Easter is the cornerstone of the Christian faith, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It marks the fulfillment of God‘s promise of salvation and eternal life, and it stands as a testimony of God’s love for humanity. Through Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, believers are offered the gift of forgiveness, new life, and hope. The resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate victory over sin, death, and the powers of darkness, making Easter not just a day of celebration, but the central event of Christianity.
The Bible is full of verses that point to the significance of Easter. From prophecies in the Old Testament to accounts in the Gospels, and even in the writings of Paul, Scripture repeatedly emphasizes the importance of Jesus’ resurrection. This article highlights 20 Bible verses that talk about Easter, offering insight into the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. These verses remind us of the profound hope that Easter represents and why it is a day of rejoicing for all Christians.
1. Matthew 28:5-6 (KJV)
“And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
This is the moment when the angel announces to the women at the tomb that Jesus has risen from the dead. It is one of the most significant declarations of the Easter story. Jesus’ resurrection is the fulfillment of His own prophecy and the foundational event of the Christian faith.
2. John 11:25-26 (KJV)
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
Before His own resurrection, Jesus told Martha that He was the resurrection and the life. This verse is not only a statement about Jesus’ identity but also a promise for believers that through faith in Him, they too will experience eternal life.
3. 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 (KJV)
“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
In this passage, Paul emphasizes the significance of Jesus’ resurrection. He calls Christ the “firstfruits” of the resurrection, indicating that Jesus’ resurrection guarantees that believers will also rise from the dead. Through Jesus, all are made alive.
4. Luke 24:5-7 (KJV)
“And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.”
The angels remind the women that Jesus had foretold His death and resurrection. His resurrection fulfills the prophecy He gave, showing the power of His words and His authority over death.
5. Romans 6:4 (KJV)
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
Paul draws a parallel between baptism and the resurrection of Jesus. Just as Jesus was raised from the dead, Christians, through baptism, symbolically die to sin and are raised to live a new life, following the example of Christ.
6. Matthew 28:1-2 (KJV)
“In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.”
The event of the stone being rolled away and the great earthquake are signs of the magnitude of what has just occurred. Jesus has risen, and these dramatic events point to the supernatural power at work during the resurrection.
7. Mark 16:6 (KJV)
“And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.”
Mark’s account is similar to the other Gospel writers. The angel assures the women that Jesus has risen, further confirming the miraculous nature of His resurrection. This is the foundational message of Easter.
8. 1 Peter 1:3 (KJV)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
Peter celebrates the living hope that Christians have because of the resurrection of Jesus. Through His resurrection, believers are given a new birth into a living hope that is eternal and secure.
9. John 20:19-21 (KJV)
“Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.”
After His resurrection, Jesus appears to His disciples, showing them the evidence of His resurrection and giving them peace. This encounter reassures the disciples of Jesus’ victory over death and commissions them to continue His work.
10. Romans 8:11 (KJV)
“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
This verse highlights the connection between the resurrection of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit within believers. Just as the Spirit raised Jesus from the dead, so will the Spirit give life to our mortal bodies, ensuring our resurrection.
11. Philippians 3:10-11 (KJV)
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”
Paul expresses his desire to experience the power of Christ’s resurrection in his own life. He understands that resurrection power involves not just the triumph over death but also the willingness to partake in Christ’s sufferings for the sake of the Gospel.
12. Acts 4:33 (KJV)
“And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.”
The apostles boldly witness to the resurrection of Jesus, and their message is empowered by the grace and power of the Holy Spirit. Their testimony about the resurrection is central to the early church’s proclamation.
13. Luke 24:46-47 (KJV)
“And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
Jesus Himself affirms that His suffering, death, and resurrection were part of God’s plan. The resurrection is key to the Gospel message: repentance and the forgiveness of sins are made available to all through Jesus’ victory over death.
14. Matthew 27:52-53 (KJV)
“And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.”
This mysterious event—where saints are resurrected after Jesus’ own resurrection—further underscores the power of His victory over death. These resurrected saints serve as a sign of the coming resurrection for all believers.
15. Revelation 1:18 (KJV)
“I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”
In Revelation, Jesus declares that He is the living One who was dead but is now alive forevermore. His resurrection gives Him authority over death and the grave, assuring believers that they too will have victory over death.
16. Colossians 1:18 (KJV)
“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”
Jesus is referred to as the “firstborn from the dead,” meaning He is the first to rise, but He will not be the last. His resurrection gives Him preeminence over all things, and it is the guarantee of future resurrections for all believers.
17. Mark 16:7 (KJV)
“But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.”
Even in the midst of His resurrection announcement, the angel gives a special message for Peter. The resurrection is a message of restoration and grace—Peter, who denied Jesus, is specifically invited back into fellowship.
18. Acts 2:24 (KJV)
“Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.”
Peter, in his sermon at Pentecost, proclaims that death could not hold Jesus. This powerful declaration affirms the inevitability of Jesus’ resurrection and its divine necessity.
19. Isaiah 53:10-11 (KJV)
“Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin… he shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.”
This Old Testament prophecy foretells the suffering and resurrection of the Messiah. Though He is bruised and offered for sin, He will see the result of His suffering—His resurrection will bring salvation to many.
20. Psalm 16:10 (KJV)
“For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”
Often quoted in the New Testament, this verse prophetically points to Jesus’ resurrection. His body did not decay in the grave, and He was raised in glory, fulfilling this ancient prophecy.
Conclusion
Easter is far more than a historical event—it is the declaration of victory over sin and death. These 20 Bible verses reveal the theological, prophetic, and spiritual depth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. From the Old Testament foretellings to the New Testament realizations, the resurrection lies at the heart of the Gospel message. It confirms Jesus’ divinity, affirms our hope in eternal life, and calls us to walk in the power of His resurrection. As we celebrate Easter, may these Scriptures serve as a reminder of the great love and power of our risen Lord and Savior.
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