ISahluko 13
Thenga Igolide Elicwengisiswe Ngomlilo
ILAWODIKEYA
1, 2. Likuphi ibandla lokugcina kwayisikhombisa elamukela isigijimi esivela kuJesu okhazinyulisiwe, futhi ziyini ezinye zezici zalo muzi?
ILAWODIKEYA iyibandla lokugcina kwayisikhombisa ukwamukela isigijimi esivela kuJesu ovusiwe. Futhi yeka ukwaziswa okuvula amehlo nokuphaphamisayo esikuvezayo!
2 Namuhla, amanxiwa aseLawodikeya ungawathola eduze kwaseDenizli, cishe amakhilomitha angu-88 eningizimu-mpumalanga ye-Alasehir. Ekhulwini lokuqala leminyaka, iLawodikeya yayiwumuzi ochumayo. Yakhiwe enhlukana-ndlela ebalulekile, yayiyisikhungo esiyinhloko sokulondoloza imali nezentengiselwano. Ukuthengiswa komuthi wamehlo owaziwa kakhulu kwanezela engcebweni yayo, futhi yayidume nangezingubo zayo zezinga eliphezulu ezazenziwa khona ngoboya bemvu obumnyama obucolekile. Ukuntuleka kwamanzi, okwakuyinkinga enkulu yomuzi, kwakunqotshwe ngokugeleziswa kwamanzi ngemisele esuka kude eziphethwini ezishisayo. Kanjalo, amanzi ayesuke esesivivi lapho efika emzini.
3. UJesu usiqala kanjani isigijimi sakhe kuleli bandla laseLawodikeya?
3 ILawodikeya yayiseduze neKolose. Lapho ebhalela abaseKolose, umphostoli uPawulu ukhuluma ngencwadi ayeyithumelele abaseLawodikeya. (Kolose 4:15, 16) Asazi ukuthi yini uPawulu ayeyibhale kuleyo ncwadi, kodwa isigijimi manje uJesu asithumela kwabaseLawodikeya sibonisa ukuthi bawele esimweni esidabukisayo ngokomoya. Nokho, njengokuvamile uJesu uqala ngokuzichaza yena, ethi: “Ingelosi yebandla laseLawodikeya yilobele lokhu: Yilezi izinto azishoyo u-Amen, ufakazi othembekile noqinisile, isiqalo sendalo kaNkulunkulu.”—IsAmbulo 3:14.
4. Kukanjani uJesu ‘engu-Amen’?
4 Kungani uJesu ezibiza ‘ngo-Amen’? Lesi siqu sinezela igunya lokwahlulela esigijimini sakhe. Elithi “Amen” liwukuhunyushwa kwezwi nezwi kwegama lesiHebheru elisho ukuthi “ngokuqinisekile,” “makube njalo,” futhi lisetshenziswa ekupheleni kwemithandazo ukuqinisekisa imizwa evezwe kuyo. (1 Korinte 14:16) UJesu ‘ungu-Amen’ ngoba ubuqotho bakhe obungenasici nokufa kwakhe komhlatshelo kwaqinisekisa ukugcwaliseka kwazo zonke izithembiso zikaJehova eziyigugu. (2 Korinte 1:20) Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, yonke imithandazo ibhekiswa ngokufanelekile kuJehova ngoJesu.—Johane 15:16; 16:23, 24.
5. Kungayiphi indlela uJesu ‘engufakazi othembekile noqinisile’?
5 UJesu futhi ‘ungufakazi othembekile noqinisile.’ Esiprofethweni ngokuvamile uhlanganiswa nokwethembeka, neqiniso, nokulunga, ngoba uthembeke ngokuphelele njengenceku kaJehova uNkulunkulu. (IHubo 45:4; Isaya 11:4, 5; IsAmbulo 1:5; 19:11) UnguFakazi kaJehova omkhulu kunabo bonke. Eqinisweni, ‘njengoyisiqalo sendalo kaNkulunkulu,’ uJesu wamemezela inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu kusukela ekuqaleni. (IzAga 8:22-30) Njengomuntu emhlabeni, wafakazela iqiniso. (Johane 18:36, 37; 1 Thimothewu 6:13) Ngemva kokuvuka kwakhe, wathembisa abafundi bakhe umoya ongcwele futhi wabatshela: “Nizoba ofakazi bami eJerusalema nakulo lonke elaseJudiya neSamariya nasezingxenyeni ezikude kakhulu zomhlaba.” Kusukela ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E. kuye phambili, uJesu waqondisa la maKristu agcotshiwe ekushumayeleni izindaba ezinhle “kuyo yonke indalo engaphansi kwezulu.” (IzEnzo 1:6-8; Kolose 1:23) Ngempela, uJesu ufanele ukubizwa ngofakazi othembekile noqinisileyo. AmaKristu agcotshiwe eLawodikeya ayeyozuza ngokulalela amazwi akhe.
6. (a) UJesu usichaza kanjani isimo esingokomoya sebandla laseLawodikeya? (b) Isiphi isibonelo esihle sikaJesu amaKristu aseLawodikeya ahluleka ukusilandela?
6 Yisiphi isigijimi uJesu anaso ngabaseLawodikeya? Akanalo izwi lokutusa. Ubatshela ngokusobala: “Ngiyazazi izenzo zakho, ukuthi awubandi futhi awushisi. Ngifisa sengathi ngabe uyabanda noma uyashisa. Ngakho, ngenxa yokuba usivivi ungashisi futhi ungabandi, ngizokuhlanza uphume emlonyeni wami.” (IsAmbulo 3:15, 16) Wawungasabela kanjani esigijimini esinjalo esivela eNkosini uJesu Kristu? Wawungeke yini uphaphame futhi uzihlole? Ngokuqinisekile, labo baseLawodikeya badinga ukuziphaphamisa, ngoba sebeyozela ngokomoya, ngokusobala okuningi bakuthatha kalula. (Qhathanisa neye-2 Korinte 6:1.) UJesu, obekufanele bamlingise njengamaKristu, ngaso sonke isikhathi ubonisa intshiseko evuthayo ngoJehova nenkonzo yakhe. (Johane 2:17) Ngaphezu kwalokho, abathobekileyo baye bamthola emnene futhi ethobekile ngaso sonke isikhathi, eqabula njengendebe yamanzi abandayo ngosuku olushisayo. (Mathewu 11:28, 29) Kodwa amaKristu aseLawodikeya awashisi futhi awabandi. Njengamanzi agelezela emzini wawo, asesivivi. Asengozini yokulahlwa uJesu ngokuphelele, ‘awahlanze aphume emlonyeni wakhe’! Sengathi thina singalwa njalo ngentshiseko, njengoba kwenza uJesu, ukuze sinikeze ukuqabuleka okungokomoya kwabanye.—Mathewu 9:35-38.
“Uthi: ‘Ngicebile’”
7. (a) UJesu uwuveza kanjani umnyombo wenkinga yamaKristu aseLawodikeya? (b) Kungani uJesu ethi amaKristu aseLawodikeya ‘ayizimpumputhe futhi ahamba-ze’?
7 Uyini ngempela umnyombo wenkinga yabaseLawodikeya? Sithola umqondo omuhle emazwini kaJesu alandelayo: “Ngoba uthi: ‘Ngicebile, ngiye ngazuza ingcebo futhi akukho engikudingayo,’ kodwa awazi ukuthi ungowosizi, nowokudatshukelwa nokuthi umpofu, uyimpumputhe futhi uhamba-ze.” (IsAmbulo 3:17; qhathanisa noLuka 12:16-21.) Behlala emzini ocebile, bazizwa beqiniseka ngenxa yengcebo yabo. Cishe, indlela yabo yokuphila iye yathonywa inkundla yemidlalo, izinkundla zemibukiso, nezindawo zokuvivinya umzimba, kangangokuthi sebeye baba “abathandi benjabulo kunokuba abathandi bakaNkulunkulu.”a (2 Thimothewu 3:4) Kodwa abaseLawodikeya abacebe ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo bampofu ngokomoya. ‘Banengcebo’ embalwa, uma ikhona, ‘abayibeke ezulwini.’ (Mathewu 6:19-21) Abaligcinanga iso labo lilihle, benikeza uMbuso kaNkulunkulu indawo yokuqala ekuphileni kwabo. Basebumnyameni ngempela, bayizimpumputhe, ababoni ngokomoya. (Mathewu 6:22, 23, 33) Ngaphezu kwalokho, naphezu kwezingubo ezinhle ingcebo yabo ebonakalayo okungenzeka yazithenga, emehlweni kaJesu bahamba-ze. Abanazo izingubo ezingokomoya zokubabonakalisa njengamaKristu.—Qhathanisa nesAmbulo 16:15.
8. (a) Isimo esifana naleso saseLawodikeya sikhona ngayiphi indlela nanamuhla? (b) Amanye amaKristu aye azikhohlisa kanjani kuleli zwe elihahayo?
8 Yeka isimo esithusayo! Kodwa asisiboni yini ngokuvamile isimo esifanayo namuhla? Iyini imbangela eyisisekelo? Isimo sokuzethemba esisuka ekuthembeleni ezintweni ezibonakalayo nasengcebweni yabantu. Njengabantu abasontayo beLobukholwa, abanye babantu bakaJehova baye bazikhohlisa, becabanga ukuthi bangamjabulisa uNkulunkulu ngokumane babe khona emihlanganweni ngokuqabukela. Bazama ukuqhubeka ngokumane babe “abenzi bezwi” ngendlela yokugcina icala. (Jakobe 1:22) Naphezu kwezixwayiso eziphindaphindwayo ezivela esigabeni sikaJohane, bafisa izingubo, izimoto, nemizi esemfashinini, nokuphila okugxile ekuzilibaziseni nasekuzijabuliseni. (1 Thimothewu 6:9, 10; 1 Johane 2:15-17) Konke lokhu kuphumela ekuthuntubezekeni kokuqapha ngokomoya. (Hebheru 5:11, 12) Esikhundleni sokuba babe sivivi, kudingeka bavuselele “umlilo womoya” futhi babonise ukulangazela okuqabulayo ‘kokushumayela izwi.’—1 Thesalonika 5:19; 2 Thimothewu 4:2, 5.
9. (a) Yimaphi amazwi kaJesu okufanele ashukumise amaKristu asivivi, futhi ngani? (b) Ibandla lingazisiza kanjani ‘izimvu’ ezidukayo?
9 UJesu uwabheka kanjani amaKristu asivivi? Amazwi akhe aqondile kumelwe awashukumise: “Awazi ukuthi ungowosizi, nowokudatshukelwa nokuthi umpofu, uyimpumputhe futhi uhamba-ze.” Onembeza bawo babuthuntu kangangokuba awasiboni ngisho nesimo sawo esisabekayo. (Qhathanisa nezAga 16:2; 21:2.) Lesi simo esingathí sina ebandleni asinakumane singanakwa. Ngokubeka isibonelo esihle sentshiseko nangokwalusa ngothando, abadala nabanye ababelwe yibo bangakwazi ukuvusa lezi “zimvu” ezidukayo zibuyele enjabulweni yazo yakuqala yenkonzo yenhliziyo yonke.—Luka 15:3-7.
Iseluleko ‘Ngokuceba’
10. Liyini “igolide” uJesu atshela amaKristu aseLawodikeya ukuba alithenge kuye?
10 Ingabe likhona ikhambi lesimo esidabukisayo eLawodikeya? Yebo, uma lawo maKristu ezolandela iseluleko sikaJesu: “Ngikweluleka ukuba uthenge kimi igolide elicwengisiswe ngomlilo ukuze ucebe.” (IsAmbulo 3:18a) “Igolide” langempela lobuKristu, elihlanzwé ngomlilo kwasuswa wonke amanyela, liyobenza ‘bacebe kuNkulunkulu.’ (Luka 12:21) Bangalithengaphi igolide elinjalo? Hhayi kubalondolozi bezimali bendawo kodwa kuJesu! Umphostoli uPawulu wachaza ukuthi liyini lelo golide lapho etshela uThimothewu ukuba ayale amaKristu acebile ukuba ‘enze okuhle, acebe emisebenzini emihle, abe nesandla esivulekile, elungele ukwabelana izinto nabanye, ezibekelela ngokulondekile isisekelo esihle sesikhathi esizayo.’ Kungokuzikhandla ngale ndlela kuphela lapho ‘ayengabambisisa khona ukuphila kwangempela.’ (1 Thimothewu 6:17-19) AbaseLawodikeya abacebile ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo kwakufanele balandele iseluleko sikaPawulu futhi kanjalo bacebe ngokomoya.—Bheka futhi izAga 3:13-18.
11. Sinaziphi izibonelo zosuku lwanamuhla zalabo abathenga “igolide elicwengisiswe ngomlilo”?
11 Ingabe zikhona izibonelo zosuku lwanamuhla zalabo abathenga “igolide elicwengisiswe ngomlilo”? Yebo, zikhona! Ngisho nangesikhathi usuku lweNkosi lwalusondela, iqembu elincane labafundi beBhayibheli laliphaphama emangeni ezimfundiso eziningi zobuBhabhiloni zeLobukholwa, njengoZiqu-zintathu, ukungafi komphefumulo, ukuhlushwa emlilweni wesihogo, ukubhapathizwa kwezinsana, nokukhulekelwa kwezithombe (okuhlanganisa isiphambano nezithombe zikaMariya). Ekulweleni iqiniso leBhayibheli, la maKristu amemezela uMbuso kaJehova njengowukuphela kwethemba lesintu nomhlatshelo kaJesu njengoyisisekelo sokusindiswa. Cishe eminyakeni engu-40 ngaphambi kwesikhathi, akhomba ku-1914 njengonyaka ophawulwe esiprofethweni seBhayibheli wokuphela kwezikhathi zabeZizwe, okuhambisana nezigigaba ezishaqisayo emhlabeni.—IsAmbulo 1:10.
12. Kwakungubani omunye walabo ababehola phakathi kwamaKristu aphaphamayo, futhi wasibeka kanjani isibonelo esivelele sokubekelela ingcebo ezulwini?
12 Owayehola phakathi kwala maKristu aphaphamayo kwakunguCharles Taze Russell, okwathi ekuqaleni kwawo-1870, wakha ikilasi lokutadisha iBhayibheli e-Allegheny (manje eyingxenye yePittsburgh), ePennsylvania, e-U.S.A. Lapho eqala ukufuna iqiniso, uRussell wayebambisene noyise ebhizinisini futhi ephikelele ekubeni usozimali. Kodwa wathengisa amabhizinisi akhe enxanxathela yezitolo futhi wasebenzisa wonke umcebo wakhe ekusekeleni ngokwezimali ukumenyezelwa koMbuso kaNkulunkulu emhlabeni wonke. Ngo-1884 uRussell waba umongameli wokuqala wenhlangano manje eyaziwa ngokuthi yi-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Ngo-1916 wafela esitimeleni eduze kwasePampa, eTexas, eya eNew York, ekhathazwe uhambo lwakhe lokugcina lokushumayela entshonalanga ye-United States. Wabeka isibonelo esivelele sokubekelela ingcebo engokomoya ezulwini, isibonelo namuhla esilandelwa amakhulu ezinkulungwane ezikhonzi ezingamaphayona azidelayo.—Hebheru 13:7; Luka 12:33, 34; qhathanisa neyoku-1 Korinte 9:16; 11:1.
Ukusebenzisa Umuthi Wamehlo Ongokomoya
13. (a) Umuthi wamehlo ongokomoya uzosithuthukisa kanjani isimo sabaseLawodikeya? (b) Luhlobo luni lwezingubo uJesu alutusayo, futhi ngani?
13 UJesu futhi ubayala ngokuqinile labo baseLawodikeya: “Uthenge . . . nezingubo zangaphandle ezimhlophe ukuze ugqoke futhi ihlazo lobunqunu bakho lingabonakali, nomuthi wamehlo ukuba uwuhlikihle emehlweni akho ukuze ubone.” (IsAmbulo 3:18b) Kufanele bafune ikhambi lobumpumputhe babo obungokomoya ngokuthenga umuthi wamehlo owelaphayo, hhayi owabelaphi bendawo, kodwa owohlobo olunganikezwa uJesu kuphela. Lona ungabasiza ukuba babe nokuqonda okungokomoya, ubasize bahambe ‘endleleni yabalungileyo’ amehlo abo aqhakazile egxile ekwenzeni intando kaNkulunkulu. (IzAga 4:18, 25-27) Kanjalo, ngeke bagqoke izingubo ezibizayo zoboya bezimvu obumnyama ezenziwe eLawodikeya, kodwa ‘izingubo zangaphandle ezimhlophe’ ezinhle ezimemezela ubuntu babo obuyilungelo njengabalandeli bakaJesu Kristu.—Qhathanisa neyoku-1 Thimothewu 2:9, 10; 1 Petru 3:3-5.
14. (a) Yimuphi umuthi wamehlo ongokomoya obutholakala kusukela ngo-1879? (b) Uye waba yini umthombo wangempela wokusekelwa ngokwezimali koFakazi BakaJehova? (c) Ekusebenziseni iminikelo, oFakazi BakaJehova bahluke kanjani kwabanye?
14 Ingabe umuthi wamehlo ongokomoya uyatholakala ezikhathini zanamuhla? Ngokuqinisekile uyatholakala! Ngo-1879 uMalusi uRussell, njengoba ayebizwa kanjalo, evikela iqiniso waqala ukusakaza umagazini owaziwa emhlabeni kabanzi namuhla ngokuthi INqabayokulinda Ememezela UMbuso KaJehova. Kweyesibili eyakhishwa, wamemezela: “Sikholelwa ukuthi, [lo magazini] usekelwa UJEHOVA, futhi njengoba kunjalo ngeke ucele noma uncenge abantu ukuba bawusekele. Uma Lowo othi: ‘Lonke igolide nesiliva lezintaba ngelami,’ ehluleka ukulungiselela izimali ezidingekayo, siyobona ukuthi sekuyisikhathi sokukuvala ukukhishwa kwale ncwadi.” Abanye abavangeli bamathelevishini baye benza ingcebo enkulu futhi baphila ngokutamasa okungenamahloni (futhi ngezinye izikhathi kokuziphatha okubi). (IsAmbulo 18:3) Ngokuphambene, abaFundi BeBhayibheli, namuhla abaziwa ngokuthi oFakazi BakaJehova, baye basebenzisa yonke iminikelo engaceliwe eyamukelwayo ukuze kuqhutshwe ukushumayela emhlabeni wonke ngoMbuso kaJehova ozayo. Kuze kube yilolu suku isigaba sikaJohane siqondisa ukusakazwa kwe-Nqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama!, omagazini ababenengqikithi yokusakazwa engaphezu kwezigidi ezingu-59 ngo-2006. INqabayokulinda itholakala ngezilimi ezingaba ngu-150. Iwumagazini ongokomthetho webandla lamaKristu angaphezu kwezigidi eziyisithupha aye asebenzisa lowo muthi wamehlo ongokomoya ekuvuleni amehlo awo ukuba abone inkolo yamanga nokuphuthuma kokushunyayelwa kwezindaba ezinhle ezizweni zonke.—Marku 13:10.
Ukuzuza Ekusolweni Nasekuyalweni
15. Kungani uJesu enikeza iseluleko esiqinile kumaKristu aseLawodikeya, futhi ibandla kufanele lisabele kanjani kuso?
15 Ake siphindele kwabaseLawodikeya. Bazosabela kanjani eselulekweni sikaJesu esinamandla? Ingabe kufanele badumale, babe nomuzwa wokuthi uJesu akasabafuni njengabalandeli bakhe? Cha, akunjalo neze. Isigijimi siyaqhubeka sithi: “Bonke engibathandayo ngiyabasola ngibayale. Ngakho-ke shiseka, uphenduke.” (IsAmbulo 3:19) Njengesiyalo esivela kuJehova, isiyalo sikaJesu siwuphawu lothando lwakhe. (Hebheru 12:4-7) Ibandla laseLawodikeya kufanele likunake ukukhathalela kwakhe kothando lisebenzise iseluleko sakhe. Kufanele baphenduke, beqaphela ukuthi ukuba sivivi kwabo kuwukona. (Hebheru 3:12, 13; Jakobe 4:17) Abadala babo mabakhohlwe izindlela zokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo futhi ‘bavuthele njengomlilo’ isipho abasiphiwe uNkulunkulu. Njengoba umuthi wamehlo ongokomoya usebenza, bonke ebandleni mabathole ukuqabuleka njengasethamweni elipholisayo lamanzi esiphethu abandayo.—2 Thimothewu 1:6; IzAga 3:5-8; Luka 21:34.
16. (a) Uthando lukaJesu lubonakaliswa kanjani namuhla? (b) Uma sithola iseluleko esiqinile, kufanele sisabele kanjani?
16 Kuthiwani ngathi namuhla? UJesu uyaqhubeka ‘ethanda abakhe abasezweni.’ Lokhu uyokwenza “izinsuku zonke kuze kube isiphelo sesimiso sezinto.” (Johane 13:1; Mathewu 28:20) Uthando lwakhe lubonakaliswa ngesigaba sikaJohane sosuku lwanamuhla kanye nezinkanyezi, noma abadala, ebandleni lobuKristu. (IsAmbulo 1:20) Kulezi zikhathi ezinzima, abadala banesithakazelo esijulile sokusisiza sonke, abadala nabasha, ukuba sihlale singaphakathi kwemingcele yesibaya esingokomoya, simelana nokuzibusa, ukuhahela izinto ezibonakalayo, nokungcola kokuziphatha okubi kwezwe. Uma ngezinye izikhathi sithola iseluleko esinamandla noma ukuyalwa, khumbula ukuthi ‘ukusola kwesiyalo kuyindlela yokuphila.’ (IzAga 6:23) Sonke asiphelele futhi kufanele sishisekele ukuphenduka njengoba kudingeka ukuze silungiswe futhi sihlale othandweni lukaNkulunkulu.—2 Korinte 13:11.
17. Ukuceba kungaba kanjani yingozi ngokomoya kithi?
17 Akumelwe sivumele ukuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo, ingcebo, noma ubumpofu kusenze sibe sivivi. Umcebo ungasiza ekuvuleni amathuba amasha enkonzo, kodwa futhi ungaba yingozi. (Mathewu 19:24) Umuntu omi kahle angase abe nomuzwa wokuthi akadingi ukushiseka kangako emsebenzini wokushumayela njengabanye, uma nje enikela kakhulu ngezikhathi ezithile. Noma angase abe nomuzwa wokuthi ukuceba kumnikeza ilungelo lokucatshangelwa kangcono. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ziningi izinjabulo nokuzilibazisa okuvulekele abantu abacebile abanye abangenamandla okuzithola. Kodwa lezo ziphazamiso zidla isikhathi futhi zingase ziholele onganakile kude nenkonzo yobuKristu, kanjalo zenze ongaqaphile abe sivivi. Kwangathi singazigwema zonke izithiyo ezinjalo futhi ‘sisebenze kanzima, sizikhandle’ ngenhliziyo yonke, sinombono wokuphila okuphakade.—1 Thimothewu 4:8-10; 6:9-12.
‘Ukudla Isidlo Sakusihlwa’
18. Yiliphi ithuba uJesu alibeka phambi kwamaKristu aseLawodikeya?
18 UJesu uyaqhubeka athi: “Bheka! Ngimi emnyango ngiyangqongqoza. Uma umuntu ezwa izwi lami avule umnyango, ngizongena endlini yakhe ngidle naye isidlo sakusihlwa naye adle nami.” (IsAmbulo 3:20) Uma nje amaKristu aseLawodikeya engamamukela uJesu ebandleni lawo, uyowasiza ukuba anqobe ukuba sivivi kwawo!—Mathewu 18:20.
19. UJesu usho ukuthini uma ethembisa ukudla isidlo sakusihlwa nebandla laseLawodikeya?
19 Ngokungangabazeki ukukhuluma kukaJesu ngesidlo sakusihlwa kukhumbuza abaseLawodikeya ngezikhathi lapho edla ukudla nabafundi bakhe. (Johane 12:1-8) Izikhathi ezinjalo njalo zaziletha izibusiso ezingokomoya kulabo ababekhona. Ngokufanayo, kwakunezikhathi eziphawulekayo emva kokuvuka kukaJesu lapho ayesekudleni nabafundi bakhe, okuyizikhathi ezabaqinisa kakhulu. (Luka 24:28-32; Johane 21:9-19) Ngakho, isithembiso sakhe sokuza ebandleni laseLawodikeya futhi adle nabo isidlo sakusihlwa siyisithembiso sokubalethela izinzuzo ezicebile ezingokomoya kuphela nje uma bezomamukela.
20. (a) Ekuqaleni kosuku lweNkosi, waba yini umphumela wokuba sivivi kweLobukholwa? (b) Isahlulelo sikaJesu siye salithinta kanjani eLobukholwa?
20 Isikhuthazo sikaJesu sothando kwabaseLawodikeya sinokubaluleka okukhulu kumaKristu agcotshiwe asele namuhla. Amanye alawa ayakhumbula ukuthi, lapho usuku lweNkosi luqala, amakholwa eLobukholwa ayesivivi ngezinga elithusayo. Esikhundleni sokwamukela ukubuya kweNkosi yethu ngo-1914, abefundisi balo bahileleka ekubulaleni kweMpi Yezwe I, lapho izizwe ezingu-24 kwezingu-28 ezilwayo zazithi zingamaKristu. Yeka ubukhulu becala lazo legazi! NgeMpi Yezwe II, nayo eyalwiwa kakhulukazi kweLobukholwa, izono zenkolo yamanga zaphinda futhi “zanqwabelana zaze zafika phezulu ezulwini.” (IsAmbulo 18:5) Ngaphezu kwalokho, abefundisi baye bawufulathela uMbuso kaJehova ongenayo ngokusekela iNhlangano Yezizwe, iZizwe Ezihlangene, nezinhlangano zobuzwe nezokuvukela imibuso, engekho kuzo engaxazulula izinkinga zesintu. UJesu kade abaphika abefundisi, ebahlulela kabi futhi ebalahla, njengoba nje umdobi elahla izinhlanzi ezingafaneleki ezibanjwe enethini lakhe. Isimo esibucayi esidabukisayo samasonto eLobukholwa namuhla sifakazela lokho kwahlulelwa kwalo. Sengathi inhlekelele yalo yokugcina ingasebenza njengesixwayiso kithi!—Mathewu 13:47-50.
21. Kusukela ngo-1919 kuye phambili, amaKristu ebandleni leqiniso aye asabela kanjani emazwini kaJesu kumaKristu aseLawodikeya?
21 Ngisho naphakathi kwebandla leqiniso, kuye kwaba nabathile abasivivi abafana nesiphuzo esingashisi futhi esingabandi ngokuqabulayo. Kodwa uJesu usalithanda ngokufudumele ibandla lakhe. Uzenza atholakale kumaKristu asabela kahle, futhi amaningi aye amamukela, njengokungathi esidlweni sakusihlwa. Ngenxa yalokho, kusukela ngo-1919 kuya phambili amehlo awo aye avuleka ukuba abone okushiwo iziprofetho zeBhayibheli. Aye ajabulela inkathi yokukhanyiselwa okukhulu.—IHubo 97:11; 2 Petru 1:19.
22. Isiphi esinye isidlo sakusihlwa sesikhathi esizayo okungenzeka uJesu wayecabanga ngaso, futhi obani abayohlanganyela kuso?
22 Lapho ekhuluma nabaseLawodikeya, kungenzeka ukuthi uJesu wayecabanga ngesinye isidlo sakusihlwa. Kamuva kusAmbulo siyafunda: “Bayajabula abamenyelwe esidlweni sakusihlwa somshado weWundlu.” Leli idili lokunqoba kobukhosi lokudumisa uJehova ngemva kokuba ekhiphe isahlulelo enkolweni yamanga—idili elihlanganyelwa uKristu nomlobokazi wakhe ophelele wabangu-144 000 ezulwini. (IsAmbulo 19:1-9) Amalungu asabelayo alelo bandla laseLawodikeya lasendulo—yebo, nabafowabo bakaKristu Jesu abathembekile namuhla, abambethe izingubo ezihlanzekile ezibabonakalisa njengamaKristu eqiniso agcotshiwe—bonke bayohlanganyela noMyeni wabo kuleso sidlo sakusihlwa. (Mathewu 22:2-13) Yeka isikhuthazo esinamandla sokushiseka nokuphenduka!
Isihlalo Sobukhosi Sabanqobi
23, 24. (a) UJesu ukhuluma ngamuphi umvuzo owengeziwe? (b) UJesu wahlala nini esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi sobuMesiya, futhi waqala nini ukwahlulela labo ababethi bangamaKristu? (c) Yisiphi isithembiso esimangalisayo uJesu asenza kubafundi bakhe lapho emisa iSikhumbuzo sokufa kwakhe?
23 UJesu ukhuluma ngomvuzo owengeziwe, ethi: “Onqobayo ngiyomnika ukuba ahlale nami esihlalweni sami sobukhosi, njengoba nje nami nganqoba, ngahlala noBaba esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi.” (IsAmbulo 3:21) Ekugcwalisekeni kwamazwi kaDavide kumaHubo 110:1, 2, uJesu ogcina ubuqotho, eselinqobile izwe, wavuswa kwabafileyo ngo-33 C.E. waphakanyiselwa ukuba ahlale noYise esihlalweni saKhe sobukhosi. (IzEnzo 2:32, 33) Ngomunye unyaka obalulekile, u-1914, uJesu wafika ukuba ahlale esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi sobuMesiya njengeNkosi noMahluleli. Ngokusobala ukwahlulela kwaqala ngo-1918 ngalabo ababethi bangamaKristu. Abanqobi abagcotshiwe abafa ngaphambi kwaleso sikhathi babezovuswa bahlanganyele noJesu eMbusweni wakhe. (1 Petru 4:17) Wayebathembise lokhu lapho emisa iSikhumbuzo sokufa kwakhe, ethi kubafundi bakhe: “Ngenza isivumelwano nani, njengoba nje uBaba enze isivumelwano sombuso nami, sokuba nidle futhi niphuze etafuleni lami embusweni wami, nihlale ezihlalweni zobukhosi ukuze nahlulele izizwe eziyishumi nambili zakwa-Israyeli.”—Luka 22:28-30.
24 Yeka isabelo esimangalisayo—ukuhlala neNkosi ebusayo phakathi nenkathi ‘yokudala kabusha’ nokuhlanganyela nayo, ngesisekelo somhlatshelo wayo ophelele, ekunyuseleni izwe lesintu esilalelayo ekupheleleni kwase-Edene! (Mathewu 19:28; 20:28) Njengoba uJohane esitshela, uJesu wenza labo abanqobayo babe “ngumbuso, abapristi kuNkulunkulu wakhe noYise,” ukuba bahlale ezihlalweni zobukhosi bahaqe isihlalo sobukhosi sasezulwini esikhazimulayo sikaJehova. (IsAmbulo 1:6; 4:4) Makuthi sonke—kungakhathaliseki ukuthi singabagcotshiwe noma singabomphakathi womhlaba omusha onethemba lokuhlanganyela ekubuyiseleni iPharadesi—silalele amazwi kaJesu kwabaseLawodikeya!—2 Petru 3:13; IzEnzo 3:19-21.
25. (a) Njengasezigijimini ezandulelayo, uJesu usiphetha kanjani isigijimi sakhe kwabaseLawodikeya? (b) Namuhla umKristu ngamunye kufanele asabele kanjani emazwini kaJesu ebandleni laseLawodikeya?
25 Njengasezigijimini ezandulele, uJesu uphetha lesi ngamazwi okukhuthaza: “Onendlebe makezwe lokho umoya okushoyo emabandleni.” (IsAmbulo 3:22) Siphila ekujuleni kwesikhathi sokuphela. Sizungezwe ubufakazi bokuthi eLobukholwa liyabanda ngokuqondene nothando. Ngokuphambene, sengathi thina njengamaKristu eqiniso singasabela ngentshiseko esigijimini sikaJesu ebandleni laseLawodikeya, yebo, kuzo zonke izigijimi zeNkosi yethu eziyisikhombisa eziya emabandleni. Lokhu singakwenza ngokuba nengxenye yenkuthalo ekugcwalisekeni kwesiprofetho esikhulu sikaJesu sosuku lwethu: “Lezi zindaba ezinhle zombuso ziyoshunyayelwa emhlabeni wonke owakhiwe ngenjongo yobufakazi ezizweni zonke; khona-ke ukuphela kuyofika.”—Mathewu 24:12-14.
26. UJesu uphinde akhulume nini futhi noJohane ngokuqondile, kodwa yini ahlanganyela kuyo?
26 Iseluleko sikaJesu emabandleni ayisikhombisa siyaphethwa. Akaphindi futhi akhulume noJohane kusAmbulo kuze kube isahluko sokugcina; kodwa uhlanganyela emibonweni eminingi, ngokwesibonelo, ekukhipheni izahlulelo zikaJehova. Manje masihlanganyele nesigaba sikaJohane ekuhloleni umbono wesibili ophawulekayo owembulwa yiNkosi uJesu Kristu.
[Umbhalo waphansi]
a Lezi zindawo zavunjululwa ngokumba kwabavubukuli endaweni yaseLawodikeya.
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 73]
Izinto Ezibonakalayo Ziqhathaniswa Nenhlakanipho
Emuva ngo-1956, umhleli wezindaba wabhala: “Kulinganiselwa ukuthi eminyakeni eyikhulu edlule umuntu osesilinganisweni wayefuna izinto ezingu-72, ezingu-16 zazo zazibhekwa njengezidingo. Namuhla, kulinganiselwa ukuthi umuntu osesilinganisweni ufuna izinto ezingu-474, ezingu-94 zazo zibhekwa njengezidingo. Eminyakeni eyikhulu edlule, kwakunezimpahla ezingu-200 umuntu osesilinganisweni ayekhuthazwa ngabathengisi ukuba azithenge—kodwa namuhla kunezimpahla ezingu-32 000 umuntu okumelwe anqume ukuthi uthenga ziphi kuzo. Izidingo zomuntu zimbalwa—lokho akufunayo, akupheli.” Namuhla, abantu bahlaselwa ngomqondo wokuthi umcebo wezinto ezibonakalayo uyinto eyinhloko ekuphileni. Kanjalo, abaningi abasinaki iseluleko esihlakaniphile somShu-mayeli 7:12: “Ukuhlakanipha kuyisivikelo njengoba nje nemali iyisivikelo; kodwa inzuzo yolwazi iwukuthi ukuhlakanipha kona kuyabalonda abaninikho.”
[Isithombe ekhasini 67]
Amanzi afika eLawodikeya ayeyoba sivivi ngokungajabulisi. AmaKristu aseLawodikeya ayenomoya osivivi ngokunganelisi