Iindlela Ezimbini Ezinkulu Olwakha Lwaboniswa Ngazo Uthando
“Wenjenje uThixo ukulithanda kwakhe ihlabathi, ude wancama uNyana wakhe okuphela kwamzeleyo, ukuze bonke abakholwayo kuye bangatshabalali, koko babe nobomi obungunaphakade.”—YOHANE 3:16.
1. Amazwi athi “uThixo uluthando” athetha ukuthini?
“UTHIXO uluthando.” Umpostile uYohane wawathetha kabini loo mazwi. (1 Yohane 4:8, 16) Ewe, uYehova uThixo unothando kungekhona nje ngendlela yokuba enobulumko, esesikweni yaye enamandla; ULUTHANDO. Uyimbonakaliso ephilayo yothando, eluthando lumntwisiwe. Ubungazibuza uthi: ‘Ngaba ndiyasazi isizathu sokuba oko kube yinyaniso? Ngaba ndingakwazi ukunika umntu ingcaciso ecacileyo, exhaswa bubungqina okanye imizekelo engqina ukuba Yena uluthando? Ibe oko kubaluleke ngantoni kubomi bam nakwizinto endizenzayo?’
2. Ziziphi iindlela ezibonakalayo zothando azibonakalisileyo uThixo?
2 Lolungakanani lona uthando athe uYehova uThixo walubonisa kwizidalwa zakhe ezingabantu ezisemhlabeni! Khawucinge nje ngobuhle obugqibeleleyo nendlela asebenza ngayo amehlo ethu, ummangaliso wamathambo ethu awomeleleyo, amandla ezihlunu zethu, nokukwazi kwethu ukuva ngokuchukumisa. Sinesizathu sokuwaphinda amazwi abonisa iimvakalelo zomdumisi: “Ndiyabulela kuwe ngenxa enokuba ndenziwe ngokoyikekayo, ngokubalulekileyo.” Kwakhona, khawuqwalasele iintaba ezinobungangamsha, imilanjana ezolileyo enamanzi acwengileyo, amathafa aneentyatyambo zexesha lasekwindla, nokukhanya okugqengengqenge kokutshona kwelanga. “Hayi, ukuba zininzi izenzo zakho, Yehova! Zonke ziphela uzenze ngobulumko; uzele umhlaba zizidalwa zakho.”—INdumiso 139:14; 104:24.
3, 4. Yiyiphi imizekelo enikelwa ziZibhalo zesiHebhere ngendlela kaThixo yokubonisa uthando?
3 Ukubonakalisa kukaThixo uthando akuzange kuphele zakuba izidalwa zakhe zokuqala ezingabantu zivukele. Ngokomzekelo, uYehova wabonakalisa uthando ngokuvumela eso sibini ukuba sivelise inzala eyayinokuthi ingenelwe lilungiselelo likaYehova ‘ngembewu’ yakhe yedinga. (Genesis 3:15) Kamva, wenza ukuba uNowa alungiselele umkhombe ukuze kulondolozwe isizwe esingabantu nezinye izidalwa zasemhlabeni. (Genesis 6:13-21). Wathi ke wabonakalisa uthando olukhulu kuAbraham, owathi waziwa ngokuba ngumhlobo kaYehova. (Genesis 18:19; Isaya 41:8) Ekusindiseni inzala ka-Abraham kubukhoboka baseYiputa, uThixo wabonisa uthando lwakhe ngokongezelelekileyo, njengokuba sifunda kwiDuteronomi 7:8: “Kungokunithanda kukaYehova, . . . le nto anikhuphe ngesandla esithe nkqi uYehova.”
4 Nangona amaSirayeli aqhubeka engabonakalisi mbulelo yaye evukela ngokuphindaphindiweyo, uThixo akazange awalahle zisuka. Kunoko, ngothando wawabongoza esithi: “Buyani ezindleleni zenu ezimbi! Yini na ukuba nide nife, ndlu kaSirayeli?” (Hezekile 33:11) Noko ke, nangona uYehova eluthando lumntwisiwe, ukwangosesikweni yaye enobulumko. Ngaloo ndlela lafika ixesha abathi ngalo abantu bakhe ababevukela bafikelela apho ukuzeka kade umsindo kwakhe kuphela khona! Bagabadela ukusa kwinqanaba apho “kwada akwabakho mpilo,” ngoko wabayekela ukuba bathinjelwe eBhabhiloni. (2 Kronike 36:15, 16) Nalapho uthando lukaThixo aluzange lunqamke ngokupheleleyo. Waqinisekisa ukuba emva kweminyaka engama-70 intsalela yabo yayivunyelwa ukuba ibuyele kwilizwe layo lomthonyama. Khaw’ ufunde INdumiso 126 uze ubone ngokusuka kuyo indlela abaziva ngayo abo bathi babuya.
Ukulungiselela Eyona Ndlela Inkulu Yokubonakalisa Kwakhe Uthando
5. Kutheni kunokutshiwo nje ukuba ukuthumela kwakhe uNyana wakhe emhlabeni kwaba yindlela kaThixo yokubonisa uthando?
5 Kamva embalini lafika ixesha lokuba uYehova abonise eyona ndlela inkulu yothando lwakhe. Olo yayiluthando lokuzincama ngokwenene. Elungiselela oku, uThixo wenza ukuba ubomi boNyana wakhe okuphela kwamzeleyo buthunyelwe busuka ekuphileni kwabo okukokomoya ezulwini busiwe kwisibeleko sentombi yomYuda enyulu enguMariya. (Mateyu 1:20-23; Luka 1:26-35) Cinga nje ngokusondelelana okukhethekileyo okwakukho phakathi kukaYehova noNyana wakhe. Mayela nobomi bukaYesu bangaphambi kokuba abe ngumntu nanjengophawu lobulumko bumntwisiwe sifunda oku: “Ndaye ndinaye [uThixo], ndiyingcibi yomsebenzi, ndiziyolisa ngokwam iimini ngeemini; ndidlala phambi kwakhe ixesha lonke.” (IMizekeliso 8:30, 31) Ngoko ngaba akunakuvuma ukuba kona nje ukumka koNyana okuphela kwamzeleyo eshiya indawo kaYise osezulwini yaba kukuzincama kukaYehova?
6. Nguwuphi umdla ofana nokatata ekumele ukuba uYehova wayenawo ekukhuleni kukaYesu?
6 Ngokungathandabuzekiyo, uYehova wakukhangela ngomdla omkhulu nokhethekileyo ukukhula konyana wakhe ukususela ekuyilekeni kwakhe ukuba abe ngumntu ukusa phambili. Umoya oyingcwele kaThixo wamsibekela uMariya ukuze kungabikho nto yonakalisa le mveku ikhula esibelekweni. UYehova waqinisekisa ukuba uYosefu noMariya baye eBhetelehem ukwenzela ubalo lwabantu ukuze uYesu azalwe apho ukuzalisekisa uMika 5:2. Ngesithunywa sezulu, uThixo walumkisa uYosefu ngeyelenqe lokubulala loKumkani uHerode, ebangela ukuba uYosefu nentsapho yakhe basabele eYiputa de uHerode afe. (Mateyu 2:13-15) Kumele ukuba uThixo waqhubeka ebonakalisa umdla kwinkqubela kaYesu. Hayi indlela ekumele ukuba kwakumyolisa ngayo uThixo ukubukela uYesu owayeneminyaka eli-12 ubudala emangalisa abafundisi nabanye ababesetempileni ngemibuzo neempendulo!—Luka 2:42-47.
7. Ngawaphi amazwi awathethwa kathathu angqina umdla kaThixo kubulungiseleli bukaYesu?
7 Kwiminyaka elishumi elinesibhozo kamva uYehova wayekhangele xa uYesu wayesiza kuYohane uMbhaptizi ukuba amntywilisele. Wathi ke ngovuyo wathumela umoya wakhe oyingcwele phezu koYesu waza wathi: “Lo nguNyana wam oyintanda, endikholisiweyo nguye.” (Mateyu 3:17) Nawuphi na ubawo ongumKristu unokuyithelekelela indlela ekwakuya kumyolisa ngayo uThixo ukondela ubulungiseleli bukaYesu nokubona indlela awayibhekisa ngayo kuYise wasezulwini yonke indumiso. Ngesinye isihlandlo uYesu wathabatha abapostile abathile wenyuka nabo intaba ephakamileyo. Apho uYehova wenza ukuba uKristu aqaqambe ngendlela engaqhelekanga, yaye uYise wathi: “Lo nguNyana wam oyintanda, endikholisiweyo nguye; mveni yena.” (Mateyu 17:5) UYehova wenza ukuba ilizwi lakhe liviwe okwesithathu xa wayephendula isicelo sikaYesu sokuba uThixo azukise igama lakhe. UYehova wathi: “Ndilizukisile, ndiya kubuya ndilizukise.” Kuyacaca ukuba oku wayekuthetha ngokuyintloko ukuze kungenelwe uYesu, kuba abanye ababekunye naye bacinga ukuba kwakuthethe isithunywa sezulu, ngoxa abanye bacinga ukuba laliduduma.—Yohane 12:28, 29.
8. Uvakalelwa njani ngothando lukaThixo?
8 Sisiphi isigqibo oye wafikelela kuso koku kuhlolwa kufutshane kwezenzo zikaThixo kuNyana wakhe nomdla wakhe kuye? Ifanele icace into yokuba uYehova umthanda gqitha uNyana wakhe okuphela kwamzeleyo. Ucinga ngoko, yaye ukhumbula indlela phantse nawuphi na umzali ongumntu abeya kuvakaleIwa ngayo ngokuphela komntwana wakhe, phawula okwathi kwenzeka emva koko—ukufa kukaYesu okulidini.
Eyona Ndlela Inkulu Olwaboniswa Ngayo Uthando
9, 10. Yaba yiyiphi eyona ndlela inkulu kaThixo yokubonakalisa uthando lwakhe kuluntu, igxininisa buphi ubungqina beZibhalo?
9 IBhayibhile ibonisa ukuba uBawo wethu wasezulwini unovelwano. Mayela nabantu bakhe amaSirayeli, kuIsaya 63:9 sifunda oku: “Ekubandezelekeni kwabo konke wabandezeleka, nesithunywa sobuso bakhe sabasindisa; ekubathandeni kwakhe nasekubacongeni kwakhe wayebakhulula ngokumisela yena, wabafunqula; wabathwala yonke imihla yasephakadeni.” Hayi indlela ekumele ukuba kwamvisa ubuhlungu ngayo uYehova ukuva nokubona ‘udanduluko olunamandla, neenyembezi’ zikaYesu. (Hebhere 5:7) UYesu wathandaza ngaloo ndlela kwisitiya saseGetsemane. Wenziwa umbanjwa, wasetyaleni awaba yinto yokuhlekisa kulo, wabethwa waza watyakatywa, yaye wanyanzelwa ngesithsaba sameva phezu kwentloko yakhe. Khumbula, uYise onothando wayekondele konke oku. Wakwambona uYesu ekhubeka ngoxa wayesindwa sisibonda sokubulala yaye wabukela ngoxa uNyana wakhe wathi ekugqibeleni wabethelelwa kuloo mthi. Masingalibali ukuba uThixo ngewayekuthintele oku kubandezeleka koNyana wakhe amthandayo. Kanti uYehova wamvumela ukuba uYesu abandezeleke kangako. Ekubeni uThixo eneemvakalelo, ukubona kwakhe ezi ziganeko ngokungathandabuzekiyo kwabangela eyona ntlungu ingathethekiyo awakha wanayo okanye aya kuze abe nayo.
10 Ngenxa yayo yonke le nkcazelo yandulelayo, sinokubona indlela enkulu ngayo intsingiselo ekumazwi kaYesu kuNikodemo athi: “Wenjenje uThixo ukulithanda kwakhe ihlabathi, ude wancama uNyana wakhe okuphela kwamzeleyo, ukuze bonke abakholwayo kuye bangatshabalali, koko babe nobomi obungunaphakade.” (Yohane 3:16). Amazwi akwanentsingiselo efanayo ngakaYohane, umpostile owayethandwa nguYesu: “Kwabonakaliswa ngale nto ukusithanda kukaThixo, ngokuthi uThixo amthume ehlabathini uNyana wakhe, ekuphela kwamzeleyo . . . ukuba abe sisicamagushelo sezono zethu.”—1 Yohane 4:9, 10.
11. Umpostile uPawulos uyibalaselisa njani eyona ndlela inkulu kaThixo yokubonakalisa uthando?
11 Ngoko, unokusiqonda isizathu sokuba umpostile uPawulos, kumaRoma 5:6-8, agxininise uthando olukhulu lukaYehova uThixo ngala mazwi: “UKristu uthe, sakubon’ ukuba sisengama-athalala, wabafela ngexesha elimisiweyo abangahloneli Thixo. Kuba kungangenkankulu ukuthi ubani afele ilungisa; kuba uthi mhlawumbi ubani abe nobuganga bokumfela olungileyo; ke yena uThixo uqondakalisa okwakhe ukusithanda ngokuthi, sakubon’ ukuba sisengaboni, uKristu asifele.” Ngokuqinisekileyo, ekwenzeni ukuba uNyana wakhe okuphela kwamzeleyo eze emhlabeni, abandezeleke, aze afe okona kufa kulihlazo, uYehova wabonisa eyona ndlela inkulu yothando.
Indlela Yesibini Eyiyeyona Inkulu Yokulubonakalisa
12, 13. (a) Ukubonakalisa kukaYesu uthando kwakubalasele njani? (b) UPawulos uyalathisela njani ingqalelo kuthando olukhulu lukaYesu?
12 Usenokubuza uthi, ‘Yiyiphi indlela elandelayo eyiyeyona inkulu olwabonakaliswa ngayo uthando?’ UYesu Kristu wathi: “Akukho namnye unalo uthando olungaphezu kolu, lokuba ubomi bakhe abuncamele izihlobo zakhe.” (Yohane 15:13) Kuyinyaniso ukuba, kuyo yonke imbali yoluntu, kubekho abathile abathi ubomi babo babuncamela abanye. Kodwa obabo ubomi babusikelw’ umda; kakade ke ngathuba lithile babeya kufa. Noko ke, uYesu Kristu wayengumntu ofezekileyo onelungelo lobomi. Wayengajamelenanga nokufa okuzuzw’ ilifa njengabo bonke abangabanye boluntu; ibe ke kwakungekho nabani owayenokuthi ngesinyanzelo athabathe ubomi bukaYesu ngaphandle kokuba yena akuvumele oko. (Yohane 10:18; Hebhere 7:26) Khumbula amazwi akhe: “Uba andinako na ngoku ukumbongoza uBawo, andikhuphele imikhosi yezithunywa zezulu engaphezu kweshumi elinamibini?”—Mateyu 26:53; Yohane 10:17, 18.
13 Singaluxabisa ngokubhekele phaya uthando olubandakanyekileyo koko uYesu wakwenzayo ngokukhangela kwinkalo elandelayo: Washiya indawo ezukileyo njengesidalwa sokomoya emazulwini apho wayehlala njengeqabane elisondeleyo nanjengalowo wayesebenzisana noMongami Wendalo Iphela noKumkani kanaphakade. Sekunjalo, ngothando lokungazingci, uYesu wenza njengoko umpostile uPawulos esixelela: “Wathi, esebumeni bukaThixo, akathi ukulingana kwakhe oku noThixo kulixhoba; usuke wazihluba, wathabatha ubume bomkhonzi, enziwe wafana nabantu; wathi ngemo efunyenwe enjengomntu, wazithoba, waba ngolulamileyo, wada wesa ekufeni, ukufa ke kwasemnqamlezweni.”—Filipi 2:6-8.
14. Umprofeti uIsaya wakungqina njani ukubonisa uthando okukhulu kukaYesu?
14 Ngaba oko yayingekokubonakaliswa kothando? Ngokuqinisekileyo yayikuko—kuphela nje kusiza emva koko kukaYehova uThixo, uYise wasezulwini. Amazwi esiprofeto kaIsaya isahluko 53 angqinela konke oko uYesu wakunyamezelayo: “Udeliwe, ushiyiwe ngabantu; yindoda enomvandedwa, eqhelene nesifo. . . . Okwenene, uzithabathele phezu kwakhe izifo zethu, wathwala umvandedwa wethu, ke thina besiba ungobandezelwayo nguThixo, ungocinezelwa nguye. Kanti yena uhlatywe ngenxa yezikreqo zethu, watyunyuzwa ngenxa yezenzo zethu ezigwenxa . . . siphiliswe ngemivumbo yakhe . . . ewuminyele ekufeni umphefumlo wakhe.”—Isaya 53:3-5, 12.
15, 16. Into yokuba eli yayilidini likaYesu inokubonwa kwawaphi amazwi awathethwa nguye?
15 Ngenxa yako konke oko kwakunxulumene nokufa kwakhe, uYesu wathandaza kwisitiya saseGetsemane esithi: “Bawo, ukuba kunokwenzeka, mayidlule kum le ndebe; noko makungabi njengokuthanda kwam, makube njengokuthanda kwakho.” (Mateyu 26:39) Yintoni le wayeyicela uYesu xa wayethetha loo mazwi? Ngaba wayefuna ukukhululwa ekubeni ‘yiMvana kaThixo ethwala isuse isono sehlabathi’? (Yohane 1:29) Kwakungenakuba kuthetha oko, kuba ngalo lonke elo xesha uYesu wayexelele abafundi bakhe ukuba wayeza kubandezeleka aze afe, wade wabonisa nohlobo lokufa awayeza kufa ngalo. (Mateyu 16:21; Yohane 3:14) Ngoko uYesu kumele ukuba wayenenye into engqondweni xa wayethandaza ngaloo ndlela.
16 Ngaphandle kwamathandabuzo uYesu wayekuxhalabele ukutyholwa ngokunyelisa awakubonayo ukuba wayeza kutyatyekwa ngako, nto leyo eyayilolona lwaphulo-mthetho lubi umYuda ekwakunokwenzeka abe netyala lwalo. Kutheni le nto wayesixhalabele isityholo sobuxoki? Kungenxa yokuba ukufa kwakhe phantsi kwaloo meko kwakuya kuzisa ugculelo kuYise wasezulwini. Ewe, uNyana kaThixo ongenasiphako, owayebuthanda gqitha ubulungisa nowayebuthiyile ubungendawo nowathi weza emhlabeni ukuza kuzukisa igama likaYise, ngoku wayeza kubulawa ngabantu abangabakaThixo njengomnyelisi kaYehova uThixo.—Hebhere 1:9; Yohane 17:4.
17. Kwakutheni le nto uhlobo lokufa uYesu awayejongene nako kwangqineka kusisilingo esigqithiseleyo kuye?
17 Ebutsheni bobulungiseleli bakhe uYesu wathi: “Kukho ke lubhaptizo ndifanele ukubhaptizwa ngalo; asikuko nokuba ndicinezelekile lude lufezeke.” (Luka 12:50) Ngoku yayifikile incopho yolu bhaptizo. Kuyabonakala ukuba eso sisizathu sokuba ukubila kwakhe kwaba njengamathontsi egazi ekuthandazeni kwakhe. (Luka 22:44) Ukongezelela, kwabakho umthwalo omkhulu ekwakufuneka ewuthwele ngobo busuku, umthwalo ongaphaya kwamandla ethu engqondo. Wayesazi ukuba kwakufuneka ezingqine ethembekile ngenxa yokuba ukuba wayenokungaphumeleli, enjani yona impama ebusweni bukaYehova ekwakunokuba yiyo oko! USathana wayeya kubanga ukuba wayechanile yaye uYehova uThixo ephosisile. Kodwa enjani impama ebusweni awathi uSathana uMtyholi wayifumana ngenxa yokuba uYesu wazingqina ethembekile kwada kwasekufeni! Ngaloo ndlela wamngqina uSathana elixoki nemenemene lebhedengu.—IMizekeliso 27:11.
18. Kutheni le nto uYesu wayesexhaleni eligqithiseleyo ngobo busuku?
18 UYehova uThixo wayenentembelo gqitha ekunyanisekeni koNyana wakhe kangangokuba waxela kwangaphambili ukuba uYesu wayeya kuzingqina ethembekile. (Isaya 53:9-12) Kanti uYesu ngokunjalo wayesazi ukuba umthwalo wokugcina ingqibelelo wawuxhomekeke kuye. Wayesenokungaphumeleli. Wayesenokona. (Luka 12:50) Ubomi bakhe obungunaphakade nobobo besizwe soluntu siphela babuyinto eyayixhomekekile ekulungelelaneni kwakhe ngobo busuku. Hayi indlela ekumele ukuba kwakuxhalisa ngayo oko! Ukuba uYesu wayenokuthi abe buthathaka aze one, wayengenakucela ukuba enzelwe inceba ngokuthi afelwe ngomnye njengedini, njengokuba kunjalo ngathi thina zidalwa zingafezekanga.
19. Yintoni uYesu awayiphumezayo ngekhondo lakhe lokungazingci?
19 Ngokuqinisekileyo, unyamezelo lukaYesu ngoNisan 14, ngowama-33 C.E., lwaba yeyona ndlela inkulu yokubonisa uthando olungazingciyo eyakha yaboniswa nguye nawuphi na umntu, kuphela nje isiza emva kwaleyo kaYehova uThixo. Yaye hayi indlela ezizuke ngayo izinto asenzela zona ngokufa kwakhe! Ngokufa kwakhe waba ‘yiMvana kaThixo ethwala isuse isono sehlabathi.’ (Yohane 1:29) Wavula indlela yokuba i-144 000 labalandeli bamanyathelo akhe libe ngookumkani nababingeleli lize lilawule kunye naye iminyaka eliwaka. (ISityhilelo 20:4, 6). Ukongezelela, “isihlwele esikhulu” ‘sezinye izimvu’ namhlanje siyangenelwa kwidini likaKristu ibe sinokuba nethemba lokusinda kwisiphelo sale nkqubo indala yezinto. Aba baya kuba ngabokuqala ukunandipha iintsikelelo zeparadisi yasemhlabeni. Ngokungathandabuzekiyo kuya kubakho kwanezigidi zezigidi zoluntu eziya kuvuswa ngenxa yoko wakwenzayo uYesu. Nabo, baya kuba nethuba lokunandipha ubomi obungenasiphelo kwiParadisi yasemhlabeni. (ISityhilelo 7:9-14; Yohane 10:16; 5:28, 29) Kuyinyaniso ukuba, “ngangoko angako amadinga kaThixo, uewe ukuye,” oko kukuthi, uYesu Kristu.—2 Korinte 1:20.
20. Sifanele sisabele njani kwiindlela ezimbini ezizezona zibalaseleyo zokubonakaliswa kothando nguYehova uThixo noYesu Kristu?
20 Ngokuqinisekileyo kuyeyona nto ifanelekileyo ukuba sibonakalise uxabiso ngako konke uYehova uThixo noYesu Kristu abasenzele kona ngokubonakalisa ezi ndlela zizezona zinkulu zothando. Sibatyala uxabiso olunjalo yaye, ukuze ngokwenyaniso singenelwe ngokuzeleyo, simele silubonakalise uxabiso olunjalo. Inqaku elilandelayo liza kubonisa ezinye zeendlela ezizezona zilungileyo esinokukwenza ngazo oku.
Uyakhumbula Na?
◻ Ziziphi lindlela zikaThixo zokubonisa uthando ezinokubonwa lulo lonke uluntu?
◻ Sinokwazi njani ukuba uYehova waba buhlungu xa wayebona uNyana wakhe ebandezeleka?
◻ Ukufa kukaYesu efela abantu kwakwahluke njani koko kwabanye abasenokuba baye bancama ubomi babo?
◻ Sifanele sichatshazelwe njani luthando oluboniswe kuthi nguYehova noYesu?