30 + Inspiring Scripture Verses for Easter

Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ; it represents renewal, new life, and unconditional love as families and communities come together to celebrate. After Easter services, some families discuss what Easter means to them and honor the man who is at the center of the celebration.

Easter is an interesting holiday because its celebrated on a different date every year. It takes place on the Sunday that follows the first full moon after the March equinox. The 40 days leading up to Easter are known as Lent. They represent the solitary 40 days that Jesus spent in the forest avoiding the temptations of the Devil before beginning his ministry. The 50 days that follow Easter are known as Eastertide and they celebrate Jesus’ ascension into Heaven.

One of the best ways to understand the meaning of Easter and all of the events that lead up to it is through Easter scripture. Below, we have included a selection of Easter bible verses. Some of these Easter scripture quotes are illustrated and ready to print so that they can be enjoyed off of the screen and around your home. Before getting into the scripture, we wanted to include a prayer that you can use or adapt for your Easter Sunday celebration.

Easter Sunday Prayer

Dear Lord,

We honor you and your sacrifice

Help us to live everyday with the tenets that you have set forth.

Help us to love one another in the best and hardest of times.

Help us to feel joy through pain and to help others feel your unconditional love.

For we accept your divine plans and trust in you.

Today, especially, we honor your sacrifice

We are so thankful for your grace and mercy

We pray for your glory and love, Lord, Amen.

Easter Scripture

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” -Peter 1:3-4

“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.” -Romans 10:9

“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” -Romans 8:11

“I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.” -John 17:9

• “But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.” – Ezekiel 18:21
• “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.” -Romans 6:9
• “At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.” -Mark 1:11-13
• “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
• “Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” -Isaiah 58; 6-7
• “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

• “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple…”  -Matthew 4:1-25
• “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” -Zechariah 9:9
• “The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”  When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” -Matthew 21:9-11
• “As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it, and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes.’” -Luke 19:41-42

• “But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; on him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and by his stripes we are healed.” -Isaiah 53:5
• “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.” – Joel 2:12-2:13
• “The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior, who will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love.” -Zephaniah 3:17
• “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” -John 5:13

• “And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.” -Mark 10:34
• “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” -John 19:30
• “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” -Matthew 12:40
• “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

• “The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name.” -Luke 24:46-47
• “Love righteousness, you who judge the earth; think of the Lord in goodness, and seek him in integrity of the heart.” -Wisdom 1:1
• “And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the [mother] of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.” -Mark 16:1-8
• “As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “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. But go, tell his disciples…’” -Mark 16:5-7

• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” -John 3:16
• “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.” -Peter 3:18
• “The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.  When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” -Matthew 27:52-54
• “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” -Romans 8:34

• “He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see;” -John 20:38-39
• “Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” -Romans 6:4
• “That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,” -Philippians 3:10
• “I know that my Savior lives, and at the end he will stand on this earth. My flesh may be destroyed, yet from this body I will see God.” -Job 19:25-26

These beautiful scriptures are the perfect party favor for your Easter Sunday guests. Place them in stand-up frames to accompany each place setting at your dinner table — this way, each guest has their own scripture to read aloud and/or take home. These printouts can also be framed and incorporated into your Easter decorations.  And the best part? They’re reusable for years to come. 

Sources

History | BBC | BibleGateway | Jesus Walk | UMC