Here are 26 Easter Scriptures that reflect on the resurrection and remind us of why we celebrate this holiday.
To those who are not in Christ, Easter is just another holiday, one that is celebrated with chocolate bunnies and backyard Easter egg hunts. But to those of us who are in Christ, it is far more than a holiday. The reason we celebrate Easter, to reflect on and remember Jesus Christ’s resurrection, which is our very source of hope and life. It is why we can rejoice no matter what comes our way—because in Christ, we, too, have received the grave-conquering power we need to overcome this world. Every day is a good day to celebrate our new life in Christ and thank God for His sacrifice of love. So whether you are hoping to prepare your heart for Easter, or if you would simply like to reflect on Jesus’ resurrection any time throughout the year, here are 26 Easter Scriptures that reflect on the resurrection and remind us of why we celebrate this holiday.
Get your FREE Holy Week Guide here. Have encouragement delivered straight to your inbox!
Short Easter Bible Verses
“For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man” 1 Corinthians 15:21.
“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” 1 Peter 1:3.
“The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” Romans 6:8-11.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” Galatians 2:20.
“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life” Romans 5:10.
“For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death” Romans 8:2.
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved…” Ephesians 2:4-5.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” John 3:16-17.
“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” Romans 10:9-10.
“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” Romans 6:3-4.
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” 2 Corinthians 5:21.
“Don’t be afraid! I am the First and Last. I am the living one. I died, but look–I am alive forever and ever!”Revelation 1:17b-18a.
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” Colossians 1:13-14.
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” 1 Corinthians 1:18.
Simple Easter Verses to Remember as a Family
“He is not here; he has risen!” Luke 24:6-7.
“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:8.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God…”Ephesians 2:8.
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’” John 11:25-26.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 6:23.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” Romans 8:1.
Hopeful Easter Scriptures
“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” Ephesians 2:1-10.
“Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, ‘For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.’) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us” Romans 8:32-37.
“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins” Romans 8:1-3.
“For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus”Romans 6:4-11.
A Prayer to Remember and Celebrate Easter
“Father, thank you for sending your Son to die on behalf of our sin—so that we, too, can experience new life, receive redemption for our sins, and have fellowship with you once again. We will never take this sacrifice for granted because it is the very reason for our hope, our joy, and our freedom. Christ voluntarily received the suffering we deserved. Because of that, we could never say ‘thank you’ enough. It is because of the blood shed for us on Calvary that we no longer need to live in bondage from our sins or become overcome by the destruction of this world. As we reflect on, and celebrate, Easter this year, we ask that it become more than just another story. May your sacrifice continue to be a reality for us—the very reason we have hope, a purpose, and the opportunity to live an abundant life of knowing you and loving you. Without the cross, we would be nothing. But it’s because of the cross that we can live in freedom—and we have the pleasure of loving you throughout all eternity. It’s in your precious and holy name we pray. Amen.”
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/dndavis
Tessa Emily Hall is an award-winning author who wrote her debut novel when she was sixteen. She is now a multi-published author of fiction and non-fiction inspirational yet authentic books for teens, including her latest release, LOVE YOUR SELFIE (October 2020, Ellie Claire). Tessa's passion for shedding light on clean entertainment and media for teens led her to a career as a Literary Agent at Cyle Young Literary Elite, YA Acquisitions Editor for Illuminate YA (LPC Imprint), and Founder/Editor of PursueMagazine.net. She is guilty of making way too many lattes and never finishing her to-read list. When her fingers aren’t flying 128 WPM across the keyboard, she can speak to teens, teach at writing conferences, and act in Christian films. Her favorite way to procrastinate is to connect with readers on her mailing list, social media (@tessaemilyhall), and website: www.tessaemilyhall.com.