He Is Risen -- I

The cruel cross was empty At the close of the day. The crucified One Had been carried away By disciples who loved Him, And, with hearts full of gloom, His body, they tenderly Laid in a tomb. The household of Satan Rejoiced in the night, To think that at last They'd extinguished the Light, Who had come to enlighten A world dark with sin-- Who had come to redeem The lost souls of men. Through a night and day-- And another long night, To His disciples it seemed There was no hope in sight. Their hearts and their lives Lay broken inside. How lonely and bitter Were the tears that they cried! On the first day of the week, Before it was light, Came three mourning women, After a dark, sleepless night, To the door of the tomb, And, in fearful dismay, They found the tomb open-- The stone rolled away. Bewildered, they wondered Who had moved the great stone. Inside, they found The Lord's body was gone. Then, two angels appeared, And one of them said, "Why seek ye the living In this place of the dead? "He's not here; He is risen! You all heard Him say, He would die and be buried, But arise the third day. Go, tell His disciples These things that you see Soon they, too, shall see Him In Galilee."