Ukusindiswa ‘Kwisizukulwana Esingendawo’

“Sizukulwanandini singakholwayo, sigwenxa, koda kube nini na ndikuni, ndininyamezele?”—LUKA 9:41.

1. (a) Axela ntoni la maxesha eentlekele siphila kuwo? (b) Zithini iZibhalo ngabantu abaya kusinda?

SIPHILA kumaxesha eentlekele. Iinyikima, izikhukula, iindlala, izifo, ukuchas’ umthetho, ukudubula kweziqhushumbisi, iimfazwe ezimasikizi—uluntu luye lwathwaxwa zezi kwanezinye ezingakumbi ebudeni bale nkulungwane yethu yama-20. Noko ke, eyona ntlekele imbi kunazo zonke iza kufika kungentsuku zatywala. Yintoni leyo? ‘Yimbandezelo enkulu, ekungazanga kubekho injalo kwasekuqalekeni kwehlabathi, kwada kwaba kalokunje, ekungasayi kubuye kubekho injalo.’ (Mateyu 24:21) Sekunjalo, abaninzi bethu basenokukhangela phambili kwikamva elonwabisayo! Ngoba? Ngenxa yokuba iLizwi likaThixo lichaza “isihlwele esikhulu, ebekungekho namnye unako ukusibala, siphuma kuzo zonke iintlanga, nezizwe, nabantu, neelwimi . . . Aba ngabaphumayo embandezelweni enkulu . . . Abayi kuba salamba, abayi kuba sanxanwa . . . waye uThixo eya kuzisula iinyembezi zonke emehlweni abo.”—ISityhilelo 7:1, 9, 14-17.

2. Iindinyana zokuqala kuMateyu 24, kuMarko 13, nakuLuka 21 zazaliseka njani okokuqala ngendlela eprofetayo?

² Ingxelo ephefumlelweyo ekuMateyu 24:3-22, kuMarko 13:3-20 nakuLuka 21:7-24 ichaza isiprofeto uYesu awakuchaza kuso “ukupheliswa kwale nkqubo yezinto.” (NW)a Esi siprofeto sazaliseka okokuqala kwinkqubo yezinto eyonakeleyo yamaYuda yenkulungwane yokuqala yeXesha lethu Eliqhelekileyo, eyafikelela incopho yayo ngokuthi amaYuda afikelwe ‘yimbandezelo enkulu’ eyayingazange ibonwe ngaphambili. Unqulo nezobupolitika kwinkqubo yamaYuda, ezazisekelwe kwitempile yaseYerusalem, zatshatyalaliswa, kwaye azizanga zibuye zivuseleleke.

3. Kutheni kungxamisekile ukuba sithobele isiprofeto sikaYesu namhlanje?

³ Ngoku masiqwalasele iimeko ezazikho ngexesha lokuzaliseka kokuqala kwesi siprofeto sikaYesu. Oku kuya kusinceda siyiqonde kakuhle inzaliseko yanamhlanje. Kuya kusibonisa indlela ekungxamiseke ngayo ukuthabatha inyathelo elingqalileyo ngoku ukuze sisinde kweyona mbandezelo inkulu esongela lonke uluntu.—Roma 10:9-13; 15:4; 1 Korinte 10:11; 15:58.

“Isiphelo”—Nini?

4, 5. (a) Kutheni amaYuda oyika uThixo enkulungwane yokuqala yeXesha lethu Eliqhelekileyo ayenomdla kwisiprofeto sikaDaniyeli 9:24-27? (b) Sazaliseka njani esi siprofeto?

⁴ Malunga nonyaka wama-539 B.C.E., umprofeti kaThixo uDaniyeli wanikwa umbono weziganeko ezaziya kwenzeka ebudeni ‘beveki’ yokugqibela ‘yeeveki ezimashumi asixhenxe’ eziyiminyaka. (Daniyeli 9:24-27) Ezi “veki” zaqala ngowama-455 B.C.E. xa uKumkani uArtashashta wasePersi wayalela ukuba sibuye sakhiwe isixeko saseYerusalem. “Iveki” yokugqibela yaqala ekufikeni kukaMesiya, uYesu Kristu, xa wathi wabhaptizwa waza wathanjiswa ngowama-29 C.E.b AmaYuda oyika uThixo enkulungwane yokuqala yeXesha lethu Eliqhelekileyo ayewazi kakuhle la maxesha achazwe kwisiprofeto sikaDaniyeli. Ngokomzekelo, ngokuphathelele izihlwele ezazithontelana ukuze ziphulaphule uYohane uMbhaptizi eshumayela ngowama-29 C.E., uLuka 3:15 uthi: “Abantu [babelindile], becamanga bonke ezintliziyweni zabo ngaye uYohane, ukuba akangebi nguye na uKristu.”

⁵ “Iveki” yama-70 yayiza kuba yiminyaka esixhenxe yokubabalwa ngokukhethekileyo kwamaYuda. Ekubeni yaqala ngowama-29 C.E., yaquka ukubhaptizwa nobulungiseleli bukaYesu, ukufa kwakhe njengedini “ngesiqingatha seveki” ngowama-33 C.E., nesinye ‘isiqingatha seveki’ ukuya kutsho kowama-36 C.E. Ebudeni bale “veki,” ithuba lokuba ngumfundi kaYesu othanjisiweyo lalivulekele amaYuda oyika uThixo nabo babeguqukele ebuYudeni kuphela. Kwandula ke ngowama-70 C.E., mhla lowo wawungaziwa kwangaphambili, imikhosi yamaRoma eyayikhokelwa nguTitus yayitshabalalisa inkqubo yamaYuda ewexukileyo.—Daniyeli 9:26, 27.

6. “Isikizi lesiphanziso” lalithabatha njani inyathelo ngowama-66 C.E., yaye asabela njani amaKristu?

⁶ Ngaloo ndlela ububingeleli bamaYuda, obabuyingcolisile itempile yaseYerusalem baza benza iyelenqe lokubulala uNyana kaThixo, batshatyalaliswa. Kwakhona, zatshatyalaliswa iingxelo zembali yolo hlanga nezezizwe zalo. Emva koko, akukho mYuda wayenokuthi ngokusesikweni azibange enelungelo lokuba ngumbingeleli okanye ukumkani. Noko ke, okuvuyisayo kukuba amaYuda okomoya athanjisiweyo ahlulwa njengobubingeleli basebukhosini ukuze ‘avakalise isidima’ sikaYehova uThixo. (1 Petros 2:9) Xa umkhosi waseRoma wayirhangqa okokuqala iYerusalem waza wawusingela phantsi nommandla wetempile ngowama-66 C.E., amaKristu aqonda ukuba loo mkhosi unamandla ‘wawulisikizi lesiphanziso, ekwakuthethwa lona ngoDaniyeli umprofeti, limi endaweni engcwele.’ Ethobela umyalelo kaYesu osisiprofeto, amaKristu aseYerusalem nakwelakwaYuda asabela kummandla oneentaba ukuze akhuseleke.—Mateyu 24:15, 16; Luka 21:20, 21.

7, 8. Nguwuphi “umqondiso” owabonwa ngamaKristu, kodwa yintoni awayengayazi?

⁷ Loo maKristu athembekileyo angamaYuda akubona ukuzaliseka kwesiprofeto sikaDaniyeli yaye aba ngamangqina okuzibonela iimfazwe, iindlala, iindyikitya zokufa, iinyikima nokuchas’ umthetho uYesu awayekuxele kwangaphambili njengenxalenye ‘yomqondiso wokupheliswa kwephakade eli.’ (Mateyu 24:3) Kodwa ngaba uYesu wayewaxelele ukuba uYehova wayeya kuwuphumeza nini umgwebo kuloo nkqubo yonakeleyo? Hayi. Oko wakuthethayo kwisiprofeto sakhe ngencopho yobukho bakhe njengokumkani kwixesha elizayo ngokuqinisekileyo kwasebenza ‘nakwimbandezelo enkulu’ yenkulungwane yokuqala: “Akukho bani uwaziyo loo mhla nelo lixa; azazi nezithunywa zamazulu [“engazi naye uNyana,” TE], nguBawo yedwa.”—Mateyu 24:36.

⁸ Ngokusuka kwisiprofeto sikaDaniyeli, amaYuda ayenokukwazi ukulibala ixesha lokubonakala kukaYesu njengoMesiya. (Daniyeli 9:25) Sekunjalo akazange alunikwe usuku ‘lwembandezelo enkulu’ eyayitshabalalisa ngokupheleleyo inkqubo yezinto ewexukileyo yamaYuda. Kuphela kwaba semva kokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem netempile yayo awathi aqonda ukuba loo mhla wawungowama-70 C.E. Noko ke, ayewazi amazwi kaYesu esiprofeto athi: “Asisayi kudlula esi sizukulwana, zingadanga zonke ezo zinto zibekho.” (Mateyu 24:34) Kubonakala ukuba indlela elisetyenziswe ngayo igama elithi ‘isizukulwana’ apha yahlukile kuleyo yeNtshumayeli 1:4, ethetha ngezizukulwana ezilandelelanayo zifika zize zidlule ebudeni bexesha elithile.

“Esi Sizukulwana”—Siyintoni?

9. Izichazi-magama zilichaza njani igama lesiGrike elithi ge·ne·aʹ?

⁹ Xa abapostile abane ababehleli noYesu kwiNtaba yemiNquma beva isiprofeto sakhe ‘esingokupheliswa kwale nkqubo yezinto,’ babeza kuliqonda njani ibinzana elithi “esi sizukulwana”? Kwiincwadi zeVangeli igama elithi “isizukulwana” liguqulelwe kwigama lesiGrike elithi ge·ne·aʹ, izichazi-magama zanamhlanje ezilicacisa ngala mazwi: “Ngokoqobo ngabo baphuma kukhokho omnye.” (IGreek-English Lexicon of the New Testament kaWalter Bauer) “Oko kuzelweyo, intsapho; . . . amalungu alandelelanayo omnombo . . . okanye ohlanga lwabantu . . . okanye indimbane yabantu iphela ephila ngexesha elifanayo, Mat. 24:34; Mar. 13:30; Luka 1:48; 21:32; Fil. 2:15, yaye ngokukodwa abo bohlanga lwamaYuda baphila ngexesha elifanayo.” (IExpository Dictionary of New Testament Words kaW. E. Vine) “Oko kuzelweyo, abantu bemvelaphi enye, intsapho; . . . indimbane yabantu iphela ephila ngexesha elifanayo: Mat. xxiv. 34; Mar. xiii. 30; Lu i. 48 . . . lisetyenziswa ngokukodwa kwabo bohlanga lwamaYuda abaphila ngexesha elinye nelifanayo.”—IGreek-English Lexicon of the New Testament kaJ. H. Thayer.

10. (a) Yiyiphi ingcaciso efanayo iincwadi ezimbini eziyinikelayo xa zicaphula uMateyu 24:34? (b) Isichazi-magama sezakwalizwi neenguqulelo zeBhayibhile ezithile ziyixhasa njani le ngcaciso?

¹⁰ Ngaloo ndlela uVine noThayer bacaphula uMateyu 24:34 xa bechaza “esi sizukulwana” (he ge·ne·aʹ hauʹte) njengayo “indimbane yabantu iphela ephila ngexesha elifanayo.” ITheological Dictionary of the New Testament (1964) iyayixhasa le nkcazelo, isithi: “Ukusebenzisa kukaYesu igama elithi ‘isizukulwana’ kubonisa injongo yakhe yokuquka: ubhekisela kubo bonke abantu yaye ukuphaphele ukuba nesono kwabo bonke.” Ngokwenene “ukuba nesono kwabo bonke” kwakubonakala kuhlanga lwamaYuda xa uYesu wayesemhlabeni, kanye njengokuba kuphawuleka kule nkqubo yehlabathi yanamhlanje.c

11. (a) Ngokuyintloko liliphi igunya elifanele lisikhokele ekugqibeni ngendlela yokusebenzisa igama elithi he ge·ne·aʹ hauʹte? (b) Eli gunya lalisebenzisa njani eli binzana?

¹¹ Kakade ke, amaKristu afunda lo mbandela akhokela indlela acinga ngayo ngokuyintloko ngendlela ababhali beencwadi zeVangeli abaphefumlelweyo abalisebenzisa ngayo ibinzana lesiGrike elithi he ge·ne·aʹ hauʹte, okanye “esi sizukulwana,” xa bechaza amazwi kaYesu. Eli binzana ngalo lonke ixesha lasetyenziswa ngendlela egxekayo. Ngaloo ndlela, uYesu wabiza iinkokeli zonqulo zamaYuda ngokuthi “zinyokandini, nzalandini yamarhamba” waza wahlabela mgama wathi umgwebo weGehena wawuya kuphunyezwa kuso “esi sizukulwana.” (Mateyu 23:33, 36) Noko ke, ngaba lo mgwebo wawuphelele kubefundisi abahanahanisayo? Nakanye. Abafundi bakaYesu bamva izihlandlo eziliqela ethetha ‘ngesi sizukulwana,’ ngalo lonke ixesha elisebenzisa eli binzana ngengqiqo ebanzi ngakumbi. Yiyiphi leyo?

“Esi Sizukulwana Singendawo”

12. Ngoxa babephulaphule abafundi bakhe, uYesu wazinxulumanisa njani “izihlwele” kunye ‘nesi sizukulwana’?

¹² Ngowama-31 C.E., ebudeni bobulungiseleli bukaYesu obubalaseleyo baseGalili emva nje kwePasika, abafundi bakhe bamva esithi “kwizihlwele”: “Ndiya kusifanisa nantoni na esi sizukulwana? Sifana namakhwenkwana ehleli ezindaweni zembutho, ekhwaza abalingane bawo, esithi, Sanigwalela, naza nina anaduda; sanihlabela isililo, naza nina anambambazela. Kuba uYohane [uMbhaptizi] weza engadli, engaseli, basuka bathi, Unedemon. UNyana woMntu [uYesu] yena weza esidla, esela, basuka bathi, Khanibone umntu olidla-kudla, olisela-wayini, umhlobo wababuthi berhafu naboni.” Kwakungekho ndlela yakuzikholisa ezo “zihlwele” zingenamthetho!—Mateyu 11:7, 16-19.

13. Ngoobani uYesu awabachaza waza wabagweba ‘njengesi sizukulwana singendawo’ bekho abafundi bakhe?

¹³ Kamva ngowama-31 C.E., njengoko uYesu nabafundi bakhe babesenjenjeya kukhenketho lwabo lwesibini lokushumayela eGalili, “abathile bakubabhali nabaFarisi” bacela ukuba uYesu enze umqondiso. Wabaxelela oku bona “nesihlwele” (TE) esasilapho: “Isizukulwana esingendawo, esikrexezayo, singxamele umqondiso; ke asiyi kunikwa mqondiso, ungenguwo umqondiso kaYona umprofeti. Kuba, njengokuba uYona ebemini ntathu nabusuku buthathu esiswini sentlanzi enkulu, kwangokunjalo, uNyana woMntu woba mini ntathu nabusuku buthathu embilinini womhlaba. . . . Kuya kuba njalo nakwesi sizukulwana singendawo.” (Mateyu 12:38-46) Ngokucacileyo, “esi sizukulwana singendawo” sasiquka iinkokeli zonqulo kunye ‘nesihlwele’ esingazange siwuqonde umqondiso owazaliseka ekufeni nasekuvusweni kukaYesu.d

14. Abafundi bakaYesu bamva ebagweba ngelithini abaSadusi nabaFarisi?

¹⁴ Emva kwePasika yowama-32 C.E., njengoko uYesu nabafundi bakhe babefika kummandla waseGalili oyiMagadala, abaSadusi nabaFarisi baphinda bacela ukuba uYesu enze umqondiso. Waphinda wathi kubo: “Isizukulwana esingendawo, esikrexezayo, singxamele umqondiso; kanti asiyi kunikwa mqondiso, ingenguwo umqondiso kaYona umprofeti.” (Mateyu 16:1-4) Abo bahanahanisi bonqulo eneneni ngabona babebekek’ ityala njengeenkokeli phakathi ‘kwezihlwele’ ezingathembekanga uYesu awazigweba ngokuthi “esi sizukulwana singendawo.”

15. Ngaphambi nje nasemva kokwenziwa kumila kumbi, kwenzeka ntoni phakathi koYesu nabafundi ‘nesi sizukulwana’?

¹⁵ Ngasekupheleni kobulungiseleli bakhe baseGalili, uYesu wabizela kuye isihlwele kunye nabafundi bakhe waza wathi: “Othe waneentloni ngam nangamazwi am, kwesi sizukulwana sikrexezayo, sonayo, naye uNyana woMntu woba neentloni ngaye.” (Marko 8:34, 38) Ngoko izihlwele zamaYuda angaguqukiyo elo xesha zazibumba “esi sizukulwana sikrexezayo, sonayo.” Kwiintsuku ezithile kamva, emva kokwenziwa kumila kumbi kukaYesu, uYesu nabafundi bakhe ‘bakufika esihlweleni,’ indoda ethile yamcela ukuba aphilise unyana wayo. UYesu wathi: “Sizukulwanandini singakholwayo, sigwenxa, koda kube nini na ndinani? Koda kube nini na ndininyamezele?”—Mateyu 17:14-17; Luka 9:37-41.

16. (a) Waphinda wasigweba wathini uYesu “isihlwele” kwelakwaYuda? (b) “Esi sizukulwana” salwenza njani olona lwaphulo-mthetho lungendawo lwakha lwenziwa?

¹⁶ Kumele ukuba kwakukwelakwaYuda, emva koMthendeleko wemiNquba ngowama-32 C.E., “zakubon’ ukuba ziqukene iindimbane [“isihlwele,” NW]” kuYesu, awathi waphinda wazigweba, esithi: “Esi sizukulwana singendawo, singxamele umqondiso; ukanti asiyi kunikwa mqondiso, ingenguwo umqondiso kaYona.” (Luka 11:29) Ekugqibeleni, xa iinkokeli zonqulo zazisa uYesu ematyaleni, uPilato wathembisa ukumkhulula. Ingxelo ithi: “Ababingeleli abakhulu namadoda amakhulu bazeyisela izihlwele ekuthini zicele uBharabhas, zimtshabalalise uYesu. . . . Athi uPilato kubo, Ndimenzeni na ke uYesu ekuthiwa nguKristu? Bathi kuye bonke, Makabethelelwe . . . Yathi ke irhuluneli, Kuba enze bubi buni na? Kwaba kukhona ke bancamisayo ukunkqangaza, besithi, Makabethelelwe.” Eso “sizukulwana singendawo” sasifuna uYesu abulawe!—Mateyu 27:20-25.

17. Basabela njani abathile ‘kwesi sizukulwana sigoso’ kwintshumayelo kaPetros ngePentekoste?

¹⁷ Ngaloo ndlela ‘isizukulwana esingakholwayo, esigwenxa,’ sintyontyelwa ziinkokeli zaso zonqulo, saba nenxaxheba enkulu ekubulaliseni iNkosi uYesu Kristu. Emva kweentsuku ezingama-50, ngePentekoste yowama-33 C.E., abafundi bamkela umoya oyingcwele baza baqalisa ukuthetha ngeelwimi ezahlukahlukeneyo. Yakuva isandi, “yabuthelana inkitha,” waza umpostile uPetros eyibiza ngokuthi “madoda, maYuda, nani nonke nimiyo eYerusalem,” wathetha kuyo wathi: “[UYesu] namthabatha ngezandla zabachasene nomthetho, nambethelela [“emthini,” NW], namsika.” Basabela njani abathile kwabo babephulaphule? “Bahlabeka entliziyweni.” Wandula ke uPetros wababongoza ukuba baguquke. “Wayeqononondisa, evuselela esithi, Zisindiseni kwesi sizukulwana sigoso.” Besabela koko, abantu abamalunga namawaka amathathu “[balamkela] ilizwi lakhe ngovuyo, babhaptizwa.”—IZenzo 2:6, 14, 23, 37, 40, 41.

Ukufaniswa ‘Kwesi Sizukulwana’

18. Ngalo lonke ixesha uYesu wayelisebenzisa ebhekisela kwintoni ibinzana elithi “esi sizukulwana”?

¹⁸ Siyintoni ke ngoko, “isizukulwana” awabhekisela kuso izihlandlo ezininzi uYesu ngoxa wayekunye nabafundi bakhe? Bawaqonda njengathetha ukuthini amazwi akhe athi: “Asisayi kudlula esi sizukulwana, zingadanga zonke ezo zinto zibekho”? Ngokuqinisekileyo uYesu wayengayiguquli indlela awayelisebenzisa ngayo lonke ixesha ibinzana elithi “esi sizukulwana,” ngalo lonke ixesha awayelisebenzisa kwizihlwele ezaziphila ngelo xesha ‘nabakhokeli bazo abaziimfama’ xa bebonke ababebumba uhlanga lwamaYuda. (Mateyu 15:14) “Esi sizukulwana” saba namava azo zonke iinkxwaleko uYesu awazixela kwangaphambili saza sadlula ‘nembandezelo enkulu’ engazange ibonwe eyafikela iYerusalem.—Mateyu 24:21, 34.

19. Ladlula nini yaye njani ‘izulu nomhlaba’ wenkqubo yamaYuda?

¹⁹ Ngenkulungwane yokuqala, uYehova wayegweba abantu abangamaYuda. Abaguqukayo, babonisa ukholo kwilungiselelo likaYehova lenceba elenziwa ngoKristu, basindiswa kuloo “mbandezelo enkulu.” Ngokuvisisana namazwi kaYesu, zonke izinto ezaprofetwayo zenzeka, laza ‘izulu nomhlaba’ wenkqubo yezinto yamaYuda—uhlanga luphela, neenkokeli zalo zonqulo nebutho labantu elingendawo—ladlula. UYehova wayewuphumezile umgwebo!—Mateyu 24:35; thelekisa eyesi-2 kaPetros 3:7.

20. Sisiphi isibongozo esifike ngexesha esisebenza ngokungxamisekileyo kuwo onke amaKristu?

²⁰ Loo maYuda awayenikele ingqalelo kumazwi kaYesu esiprofeto aqonda ukuba usindiso lwawo lwaluxhomekeke, kungekhona ekuzameni ukubala ubude ‘besizukulwana’ okanye ‘kumaxesha okanye amathuba’ athile abaliweyo, kodwa ekuzigcineni ahlukile kwisizukulwana awayephila kuso esingendawo yaye ngenzondelelo enze ukuthanda kukaThixo. Nangona amazwi okugqibela esiprofeto sikaYesu esebenza kwinzaliseko enkulu kulo mhla wethu, amaYuda angamaKristu enkulungwane yokuqala nawo kwafuneka asithobele esi sibongozo: “Phaphani ngoko, amaxesha onke nikhunga, ukuze kuthiwe nikufanele ukuzisaba zonke ezo zinto ziza kuhla, nokumiswa phambi koNyana woMntu.”—Luka 21:32-36; IZenzo 1:6-8.

21. Yintoni esinokulindela ukuba yenzeke ngequbuliso kungekudala?

²¹ Namhlanje, “imini enkulu kaYehova, isondele, ikhawulezile kakhulu.” (Zefaniya 1:14-18; Isaya 13:9, 13) Ngequbuliso, ‘ngomhla nelixa’ elimiswe nguYehova kwangaphambili, umsindo wakhe uya kukhutshelwa kwinkqubo yonqulo, yezobupolitika neyezoqoqosho zeli hlabathi, nakubantu abagwenxa abayila esi “sizukulwana esingendawo, esikrexezayo.” (Mateyu 12:39; 24:36; ISityhilelo 7:1-3, 9, 14) Unokusindiswa njani uphume ‘kwimbandezelo enkulu’? Inqaku lethu elilandelayo liza kuphendula lize lisixelele ngethemba elizukileyo ngekamva.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

Ubuya Kuphendula Uthini?

◻ Sifunda ntoni kwinzaliseko kaDaniyeli 9:24-27?

◻ Izichazi-magama zanamhlanje zilicacisa njani ibinzana elithi “esi sizukulwana” elisetyenziswe eBhayibhileni?

◻ UYesu walisebenzisa ngokufanayo njani ngalo lonke ixesha ibinzana elithi “isizukulwana”?

◻ UMateyu 24:34, 35 wazaliseka njani ngenkulungwane yokuqala?

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 12]

UYesu wafanisa “esi sizukulwana” nezihlwele zabantwana abangalawulekiyo

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 15]

NguYehova kuphela owayelazi kwangaphambili ixesha lokuphumeza umgwebo kwinkqubo yamaYuda engendawo