Ngokushesha uJesu neqembu lakhe bayafika emzini futhi baya endlini abazogubhela kuyo iPhasika. Banyuka izitebhisi beya ekamelweni elikhulu elingenhla, lapho bethola khona sekwenziwe wonke amalungiselelo omkhosi wabo wangasese wePhasika. UJesu ubebheke phambili kulesenzakalo, njengoba esho: “Nginxanele nokunxanela ukudla nani leliphasika ngingakahlupheki.”

Ngokwesiko, abahlanganyela ePhasikeni baphuza izitsha ezine zewayini. Ngemva kokwamukela lokho ngokusobala okuyisitsha sesithathu, uJesu uyabonga futhi uthi: “Thabathani lokhu, nabelane; ngokuba ngithi kini kusukela manje angisayikuphuza okwesithelo somvini, uze ufike umbuso kaNkulunkulu.”

Esikhathini esithile besadla, uJesu uyasukuma, ubeka izingubo zakhe zangaphandle eceleni, uthatha indwangu, futhi uthela amanzi emcengezini. Ngokuvamile, ovakashelwe wayeqikelela ukuthi izinyawo zesivakashi ziyagezwa. Kodwa njengoba kulomkhosi engekho ovakashelwe, uJesu unakekela lenkonzo yomuntu siqu. Noma yimuphi kubaphostoli ubengalisebenzisa lelithuba ukuba enze lokho; kodwa, ngokusobala ngenxa yokuthi kusekhona ukubangisana okuthile phakathi kwabo, akekho olisebenzisayo. Manje baba namahloni njengoba uJesu eqala ukugeza izinyawo zabo.

Lapho uJesu efika kuye, uPetru uyenqaba: “Awusoze wageza izinyawo zami naphakade.”

“Uma ngingakugezi, awunasabelo nami,” kusho uJesu.

“Nkosi,” kuphendula uPetru, “akungabi-yizinyawo zodwa kepha nezandla nekhanda.”

“Ogeziweyo,” kuphendula uJesu, “kadingi-lutho, kuphela ukugezwa izinyawo, kepha ugezekile wonke. Nina-ke nigezekile, kodwa angisho nonke.” Usho lokhu ngoba uyazi ukuthi uJuda Iskariyothe uceba ukumkhaphela.

Lapho uJesu esezigezile izinyawo zabo bonke abangu-12, kuhlanganise nezinyawo zomkhapheli wakhe, uJuda, ugqoka izingubo zakhe zangaphandle abuye ahlale etafuleni. Khona-ke uyabuza: “Niyakwazi yini engikwenzile kini na? Ningibiza nithi: Mfundisi, Nkosi; nisho kahle, ngokuba ngiyikho. Uma-ke mina, iNkosi noMfundisi, ngigezé izinyawo zenu, nani-ke nifanele ukugezana izinyawo. Ngokuba ngininikile isibonelo ukuba nenze nani njengokuba ngenzile kini. Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Inceku ayinkulu kunenkosi yayo, nothunyiweyo kamkhulu kunomthumileyo. Uma nazi lokho, nibusisiwe uma nikwenza.”

Yeka isifundo esihle senkonzo yokuzithoba! Abaphostoli akumelwe bafune ukuba phambili, becabanga ukuthi babaluleke kakhulu kangangokuba abanye kumelwe babakhonze ngaso sonke isikhathi. Kudingeka balandele isibonelo esibekwe uJesu. Lesi akusona esokugezwa kwezinyawo okuyimicikilisho engokwenkolo. Cha, kodwa singesokuzimisela ukusebenza ngokungakhethi, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi umsebenzi uphansi noma uyisicefe kangakanani. Mathewu 26:20, 21; Marku 14:17, 18; Luka 22:14-18; 7:44; Johane 13:1-17.

Isahluko 114

Isidlo Sakusihlwa Sesikhumbuzo

NGEMVA kokuba uJesu egeze izinyawo zabaphostoli bakhe, ucaphuna umbhalo okumaHubo 41:⁠9, ethi: “Odla isinkwa sami ungiphakamisele isithende sakhe.” Khona-ke, ekhathazeka emoyeni, uyachaza: “Omunye wenu uyakungikhaphela.”

Abaphostoli baqala ukudabuka futhi ngamunye bathi kuJesu: “Kungaba-yimi na?” Ngisho noJuda Iskariyothe uhlanganyela ekubuzeni. UJohane, ohlezi eduze kukaJesu etafuleni, uncika esifubeni sikaJesu futhi uyabuza: “Nkosi, ngubani na?”

“Ngomunye wabayishumi nambili, okha kanye nami esitsheni,” kuphendula uJesu. “INdodana yomuntu iyamuka kambe njengokulotshiwe ngayo, kepha maye kulowomuntu iNdodana yomuntu ekhashelwa ngaye! Nga kukuhle kulowomuntu ukuba kazalwanga.” Ngemva kwalokho, uSathane uphinda ungena kuJuda, esizakala ngesikhala esisenhliziyweni yakhe, eye yaba yimbi. Kamuva ngalobobusuku, uJesu ubiza uJuda ngokufanelekile ngokuthi “indodana yokulahlwa.”

Manje uJesu utshela uJuda: “Okwenzayo kwenze masinyane.” Akekho kwabanye abaphostoli oqondayo ukuthi uJesu usho ukuthini. Abanye bacabanga ukuthi njengoba uJuda ephatha isikhwama semali, uJesu uthi kuye: “Thenga esikuswele emkhosini,” noma ukuthi kumelwe ahambe futhi abele abampofu okuthile.

Ngemva kokuba uJuda esehambile, uJesu umisa umkhosi noma isikhumbuzo esisha ngokuphelele nabaphostoli bakhe abathembekile. Uthatha isinkwa, wenza umkhuleko wokubonga, uyasihlephula, futhi ubanika sona, ethi: “Thabathani nidle.” Uyachaza: “Lokhu kungumzimba wami onikelwa nina; yenzani lokhu ukuba ningikhumbule.”

Lapho ngamunye esesidlile isinkwa, uJesu uthatha isitsha sewayini, ngokusobala isitsha sesine esasisetshenziswa enkonzweni yePhasika. Futhi usenzela umkhuleko wokubonga, usidlulisela kubo, ubatshela ukuba baphuze kuso, futhi uthi, “Lesisitsha siyisivumelwano esisha egazini lami elithululelwa nina.”

Ngakho-ke lokhu, eqinisweni, kuyisikhumbuzo sokufa kukaJesu. Unyaka ngamunye ngoNisan 14 kumelwe siphindwe, njengoba uJesu esho, ukuze akhunjulwe. Siyokhumbuza labo abasigubhayo ngalokho uJesu noYise osezulwini abakwenzile ukuze balungiselele isintu ukusinda esijezisweni sokufa. KumaJuda aba abalandeli bakaKristu, lomkhosi uthatha isikhundla sePhasika.

Isivumelwano esisha, esenziwa sisebenze ngegazi likaJesu elachitheka, sithatha isikhundla sesivumelwano soMthetho esidala. SinoJesu Kristu njengomlamuleli phakathi kwabahlanganyeli ababili​—⁠kolunye uhlangothi, uJehova uNkulunkulu, futhi kolunye, amaKristu azelwe ngomoya angu-144 000. Ngaphandle kokulungiselela ukuthethelelwa kwezono, lesivumelwano sivumela ukwakhiwa kwesizwe sasezulwini sabapristi abangamakhosi. Mathewu 26:21-29; Marku 14:18-25; Luka 22:19-23; Johane 13:18-30; 17:12; 1 Korinte 5:7.

▪ Yisiphi isiprofetho seBhayibheli uJesu asicaphunayo ngomunye wabo, futhi usisebenzisa kanjani?

▪ Kungani abaphostoli bedabuka kakhulu, futhi yini ngamunye wabo ayibuzayo?

▪ Yini uJesu atshela uJuda ukuba ayenze, kodwa abanye abaphostoli bazichaza kanjani leziyalezo?

▪ Yimuphi umkhosi uJesu awumisayo ngemva kokuhamba kukaJuda, futhi ufeza yiphi injongo?

▪ Obani abangabahlanganyeli besivumelwano esisha, futhi lesivumelwano sifezani?

Isahluko 115

Kuphakama Impikiswano

NGAPHAMBIDLANA ngalokho kuhlwa, uJesu ufundise isifundo esihle ngenkonzo yokuthobeka ngokugeza izinyawo zabaphostoli bakhe. Kamuva, wamisa iSikhumbuzo sokufa kwakhe okusondelayo. Manje, ikakhulukazi ngenxa yalokho okusanda kwenzeka, kwenzeka into emangalisayo. Abaphostoli bakhe bahileleka empikiswaneni eshubile yokuthi yimuphi kubo okungathiwa mkhulu! Ngokusobala, lena ingxenye yempikiswano eqhubekayo.

Khumbula ukuthi ngemva kokuba uJesu eguqulwe isimo entabeni, abaphostoli baphikisana ngokuthi ubani owayemkhulu phakathi kwabo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJakobe noJohane bacela izikhundla ezivelele eMbusweni, okwaphumela kwenye futhi ingxabano phakathi kwabaphostoli. Manje, ngobusuku bokugcina enabo, yeka indlela okumelwe ukuba uJesu udumele ngayo ngokubabona bephinda bexabana! Wenzani?

Kunokuba athethise abaphostoli ngalokhu kuziphatha kwabo, uJesu uphinda ubonisana nabo ngesineke: “Ababusi bezizwe bazenza amakhosi phezu kwazo, neziphathimandla zazo zithiwa abazenzela okuhle. Kepha nina aninjalo; . . . Ngokuba ngumuphi omkhulu, ohlezi ekudleni noma okhonzayo, na? Akusiye ohlezi ekudleni na?” Khona-ke, ebakhumbuza ngesibonelo sakhe, uthi: “Kepha mina ngiphakathi kwenu njengokhonzayo.”

Naphezu kokungapheleli kwabo, abaphostoli bebekhuthazela noJesu phakathi nokulingwa kwakhe. Ngakho uthi: “Ngenza isivumelwano nani, njengoba noBaba enze isivumelwano nami, sombuso.” (NW) Lesivumelwano somuntu siqu phakathi kukaJesu nabalandeli bakhe abathembekile sibahlanganisa naye ukuze bahlanganyele umbuso wakhe wasebukhosini. Yinani elilinganiselwe kuphela labangu-144 000 ekugcineni elingeniswa kulesivumelwano soMbuso.

Nakuba abaphostoli benikwa lelithemba elimangalisayo lokuhlanganyela noKristu ekubuseni koMbuso, okwamanje babuthakathaka ngokomoya. “Nina nonke nizakukhubeka ngami ngalobobusuku,” kusho uJesu. Nokho, etshela uPetru ukuthi umthandazele, uJesu uyanxusa: “Nxa usuphendukile, uqinise abafowenu.”

“Bantwanyana,” kuchaza uJesu, “ngisekhona nani isikhashana. Niyakungifuna, nanjengalokho ngasho kubaJuda ukuthi lapho ngiya khona ningeze nina, ngisho nakinina manje. Ngininika umyalo omusha wokuba nithandane; njengalokho nginithandile, nani nithandane. Ngalokho bonke bayakukwazi ukuthi ningabafundi bami, uma nithandana.”

“Nkosi, uyangaphi na?” kubuza uPetru.

“Lapho ngiya khona, ungengilandele kalokhu,” kuphendula uJesu, “kepha uyakungilandela kamuva.”

“Nkosi, ngingekulandele kalokhu ngani na?” uPetru ufuna ukwazi. “Ngizakudela ukuphila kwami ngenxa yakho.”

“Uzakudela ukuphila kwakho ngenxa yami na?” kubuza uJesu. “Ngiqinisile ngithi kuwe: Namhla nje ngalobubusuku, lingakakhali kabili iqhude, uzakungiphika kathathu.”

“Noma ngingaze ngife nawe,” kuphika uPetru, “angisoze ngakuphika.” Futhi lapho abanye abaphostoli behlanganyela besho okufanayo, uPetru uyazigabisa: “Noma bonke beyakukhubeka ngawe, mina angisoze ngakhubeka.”

Ebhekisela esikhathini lapho ethuma abaphostoli ohambweni lokushumayela lwaseGalile bengenasikhwama nayika, uJesu uyabuza: “Naswela utho na?”

“Lutho,” bephendula.

“Kepha manje onesikhwama kasithathe, neyika futhi,” esho, “oswelayo kathengise ngengubo yakhe, athenge inkemba. Ngokuba ngithi kini: Kumelwe ukugcwaliseka kimi lokho okulotshiweyo kokuthi: Wabalwa kanye nezelelesi; ngokuba okuqondene nami sekuyaphelela.”

UJesu ukhomba esikhathini lapho eyobethelwa khona nabenzi bobubi, noma abangenamthetho. Futhi ubonisa ukuthi ngemva kwalokho abalandeli bakhe bayobhekana nokushushiswa okunzima. “Nkosi, bheka, nazi izinkemba ezimbili,” besho.

“Kwanele,” ephendula. Njengoba sizobona, ukuba kwabo nezinkemba ngokushesha kuzonika uJesu ithuba lokufundisa esinye isifundo esibalulekile. Mathewu 26:31-35; Marku 14:27-31; Luka 22:24-38; Johane 13:31-38; IsAmbulo 14:1-3.

▪ Kungani impikiswano yabaphostoli imangalisa kangaka?

▪ UJesu uyisingatha kanjani lempikiswano?

▪ Yini efezwa yisivumelwano uJesu asenza nabafundi bakhe?

▪ Yimuphi umyalo omusha uJesu awunikezayo, futhi ubaluleke kangakanani?

▪ UPetru ubonisa kuphi ukuzethemba ngokweqile, futhi uJesu uthini?

▪ Kungani iziyalezo zikaJesu ezimayelana nokuphatha isikhwama neyika zihlukile kulezo azinika ngaphambidlana?

Isahluko 116

Ulungiselela Abafundi Ukuhamba Kwakhe

ISIDLO sesikhumbuzo sesidlulile, kodwa uJesu nabaphostoli bakhe basesekamelweni eliphezulu. Nakuba uJesu ezohamba ngokushesha, usenokuningi okumelwe akusho. “Inhliziyo yenu mayingakhathazeki,” ebaduduza. “Kholwani nguNkulunkulu.” Kodwa uyanezela: “Nikholwe nayimi.”

“Ekhaya likaBaba kukhona izindlu eziningi,” kuqhubeka uJesu. “Ngiya ukunilungisela indawo . . . ukuba lapho ngikhona nibe-khona nani. Nalapho ngiya khona niyayazi indlela.” Abaphostoli abaqondi ukuthi uJesu ukhuluma ngokuya ezulwini, ngakho uTomase uyabuza: “Nkosi, asazi lapho uya khona; siyazi kanjani indlela na?”

“Mina ngiyindlela neqiniso, nokuphila,” kuphendula uJesu. Yebo, noma ubani angangena endlini kaBaba yasezulwini kuphela ngokwamukela uJesu nangokulingisa inkambo yakhe yokuphila, ngoba njengoba uJesu esho: “Akakho oza kuBaba ngaphandle kwami.”

“Nkosi, sikhombise uYihlo,” kucela uFiliphu, “kusanele.” Ngokusobala uFiliphu ufuna ukuba uJesu anikeze isibonakaliso esibonakalayo sikaNkulunkulu, njengesanikezwa ezikhathini zasendulo ngemibono kuMose, kuEliya, nakuIsaya. Kodwa, ngempela, abaphostoli banokuthile okungcono kakhulu kunemibono yalolohlobo, njengoba uJesu ephawula: “Isikhathi esingaka nginani, awukangazi, Filiphu, na? Ongibonile mina ubonile uBaba.”

UJesu ububonakalisa ngokuphelele ubuntu bukaYise kangangokuthi ukuhlala naye nokumbona, eqinisweni, kufana nokubona uYise. Nokho, uBaba mkhulu kuneNdodana, njengoba uJesu evuma: “Amazwi engiwakhuluma kini angiwakhulumi ngokwami.” UJesu ngokufanelekile unika uYise osezulwini lonke udumo ngezimfundiso zakhe.

Yeka ukuthi kumelwe ukuba kukhuthaza kanjani kubaphostoli manje ukuzwa uJesu ebatshela: “Okholwa yimi, imisebenzi engiyenzayo mina naye uyakuyenza, nemikhulu kunalé uyakuyenza”! UJesu akasho ukuthi abalandeli bakhe bayoba namandla amangalisayo amakhulu kunayenawo. Cha, kodwa usho ukuthi bayoqhubeka nenkonzo isikhathi eside kakhulu, endaweni enkulu kakhulu, nakubantu abaningi kakhulu.

UJesu ngeke abalahle abafundi bakhe ngemva kokuhamba kwakhe. “Noma yini eniyakukucela egameni lami,” ethembisa, “ngiyakukwenza.” Ngaphezu kwalokho, uthi: “Ngiyakucela kuBaba aniphe omunye uMduduzi wokuba ahlale kini phakade, uMoya weqiniso.” Kamuva, ngemva kokunyukela ezulwini, uJesu uthululela umoya ongcwele kubafundi bakhe, lona okuthiwa omunye umduduzi.

Ukuhamba kukaJesu sekusondele, njengoba esho: “Kuseyisikhashana izwe lingasangiboni.” UJesu uzoba isidalwa somoya esingenakubonwa muntu. Kodwa futhi uJesu uthembisa abaphostoli bakhe abathembekile: “Niya[ku]ngibona nina, ngokuba ngiphila mina, nani nizakuphila.” Yebo uJesu ngeke nje kuphela abonakale kubo esesimweni somuntu ngemva kokuvuka kwakhe kodwa ngesikhathi esifanele uyobavusela ekuphileni kwasezulwini kanye naye njengezidalwa zomoya.

Manje uJesu usho umthetho olula: “Onemiyalo yami ayigcine, nguyena ongithandayo; ongithandayo uyakuthandwa nguBaba, nami ngiyakumthanda ngizibonakalise kuye.”

Kulokhu umphostoli uJuda, othiwa uThadewu, uyangenela: “Nkosi, kwenziwa yini ukuba uyakuzibonakalisa kithina, ungazibonakalisi kulo izwe, na?”

“Uma umuntu engithanda,” kuphendula uJesu, “uyakugcina izwi lami; uBaba uyakumthanda; . . . Ongangithandiyo kagcini amazwi ami.” Ngokungafani nabalandeli bakhe abalalelayo, izwe alizinaki izimfundiso zikaKristu. Ngakho akazibonakalisi kulo.

Phakathi nenkonzo yakhe yasemhlabeni, uJesu ufundise abaphostoli bakhe izinto eziningi. Bayozikhumbula kanjani zonke, ikakhulukazi njengoba ngisho namanje, kunokuningi kangaka abahluleka ukukuqonda? Ngokujabulisayo, uJesu uyathembisa: “UMduduzi, uMoya oNgcwele, uBaba ayakumthumela egameni lami uyakunifundisa konke, anikhumbuze konke enginitshelé khona.”

Ebaduduza futhi, uJesu uthi: “Ukuthula ngikushiya kinina, ukuthula kwami nginipha khona. . . . Inhliziyo yenu mayingakhathazeki.” Yiqiniso, uJesu uyahamba, kodwa uyachaza: “Uma beningithanda, beniyakujabula, ngokuba ngiya kuBaba, lokhu uBaba mkhulu kunami.”

Isikhathi esisele uJesu enabo sifushane. “Angisayikukhuluma okuningi nani,” esho, “ngokuba uyeza umbusi walelizwe, kepha akanalutho kimi.” USathane uDeveli, owakwazi ukungena kuJuda futhi wamthonya, ungumbusi wezwe. Kodwa uJesu akanabo ubuthakathaka besono uSathane angasizakala ngabo ukuze amsuse ekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu.

Ukujabulela Ubuhlobo Obuseduze

Ngemva kwesidlo sesikhumbuzo, uJesu ubekhuthaza abaphostoli bakhe ngengxoxo ekhululekile yokuthululelana izifuba. Kungenzeka sekudlule phakathi kwamabili. Ngakho uJesu uyanxusa: “Sukumani simuke lapha.” Nokho, ngaphambi kokuba bahambe, uJesu, eshukunyiswa uthando lwakhe ngabo, uyaqhubeka ekhuluma, enikeza umfanekiso oshukumisayo.

“Mina ngingumvini owonawona, uBaba ungumlimi.” UMlimi Omkhulu, uJehova uNkulunkulu, watshala lomvini ongokomfanekiso lapho egcoba uJesu ngomoya ongcwele lapho ebhapathizwa ekwindla ka-29 C.E. Kodwa uJesu uyaqhubeka ebonisa ukuthi lomvini awufanekiseli yena kuphela, ephawula: “Yilelo nalelogatsha elikimi, elingatheli izithelo, uyalisusa. Yilelo nalelo elithela izithelo uyalihlunga ukuba lithele kakhulu. . . . Njengalokhu igatsha lingethele izithelo ngokwalo, kuphela uma lihlala emvinini, kunjalo nani, kuphela uma nihlala kimi. Mina ngingumvini, nina ningamagatsha.”

NgePentekoste, ezinsukwini ezingu-51 kamuva, abaphostoli nabanye baba amagatsha omvini lapho umoya ongcwele uthululelwa kubona. Ekugcineni, abantu abangu-144 000 baba amagatsha omvini ongokomfanekiso. Kanye nesiqu somvini, uJesu Kristu, laba bakha umvini ongokomfanekiso othela izithelo zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu.

UJesu uchaza isihluthulelo sokuthela izithelo: “Ohlala kimi, nami kuye, lowo uthela izithelo eziningi; ngokuba ngaphandle kwami ningenze-lutho.” Nokho, uma umuntu ehluleka ukuthela izithelo, uJesu uthi, “ulahlwa ngaphandle njengegatsha, abune; bawabuthe, bawaphonse emlilweni, ashe.” Ngakolunye uhlangothi, uJesu uyathembisa: “Uma nihlala kimi, namazwi ami ehlala kini, niyakucela enikuthandayo, nikwenzelwe.”

Futhi, uJesu uthi kubaphostoli bakhe: “UBaba uyakhazimuliswa ngalokhu ukuba nithele izithelo eziningi, nibe-ngabafundi bami.” Izithelo uNkulunkulu azifunayo kulamagatsha ziwukubonakalisa kwawo izimfanelo ezinjengezikaKristu, ikakhulukazi uthando. Ngaphezu kwalokho, njengoba uKristu ayengummemezeli woMbuso kaNkulunkulu, izithelo ezifunwayo zihlanganisa nomsebenzi wawo wokwenza abafundi njengoba enza.

“Hlalani othandweni lwami,” manje kunxusa uJesu. Nokho, abaphostoli bakhe bangakwenza kanjani lokhu? “Uma nigcina imiyalo yami,” esho, “niyakuhlala othandweni lwami.” Eqhubeka, uJesu uyachaza: “Yiló umyalo wami wokuba nithandane, njengalokho nginithandile. Akakho onothando olukhulu kunalolo lokuba adele ukuphila kwakhe ngenxa yabahlobo bakhe.”

Emahoreni ambalwa, uJesu uzolubonakalisa loluthando olukhulu ngokunikela ngokuphila kwakhe ngenxa yabaphostoli bakhe, kuhlanganise nabo bonke abanye abayoba nokholo kuye. Isibonelo sakhe kumelwe sishukumisele abalandeli bakhe ukuba babe nothando olufanayo lokuzidela ngomunye nomunye. Loluthando luyobabonakalisa, njengoba uJesu asho ngaphambili: “Ngalokho bonke bayakukwazi ukuthi ningabafundi bami, uma nithandana.”

Echaza abahlobo bakhe, uJesu uthi: “Ningabahlobo bami, uma nenza lokhu enginiyala ngakho. Angisasho ukuthi niyizinceku, ngokuba inceku ayikwazi ukuthi inkosi yayo yenzani, kepha ngithé ningabahlobo nina, ngokuba konke engikuzwile kuBaba nginazisile khona.”

Yeka ubuhlobo obuyigugu—ukuba abangane abaseduze bakaJesu! Kodwa ukuze baqhubeke bejabulela lobuhlobo, abalandeli bakhe kumelwe ‘baqhubeke bethela izithelo.’ Uma benza kanjalo, uJesu uthi, “noma yini eniyakukucela kuBaba egameni lami [uyoninika] khona.” Ngokuqinisekile, lokho kuwumvuzo omkhulu wokuthela izithelo zoMbuso! Ngemva kokunxusa abaphostoli futhi ukuba ‘bathandane,’ uJesu uchaza ukuthi izwe liyobazonda. Nokho, uyabaduduza: “Uma izwe linizonda, niyazi ukuthi langizonda mina ngaphambi kwenu.” Ngokulandelayo uJesu uveza ukuthi kungani izwe lizonda abalandeli bakhe, ethi: “Kepha lokhu ningesibo abezwe kodwa nganikhetha mina ezweni, kungalokho izwe linizonda.”

Echaza ngokwengeziwe isizathu senzondo yezwe, uJesu uyaqhubeka: “Konke lokho bayakukwenza kini ngenxa yegama lami, ngokuba bengamazi [uJehova uNkulunkulu] ongithumileyo.” Imisebenzi kaJesu emangalisayo, eqinisweni, iyababopha labo abamzondayo, njengoba ephawula: “Uma bengingenzanga phakathi kwabo imisebenzi engenziwanga ngomunye, ngabe abanasono, kepha kalokhu babonile, bangizonda nami noBaba.” Ngaleyondlela, njengoba uJesu esho, umbhalo uyagcwaliseka: “Bangizonda ngeze.”

Njengoba enzile ngaphambili, uJesu uphinde abaduduze ngokuthembisa ukubathumelela umduduzi, umoya ongcwele, ongamandla kaNkulunkulu ayisiphekupheku. “Nguyena oyakufakaza ngami. Nani niyafakaza.”

Esinye Isiyalo Sokuvalelisa

UJesu nabaphostoli sebelungele ukulishiya ikamelo eliphezulu. “Lokho ngikukhulumé kini ukuba ningakhubeki,” eqhubeka. Khona-ke unikeza isixwayiso esingathi sína: “Bayakunikhipha emasinagogeni, yebo, siyeza isikhathi sokuba lowo onibulalayo uyakuthi ukhonza uNkulunkulu.”

Ngokusobala lesixwayiso sibakhathaza ngokujulile abaphostoli. Nakuba ekuqaleni uJesu ubeshilo ukuthi izwe laliyobazonda, ubengazange akwembule ngokuqonde kangaka ukuthi babeyobulawa. “Anginitshelanga lokho kwasekuqaleni,” kuchaza uJesu, “ngokuba benginani.” Nokho, yeka ukuthi kuhle kanjani ukubahlomisa ngalokhu kwaziswa ngaphambi kokuba ahambe!

“Manje ngiyamuka,” kuqhubeka uJesu, “ngiya kongithumileyo; akakho kinina ongibuza ukuthi: Uya ngaphi na?” Ekuqaleni kokuhlwa, bebebuzé ukuthi uyaphi, kodwa manje kubethusa kakhulu lokho abatshele khona kangangokuthi bayahluleka ukuqhubeka bebuza ngalokhu. Njengoba uJesu esho: “Ngokuba ngikhulumé lokho kini, inhliziyo yenu igcwele usizi.” Abaphostoli abekho lusizi kuphela ngoba beye bezwa ukuthi bazoshushiswa kanzima futhi babulawe kodwa ngenxa yokuthi iNkosi yabo iyabashiya.

Ngakho uJesu uyachaza: “Kunilungele ukuba ngimuke; ngokuba uma ngingamuki, uMduduzi kayikuza kini; kepha uma ngimuka, ngiyakumthumela kini.” Njengomuntu, uJesu angaba sendaweni eyodwa kuphela ngesikhathi, kodwa lapho esezulwini, angathumela umduduzi, umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu, kubalandeli bakhe nomaphi lapho bengaba khona emhlabeni. Kanjalo ukuhamba kukaJesu kuzoba okunenzuzo.

Umoya ongcwele, kusho uJesu, “[uyonikeza izwe ubufakazi obanelisayo, NW] ngesono, nangokulunga, nangokwahlulela.” Isono sezwe, ukwehluleka kwalo ukuba nokholo eNdodaneni kaNkulunkulu, sizodalulwa. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ubufakazi obanelisayo bokulunga kukaJesu buzobonakala ngokwenyukela kwakhe kuYise. Futhi ukwehluleka kukaSathane nezwe lakhe elibi ukwephula ubuqotho bukaJesu kuwubufakazi obanelisayo bokuthi umbusi wezwe wahlulelwe kabi.

“Ngisenokuningi okokunitshela,” kuqhubeka uJesu, “kodwa ningekuthwale manje.” Ngakho-ke uJesu uthembisa ukuthi lapho ethulula umoya ongcwele, ongamandla kaNkulunkulu ayisiphekupheku, uzobaqondisa ekuqondeni lezizinto ngokuvumelana nekhono labo lokuziqonda.

Abaphostoli behluleka ukuqonda ikakhulukazi ukuthi uJesu uzofa bese ebonakala kubo ngemva kokuvuswa kwakhe. Ngakho bayabuzana: “Kuyini lokho akushoyo kithi ukuthi: Kusezakuba-yisikhashana ningabe nisangibona, kubuye kube-yisikhashana ningibone, nokuthi: Ngokuba ngiya kuBaba, na?”

UJesu uyabona ukuthi bafuna ukumbuza, ngakho uyachaza: “Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Niyakukhala nilile nina, kepha izwe liyakujabula; niyakuba-lusizi nina, kepha usizi lwenu luyakuphendulwa lube-ngukuthokoza.” Kamuva ngalolosuku, lapho uJesu ebulawa, abaholi bezwe benkolo bayathokoza, kodwa abafundi balusizi. Nokho, usizi lwabo luphenduka lube ukuthokoza lapho uJesu esevusiwe! Futhi ukuthokoza kwabo kuyaqhubeka lapho ebanika amandla ngePentekoste okuba babe ofakazi bakhe ngokuthululela phezu kwabo umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu!

Eqhathanisa isimo sabaphostoli naleso sowesifazane lapho ezwa imihelo, uJesu uthi: “Owesifazane, nxa esebeletha, ulusizi, ngokuba sifikile isikhathi sakhe.” Kodwa uJesu uphawula ukuthi akabe esalukhumbula usizi lwakhe lapho umntwana wakhe esezelwe, futhi ukhuthaza abaphostoli bakhe, ethi: “Nani-ke nilusizi manje, kepha ngiyakubuye nginibone [lapho sengivusiwe], inhliziyo yenu ithokoze; intokozo yenu akakho onganamuka yona.”

Kuze kube yilesikhathi, abaphostoli abakaze benze izicelo egameni likaJesu. Kodwa manje uthi: “Lokhu eniyakukucela kuBaba egameni lami uyakuninika khona. . . . Ngokuba uBaba uqobo uyanithanda, ngokuba ningithandile nina, nakholwa ukuthi mina ngavela kuNkulunkulu. Ngavela kuBaba, ngeza ezweni; ngiyalishiya futhi izwe, ngibuyela kuBaba.”

Amazwi kaJesu ayisikhuthazo esikhulu kubaphostoli. “Ngalokho siyakholwa ukuba wavela kuNkulunkulu,” besho. “Seniyakholwa manje na?” kubuza uJesu. “Bhekani, isikhathi siyeza, yebo, sesifikile sokuba nihlakazeke, yilowo nalowo aye kokwakhe, ningishiye ngingedwa.” Nakuba kungase kubonakale kungakholeki, lokhu kwenzeka ngaphambi kokuba kuse!

“Lokho ngikukhulumé kini ukuba nibe-nokuthula kimi.” UJesu uyaphetha: “Ezweni niyakuba-lusizi, kepha yimani isibindi, mina ngilinqobile izwe.” UJesu walinqoba izwe ngokufeza intando kaNkulunkulu ngokwethembeka naphezu kwakho konke uSathane nezwe lakhe ababezame ukukwenza ukuze bephule ubuqotho bukaJesu.

Umthandazo Wokuphetha Ekamelweni Elingenhla

Eshukunyiswa uthando olujulile ngabaphostoli bakhe, uJesu ubebalungiselela ukuhamba kwakhe osekuseduze. Manje, ngemva kokubayala nokubaduduza kabanzi, uphakamisela amehlo akhe ezulwini futhi unxusa uYise: “Khazimulisa iNdodana yakho, ukuze iNdodana ikukhazimulise wena, njengalokho uyiphile amandla phezu kwenyama yonke ukuba bonke oyiphé bona ibaphe ukuphila okuphakade.”

Yeka isihloko esivusa amadlingozi uJesu asethulayo​—⁠ukuphila okuphakade! Njengoba enikwe “amandla phezu kwenyama yonke,” uJesu angasebenzisa izinzuzo zomhlatshelo wakhe wesihlengo kuso sonke isintu esifayo. Nokho, unikeza “ukuphila okuphakade” kuphela kulabo abavunyelwa uYise. Akhela kulesihloko sokuphila okuphakade, uJesu uqhuba umthandazo wakhe:

“Ukuphila okuphakade yilokhu ukuba bazi wena-Nkulunkulu wedwa oqinisileyo, nomthumileyo, uJesu Kristu.” Yebo, ukusindiswa kuxhomeke ekungeniseni kwethu ulwazi ngabo bobabili uNkulunkulu neNdodana yakhe. Kodwa kudingeka okungaphezu nje kolwazi lwengqondo.

Umuntu kumelwe abazi ngokuseduze, ehlakulela ubuhlobo bokuzwana nabo. Umuntu kumelwe azizwe ngendlela abazizwa ngayo ngezinto futhi abone izinto ngendlela abazibona ngayo. Futhi ngaphezu kwakho konke, umuntu kumelwe alwele ukulingisa izimfanelo zabo ezingenakuqhathaniswa ekusebenzelaneni nabanye.

Ngokulandelayo uJesu uyathandaza: “Ngikukhazimulisile emhlabeni, ngifezé umsebenzi ongiphé wona ukuba ngiwenze.” Ngakho-ke njengoba efeze isabelo sakhe kuze kufike kuleliqophelo futhi eqiniseka ngokuphumelela kwakhe esikhathini esizayo, uyanxusa: “Ngikhazimulise wena-Baba kuwe uqobo ngenkazimulo ebenginayo ngikuwe, izwe lingakabikho.” Yebo, manje ucela ukubuyiselwa enkazimulweni yakhe yasezulwini yangaphambili ngovuko.

Esho ngamafuphi umsebenzi wakhe oyinhloko emhlabeni, uJesu uthi: “Ngibonakalisile igama lakho kubantu ongiphé bona kwabasezweni; babengabakho, wangipha bona; baligcinile izwi lakho.” UJesu wasebenzisa igama likaNkulunkulu, elithi Jehova, enkonzweni yakhe futhi wabonisa indlela eqondile yokulibiza, kodwa wenza okungaphezu kwalokho ukuze enze igama likaNkulunkulu laziwe ngabaphostoli bakhe. Wakhulisa futhi nolwazi lwabo nokwazisa ngoJehova, ngobuntu bakhe, nangezinjongo zakhe.

Ebheka uJehova njengoMkhulu kunaye, Lowo akhonza ngaphansi kwakhe, uJesu uvuma ngokuzithoba: “Amazwi ongiphé wona ngibaphile wona, bawamukela, bazi isibili ukuthi ngavela kuwe, bakholwa ukuthi wangithuma wena.”

Ebonisa umehluko phakathi kwabalandeli bakhe naso sonke isintu, ngokulandelayo uJesu uyathandaza: “Ngiyabakhulekela bona; angikhulekeli izwe kepha labo ongiphé bona . . . Lapho ngisenabo ezweni, ngabagcina . . . , ngabalonda; akakho kubo owalahleka, kuphela indodana yokulahlwa,” okuwukuthi, uJuda Iskariyothe. Ngaso kanye lesikhathi, uJuda uphezu kwecebo lakhe elibi lokukhaphela uJesu. Ngalendlela, uJuda ngokungazi ugcwalisa imiBhalo.

“Izwe labazonda,” uJesu uyaqhubeka ethandaza. “Angiceli ukuba ubasuse ezweni; kepha ngicela ukuba ubalonde kokubi. Abasibo abezwe, njengalokhu nami angisiye owezwe.” Abalandeli bakaJesu basezweni, lomphakathi wesintu ohleliwe obuswa uSathane, kodwa bahlukile futhi kumelwe bahlale behlukile kulo nasebubini balo.

“Bangcwelise ngeqiniso,” kuqhubeka uJesu, “izwi lakho liyiqiniso.” Lapha uJesu ubiza imiBhalo YesiHeberu ephefumlelwe, okuyiyona ayeqhubeka ecaphuna kuyo, ngokuthi “iqiniso.” Kodwa lokho akufundisa abafundi bakhe nalokho kamuva abakuloba ngaphansi kokuphefumlelwa njengemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki nakho ‘kuyiqiniso.’ Leliqiniso lingamngcwelisa umuntu, liguqule ukuphila kwakhe ngokuphelele, futhi limenze umuntu ohlukile ezweni.

UJesu manje akathandazeli “laba bodwa kepha nalabo abakholwa [nguye] ngezwi labo.” Ngakho uJesu uthandazela labo abazoba abalandeli bakhe abagcotshiwe nabanye abafundi besikhathi esizayo abasazobuthelwa ‘emhlambini munye.’ Yini ayicelela bonke laba?

“Ukuba bonke babe-munye, njengalokhu wena-Baba ukimi, nami ngikuwe, . . . ukuze babe-munye, njengalokhu thina simunye.” UJesu noYise abayena umuntu oyedwa ngokoqobo, kodwa bayavumelana ngakho konke. UJesu uthandazela ukuba abalandeli bakhe bajabulele lobunye obufanayo ukuze “izwe lazi ukuba wena ungithumile, wabathanda, njengalokho ungithandile.”

Ngokuqondene nalabo ababeyoba abalandeli bakhe abagcotshiwe, uJesu manje uyanxusa kuYise osezulwini. Ucelani? “Babe-khona nami lapha ngikhona, ukuze babone inkazimulo yami ongiphé yona; ngokuba wangithanda, kungakasekelwa izwe,” okungukuthi, lapho uAdamu noEva beba nomntwana wabo wokuqala. Esikhathini eside ngaphambi kwalokho, uNkulunkulu wathanda iNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa, eyaba uJesu Kristu.

Ephetha umthandazo wakhe, uJesu uphinde agcizelele: “Ngibazisile igama lakho, ngizakubazisa lona ukuba uthando ongithandé ngalo lube-kubo, nami ngibe-kubo.” Kubaphostoli, ukwazi igama likaNkulunkulu kuye kwahilela ukwazi uthando lukaNkulunkulu ngokomuntu siqu. Johane 14:1–17:26; 13:27, 35, 36; 10:16; Luka 22:3, 4; Eksodusi 24:10; 1 AmaKhosi 19:9-13; Isaya 6:1-5; Galathiya 6:16; IHubo 35:19; 69:4; IzAga 8:22, 30.

▪ Uyaphi uJesu, futhi uTomase uthola yiphi impendulo ngokuqondene nendlela eya lapho?

▪ Ngesicelo sakhe, yini ngokusobala uFiliphu afuna ukuba uJesu ayinikeze?

▪ Kungani obone uJesu ebone noYise?

▪ Abalandeli bakaJesu bayoyenza kanjani imisebenzi emikhulu kunayenza?

▪ Kungamuphi umqondo uSathane engenalutho kuJesu?

▪ UJehova wawutshala nini umvini ongokomfanekiso, futhi kunini lapho abanye beba ingxenye yomvini khona futhi kanjani?

▪ Ekugcineni, umvini ongokomfanekiso uba namagatsha amangaki?

▪ Zithelo zini uNkulunkulu azifunayo emagatsheni?

▪ Singaba kanjani abangane bakaJesu?

▪ Kungani izwe libazonda abalandeli bakaJesu?

▪ Yisiphi isixwayiso sikaJesu esikhathaza abaphostoli bakhe?

▪ Kungani abaphostoli behluleka ukubuza uJesu ukuthi uyaphi?

▪ Yini ikakhulukazi abaphostoli abahluleka ukuyiqonda?

▪ UJesu ubonisa kanjani ukuthi isimo sabaphostoli siyoshintsha ekubeni usizi sibe injabulo?

▪ Yini uJesu athi abaphostoli bazoyenza ngokushesha?

▪ UJesu ulinqoba kanjani izwe?

▪ Kungamuphi umqondo uJesu ephiwe “amandla phezu kwenyama yonke”?

▪ Kusho ukuthini ukungenisa ulwazi ngoNkulunkulu neNdodana yakhe?

▪ Kungaziphi izindlela uJesu abonakalisa ngazo igama likaNkulunkulu?

▪ Liyini “iqiniso,” futhi ‘limngcwelisa’ kanjani umKristu?

▪ Kukanjani uNkulunkulu, iNdodana yakhe, nabo bonke abakhulekeli beqiniso bemunye?

▪ Kwakunini ‘ukusekelwa kwezwe’?