CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
April 16, 2023
It’s Really You!
John 21:1-14
Easter was last Sunday. All of the Christian world celebrated the
fact that death and the grave could not hold Jesus. This
morning we have read of this encounter several of Jesus’
disciples have had with the risen Savior. We do not know
exactly how much time has gone by since Sunday when Jesus
first appeared from the tomb. Maybe it has been a week,
maybe just a few days. We cannot be sure.
We read this is not the first time that Jesus has spoken to these
disciples since he came out from the tomb. Instead of the
disciples staying with Jesus and seeing what is next. we see
these disciples fishing. Many of Jesus’ disciples were fishermen
before they had been called to be a part of Jesus’ team. In spite
of the fact these disciples had seen Jesus at least two other
times, they were not with him looking forward to what was
next. We do not know what was going through their minds. Did
they really believe the unbelievable had happened? Did they
believe Jesus was really alive again? They had been there when
Jesus had been arrested. Even though most of them scattered
they knew Jesus had been killed on the cross. In spite of all the
miracles they had seen Jesus perform, did they believe he had
been raised from the dead? Jesus had raised Lazarus from the
dead but who would bring Jesus back to life? Could a dead man
bring himself back to life?
Yes, they had seen Jesus alive on two different occasions but
did they really believe what they had seen? Were they saying to
themselves, “We do not want to believe Jesus died and that’s
the end but are we dreaming this up or is it real?” Probably all
of us have had things happen in our lives or in the lives of
friends and family that we prayed would come out different
than they appeared to be headed. It might be a health crisis or
financial problem, maybe relationships have been broken or
maybe we have been hoping and praying for someone to
receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior, change their life in some
way. If you have been praying for a miracle like that, I hope that
at least occasionally a miracle has happened. If your prayers
have been answered, what was your reaction?
There was a very gifted speaker named Anthony Campolo who I
heard many years ago on a radio program called Focus on the
Family. Tony is a Christian man who had been praying for years
for his father to accept the Lord as his Savior. His dad’s health
was getting worse and Anthony got a phone call from a brother
or sister telling him that their dad had accepted the Lord as his
Savior. Anthony Campolo, being a man of faith who had been
praying for years for this day to come reacted by saying, “I
knew it would happen!” Right? No Anthony admitted that his
first reaction was, “You are kidding!”
How many of us when the Lord gave us the answer we had
been praying for responded much the same way Anthony
Campolo did? Were you in a state of shock the answer you
wanted actually happened?
When we look at these disciples the first thing that struck me
was they are out fishing. It is as if the past three years had not
even happened. They reverted back to what they were
comfortable doing. This in spite of the fact we read in the 14 th
verse that this encounter with Jesus was the third one they had
had.
We see in verse 12 that is said none of the disciples dared ask
him, “Who are you?” It said they knew it was the Lord. Really?
They sure were not acting like they knew Jesus was alive. It is as
if they just could not believe it was possible for Jesus to be
there in the flesh again. Obviously, we know what ultimately
happened. All eleven of the remaining disciples came to see it
was really true. They came to realize it was not a vision. It was
not a dream. It is really you Jesus!
Before long they would be ready for what was next for them. In
fact, they would be more energized than ever before as the
Holy Spirit empowered them for the work before them. But on
this day, they had trouble believing everything they had prayed
for, everything they had hoped for was really coming true. God
is asking all of us to accept his will. Sometimes amazing answers
to prayer happen. Sometimes what we are praying for does not
happen quite like we hope. God wants us to know he sees our
situation and simply asks us to stay strong, keep believing and
know God is with us no matter what.
Pastor Larry
Announcements:
Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study
April 22 8:30 District Potluck at the Dixon church
Spring Work Day at Camp Emmanuel, work week follows
April 29 Food Distribution at Kirby Medical Clinic, CG
Camp Emmanuel schedule is posted on the bulletin board.
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:
Denomination: www.brethren.org/news Sign up for Newsline by
clicking link on left side of page.
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
Mike Fleenor family; Iva Traughber Brunner; Tina Martina; Sue & Terry Grabb; Nora Hanaver; Todd Henricks; Tate Sawyer; Jonah Martina; Jan
Bower; Larry Traxler; Michelle West; Michelle’s mom; Carolyn
Hirsch; Eli Brunner; Nancy Fansler; Joe Waltz; Doug Larrick;
Ron & Kathleen Petersen; Debbie Leibrock; Dorthea Wood;
Tina Wilhelm; Mindy Sawyer; Marlene Schultz; Carl and Wilma
Cable; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Adiline Young; Kim
Lehmann; Doug Fansler; Shawn Cain; Robert Cripe; Mayo &
Darlene Hanaver; Patty Cripe; Lauren Gross; Stacie Warren;
Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken requests; healthcare workers
and first responders; victims of disasters; victims of shootings;
shut-ins; the Nigerian church; Haitian Brethren; Ukraine; Hope
Welty Library; Florida; Puerto Rico; Turkey/Syria earthquake
Military and Other Services and their families
Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers
District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the District Ministry team and
the Potluck Experience on April 22.
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.
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