Icala Elaqulwa Kabi Ukuwedlula Wonke

AMBALWA uma ekhona amacala asendulo adume njengaleli. Izincwadi zeBhayibheli ezine ezingefani ezibizwa ngokuthi amaVangeli, zichaza ngokuningiliziwe ukuboshwa kukaJesu Kristu, ukuthethwa kwecala lakhe nokubulawa kwakhe. Kungani kufanele ube nesithakazelo ekuqulweni kwaleli cala? Okokuqala, ngenxa yokuthi uJesu watshela abalandeli bakhe ukuba bakhumbule ukufa kwakhe, futhi lokho kwenza ukuqulwa kwecala lakhe kubaluleke kakhulu. Okwesibili, kufanele sazi ukuthi ayeyiqiniso yini amacala abekwa wona. Okwesithathu, ukunikela kukaJesu ngokuphila kwakhe ngokuzithandela kubaluleke kakhulu kithi nasekusaseni lethu.—Luka 22:19; Johane 6:40.

Ngesikhathi kuqulwa icala likaJesu, iPalestina lalibuswa iRoma. AmaRoma ayevumela abaholi benkolo bendawo abangamaJuda ukuba bakhiphe izahlulelo zomthetho kumaJuda, kodwa kubonakala sengathi ayengabaniki igunya elingokomthetho lokubulala izelelesi. Yingakho uJesu aboshwa izitha zakhe zenkolo ezingamaJuda kodwa wabulawa amaRoma. Ukushumayela kwakhe kwabangela abaholi benkolo bangalolo suku amahloni kangangokuba banquma ukuthi kwakumelwe afe. Nokho, babefuna ukubulawa kwakhe kubonakale sengathi kusemthethweni. Uprofesa othile wezomthetho wahlaziya imizamo yabo futhi washukumiseleka ukuba athi icala likaJesu laqulwa “kabi kunawo wonke emlandweni wokuqulwa kwamacala ezinkantolo.”a

Imithetho Yaphulwa Iphuliwe

UMthetho uMose awunika ama-Israyeli uye wabizwa ngokuthi “umthetho wokuqulwa kwamacala omuhle kunayo yonke nonokukhanyiseleka okukhulu.” Nokho, ngosuku lukaJesu, orabi ababethanda ukubeka eyabo imithetho base benezele eminye imithetho eminingi eyayingekho emiBhalweni, eminingi yayo eyalotshwa kamuva kuyiTalmud. (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “Imithetho YamaJuda Emakhulwini Okuqala Eminyaka,” ekhasini 20.) Lapho kuqulwa icala likaJesu, ingabe yalandelwa imithetho yeBhayibheli naleyo engekho emiBhalweni?

Ingabe uJesu waboshwa ngemva kokuba inkantolo izwe ubufakazi obuvumelanayo bofakazi ababili bokuthi kunobugebengu obuthile ayebenzile? Ukuze kuthiwe umthetho ulandelwe, kwakufanele kube njalo. EPalestina langekhulu lokuqala, uma umJuda ekholelwa ukuthi kuye kwaphulwa umthetho, wayefaka isimangalo phambi kwenkantolo phakathi nokuqulwa kwamacala. Izinkantolo zazingawaquli lawo macala kodwa zazimane ziphenye izinsolo ezethuliwe. Kwakufanele kube nofakazi balelo cala. Icala laliqala ukuqulwa lapho okungenani ofakazi ababili sebethule ubufakazi obuvumelanayo. Ubufakazi babo babenza kube necala, elaliholela ekuboshweni. Ubufakazi bomuntu oyedwa babungamukelwa neze. (Duteronomi 19:15) Kodwa ecaleni likaJesu izikhulu zamaJuda zamane zafuna “indlela ekahle” yokuba abulawe. Zambopha ngesikhathi kuvela “ithuba elihle”—ebusuku “singekho isixuku eduze.”—Luka 22:2, 5, 6, 53.

Ngesikhathi uJesu eboshwa, kwakungekho cala ayebekwe lona. Abapristi neSanhedrini, inkantolo ephakeme yamaJuda, bafuna ofakazi uJesu eseboshiwe. (Mathewu 26:59) Behluleka ukuthola ubufakazi obubili obuvumelanayo futhi-ke kwakungewona umthwalo wenkantolo ukufuna ofakazi. Ummeli nombhali u-A. Taylor Innes uthi “ukuqulisa umuntu icala, ikakhulu elingase lisho isigwebo sokufa, engatshelwanga kusengaphambili ukuthi yiliphi icala abekwa lona kuyinto embi kakhulu.”

Iviyo elabopha uJesu lamthatha lamyisa emzini ka-Anase owayeke waba uMpristi Ophakeme futhi waqala ukumphenya. (Luka 22:54; Johane 18:12, 13) Izenzo zika-Anase zephula umthetho othi amacala asho isigwebo sokufa kufanele aqulwe emini, hhayi ebusuku. Ngaphezu kwalokho, umuntu kwakufanele aphenywe phambi kwaso sonke isigungu senkantolo, hhayi ngasese. Ekubona kahle lokhu kwephulwa komthetho okwakwenziwa u-Anase lapho emphenya, uJesu waphendula: “Kungani ubuza mina? Buza labo abakuzwile lokho engikukhulumé kubo. Bheka! Laba bayakwazi lokho engikushilo.” (Johane 18:21) U-Anase kwakufanele aphenye ofakazi, hhayi ummangalelwa. Amazwi kaJesu ayengase enze umahluleli othembekile ahloniphe umthetho, kodwa u-Anase wayengenandaba nobulungisa.

Ngamazwi akhe, uJesu wayinyathela emsileni ngoba isikhonzi samshaya ngempama. Lokho kwaba yisiqalo sokuhlukunyezwa okuningi abhekana nakho ngalobo busuku. (Luka 22:63; Johane 18:22) Umthetho olotshwe encwadini yeBhayibheli kaNumeri isahluko 35 okhuluma ngemizi yesiphephelo uthi ummangalelwa kwakufanele avikelwe ekuhlukunyezweni kuze kube yilapho etholakala enecala. UJesu kwakufanele athole ukuvikelwa okunjalo.

Amadoda ayebophe uJesu amyisa emzini woMpristi Ophakeme uKayafase, lapho kwaqhubeka khona ukuqulwa kwecala okungemthetho ebusuku. (Luka 22:54; Johane 18:24) Lapho, abapristi bayephula yonke imithetho yobulungisa ngokufuna “ubufakazi obungamanga ngoJesu ukuze bambulale.” Nokho, behluleka ukuthola ubufakazi obubili obuvumelanayo ngokuqondene nalokho okwakushiwo uJesu. (Mathewu 26:59; Marku 14:56-59) Ngakho, umpristi ophakeme wazama ukuphamba uJesu ngokumbuza, “Awuphenduli ngalutho na? Kuyini lokhu abakufakaza ngawe?” (Marku 14:60) Leli qhinga lalingafaneleki nhlobo. U-Innes, ocashunwe ngaphambili, uthi: “Ukuhloma ummangalelwa ngemibuzo bese umlahla ngecala ngalokho akushoyo kwakuwukwephulwa komthetho wobulungisa.”

Isigungu esasithetha icala sagcina sibambelele kulokho uJesu akusho. Sambuza: “Ingabe unguKristu iNdodana yoTusekayo?” UJesu waphendula: “Nginguye; futhi nina bantu nizobona iNdodana yomuntu ihlezi ngakwesokunene samandla iza namafu ezulu.” Abapristi bathi lawo mazwi akhe awukuhlambalaza, futhi “bonke bamlahla ngecala bethi ufanelwe ukufa.”—Marku 14:61-64.b

Ngokusho koMthetho KaMose, amacala kwakufanele aqulwe obala. (Duteronomi 16:18; Ruthe 4:1) Kodwa leli laqulwa ekusithekeni. Akekho owazama ukukhulumela uJesu noma owavunyelwa ukuba enze kanjalo. Alukho uphenyo olwenziwa mayelana nokuthi wayeqinisile yini uma ethi unguMesiya. UJesu akazange anikwe ithuba lokubiza ofakazi ababengammela. Akuzange kube khona ukuvota okuhlelekile kwabahluleli ukuze kuvele ukuthi unecala noma cha.

Lapho Evela Phambi KukaPilatu

Njengoba kusobala ukuthi amaJuda ayengenalo igunya lokubulala uJesu, amyisa kuPilatu, umbusi waseRoma. Umbuzo wokuqala kaPilatu wawuthi: “Yiliphi icala enililethayo ngalo muntu?” AmaJuda ayazi ukuthi icala lokuhlambalaza lalingenasisindo kuPilatu, ngakho azama ukwenza uPilatu ukuba amlahle ngecala kungenziwanga uphenyo. Athi: “Uma lo muntu ebengeyena umenzi wokubi, ngabe asimnikelanga kuwe.” (Johane 18:29, 30) UPilatu wakuchitha lokho kumangalela, waphoqa amaJuda ukuba afake esinye isimangalo: “Lo muntu simtholé ephambukisa isizwe sakithi futhi enqabela ukukhokhwa kwezintela kuKhesari ethi yena ngokwakhe unguKristu inkosi.” (Luka 23:2) AmaJuda ajika izinto, ayeka ukummangalela ngokuhlambalaza, athi uvukela umbuso.

Amacala abekwa wona okuthi ‘wenqabela ukukhokhwa kwezintela’ ayengamanga aluhlaza cwé, futhi amaJuda ayekwazi lokho. UJesu wayefundise okuhlukile. (Mathewu 22:15-22) Mayelana nokuthi uzenza inkosi, kwasheshe kwamcacela uPilatu ukuthi indoda eyayimi phambi kwakhe yayingelona neze usongo embusweni waseRoma. Ngakho wathi: “Angitholi phutha kuye.” (Johane 18:38) Wama kulelo phakathi nayo yonke inkathi yokuqulwa kwecala.

UPilatu waqale wazama ukukhulula uJesu ngokusebenzisa inqubo yokukhululwa kwesiboshwa ngePhasika. Kodwa wagcina ekhulule uBharaba owayenecala lokuvukela umbuso nokubulala.—Luka 23:18, 19; Johane 18:39, 40.

Ngokulandelayo, umbusi waseRoma wenza into ayengayithandisisi ngempela. Wayala ukuba uJesu abhaxabulwe, agqokiswe izingubo ezibubende futhi athweswe umqhele wameva. Washaywa futhi wagconwa. Nakulokhu uPilatu wamemezela ukuthi umthola engenacala. Kunjengokungathi wayethi: ‘Ngiyethemba senikutholile ebenikufuna.’ Mhlawumbe wayenethemba lokuthi uma amaJuda ebona le ndoda igcwele igazi ngenxa yokubhaxabulwa amaRoma laliyobohla iqunga noma athinteke izinhliziyo. (Luka 23:22) Kodwa lokho kwafana nokuthela amanzi emhlane wedada.

“UPilatu wayelokhu efuna indlela yokumkhulula [uJesu]. Kodwa amaJuda amemeza, athi: ‘Uma umkhulula lo muntu, awuyena umngane kaKhesari. Wonke umuntu ozenza inkosi ukhuluma ngokumelene noKhesari.’” (Johane 19:12) UKhesari wangaleso sikhathi kwakunguTibheriyu, umbusi owayedume ngokubulala noma ubani ambheka njengongathembekile—ngisho nezikhulu ezinezikhundla eziphezulu. UPilatu wayesevele ewacasulile amaJuda, ngakho wazama ukugwema ukuzondwa, ingasaphathwa eyokusolwa ngokungathembeki. Eqinisweni, amazwi esixuku ayehloselwe ukumethusa nokumsongela futhi asebenza ngoba wangenwa itwetwe. Wagoba uphondo wanikela ngoJesu, indoda engenacala, wathi makabethelwe.—Johane 19:16.

Ukubukezwa Kobufakazi

Abahlaziyi bezomthetho abaningi baye bacubungula ukulandisa kwamaVangeli okukhuluma ngokuqulwa kwecala likaJesu. Baye bafika esiphethweni sokuthi kwakuntula ubulungisa. Omunye ummeli wabhala: “Ukuqulwa kwecala phakathi kwamabili kuze kuse, ngemva kwalokho kukhishwe isigwebo, kwayephula ngokuphelele yonke imithetho yesimiso samaHebheru kuhlanganise nezimiso zobulungisa.” Uprofesa womthetho uthi: “Yonke inqubo yokuqulwa kwaleli cala yayingekho emthethweni futhi laqulwa ngendlela engavamile kangangokuthi amalungu enkantolo angabhekwa njengababulali.”

UJesu wayengenacala, kodwa wayazi ukuthi kwakudingeka afe ukuze kusindiswe abantu abalalelayo. (Mathewu 20:28) Uthando lwakhe ngobulungisa lwalulukhulu kangangokuba wavuma ukuba ahlulelwe ngendlela engenabulungisa kunazo zonke. Lokho wakwenzela thina zoni. Akufanele neze sikukhohlwe lokho.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 20]

Imithetho YamaJuda Emakhulwini Okuqala Eminyaka

Imithetho yamaJuda eyadluliselwa ngomlomo futhi yabhalwa phansi emakhulwini okuqala eminyaka C.E., kodwa okukholakala ukuthi midala nakakhulu, yayihlanganisa le mithetho elandelayo:

▪ Ngokuqondene namacala asho isigwebo sokufa, kwakufanele kuqale kuvezwe izizathu zokuba lingamlahli icala ummangalelwa

▪ Abahluleli kwakufanele bazame ngawo wonke amandla ukusindisa ummangalelwa

▪ Abahluleli babengase bamlwele ummangalelwa, kodwa bangamelani naye

▪ Ofakazi babexwayiswa ngokuba bucayi kwendima yabo

▪ Ofakazi babephenywa ngemibuzo bengabodwa, hhayi phambi kwabanye ofakazi

▪ Yonke imininingwane yobufakazi kwakufanele ivumelane—usuku, indawo, isikhathi sesenzakalo njalo njalo

▪ Amacala asho isigwebo sokufa kwakufanele aqulwe futhi aphothulwe emini

▪ Amacala asho isigwebo sokufa kwakungafanele athethwe ngobusuku obandulela iSabatha noma umkhosi

▪ Icala elisho isigwebo sokufa lalingaqala futhi liphothulwe ngosuku olulodwa uma ummangalelwa evunwa yicala; uma limlahla lalingase liphothulwe ngosuku olulandelayo bese kukhishwa isigwebo

▪ Amacala asho isigwebo sokufa ayequlwa okungenani ngabahluleli abangu-23

▪ Abahluleli babededelana lapho bevota, basho ukuthi bathola ummangalelwa engenacala noma bamthola efanelwe isigwebo futhi kwakuqala umahluleli omncane kunabo bonke kuye phezulu; ababhali babebhala amazwi abahluleli abathola ummangalelwa engenacala namazwi alabo abathi makagwetshwe

▪ Ummangalelwa wayengase atholakale engenacala uma isibalo salabo abamthola engenacala seqa ngomuntu oyedwa, kodwa wayengase alahlwe yicala uma isibalo salabo abathi liyamlahla seqa ngabantu ababili; uma isibalo salabo abamthola enecala seqa ngomuntu oyedwa, kwakunezelwa abahluleli ababili kuze kube yilapho kufinyelelwa esinqumweni esifanele

▪ Lapho ummangalelwa etholakala enecala kungekho okungenani umahluleli oyedwa oye wamlwela, leso sinqumo sasibhekwa njengesingasebenzi; ukuvumelana kwabahluleli ngazwi linye ngokuthi ummangalelwa unecala kwakubhekwa “njengophawu lokuthi uboshelwe amanqina enyathi”

Imithetho Engazange Ilandelwe Ecaleni LikaJesu

▪ UJesu akazange anikwe ithuba lokuzikhulumela futhi abazange babe khona ofakazi ababengammela

▪ Akekho noyedwa umahluleli owazama ukulwela uJesu; bonke babeyizitha zakhe

▪ Abapristi bafuna ofakazi bamanga ukuze uJesu abulawe

▪ Icala laqulwa ebusuku ekusithekeni

▪ Icala laqalwa futhi laphothulwa ngosuku olufanayo, ngobusuku bangaphambi komkhosi

▪ UJesu akazange abekwe icala kuqala, wamane waboshwa

▪ Ukuzibiza kukaJesu ngoMesiya kwabhekwa ‘njengokuhlambalaza’ kodwa akuzange kuphenywe

▪ Lelo cala lashintshwa lapho uJesu esephambi kukaPilatu

▪ Amacala ayebekwe wona ayengamanga

▪ UPilatu wathola uJesu engenacala, kodwa wayala ukuba abulawe

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 22]

Ofakazi Babengase Babe Necala Legazi

Izinkantolo zamaJuda zazinika ofakazi lesi sixwayiso ngaphambi kokuba banikeze ubufakazi. Lesi sixwayiso sasibakhumbuza ngokubaluleka kokuphila emacaleni asho isigwebo sokufa:

“Kungenzeka ukuthi nifuna ukunikeza ubufakazi obusekelwe entweni eniyicabangelayo, endabeni eyinzwabethi noma eniyizwe ngomunye ufakazi, noma kungenzeka ukuthi nizitshela ukuthi, ‘Lokhu sikuzwe kumuntu othembekile.’ Noma, kungenzeka ukuthi anazi ukuthi ekugcineni sizonihloma imibuzo ukuze sithole iqiniso lendaba. Kufanele nazi ukuthi imithetho yokuqulwa kwamacala aphathelene nempahla ayifani nemithetho yokuqulwa kwamacala asho isigwebo sokufa. Ngokuqondene necala elihlobene nempahla, ummangalelwa ukhokha imali, athole ushwele. Ecaleni elisho isigwebo sokufa, igazi [likammangalelwa] kanye negazi labo bonke abantwana ababeyozalwa yilowo [olahlwa yicala kungafanele] libizwa kulowo [onikeza ubufakazi obungamanga] kuze kube phakade.”—Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin, 37a.

Uma ummangalelwa elahlwa yicala, ofakazi kwakufanele bakhiphe isahlulelo.—Levitikusi 24:14; Duteronomi 17:6, 7.