As we prepare for our flight to Tampa tomorrow and The Easter Story program we’ll be presenting at Bayside Community Church, I want to share, as a reminder and encouragement to us all, the climax of the program that is taken from our musical, Paid in Full.

“Those who were at the cross that day were not aware that this was a scene of victory. All they saw was a dying Jesus of Nazareth.

“Looking down from the balcony of heaven, the angels watched as the body of the Lord Jesus was lowered from the cross. They saw Him wrapped in grave clothes and they watched the small procession slowly make its way to the borrowed tomb. They heard the sobs of those who loved Him, of those He loved so much. They watched as Joseph of Aramathea helped place the body in his own tomb and roll a large stone across the entrance. And they saw Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary sitting across from the tomb, weeping.

“Hope was gone for the followers of Jesus,
They’d forgotten the things He had said.
Nothing left now but deep grief and questions,
No one thought He would rise from the dead.
They had helplessly watched their Beloved
As He’d hung on the cross in such pain.
Though they wanted to, no one could help Him
As the crowd laughed and mocked Him to shame.

“Satan tried at Christ’s birth through King Herod,
To destroy Him by royal decree.
He had worked every scheme he could think of,
Now at last He would claim victory.
All the demons of hell were rejoicing,
They just knew they had finally won,
For they now had accomplished their mission,
They’d succeeded in killing God’s Son!

“Really? Now for the rest of the story!

“It’s Friday, but Sunday is coming.
It’s the Lord’s Day, so don’t you fear.
It’s Friday and the story’s not ended,
For on Friday, Sunday is near.

“Early Sunday the great God of heaven
Looked down at the sealed garden tomb
Where His Only Begotten lay buried,
Bound by death’s chains in darkness and gloom.
Don’t despair, something’s going to happen.
Don’t give up, it’s approaching the hour
When the Father will reach down from glory
And reveal His omnipotent power.

“There’s a flash, and an angel from heaven
Blinds the men who stand guard at the door.
He rolls back that great tombstone in triumph
For death’s chains hold the Savior no more!
Where oh grave, where oh grave is your victory?
Where oh death, where oh death is your sting?
He the Captive has now become Captor,
Jesus Christ, Lord of Lords, King of Kings.

“It’s Sunday, our Savior is risen!
It’s the Lord’s Day, from death He’s been freed!
It’s Sunday and our Savior is risen,
He is risen, is risen indeed!

“Hallelujah! our Savior is risen!
Hallelujah! from death “we’ve” been freed!
Hallelujah! our Savior is risen,
HE IS RISEN, IS RISEN INDEED!”