“He Is Risen!” Friend, Mar. 1975, 48–inside back cover

He Is Risen!

By Mabel Jones Gabbott

After the stone was rolled away
And Jesus came forth that Easter day,
How many people saw Him then,
How many women and children and men,
How many touched His hands and side
And knew that Jesus was truly alive?

First, there was Mary Magdalene
Who saw the Lord before He had seen
Our Father in heaven. Later, there came
Other Faithful women who called His name
And held His feet and worshipped Him.
They knew that Jesus was alive again.

On the road to Emmaus were two
Who walked with Him and never knew
(Though they marveled at all the things He said)
That it was Jesus until they broke the bread.
Then some way the Savior made Himself known,
And as they marveled—lo, Jesus was gone.

In Jerusalem the eleven gathered together.
Perhaps they waited, wondering whether
Jesus would soon show Himself again.
And suddenly He was in the midst of them:
“Why are ye troubled? See my hands and feet;
It is I, myself. Have ye any meat?”
And He ate of the fish and honeycomb
To prove that His body was flesh and bone.

Thomas, who was not there then, said:
“I can’t believe Jesus is not dead;
I must see the nail prints and feel His side.”
Eight days later Thomas cried,
“Lord, I believe you are truly He
Who died on the cross at Calvary.”

Several times in Jerusalem
Jesus came to people and spoke to them,
And tried to explain that He was alive.
He knew it was hard to realize
That a person could take up his body once more
And walk and talk as he did before.
He wanted many to know it was true.
Once five hundred people saw Him and knew
That Jesus who died was alive again.

And we will live too! This is His gift to men.