There is a new, old song that I have loved ever since the first time I heard it. It’s new in the sense that’s it’s not a hymn of yesteryear but it’s old b/c it was first released in 1977 & some of you weren’t even alive then – 41 years ago.
I wish I could play the guitar & sing it for you b/c I think it is such a powerful & moving song. But I can’t; I don’t have that kind of voice & even if I did, I probably wouldn’t be able to get through it b/c it usually brings tears to my eyes b/c I am so drawn into the story. Instead, I going to read it to you, which is an injustice b/c it is such a great blend of words & music & the swelling & diminishing of the music just adds to its force & draws you into its story & message. So I apologize for just reading it.
Go ahead & pull up in your minds the story of Peter from his great boast about never denying the Lord even if everyone else did, to the actual denying of Jesus, to the death of Jesus this One he had been so attached to for 3 years, to what it must have been like for Peter from Friday evening after Jesus’ death through the Sabbath the next day, then to the hearing early Sunday morning from the women that Jesus’ body was gone & the tomb being empty, to running there with John but then leaving with questions but no answers. And if by chance Jesus had risen from the dead, what it would have been like for him since Jesus had seen him deny Him. Remember we’re told that after Peter’s third denial Jesus looked straight at him & Peter remembered Jesus’ prediction & he went out & wept bitterly. Well, that’s the story this song is based on. It is Don Francisco’s “He’s Alive!” & it’s told from Peter’s perspective:
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 half in fear the day,
Would find the soldiers crashing through to drag us all away.
Then just before the sunrise I heard something at the wall,
The gate began to rattle & a voice began to call,
I hurried to the window & looked down to the street,
Expecting swords & 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 were she'd been,
She said they moved Him in the night and none of us knows where,
The stone’s been rolled away & now His body isn't there.
We both ran toward the garden then John ran on ahead,
We found the stone & 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 but what I did not know,
John believed a miracle but I just turned to go,
Circumstance & speculation couldn't lift me very high,
Cause I'd seen them crucify Him and then I'd watched Him die,
Back inside the house again all the guilt & anguish came,
Everything I'd promised Him just added to my shame,
But when at last it came to choices I denied I knew His name,
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 shadows from the room,
Jesus stood before me with His arms held open wide,
And I fell down on my knees and 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 sky,
Guilt and my confusion disappeared in sweet release,
And every fear I'd ever had just melted into peace.
He's alive, 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 and I'm forgiven,
Heaven’s gates are open wide.
He's alive, He's alive, He's alive and I'm forgiven,
Heavens gates are open wide.
He's alive!
Now of course, we don’t know what transpired when Jesus appeared privately to Peter (Lk.24:34; 1 Cor. 15:5) so yes, that part of the song is speculation but I sure can picture it being something like the song describes. And I also can just see Peter, after Jesus leaves, walking around his house, saying out loud, “He’s alive & I’m forgiven! He’s alive & I’m forgiven!” I don’t think that’s pushing it too much to imagine that b/c I could see myself having the same response.
Think about what it meant to Peter to know 1) Jesus was truly alive & had risen from the dead. I mean hope, his hope, had died on Friday. Yes, John believed a miracle that Sunday morn but there is no indication that Peter did. This was the end of not just Jesus & all He had accomplished, but also probably for Peter too b/c the religious leaders would most likely want to get rid of all of the disciples in order to permanently rid themselves of this nuisance & Peter was 1 of the prominent ones.
So imagine the utter shock & stunning astonishment when Jesus appeared before him? And to fully comprehend that He really was risen & alive, this wasn’t some dream or hallucination. There He physically stood in front of him. There may not have been a happier person on the planet that day.
2) But secondly, not only was Jesus alive but He had forgiven Peter. We’re not specifically told what Jesus said to him, but I don’t think we out-of-line to think this in light of what Peter had done to Christ. But now to be assured in that meeting that he was forgiven, loved & accepted. When I get to Heaven, I would like to sit down & ask Peter to tell me about that meeting.
What a completely turnaround day resurrection day was for Peter! Now let’s think about ourselves using the words of the chorus.
? He’s Alive – This morning we gather early in a cemetery for only 1 reason – b/c Jesus is alive. He did rise from the dead. If that wasn’t true there would be good reason to question the sanity of a group of people being in a cemetery early in the morning. It would be pretty foolish & hopeless.
But we know He is alive from all the reports from history, from the changed lives of the disciples & other evidences but most of all we know He’s alive b/c as the hymns states: “You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart” – it’s personal not just factual! And we also know b/c of our changed lives! And we have a personal relationship with Him to the extent that He walks with us & talks with us along life’s way. TF, we know, in the very center of our being that “we serve a risen Savior.” He’s alive!
? I’m Forgiven – Those are some of the sweetest, most treasured words a person can hear after they’ve committed some horrendous wrong-doing. IDK if you’ve ever done something truly wrong. I’m mean so often we try to justify & make excuses for what we’ve done. But I’m talking about a true, bonafide, no justifying wrong. And you’ve gone & asked that one you’ve wronged for forgiveness & they’ve given it to you. Pretty incredible feeling, isn’t it?
But in an infinitely greater way, to hear from the holy & almighty God:
• knowing there was no way to warrant, earn or deserve forgiveness.
• knowing that b/c of my wrongs, my soul was damned to an eternal hell.
• knowing that I had a debt against me that I literally could not pay, no matter how long it took.
Yet through the sacrifice of the Savior & my trust in what He did, to hear God say to me, “You’re forgiven, totally & completely forgiven.” How, how do you describe that? I’m forgiven!
? Heaven’s gates are opened wide - And then there’s a 3rd incredible truth - since He’s alive & since we’ve been forgiven that means Heaven’s gates are open wide for our entrance & welcome when we die.
Have you ever tried to go somewhere & when you arrived you didn’t realize that there was a gate & it was closed? And there was no one around to let you in or worst there was a guard but he didn’t have your name on his list & therefore would not let you in & you missed whatever you were trying to get too.
But b/c He’s alive & as a result of putting your faith in Him which means you’re forgiven, you don’t have to worry about the gate being closed b/c your name is on the list, it’s in the Book & the gates will not only be opened wide for you BUT your arrival will be anticipated & greatly welcomed by Jesus Christ Himself.
He’s alive & I’m forgiven & Heaven’s gates are opened wide – kind of hard to top those 3 truths. So I encourage you throughout this day, this week, at different times & especially if it gets hard or stressful - to say to yourself, repeat to yourself: He’s alive & I’m forgiven. He’s alive & I’m forgiven & heaven’s gates are open wide & He’s waiting for me! Just repeat those to yourself & let these truths lift your spirit as I’m sure it did for Peter on that morning.
[Look the song up on YouTube and give it a listen]
