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Every year, spring brings a sense of anticipation. Flowers begin to bloom, and Christians worldwide look forward to one of the most meaningful celebrations of the year: Resurrection Sunday.
For many, Easter is associated with yearly traditions—new outfits, family meals, a visit to church, and Easter egg hunts. But at the heart of the celebration is something far deeper. Easter centers on the moment that changed history and reshaped faith for millions around the world.
So, what is Resurrection Sunday? Let’s dig into why we celebrate Resurrection Sunday and when to look forward to this special day of celebration in 2026!
Resurrection Sunday is the celebration of Jesus Christ rising from the dead, the cornerstone event of Christianity and the foundation of the Easter message of hope!
From a historical perspective, we discover that Resurrection Sunday commemorates the day Jesus Christ rose from the grave after he had been crucified on the cross by Roman authorities. The Easter biblical accounts in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) describe the discovery of the empty tomb and the first encounters with the risen Christ. Additionally, there are many Bible verses throughout all of Scripture, including the Old Testament, that relate to Resurrection Sunday.
Jesus Christ was a man born in Bethlehem of miraculous conception to the virgin Mary. He was raised in Nazareth, a town in the Galilee region, where he spent the majority of his approximate thirty-three years on earth. While here on earth, he performed divine miracles, taught his disciples, and spoke to crowds, events which are recorded in the Bible.
Jesus made the ruling Jewish sects—the Sadducees and the Pharisees—uncomfortable and angry with his claims to be God incarnate in human flesh. His challenging statements, claims of divinity, as well as his miracles were countercultural and garnered him a following, something that made the ruling authorities nervous.
Mostly, his claim to be the expected Messiah that Jewish prophets and religious texts had been expecting and prophesying about for thousands of years was considered extremely controversial. The Messiah was foretold to deliver the Jewish people from oppression, and many Jews thought that meant the Messiah would lead a rebellion against the oppressors or ruling government.
In Jesus’ time, the governing Romans had taken over the region by force and demanded loyalty to Rome’s authority. Jesus’ growing influence and the claim that He was “King of the Jews” were viewed as a political threat, while His claims to divinity deeply troubled Jewish religious leaders. As a result, the Bible details His arrest, trial, and crucifixion on a Roman cross.
Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Christ on the cross, the “first” day.” Holy Saturday is the second day, and on the third day (the morning of Easter Sunday) followers of Jesus went to the tomb expecting to mourn. Instead, they were met with an astonishing reality: the stone was rolled away and Jesus was alive!
This moment is not just a miracle story—it is the central claim of the Christian faith. Resurrection Sunday is the turning point in the Christian faith that separates traditional Christianity from other major world religions.
It’s important to remember that for Christians these are not mere moral stories to admire. Instead, the Bible describes real people, who existed in real time, such as his disciples, who followed the real Jesus—who is alive today!
Historically, the evidence for the Bible and Jesus’s resurrection is vastly superior to any other text on earth, including works by Homer, Plato, and Aristotle. For example, only seven manuscripts of Plato’s works are known to exist, and the earliest surviving copy was transcribed by a scribe roughly 1,200 years after Plato’s death! Yet most scholars confirm the text we possess today accurately reflects what Plato originally wrote.
In contrast, with over 24,000 original New Testament manuscripts and thousands more in other languages, its textual reliability exceeds 99% agreement, while archaeology has consistently verified its historical and geographical details.
At the center of Christianity is Christ’s life, death and resurrection, which is considered to confirm his claims to divinity and his victory over death. Without the resurrection, Christianity becomes only a moral teaching. With it, believers see confirmation that Jesus truly is Lord and Savior, the ultimate atonement for the sins of the world.
So when people ask, “What is Resurrection Sunday?”, the simplest answer is: It is the day Christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ, including his sacrificial death and his victory over sin and his promise of eternal life for those who call upon him as Savior and Lord.
Christians celebrate Resurrection Sunday after the season of Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter, reflective of Jesus’ time of fasting and prayer in the wilderness. This season of Lent is an important time in the Church calendar to fast and prepare one’s heart for the significance of Easter.
After the Season of Lent culminates in Holy Week, Christians gather together on Easter Sunday to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ, the focal point of Christian faith. Resurrection Sunday is not just remembering something that happened long ago—it is celebrating a living hope we continue to experience every day.
Many people wonder, when is Resurrection Sunday? Unlike fixed holidays, Easter changes each year.
This year, Resurrection Sunday 2026 falls earlier than usual on April 5, 2026. The date is determined by the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. This means Easter always falls between March 22 and April 25, based on ecclesiastical calculations rather than astronomical observation. This method connects the celebration to the historical timing of Passover during which the crucifixion occurred.
Resurrection Sunday, or Easter Sunday, is the culmination of Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter. The Sunday prior to Resurrection Sunday is Palm Sunday, which is followed by Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday.
Across the world, this day is marked by worship services, music, baptisms, and gatherings filled with joy and celebrations. Worldwide, millions of Catholics and Protestants every year celebrate Resurrection Sunday. Coming from different traditions, this special day is celebrated in unique ways depending on the country, ethnicities, cultures, or denominations,
Resurrection Sunday is celebrated in a variety of ways, both in churches and at home. Common traditions include:
Globally, Easter celebrations vary—from quiet reflection to vibrant festivals—but the meaning remains consistent across cultures. Regardless of different cultures, denominations, and traditions, the ultimate purpose remains the same: to celebrate the resurrection of Christ!
The message of Easter is not confined to a single day. The resurrection invites believers to live differently, every day, all year long.
The hope of Easter is found in the full implications of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. Christians believe the resurrection assures them that death, suffering, and despair do not have the last word.
Because of Resurrection Sunday:
Easter reminds believers that faith is not rooted in wishful thinking but in a living Savior who still speaks to us divinely today through the Holy Spirit.
Resurrection Sunday stands at the center of the Christian story. It is confirmed today through the power of the Spirit, ongoing miracles, and the witness of committed Christians who faithfully and daily live out the full implications of Resurrection Sunday.
Whether someone has celebrated for years or is exploring faith for the first time, Easter offers an invitation: Reflect on what the resurrection means and consider the hope it offers today.
If you’re looking for a place to experience that hope, consider visiting a local church service this Easter—or invite a friend to your church’s celebration on Resurrection Sunday to share the message of hope with someone!
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