This list gives you Scripture passages about the resurrection of Jesus, along with a plain explanation of what each one means and how it applies to ordinary life. It is written for Christians who want to understand why the empty tomb matters, or who need to hold on to hope in a season of loss, fear, or doubt. Each reference is followed by a reflection you can carry into your day.
These passages share one central claim: Jesus died, rose bodily from the grave, and the resurrection changes what death, sin, and the future mean for those who trust him. Some describe the event itself, some explain its meaning, and some connect it to the hope of your own resurrection.
Verses That Tell the Story of the Empty Tomb
These passages record what the first witnesses found and what they were told on that first Sunday morning. Reading them slowly helps you picture the moment and see that the resurrection was reported as history, not as a symbol.
Matthew 28:6
He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying.
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The angel’s words are short and direct: the tomb is empty because the one who was crucified has risen. When a loss feels final, pause and remind yourself that God has already acted decisively. Write the verse on a card and read it before you open your inbox.
John 20:8-9
8 So then the other disciple who came first to the tomb also entered in, and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they didn’t know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
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Peter and John saw the linen cloths and began to understand what the empty tomb meant, though they did not yet grasp the full picture. Understanding can arrive slowly. If you are still working out what you believe, you can take the next honest step without rushing to certainty.
Luke 24:5-6
5 Becoming terrified, they bowed their faces down to the earth. They said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He isn’t here, but is risen. Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee…
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The women were asked why they searched among the dead for someone who is alive. That question is worth asking yourself when you look for life only in what is already gone. Choose one place this week where you have been looking backward and turn it toward the living Lord.
Verses That Explain Why the Resurrection Matters
These verses move from the event to its meaning. They show how Paul and others understood the resurrection as the proof that Jesus is God’s Son and the foundation of forgiveness and new life.
Romans 1:4
Who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord…
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Paul says the resurrection declared Jesus to be the Son of God with power. When you doubt who is really in charge of your circumstances, let this verse steady you. Name one thing you have been trying to control and say, quietly, that Christ holds authority over it.
1 Corinthians 15:17
If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.
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Paul argues that if Christ has not been raised, faith is empty and sin remains unpaid. This is a hard truth, and it shows why the resurrection carries so much weight. Thank God today specifically for the forgiveness that rests on the risen Christ.
Romans 4:25
Who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.
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Jesus was handed over for our sins and raised for our justification. The cross deals with guilt, and the resurrection confirms that the work is accepted. When guilt returns, remind yourself that the verdict was settled by the resurrection, not by your performance.
Verses About Hope for Your Own Resurrection
These passages turn toward the future. They connect Christ’s resurrection to the promise that those who belong to him will also be raised, which gives courage in the face of illness, grief, and death.
1 Corinthians 15:20
But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep.
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Christ is described as the firstfruits, the first of a harvest that will follow. His rising is not an isolated event but the beginning of something larger. Next time you attend a funeral or visit someone who is dying, let this verse shape the words you choose.
John 11:25-26
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. 26 Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
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Jesus tells Martha that he is the resurrection and the life. Her grief was real, and so is his promise. If you are sitting with a loss, bring your honest question to him in prayer, the way Martha did.
Philippians 3:10-11
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed to his death; 11 if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
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Paul longs to know the power of Christ’s resurrection and to share in his sufferings. Resurrection life is not only future but shapes how you live now. Ask God today for one small act of faithfulness that reflects his new life in you.
How to Use These Verses
Read one passage at a time rather than the whole list in a single sitting. Copy the verse by hand into a notebook, then write two or three sentences about what it reveals about Jesus and what it asks of you. Returning to the same verse over several days often brings out things you missed the first time.
Use these passages at moments when you need perspective: before a difficult conversation, during a quiet morning, or when you visit a grave. Read the verse aloud, then pray a sentence in response. Over time you will build a small set of resurrection verses you can recall without opening a book.
A Short Prayer for the Resurrection
Lord Jesus, thank you that the tomb is empty and that you are alive. When fear tells me that death has the last word, remind me of your victory and let your resurrection be my confidence. Forgive me for the times I live as though sin and loss still rule over me. Help me to trust that the same power that raised you is at work in my life. Give me hope for those I love who have died in faith, and let my life today show that I belong to the risen Christ. Amen.
