Until we forgive, we remain prisoners of our demand for vengeance. How can we gain release?

Did Jesus exist?
Is Jesus a myth?
Is there any evidence that Jesus actually lived?
Is there any evidence outside the Bible?

The answer is absolutely, there’s a great deal of evidence. Many are unaware of some of the very profound and powerful evidences for the existences of Jesus.

Today we will take a look at the evidence for Jesus’ existence, coming at it from three different vantage points:

Ancient Hostile Witnesses: (Pastor goes into detail regarding each of the following hostile testifiers to Jesus and His followers)
• Tacitus - Annals XV, 44 (ca 55-120A.D)
• Suetonius - Claudius, 25 and Nero, 18 (ca 117-138 A.D.)
• Pliny the Younger - Letter to Roman Emperor Trajan (ca 112 A.D.)
• Sanhedrin 43a (part of the Talmud)
• Josephus - “Testimonium Flavianum” Antiquities, 18:3 (ca 37-97 A.D.)

Earliest Witnesses
• Doctor Luke and John Mark
• Jesus’ best friend, John
• Saul of Tarsus (Apostle Paul)

Accepted historical Facts: Acknowledged by Scholars, Liberals, Conservatives, Christians, Jews and Agnostics:
• Jesus died by Roman Crucifixion
• His tomb was discovered to be empty
• His disciples said they saw the risen Jesus
• His disciples lives were radically changed
• Resurrection proclaimed early in Jerusalem
• James and Paul became believers

Pastor concludes the teaching time telling us that God changed his heart and the direction of his career.

Then Pastor changes the question to "Does Jesus really exist?" and continues with the following: “If Jesus is alive, if He has risen from the grave, that changes everything. It means that God has broken into our world. It means that there is life and forgiveness in Him, and that apart from Him, you have nothing. Today’s question is not simply a question about the historical past, this is a question about eternal destiny!”

Jesus is alive! And we pray that He will be, if He’s not already, the Lord of your life!

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This week, we explore Truth #23: Real Hope is found only in Christ! Many today struggle with a sense of hopelessness. But God gives us a promise of hope, a true "Living Hope" offered through Christ's resurrection (1 Peter 1:3-4). That promise is certain, it is found throughout His Word, and it has been demonstrated through history and in the lives of believers. It can speak into your life today.

The Gospel of John Week 17
Scripture: John 12:27-13;30, Isaiah 6.

Today’s study takes us through an insider’s view of the final hours before Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion.

We open with Jesus words in John 12:27-28, “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”

We see Jesus’ heart here - In the verses we see Him not as fully God but as fully man - fully human - He is bearing the weight of the world in His soul and in His heart. This is a reminder of just how great His love is for us.

The Father in heaven answered Jesus - in verses 28-29, “Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.”

To the crowd they thought it was thunder or that an angel spoke! But it was the voice of God the Father. The Father will be glorified through the sacrifice of His Son, by His Son’s willing submission to the Father’s will.

The Father brings judgement on the Son because His love for us is so great that He is willing to take our penalty for sin. We will see Jesus is exalted as He gives up His life and is lifted up (onto the cross) for all of us.

We learn in today’s study that God’s heart desire is to turn people back to Himself. God’s heart is to bring healing.

In verse 42-43 we read, “Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God.”

Following God no matter the cost, choosing to be right with God instead of right with people…

Pastor spends time explaining the timing of Jesus’ death in the Gospel of John against the timing in the other three gospels.

We take an in-depth look at the Passover Meal and the washing of the disciples’ feet by Jesus.

As Jesus does the feet washing what He’s saying is that this is not about mere ritual, this is about relationship with Him that transforms our lives. He’s acting out that transformation as He washes their feet. He says, “you also should wash one another’s feet.”

We end by beginning to explore Jesus predicting His betrayal by one of the disciples.

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Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper

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⁃ The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels.
⁃ The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible. Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before.

Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

God can use your suffering, intense persecution, and even false accusation to work wonders.

The story of Joseph, with its dysfunctional family and broken dreams, is a story that we can all relate to.

We are to be strong in the Lord (with His strength), and to put on the full armor of God (His equipment), so that we are both prepared and equipped for spiritual warfare!

Pastor opens with Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.”

Our class starts and ends with the story of the kings of Judah. But in between Asa’s 40 year reign as a king of Judah and his son, Jehoshaphat’s 22 year reign, we see the turmoil and chaos that is transpiring in Israel the northern kingdom.

Major events of Asa’s Reign:
⁃ Zera the Cushite attacks (2 Chr. 14:8-15)
⁃ Azariah and Covenant Renewal (2 Chr. 15:1-19)
⁃ Treaty with Ben-Hadad of Aram (2 Chr. 16:1-6)
⁃ Hanani the Seer rebukes Asa (2 Chr. 16:7-10)

In 1 Kings 15:16-17 we read about the tension between Baasha, King of Israel and Asa, King of Judah, and how there was war between Asa and Baasha. Baasha fortifies Ramah on the main road to Jerusalem close to the border between to Israel and Judah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering Judah’s territory.

Asa retaliates but instead of calling on God as he has in the past, he calls on a foreign power and gives temple adornments, silver and gold to the King of Aram and asks him to attack Baasha. Ben-Hadad of Aram does attack Israel, the northern kingdom and wins.

Hanani, a prophet comes to Asa following his treaty with Aram and says, “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.” Asa was so angry at the prophet that he put him in prison.

Asa was a good king and had sought to follow the Lord when he first ruled, but in the later years of his reign he did not call on the Lord, instead he relies on himself and others and not God.

The scriptures say, trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Asa started out that way, but he did not finish that way. A lesson for us today.

Meanwhile, up north… (in Israel) we read in 1 Kings 15-16. 910-870 BC during the 40 year reign of Asa in Judah, this is how it was going in Israel.

Jeroboam’s son Nadab is on the throne and he did evil in the eyes of the Lord following the ways of his father Jeroboam. Nadab rules for only 2 years. Baasha kills Nadab and rules Israel for 24 years. Baasha battles Israel because of King Asa of Judah’s request. Baasha defeats Israel and kills off all of Jeroboam’s family, ending the rule of Jeroboam’s family and fulfilling the prophetic word given to Jeroboam. Ahijah’s prophetic word had said that Jeroboam was to follow God, and if he did his family would continue to reign but if he did not it would end.

We begin to see that when a nation abandons God it invites disaster. The kingdom of Israel is in chaos. We can see it in the list of rulers of Israel over the next years:
Nadab - 2 years (son of Jeroboam)
Baasha - 24 years (kills Nadab and Jeroboam’s family)
Elah - 2 years (son of Baasha killed by Zimri)
Zimri - 7 days (killed by Baasha’s family)
Omri - 12 years (build new capital: Samaria)
Ahab - 22 years (Omri’s son - he was the worst king of all. Marries Jezebel and establishes Baal worship) 1 Kings 16-22.

God’s anger is aroused with this succession of evil kings of Israel….

…But in the southern kingdom of Judah, Jehoshaphat is king. 1 chronicles 17 870-848 BC - he was a man who sought the Lord his God. Jehoshaphat was the son of Asa. The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of David instead of the practices that we see goin on in Israel.

Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor. He removed asheriah poles, he sent teachers out to the people of Judah to teach them about the law in the Torah and revival breaks out.

Join us next week as we meet Elijah!

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