Proof of Life Exploring the lives of those Who staked their lives on ONE MAN, ONE ENCOUNTER, & ONE EVENT!

The Death of Jesus To appreciate the death of Jesus, we must begin with the fact that He was alive; a verifiable historical 1st century figure.

“At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock “At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit.” Matthew 27:45-46, 50 NLT

The Disciples’ Response to Jesus’ Death The first Easter was met with disbelief, disappointment & despair – and that was from the ones closest to Him.

“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved [John], and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Finally the other disciple [John], who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.” John 20:1-3, 8-10 NIV

“Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”” John 20:24-25 NIV

The Reappearances of Jesus After Jesus’s crucifixion and death His followers needed some major convincing that He was alive. Jesus makes it His mission to give them what they needed.

“That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!” John 20:19-20 NLT “Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”” John 20:26-27 NLT

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas [Peter], and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-6 NIV

The Disciple’s Lingering Hesitation Shame, fear, and pride make cowards of us all.

“Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast “Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.” John 21:12-14 NIV

A New Surge of Confidence Once they see Jesus alive, are restored by Him, and encounter His presence in a new a fresh way, there confidence is through the roof.

“For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!” Acts 3:13-15 NLT

“When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.””  Acts 21:12-13 NIV

No one dies for what they doubt No one dies for what they doubt. Some may die for what they believe in, but these men & women put their lives on the line for what they were convinced of, because they saw Him, they were restored by Him, and they received of His presence.

“Jesus breathed His last breath feeling REJECTED “Jesus breathed His last breath feeling REJECTED. Today, God wants you to take your first breath feeling REDEEMED.”