The Standard April 4, 2026
On Easter Sunday in many churches the minister proclaims, “Christ is risen!” and the congregation affirms that “He is risen indeed!” This is called the Paschal Greeting or Easter Acclamation and is a custom which Christians around the world have used for centuries, more commonly at first in liturgical churches in the east. The greeting reflects the amazing and central resurrection account proclaimed in all four gospels.
“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 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. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” Matthew 28:1-7
“In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? 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.” Luke 24:5-8
Jesus, later in his earthly ministry, told the disciples several times of the suffering and death he would endure at the hands of sinful men. Certainly, this was not what the Jewish people were expecting from their promised Messiah. Instead of a conquering king coming in on a war horse, they got a humble servant riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. Instead of a mighty warrior, they got a forgiving, peaceful leader who taught them to turn the other cheek. Instead of a spotlight-seeker, they got a man who washed feet and told them the last would be first. By becoming the sacrificial lamb on our behalf, Jesus secured eternal life for us through his death and resurrection.
A beautiful Celtic Easter song was released in 2012 by Kristyn and Keith Getty of Northern Ireland and Ed Cash of the United States. “Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed” appropriately reminds us, “How can it be, the One who died, has born our sin through sacrifice to conquer every sting of death? Sing, sing hallelujah. For joy awakes as dawning light when Christ’s disciples lift their eyes. Alive he stands, their Friend and King; Christ, Christ he is risen. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed! Oh, sing hallelujah. Join the chorus, sing with the redeemed; Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.” The last stanza makes an especially fitting benediction for us to go out and share this Easter joy. “The power that raised Him from the grave now works in us to powerfully save. He frees our hearts to live his grace; Go tell of his goodness.”
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