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
Then 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 to 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 us where she'd been
She said, "They moved him in the night and none of us knows where
The stones 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
How or where they'd taken him, it was more than I could tell
Perhaps 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 and then 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
Then suddenly the air was filled with a strange and sweet perfume
Light that came from everywhere drove shadows from the room
Then Jesus stood before me with His arms held open wide
And I fell down on my knees and just clung to Him and cried
Then He raised me to my feet and as I looked into His eyes
Love was shining out from Him like sunlight from the skies
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
Heavens gates are open wide
He's alive, He's alive, He's alive and I'm forgiven
Heavens gates are open wide (repeat)
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth:
Make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
