The phrase “He is risen” appears most directly in Matthew 28:6, Mark 16:6, and Luke 24:34, each announcing that Jesus has conquered death. But the resurrection isn’t just a single line—it’s the heartbeat of Christian faith, echoing through many more verses that reveal its power for our daily lives. Whether you’re preparing for Easter or walking through a hard season, these seven passages will steady you in the truth that the tomb is empty and everything has changed.
The Angel’s Declaration at the Empty Tomb
The first witnesses to the resurrection weren’t the disciples in the upper room. They were a small group of women who went to the tomb early Sunday morning, carrying spices and heavy hearts. What they found instead—a rolled-away stone and an angel with a message—changed everything. Matthew’s account captures the angel’s words with simple, earth-shattering power.
He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying.
— Matthew 28:6
Notice that the angel didn’t just announce a miracle; he anchored it in Jesus’ own prediction. “As he said” points back to the times Jesus foretold his death and resurrection (Matthew 16:21, 17:22–23, 20:18–19). The empty tomb was never Plan B. It confirmed that Jesus is exactly who he claimed to be. When you read this verse, you’re not just hearing good news. You’re standing on solid historical and prophetic ground. The angel then invites the women to “come, see.” Faith is never asked to ignore the evidence. God invites us to examine the empty tomb for ourselves, to let the physical reality of the resurrection confront our doubts.
This verse also sets the tone for how the resurrection message spreads: through testimony. The women were told to go and tell the disciples. In that culture, they were not even considered reliable witnesses in court, yet God entrusted them with the first word of resurrection. God delights in flipping human expectations. If you sometimes feel like your voice doesn’t matter, remember that the greatest news in history was first carried by people the world overlooked.
They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word.
— Matthew 28:8
Fear and joy often travel together when God does something breathtaking. The resurrection doesn’t erase our trembling—it transforms it into a trembling that runs toward others with the news.
Mark’s Account: A Message of Hope for the Fearful
Mark’s Gospel moves quickly from scene to scene. The resurrection account is no different—but inside that brief report is a tender word for anyone who has ever been afraid. The women arrived at the tomb, found the stone already rolled away, and met a young man in white who spoke directly to their fear.
He said to them, “Don’t be amazed. You seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him!
— Mark 16:6
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“Do not be alarmed.” The angel knew the women’s hearts—the shock, the confusion, the lingering grief of Friday still raw. The resurrection announcement begins with comfort. God doesn’t scold us for being afraid; he meets us in the fear and speaks peace. Then the angel identifies Jesus by name and by his suffering: “Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.” The risen Lord is no distant, untouchable deity. He is the same Jesus who walked dusty roads, welcomed children, and wept at a friend’s tomb. His resurrection doesn’t erase his humanity—it vindicates it.
Mark’s account also shows the resurrection as a reversal of despair. The women came looking for a dead body and instead received a living assignment: go tell Peter and the others that Jesus is going ahead of them to Galilee. Even in Mark’s shorter ending, the message is clear—Jesus is on the move. The resurrection isn’t an ending; it’s a new beginning.
But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He goes before you into Galilee. There you will see him, as he said to you.’”
— Mark 16:7
Why single out Peter? Peter had denied Jesus three times. He was likely drowning in shame, convinced he’d disqualified himself. But the angel’s message named him specifically. Resurrection grace reached Peter before he’d even seen the risen Lord. If you feel you’ve failed God too badly to be included, let this verse remind you: Jesus goes before you, ready to restore you.
The Disciples’ Realization: ‘The Lord Has Risen Indeed’
After the initial reports from the women and a couple of disciples on the road to Emmaus, the news began to spread like dawn breaking over Jerusalem. Luke records a simple, profound sentence that has become a cornerstone of Christian worship and greeting: the moment when the gathered disciples realized the truth was no rumor.
saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”
— Luke 24:34
This verse is often recited in liturgical traditions during Easter. One person says, “The Lord is risen!” and the congregation responds, “He is risen indeed!” But long before it became a call-and-response, it was a breathless confession among friends. The phrase “has risen indeed” uses a Greek word (ontōs) that means “truly,” “really,” “in actual fact.” This wasn’t wishful thinking or a spiritual metaphor. They were staking their lives on the claim that Jesus’ body was no longer in the grave.
The mention of Simon—another name for Peter—again highlights the personal nature of the resurrection. Before appearing to the whole group, Jesus appeared to Peter privately, as 1 Corinthians 15:5 confirms. We don’t know what words were exchanged in that meeting, but we can imagine tears, forgiveness, and a restored calling. The resurrection is not only a cosmic event; it is also a deeply personal encounter. For Peter, it meant that his denials didn’t get the last word.
Luke 24:34 also anchors the resurrection in the community. The news is confirmed as they share it together. Individual experiences of the risen Jesus are validated in the fellowship of believers. Today, we still need one another to test, affirm, and celebrate where we’ve seen God at work. The resurrection creates not just forgiven individuals but a new family.
Peter’s Sermon: The Resurrection as Fulfillment
Weeks after the resurrection, on the day of Pentecost, Peter stood before a crowd of thousands and preached a sermon that pointed to one blazing fact: Jesus is risen, and everything has changed. Acts 2 records his bold declaration, grounded in the Hebrew Scriptures.
This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses.
— Acts 2:32
Peter wasn’t offering a philosophy or a nice religious sentiment. He was speaking as a firsthand witness. The word “witness” (martys) is the same root from which we get “martyr.” Many of those standing there that day would eventually die for this testimony. People do not willingly die for a lie they invented, and Peter knew the difference between a ghost and a flesh-and-blood risen Lord. He had touched him, eaten with him, listened to him explain the Scriptures.
Earlier in the same sermon, Peter quoted Psalm 16, insisting that David was not talking about himself because David’s tomb was still with them. David, he argued, was prophesying about the Messiah:
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"For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption."
— Acts 2:27 (ESV), quoting Psalm 16:10
Peter connected the dots: The resurrection was not a last-minute rescue plan. It was the fulfillment of promises God had been making for centuries. The empty tomb is God’s “Amen” to every Old Testament hope. When we read the resurrection as fulfillment, our faith stops being a fragile personal experience and becomes part of the grand story God has been writing since the beginning.
Also note Peter’s emphasis on “this Jesus”—the same Jesus they had seen crucified just weeks before. The resurrection validates Jesus’ identity. If Jesus had stayed dead, he would be just another failed messianic figure. But God raised him, putting the divine stamp of approval on everything Jesus taught and did. The resurrection is God’s public verdict: Jesus is Lord.
Paul’s Teaching: The Resurrection as Our Future Hope
If the Gospels give us the historical record, Paul’s letters help us see its meaning more deeply. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul tackles questions from a church that believed in Jesus’ resurrection but struggled to understand their own future. Some even said there is no resurrection of the dead. Paul’s response is one of the most powerful chapters in all of Scripture, and it begins with a bold image.
But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruit of those who are asleep.
— 1 Corinthians 15:20
The word “firstfruits” carries rich Old Testament imagery. In the agricultural calendar of Israel, the first sheaf of the harvest was brought to the priest as an offering, not as the whole harvest but as the guarantee that the rest would follow (Leviticus 23:10–11). Jesus’ resurrection is not an isolated miracle. It is the first installment of a future harvest. Because he rose, we will rise too. His resurrection is the preview, the receipt, the down payment on our own.
Paul goes on to explain the order: Christ first, then at his coming those who belong to him. Death is not the end. It is a sleep from which Jesus will wake us. This doesn’t minimize the pain of loss—Paul calls it the “last enemy” (1 Corinthians 15:26)—but it floods it with hope. Grief and hope can coexist because the tomb is temporary.
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
— 1 Corinthians 15:22
Paul contrasts two heads of humanity: Adam, through whom sin and death entered the world, and Christ, through whom righteousness and life flow. In Adam, we all share the fate of death. But if we are in Christ—joined to him by faith—we share in his resurrection destiny. The resurrection is not just an event to admire. It is a reality to share in.
Paul ends his great chapter with a practical application that often gets overlooked. After all the theology, he writes:
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
— 1 Corinthians 15:58
The resurrection means your work for God is never pointless. Every act of love, every step of obedience, every quiet sacrifice—none of it is wasted. Because Jesus rose, what you do in him lasts forever. That’s the practical power of the resurrection.
The Resurrection in the Words of Jesus Himself
Before the Gospels record the empty tomb, Jesus himself spoke plainly about his death and rising, though the disciples did not fully grasp it until later. One of the most personal applications comes in John’s Gospel, where Jesus comforts Martha at her brother’s tomb.
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Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies.
— John 11:25
Jesus does not just bring resurrection; he is resurrection. Life is not an attribute he dispenses; it’s his very identity. When we cling to him, we cling to life itself. This statement shifts the focus from a future event to a present relationship with him. Right now, through faith, we are connected to the one who has conquered the grave. That’s why Paul can say we have already been “raised with Christ” (Colossians 3:1) even while we live in mortal bodies. The resurrection starts now, spiritually, and will be completed physically.
After his rising, Jesus met the disciples and offered them peace—and a mission. In John’s account, he breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22). The resurrection unleashes the Spirit’s power in believers. This is not just a historical claim; it’s an empowering reality. The same Jesus who walked out of the tomb now walks with us by his Spirit.
Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.”
— John 20:21
The resurrection sends us. It doesn’t leave us huddled in fear. The same power that raised Jesus compels us outward—to love, serve, forgive, and proclaim the good news.
How to Live in the Power of the Resurrection Today
Knowing that Jesus is risen is one thing. Living as if it is true is another. The New Testament writers never treated the resurrection as merely a doctrine to affirm. They saw it as the engine of daily Christian living. Here are five biblical ways to walk in resurrection power right where you are.
1. Remember your new identity. Paul says, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above” (Colossians 3:1). You are no longer defined by past failures or present struggles. You are a resurrected person, even now, in the core of your being. Each morning, remind yourself: I am alive in Christ. The old self is buried, and I share Christ’s victory.
2. Present your body as a weapon for good. Romans 6:13 says to present your members to God as instruments for righteousness, precisely because you’ve been brought from death to life. Your body matters. The resurrection means God cares about the material world—he’s going to redeem it. So use your hands to serve, your mouth to encourage, your feet to go where love is needed. This is resurrection living in everyday life.
3. Let hope counteract grief. 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 tells us not to grieve as those without hope, since we believe Jesus died and rose. Grief is real, and Paul does not deny it. But resurrection hope means we grieve differently. There is a reunion coming for all who are in Christ. When you lose someone you love in Christ, you can weep with the tears of someone who knows the goodbye is temporary.
4. Resist sin with resurrection confidence. Romans 6:11 commands us to “consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Because Jesus broke sin’s power, you are not a slave anymore. Temptation will still knock, but you do not have to answer. The same Spirit that raised Jesus dwells in you to give you the power to say no and to choose what pleases God.
5. Anticipate the final resurrection. Living in resurrection power now is really about living with one eye on the future. Paul says in Philippians 3:20–21 that we await a Savior who will transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body. This world’s brokenness—sickness, aging, and injustice—is not the final word. When you serve, love, and work for God’s kingdom, you are planting seeds for a harvest that will be fully reaped when Jesus returns and makes all things new.
The resurrection is not just a past event to celebrate once a year. It’s a present power source. Stay connected to it daily through prayer, Scripture, and obedience. Let the risen Lord reshape how you think, how you love, and how you face tomorrow.
This Easter—and every ordinary day after—let the truth of the empty tomb move from a phrase you say to a reality you walk in. Read these verses again slowly. Let the Spirit assure you that the same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in you, strengthening you for every challenge and filling you with hope that outlasts any grave. If you’ve never personally placed your trust in the risen Jesus, you can do that today. Talk to him in prayer—he’s alive and listening. He knows your name, just as he knew Peter’s, and he offers you forgiveness, new life, and a future secured by his resurrection.
Questions people ask
What does 'He is risen' mean?
It means that Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified and buried, was raised from the dead by God’s power. The phrase declares a historical event with eternal significance: death could not hold him, his sacrifice was accepted, and he now lives forever as the victorious Lord. Christians see this as the cornerstone of their faith—proof that Jesus’ promises are true and that those who belong to him will also rise to eternal life.
Is 'He is risen' or 'He has risen' correct?
Both are grammatically correct and used in English Bible translations. 'He is risen' uses an older form that emphasizes the present state resulting from a past action—Jesus rose and remains alive. 'He has risen' expresses the completed action. Many traditional Easter greetings use 'He is risen' with the response 'He is risen indeed,' echoing Luke 24:34. The important thing isn’t the grammar but the truth: Jesus is alive.
Where in the Bible does it say 'He is risen'?
The exact wording appears in several places depending on the translation. In the ESV, Matthew 28:6 says 'He has risen,' Mark 16:6 says 'He has risen,' and Luke 24:34 says 'The Lord has risen indeed.' The King James Version uses 'He is risen' in Matthew 28:6 and Mark 16:6. The concept pervades the New Testament, from Jesus’ own predictions to the apostles’ preaching.
Why is the resurrection of Jesus so important?
The resurrection validates Jesus’ identity as the Son of God, proves his sacrifice for sins was accepted, defeats the power of death, and guarantees the future resurrection of believers. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:17 that if Christ has not been raised, Christian faith is futile and believers are still in their sins. The resurrection is not an optional add—on; it’s the foundation of Christian hope.
How can I live in the power of the resurrection every day?
By faith, you can consider yourself dead to sin and alive to God, relying on the Holy Spirit’s power (Romans 6:11, 8:11). This means facing temptation with confidence that sin’s grip is broken, serving others in love because your labor is not in vain, and holding onto hope even in grief. Daily prayer and meditation on Scripture help you stay connected to the risen Christ, who empowers you to live a new kind of life.
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