Yintoni UYehova Ayifunayo Kuthi Namhlanje?
“Ilizwi eliphuma elifini, [lathi]: ‘Lo nguNyana wam, oyintanda, endikholisiweyo nguye; mphulaphuleni yena.’ ”—MATEYU 17:5.
1. UMthetho wayizalisekisa nini injongo yawo?
UYEHOVA wanika uhlanga lwakwaSirayeli uMthetho, kunye neenkalo zawo ezininzi. Ethetha ngazo, umpostile uPawulos wabhala: “Zaziyimfuneko esemthethweni ngokuphathelele inyama yaye zabekwa de kwalixesha elimisiweyo lokubeka izinto ngokuthe tye.” (Hebhere 9:10) Xa uMthetho wakhokelela intsalela yamaSirayeli ekubeni imamkele uYesu njengoMesiya, okanye uKristu, wawuyizalisekisile injongo yawo. Ngenxa yoko, uPawulos wavakalisa oku: “UKristu ukukuphela koMthetho.”—Roma 10:4; Galati 3:19-25; 4:4, 5.
2. Ngoobani ababephantsi koMthetho, kwaye bakhululwa nini kuwo?
2 Ngaba oku kuthetha ukuba uMthetho awusebenzi kuthi namhlanje? Enyanisweni, inkoliso yabantu ayizange iphile phantsi koMthetho, njengoko umdumisi wachazayo: ‘UYehova uxelela uYakobi ilizwi lakhe, uSirayeli imimiselo yakhe namasiko akhe. Akenjanga njalo kolunye uhlanga, namasiko aluwazi.’ (INdumiso 147:19, 20) Xa uThixo wenza umnqophiso omtsha owawusekelwe kwidini likaYesu, kwanohlanga lwakwaSirayeli lwalungasanyanzelekanga ukuba luwuthobele uMthetho. (Galati 3:13; Efese 2:15; Kolose 2:13, 14, 16) Ngoko ke, ukuba uMthetho awusasebenzi, yintoni efunwa nguYehova kwabo banqwenela ukumkhonza namhlanje?
Oko Kufunwa NguYehova
3, 4. (a) Yintoni ngokusisiseko efunwa nguYehova kuthi namhlanje? (b) Kutheni sifanele silandele amanyathelo kaYesu ngokusondeleyo?
3 Ngonyaka wokugqibela wobulungiseleli bukaYesu, abapostile bakhe uPetros, uYakobi kunye noYohane bampheleka ukuya kwintaba ephakamileyo, mhlawumbi kumxawuka weNtaba yeHermon. Xa babelapho babona umbono owawusisiprofeto kaYesu ezukisiwe baza beva ilizwi likaThixo lisithi: “Lo nguNyana wam, oyintanda, endikholisiweyo nguye; mphulaphuleni yena.” (Mateyu 17:1-5) Ngamafutshane, nantso into efunwa nguYehova kuthi—ufuna siphulaphule uNyana wakhe size silandele umzekelo awumiselayo kunye neemfundiso zakhe. (Mateyu 16:24) Ngenxa yoko, umpostile uPetros wabhala: ‘UKristu wabandezeleka ngenxa yenu, enishiya nomzekelo ukuze nilandele amanyathelo akhe ngokusondeleyo.’—1 Petros 2:21.
4 Kutheni sifanele silandele amanyathelo kaYesu ngokusondeleyo? Kungenxa yokuba xa simxelisa, sixelisa uYehova uThixo. UYesu wayemazi kakuhle uBawo, echithe izigidi zezigidi zeminyaka ekunye naye ezulwini ngaphambi kokuba eze emhlabeni. (IMizekeliso 8:22-31; Yohane 8:23; 17:5; Kolose 1:15-17) Xa wayesemhlabeni, uYesu wammela ngokunyaniseka uYise. Wachaza: “Kanye njengoko uBawo wandifundisayo ndiyazithetha ezi zinto.” Enyanisweni, uYesu wamxelisa uYehova kangangokuba wathi: “Lowo undibonileyo mna umbonile kwanoBawo.”—Yohane 8:28; 14:9.
5. AmaKristu aphantsi kwawuphi umthetho, kwaye waqalisa nini ukusebenza loo mthetho?
5 Yintoni ebandakanyekileyo ekuphulaphuleni uYesu nasekumxeliseni? Ngaba kuthetha ukuba phantsi komthetho? UPawulos wabhala: ‘Mna ngokwam andikho phantsi komthetho.’ Apha wayebhekisela ‘kumnqophiso omdala,’ umnqophiso woMthetho owawenziwe noSirayeli. UPawulos wavuma ukuba ‘wayephantsi komthetho kuKristu.’ (1 Korinte 9:20, 21; 2 Korinte 3:14) Wathi wakuphela umnqophiso woMthetho, “umnqophiso omtsha” waqalisa ukusebenza ukunye ‘nomthetho kaKristu’ abanyanzeleke bonke abakhonzi bakaYehova ukuba bawuthobele.—Luka 22:20; Galati 6:2; Hebhere 8:7-13.
6. Unokuchazwa njani “umthetho kaKristu,” yaye siwuthobela njani?
6 UYehova akazange ayalele ukuba “umthetho kaKristu” ubhalwe phantsi, ewuhlela ngokwezintlu, njengoko kwakusenziwa kumnqophiso omdala woMthetho. Lo mthetho mtsha wabalandeli bakaKristu awunadederhu loludwe lwezinto ezimele zenziwe nezingamele zenziwe. Noko ke, kwiLizwi lakhe, uYehova ulondoloze iingxelo ezine ezipheleleyo zobomi neemfundiso zoNyana wakhe. Ukongezelela koko, uThixo waphefumlela abanye babalandeli bokuqala bakaYesu ukuba babhale imiyalelo engendlela ubani amele aziphathe ngayo, imicimbi yebandla, indlela yokuziphatha entsatsheni neminye imibandela. (1 Korinte 6:18; 14:26-35; Efese 5:21-33; Hebhere 10:24, 25) Xa sivisisanisa ubomi bethu nomzekelo kunye neemfundiso zikaYesu Kristu size sithobele isiluleko sababhali beBhayibhile ababephefumlelwe benkulungwane yokuqala, siyawuthobela “umthetho kaKristu.” Yiyo ke le into efunwa nguYehova kubakhonzi bakhe namhlanje.
Ukubaluleka Kothando
7. UYesu wawubethelela njani umongo womthetho wakhe kwiPasika yokugqibela awayibhiyozela nabapostile bakhe?
7 Ngoxa uthando lwalubalulekile phantsi koMthetho, luyeyona nto ibalulekileyo, okanye lungundoqo, kumthetho kaKristu. Le nkalo yabethelelwa nguYesu xa wayehlanganisene nabapostile bakhe ukuze babhiyozele iPasika yowama-33 C.E. Ngokutsho koshwankathelo lukampostile uYohane ngoko kwenzeka ngobo busuku, uYesu wabhekisela kuthando kangangezihlandlo ezingama-28 kumazwi akhe awayesuk’ entliziyweni. Oku kwabashiya abapostile bakhe bewuqonda umongo, okanye injongo yomthetho wakhe. Okubalulekileyo kukuba uYohane watshayelela ingxelo yakhe engeziganeko zaloo ngokuhlwa ibalulekileyo ngokuthi: “Ngenxa yokuba wayesazi ngaphambi komthendeleko wepasika ukuba lalifikile ilixa lakhe lokuba emke kweli hlabathi aye kuYise, uYesu, ebathandile abakhe ababesehlabathini, wabathanda de kwasekupheleni.”—Yohane 13:1.
8. (a) Yintoni eyabonisa ukuba kwakukho impikiswano eyayiqhubeka phakathi kwabapostile? (b) UYesu wabafundisa njani isifundo sokuthobeka abapostile bakhe?
8 UYesu wabathanda abapostile bakhe, nangona wayewe nganeno kwimizamo yakhe yokubanceda boyise umnqweno wabo owawungafanelekanga wokuthanda igunya nesikhundla. Kwiinyanga ezithile ngaphambi kokuba bafike eYerusalem, “babexoxisana phakathi kwabo ngokuba ngubani omkhulu ngakumbi.” Kwaye ngaphambi nje kokuba bangene esixekweni besiya ePasikeni, yaphinda yaqala phantsi le mpikiswano. (Marko 9:33-37; 10:35-45) Isibakala sokuba le nto yayiyingxaki eqhubekayo sisibona koko kwenzekayo kamsinya nje emva kokuba abapostile bengene kwigumbi elikhulu ukuze babhiyozele iPasika eyayiza kuba yeyokugqibela. Ngelo xesha akukho namnye owaxhakamfula elo thuba ukuze enze inkonzo eyayiqhelekile yokuhlamba iinyawo zabanye. Ukuze abafundise ukuthobeka, uYesu wazihlamba ngokwakhe iinyawo zabo.—Yohane 13:2-15; 1 Timoti 5:9, 10.
9. UYesu waqhubana njani noko kwenzekayo emva kwePasika yokugqibela?
9 Phezu kwaso nje eso sifundo, phawula okwenzekayo emva komsitho wePasika nasemva kokuba uYesu emisele iSikhumbuzo sokufa kwakhe okwakusondele. Ingxelo yeVangeli kaLuka ithi: “Kwavela nempikiswano eshushu phakathi kwabo mayela nokuba nguwuphi na kubo obonakala engoyena mkhulu.” Kunokuba acaphuke aze abangxolise aba bapostile, ngobubele uYesu wabaluleka ngemfuneko yokwahluka kubalawuli behlabathi ababenyolukele igunya. (Luka 22:24-27) Emva koko wabachazela oko sinokuthi ngoyena ndoqo womthetho kaKristu, esithi: “Ndininika umyalelo omtsha, wokuba nithandane; kanye njengoko ndinithandileyo mna, ukuba kwanani nithandane.”—Yohane 13:34.
10. Nguwuphi umyalelo uYesu awawunika abafundi bakhe, kwaye wawubandakanya ntoni?
10 Kamva ngaloo ngokuhlwa uYesu wachaza umkhamo ofanele ufikelelwe luthando olunjengolukaKristu. Wathi: “Nguwo lo umyalelo wam, wokuba nithandane kanye njengoko ndinithandileyo. Akukho bani unothando olukhulu ngakumbi kunolu, lokuba uthile anikezele umphefumlo wakhe ngenxa yabahlobo bakhe.” (Yohane 15:12, 13) Ngaba uYesu wayesithi abalandeli bakhe bafanele bakulungele ukuwafela amanye amakholwa xa kuyimfuneko? Le yindlela oko awakuqonda ngayo uYohane, owayekho naye ngeso sihlandlo, kuba kamva wabhala esithi: “Ngako oku siye safikelela ekulwazini uthando, ngenxa yokuba yena [uYesu Kristu] wanikezela umphefumlo wakhe ngenxa yethu; yaye nathi sibophelelekile ukunikezela imiphefumlo yethu ngenxa yabazalwana bethu.”—1 Yohane 3:16.
11. (a) Siwuzalisekisa njani umthetho kaKristu? (b) Nguwuphi umzekelo owamiselwa nguYesu?
11 Ngoko ke, asiwuzalisekisi umthetho kaKristu ngokufundisa nje abanye ngaye. Sikwamele siphile yaye senze izinto ngendlela uYesu awazenza ngayo. Kuyinyaniso ukuba, uYesu wasebenzisa amazwi amnandi nanongiweyo kwiintetho zakhe. Kodwa ke, wayekwafundisa nangomzekelo. Nangona uYesu wayekhe wasisidalwa somoya esinamandla ezulwini, walixhakamfula ithuba lokukhonza izilangazelelo zikaYise emhlabeni nelokusibonisa indlela esifanele siphile ngayo. Wayethobekile, enobubele, yaye enolwazelelelo, enceda abasindwa yimithwalo nabacinezelekileyo. (Mateyu 11:28-30; 20:28; Filipi 2:5-8; 1 Yohane 3:8) Kwaye uYesu wabongoza abalandeli bakhe ukuba bathandane, kanye njengokuba wabathandayo.
12. Kutheni kunokutshiwo nje ukuba umthetho kaKristu awuthethi kuthi akubalulekanga ukuthanda uYehova?
12 Ukuthanda uYehova—okwakungowona myalelo mkhulu eMthethweni—kunayiphi indawo kumthetho kaKristu? (Mateyu 22:37, 38; Galati 6:2) Ngaba kukwindawo yesibini? Nakanye! Ukuthanda uYehova nokuthanda amanye amaKristu ngumthi nexolo. Soze umthande ngokwenene uYehova ungamthandi umzalwana wakho, kuba umpostile uYohane wathi: “Ukuba nabani na wenza ingxelo ethi: ‘Ndiyamthanda uThixo,’ ukanti umthiyile umzalwana wakhe, ulixoki. Kuba lowo ungamthandiyo umzalwana wakhe, ambonileyo, akanako ukumthanda uThixo, angambonanga.”—1 Yohane 4:20; thelekisa eyoku-1 kaYohane 3:17, 18.
13. Waba yintoni umphumo wokuthobela kwabafundi umyalelo omtsha kaYesu?
13 Xa uYesu wanika abafundi bakhe umyalelo omtsha wokuba bathandane kanye njengokuba wabathandayo, wawuchaza umphumo owawuza kubangelwa koko. Wathi: “Ngako oku bonke baya kwazi ukuba ningabafundi bam, ukuba ninothando phakathi kwenu.” (Yohane 13:35) Ngokutsho kukaTertullian, owayephila malunga neminyaka elikhulu emva kokufa kukaYesu, uthando lobuzalwana lwamaKristu okuqala lwaba naloo mphumo kanye. UTertullian wacaphula abo babengengomaKristu bethetha ngabalandeli bakaKristu besithi: ‘Khanibone nje indlela abathandana ngayo nendlela abade bakulungele ngayo ukufelana.’ Sisenokuzibuza, ‘Ngaba amanye amaKristu ndiwathanda kangangokuba ndiyabonakala ukuba ndingomnye wabalandeli bakaYesu?’
Indlela Esilubonakalisa Ngayo Uthando Lwethu
14, 15. Yintoni enokwenza kube nzima ukuthobela umthetho kaKristu, kodwa yintoni enokusinceda senjenjalo?
14 Kubalulekile ukuba abakhonzi bakaYehova babe nothando olunjengolukaKristu. Kodwa ngaba ukufumanisa kunzima ukuthanda amanye amaKristu azingcayo? Kaloku, njengoko sele sibonile, kwanabapostile babephikisana kwaye bezama ukusebenzela izilangazelelo zabo. (Mateyu 20:20-24) NamaGalati akha axabana. Emva kokuwachazela ukuba uthando lommelwane lwaluwuzalisekisa uMthetho, uPawulos wawalumkisa esithi: “Ukuba, ngoko, niqhubeka nigrenyana yaye niqwengana, lumkani ningabhujiswa omnye ngomnye.” Akuba ethelekise imisebenzi yenyama nesiqhamo somoya kaThixo, uPawulos walek’ umsundulo ngokubongoza esithi: “Masingazigwagwisi, sixhokonxa ukhuphiswano omnye nomnye, simonelana.” Wandula ke lo mpostile wathi: “Qhubekani nithwala uxanduva lomnye nomnye, nize ngaloo ndlela nizalisekise umthetho kaKristu.”—Galati 5:14–6:2.
15 Ngaba inkulu gqitha into efunwa nguYehova kuthi xa efuna sithobele umthetho kaKristu? Nangona kusenokuba nzima ukuba nobubele kwabo baye, mhlawumbi, bathetha amazwi ahlabayo kuthi okanye badlakaza iimvakalelo zethu, sinyanzelekile ukuba ‘sibe ngabaxelisa uThixo, njengabantwana abaziintanda, size siqhubeke sihamba eluthandweni.’ (Efese 5:1, 2) Kufuneka siqhubeke sikhangele umzekelo kaThixo, ‘oncomela uthando lwakhe kuthi ngokuthi, ngoxa sasisengaboni, uKristu wasifela.’ (Roma 5:8) Xa sisiba ngabokuqala ukunceda abanye, kuquka nabo baye basiphatha kakubi, sinako ukufumana ulwaneliseko lokwazi ukuba sixelisa uThixo kwaye sithobela umthetho kaKristu.
16. Sinokubonisa njani ukuba siyamthanda uThixo noKristu?
16 Sifanele sikhumbule ukuba uthando lwethu lubonakala kwizenzo, kungekhona kumazwi esiwathethayo. KwanoYesu wakha wakufumanisa kunzima ukuyamkela inkalo ethile yokuthanda kukaThixo ngenxa yoko kwakubandakanyekile. UYesu wathandaza esithi: “Bawo, ukuba uyanqwena, yishenxise le ndebe kum.” Kodwa ke kamsinya emva koko wongezelela esithi: “Noko ke, makwenzeke, kungekhona ukuthanda kwam, kodwa okwakho.” (Luka 22:42) Phezu kwayo yonke loo nto yayimbandezela uYesu, wenza ukuthanda kukaThixo. (Hebhere 5:7, 8) Ukuthobela kubonisa ukuba sinothando kwaye kubonisa ukuba siyaqonda ukuba indlela kaThixo yeyona ndlela ilungileyo. IBhayibhile ithi: “Oku koko uthando lukaThixo luthetha kona, ukuba sigcine imiyalelo yakhe.” (1 Yohane 5:3) Kwaye uYesu waxelela abapostile bakhe oku: “Ukuba niyandithanda, niya kuyigcina imiyalelo yam.”—Yohane 14:15.
17. Nguwuphi umyalelo okhethekileyo uYesu awawunika abalandeli bakhe, kwaye sazi njani ukuba uyasebenza kuthi namhlanje?
17 Ngaphandle kokuyalela abalandeli bakhe ukuba bathandane, nguwuphi omnye umyalelo uKristu awabanika wona? Wabayalela ukuba benze umsebenzi wokushumayela awayebaqeqeshele wona. UPetros wathi: “Wasiyalela ukuba sishumayele ebantwini nokuba sinikele ubungqina.” (IZenzo 10:42) UYesu wayebayalele ngokukhethekileyo esithi: “Hambani ke ngoko nize nenze abafundi abantu beentlanga zonke, nibabhaptiza egameni loYise neloNyana nelomoya oyingcwele, nibafundisa ukuba bagcine zonke izinto endiye ndaniyalela zona.” (Mateyu 28:19, 20; IZenzo 1:8) UYesu watyhila ukuba loo miyalelo ikwasebenza nakubalandeli bakhe bangoku, ‘ngexesha lokuphela,’ kuba wathi: “Ezi ndaba zilungileyo zobukumkani ziya kushunyayelwa kuwo wonke umhlaba omiweyo kube bubungqina kuzo zonke iintlanga; kwandule ke kufike ukuphela.” (Daniyeli 12:4; Mateyu 24:14) Kakade ke, kukuthanda kukaThixo ukuba sishumayele. Ukanti ke, abanye basenokucinga ukuba inkulu gqitha into efunwa nguThixo xa esithi masenze oko. Ngaba ngokwenene kunjalo?
Isizathu Sokuba Kubonakale Kunzima
18. Yintoni esifanele siyikhumbule xa sibandezeleka ngenxa yokwenza oko uYehova asiyalela kona?
18 Njengoko sele sibonile, uYehova ebebayalela abantu bakhe ukuba baphile ngokuvisisana noko akufunayo ukutyhubela yonke imbali. Yaye kanye njengokuba bezahlukile izinto ebezifuna kubo, bekunjalo ke nangeemvavanyo abebejamelana nazo. UNyana oyintanda kaThixo watyhubela ezona mvavanyo zakha zanzima, ekugqibeleni wabulawa ngeyona ndlela yakha yanolunya ngenxa yokwenza oko wayekuyalelwe nguThixo. Kodwa xa sibandezeleka ngenxa yokwenza oko sikuyalelwe nguYehova, sifanele sikhumbule ukuba asinguye obangela ukuba sivavanywe. (Yohane 15:18-20; Yakobi 1:13-15) Imvukelo kaSathana yakhokelela esonweni, ekubandezelekeni nasekufeni, kwaye nguye obangele ezi meko ngokufuthi eziye zakwenza kwanzima ukwenza oko uYehova akuyalela abakhonzi bakhe.—Yobhi 1:6-19; 2:1-8.
19. Kutheni kulilungelo ukwenza oko uThixo asiyalela kona ngoNyana wakhe?
19 Esebenzisa uNyana wakhe, uYehova uye walathisa ukuba kweli xesha lesiphelo, abakhonzi Bakhe bavakalise emhlabeni wonke ukuba ekuphela kwesicombululo sazo zonke izinto ezibandezela abantu lulawulo loBukumkani. Lo rhulumente kaThixo uya kuzishenxisa zonke iingxaki zomhlaba—imfazwe, ulwaphulo-mthetho, indlala, ukwaluphala, ukugula nokufa. UBukumkani buya kukhokelela kumhlaba ozukileyo oyiparadesi, abaya kuthi kwanabafileyo bavuselwe kuwo. (Mateyu 6:9, 10; Luka 23:43; IZenzo 24:15; ISityhilelo 21:3, 4) Hayi indlela ekulilungelo ngayo ukuvakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo ngezinto ezinjalo! Ngoko ke, kucacile ukuba akuyongxaki oko uYehova asiyalela ukuba sikwenze. Sijamelana nenkcaso, kuba ibangelwa nguSathana uMtyholi nehlabathi lakhe.
20. Sinokuhlangabezana njani nalo naluphi na ucelomngeni oluziswa nguMtyholi?
20 Sinokuphumelela njani kulo naluphi na ucelomngeni oluziswa kuthi nguSathana? Ngokukhumbula la mazwi: “Yiba nobulumko, nyana wam, uyivuyise intliziyo yam; ukuze ndimphendule ngezwi ondingcikivayo.” (IMizekeliso 27:11) UYesu wamenza uYehova wakwazi ukuphendula ugculelo lukaSathana ngokushiya ubomi basezulwini obunqabisekileyo ukuze enze ukuthanda kukaYise emhlabeni. (Isaya 53:12; Hebhere 10:7) Xa wayengumntu, uYesu wazinyamezela zonke iimvavanyo ezazijoliswe kuye, kwanokubulawa kwisibonda sentuthumbo. Ukuba siyamlandela njengoMzekelo wethu, nathi sinako ukunyamezela iimbandezelo size senze nantoni na uYehova asiyalela yona.—Hebhere 12:1-3.
21. Uvakalelwa njani ngothando olubonakaliswe nguYehova noNyana wakhe?
21 Olunjani lona uthando aye uThixo noNyana wakhe balubonakalisa kuthi! Uluntu oluthobelayo lunethemba lokuphila ngonaphakade eParadesi ngenxa yedini likaYesu. Ngoko masingaze sivumele nantoni na ukuba ilisithe elo themba. Kunoko, ngamnye kuthi makacingisise nzulu ngoko uYesu akwenze kwafumaneka, kanye njengoPawulos, owathi: ‘UNyana kaThixo wandithanda waza wazinikela ngenxa yam.’ (Galati 2:20) Kwaye ngamana singaba nombulelo ongazenzisiyo kuThixo wethu onothando, uYehova, ongaze afune okungaphaya kwamandla ethu.
Ubunokuphendula Uthini?
◻ Yintoni efunwa nguYehova kuthi namhlanje?
◻ Ngengokuhlwa yokugqibela awayichitha nabapostile bakhe, uKristu wakubethelela njani ukubaluleka kothando?
◻ Sinokungqina njani ukuba siyamthanda uThixo?
◻ Kutheni kulilungelo ukwenza oko uYehova asiyalela kona?
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 23]
Sisiphi isifundo esadluliselwa nguYesu xa wayehlamba iinyawo zabapostile bakhe?
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 25]
Phezu kwayo nje inkcaso, ukwabelana nabanye ngeendaba ezilungileyo kulilungelo elivuyisayo