Four Crosses 1
Bible passage: Romans 6:4-9
“4. We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- 7. because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. 8. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. "
After listening to today's sermon title, some people may think that the title of the sermon is wrong.
There were three crosses on Golgotha Hill. Why four crosses? You might be wondering. But there is some meaning here. A lady living in the countryside was having a very difficult life. She lived by always saying, “Lord, life is so hard!” One day, she had a dream where many people were heading towards heaven, each carrying a cross. This lady also carried her own cross to get to heaven, but her cross was so big and heavy that she dragged it along. At that time, she met the Lord who looked at her like this.
The sister asked the Lord: “Lord, it’s so hard. Isn’t the Lord a carpenter? Please cut this cross.” The Lord smiled and cut it off. The sister asked him to cut off her own cross three times, so that she could feel more light and more at ease. Soon, the Jordan River began to appear in front of them, and when they arrived at the river, they placed a large cross in the river and used the cross as a bridge to cross to heaven. However, because the cross the sister brought was cut three times, it became too small to cross the river and go to heaven.
Misalaba Minne 1
Somo la Biblia: Warumi 6:4–9
“4. Basi tulizikwa pamoja naye kwa njia ya ubatizo katika mauti, ili kama Kristo alivyofufuliwa kutoka kwa wafu kwa utukufu wa Baba, vivyo hivyo sisi nasi tuenende katika upya wa uzima. 5. Kwa maana ikiwa tumeunganika naye katika mfano wa mauti yake, tutaunganika naye katika mfano wa kufufuka kwake pia. 6. Tukijua neno hili, ya kwamba utu wetu wa kale ulisulubishwa pamoja naye, ili mwili wa dhambi ubatilike, tusitumikie dhambi tena; 7. kwa kuwa yeye aliyekufa amehesabiwa haki mbali na dhambi. 8. Lakini tukiwa tulikufa pamoja na Kristo, twaamini kwamba tutaishi pamoja naye; 9. tukijua ya kuwa Kristo akiisha kufufuka katika wafu, hafi tena, wala mauti haimtawali tena.”
Baada ya kusikiliza kichwa cha mahubiri ya leo, huenda baadhi ya watu wakafikiri kwamba kichwa hicho si sahihi.
Palikuwa na misalaba mitatu kwenye Mlima Golgotha. Kwa nini misalaba minne? Huenda unajiuliza. Lakini kuna maana fulani hapa. Mwanamke mmoja aliyeishi mashambani alikuwa na maisha magumu sana. Alizoea kusema, “Bwana, maisha ni magumu sana!” Siku moja aliota ndoto ambapo watu wengi walikuwa wakielekea mbinguni, kila mmoja akiwa amebeba msalaba. Mwanamke huyo naye alibeba msalaba wake ili afike mbinguni, lakini msalaba wake ulikuwa mkubwa na mzito sana, hivyo aliuburuza. Wakati huo, alikutana na Bwana aliyemtazama.
Dada huyo akamwomba Bwana: “Bwana, ni vigumu sana. Je, Bwana si seremala? Tafadhali kata msalaba huu.” Bwana akatabasamu na kuupunguza. Dada huyo alimwomba amkate msalaba wake mara tatu ili uwe mwepesi na amrahisishie. Muda mfupi baadaye, Mto Yordani ukaonekana mbele yao. Walipofika mtoni, waliweka msalaba mkubwa ndani ya maji na kuutumia kama daraja la kuvuka kwenda mbinguni. Hata hivyo, kwa kuwa msalaba wa dada huyo ulikuwa umekatwa mara tatu, ukawa mfupi mno kuvukia mto na kufika mbinguni.
