"He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay." Matthew 28:6
On Easter Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene and Martha went to the tomb of Jesus and discovered the stone rolled away, guards frightened, and an angel sitting on the stone. The angel told the women to not be afraid for Jesus was not there - "he has risen from the dead, just as he said!".
Many people refer to Easter as Resurrection Sunday in honor of the main reason for celebrating. Jesus claimed to be God (John 10:30, John 1:18, John 10:33). Jesus died for the sins of humanity (John 3:16-17, Romans 5:8, 1 Peter 2:24-25). But had He not risen from the dead (Luke 24:6), Christ would not have been God. Had he not made Himself alive again, Jesus would have been a liar, therefore a sinner, and not God. Had He remained dead, His name would mean nothing to our world and would be powerless. Because “He has risen,” He is God. Because “He has risen,” we can rise too. Because “He has risen,” hope triumphs in a desperate world.
Meg Bucher from iBelieve shares “Christ’s resurrection gives us hope for today, and for our future. Jesus will return again. He will right all wrongs and mend all hurts. Death will cease to exist, and we will go home to heaven with Him. “We can enjoy the stability of resurrection hope,” writes Mitch Chase for TGC, “because the promises of the world to come will never waver or fail.” When our daily circumstances are too hard to bear, we can submit them to God through Christ, knowing He hears and sees us, and that the pain and struggle of this world is temporary.”
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Let's explore what Scripture has to say about the events surrounding the risen Savior, Jesus Christ.
Jesus Predicted That He Would Rise
There are times in Scripture when Jesus predicted His own resurrection. His followers did not comprehend what He was saying to them, but after He returned, they understood.
Matthew 12:40 says, “For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
Matthew 16:21 says, “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”
Mark 8:31 says, “He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.”
John 10:17-18 says, “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father."
The Chief Priests and the Pharisees’ Response
The religious leaders who helped kill Jesus always kept a close eye on Him during His ministry. They listened to His words and remembered that He said He would rise in three days. Guards were placed in front of the tomb blocked by an enormous stone in an effort to prevent any possibility of taking Jesus’ body.
Matthew 27:62-66 says, “The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, "Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, 'After three days I will rise.' Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last fraud will be worse than the first." Pilate said to them, "You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can." So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.”
Jesus Rose from the Dead
Jesus really did rise from the dead. He is not buried in Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb today, He ascended to Heaven. Biblical and historical evidence supports the resurrection of Christ.
Matthew 28:6-7 says, “He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you."
Mark 16:6 says, “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”
Luke 24:6 says, “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 over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ Then they remembered his words.”
The Chief Priests Prevented the Truth from Being Told
One of the most unsettling parts of the history of Christ is that the religious leaders of His time were told of His resurrection by the guards and hid the facts. Instead of being in awe and running towards Jesus, they plotted to conceal the information by paying the guards a large sum of money to lie.
Matthew 28:11-14 says, “While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, ‘Tell people, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.' And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.’”
When Did Christians Start Saying, 'He Is Risen' during Easter?
Although the start of the phrase is unknown, the spread of “He is risen” has been said around the world on Easter Sunday. Several scholars have said that Eastern churches were using the phrase more at first. Lia Martin from iBelieve writes, "the phrase 'He is risen indeed' is actually a response that is part of a paschal greeting exchanged on Easter Sunday, primarily in Orthodox churches... The phrase as a paschal greeting is an Easter custom among Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Catholic, Latin Catholic, and Anglican Christians."
Whether you say, “He has risen” or “He is risen” comes down to preference. The truth is that Jesus did rise, and He is still alive. “He has risen” is the direct quote from Scripture spoken by the angel. However, “He is risen” emphasizes the continual and present celebration of Christ being alive today. Both are appropriate and have a place to be spoken. In essence, they are two sides of the same coin.
Why It's Important to Declare "He Has Risen" Today
This saying reminds us that we can recognize His death-raising power in our lives. When we reflect on Jesus’ resurrection, we can know that our sins truly are forgiven, that we have security in Heaven, and that anything that is spiritually dead in us can be made alive in Christ.
Clarence L. Haynes Jr. from Bible Study Tools says, “I don’t think we often put ourselves in the emotions and thoughts of the followers of Christ during that period of time. They saw Jesus perform many miracles, even raising people from the dead. Then in one day the one who they left everything to follow...the one who they believed to be their true Messiah...ends up dead and in a tomb. For many of them, their hopes and dreams died with him that day. I don’t know how many remembered or even believed that he said he would rise again in three days. So when those ladies came to the tomb that morning and heard the angel’s message it was a culmination of everything Jesus had said before.”
Whether you say, “He is risen” or “He has risen” this Easter, we can join each other in the commemoration of Jesus defeating death and coming back to life by His power and for His glory and our redemption.
Photo credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/thanasus
Learn more about the meaning and significance behind the Easter holiday and Holy Week celebrations:
What is Lent? and When Does Lent Start?
What is Ash Wednesday? and When is Ash Wednesday?
What is Palm Sunday?
What is Maundy Thursday?
What is Good Friday? and When is Good Friday?
What is Holy Saturday?
What is Easter? and When is Easter Sunday?
Easter Bible Verses
The Resurrection of Jesus
Easter Prayers
