He is risen.

“He is risen” is a traditional Christian proclamation of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, used especially in Easter liturgy and greetings. It echoes the New Testament resurrection narratives in which women visiting Jesus’ tomb are told that he has been raised from the dead. In many churches the phrase functions as a call-and-response acclamation (often answered with “He is risen indeed”), expressing the central Easter claim that Jesus’ death was not the end. Because it is rooted in scriptural wording and communal worship rather than a single identifiable speaker, it is commonly treated as anonymous or as a biblical/liturgical formula.

The phrase compresses the core Christian message of Easter into three words: the crucified Jesus lives. As an announcement rather than an argument, it is meant to be proclaimed and received as good news, signaling victory over death and the vindication of Jesus’ identity and mission. In Christian theology it also implies hope for believers—resurrection as a promise of renewal, forgiveness, and the possibility of new life. Its enduring power comes from its simplicity and performative force: saying it is itself an act of witness and communal affirmation.

“He is risen indeed.”
“He is not here; for he is risen.”
“Christ is risen.”