CERRO
GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
April 24,
2022
Can You Believe It?
Luke 24:28-45
As we continue
on in the 24th chapter of Luke, we continue to see what happened
that first day of the week. This, of course, is Resurrection Sunday, Easter
Sunday. We see that the men who had been walking to Emmaus and had been joined
by Jesus had asked Jesus to stay with them that night. The men still did not
realize it was Jesus who had been walking with them. Before the evening was over,
they were sitting around the table eating when it happened: Jesus did with
these two disciples the same thing he had done hundreds of times before. He
took the bread that was at the meal, gave thanks for it and broke a piece off
of the loaf. The minute this happened, their eyes were opened and they finally
realized it was Jesus who was with them. It all of a sudden clicked and they
both agreed that what the three had talked about all made sense. Instead of
staying the night in Emmaus as was originally planned, they instantly left and
went back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples what had happened. As these two
were talking to the disciples, Jesus miraculously was standing in the room with
them. In spite of what the women had told the disciples earlier in the day,
even Peter saw that the tomb was empty. Then these two close associates of the
disciples tell the 11 what they saw and heard. Even with Jesus there in the
room with them talking with them, it was just too much to believe. They became
frightened and thought Jesus actually was a ghost. Jesus knew what they were
thinking, so he asked, “Why do you doubt even what you see with your eyes?”
Then he invited those there to look at his hands and feet. They still showed
the signs of his crucifixion. He then invited them to touch him, telling them,
“You cannot do that with ghosts.”
After all
this had happened, they still were having trouble believing it was really true.
Then Jesus asked for some food, further proof that he was truly back to life as
before. Jesus then reminded the disciples of everywhere in scripture that
predicted what would happen to the Messiah, citing the Law of Moses, the prophets,
as well as the Psalms. After all of this happened, we read that then he opened
their mind so they could understand the scriptures. With everything that had
happened in one day, they finally began to understand who Jesus truly is. After
these three different encounters they kept saying, “Can you believe it?” But
finally, Jesus caused it all to make sense and be real, which brings us to
these questions. Have you ever had someone tell you something you just could
not or would not believe? Did it take several people or things to happen before
you were convinced?
As we looked
at the question last week, “What’s it going to take?” Today the question is,
“Can you believe it?” Would we have believed the women if it had been us there?
Would we have believed two of our closest associates when they told us they had
walked with Jesus? Would we believe our own eyes when Jesus was standing right
in front of us? Again, remember you had seen Jesus tortured and crucified and
knew Jesus had been put in a tomb. Would we have been like the others saying,
“Can you believe it?”
We know that
finally the eyes of the disciples were opened and finally it all incredibly
made sense. The disciples went from skeptics to the most powerful witnesses to
what God had done and is continuing to do for the world. What a transformation
occurred! Everyone who has heard and read the story must answer the same
question. Can you believe it? If we answer yes, I believe the fact is God is
calling on us to continue to be his witnesses. What an incredible amount of
trust God has placed in us! Also, what an incredible privilege it is for us to
be part of what God is still doing in this world! May we take the challenge and
confidently say, “Yes, we believe!”
Pastor Larry
Announcements:
Bible Study 9:30 Tuesday
Newsletter submissions due by Wed., April 27 please.
April 30 10:00 Annual Conference briefing, Springfield CoB
2:00 Centennial concert with Jonathan
Shively
May 11 Board Meeting
May 18 12:00 Women’s Fellowship Luncheon, a salad potluck
May 18 7:00 p.m. via Zoom—Stepping Out of Covid, sponsored by the District
potluck committee—info on bulletin board
Camp Emmanuel registration is open: www.campem.com
Offering plates are in the back of the sanctuary. Thank
you for your continued giving!
Donation Box: Camp Emmanuel
First Sundays: food donations for food banks
Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362
To
keep up on Church of the Brethren news:
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District:
iwdcob.org (click on newsletter link) and on facebook
Our
pages: cerrogordocob.com (printed sermon, announcements, &
calendar) and on facebook
Keep
in Your Prayers
Nancy Fansler &
Family; Baby Gemma’s Family; Oren Wright; Devon Wright; Leah Flory; Joe Waltz; Doug
Larrick; Anna Rose Larrick; Ron & Kathleen Petersen; Anna Gentry Thompson;
Louis & Carol Sulwer; Maralyn Heckman; Debbie Leibrock; Dorthea Wood; Sonna
Hall; Tina Wilhelm; Baby Tate; Bryce Ashenfelter; Mindy Sawyer; Marlene Schultz;
Sarah Rudelick; Carl and Wilma Cable; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Adiline Young; Kim Lehmann; Doug Fansler; Liza Yore; Candy Dobson; Shawn Cain;
Robert Cripe; Mayo & Darlene Hanaver; Zola Copeland; Patty Cripe; Lauren
Gross; Stacie Warren; Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken requests; Coronavirus
crisis; healthcare workers and first responders; the families of those who have
died from COVID-19; those who are ill from the virus; school teachers, staff,
and students; victims of disasters; victims of shootings; nursing home
residents; the Nigerian church; Haitian Brethren; Ukraine
Military and Other
Services and their families
Brethren Volunteer
Service workers; Disaster project workers
District Prayer
Calendar: Pray for the Springfield congregation
Church
of the Brethren vision statement:
Together, as the Church of the Brethren, we will passionately
live and share the radical transformation and holistic peace of Jesus Christ
through relationship-based neighborhood engagement. To move us forward, we will
develop a culture of calling and equipping disciples who are innovative,
adaptable, and fearless.
Our
Mission Statement:
Love
God, grow with others, serve faithfully, reach the lost, find peace.