Weekly Devotion
April 5, 2026

He Is Risen Indeed!

“He is risen!”
“He is risen indeed!”

What Easter traditions in the Church do you hold dear?

This familiar call-and-response, known as the Paschal greeting, has deep historical roots in the Orthodox and Catholic traditions. Though I cannot recall exactly when our church adopted this practice, I know that I have participated in it with great enthusiasm for many years.

In time, I came to understand that this proclamation is grounded in Scripture. In Luke 24:34, we read: “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” This simple yet powerful declaration forms the foundation of the greeting we enthusiastically repeat each Easter morning.

Yet I often find myself reflecting on the nature of tradition. After many years of repetition, do these words still carry their full meaning for us? Or have they, at times, become phrases we say out of habit rather than conviction?

During my studies as an ASL interpreter, I was introduced to the field of Linguistics, including areas such as semantics, phonetics, phonology, morphology, and syntax. This training deepened my appreciation for language and its capacity to convey meaning. It also sparked my curiosity about the translation of the Bible—how its truths have been faithfully carried across languages and generations.

Even from a grammatical perspective, the phrase “He is risen” invites reflection. In modern usage, we might expect to hear “He has risen.” However, the traditional phrasing carries profound theological significance. “He is risen” not only declares a past event but also affirms a present reality: Jesus Christ rose from the dead and remains alive today. As it is written in Book of Revelation 1:18, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!”

Language, even in its smallest details, can reveal deep truth. Too often, I have rushed through this proclamation, echoing it with excitement simply because it is what we do on Easter morning. Yet these words deserve thoughtful reflection.

1 Corinthians 15:17 reminds us, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” But because He has risen, we have hope—hope for redemption, for new life, and for eternity with Him.

Using this greeting should be more than an empty tradition. The words “He is risen!” proclaim the joyous truth that Jesus’ sacrifice was not in vain and that He has triumphed over death. When we respond, “He is risen indeed,” we affirm this truth together, strengthening one another in faith.

It is my hope that we would take time to appreciate the meaning and context behind the traditions we hold dear. May we never allow them to become routine or hollow. Instead, let us proclaim with renewed understanding and conviction:

He is risen. He is risen indeed

Written by Jodi Dyck