Ukuphila NeNkonzo KaJesu

Ukufundisa UNikodemu

LAPHO ehlanganyele iPhasika lika-30 C.E., uJesu wenza izibonakaliso, noma izimangaliso eziphawulekayo. Ngenxa yalokho, abantu abaningi bayakholwa kuye. UNikodemu, ilungu leSanhedrin, inkantolo enkulu yamaJuda, uhlabeka umxhwele futhi ufuna ukufunda okwengeziwe. Ngakho uvakashela uJesu phakathi nobusuku obumnyama, ngokunokwenzeka esaba ukuthi idumela lakhe kwabanye abaholi abangamaJuda lizokonakala uma bembona.

Uthi: “Rabi, siyazi ukuthi ungumfundisi ovelé kuNkulunkulu, ngokuba akakho ongenza lezizibonakaliso ozenzayo, uma uNkulunkulu engenaye.” Ekuphenduleni, uJesu utshela uNikodemu ukuthi ukuze angene eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu umuntu kumelwe ‘azalwe ngokusha.’

Nokho umuntu angazalwa kanjani ngokusha? “Angangena ngokwesibili esiswini sikanina, azalwe, na?” kubuza uNikodemu.

Cha, ukuzalwa ngkusha akusho lokho. “Uma umuntu engazalwa ngamanzi nangoMoya,” kuchaza uJesu, “angengene” embusweni kaNkulunkulu.” Lapho uJesu ebhapathizwa futhi umoya ongcwele wehlela kuye, ngaleyondlela wayezalwa “ngamanzi nangoMoya.” Ngesimemezelo esalandela esivela ezulwini, ‘Lo uyiNdodana yami engithokozile ngayo,’ uNkulunkulu wayememezela ukuthi wayelethe iNdodana yakhe engumoya enethemba lokungena eMbusweni wasezulwini. Kamuva, ngePentekoste lika-33 C.E., abanye ababhapathizwa bathola umoya ongcwele futhi kanjalo nabo bazalwa ngokusha njengamadodana kaNkulunkulu angokomoya.

Kodwa indima yeNdodana kaNkulunkulu engumuntu ekhethiweyo ibalulekile. “Njengokuba uMose waphakamisa inyoka ehlane,” uJesu utshela uNikodemu, “kanjalo iNdodana yomuntu imelwe ukuphakanyiswa ukuba yilowo nalowo okholwa yiyo abe-nokuphila okuphakade” Yebo, njengoba lawomaIsrayeli ayeshaywe izinyoka ezinobuthi kwakumelwe abheke inyoka yethusi ukuze asinde, kanjalo bonke abantu kudingeka babe nokholo eNdodaneni kaNkulunkulu ukuze basindiswe esimweni sabo esifayo.

Egcizelela indima kaJehova yothando kulokhu, uJesu ngokulandelayo utshela uNikodemu: “UNkulunkulu walithanda izwe kangaka, waze wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa ukuba yilowo nalowo okholwa yiyo angabhubhi, kodwa abe-nokuphila okuphakade.” Kanjalo, lapha eJerusalema ezinyangeni eziyisithupha nje kuphela ngemva kokuqalisa inkonzo yakhe, uJesu ukwenza kukhanye ukuthi uyindlela kaJehova uNkulunkulu yokusindisa isintu. Johane 2:23–3:21; Mathewu 3:16, 17; IzEnzo 2:1-4; Numeri 21:9.

◆ Yini eyabangela ukuvakasha kukaNikodemu, futhi kungani afika ebusuku?

◆ Kusho ukuthini ‘ukuzalwa ngokusha’?

◆ UJesu wayibonisa kanjani indima yakhe ekusindisweni kwethu?