12 Angry Men

12 ________ Men

12 Broken

Men

“You will all fall away, Jesus told them ‘for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’” (Mark 14:27)

But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same. (Matthew 26:35)

Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. (Matthew 26:56b)

Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:60-62)

But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. (Luke 23:49)

12 Bewildered

Men

When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. (Luke 24:11)

When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she (Mary Magdalene) had seen him, they did not believe it. (Mark 16:11)

Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. (Luke 24:12)

Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either. (Mark 16:12-13)

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? (Luke 24:36-38)

“There lives more faith in honest doubt,

Believe me, than in half the creeds.”

(Alfred, Lord Tennyson)

“Any belief worth having must survive doubt.”

(Anonymous)

12 Convinced

Men

“Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and

bones, as you see I have.” When he had said this, he showed them

his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it

because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have

anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he

took it and ate it in their presence. (Luke 24:39-42)

He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could

understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning

at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:44-47)

“I have spent more than forty-two years as a defense trial lawyer in many parts of the world. I say unequivocally the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ is so overwhelming that it

compels acceptance by proof which leaves absolutely no room for doubt!”(Sir Lionel Luckhoo)

12 COMMITTED

MEN

“YOU ARE WITNESSES OF THESE THINGS. I AM GOING TO SEND YOU WHAT MY FATHER HAS PROMISED; BUT STAY IN THE CITY UNTIL YOU HAVE BEEN CLOTHED WITH POWER FROM ON HIGH.”

(LUKE 24:48-49)

THEN PETER, FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, SAID TO THEM: “RULERS AND ELDERS OF THE PEOPLE! IF WE ARE BEING CALLED TO ACCOUNT TODAY FOR AN ACT OF KINDNESS SHOWN TO A CRIPPLE AND ARE ASKED HOW HE WAS HEALED, THEN KNOW THIS, YOU AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL: IT IS BY THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH, WHOM YOU CRUCIFIED BUT WHOM GOD RAISED FROM THE DEAD, THAT THIS MAN STANDS BEFORE YOU HEALED. HE IS ‘THE STONE THAT THE BUILDERS REJECTED, WHICH HAS BECOME THE CAPSTONE.’ SALVATION IS FOUND IN NO ONE ELSE, FOR THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN TO MEN BY WHICH WE MUST BE SAVED.” (ACTS 4:8-12)

SO, WHERE ARE YOU IN THE PROCESS?

Broken?

Bewildered?

Convinced?

Committed?

“You’re gonna have to serve somebody”