Isahluko 3

Ofakazi BakaJehova AbangamaKristu Ekhulwini Lokuqala

“NIBE-NGOFAKAZI bami . . . kuze kube-sekugcineni komhlaba.” (IzE. 1:8) Ngalawomazwi okuvalelisa, uJesu wathuma abafundi bakhe ukuba babe ofakazi. Kodwa ofakazi bakabani? “Ofakazi bami,” kusho uJesu. Ingabe lamazwi asho ukuthi babengeke babe ofakazi bakaJehova? Lutho neze!

Eqinisweni, abafundi bakaJesu banikezwa ilungelo elalingakaze libe khona—elokuba ofakazi kokubili bakaJehova nabakaJesu. NjengamaJuda athembekile, abafundi bakaJesu bokuqala kakade base bengofakazi bakaJehova. (Isaya 43:10-12) Kodwa manje kwakumelwe futhi bafakaze ngendima ebalulekile kaJesu ekungcweliseni igama likaJehova ngoMbuso waKhe wobuMesiya. Ngakho ukufakaza kwabo ngoJesu babezokwenzela ukukhazimulisa uJehova. (Roma 16:25-27; Fil. 2:9-11) Bafakazela ukuthi uJehova wayengazange aqambe amanga, ukuthi ngemva kweminyaka engaphezu kwengu-4 000 ekugcineni wayemvusile uMesiya, noma uKristu, okwase kuyisikhathi eside kwathenjiswa ngaye!

Ofakazi bakaJehova abangamaKristu ekhulwini lokuqala nabo banikezwa umthwalo wemfanelo oyingqayizivele—lowo amaKristu eqiniso asenawo nanamuhla.

“Hambani Nenze . . . Abafundi”

Ngemva kokuvuswa kukaJesu kwabafileyo, wabonakala kubafundi bakhe ababehlangene entabeni yaseGalile. Lapho, uJesu wabachazela ngomthwalo wemfanelo ababezoba nawo: “Ngalokho hambani nenze izizwe zonke abafundi, nibabhapathize egameni likaYise neleNdodana nelikaMoya oNgcwele, nibafundise ukugcina konke enginiyalé ngakho; bhekani, mina nginani izinsuku zonke kuze kube-sekupheleni kwezwe.” (Math. 28:19, 20) Cabangela lokho okwakuhilelekile kulokhu kuthunywa okubalulekile.

“Hambani,” kusho uJesu. Kodwa baye kobani? Baye ‘ezizweni zonke.’ Lona kwakuwumyalo omusha, owawuletha inselele ikakhulukazi kumakholwa angamaJuda. (Qhathanisa nezEnzo 10:9-16, 28.) Ngaphambi kosuku lukaJesu, abeZizwe babemukelwa lapho bona beza ku-Israyeli ngoba benesithakazelo ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso. (1 AmaKh. 8:41-43) Ekuqaleni kwenkonzo yakhe, uJesu wayetshele abaphostoli ukuba ‘bahambe bayoshumayela,’ kodwa kuphela “ezimvini ezilahlekileyo zendlu kaIsrayeli.” (Math. 10:1, 6, 7) Manje bayalwa ukuba baye kubantu bazo zonke izizwe. Ngayiphi injongo?

“Nenze . . . abafundi,” kuyala uJesu. Yebo, abafundi bakhe bathunywa ukuba benze abanye babe abafundi. Kuhilelani lokhu? Umfundi ngumuntu ofundayo, umuntu ofundiswayo—nokho, hhayi nje umfundi kodwa umlandeli. Umfundi akagcini nje ngokwamukela igunya likaJesu ngaphakathi ngokuba abe nokholo kuye kodwa nangaphandle ngokumlalela. Ngokwe-Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, igama lesiGreki elihunyushwe ngokuthi “umfundi” (ma·the·tesʹ) “lisikisela ukuba khona kokusondelana ngokomuntu siqu okulolonga konke ukuphila kwalowo obizwa ngokuthi [umfundi].”

“Nibafundise,” kunezela uJesu, “ukugcina konke enginiyalé ngakho.” Ukuze umuntu asondele ngokomuntu siqu kuJesu, kumelwe afundiswe “ukugcina konke” uKristu akuyalile, kuhlanganise nomyalo wakhe wokuba kushunyayelwe “izindaba ezinhle zombuso.” (Math. 24:14, NW) Yilendlela kuphela angaba ngayo ngumfundi ngempela. Futhi ababhapathizwayo yilabo kuphela abamukela lemfundiso futhi babe abafundi bangempela.

“Mina nginani,” uJesu uyabaqinisekisa, “izinsuku zonke kuze kube-sekupheleni kwezwe.” Imfundiso kaJesu ihlale isebenza, ayilokothi iphelelwe isikhathi. Ngokwalesosisekelo, amaKristu kuze kube namuhla asenesibopho sokwenza abanye babe abafundi.

Kanjalo abalandeli bakaKristu banikezwa ukuthunywa okunomthwalo wemfanelo, okungukuthi, ukwenza umsebenzi wokwenza abafundi phakathi kwezizwe zonke. Nokho, ukuze benze abafundi bakaKristu kwakumelwe bafakaze ngegama nangoMbuso kaJehova, ngoba yilokho iSibonelo sabo, uJesu, esakwenza. (Luka 4:43; Joh. 17:26) Kanjalo labo abayamukela imfundiso kaKristu futhi baba abafundi baba ofakazi bakaJehova abangamaKristu. Ukuba ufakazi kaJehova kwakungaseyona indaba yokuthi uzalelwephi—esizweni samaJuda—kodwa kwase kuyindaba yokuzikhethela. Labo ababa ofakazi baba yibo ngoba bethanda uJehova futhi bekufuna ngobuqotho ukuzithoba ekubuseni kwakhe kobukhosi.—1 Joh. 5:3.

Kodwa ingabe ofakazi bakaJehova abangamaKristu ekhulwini lokuqala bakufeza ukuthunywa kwabo kokukhonza njengofakazi bakaNkulunkulu nabakaKristu ‘ngokwenza izizwe zonke abafundi’?

“Kuze Kube-sekugcineni Komhlaba”

Ngokushesha ngemva kokunikeza abafundi bakhe ukuthunywa kwabo, uJesu waphindela lapho kuhlala khona uYise ezulwini. (IzE. 1:9-11) Ezinsukwini eziyishumi kamuva, ngosuku lwePentekoste lika-33 C.E., kwaqala umsebenzi omkhulu wokwenza abafundi. UJesu wathululela umoya ongcwele owawuthenjisiwe phezu kwabafundi bakhe ababelindile. (IzE. 2:1-4; qhathanisa uLuka 24:49 nezEnzo 1:4, 5.) Lokhu kwabenza bagcwala intshiseko yokushumayela ngoKristu ovusiwe nangokubuya kwakhe kwesikhathi esizayo enamandla oMbuso.

Ngokuvumelana neziyalezo zikaJesu, labobafundi bekhulu lokuqala baqala ukufakaza kwabo ngoNkulunkulu nangoKristu khona lapho eJerusalema. (IzE. 1:8) Ehola, eMkhosini WePentekoste, umphostoli uPetru “wanikeza ubufakazi obuphelele” ezinkulungwaneni zabantu bezizwe eziningi ezazize kwaJuda zizogubha lomkhosi. (IzE. 2:5-11, 40, qhathanisa neNW.) Ngokushesha inani lamadoda wodwa ayekholwa lalicishe libe ngu-5 000. (IzE. 4:4; 6:7) Kamuva, kumaSamariya, uFiliphu wamemezela “izindaba ezinhle zombuso kaNkulunkulu nezegama likaJesu Kristu.”—IzE. 8:12, qhathanisa neNW.

Kodwa kwakusenomsebenzi owengeziwe okwakumelwe wenziwe. Kusukela ngo-36 C.E., lapho kuguquka uKorneliyu, owayengoweZizwe ongasokile, izindaba ezinhle zaqala ukusakazekela kubantu bezizwe zonke abangewona amaJuda. (IzE., isahl. 10) Eqinisweni, zasakazeka ngokushesha kangangokuba cishe ngo-60 C.E., umphostoli uPawulu wayengase athi izindaba ezinhle ‘zazishunyayelwe kukho konke okudaliweyo okuphansi kwezulu.’ (Kol. 1:23) Kanjalo, ngasekupheleni kwekhulu lokuqala, abalandeli bakaJesu abathembekile base benze abafundi kuwo wonke uMbuso WaseRoma—e-Asia, eYurophu, nase-Afrika!

Njengoba ofakazi bakaJehova abangamaKristu ekhulwini lokuqala bafeza okuningi kangaka ngesikhathi esifushane kangako, imibuzo iyaphakama: Ingabe babehleliwe? Uma kunjalo, kanjani?

Ukuhlelwa Kwebandla LobuKristu

Kusukela esikhathini sikaMose kuqhubeke, isizwe samaJuda sasisesikhundleni esiyingqayizivele—sasikhonza njengebandla likaNkulunkulu. Lelobandla lalihlelwe kahle uNkulunkulu ngaphansi kwamadoda amadala, izinhloko, abahluleli, nezinduna. (Josh. 23:1, 2) Kodwa isizwe samaJuda salahlekelwa yisikhundla saso esiyilungelo ngoba senqaba iNdodana kaJehova. (Math. 21:42, 43; 23:37, 38; IzE. 4:24-28) NgePentekoste lika-33 C.E., ibandla lobuKristu likaNkulunkulu lathatha isikhundla sebandla lika-Israyeli.a Lelibandla lobuKristu lalihlelwe kanjani?

Kakade ngosuku lwePentekoste, abafundi “babezinikela emfundisweni yabaphostoli,” okubonisa ukuthi baqala benobunye obusekelwe emfundisweni. Kusukela ngalolosuku lokuqala, bahlangana ndawonye “nganhliziyonye.” (IzE. 2:42, 46, qhathanisa neNW.) Njengoba umsebenzi wokwenza abafundi wawusakazeka, amabandla abakholwayo aqala ukwakheka, okokuqala eJerusalema futhi kamuva kwaba ngaphandle kwaseJerusalema. (IzE. 8:1; 9:31; 11:19-21; 14:21-23) Kwakuwumkhuba wabo ukuhlangana ndawonye ezindaweni zomphakathi nasemakhaya abazalwane.—IzE. 19:8, 9; Rom. 16:3, 5; Kol. 4:15.

Yini eyenza ibandla lobuKristu elikhulayo langaba inhlangano engahlelekile eyakhiwa amabandla ezindawo azibusayo? Ayenobunye ngaphansi koMholi oyedwa. Kusukela ekuqaleni, uJesu Kristu waba yiNkosi emisiwe neNhloko yebandla, futhi wonke amabandla ayembheka kanjalo. (IzE. 2:34-36; Efe. 1:22) Esemazulwini, uKristu waziqondisa ngenkuthalo izindaba zebandla lakhe lasemhlabeni. Kanjani? Ngomoya ongcwele nangezingelosi, uJehova ayemvumele ukuba azisebenzise.—IzE. 2:33; qhathanisa nezEnzo 5:19, 20; 8:26; 1 Petru 3:22.

UKristu wayenokunye futhi ayengakusebenzisa ukuze alondoloze ubunye bebandla lobuKristu—indikimba ebusayo ebonakalayo. Ekuqaleni, indikimba ebusayo yayakhiwe abaphostoli abathembekile bakaJesu. Kamuva, yahlanganisa amadoda amadala ebandla laseJerusalema kanye nomphostoli uPawulu, ngisho nakuba ayengahlali eJerusalema. Ibandla ngalinye laliliqaphela igunya lalendikimba eyinhloko yamadoda amadala futhi lalibheka kuyo ukuze lithole isiqondiso lapho kuphakama izimpikiswano ezingokwenhlangano noma ezingokwemfundiso. (IzE. 2:42; 6:1-6; 8:14-17; 11:22; 15:1-31) Waba yini umphumela? “Njalo-ke amabandla aqiniswa ekukholweni, anda ngobuningi imihla ngemihla.”—IzE. 16:4, 5.

Indikimba ebusayo, ngaphansi kokuqondisa komoya ongcwele, yayiqondisa ukumiswa kwababonisi nabasizi, izinceku ezikhonzayo, ukuze banakekele ibandla ngalinye. Lawa kwakungamadoda ayefinyelele izimfanelo ezingokomoya ezazisebenza kuwo wonke amabandla, hhayi nje izindinganiso ezimiswe yibandla ngalinye. (1 Thim. 3:1-13; Thithu 1:5-9; 1 Pet. 5:1-3) Ababonisi babenxuswa ukuba balandele imiBhalo futhi bazithobe ekuholeni komoya ongcwele. (IzE. 20:28; Thithu 1:9) Bonke ebandleni babekhuthazwa ukuba ‘balalele ababehola.’ (Heb. 13:17) Ngalendlela ubunye balondolozwa hhayi kuphela ebandleni ngalinye kodwa ebandleni lobuKristu lilonke.

Ngisho nakuba amadoda athile ayesezikhundleni zomthwalo wemfanelo, kwakungekho ukuhlukana ngokwesigaba sabefundisi nesabantu abavamile phakathi kofakazi bakaJehova abangamaKristu bekhulu lokuqala. Bonke babengabazalwane; kwakunoMholi oyedwa vó, uKristu.—Math. 23:8, 10.

Babebonakala Ngokuziphatha Okungcwele Nangothando

Ubufakazi bofakazi bakaJehova bekhulu lokuqala babungagcini nje ngokuba “isithelo sezindebe.” (Heb. 13:15) Ukuba ngumfundi kwakulolonga konke ukuphila kukafakazi ongumKristu. Ngakho, lawomaKristu awazange nje amemezele izinkolelo zawo kuphela kodwa izinkolelo zawo zaguqula ukuphila kwawo. Alahla ubuntu obudala kanye nemikhuba yabo enesono futhi alwela ukwembatha ubuntu obusha obadalwa ngokwentando kaNkulunkulu. (Kol. 3:5-10) Ayeneqiniso futhi ethembekile, ezikhandla futhi enokwethenjelwa. (Efe. 4:25, 28) Ayehlanzekile ngokokuziphatha—ukuziphatha okubi ngokobulili kwakungavunyelwe nakancane. Ngokufanayo nokudakwa nokukhonza izithombe. (Gal. 5:19-21) Khona-ke, kungesizathu esizwakalayo ubuKristu baziwa ngokuthi ‘iNdlela,’ indlela yokuphila egxile ekubeni nokholo kuJesu, yokulandela ngokuseduze izinyathelo zakhe.—IzE. 9:1, 2; 1 Pet. 2:21, 22.

Nokho, kunemfanelo eyodwa eba ngevelele kunazo zonke—uthando. AmaKristu okuqala abonisa ukuzikhathalela ngothando izidingo zabakholwa nawo. (Rom. 15:26; Gal. 2:10) Ayethandana hhayi njengoba ezithanda wona kodwa ngaphezu kokuba ezithanda. (Qhathanisa neyabaseFilipi 2:25-30.) Ayezimisele ngisho nokufelana. Kodwa lokhu kwakungamangalisi. Ingabe uJesu wayengazimisele yini ukuwafela? (Joh. 15:13; qhathanisa noLuka 6:40.) Wayengase athi kubafundi bakhe: “Ngininika umyalo omusha wokuba nithandane; njengalokho nginithandile, nani nithandane. Ngalokho bonke bayakukwazi ukuthi ningabafundi bami, uma nithandana.” (Joh. 13:34, 35) UKristu wayala ukuba abalandeli bakhe babonise uthando olunjalo lokuzidela; futhi abafundi bakhe bekhulu lokuqala bawugcina ngokucophelela lomyalo.—Math. 28:20.

‘Abasibo Abezwe’

Ukuze afeze umthwalo wawo wemfanelo wokwenza abafundi futhi abe ofakazi bakaNkulunkulu nabakaKristu, amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala ayengenakuzivumela ukuba aphazanyiswe izindaba zezwe; kwakumelwe akunakekele ngendlela efanele ukuthunywa kwawo. Ngokuqinisekile uJesu wayekwenzile lokho. Wathi kuPilatu: “Umbuso wami awusiwo owalelizwe.” (Joh. 18:36) Futhi washo ngokucacile kubafundi bakhe: ‘Anisibo abezwe.’ (Joh. 15:19) Khona-ke, njengoJesu, amaKristu okuqala ahlala ehlukile ezweni; awazange ahileleke kwezombangazwe noma ezimpini. (Qhathanisa noJohane 6:15.) Futhi awazange abanjwe ogibeni lwezindlela zezwe—ukuphishekela kwalo ngentshiseko izinto ezibonakalayo nokuzitika kwalo ngokweqile enjabulweni.—Luka 12:29-31; Rom. 12:2; 1 Pet. 4:3, 4.

Ngenxa yokuthi babehlala behlukile ezweni, ofakazi abangamaKristu bekhulu lokuqala babengabantu abahlukile. Isazi-mlando u-E. G. Hardy encwadini yaso ethi Christianity and the Roman Government siyaphawula: “AmaKristu ayengabafokazi nezihambi ezweni elaliwazungezile; ayeyizakhamuzi zasezulwini; umbuso ayewubhekile kwakungewona owalelizwe. Ngakho ukungabi nasithakazelo ezindabeni zomphakathi okwabangelwa yilokho kwaba isici esiphawuleka zisuka nje ebuKristwini.”

Ukushushiswa Ngenxa Yokulunga

“Inceku ayinkulu kunenkosi yayo,” kuxwayisa uJesu. “Uma bengizingele mina, nani bayakunizingela.” (Joh. 15:20) Ngaphambi kokufa kwakhe esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa, uJesu wabhekana nokushushiswa okunzima. (Math. 26:67; 27:26-31, 38-44) Futhi ngokuvumelana nesixwayiso sakhe, abafundi bakhe ngokushesha bathola impatho efanayo. (Math. 10:22, 23) Kungani kwaba njalo?

Akuthathanga isikhathi eside ukuba abanye bawaqaphele amaKristu okuqala. Ayengabantu abanezimiso eziphakeme zokuziphatha nobuqotho. Ayenza umsebenzi wokwenza abafundi ngokungagunci nangentshiseko; ngenxa yalokho, izinkulungwane zabantu zashiya izimiso zenkolo yamanga futhi zaba amaKristu. Enqaba ukuhileleka ezindabeni zezwe. Ayengenakuhlanganyela ekukhulekelweni kombusi. Khona-ke, akumangalisi ukuthi ngokushesha aba izisulu zokushushiswa okunonya okwakugqugquzelwa abaholi benkolo yamanga nababusi bezombangazwe ababengatshelwanga iqiniso. (IzE. 12:1-5; 13:45, 50; 14:1-7; 16:19-24) Nokho, labashushisi babemane nje bengamanxusa angabantu omshushisi wangempela—“inyoka endala,” uSathane. (IsAm. 12:9; qhathanisa nesAmbulo 12:12, 17.) Yayiyini injongo yakhe? Ukuvimbela ubuKristu nokwenza kungafakazwa ngabo ngesibindi.

Kodwa ngisho nokungakanani ukushushiswa kwakungenakubathulisa ofakazi bakaJehova abangamaKristu bekhulu lokuqala! Babekuthole kuNkulunkulu ngoKristu ukuthunywa kwabo kokuba bashumayele, futhi babezimisele ukulalela uNkulunkulu kunabantu. (IzE. 4:19, 20, 29; 5:27-32) Babethembela emandleni kaJehova, beqiniseka ukuthi wayeyobavuza ofakazi bakhe abathembekile ngenxa yokukhuthazela kwabo.—Math. 5:10; Rom. 8:35-39; 15:5.

Umlando uqinisekisa ukuthi ushushiso olwaluvela ezikhulwini zoMbuso WaseRoma lwahluleka ukuphelisa ofakazi bakaJehova bokuqala abangamaKristu. UJosephus, isazi-mlando esingumJuda sekhulu lokuqala C.E., uthi: “Futhi isizwe samaKristu, esaqanjwa kanjalo [ngoJesu], kuze kube namuhla [cishe ngo-93 C.E.] asikanyamalali.”—Jewish Antiquities, XVIII, 64 (iii, 3).

Ngakho umbhalo ogciniwe wobufakazi bofakazi bakaJehova abangamaKristu ekhulwini lokuqala wembula izici ezimbalwa ezazibonakala ngokucacile: Bakufeza ngesibindi nangentshiseko ukuthunywa kwabo kokufakaza ngoNkulunkulu nangoKristu nokwenza umsebenzi wokwenza abafundi; babenesimo esihlelekile esingokwenhlangano, bonke bengabazalwane kuso, kungekho ukuhlukana ngokwesigaba sabefundisi nesabantu abavamile; babenamathela ezimisweni eziphakeme zokuziphatha futhi bethandana; bahlala behlukile ezindleleni nasezindabeni zezwe; futhi babeshushiswa ngenxa yokulunga.

Nokho, ngasekupheleni kwekhulu lokuqala ibandla lobuKristu lalisongelwa ingozi enkulu futhi eyayingena ngokunyenya.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 26]

Abafundi abasha babengeke babe amakholwa kuphela, kodwa bebezoba abalandeli abalalelayo

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 27]

Ukuba ufakazi kaJehova kwakungaseyona indaba yokuthi uzalelwephi kodwa kwase kuyindaba yokuzikhethela

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 28]

Ngasekupheleni kwekhulu lokuqala, ofakazi bakaJehova abangamaKristu base benze abafundi e-Asia, eYurophu, nase-Afrika!

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 29]

Kwakungekho ukuhlukana ngokwesigaba sabefundisi nesabantu abavamile phakathi kwamaKristu ekhulu lokuqala

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 27]

UbuKristu Basakazeka Ngokushumayela Ngentshiseko

Beqhutshwa intshiseko eyayingenakudanjiswa, ofakazi bakaJehova bokuqala abangamaKristu babonisa ubungqabavu obukhulu kunabo bonke ekumemezeleni izindaba ezinhle ezindaweni eziningi ngangokunokwenzeka. U-Edward Gibbon, encwadini ethi “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,” uphawula ukuthi “intshiseko yamaKristu . . . yawasakazela kuzo zonke izifunda cishe nakuwo wonke amadolobha ombuso [waseRoma].” UProfesa J. W. Thompson encwadini ethi “History of the Middle Ages” uthi: “UbuKristu babusakazeke ngokushesha ngendlela ephawulekayo kulo lonke izwe laseRoma. Cishe ngonyaka ka-100 zonke izifunda ezazigudle iMedithera zazinomphakathi wamaKristu.”

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 30]

‘Ukunqoba KobuKristu’

Imithombo engaphandle kweBhayibheli iqinisekisa ukuziphatha okuhle nothando okwakubonakalisa amaKristu okuqala. Isazi-mlando uJohn Lord sathi: “Ukunqoba kweqiniso kobuKristu kwakubonakala ngokuba kwenze labo abavuma izimfundiso zobuKristu babe abantu abalungile. . . . Sinobufakazi obufakazela ukuphila kwabo okungasoleki, ukuziphatha kwabo okungenasihlamba, ukuba kwabo izakhamuzi ezilungile, nomusa wabo wobuKristu.”—“The Old Roman World.”

[Isithombe ekhasini 31]

Indikimba ebusayo eyinhloko yayisiza ekunikezeni isiqondiso emabandleni, kodwa bonke babebheka kuKristu njengoMholi wabo oyedwa

[Isithombe ekhasini 32]

AmaKristu okuqala ayeyizisulu zokushushiswa okunonya