ISAHLUKO 10

INkosi Icwengisisa Abantu Bayo Ngokomoya

OKUZOXOXWA NGAKHO KULESI SAHLUKO

Okwenza uJesu wacwengisisa futhi wahlanza abalandeli bakhe ngokomoya nendlela akwenza ngayo

1-3. Yini uJesu ayenza lapho ethola ukuthi ithempeli liyangcoliswa?

UJESU wayelihlonipha kakhulu ithempeli laseJerusalema ngoba wayekwazi elalikumelele. Kwase kuyiminyaka eminingi liyisikhungo sokukhulekela kweqiniso emhlabeni. Kodwa lokho kukhulekela—ukukhulekela uNkulunkulu ongcwele, uJehova—kumelwe kuhlanzeke futhi kube msulwa. Cabanga-ke indlela okumelwe ukuba uJesu wazizwa ngayo lapho efika ethempelini ngoNisani 10, 33 C.E., ethola abantu belingcolisa. Babenzani?—Funda uMathewu 21:12, 13.

² EGcekeni Labezizwe, abathengisi nabashintshi bemali abangamagovu babedlala ngabakhulekeli ababelethe iminikelo kuJehova.a UJesu “waxosha bonke abathengisayo nabathengayo ethempelini, wagumbuqela amatafula abashintshi bemali.” (Qhathanisa noNehemiya 13:7-9.) Wabalahla labo bantu abangamagovu ngoba babenza indlu kaYise “umhume wabaphangi.” Ngokwenza kanjalo uJesu wabonisa inhlonipho ngethempeli nalokho elalikumelele. Ukukhulekelwa kukaYise kwakumelwe kugcinwe kuhlanzekile!

³ Ngemva kwamakhulu eminyaka, lapho esemiswe njengeNkosi EnguMesiya, uJesu waphinde wahlanza ithempeli—ithempeli elihilela bonke abafuna ukukhulekela uJehova ngendlela ayamukelayo namuhla. Yiliphi-ke leli thempeli alihlanza ngaleso sikhathi?

Ukuhlanza “Amadodana KaLevi”

4, 5. (a) Abalandeli bakaJesu abagcotshiwe bacwengisiswa futhi bahlanzwa kanjani kusukela ngo-1914 kuya ekuqaleni kuka-1919? (b) Ingabe kwaphela lapho ukucwengisiswa nokuhlanzwa kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu? Chaza.

⁴ Njengoba sibonile eSahlukweni 2 sale ncwadi, ngemva kokubekwa esihlalweni sobukhosi ngo-1914, uJesu wafika noYise bezohlola ithempeli elingokomoya—ilungiselelo lokukhulekela okumsulwa.b Ngenxa yalokho kuhlola, iNkosi yabona ukuthi amaKristu agcotshiwe, “amadodana kaLevi,” ayedinga ukucwengisiswa nokuhlanzwa. (Mal. 3:1-3) Kusukela ngo-1914 kuya ekuqaleni kuka-1919, umCwengi, uJehova, wavumela abantu bakhe ukuba badlule ezilingweni nasebunzimeni obuningi obabacwengisisa futhi babahlanza. Ngokujabulisayo, labo abagcotshiwe baphuma kulolo vivinyo olunjengomlilo besesimweni esihlanzekile, bezimisele ukubonisa ukuthi bayayisekela iNkosi EnguMesiya!

⁵ Ingabe kwaphelela lapho ukucwengisiswa nokuhlanzwa kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu? Cha. Kuzo zonke lezi zinsuku zokugcina, uJehova esebenzisa iNkosi EnguMesiya uye waqhubeka esiza abalandeli bakhe ukuba bahlanzeke ukuze bahlale besethempelini elingokomoya. Ezahlukweni ezimbili ezilandelayo, sizobona indlela abacwengisise ngayo endabeni yokuziphatha nasezicini ezithinta inhlangano. Kodwa okokuqala ake sixoxe ngokuhlanzwa ngokomoya. Kuqinisa ukholo ukucabanga ngalokho okwenziwe uJesu—kokubili ngezindlela ezibonakala ngokucacile nezingabonakali emehlweni ethu—ukuze asize abalandeli bakhe bahlanzeke ngokomoya.

“Zigcineni Nihlanzekile”

6. Imiyalo kaJehova kumaJuda ayedingisiwe isisiza kanjani siqonde okuhilelekile ekuhlanzekeni okungokomoya?

⁶ Kuyini ukuhlanzeka okungokomoya? Ukuze siphendule, ake sihlole amazwi uJehova awasho kumaJuda ayedingisiwe njengoba ayesezolishiya iBhabhiloni ekhulwini lesithupha B.C.E. (Funda u-Isaya 52:11.) Lawo maJuda ayephindela kubo eJerusalema ngokuyinhloko ukuze akhe kabusha ithempeli abuyisele nokukhulekela kweqiniso. (Ezra 1:2-4) UJehova wayefuna abantu bakhe bayishiye yonke iminonjana yenkolo yaseBhabhiloni. Phawula ukuthi wabanika imiyalo elandelanayo: “Ningathinti lutho olungcolile,” “phumani phakathi kwalo,” “zigcineni nihlanzekile.” Ukukhulekela kukaJehova okumsulwa akumelwe kungcoliswe ukukhulekela kwamanga. Yini-ke okumelwe siphethe ngayo? Ukuhlanzeka okungokomoya kuhilela ukuhlukana nezimfundiso nemikhuba yenkolo yamanga.

7. Yimuphi umzila uJesu asize ngawo abalandeli bakhe ukuba bahlanzeke ngokomoya?

⁷ Ngemva nje kokubekwa kukaJesu njengeNkosi, wabeka umzila obonakala ngokucacile asize ngawo abalandeli bakhe ukuba bahlanzeke ngokomoya. Lowo mzila yinceku ethembekile neqondayo uKristu ayimisa ngo-1919. (Math. 24:45) Ngalowo nyaka, abaFundi BeBhayibheli base bezihlanzile kakade ezimfundisweni zenkolo yamanga. Noma kunjalo, kwakusadingeka baqhubeke behlanzwa ngokomoya. Ngenceku yakhe ethembekile, kancane kancane uKristu uye wakhanyisela abalandeli bakhe ngemikhuba nemicikilisho eminingi okudingeke bayilahle. (IzAga 4:18) Ake sifunde ngezibonelo zayo.

Kufanele Yini AmaKristu Agubhe UKhisimusi?

8. Yini abaFundi BeBhayibheli okwase kuyisikhathi eside beyivuma ngoKhisimusi, kepha yini ababengayiqondi kahle?

⁸ Sekuyisikhathi eside abaFundi BeBhayibheli bevuma ukuthi uKhisimusi unomsuka wobuqaba nokuthi uJesu akazalwanga ngo-December 25. I-Zion’s Watch Tower ka-December 1881 yathi: “Izigidi zabantu zangena esontweni zivela ebuQabeni. Kodwa zashintsha ikakhulukazi ngegama nje kuphela, ngoba abapristi bobuqaba baba abapristi bobukristu, amaholidi obuqaba abizwa ngamagama obukristu—uKhisimusi ungelinye lalawo maholidi.” Ngo-1883, ngaphansi kwesihloko esithi “Wazalwa Nini UJesu?,” INqabayokulinda yabonisa ukuthi uJesu wazalwa cishe ekuqaleni kuka-October.c Yize kunjalo, abaFundi BeBhayibheli abasibonanga ngokucacile ngaleso sikhathi isidingo sokuba bayeke ukugubha uKhisimusi. Ngisho namalungu omkhaya waseBethel YaseBrooklyn aqhubeka ewugubha. Kepha ngemva kuka-1926, izinto zaqala ukushintsha. Kungani?

9. Yini abaFundi BeBhayibheli abayiqonda ngoKhisimusi?

⁹ Ngenxa yokuhlolisisa nokubhekisisa le ndaba, abaFundi BeBhayibheli baqonda ukuthi umsuka kaKhisimusi nemikhuba ehlobene nawo empeleni kuhlambalaza uNkulunkulu. Isihloko esithi “Umsuka KaKhisimusi,” esasikuyi-Golden Age ka-December 14, 1927, saphawula ukuthi uKhisimusi uwumkhosi wobuqaba, ugxile ezinjabulweni futhi uhilela ukukhulekela izithombe. Lesi sihloko sakhanyisa ukuthi uKristu akayalanga ukuba lo mkhosi ugujwe, sase siphetha ngokulimisa ngesihloko: “Ukuthi izwe, ukuthambekela kwenyama noDeveli kuyathanda ukuba uqhubeke ugujwa . . . kuyiphuzu lokugcina nelinamandla elenza kungafaneleki ukuba ugujwe abantu abazinikele ngokuphelele enkonzweni kaJehova.” Akumangalisi-ke ukuthi umkhaya waseBethel awuzange uwugubhe uKhisimusi ngalowo December—futhi awuphindanga wawugubha!

“UKHISIMUSI, UMSUKA NENJONGO YAWO”

NGO-DECEMBER 1928, uMfoweth’ uRichard H. Barber (ophawulwe kwesobunxele ngesikokelo) wethula inkulumo enamandla emsakazweni ekhuluma ngoKhisimusi. Amaphuzu aleyo nkulumo akhishwa kuyi-Golden Age ka-December 12, 1928, ngaphansi kwesihloko esithi “Christmas, Its Origin and Purpose [UKhisimusi, Umsuka Nenjongo Yawo].” Phakathi kwamaphuzu ayekule nkulumo, kwakukhona nalawa:

“USathane . . . ufundise abantu ukuba baqaphele ukuzalwa komntwana onguJesu kunokuba baqaphele ukufa kwendoda enguJesu, ukuze afihle ukubaluleka kwesihlengo.”
“Wonke umuntu uyawubona umoya wenjabulo engathi shu, ukuzitika, ukudakwa nokuxokozela okudlange kakhulu ngenkathi kaKhisimusi . . . Ngokuqinisekile, kulezi zinto ayikho neyodwa edumisa uJehova uNkulunkulu noma iNdodana yakhe.”
“UDeveli usephumelele ukufaka esontweni imikhosi yakhe, izinsuku zamadili, ezokuzila nezingcwele . . . UDeveli uphumelele ukwenza abantu bamukele wonke amacebo akhe amabi bese bethi awobuKristu ukuze ngaleyo ndlela ahlekise ngoJehova uNkulunkulu omkhulu.”

Kwagujwa uKhisimusi okokugcina eBethel YaseBrooklyn ngo-1926

10. (a) UKhisimusi wadalulwa kanjani ngokuningiliziwe ngo-December 1928? (Bheka nebhokisi elithi “UKhisimusi, Umsuka Nenjongo Yawo.”) (b) Abantu bakaNkulunkulu baqwashiswa kanjani ngamanye amaholidi nemikhosi okufanele igwenywe? (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “Ukudalula Amanye Amaholidi Nemikhosi.”)

¹⁰ Ngonyaka olandelayo, abaFundi BeBhayibheli bathola inkulumo eyayiwudalula ngokuningiliziwe umsuka kaKhisimusi. Ngo-December 12, 1928, uMfoweth’ uRichard H. Barber, owayesebenza endlunkulu, wanikeza inkulumo emsakazweni eyawuveza obala umsuka ongcolile waleli holidi. Abantu bakaNkulunkulu basabela kanjani esiqondisweni esicacile esivela endlunkulu? Lapho uMfoweth’ uCharles Brandlein ekhumbula mhla yena nomkhaya wakhe beyeka ukugubha uKhisimusi, wathi: “Kwasikhathaza yini ukuyeka lezo zinto zobuqaba? Lutho! . . . Kwakufana nje nokukhumula ingubo engcolile uyitshinge kude.” Enanela lelo phuzu, uMfoweth’ uHenry A. Cantwell, kamuva owaba umbonisi ojikelezayo, wathi: “Kwasithokozisa ukuthi sakwazi ukuyeka okuthile ukuze sifakazele uthando lwethu ngoJehova.” Abalandeli bakaKristu abaqotho babezimisele ukwenza izinguquko ezazidingeka futhi bangabi nangxenye ekugubheni umkhosi osuka ekukhulekeleni okungcolile.d—Joh. 15:19; 17:14.

11. Singabonisa kanjani ukuthi siyayisekela iNkosi EnguMesiya?

¹¹ Yeka isibonelo esihle esasibekelwa yilabo baFundi BeBhayibheli abathembekile! Lapho sicabanga ngesibonelo sabo, kuhle sizibuze: ‘Ngisibheka kanjani isiqondiso esivela endlunkulu? Ingabe ngisamukela ngenjabulo, ngenze engikufundayo?’ Ukuzimisela kwethu ukulalela kubonisa ukusekela kwethu iNkosi EnguMesiya, esebenzisa inceku ethembekile ukuba yabe ukudla okungokomoya ngesikhathi.—IzE. 16:4, 5.

UKUDALULA AMANYE AMAHOLIDI NEMIKHOSI

KUYO yonke iminyaka edlule uKristu uye wasiza abalandeli bakhe ukuba bangabi ingxenye yezwe. Nakhu okwashiwo kudala okwaqaphelisa abantu bakaNkulunkulu ngamaholidi nemikhosi eminingi egwenywa amaKristu eqiniso.

Ama-Easter. “Umkhosi wamaqaba ovelele okuthiwa ama-Easter nawo wamukelwa wafakwa esontweni okuthiwa elobuKristu.”—I-Golden Age, ka-December 12, 1928, ikhasi 168.
IValentine’s Day. “Usuku olubizwa ngokuthi iSt. Valentine’s Day [Usuku Olungcwele LukaValentine] alunalutho olungcwele olungashiwo ngomsuka walo.”—I-Golden Age, ka-December 25, 1929, ikhasi 208.
Izinsuku Zokuzalwa. “Zimbili kuphela izinsuku zokuzalwa okukhulunywa ngazo emiBhalweni, olunye olwenkosi eyiqaba uFaro waseGibhithe ngezinsuku zikaJosefa, olunye [olukaHerode,] okwathi lapho kugujwa usuku lokuzalwa kwakhe kwabulawa uJohane uMbhapathizi. EBhayibhelini akukho lapho kushiwo khona ukuthi abantu bakaNkulunkulu bagubha izinsuku zokuzalwa.”—I-Golden Age, ka-May 6, 1936, ikhasi 499.
UNcibijane. “Ukugujwa kukaNcibijane nemidlalo nemibuthano yokudakwa eyenziwayo konke akubona ubuKristu, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kwenziwa ngaluphi usuku. AmaKristu okuqala ayengawugubhi.”—I-Phaphama! ka-December 22, 1946, ikhasi 24.

Kufanele Yini AmaKristu Asebenzise Isiphambano?

Uphawu lwesiphambano nomqhele (Bheka izigaba 12 no-13)

12. Kwaphela iminyaka eminingi abaFundi BeBhayibheli besibheka kanjani isiphambano?

¹² Kwaphela iminyaka eminingi abaFundi BeBhayibheli bebheka isiphambano njengophawu lobuKristu olufanelekayo. Bona babengacabangi neze ukuthi kufanele sikhulekelwe ngoba babeqonda ukuthi ukukhulekela izithombe kuyinto engafanele. (1 Kor. 10:14; 1 Joh. 5:21) Ngo-1883, INqabayokulinda yalimisa ngesihloko yathi “zonke izinhlobo zokukhulekela izithombe ziyisinengiso kuNkulunkulu.” Noma kunjalo, ekuqaleni abaFundi BeBhayibheli ababonanga lutho olubi ngokwenza lokho ababecabanga ukuthi kuwukusebenzisa isiphambano ngendlela efanelekile. Ngokwesibonelo, babesifaka ngeqholo isipeletu esiyisiphambano nomqhele njengento ebahlukanisayo kwabanye. Kubona, lesi sipeletu sasibonisa ukuthi uma bethembeka kuze kube sekufeni, bayothola umqhele wokuphila. Kusukela ngo-1891, uphawu lwesiphambano nomqhele lwavela esembozweni se-Nqabayokulinda.

13. Yikuphi ukukhanyiselwa abalandeli bakaKristu abakuthola ngokusebenzisa isiphambano? (Bheka nebhokisi elithi “Ukukhanyiselwa Okuqhubekayo Ngokusebenzisa Isiphambano.”)

¹³ AbaFundi BeBhayibheli babelubheka njengoluyigugu lolu phawu lwesiphambano nomqhele. Kodwa kusukela ekupheleni kwawo-1920, abalandeli bakaKristu baqhubeka bekhanyiselwa maqondana nokusebenzisa isiphambano. Lapho uMfoweth’ uGrant Suiter, kamuva owakhonza eNdikimbeni Ebusayo, ekhumbula umhlangano wango-1928 owawuseDetroit, eMichigan, e-U.S.A., wathi: “Kulo mhlangano kwavezwa ukuthi akukona nje kuphela ukuthi uphawu lwesiphambano nomqhele aludingeki kodwa futhi luyenyanyeka.” Ngemva kweminyaka embalwa kwalandela ukukhanyiselwa okwengeziwe. Kwaba sobala ukuthi isiphambano asinandawo ekukhulekeleni okumsulwa nokuhlanzekile ngokomoya.

UKUKHANYISELWA OKUQHUBEKAYO NGOKUSEBENZISA ISIPHAMBANO

Akukona nje kuphela ukuthi izimpawu zesiphambano nomqhele azidingeki kodwa futhi ziyenyanyisa.—Emhlanganweni owawuseDetroit, eMichigan, e-U.S.A., ngo-1928.
Isipeletu sesiphambano nomqhele siyisithombe.—Preparation, ka-1933, ikhasi 239.
Umsuka wesiphambano owobuqaba.—I-Golden Age, ka-February 28, 1934, ikhasi 336.
UJesu wafela esigxotsheni hhayi esiphambanweni.—I-Golden Age, ka-November 4, 1936, ikhasi 72; Riches, 1936, ikhasi 27.

Igama lesiGreki elithi stau·rosʹ lihunyushwa ngokuthi “isiphambano” ezinguqulweni eziningi zeBhayibheli. Kodwa phawula okushiwo izincwadi eziningi ngencazelo yaleli gama:

“Leli gama lesiGreki elithi [stau·rosʹ] ngokomthetho . . . limane lisho nje isigxobo.”—Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature.
Lisho “isigxobo. Alinawo umqondo ‘wesiphambano.’”—Crucifixion in Antiquity.
Lisho “isigxobo esiqinile esinjengaleso abalimi abasimbela phansi lapho bezokwakha ucingo lokubiyela—yilokho nje, akukho okunye.”—History of the Cross.
“Alisho nanini amapulangwe amabili elinye elivundle phezu kwelinye, kodwa ngaso sonke isikhathi lisho ipulangwe elilodwa vo.”—The Companion Bible.
“Isibonda noma isigxobo esime saqonda mpo . . . Akwenzeki lisho amapulangwe amabili, elinye elivundle kwelinye.”—A Critical Lexicon and Concordance.

14. Abantu bakaNkulunkulu basabela kanjani ekukhanyiselweni okuqhubekayo abakuthola ngesiphambano?

¹⁴ Abantu bakaNkulunkulu basabela kanjani ekukhanyiselweni ababeqhubeka bekuthola ngesiphambano? Ingabe baqhubeka bebambelele kulolu phawu ababeluthanda kangaka? “Kwaba lula ukuluyeka lapho sesiqaphela ukuthi lumelelani,” kukhumbula uLela Roberts, udade owayesenesikhathi eside ekhonza uJehova. Omunye udade othembekile u-Ursula Serenco, waveza umuzwa wabaningi lapho ethi: “Saqaphela ukuthi le nto esasiyithanda ngoba sithi imelela ukufa kweNkosi yethu nokuzinikela kwethu kobuKristu empeleni iwuphawu lobuqaba. Ngokuvumelana nezAga 4:18, sajabula ngokuthi indlela yayenziwa ikhanye bha.” Abalandeli bakaKristu abaqotho babengafuni ukuba nengxenye emikhubeni engcolile yenkolo yamanga!

15, 16. Singabonisa kanjani ukuthi sizimisele ukuwagcina ehlanzekile amagceke asemhlabeni ethempeli likaJehova elingokomoya?

¹⁵ Nathi sizizwa ngendlela efanayo namuhla. Siyaqaphela ukuthi uKristu ubesebenzisa umzila obonakala ngokucacile—inceku yakhe ethembekile neqondayo—ukuze asize abantu bakhe bahlale behlanzekile ngokomoya. Ngakho, lapho ukudla okungokomoya esikutholayo kusiqwashisa ngemikhosi, imikhuba noma amasiko athile angcoliswe inkolo yamanga, siyalalela futhi sithathe isinyathelo masinyane. Njengabafowethu nodadewethu ababephila engxenyeni yokuqala yokuba khona kukaKristu, sizimisele ukuwagcina ehlanzekile amagceke asemhlabeni ethempeli likaJehova elingokomoya.

¹⁶ Phakathi nalezi zinsuku zokugcina, uKristu ubesebenza enza nezinto esingaziboni thina ukuze avikele amabandla abantu bakaJehova kubantu abangawangcolisa ngokomoya. Ukwenze kanjani lokho? Ake sizwe.

Ukuhlukanisa “Ababi Kwabalungileyo”

17, 18. Emfanekisweni wenetha, kusho ukuthini (a) ukwehlisa inetha, (b) “ukuqoqa zonke izinhlobo zezinhlanzi,” (c) ukufaka izinhlanzi ezinhle ezitsheni (d) nokulahla izinhlanzi ezingafanelekile?

¹⁷ INkosi uJesu Kristu iqapha amabandla abantu bakaNkulunkulu emhlabeni wonke ngeso elibukhali. UKristu nezingelosi bebenza umsebenzi wokuhlukanisa, bewenza ngezindlela esingeke saziqonda ngokugcwele. UJesu wachaza lo msebenzi emfanekisweni wakhe wenetha. (Funda uMathewu 13:47-50.) Usho ukuthini lo mfanekiso?

Abadobi badonsa inetha lokudoba olwandle — Inetha lifanekisela ukushumayela ngoMbuso okwenziwa esintwini esifana nolwandle (Bheka isigaba 18)

¹⁸ Ukwehlisela ‘inetha olwandle.’ Inetha lifanekisela ukushumayela ngoMbuso okwenziwa kuso sonke isintu esifana nolwandle. “Libutha izinhlanzi zazo zonke izinhlobo.” Izindaba ezinhle zidonsa abantu bazo zonke izinhlobo—labo abathatha izinyathelo zokuba amaKristu eqiniso, kanye nenqwaba yabanye abangase baqale babonise isithakazelo kodwa bangasenzi isinqumo sokusekela ukukhulekela okumsulwa.e Ukubuthela “ezinhle ezitsheni.” Abantu abaqotho baqoqelwa emabandleni afana nezitsha, lapho benikela khona ukukhulekela okuhlanzekile kuJehova. Ukulahla izinhlanzi “ezingafanelekile.” Phakathi nalezi zinsuku zokugcina, uKristu nezingelosi bebelokhu behlukanisa “ababi kwabalungileyo.”f Ngenxa yalokho, abantu abangenaso isimo esifanele senhliziyo—mhlawumbe abangazimisele ukulahla izinkolelo noma imikhuba engalungile—abazange bavunyelwe ukuba bangcolise amabandla.g

19. Uzizwa kanjani ngalokho uKristu abekwenza ukuze alonde ukuhlanzeka kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu nobumsulwa bokukhulekela kweqiniso?

¹⁹ Akuqinisi yini idolo ukwazi ukuthi iNkosi yethu, uJesu Kristu, iyabavikela labo abangaphansi kwayo? Akududuzi yini nokwazi ukuthi intshiseko yayo ngokukhulekela kweqiniso—nangabakhulekeli beqiniso—isavutha nanamuhla njengoba yayinjalo ngesikhathi ihlanza ithempeli ekhulwini lokuqala C.E? Asive sibonga ngokuthi uKristu ubelokhu esebenza ukuze alonde ukuhlanzeka okungokomoya kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu nobumsulwa bokukhulekela kweqiniso! Singabonisa ukuthi siyayisekela iNkosi noMbuso wayo ngokugwema noma yini ehlangene nenkolo yamanga.

a AmaJuda avakashile kwakudingeka asebenzise imali ethile ukuze akhokhe intela yethempeli yaminyaka yonke, futhi abashintshi bezimali babewakhokhisa imali ukuze bawashintshele imali ibe yileyo efunekayo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kwakungenzeka izivakashi kudingeke zithenge izilwane zomnikelo. UJesu wabiza abathengisi ngokuthi “abaphangi,” cishe ngoba babebiza imali emba eqolo ngezinkonzo zabo.

b Abantu bakaJehova emhlabeni bamkhulekela emagcekeni asemhlabeni ethempeli lakhe elikhulu elingokomoya.

c Lesi sihloko saphawula ukuthi usuku lwasebusika lokuzalwa kukaJesu “aluhambisani kahle nokulandisa okuthi abelusi babengaphandle nemihlambi yabo.”—Luka 2:8.

d Encwadini eyabhalwa uMfoweth’ uFrederick W. Franz ngo-November 14, 1927, wathi: “Ngeke sibe noKhisimusi kulo nyaka. Umkhaya waseBethel uvotele ukuba singaphinde siwugubhe uKhisimusi.” Ngemva kwezinyanga ezimbalwa, ngo-February 6, 1928 wabhala enye incwadi, wathi: “INkosi iyasihlanza kancane kancane emaphutheni enhlangano kaDeveli eyiBhabhiloni.”

e Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-2013, inani eliphakeme labamemezeli lalingu-7 965 954, kanti abangu-19 241 252 baba khona eSikhumbuzweni sokufa kukaKristu.

f Ukuhlukaniswa kwezinhlanzi ezinhle kwezingafanelekile akufani nokuhlukaniswa kwezimvu ezimbuzini. (Math. 25:31-46) Ukuhlukaniswa, noma ukwahlulelwa kokugcina, kwezimvu nezimbuzi kwenzeka phakathi nosizi olukhulu oluzayo. Kuze kube yileso sikhathi, abantu abafana nezinhlanzi ezingafanelekile bangase babuyele kuJehova, baqoqelwe emabandleni afana nezitsha.—Mal. 3:7.

g Ekugcineni, abangafanelekile bayophonswa ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso esithandweni somlilo esivuthayo, okubonisa ukubhujiswa kwesikhathi esizayo.