Easter is the pinnacle of the Christian faith, the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, which brought victory over sin, death, and the grave. The resurrection is not only the foundation of Christian hope, but it also offers a deep and abiding encouragement to believers. As we reflect on the significance of this momentous event, we find that Easter is not just about the empty tomb; it is about new life, hope, restoration, and a fresh start in Christ. The resurrection assures us of God’s victory over evil and affirms His promises to His people.
In this article, we will explore 25 Easter encouragement scriptures—passages from both the Old and New Testaments—that can help renew your strength and provide encouragement in every season of life. These verses remind us of God’s unwavering love, His plan of redemption, and His ultimate triumph over death. They offer hope in the midst of trials, comfort in times of grief, and strength for those who are weary.
No matter where you are in your walk of faith, these scriptures will help you meditate on the power of Christ’s resurrection and inspire a renewed commitment to live a life that reflects His glory.
25 Easter Encouragement Scriptures
1. Matthew 28:5-6 (NIV)
“The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.’”
The resurrection of Jesus is the central message of Easter. These words spoken by the angel to the women who came to the tomb are filled with hope and encouragement. The risen Christ is not just a symbol of power; He is the fulfillment of every promise God has made. The angel’s message is clear: Christ has risen, just as He said He would, confirming God’s faithfulness to His Word.
2. John 11:25-26 (NIV)
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’”
Jesus’ words to Martha, before He raised Lazarus from the dead, are a powerful declaration of His authority over death. As believers, we can find encouragement in knowing that through Jesus, death has no final hold on us. The resurrection guarantees eternal life for those who place their faith in Him.
3. Romans 6:4 (NIV)
“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.”
The resurrection of Jesus not only offers eternal life in the future, but it also brings a new life in the present. The believer’s identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection through baptism symbolizes the transformation that takes place when we accept Christ as Savior. The power of the resurrection gives us the strength to live differently—to live a life that reflects His glory.
4. 1 Peter 1:3 (NIV)
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
This verse celebrates the new birth we receive through the resurrection of Christ. We are given a “living hope,” meaning that our hope is not dead or passive but vibrant and active, empowered by the resurrection. This living hope empowers us to endure in faith, knowing that God’s mercy is fresh and new every morning.
5. 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 (NIV)
“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”
In these verses, the Apostle Paul reminds us that Christ’s resurrection is the guarantee of our own resurrection. He is the “firstfruits” of those who have died, and His resurrection paves the way for the eternal resurrection of all who are in Him. This provides us with unshakable hope and assurance of victory over death.
6. Philippians 3:10-11 (NIV)
“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”
The Apostle Paul’s desire was to experience not just the suffering of Christ but the power of His resurrection. For the believer, the resurrection is not just a past event but a present power that transforms our lives. It is the very source of strength to endure trials and to walk in the newness of life.
7. Ephesians 1:18-20 (NIV)
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.”
Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian believers is one of enlightenment and empowerment through the resurrection power of Christ. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to believers today to help them live victoriously in every circumstance.
8. Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV)
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
These verses encourage believers to live with a heavenly perspective. Because of Christ’s resurrection, our identity is now bound up with Him. We have been raised with Christ, and our true life is hidden in Him. The hope of His return to glory gives us the strength to endure the challenges of this life.
9. Luke 24:6-7 (NIV)
“He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’”
The resurrection was no surprise to Jesus; it was part of God’s redemptive plan from the very beginning. This passage serves as a reminder that Christ’s death and resurrection were all according to God’s will. For believers, this means that no matter what difficulties we face, God’s plan for us will be fulfilled.
10. Revelation 1:18 (NIV)
“I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
In this powerful declaration, Jesus affirms that He has conquered death and is alive forevermore. His resurrection marks the ultimate triumph over death, and He now holds the keys to life and death. This verse offers us profound encouragement—because Christ lives, we too can live.
11. John 14:19 (NIV)
“Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.”
Jesus’ promise here points to the deep connection between His resurrection and the believer’s future hope. Because He lives, we can be assured of our own resurrection to eternal life. This assurance empowers us to live with purpose and hope, regardless of the circumstances we face.
12. Romans 8:11 (NIV)
“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”
The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in every believer, giving us both spiritual vitality and the promise of eternal life. This scripture encourages believers that the resurrection power is not just a future hope but a present reality, enabling us to live empowered lives in Christ.
13. Romans 8:34 (NIV)
“Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”
The resurrection of Jesus secures our justification and guarantees that no one can condemn us. Jesus, now seated at the right hand of God, intercedes on our behalf, ensuring that nothing can separate us from God’s love.
14. Acts 4:33 (NIV)
“With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all.”
The apostles’ testimony of the resurrection was the foundation of their ministry. Their bold witness was accompanied by great power as they preached the truth of Christ’s resurrection. This power is available to believers today as we testify to the life-changing reality of Jesus’ resurrection.
15. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 (NIV)
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Paul’s triumphant declaration echoes the victory of Christ’s resurrection over sin and death. Through Jesus’ victory, we share in that triumph. Death no longer holds power over us, and sin no longer has the final say. This is a reason for great celebration and hope!
16. 2 Corinthians 4:14 (NIV)
“Because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.”
This verse assures believers that just as God raised Jesus from the dead, He will also raise us to eternal life. Our hope in the resurrection is secure because of God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises.
17. Hebrews 13:20-21 (NIV)
“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
The resurrection is a central aspect of the new covenant God has established through Jesus. This passage encourages us to trust that God will equip us for His purposes, empowering us to live out His will as we draw on the power of the resurrection.
18. Luke 24:30-31 (NIV)
“When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.”
The resurrection also involves recognizing the presence of Christ in our lives. Just as the disciples’ eyes were opened to recognize the risen Lord, we, too, are called to open our hearts to the reality of His resurrection, acknowledging that He is with us always.
19. John 20:29 (NIV)
“Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’”
This reminder from Jesus encourages us to live by faith, even though we do not see Him physically. The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of our faith, and we are blessed because we believe in the risen Christ, even without direct evidence.
20. Romans 10:9 (NIV)
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
This scripture underscores the importance of both believing in the resurrection of Jesus and publicly acknowledging Him as Lord. Easter is a call to confess our faith in the risen Christ and receive the salvation that He offers.
21. Matthew 28:16-17 (NIV)
“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.”
Even in the midst of doubt, the disciples recognized Jesus and worshiped Him. Easter invites us to worship and acknowledge the reality of the resurrection, even if we struggle with doubts along the way. Christ’s resurrection calls for a response of faith and worship.
22. Acts 2:24 (NIV)
“But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”
The resurrection is not just a miraculous event but a sign of God’s ultimate victory over death. The power of Christ’s resurrection assures us that nothing, not even death itself, can hold us back from God’s purposes.
23. Isaiah 25:8 (NIV)
“He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.”
This Old Testament prophecy finds its fulfillment in the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection signals that God has swallowed up death forever and offers comfort to all who grieve.
24. 1 John 5:11-12 (NIV)
“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
Eternal life is found in Christ alone, and His resurrection guarantees this life to all who believe in Him. The resurrection is the basis of the hope that sustains us both now and in eternity.
25. Romans 8:37-39 (NIV)
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The resurrection assures us that nothing—absolutely nothing—can separate us from the love of God. We are more than conquerors in Christ, and His resurrection guarantees that His love will never fail us.
Conclusion
Easter is a time of great celebration and profound encouragement for all believers. The resurrection of Jesus is not just a historical event; it is the foundation of our faith, our hope, and our eternal life. The 25 scriptures listed above serve as powerful reminders of the hope, victory, and encouragement that come from Christ’s triumph over death. May these scriptures inspire you to walk boldly in the power of the resurrection, knowing that Christ has overcome the world, and through Him, so can we.
You Might Be Interested In:
