Powerful Easter Scriptures

The meaning of Easter is Jesus Christ's victory over death. His resurrection symbolizes the eternal life that is granted to all who believe in Him. The meaning of Easter also symbolizes the complete verification of all that Jesus preached and taught during His three-year ministry. If He had not risen from the dead, if He had merely died and not been resurrected, He would have been considered just another teacher or Rabbi. However, His resurrection changed all that and gave final and irrefutable proof that He was really the Son of God and that He had conquered death once and for all.

Understanding Easter from a Christian perspective is vitally important. The celebration of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection from the dead is crucial for believers in Jesus’ Christ. Without this doctrine, there is no Christianity and no Christian Easter. Through these scriptures, you can learn more about why Easter is so important to Christians.

Luke 24:1-12

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"On the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were puzzled about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling clothing. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, 'Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the He must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.' And they remembered His words, and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told all this to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they didn’t believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had occurred."

At first, some were not ready to believe that Jesus had actually been risen from the dead. Upon further investigation, they all were able to see the amazing miracle. They discovered that Jesus was gone, and that the Lord had taken Him home.

Luke 24:46-47

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"Jesus said to them, 'Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.'"

Jesus knew that He was going to go through before it happened. He knew the exact timeline of His death and the events leading up to it, which to most of us would have been really scary. However Jesus knew that His death was going to be serving a much bigger purpose. He knew that through His death, He would be able to erase the terrible sins of the entire world starting from Jerusalem outward. Jesus moved forward with confidence, despite the terrible fate He was going to be facing.

Acts 13:30-35

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"But God raised Him from the dead, and for many days He appeared to those who had come up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now His witnesses to the people. And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this He has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, 'You are my Son, today I have begotten you.'”

God did what He said He would, and brought Jesus back up to heaven after being crucified. He made that promise to Jesus, and Jesus trusted Him. Jesus was then able to share with the rest of the world that He was indeed raisen. He returned to those on earth to share the great news, and prove that God had kept His promise.

Acts 2:23-24

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"This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised Him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it."

Most didn’t believe in what Jesus was saying, despite the miracles He would perform. He was unliked by many, so His betrayal was not surprising. The fact that Jesus was betrayed by the world was all a part of God's plan. God knew that Jesus would be placed up on the cross and killed by the lawless Gentiles, but it was a necessary step. God knew that He would be able to take away the pain that Jesus felt, and bring Him back up to heaven after His death.

Acts 3:11-15

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"While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement. But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, 'Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.'"

Peter and John were confused when people would stare at them with amazement after Jesus' death. They were angry that these people had turned their back on Christ, but then saw them as heroes. They were witness to the denial of Christ, and had full proof and sufficient testimony to share the news. God raised Jesus from the dead, but many had denied Christ over and over again before He did so.

Mark 16:9-11

"Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. And she went and told them that had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that He was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not."

When Jesus had passed, many across the city were heartbroken and afraid. What better news could have been brought to disciples in tears, than to tell them of Christ's resurrection. They were enthralled with joy upon hearing the great news. Many were skeptical at first, and worried that it wasn't true. Throughout time, though, the world began to believe in the true resurrection as Jesus continued to reveal Himself to those on earth.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8

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"Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, He was buried, He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. Then He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared also to me."

Jesus wanted to show everyone that He had risen from the dead, so that they could share across the world of the great miracle. He appeared to the most important people in His life to also given them reassurance that He was alright. This was great news for all who got to see Jesus. They received confirmation that they could be saved.

John 20:15-18

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"Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?' Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, 'Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.' Jesus said to her, 'Mary.' She turned and said to Him in Aramaic, 'Rabboni!' (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, 'Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’' Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, 'I have seen the Lord' – and that He had said all this to her."

Mary was afraid that Jesus had not risen, but He was able to come and tell her that He was well on His way. Mary could bring this great news to the disciples, and share in the celebration.

Matthew 28:2-7

"And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you look for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where He lay. 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.'”

Can you imagine how scared the women must have been at first? We all sure would have been. She didn’t have to be scared, though, because the angel was bringing great news that Jesus had risen from the dead.

John 20:24-29

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"Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord.' But he said to them, 'Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into His side, I will never believe.' Eight days later, His disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you.' Then He said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.' Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God!' Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'”

We have heard the phrase "seeing is believing" before, but that can't always be applied when it comes to the Christian faith. Today, we don't get to see Jesus' physical body walking around town performing miracles. We have to believe in the Word of God, the Bible, and the Holy Church through our faith, and not by sight. We are blessed because we still believe.

Luke 24:4-7

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"While they were puzzled about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling clothing. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, 'Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the He must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.'”

People didn't believe it when Jesus Christ said that He would rise from the dead, but He was risen indeed. Jesus defied the laws of the land and did something no one else had done before. It shocked many of the time, as it still shocks Christians today. It's an incredible story.