UJohane Ulungiselela Indlela

UJohane, indodana kaZakariya no-Elizabethi, wakhula waba umprofethi. UJehova wasebenzisa uJohane ukuba afundise abantu ukuthi uMesiya uyeza. Kodwa kunokuba afundise emasinagogeni nasemadolobheni, uJohane wayeshumayela ehlane. Abantu babeza bezolalela uJohane efundisa bevela eJerusalema nakuzo zonke izindawo zaseJudiya. Wabafundisa ukuthi uma befuna ukujabulisa uNkulunkulu kumelwe bayeke ukwenza izinto ezimbi. Ngemva kokulalela uJohane, abaningi babeziyeka izono zabo, bese uJohane ebabhapathiza eMfuleni iJordani.

UJohane wayengenazo izinto eziningi. Wayegqoka izingubo ezenziwe ngoboya bekamela futhi edla izintethe noju lwezinyosi zasendle. Abantu babezibuza imibuzo eminingi ngoJohane. Ngisho nabaFarisi abaqhoshayo nabaSadusi beza ukuzombona. UJohane wathi: ‘Kumelwe niyeke indlela enenza ngayo futhi niphenduke. Ningazitsheli ukuthi nibalulekile ngenxa nje yokuthi ningabantwana baka-Abrahama. Lokho akusho ukuthi ningabantwana bakaNkulunkulu.’

Abaningi beza kuJohane bafike bambuza: ‘Yini okumelwe siyenze ukuze sijabulise uNkulunkulu?’ UJohane wathi kumaJuda: ‘Uma unamajazi amabili, thatha elilodwa ulinike umuntu ohluphekayo.’ Uyazi ukuthi kungani asho lokho? Wayefuna ukuba abafundi bakhe bazi ukuthi ukuze bajabulise uNkulunkulu kumelwe bathande abantu.

UJohane wathi kubaqoqi bentela: ‘Yibani neqiniso futhi ningakhohlisi muntu.’ Emasosheni wathi: ‘Ningasamukeli isifumbathiso noma niqambe amanga.’

AmaLevi nabapristi beza kuJohane bafike bambuza ukuthi: ‘Ungubani? Bonke abantu bafuna ukwazi.’ UJohane wathi: ‘Ngiyizwi elimemeza ehlane, eliholela abantu kuJehova, njengoba nje u-Isaya abikezela.’

Abantu babekuthanda lokho uJohane ayebafundisa kona. Abaningi babezibuza ukuthi uJohane akayena yini uMesiya. Kodwa wathi kubo: ‘Kukhona omkhulu kunami ozayo. Akungifanele ngisho nokuqaqa izimbadada zakhe. Mina ngibhapathiza ngamanzi kodwa yena uyobhapathiza ngomoya ongcwele.’