That You May Believe and Have Life in His Name

On the Lord's Day, St. John the Apostle was given a revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last. He is the Living One, the firstborn of the dead (Rev. 1:5). He died for all people, and behold, He is alive forevermore! Therefore, He has the keys of Death and Hades (Rev. 1:18). For His death atoned for sin and conquered death, and in His resurrection He opened the kingdom of heaven to us. The sharp two-edged sword of His mouth (Rev. 1:16) calls you to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, that by such faith you may have life in His name (John 20:31). To that end, He sends His ministers of the Word, as the Father sent Him, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins (Acts 5:31).

Source: LCMS Lectionary Summaries

Christ's Resurrection Is the Firstfruits of the New Creation

The Lord has promised one day to create new heavens and a new earth (Is. 65:17), in which His people shall abide in peace and joy. That new creation has begun in the bodily resurrection of Christ Jesus. All the baptized belong to that new creation. Reborn of water and the Holy Spirit, they are the offspring of the blessed of the Lord (Is. 65:23). The Lord rejoices and is glad in them; He hears and answers their prayers. For if in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1 Cor. 15:19). But now Christ Jesus has been raised, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Cor. 15:20). We may be perplexed about this (Luke 24:4), perhaps even frightened and brought to our knees, because it seems like an idle tale (Luke 24:11). But faith clings to the Word of Christ and finds His resurrected body--not in the tomb, but in His Holy Supper.