He is Alive!

"Jesus Christ is Risen; He is risen indeed! The Lord Jesus died on the Cross of Calvary for our sins, but He rose again from the dead on the third day, because death could not hold Him! He is alive, and with us until the end of the age. In remembrances of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus, I'd like to share with you a wonderful, older song by Don Francisco which beautifully recounts the story of Resurrection Morning from Peter's perspective called simply, He is Alive! I love songs that tell a story like this. Through reading the Gospels, (especially John) the story of Peter's denial and returning to the Lord is especially beautiful and always touches and challenges me whenever I read or hear it.  I pray you may be blessed by this song today, on Easter Sunday.

He is Alive!

by Don Francisco

The gates and doors were barred
And all the windows fastened down,
I spent the night in sleeplessness
And rose at every sound.
Half in hopeless sorrow
And half in fear the day
Would find the soldiers breaking through
To drag us all away.

And just before the sunrise
I heard something at the wall.
The gate began to rattle
And a voice began to call.
I hurried to the window,
Looked down into the street
Expecting swords and torches
And the sound of soldiers' feet.

There was no one there but Mary,
So I went down to let her in,
And John stood there beside me
As she told us where she'd been.
She said, "They've moved Him in the night
And none of us knows where.
The stone's been rolled away
And now His body isn't there."

We both ran toward the garden,
Then John ran on ahead.
We found the stone and the empty tomb
Just the way that Mary said.
But the winding sheet they wrapped Him in
Was just an empty shell
And how or where they'd taken Him
Was more than I could tell.

Well something strange had happened there,
Just what I did not know....
John believed a miracle, but
I just turned to go.
Circumstance and speculation
Couldn't life me very high,
'Cause I'd seen them crucify Him...
Then I saw Him die.

And back inside the house again
The guilt and anguish came.
Everything I'd promised Him
Just added to my shame.
When at last it came to choices,
I'd denied I know His name.
And even if He was alive
It wouldn't be the same.

Suddenly the air was filled
With strange and sweet perfume.
Light that came from everywhere
Drove shadows from the room.
Jesus stood before me
With His arms held open wide.
And I fell down on my knees,
And just clung to Him and cried.

He raised me to my feet,
And as I looked into His eyes
Love was shining out from Him
Like sunlight from the skies.
My guilt and my confusion
Disappeared in sweet release.
And every fear I'd ever had
Just melted into peace.

(Chorus)

He's alive! He's Alive!
He's alive and I'm forgiven
Heaven's gates are open wide!

(Repeat)

He's alive! He's alive! He's alive!

****************************