Ukuphila NeNkonzo KaJesu
UJohane Ulungiselela Indlela
IMINYAKA eyishumi nesikhombisa isidlulile njengoba uJesu ayengumntwana oneminyaka eyi-12 lapho ebuzana nabefundisi ethempelini. Sekuyintwasahlobo yonyaka ka-29 C.E. Futhi kubonakala ukuthi wonke umuntu ukhuluma ngomzala kaJesu uJohane, oshumayela kulo lonke izwe elizungeze uMfula iJordani.
UJohane ngempela uyindoda ehlaba umxhwele, kokubili ngokubukeka nangokukhuluma. Ingubo yakhe eyoboya bekamela, futhi ubopha nebhande lesikhumba okhalweni lwakhe. Ukudla kwakhe izinkumbi nezinyosi zasendle. Sithini isigijimi sakhe? “Phenduka, ngokuba umbuso wezulu ususondele!”
Lesigijimi sithakazelisa izilaleli zakhe. Abaningi bayasiqaphela isidingo sabo sokuphenduka, okungukuthi, ukushintsha umbono wabo nokulahla inkambo yabo yokuphila yangaphambili njengengathandeki. Ngakho bevela kuzo zonke izindawo ezizungeze iJordani, ngisho naseJerusalema, abantu ngobuningi beza kuJohane. Futhi uyababhapathiza, ebacwilisa emanzini omfula iJordani. Kungani?
UJohane ubhapathiza abantu njengokubonakalisa, noma ukuvuma, ukuphenduka kwabo okuvela enhliziyweni ngenxa yokona isivumelwano somthetho kaNkulunkulu. Khona-ke lapho abaFarisi nabaSadusi abathile benkolo beza eJordani, uJohane uyabasola. Uthi, “Nzalo yezinyoka, . . . ngakho vezani izithelo ezifanele ukuphenduka.”
Ngenxa yaso sonke isithakazelo uJohane asidonsayo, abaFarisi bathumela kuye abapristi namaLevi. Bayabuza: “Ungubani na? ukuze sibaphendule abasithumileyo; uzisho ukuthi ungubani na?”
UJohane uyachaza: “Ngiyizwi lomemeza ehlane, ethi: Lungisani indlela yeNkosi, njengalokho washo uIsaya umprofethi.” UJohane ulungiselela indlela ngokwenza abantu babe nesimo esihle senhliziyo ukuze bamukele uMesiya, oyoba yiNkosi. UJohane uthi, Ngaye: “Yena ozayo emva kwami, omchilo wesicathulo sakhe ngingafanele ukuwuthukulula.”
Khona-ke isigijimi sikaJohane esithi, “umbuso wezulu ususondele,” sisebenza njengesaziso sasobala sokuthi inkonzo yeNkosi emiswe uJehova, uJesu Kristu, kuseduze ukuba iqale. Johane 1:6-8, 15-28; Mathewu 3:1-12; Luka 3:1-18; IzEnzo 19:4.
◆ UJohane uluhlobo luni lwendoda?
◆ Kungani uJohane ebhapathiza abantu?
◆ Kungani uJohane ayengathi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ususondele?
[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi ekhasini 8]