(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 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 soldier's 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've 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 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 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  Disappeared 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  Has alive yes Has alive  Oh He's alive and I'm forgiven  Heavens gates are open wide  He's alive 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  Sweet Jesus  Copyright ©1977 by New Pax Music Press , ASCAP