O que você vê quando olha pra cruz?

Eu tive a incrível tarefa de pregar na sexta-feira de páscoa aqui. Pra mim, que não sou nem de longe uma palestrante de assuntos profundos, hehe, como a morte de Jesus, foi um pouco difícil. Mas, como sempre, Deus sempre abençoa e as coisas saem do jeito dEle pra honra e glória dEle.
Meu "mini sermão" está em inglês, portanto me desculpe os que não entendem, mas vcs podem jogar no google translator e tudo vai se resolver. Hehe.
Um fato interessante é que depois que eu terminei o sermão, passei um vídeo (que também tá aí pra vcs verem) e depois que terminei a oração vi algumas pessoas chorando. Acho incrível como uma história contada por tanto tempo ainda faz as pessoas chorarem. Afinal é a maior história de amor que o mundo já ouviu.

Então, foi mais ou menos assim:

My longing for love wouldn´t go away - I was desperate searching - Broken by pain Looking for answers - But nothing seemed right - Where was my answer? - What was my life? Blinded by sin I was lost couldn´t see - Until I turned my eyes to Calvary. Oh, the cross where Jesus died - He shed His blood - Gave His life for you and I My sins erased no longer lost - My debt was paid, I am saved Oh, the cross Day after day as I live my life - I find heartache trouble - Battles to fight When fear tries to grip me - And I feel alone - Jesus is with me I'm not on my own Now I can say in my heart I believe - My life has been changed - Because of Calvary. Oh, the cross where Jesus died - He shed His blood - Gave His life for you and I My sins erased no longer lost - My debt was paid, I am saved Oh, the cross.
Let’s pray.
What you see when you look at the cross? Maybe a story that you always heard since you were a little kid… Maybe the story that changed your life, which transformed you before, but today it’s just one more bible story. Maybe you see someone dead there. Maybe it makes no sense at all. How can someone love the human kind so much at the point of giving his life away?
"But now, this is what the LORD says — he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Since you are precious and honoured in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life. I will say to the north, `Give them up!’ and to the south, `Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth — everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”(Isaiah 43: 1-7)
 Let’s be real. We are a bunch of sinful people. We actually screwed up everything since the beginning until today. Every day that passes by we get worse and worse. When we look at this world we see a completely lost generation. Selfishness, pride, bad choices, idols… all of that it’s part of our day. We cannot be perfect, even for only one day. My question is? How can God love this bunch of garbage at the point to give His son’s life for us? I’m pretty sure that this is an answer that I will never have. Only when we get in heaven. My point in here it’s not to discuss about God’s love for us. We will never get it, I know. My question for you today is: What you see when you look at the Cross? Do you still see a dead person? Do you still see a dead Jesus? Jesus is alive.
 The bible says: “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. (Mathew 28:5-6)
 Jesus is alive. This is a fact. He is risen! He won the battle against satan. But, is he alive in your life? Can He trust you at the point that one day you would be able to give your life away because of His name?

“We are one with Him again - Come awake! - Come and rise up from the grave. O death, where is your sting? O hell, where is your victory? O church, come stand in the light The glory of God has defeated the night O church, come stand in the light Our God is not dead He's alive! He's alive!”

 Do you believe that? Do you believe that Christ has the power to change lives, to move mountains, to accomplish His mission? Do you believe that he can save you? Do you believe that He can, through you, change the reality of this world?

 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Mathew 28:18-20)

Jesus died for you, for me, for us. The debt was completely paid. Even that we are sinful and unworthy people, He calls us to be part of His family, to be His sons and daughters. He forgave us and gave us new life. Are you willing to live this new life? For how long Jesus will wait? For how long His blood will be meaningless for us? For how long He will be still dead on the cross?

“And Pilate asked Jesus, saying: - Are you the king of the Jews? Jesus answered: - You are saying that.” “And he asked to the people: What should I do with Jesus, who is called the Messiah? -Crucify Him! They answered.”
“Then they made a crown of thorns, and they put it on His head…”
“They put a sign over His head saying: This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.” “At midday the earth shooke and was completely dark…” 
“In the afternoon Jesus screamed: Father, Father, why have You forsaken me?”
“Then Jesus gave his last scream and died. The curtains of the temple ripped in two parts. From the top to the bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split in the middle. The graves were opened and many people who died believing in God were resurrected.” “In fact this was the son of God”
“After 3 days I will rise again” “The angel from God took the stone away.”
“Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. (Mathew 28:5-6)”
“So Jesus went to His disciples and said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Mathew 28:18-20).

What you see when you look at the cross? Do you still see a dead Jesus?

Vídeo:
http://youtu.be/oqZeXNPVNIk