Desenvolvimento (II Tm 4.14-18)

Alexandre, the blacksmith, caused me many harms
The Lord will give you retribution for what you did
Beware of it
Because you strongly opposed our words
In my first defense
No one came to support me
Everyone abandoned me
May this not be charged to them

When we have in mind
May this letter from Paul to his beloved Timothy
It is, in fact, a solemn summons
For the work of the ministry

This session here where he talks
About Alexander's betrayal
And the abandonment he suffers during his first defense
Demonstrates Paul's level of sincerity towards Timothy

There is no intention
To disguise the reality of the ministry
Timothy was not being deceived
As for the terrible dangers of embarking on the precious journey
Which is the proclamation of God's truth
As for old Paulo, he prepares his young successor
For the reality of the pains of the ministry

He could give lots of advice
When the subject was suffering and loss
No one better to fill the agenda
From personal experiences than Paul
He could talk about the pain of the lashes
Or the imprisonment in the rings there
From the dungeons

He could tell Timothy
About shipwrecks
Stoning
All this Paul suffered
All this could happen to Timothy
But what does Paul consider
Of singular importance in the end
It's preparing Timothy for betrayal in the field

Timothy, Alexandre, it hurts
If even our Christ
Had to go through the bitter dusk
With a friendly kiss
That led him straight into the arms of his persecutors

Would Paul be free from suffering the same?
Should Timothy be mistaken?
As for the real possibility
To also taste that kiss on your face?

It seems
According to some commentators
Alexander would have been someone influential
Who could Paul have counted on?

During his first trial
But instead of offering help in Paul's case
Alexandre would have been his main opponent
During your defense session

As if that wasn't enough, there's old Paulo
Launched like an animal
Tied before your prey
He gets up with difficulty to speak in his defense
But when you look around you
Meet the magistrates
Your pursuers are there
There are even curious people
But you can't even find a friendly face

Old Paulo is living his hardest days
In absolute solitude
He who so desired to share in the suffering of Christ
See yourself now like him on his cross
Abandoned by your friends

Who among us could bear this pressure?
Without cursing yourself
Without discrediting your own journey?
Was it worth it Paulo?
Look around you
He spent his life on behalf of so many people
Hugged so much around
And on the day of your terrible pain
How many are here to give you that hug back?
Was it worth it old Paulo?

And the question comes back to you
Do you want this gospel?

Take a good look at this text and answer me
Do you really want to take the risk?
To reach the last days of your journey
Like old Paul
Like your Christ?

Take a good look
You see, if you start to get too involved
With this church thing
Of Christ
Of gospel
You're gonna have to start losing some things
That anyone holds in high esteem

If your involvement reaches your neck
It's possible that you'll lose some friends
Maybe that long-awaited promotion in your professional career
Because gospel ideas
They will mess with your head in a very strange way at first
And you run serious risks
Having to configure your public and private posture
Do you want this gospel?

If you get to the point of getting involved
Until I submerge in the ocean of this gospel
And you no longer know who you are and who Christ is
Where does Christ begin in you?
And how far will you go in Christ
Yes, you can reach the point of being alone
Writing to a distant friend
Hey, send me a cover and some books

But the scriptures guarantee that
It's not possible at all
That you reach your last day
Without the presence of the same Christ who found him
With the same compassionate look that welcomed you
Paul continues the text saying

But the Lord remained by my side
And gave me strength so that for me
The message was fully proclaimed
The Lord will deliver me from every evil work
And take me safely to your heavenly kingdom
To him be the glory forever and ever
Amen

Old Paul's invitation to his beloved, Timothy
It was not to be thrown into absolute insecurity
In the rough sea after all, no
It was the opposite

Paul's invitation was for Timothy
Climb onto the steadiest ship
In fact, let him climb the unshakable rock
What is Christ
That's why the insistence

Timothy, they can regress
It could happen that he betrays you
And the other one hurts you
In fact, it will happen
Of many turning their backs
For the gospel you proclaim
You, however, remain firm
Timothy
They can
You don't