Christ Is Risen!

... and (Jesus) was buried. The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures - Nicene Creed

That ancient creed contains traces of far earlier Christian proclamations:

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received:

that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures: and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve. After that, he was seen of above five hundred of the brothers at once; of whom the most remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that, he was seen by James; then by all the apostles. 

(Paul, first letter to the Corinthians 15:3-7)

Paul's words were what he received from the earlier believers -- some of them who had seen the risen Lord themselves. Paul knew these people; he had met those who had run to the tomb in confusion and amazement that morning when the proclamation was very first head: he is not here. He has risen.

They have passed it down to us, an echo of the words first spoken at the empty tomb nearly 2000 years ago, and a record of the some of the times he came among the apostles after he had risen from the dead. It has been proclaimed in amazement by his people ever since:

He is not here. He is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. (Matthew 28:6)

He is not here. He is risen. Come see the place where they laid him. (Mark 16:6)

He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told to you ... (Luke 24:6)

This was now the third time Jesus had showed himself to the disciples after he was risen from the dead. (John 21:14)

Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia.


Other celebrations spotted:

He is risen!
He is risen indeed!
He arose!