a difference in someone's lives in a way that is meaningful. (voice-over) welcome to a special easter celebration from rome with franklin graham. (graham) many of you are searching for something and you're looking for a way to give your life a purpose and meaning. (voice-over) and music from michael w. smith with choir and orchestra. ♪ blessed easter to each and every one. he is risen and he is risen indeed. i'm coming to you

from rome, italy. michael w. smith will be joining me in just a few minutes. he's put together a very special music team. you say, "franklin, why are you in rome?" well, jesus was born in the roman empire. he ministered in the roman empire. in bible times, rome was the center of political, economic, and military power. rome ruled the world. jesus had many encounters with roman citizens. one in particular was a centurion. he had a friend, a servant, who was deathly ill, and he asked if jesus would heal him. and jesus said, "i'll go," and the centurion said, "no, you don't have to. >> jesus said i will go and youa don't have to, just say the word and my servant will be healed and all you have to do and say the word. another roman was pilate, the governor.

jesus had been betrayed. the jewish elders were jealous. they were afraid of him. they plotted his murder and they turned him over to pilate because they couldn't crucify him. only the romans could do that. pilate examined jesus. he said, "i find no fault in this man. "he's done nothing that deserves death." but they yelled and demanded that he be crucified. it was a miscarriage of justice, but jesus went willingly to the cross. then there were the roman soldiers standing guard at the tomb. jesus was buried, stone rolled in front of it, guards guarding the tomb so no one could steal his body. and on the third day, an angel from heaven came. and the stone was rolled away and jesus came up out of the grave alive. and the roman soldiers were the first witnesses to the resurrection of christ. jesus had many encounters with people. in a minute, i want to tell you about a man who was searching.

he felt something was missing in his life. i know many of you are watching, maybe searching for something that can give your life purpose and meaning. but first, i want to introduce my dear friend, michael w. smith. he's traveled with me all over the world. and i'm so grateful he can join us for this very special easter service. (smith) as we remember the death of jesus and celebrate his resurrection, i was thinking about how we start this whole thing off musically and i thought, "why don't we start "with something simple?" (smith begins singing a cappella) ♪ were you there when they crucified my lord? ♪ ♪ were you there when they crucified my lord? ♪ ♪ oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble ♪

♪ tremble, tremble. ♪ were you there ♪ when they crucified my lord? (orchestra begins playing) ♪ were you there when they nailed him to the tree? ♪ ♪ ♪ were you there when they nailed him to the tree? ♪ ♪ ♪ oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble ♪ ♪ tremble, tremble. ♪ were you there when they nailed him to the tree? ♪ ♪ ♪ were you there when they laid him in the tomb? ♪

♪ ♪ were you there when they laid him in the tomb? ♪ ♪ oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble ♪ ♪ tremble, tremble. ♪ were you there ♪ when they laid him in the tomb? ♪ ♪ ♪ were you there ♪ when he rose up from the dead? ♪ ♪ ♪ were you there ♪ when he rose up from the dead? ♪ ♪ oh, sometimes i feel like ♪ ♪ shouting glory (glory) glory ♪

♪ glory. (a cappella) ♪ were you there when he rose up from the dead? ♪ (choir vocalizing) ♪ (smith) when i think about christ conquering death and all the things that he said, i'm just confident that i can get through whatever obstacle or whatever circumstance comes my way. he's never failed me. i'm a testimony of that. ♪ here in the death of christ i live ♪ (smith) what's inspiring about the resurrection is that as a songwriter, there's nothing greater to write about. because that's what the world needs to hear. when i think of resurrection, i think of freedom 'cause i'm free.

i mean, i once was dead and i'm alive. i just think it's incredible. thank you, lord, for these amazing musicians. we dedicate everything that we do. may everything that we play and sing and say glorify you in every way. (smith) when i was thinking about the music, i sort of had an idea of what i wanted to do, but i had a request--the very first time--from franklin. (chuckles) there's always the first. franklin wanted me to sing in christ alone, but he wanted an orchestra. i got to put my orchestra hat on and to be able to get in the studio and to be able to create a template of what in christ alone could be like orchestrally. my hope for the audience? this certain arrangement, they'll go, "whoa, i've never heard it like that." something about that second verse going, "i never thought about that." ♪

♪ ♪ in christ alone, my hope is found ♪ ♪ he is my light, my strength ♪ ♪ my song ♪ this cornerstone, this solid ground ♪ ♪ firm through the fiercest drought and storm ♪ ♪ what heights of love, what depths of peace ♪ ♪ when fears are stilled, when strivings cease ♪ ♪ my comforter, my all in all ♪

♪ here in the love of christ i stand ♪ ♪ ♪ in christ alone who took on flesh ♪ ♪ fullness of god in helpless babe ♪ ♪ this gift of love and righteousness ♪ ♪ scorned by the ones he came to save ♪ ♪ till on that cross that jesus died ♪ ♪ the wrath of god was satisfied ♪ ♪ for every sin on him was laid ♪ ♪ here in the death of christ i live ♪ ♪

♪ there in the ground his body lay ♪ ♪ light of the world by darkness slain ♪ ♪ ♪ then bursting forth in glorious day ♪ ♪ up from the grave he rose again ♪ ♪ and as he stands in victory ♪ ♪ sin's curse has lost its grip on me ♪ ♪ for i am his and he is mine ♪ ♪ bought with the precious blood of christ ♪ ♪ no guilt in life, no fear in death ♪

♪ this is the power of christ in me ♪ ♪ from life's first cry to final breath ♪ ♪ jesus commands my destiny ♪ ♪ no power of hell, no scheme of man ♪ ♪ can ever pluck me from his hand ♪ ♪ till he returns or calls me home ♪ ♪ here in the power of christ i'll stand ♪ ♪ no power of hell, no scheme of man ♪ ♪ can ever pluck me from his hand ♪ ♪ till he returns or calls me home ♪ ♪ here in the power of christ i'll stand (i'll stand) ♪

♪ (i'll stand, i'll stand) ♪ here in the power of christ, i'll stand! ♪ ♪ ♪ (birdsong) (graham) i'm in rome. it's a beautiful city, i think one of the most beautiful cities in the world. in rome today, there's evidence of religious history everywhere. you see architecture, artifacts, museums, churches. it's a place full of religious history, but we need more than religion. we need a relationship with god.

and the only way that we can have that relationship is through faith in god's son, jesus christ. we read in the bible that jesus had an encounter with a man by the name of nicodemus. i'd like to read that to you. it's in john chapter 3. "nicodemus comes to jesus at night. "he said, 'rabbi, we know that you're a teacher who has come "'from god, for no one could perform these miracles, "'these signs that you're doing, if god weren't with him.' "jesus declared, 'i tell you the truth. "'no one can see the kingdom of god unless he is born again.' "'how can a man be born when he's old?' nicodemus asked. "'surely, he can't enter a second time "'into his mother's womb to be born.' "jesus answered, 'i tell you the truth. "'no one can enter the kingdom of god "'unless he is born of water and the spirit. "'flesh gives birth to flesh, "'but the spirit gives birth to spirit.'"

nicodemus was a religious leader. he was a pharisee. pharisees were the strictest of religious sects. he prayed two hours a day in the temple. he tithed his money. people looked up to him. he had a great reputation. he was a good man, but yet something was missing in his life. and he came seeking jesus at night and he recognized the miracles that jesus had done. he didn't dispute them. he knew that jesus had raised people from the dead, that he had made the lame to walk, the blind to see. he did not dispute that, but he didn't have a relationship with god. "your religion is not enough." jesus told nicodemus, "surely, i say to you, "unless you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of god." he must have been shocked. nicodemus said to him, "how can a man be born when he's old? "can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"

jesus said, "that which is born of flesh is flesh, "but that which is born of the spirit is spirit." jesus told nicodemus, "you got to be born again." there are lots of religions in this world, a lot of religious people, but religion in itself cannot save you. people say, "well, i'm a baptist," or "i'm a methodist," or "i'm a presbyterian," or "i'm a catholic." religion cannot save you. being a member of this or that can't save you. you have to be born again. we have a problem and, you see, that problem is sin. and the bible says, "all of us have sinned and come short of god's glory." the bible says, "therefore, just as through one man "sin entered the world and death through sin "and thus death spread to all men "because all have sinned." god's word tells us that "the wages of sin is death, "but the gift of god is eternal life "through jesus christ, our lord." sin separates us from god. oh, "what is sin?"

well, lying is a sin. when you say, "well, i haven't lied." (chuckles) well, you're lying right now. murder, adultery, stealing, dishonoring your parents, coveting, taking god's name in vain. not keeping the sabbath is a sin. all of us are guilty. there's no one who can keep god's law. so therefore, we cannot be saved. you cannot be saved, or experience the new birth, by observing the law because we're all guilty. we were born into sin. when your mother conceived you, you were born into sin when you came into this world. when the first man and woman, adam and eve, disobeyed god, at that moment, sin came into the world and infected the entire human race. we're all guilty. it's like a cancer of the human soul that has affected the entire human race. so, what is the new birth? it's spoken of throughout the scripture. the bible says, "i'll give you a new heart "and i'll put a new spirit within you." do you want a new heart? you turn to christ. do you want a new spirit? turn to christ.

repent of your sins. believe on the name of the lord jesus christ and you'll be saved. jesus christ came from heaven to this earth to save us from our sins. god's word tells us that he paid the penalty of our sins by shedding his blood and dying on a cross. he was buried in a tomb. on the third day, god raised his son to life. there is only one who can save us and that is jesus christ. why? because he has victory over the grave, victory over death. jesus christ paid the price for our sins with his blood on the cross. have you been trusting in religion to save you? maybe you feel something is missing in your life. maybe you have messed up. maybe your life is spinning out of control. maybe you're addicted to alcohol or drugs or sex or maybe your marriage is in trouble. whatever is wrong, whatever mountain is in front of you, whatever storm you're facing, i'm here to tell you that jesus christ is the answer. jesus was going across the sea of galilee and there was a storm.

and jesus was asleep in the back of the boat and the boat began to sink. the waves were breaking over. the disciples were rowing the boat and the waves began to break over the boat. they were trying to bail the water, trying to save the ship, but to no avail. finally, they gave up hope and they realized that their life was lost. and they woke jesus up and said, "jesus, don't you care that we're about to perish?" and jesus looked at them and smiled. he rebuked the wind and the waves and it became instantly calm. "who is this that can calm the storm? "who is this that can rebuke the winds and the waves, "and the winds and the waves obey his voice?" well, jesus is the son of god. whatever storm you're facing, whatever mountain that you feel is too high for you to climb, jesus can handle it. jesus can take you over it, through it, around it. jesus can fix it if you're willing to trust him. the new birth is not a physical change. it's a new direction.

it's the union of your soul with christ. christ comes through the holy spirit to take up residence in your life and spirit. how can you obtain the new birth? nicodemus asks, "how can these things be?" the bible says, "god so loved the world "that he gave his only begotten son "that whosoever believeth in him "should not perish but have everlasting life." you're born again when you put your faith and trust in jesus christ. are you born again? have you experienced that new birth? when you put your faith and trust in jesus christ and you turn from your sins, you experience that new birth. nicodemus, a religious man, he had all the right things, but he didn't have a relationship with god. and he comes to jesus. jesus said, "i am the way, the truth, and the life. "no one comes to the father, except through me." there's no other way to god. there aren't many roads. there's only one. that's through christ because christ is the only one to take our sins.

why christ? because jesus is the one who shed his blood to save us. that's what we celebrate at easter. we celebrate a risen savior. jesus is our savior and he's risen. he's not dead. he's alive. you may say, "franklin, what do i need to do?" you have to be willing to turn from your sins and ask god to forgive you. believe on the name of his son, the lord jesus christ, and ask him to come into your heart and take control of your life. would you like to do that? you can just do that right now. just pray this prayer with me. wherever you are, you can just pray this prayer. just say, "dear god, i'm a sinner. "i'm sorry for my sins. forgive me. "i believe that jesus christ is your son. "i believe that he died on the cross for my sins. "i believe that you raised him to life. "i invite jesus to come into my heart "to take control of my life "from this day forward, forever.

"amen." if you prayed that prayer, call this number: 888-388-2683. that's 888-388-2683. or go to billygraham.org. 888-388-2683. we've got someone who'd like to speak with you. and we've got some literature that we'd like to give to you. so please, call that number or go to billygraham.org. ♪ ♪ alleluia ♪ ♪ alleluia ♪ for the lord god almighty reigns ♪ ♪ ♪ alleluia

♪ ♪ alleluia ♪ for the lord god almighty reigns ♪ ♪ ♪ alleluia ♪ holy, holy ♪ are you lord god almighty ♪ ♪ worthy is the lamb, worthy is the lamb ♪ ♪ you are holy, holy ♪ are you lord god almighty ♪ ♪ worthy is the lamb, worthy is the lamb ♪

♪ you are holy, holy ♪ are you lord god almighty ♪ ♪ worthy is the lamb, worthy is the lamb ♪ ♪ worthy is the lamb ♪ you are holy, holy ♪ are you lord god almighty ♪ ♪ worthy is the lamb, worthy is the lamb ♪ ♪ amen ♪ ♪ worthy is the lamb, worthy is the lamb ♪

♪ you are holy, holy ♪ are you lord god almighty ♪ worthy is the lamb, worthy is the lamb ♪ ♪ you are holy, holy ♪ are you lord god almighty ♪ worthy is the lamb, worthy is the lamb ♪ ♪ worthy is the lamb ♪ ♪ amen. ♪

(music builds) ♪ ♪ ♪ i just would like to say thank you to michael w. smith and that incredible choir and orchestra that he put together there in nashville. and i want to thank my father's good friend rupert murdoch for giving us time on fox. we couldn't have done it without him, and i just want to say thank you. and god bless you and a happy easter to you. ♪ ♪

♪ above all powers, above all kings ♪ ♪ ♪ above all nature and all created things ♪ ♪ ♪ above all wisdom and all the ways of man ♪ ♪ you were here before the world began ♪ ♪ ♪ above all kingdoms, above all thrones ♪ ♪ above all wonders the world has ever known ♪ ♪

♪ above all wealth and treasures of the earth ♪ ♪ there's no way to measure what you're worth ♪ ♪ ♪ crucified, laid behind a stone ♪ ♪ you lived to die, rejected and alone ♪ ♪ like a rose trampled on the ground ♪ ♪ you took the fall ♪ ♪ and thought of me above all ♪ ♪ ♪ crucified, laid behind a stone ♪ ♪ you lived to die, rejected and alone ♪ ♪ like a rose trampled on the ground ♪

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hi, i'm lauren, i lost 67 pounds on golo. i have tried so many different products and have lost so much money and wasted a lot of time. golo is a miracle, it really is. no money wasted in this at all. eric: millions here and around the world celebrating easter sunday. at the vatican this morning, pope francis held easter morning mass many st. peter's square. the pontiff returning to his role in public service yesterday, one week after he left the rome hospital where he was treated for bronchitis. hello, and welcome to a special 90-minute edition of "fox news live," and happy ether from all of us at