He is probably best known for the song "He's Alive" which is Peter's narration of what he felt and experienced that first day of the week when Jesus was resurrected. It's a long song so I'll give the latter verses after he and John had run to the garden tomb and found it empty:
Back inside the house again, all 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.
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.
Jesus stood before me with His arms held open wide,
And I fell down on my knees and clung to Him and cried.
He raised me to my feet and as I looked into His eyes,
Love was shining out from Him like sunlight from the sky.
Guilt and my confusion disappeared in sweet release
And every fear I'd ever had just melted into 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! He's alive and I'm forgiven.
Heaven's gates are opened wide.
That refrain is so full of joy it lifts me up every time I hear it.
He has a good number of songs that tell Bible stories. One tells the story of the forgiven and delivered woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears. It's told from the viewpoint of the Pharisee who had invited Jesus into His house for a meal. At first the Pharisee seems to have a favourable impression of Him:
So I asked Him home to dinner just to see what I could see
Of this famous local prophet from here in Galilee.
(But later:)
And I don't know just how that woman got into the room.
But you couldn't miss her gaudy clothes and her strong and sweet perfume.
She went straight to Jesus' feet and stopped and stood right there,
Then cried and wet His feet with tears
And dried them with her hair.
Now of all the women in this town none was more well-known
For the flagrant sin she lived in and the wickedness she'd sown.
But He didn't move to stop her....seemed this "prophet" couldn't tell
That the woman who was touching Him was the kind they buy and sell.
(Then Jesus, knowing his host's thoughts, addresses him:)
"Take a good look at this woman now. In spite of all her fears
She's kissed Me and anointed Me and washed My feet with tears.
She's honoured me, and you've been only rude to me instead.
You gave no kiss of greeting, no anointing for my head.
And her sins were red as scarlet, and now they're washed away.
The love and faith she's shown is all the price she had to pay.
For the depths of God's forgiveness is more than you can see.
And in spite of what you think of her, she's beautiful to Me."
(The Pharisee's response:)
Now my anger flamed to hatred. I wanted nothing more
Than to take this prophet by the throat, and throw Him out the door.
To act like God, forgiving sins, and then speak so to me!
This itinerant from Nazareth in backwards Galilee.
(Now Jesus is no longer the "famous local prophet from here in Galilee" but the "itinerant from Nazareth in backwards Galilee.)
But instead I sat and trembled, shaken to the core.
The woman still was weeping as she knelt there on the floor.
Jesus turned to her and said, "Your sins have been released.
Your faith has saved you from your sins.
Rise, walk in peace.
Your sins were red as scarlet, but now they're washed away.
The love and faith you've shown is all the price you had to pay.
For the depths of God's forgiveness is deeper than the sea
And no matter what the world may think, you're beautiful to Me."
One more: "I'll Never Let Go of Your Hand"
I know what you've been hearing; I've seen you hide your fear,
Embarrassed by your weaknesses, afraid to let Me near.
I wish you knew how much I long for you to understand,
No matter what may happen, child, I'll never let go of your hand.
I know you've been forsaken by all you've known before.
When you fail their expectations, they frown and close the door.
But even though your heart itself should lose the will to stand,
No matter what may happen, child, I'll never let go of your hand.
The life that I have given you, no one can take away.
I've sealed it with My Spirit, blood and word.
The everlasting Father has made His covenant with you,
And He's stronger than the world you've seen and heard.
So don't you fear to show them all the love I have for you.
I'll be with you everywhere, in everything you do;
And even if you do it wrong, and miss the joy I planned,
I'll never, never let go of your hand.
I'll never let go of your hand.
So I just want us to be encouraged. He is definitely alive, you are forgiven and heaven has been opened to you. (No need to sing "Open Up the Heavens". He did that for us back then when He died for us.)
And no matter what anyone else in the whole world thinks of you, you are beautiful to Him, because He sees you washed clean, righteous and totally acceptable.
Not only that, He is the One who will never let go of your hand. Soak in the truth of Hebrews 13:5, (AMPC version): ....He [God] Himself has said, "I will not in any way fail you (nor) give you up (nor) leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless (nor) forsake (nor) let [you] down (relax My hold on you). [Assuredly not!]"
