I can’t help it. Every time I listen to the song, I get all choked up. Don Francisco’s ballad “He’s Alive” moves me to tears. The song is about the Resurrection from Peter’s perspective. It starts with Peter being sleepless and fearful that Sunday morning when Mary came to the disciples. Breathlessly, she tells Peter and John:

“Oh, the stone’s been rolled away, and now his body isn’t there”
So 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, it was more than I could tell

Two thousand years ago, a dispirited and crushed group of men woke up on that first Easter morning to the most stupendous event in human history! With our perfect 20/20 hindsight, we tend to demean the disciples for their lack of faith. On at least three occasions, Jesus foretold His death and resurrection.

• “And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.” (Mark 8:31, ESV)

• “For he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.’” (Mark 9:31)

• “And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.’” (Mark 10:32-34)

Is it any wonder that He told the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:25-26)

We have the testimony of the disciples, eyewitnesses to His resurrection appearances, who, with the exception of John, died for the message they proclaimed!

The Centurion at the crucifixion testified, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54)

In Luke 24:34, we see the two disciples who met Jesus on the road to Emmaus return to the upper room to tell the disciples, who told them, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Jesus had told Peter, “Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32)

Don Francisco’s song conveys the emotions of Peter, the one who denied Him three times, being embraced by his Lord.

He’s alive, He’s alive, He’s alive, and I’m forgiven
Heaven’s gates are open wide

The tomb is empty! Heaven’s gates are open wide because He has conquered death and the grave.

Who are you going to tell this Easter?

What say ye, Man of Valor?
Semper Fidelis!