I went to junior high school during the cold war years, an era when many popular TV shows and movies made reference to the underworld of spies and double agents. Secret passwords and counter-signs were in vogue, even among my circle of close friends. Our password: “The ocean’s green and the sky is blue.” Counter-sign: “The silver fawn lies on the golden plain.” (The fact that I remember this silly phrase but not the names of my secret-agent-wanna-be pals is, of course, an embarrassment to the espionage establishment we were trying to emulate, and probably why I was never recruited by the CIA. But I digress...)

Our sign/counter-sign was more than words; it was a means of identification, a public secret that affirmed and celebrated a special relationship with my friends. In that way, it was a crude example of a phrase and counter-phrase from the first-century Christian community: He is risen! He is risen, indeed! When one believer would encounter another, especially around the Easter season, he would recite the first phrase and the other believer would respond with the second.

The tradition has continued down through the centuries and into every language and culture. The French say: Christ est ressuscité! Il est vraiment ressuscité! In Dutch, it’s Christus is opgestaan! Hij is waarlijk opgestaan! If you were worshiping in Madrid, you would hear, ¡Cristo ha resucitado! ¡En verdad ha resucitado! (I could give you the Italian translation but it loses something without the hand motions. And the Russians accompany this greeting with three kisses, alternating cheeks.)

Today, even non-traditionalists find great meaning in this exchange. First, it is a clear statement of historical truth, a FACT that defines and differentiates our faith. No other religion can make this statement about its founder.

Second, it exudes a wonderful sense of joy. I’m sure after the recent Olympics many Canadians greeted each other with something like, “We won ‘The Game’! We won ‘The Game’ indeed!” Christ’s followers enjoy an even greater FEELING of euphoria because our Lord overcame death and sin (which, by the way, had been undefeated until that fateful Sunday morning.)

Finally, “He is risen! He is risen indeed!” is a statement about the FUTURE of those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep . . . For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:20, 22 NIV). A sure resurrection and a happy reunion with loved ones await us because He first arose from the dead.

It’s a fact. It’s a feeling. It’s our future. I encourage you to joyfully share this meaningful greeting with your faith family in this season of celebration. Just be careful if you use the Russian version.

Blessings,