Hope and Resurrection

It was my privilege to preach yesterday on the resurrection and I did so from 1 Peter 1:3-5. (You can listen to that message here if you're so inclined.) There are many, but one take away from this passage? The Christian's hope is inextricably linked to the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.  And when I say "hope" I don't mean something like, "I hope it's sunny tomorrow" or "I hope to make it to your game next week." I mean certain, unshakable expectation and confidence rooted in the love and power of God. I hope to receive my inheritance in heaven and know that I will because God is keeping it for me in heaven and by his power is guarding me until then - 1 Peter 1:4-5.  That kind of hope is rooted in the resurrection of Christ.
1 Peter 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead..." 
1 Peter 1:20-21 "...you who through him [Christ] are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."  Twice in this passage, Peter links our hope with the resurrection of Jesus.
So does Paul: 1 Corinthians 15:17,19. "And if Christ has not been raised...If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied." 
And the 2 disciples that the risen Jesus spoke to on the road to Emmaus. Remember what they said (before they realized who was walking with them)? Luke 24:21 "But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. "See it? They thought Christ was dead and their hope of redemption died with him. 
If Jesus is dead, so is our hope. A dead man can't give us new life. But Jesus is not dead. He is risen! He is alive! And with his resurrection our hope rises and we enjoy certain confidence of our salvation. If you find your hope fading, come to the empty tomb and glory in the risen Lord Jesus.