First Fruit - a Christian perspective
In 1 Corinthians, Paul says that Jesus is the first fruit of all who have died. Paul says that if our hope in Christ is only for this life, then we should be pitied. Jesus came to give us life after death, not just life on this earth.
http://biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2015:19-20&version=NIV