The Easter proclamation “He is Risen!” begins in sacred Scripture and centers on Jesus Christ’s triumph over death. In Matthew 28:6, the angel announces:
“He is not here; for He has risen, as He said.”
This statement does more than fulfill prophecy—it declares Jesus’ divine identity. It confirms the promises God made through the Psalms and the Prophets. Therefore, the Resurrection becomes the pivotal moment in salvation history. It validates Christ’s victory and shapes Christian belief and worship.
(For further reading: New Advent: Resurrection.)
Soon after the Resurrection, Christians began greeting each other with the words:
“Christ is Risen!”
“Indeed, He is Risen!”
They didn’t speak these words out of custom. Instead, they used them to boldly confess their faith in Christ’s victory. This exchange united believers across both the Eastern and Western Church traditions. Because it affirmed the heart of the Gospel, the greeting became especially common during the Easter season.
As a result, it transformed Christian culture, turning liturgical truth into everyday language and lived conviction.
The Church celebrates the Resurrection joyfully in her liturgy. During the Easter Vigil, the Exsultet proclaims Christ as the light who drives out sin and darkness. The Alleluia, silenced during Lent, returns with power and joy.
Churches also revisit the Resurrection stories from the Gospels. Believers hear:
Mary Magdalene’s moment of recognition,
The disciples walking with Jesus to Emmaus,
Christ appearing among the apostles.
These retellings renew the faith of worshippers. They don’t simply recount history—they bring the Risen Christ into the present moment.
From the apostles to modern-day Christians, this proclamation has shaped the identity of the Church. The apostles courageously preached Christ risen, often giving their lives for the message. Paul explained that Baptism joins believers to both Christ’s death and Resurrection (Romans 6:3–5).
Even in persecution, believers did not abandon this truth. They embraced it as a source of courage, joy, and endurance. Through every generation, the Resurrection remained not just a belief but a lived reality—declared and defended by countless witnesses.
Christ’s Resurrection still calls every believer to action. It doesn’t stay in the past—it defines how we live today. Christians are called to:
Pursue holiness boldly,
Proclaim their hope with confidence,
Live joyfully in the light of Easter.
Furthermore, the Resurrection compels us to become lights in a dark world. Every act of love, forgiveness, and service echoes this Gospel truth. Thus, our lives become testimonies that proclaim:
“He is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen!”
