What the Bible Says About Easter

Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, the event that stands at the very center of the Christian faith. While the word "Easter" does not appear in most Bible translations, the reality it commemorates fills the Gospels: "He is not here; he has risen, just as he said" (Matthew 28:6). On the first day of the week, the women came to the tomb and found it empty, and the angel proclaimed, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!" (Luke 24:6). John records that "early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed" (John 20:1), and Mark relays the same astonishing message: "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen!" (Mark 16:6). The resurrection is not merely a hopeful idea but the foundation of the gospel. Paul declares, "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20). Because Jesus rose, death itself has been defeated, and believers can cry with Paul, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55). The empty tomb guarantees that those who trust in Christ will share in his risen life. Easter also speaks of new life now, not only at the resurrection of the dead. Paul connects the believer's baptism to Christ's resurrection: "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life" (Romans 6:4). Peter celebrates this living hope: "In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3). Whether or not a believer observes a particular date, the heart of Easter is worship of the risen Lord. The resurrection vindicates Jesus' claims, secures the forgiveness of sins, and assures every Christian that the grave is not the end. To celebrate Easter is to rejoice that the crucified Savior lives, reigns, and will one day raise all who belong to him.