He’s Alive

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 breakin’ 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

But there was no one there but Mary
So I went down to let her in
John stood there beside me
As she told me where she’d been
She said they might have 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 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

Oh 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 lift me very high
‘Cause I’d seen them crucify him
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

But suddenly the air was filled
With a strange and sweet perfume
Light that came from everywhere
Drove the shadows from the room
And 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

Then He raised me to my feet
And as I looked into His eyes
The love was shining out from Him
Like sunlight from the skies
Guilt in my confusion
Dissappeared in sweet release
And every fear I’d ever had
Just melted into peace

He’s alive yes He’s alive
Yes He’s alive and I’m forgiven
Heaven’s gates are open wide
He’s alive yes He’s alive
Oh He’s alive and I’m forgiven
Heaven’s gates are open wide
He’s alive yes He’s alive
Hallelujah He’s alive
He’s alive and I’m forgiven
Heaven’s gates are open wide
He’s alive He’s alive He’s alive

He’s Alive must be one of the most popular Easter songs of all time!  Southern Gospel Music fans enjoy The Talley Trio’s rendition featuring Lauren Talley.  The story in this song is written from Peter’s point of view, we can learn a lot about our own faith by what Peter did, but more importantly, we can learn about the Lord’s great forgiveness!

John 20:19 – “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, ‘Peace be unto you.’”

Peter and the Disciples:
When Jesus was alive and ministering, there was a certain fear for the safety of the Messiah and those who followed Him, but as Christ moved on fearlessly His disciples went with Him. When Jesus was in the judgment hall, the disciples safety was in jeopardy even more. Out of fear they all fled, except for Peter, who ended up denying his Lord three times. But now that Jesus was dead, the lives of His disciples were in even more danger than ever. Fear is the only word to sum up their state. As a matter of fact, in John 20 we find the disciples hiding in a room with the doors barred shut…from fear. The One whom they gave up everything for was dead. The One who consumed their future was dead. The One who they lived serving was dead. There were no mistakes, Jesus of Nazareth was wrapped up in a tomb. Beside fear, I can’t help but wonder what they were thinking? What were they going to do with their lives now? The only One that mattered wasn’t around anymore.

The Savior:
Yet, we know that on the third day the Savior was no longer dead, but living. When He appeared to His disciples, what was the first thing that fled from them? Yep, fear. It says in John 20:20 “And when He had so said, He showed unto them His hands and His side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.” In the presence of the Savior, fear flees! It’s worthy of note, that after Jesus ascended into heaven in the book of Acts, and the disciples went forth to preach – they were still facing the same threats from the Jewish nation as they were when they hid in that room with the doors locked. Their lives were still in danger, just as they were before Jesus rose. What changed? The simple, yet confounding fact, He’s alive! The knowledge of a Living Savior gave them hope, boldness, and reckless faith in the work Jesus sent them to do. To them, the only thing that mattered anymore was that He’s alive!Without a living Savior, we would be able to do nothing but huddle in a room with locked doors too. But thanks be unto Him, that since He lives, we don’t have to live in fear of anything! This Easter, let’s show through our lives how much we appreciate our Living Lord! Hallelujah! He’s Alive!