A video of a young African girl telling a church audience that “Jesus was not crucified on a Gucci cross” has gone viral thanks in part to its promotion by actress and filmmaker Candace Cameron Bure.
The Great American Family actress promoted the video to her 5.6 million Instagram followers on Sunday with a personal message: “Glory to God.” Actress Kym Douglas and singer Danny Gokey were among those who commented on Bure’s timeline, endorsing the young girl’s message.
“The TRUE Gospel!” Gokey wrote.
The video identifies the girl as Cherry Paul Ede of Coric Children’s church and has been shared widely on African social media channels, with more than 1 million combined views. The young girl was quoting a poem by Fragile Dogubo, a spoken-word poet.
“I don’t know who needs to hear this, but Jesus was not crucified on a Gucci cross,” the girl said to applause. “He didn’t have on a crown of Versace thorns or Nike shoes on his feet when the nails pierced through. There was nothing bougie about Calvary. That old raggedy wooden cross wasn’t even befitting to hold the carpenter’s son, but there our God hung, held on by His love for us, by His love for all.
“It wasn’t the red carpet affair for your favorite celebs,” the girl continued. “Matter of fact, the only paparazzi was an angry mob as a crowd of witnesses. Once upon a time, I thought the crucifixion was like the Grammys, an award show only for a self-righteous view. But the Bible didn’t mention an ovation – only wrongful accusation, hate speech and boos from fools. The King of Glory came through.”
Jesus “felt every nail, felt every whiplash, every rib crack,” the girl added.
“It was for you that He embraced the pain,” she said.
Jesus was placed in the tomb, but then “He showed up on the third day like, ‘I’m good, and you are, too’ – one with the Father, my blood makes you brand new. So what other proof do you need that God loves you?”
The girl concluded by telling the audience to live out the gospel in their daily lives.
“So when the serpent comes to the ring – hissing, whispering deceitful accusations speaking in passive tongues,” she said to applause. “This is clapback season declared, fully my sins are forgiven. I do not know who needs to hear this, but Jesus was not crucified on the Gucci cross. It doesn’t matter your age, gender, race or net worth – only that you have been made holy.”
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Matt Winkelmeyer/Staff
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.