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 and 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 us where she'd been
She said they moved him in the night and none of us knows where
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 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
Well 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 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 could never be the same
Then suddenly the air was filled with a strange and sweet perfume
Light that came from everywhere go shadows from the room
Then jesus took before me with his arms open and wide
And i fell on my knees and i just crumbled in and cried
Then he raise me to my feet and there's i looked into his eyes
Light was shining out from him, like some light from the sky
Guilt and my confusion dissapeard in sweet release
And every fear i've ever had just melted into peace
Sweet 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 Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
The song "He's Alive" by the Gaither Vocal Band delivers a powerful narrative from the perspective of a disciple experiencing the events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus. It opens with a vivid depiction of fear and confinement following the crucifixion. The atmosphere is one of apprehension, with the speaker and others barricaded inside, sleepless and fearing persecution by soldiers. Every sound brings a jolt of anxiety, highlighting the deep despair and physical threat they felt in the immediate aftermath of losing their leader.
The tension is broken just before dawn by a disturbance at the gate and a voice calling out. The speaker's expectation is military intrusion, envisioning swords and soldiers, a natural reaction given their fear. Instead, it is Mary, bringing astonishing news. Her account of the moved stone and the missing body propels the disciples into action, prompting a race to the garden tomb. The discovery of the empty tomb, just as Mary described, confirms the physical absence of Jesus' body, but the presence of the empty winding sheet leaves the speaker bewildered and unable to comprehend what has happened, contrasting sharply with John's immediate belief in a miracle.
Returning to the house, the speaker is overwhelmed by guilt and anguish, remembering promises made and actions taken, particularly the denial of knowing Jesus. The weight of shame is immense, leading to a sense that even if Jesus were alive, their relationship could never be repaired. This moment captures the depth of human failure and the feeling that past actions create insurmountable barriers to future restoration.
The turning point arrives with a sudden, transformative event. The air fills with a sweet perfume, and a radiant light dispels the shadows. Jesus appears before the speaker, arms open wide. This encounter shatters the despair, leading to an immediate and overwhelming emotional response of falling to the knees, crumbling, and crying. Jesus then raises the speaker, and looking into His eyes, the speaker sees light shining from Him. In that gaze, all guilt and confusion vanish in a sweet release, and every fear melts away, replaced by profound peace.
The song culminates in the triumphant declaration that transforms the disciple's reality: "He's alive, he's alive, he's alive and I'm forgiven." This central truth is the source of their newfound peace and freedom from guilt and fear. It also speaks to the broader impact of the resurrection, symbolizing that "Heaven's gates are open wide" because of this event. The song beautifully illustrates the journey from despair and fear to belief, forgiveness, and peace through the personal encounter with the risen Christ, reflecting the core message of the Gospel. The Gaither Vocal Band's performance often brings a powerful vocal delivery to this dramatic narrative. A video performance released on June 22, 2012, further brought this moving portrayal to audiences. The song's narrative aligns closely with biblical accounts found in passages such as Luke chapter 24, which describes the disciples' fear, the women finding the empty tomb, and Jesus' appearances, or John chapter 20, detailing Mary's discovery, Peter and John running to the tomb, and Jesus appearing to the disciples in the locked room, forgiving and bringing peace. It serves as an inspirational reminder of the hope and transformation offered by the resurrection and the reality of forgiveness.
