He's Alive!!!

Happy Resurrection Day to each one of you!

As I reflect on this day that we celebrate our risen LORD, I feel such joy in my heart. So many hymns come to mind, and I've been singing them as I prepare for our celebration meal. But one song, not a hymn, stands out in my mind. Perhaps because I've known it for years, long before I had any hymns memorized. Perhaps because it tells the story of the day that Jesus arose from the dead in such a way that I feel I'm there. I could be Peter! I'm sharing the lyrics, but I'd really like for you to gather your family, click on the link below, turn up your speakers and listen. Really listen. He's alive!

He's 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 AND 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
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 T'WARD THE GARDEN AND 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

SOMETHING STRANGE HAD HAPPENED THERE JUST WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW
JOHN BELIEVED A MIRACLE BUT I JUST TURNED TO GO
CIRCUMSTANCE AND SPECULATION DIDN'T LIFT ME VERY HIGH
'CAUSE I'D SEEN THEM CRUCIFY HIM, AND THEN I SAW HIM DIE

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 DENIED I KNEW HIS NAME
AND EVEN IF HE WAS ALIVE, IT WOULDN'T BE THE SAME

SUDDENLY THE AIR WAS FILLED WITH A 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 I JUST CLUNG TO HIM AND CRIED

HE RAISED ME TO MY FEET AND AS I LOOKED INTO HIS EYES
LOVE WAS SHINING OUT FROM THEM LIKE SUNLIGHT FROM THE SKIES
GUILT AND MY CONFUSION DISAPPEARED IN SWEET RELEASE
AND EVERY FEAR I'D EVERY HAD JUST MELTED INTO PEACE

HE'S ALIVE, HE'S ALIVE, HE'S ALIVE AND I'M FORGIVEN
HEAVEN'S GATES ARE OPENED WIDE

(REPEAT CHORUS TWO MORE TIMES)

HE'S ALIVE, HE'S ALIVE, HE'S ALIVE . . . HE'S ALIVE


Click here to listen to Don Fransisco sing He's Alive!