"In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God's existence." —Sir Isaac Newton, Scientist
PROOF is evidence or argument that establishes or helps to establish a fact or the truth of a statement. In the law, it is the spoken or written evidence in a trial. In mathematics and philosophy, PROOF is a series of stages in the resolution of a problem. In printing and photography, a proof is a trial impression of a page used for making corrections before final printing. In a distillery, it is the strength of alcohol or liquor. In all cases, PROOF includes a test or trial of something to establish its verity.
In the weeks after Resurrection Sunday, we focus on Jesus' appearances to His followers. Luke tells us, "During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God." Acts 1:3) Other translations say that Jesus gave them many convincing, unquestionable, or infallible proofs that He was alive. Jesus' post resurrection manifestations were meant to leave His followers with absolutely no doubt.
Paul also records these appearances as PROOF of the resurrection and of Jesus' ascension back to Heaven in 1 Corinthians 15:
3I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 8Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.
Here Paul references his own encounter with the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, which is recorded in Acts 9. The fact that the Messiah would choose to save and redeem someone who persecuted the Church for Paul was further proof that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all." (1 Timothy 1:15) Unfortunately, we humans are like Sherlock Holmes, looking for a reasonable explanation for something (the resurrection of the dead) that defies reason and must be accepted and believed by faith.
One thing that presents convincing proof is the way these apostles lived and died defending the Gospel. They, and those who followed them were willing to be mocked, beaten, imprisoned, clubbed to death, beheaded, boiled in oil, sawn in half, pierced with spears, eaten by lions, and crucified. Peter was crucified upside-down because he did not want to be executed in the same way as Jesus. These eye-witnesses to Jesus' resurrection and ascension could never take back what they had seen and heard, so they were willing to die rather than deny Him. Their unyielding honesty and sacrifice is why we are all able to follow Jesus today. | 
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