstfruits of the harvest looked forward to the full harvest to be reaped, so Christ was indeed the Firstfruits of the harvest of God's grace, to be gathered in by the preaching of the gospel. Apart from His atoning death on the cross there could be no blessing for man. He was the glorious Fulfiller of this most precious type. So we read, " Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the FIRSTFRUITS of them that slept.. but every man in his own order: CHRIST THE FIRSTFRUITS; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming." (1 Cor. 15:20-2320But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. (1 Corinthians 15:20‑23).)
What a glorious harvest that will be when our Lord " shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied." (Isa. 53: II.)