UJohane Umbhabhathizi Ulungisa Indlela

Khathesi sekuyintwasa ka-29 C.E. njalo sekudlule iminyaka engaba ngu-17 kusukela ngesikhathi uJesu ebuza abafundisi imibuzo ethempelini. Indaba esegudwini ngemayelana loJohane isihlobo sikaJesu. Utshumayela kuwo wonke umango osentshonalanga koMfula uJodani.

UJohane uyingcitshi ekukhulumeni njalo indlela abukeka ngayo iyamangalisa. Izembatho zakhe zenziwe ngoboya bekamela njalo ubophe ibhanti lesikhumba ekhalweni lwakhe. Ukudla kwakhe zintethe kanye loluju lweganga. Utshumayela esithi: “Phendukani, ngoba uMbuso wamazulu ususondele.”​—UMathewu 3:2.

Abantu bayakholisa ukuzolalela uJohane etshumayela. Abanengi bananzelela ukuthi kumele baphenduke okutsho ukuthi kumele bantshintshe imibono yabo lendlela abaphila ngayo. Kubuya abantu ‘baseJerusalema lalabo abavela kuyo yonke iJudiya lasemangweni wonke oseduze loMfula uJodani.’ (UMathewu 3:5) Abanengi babo bayaphenduka njalo uJohane uyababhabhathiza ebacwilisa eMfuleni uJodani. Kungani esenza njalo?

Ubhabhathiza abantu ukuze batshengise ukuthi sebephendukile ezonweni zabo zokwephula isivumelwano soMthetho sikaNkulunkulu. (ImiSebenzi 19:4) Kodwa kayisibo bonke ababhabhathizwayo. Abanye abakhokheli benkolo abangabaFarisi labaSadusi bathi befika kuye ababize ngokuthi ‘bayinzalo yamabululu.’ Uthi kubo: “Qalani lithele izithelo ezitshengisa ukuthi seliphendukile. Lingaziyengi lisithi, ‘Ubaba wethu ngu-Abrahama,’ ngoba ngilitshela ukuthi uNkulunkulu angavezela u-Abrahama abantwana ematsheni la. Ihloka selibekwe empandeni zesihlahla. Ngakho loba yisiphi isihlahla esingatheli izithelo ezinhle siyaganyulwa siphoselwe emlilweni.”​—UMathewu 3:7-10.

UJohane ulandwa ngabantu abanengi futhi utshumayela izinto ezithophela ezinhliziyweni zabantu njalo ubhabhathiza abanengi. Yikho abaphristi labaLevi bathunywa ukuthi bambuze ukuthi: “Wena ungubani?”

UJohane uphendula athi: “Kangisuye Khristu mina.”

Besebembuza bathi: “Manje okuyikho yikuphi? Ungu-Elija yini?”

Uyaphendula athi: “Hatshi.”

Baphinde bambuze bathi: “UngumPhrofethi?” besitsho umPhrofethi omkhulu lowo uMosi ayethe uzakuba khona.​—UDutheronomi 18:15, 18.

UJohane uphendula athi: “Hatshi!”

Bayaphikelela bathi: “Ungubani? Sitshele ukuze siyephendula abasithumileyo. Wena uzithi ungubani?” Yena uphendula athi: “Ngililizwi lalowo omemeza esenkangala esithi, ‘Yenzani indlela kaJehova iqonde,’ njengoba umphrofethi u-Isaya watsho.”​—UJohane 1:19-23.

Baqhubeka bembuza besithi: “Manje ubhabhathizelani wena ungayisuye uKhristu kumbe u-Elija njalo ungasimPhrofethi?” UJohane uyaphendula athi: “Mina ngibhabhathiza ngamanzi. Ukhona omi phakathi kwenu elingamaziyo, lowo ozayo ngemva kwami.”​—UJohane 1:25-27.

UJohane uyakwazi ukuthi nguye olungisa indlela ngokunceda abantu ukuthi balungiselele izinhliziyo zabo ukuze bamukele uMesiya owathenjiswayo ozakuba yiNkosi. UJohane uthi nxa ekhuluma ngaye athi: “Lowo ozayo ngemva kwami ulamandla kulami, njalo kakungifanelanga ukukhipha amanyathela akhe.” (UMathewu 3:11) Uqhubeka esithi: “Lowo oza ngemva kwami usedlule waya phambi kwami ngoba yena wayekhona ngingakabi khona.”​—UJohane 1:15.

Ngakho kufanele sibili ukuthi uJohane atshumayele esithi: “Phendukani, ngoba uMbuso wamazulu ususondele.” (UMathewu 3:2) Ukutshumayela kwakhe kuvula abantu amehlo ukuze babone ukuthi inkonzo yeNkosi ezayo uJesu Khristu isizaqalisa.