The Fusion Reactor #91 - Happy Resurrection Day!

Welcome to my Easter (Resurrection Sunday) show. I tried to tell the story of the Holy Thursday through Sunday events using prog (and a couple fusion) songs. The verses that tell the story in words are from the English Standard Version.

Mat 26:30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Mat 26:31 Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'
Mat 26:36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go over there and pray."
Mat 26:37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
Mat 26:38 Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me."
Mat 26:39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."


Ajalon - Psalm 61
I don't know that this is the song they sang, but it's a cool way to start off the show.

Iona - The Arrest - Gethsemane
The garden of Gethsemane was probably familiar to all of them, because Judas knew to find him there.

Aerial View - Take This Cup
It should be clarified that Jesus as the Son of God did want mankind to be redeemed by his death, but as a human he wasn't looking forward to the pain and torture that was about to come. He was willing to accept God's will though.

Salem Hill - Aceldama
Not many have undertaken the task of writing about the crucifixion from the point of view of Judas. Leave it to Salem Hill.

Pineapple Thief - Wretched Soul
While this song was probably not written with Judas in mind, I felt it pretty accurately describes his state of mind at that point... at least, before he committed suicide.


Mat 26:46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand."
Mat 26:47 While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people.
Mat 26:50 Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you came to do." Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.
Mat 26:57 Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered.
Mat 26:59 Now the chief priests and the whole Council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death,
Mat 26:63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I command you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."
Mat 26:64 Jesus said to him, "You have said so."
Mat 26:65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy.
Mat 26:66 What is your judgment?" They answered, "He deserves death."
Mat 27:2 And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor.
Luk 23:13 Pilate then called them together,
Luk 23:14 and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him.
Luk 23:16 I will therefore punish and release him."
Luk 23:21 but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!"
Luk 23:22 he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done?"
Luk 23:23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed.
Luk 23:24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted.


Sterilium - Trial And Error
This is an instrumental track from Mark Galang. I'm not sure of his meaning behind it but it's interesting that Rick Wakeman has a track with the same title that addresses this part of the proceedings. Since Rick will be played later in the show, here's Sterilium's song.

Rick Altizer - When You Walked Up That Hill
I'm not sure how high the hill was but it is interesting that it was not within the Jerusalem city walls. This complies with the Old Testament dictate that sacrifices should be outside of the city.

Glass Hammer - Centurion
Rather than just playing the entire Lex Rex album, I just picked a couple of tracks. This one has to do with the Roman soldier standing beneath the cross and wondering exactly who this man was. He is also the one who was ordered to stab Jesus in the side to make sure he was dead. It changed his life.

Vital Information - Jave and a Nail
I didn't know this when I picked the song - I looked it up later, but apparently "Jave" is a variant of Jehovah. This makes the title even more appropriate.


Luk 23:32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.
Mar 15:22 And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull).
Mar 15:27 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left.
Luk 23:34 And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Mat 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.
Mat 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Joh 19:29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.
Joh 19:30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished,"
Luk 23:46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last.


Rick Wakeman - The Cross
The cross has become the central symbol of Christianity, and with good reason. We celebrate the resurrection on Easter Sunday, and that is certainly worthy of celebration, but we need to remember that is couldn't have happened with the cross. This is when our sins were atoned for.

Third Day - Thief
Here's a song written from another unique viewpoint - the forgiven thief (no relation to the Pineapple Thief apparently) who was crucified at the same time as Jesus. Being forgiven may just have made his painful death a bit more bearable.

The Awakening - Into Thy Hands
There are seven things Jesus said while he was on the cross, but I couldn't find a song for each one. Two of them are portrayed here. Jesus knew exactly where his spirit was going - into God's hands.

Peter Gabriel - It Is Accomplished
Most translations say "it is finished" but I guess "accomplished" fits pretty well too. It's done - sins are paid for, we can be forgiven!

Red Circuit - The Veil
The veil in the temple was not a thin, see-through thing that brides wear on their wedding day. This was a very thick curtain that doesn't exactly tear easily. It's interesting that it tore from top (God's side) to bottom (our side) and not the other way around. We now have direct access to God's presence without having to have a mediator go for us - that's the significance of the veil being torn.


Mat 27:51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.
Mat 27:52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.
Mat 27:54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"
Mat 27:57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus.
Mat 27:58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him.
Mat 27:59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud
Mat 27:60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.
Mat 27:62 Next day, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate
Mat 27:63 and said, "Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, 'After three days I will rise.'
Mat 27:64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last fraud will be worse than the first."
Mat 27:65 Pilate said to them, "You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can."
Mat 27:66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.


Visual Cliff - Key To Eternity
Jesus' death provided the necessary sacrifice for our sins and his resurrection opened the way for us to have eternal life. Death has no power, Jesus holds the keys to eternity.

Ten Point Ten - Eleven
I love this song! Ever wonder what went through the disciples' minds between the crucifixion and the resurrection? Here's some informed speculation on that topic.

Pat Metheny - The Awakening
Wouldn't it have been neat to be in the tomb right at that moment? What would you have seen? The decaying process suddenly reverses and the mortal body is raised in a perfect immortal resurrection body. It was obvious that he was changed because people were in awe when they saw him, yet he was still recognizable by those he knew.

Glass Hammer - When We Were Young
Outside, the Roman soldier mentioned before is set to guard the tomb. He's undone emotionally by what he's gone through, stabbing the King of the Universe in the side and everything. But things are about to change, both for him, and for everyone else...


Mat 28:1 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.
Mat 28:2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.
Mat 28:4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.
Mat 28:5 But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
Mat 28:6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.
Mat 28:7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you."
Mat 28:8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
Mat 28:9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.
Mat 28:10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."
Joh 20:19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
Joh 20:20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
Joh 20:21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you."
Joh 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

Salem Hill - The Last Enemy
Death is the last enemy, and death is conquered by life - eternal life for those who follow Christ. Jesus was the first to rise from the dead by his own power, but one day we too shall be raised.

Don Francisco - He's Alive
Back to "story mode" here. Don tells the events of that morning in an exciting and dramatic (if not exactly prog) way.

Keith Green - Easter Song (Live)
Another "almost prog" song that I can imagine being extremely powerful if the right group wanted to take the time and "prog-ify" it. Perhaps one day I'll undertake that task myself. He's risen!

John Coltrane - Ascent
Well the ascent happened a few weeks later, but it seemed like a very cool and fitting way to end the show. No one plays like John Coltrane!


Act 1:4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me;
Act 1:5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
Act 1:6 So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"
Act 1:7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
Act 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Act 1:9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
Act 1:10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,
Act 1:11 and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."

Thanks for listening, and God bless.