Umbingeleli Omkhulu Owagweba UYesu

NGONOVEMBA 1990, amadoda awayesebenza kwipaki nakwindlela ekumgama ongaphantsi kwekhilomitha ukusuka kwiSixeko Esidala saseYerusalem, afumana into ebangel’ umdla ngokwenene. Ngengozi itrekta yadiliza uphahla lwengcwaba lamandulo elingumqolomba. Loo mmandla wawukade uyindawo yamangcwaba ukususela kwinkulungwane yokuqala ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo ukusa kwinkulungwane yokuqala yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo. Kubangel’ umdla oko abembi bezinto zakudala bakufumanayo kuloo mqolomba.

Kuloo mqolomba kwakukho iibhokisi ezili-12 ezazinamathambo abantu abafileyo, kuba ngaloo maxesha emva kwesithuba sonyaka umntu engcwatyiwe, amathambo akhe ayefakwa ebhokisini. Kwenye yezoo bhokisi, kwakukrolwe ngokucacileyo igama elithi Yehosef bar Caiapha (uYosefu unyana kaKayafa).

Ubungqina bubonisa ukuba kunokwenzeka ukuba eli lingcwaba lombingeleli omkhulu owayechophele elona tyala libalulekileyo enkundleni yamatyala—elokumangalelwa kukaYesu Kristu. Umbhali-mbali ongumYuda uJosephus umchaza lo mbingeleli omkhulu ngokuthi “nguYosefu, owayebizwa ngokuba nguKayafa.” EZibhalweni ubizwa nje kuphela ngokuba nguKayafa. Kutheni sifanele sibe nomdla kuye? Yintoni eyamshukumisela ekubeni agwebe uYesu?

Intsapho Nemvelaphi Yakhe

UKayafa watshata intombi ka-Anas, naye owayengumbingeleli omkhulu. (Yohane 18:13) Kumele ukuba kwaqengqeleka iminyaka bethandana ngaphambi kokutshata kwabo, ukuze ezo ntsapho zibe nethuba lokwazana ngakumbi njengoko zaziza kwakha ubuhlobo. Oko kwavula ithuba lokuba enye intsapho iphande ngomnombo wenye ukuze ziqiniseke ukuba akuyi kubakho kuphazamiseka kumnombo wazo wobubingeleli. Kubonakala ukuba zombini ezi ntsapho zazityebile yaye zikumgangatho ophezulu, njengoko zazinemihlaba emikhulu eYerusalem. Ngokungathandabuzekiyo uAnas wayefuna ukuqinisekisa ukuba umkhwenyana wakhe wayenako kusini na ukuthenjwa ngokuphathelele imicimbi yezobupolitika. Kubonakala ukuba bobabini uAnas noKayafa babengabehlelo labaSadusi elalinempembelelo enamandla.—IZenzo 5:17.

Njengoko wayelilungu lentsapho edumileyo yababingeleli, uKayafa umele ukuba wafumana imfundo ephathelele iZibhalo zesiHebhere nenkcazelo yazo. Umele ukuba waqala ukukhonza etempileni xa wayeneminyaka engama-20 ubudala, kodwa akwaziwa ukuba waqala nini ukukhonza njengombingeleli omkhulu.

Ababingeleli Abakhulu Nababingeleli Abaziintloko

Ngaphambili umbingeleli omkhulu wayesizuza njengelifa eso sikhundla, yaye wayehlala kuso ubomi bakhe bonke. Kodwa ngenkulungwane yesibini ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, isizwe samaHasmonaea sazithathela ngetshova isikhundla sokukhonza njengababingeleli abakhulu.a Umlawuli owamiselwayo kamva, uHerode Omkhulu, wayebamisela aze abasuse ngokwakhe esikhundleni ababingeleli abakhulu, nto leyo ebonisa ukuba babephantsi kwegunya lakhe. Nabanye abalawuli baseRoma ababelawula amaYuda balandela ikhondo elifanayo.

Ezi nguqu zabangela ukuba kuvele iqela elitsha elichazwa eZibhalweni ngokuba ‘ngababingeleli abaziintloko.’ (Mateyu 26:3, 4) Ngaphandle kukaKayafa, kweli qela kwakukho noAnas, owayekade engumbingeleli omkhulu waza wasuswa kweso sikhundla, kodwa waqhubeka ebizwa njengombingeleli omkhulu. Elo qela lalikwaquka neentsapho ezisondeleyo zababingeleli abakhulu.

AmaRoma ayezivumela iziphatha-mandla zakwaYuda, kuquka ababingeleli abaziintloko, ukuba bongamele imicimbi yolawulo yemihla ngemihla kwilizwe labo. Oku kwenza kwaba lula ngorhulumente waseRoma ukongamela elo lizwe aze afumane nerhafu yalo ngaphandle kokuthumela amajoni amaninzi apho. Urhulumente waseRoma wayelindele ukuba iziphatha-mandla zamaYuda ziqiniseke ukuba kuhlala kukho ucwangco yaye nemithetho yakhe iyathotyelwa kwelo lizwe. Abalawuli baseRoma babengazithandi iinkokeli zakwaYuda, yaye nazo zaziyithiyile into yokulawulwa ngamaRoma. Kodwa omabini la maqela ayemele asebenzisane ukuze kungabikho zidubedube.

Ngexesha likaKayafa, umbingeleli omkhulu wayekwamiselwa njengenkokeli yamaYuda yezobupolitika. UAnas wamiselwa ngowe-6 okanye ngowe-7 C.E njengenkokeli, emiselwa nguQuirinius ongumRoma, owayelawula amaSiriya. Imbali ibonisa ukuba ezi nkokeli zamaYuda zaziphenjelelwa kukubawa, umkhethe, ingcinezelo nogonyamelo. Omnye umbhali uthi kunokwenzeka ukuba umbingeleli omkhulu uAnas wenza iinzame zokuba umkhwenyana wakhe “akhawuleze anyuselwe kwesona sikhundla siphakamileyo etempileni; ngaloo ndlela uKayafa wayeza kuba luncedo ngakumbi kuAnas.”

UValerius Gratus owayelawula kwaYuda, wamsusa esikhundleni sakhe uAnas malunga nowe-15 C.E. Emva koko kwamiselwa ababingeleli abathathu, abalawula ithuba elifutshane omnye emva komnye, yaye omnye wabo wayengunyana ka-Anas. Kwathi malunga nowe-18 C.E. kwamiselwa uKayafa njengombingeleli omkhulu. UPontiyo Pilato, owamiselwa njengomlawuli wakwaYuda ngowama-26 C.E., wamyeka waqhubeka njengombingeleli omkhulu ebudeni bayo yonke iminyaka elishumi yokulawula kwakhe. NguKayafa owayengumbingeleli omkhulu ebudeni bexesha likaYesu nasekuqaleni kobulungiseleli babafundi bakhe. Kodwa uKayafa wayesithiy’ egazini isigidimi samaKristu.

Wayesoyika UYesu, Esoyika NamaRoma

UKayafa wayemgqala uYesu njengomdali woqhushululu oyingozi. UYesu wayigxeka indlela iziphatha-mandla ezaziyitolika ngayo imithetho yeSabatha, waza wabagxotha etempileni abarhwebi nabo babenanisa ngemali, esithi bayenze “umqolomba wabaphangi.” (Luka 19:45, 46) Abanye ababhali-mbali bakholelwa ukuba olo rhwebo lwasetempileni lwalusonganyelwa nguAnas—nto leyo ekunokwenzeka ukuba sesinye sezizathu zokuba uKayafa azame ukumval’ umlomo uYesu. Xa ababingeleli abaziintloko bathumela amagosa ukuya kubamba uYesu, amangaliswa gqitha koko wayekuthetha kangangokuba amyeka aza abuya ngaphandle kwakhe.—Yohane 2:13-17; 5:1-16; 7:14-49.

Phawula oko kwenzekayo xa iziphatha-mandla zamaYuda zevayo ngokuvusa kukaYesu uLazaro. Incwadi yeVangeli kaYohane ichaza ithi: “Ababingeleli abaziintloko nabaFarisi bahlanganisela ndawonye iSanhedrin baza bathi: ‘Yintoni na emasiyenze, ngenxa yokuba lo mntu wenza imiqondiso emininzi? Ukuba siyamyeka ngale ndlela, bonke baya kukholwa kuye, aze amaRoma eze ayithabathe indawo yethu nohlanga lwethu.’” (Yohane 11:47, 48) Amalungu eSanhedrin ayemgqala uYesu njengesisongelo kwigunya lawo lonqulo nanjengomdali woqhushululu ekuhlaleni, nto leyo eyayiza kuwazisela igama elibi kuPilato. Naluphi na uqhushululu oluvelayo lwalunokuwenza amaRoma afune ukugxuphuleka kwimicimbi yamaYuda—nto leyo iSanhedrin eyayingafuni tu kwaphela ukuba yenzeke.

Nangona uKayafa wayengenakuyikhanyela into yokuba uYesu wayesenza imisebenzi yamandla, kodwa akazange akholwe kuye, kunoko walwela ukuba alondoloze isikhundla sakhe negunya lakhe. Wayenokuyivuma njani into yokuvuswa kukaLazaro? Kaloku uKayafa wayengumSadusi, ngoko wayengakholelwa eluvukweni!—IZenzo 23:8.

Ubungendawo bukaKayafa babhenceka xa wathi kwabo wayelawula nabo: “Aniqiqi ukuba kokwengenelo yenu ukuba kufe umntu omnye ngenxa yabantu nokuba kungatshatyalaliswa uhlanga luphela.” Ingxelo iqhubeka isithi: “Oku, ngoko, akakutshongo ngokuphuma kuye; kodwa ngenxa yokuba wayengumbingeleli omkhulu ngaloo nyaka, waprofeta ukuba uYesu wayemiselwe ukuba afele uhlanga, yaye kungekhona nje uhlanga kuphela, kodwa kwanokuze abahlanganisele ndawonye abantwana bakaThixo abachithachithekileyo babe banye. Kwaye ukususela ngaloo mini baceba ukumbulala [uYesu].”—Yohane 11:49-53.

UKayafa wayengakuqondi ukubaluleka kwamazwi akhe. Njengoko wayekhonza njengombingeleli omkhulu, wayeprofeta ngaloo mazwi.b Ukufa kukaYesu kwakuza kuba yingenelo—kungekuphela nje kumaYuda. Idini lakhe lentlawulelo laliza kukhulula lonke uluntu ebukhobokeni besono nokufa.

Iyelenqe Lokubulala

Ababingeleli abaziintloko bamaYuda namadoda amakhulu ahlanganisana ekhayeni likaKayafa ukuze abhungisane ngendlela anokumbamba aze ambulale ngayo uYesu. Kunokwenzeka ukuba umbingeleli omkhulu wancedisana noYudas Skariyoti ekumiselweni kwexabiso lokungcatsha uYesu. (Mateyu 26:3, 4, 14, 15) Kodwa ukubulawa komntu omnye kwakunganelanga ukuze kufezekiswe injongo embi kaKayafa. ‘Ababingeleli abaziintloko baceba ukubulala kwanoLazaro, kuba ngenxa yakhe abaninzi kumaYuda babekholwa kuYesu.’—Yohane 12:10, 11.

UMalko olikhoboka likaKayafa, wayephakathi kwehlokondiba elalithunywe ukuya kubamba uYesu. Bakuba bembambile bamsa kuAnas ukuze amncine, baza emva koko bamsa kuKayafa, owayesele egqibe namadoda amakhulu akwaYuda ukuba baphule umthetho ngokuthi balixoxe ngobusuku ityala lakhe.—Mateyu 26:57; Yohane 18:10, 13, 19-24.

UKayafa akazange anikezele xa amangqina obuxoki asilelayo ukunikela ubungqina nxamnye noYesu. Lo mbingeleli omkhulu wayeyazi imbono yamahlakani akhe ngokuphathelele nabani na owayezenza uMesiya. Ngoko wafuna ukwazi ukuba uYesu wayezibiza njengoMesiya kusini na. UYesu waphendula ngokuthi abo bammangalelayo babeza kumbona “ehleli ngakwisandla sasekunene samandla, esiza ngamafu ezulu.” Ezenza ilungisa, “umbingeleli omkhulu wakrazula izambatho zakhe zangaphezulu, esithi: ‘Unyelisile! Sisawafunelani na amangqina?’” ISanhedrin yavuma ukuba uYesu wayefanelwe kukufa.—Mateyu 26:64-66.

Imvume yokubulala umntu yayimele ifunyanwe kumaRoma. Ekubeni yayinguKayafa owayengummeli phakathi kwamaYuda namaRoma, imele ukuba nguye owadlulisela eli tyala kuPilato. Xa uPilato wayefuna ukumkhulula uYesu, uKayafa umele ukuba wayephakathi kwababingeleli abaziintloko abakhwaza besithi: “Mbethelele! Mbethelele!” (Yohane 19:4-6) Kunokwenzeka ukuba ikwanguye uKayafa nowabongoza izihlwele ukuba zicele ukuba kukhululwe umbulali endaweni kaYesu, yaye umele ukuba wayephakathi kwababingeleli abaziintloko abakhwaza behanahanisa bathi: “Asinakumkani ngaphandle kukaKesare.”—Yohane 19:15; Marko 15:7-11.

UKayafa wabugatya ubungqina bokuvuswa kukaYesu. Wamchasa uPetros noYohane kwanoStefano. Yaye ikwanguKayafa nowagunyazisa uSawule ukuba avalele nawaphi na amaKristu awafumanayo eDamasko. (Mateyu 28:11-13; IZenzo 4:1-17; 6:8–7:60; 9:1, 2) Kwathi ngowama-36 C.E., uKayafa wakhiqwa esihlalweni sakhe nguVitellius waseRoma, owayelawula iSiriya.

Imibhalo yamaYuda ithetha kakubi ngentsapho kaKayafa. Ngokomzekelo, iTalmud yaseBhabhiloni ikhalaza isithi: “Yeha ke mna ngenxa yentsapho kaHanin [uAnas], yeha ke mna obe lixhoba lentlebendwane,” okanye “izinyeliso zayo.” Kucingelwa ukuba esi sikhalazo sibhekisela “kwiyelenqe langasese lokucinezela abanye.”

Oko Sikufundayo Kwimbali KaKayafa

Omnye umphengululi wabachaza ababingeleli abakhulu njengabantu “abangqongqo, noomaqhingashe abanobuqili—nekunokwenzeka ukuba babenekratshi.” Likratshi elathintela uKayafa ukuba angamamkeli uMesiya. Ngoko asimele simangaliswe xa abantu namhlanje besigatya isigidimi seBhayibhile. Abanye abanamdla kangako kwinyaniso yeZibhalo ngokokude balahle iinkolelo abazithandayo. Bambi basenokuvakalelwa kukuba ukushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo kuya kubathob’ isidima. Yaye abo banganyanisekanga nabanyolukileyo basenokuyigatya imilinganiselo yamaKristu.

Ekubeni wayengumbingeleli omkhulu, uKayafa ngewayewancedile amaYuda ukuba amamkele uMesiya, kodwa ukunyolukela kwakhe igunya kwamenza wamgatya uYesu. Kunokwenzeka ukuba uKayafa waqhubeka efukame loo nzondo de waya kungen’ engcwabeni. Le ngxelo yakhe isifundisa ukuba asingomathambo nje kuphela asalayo emva kokuba sifile. Kodwa imisebenzi yethu iqhubeka iphila phambi kukaThixo, enoba mibi okanye mihle.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 10]

UYosefu unyana kaKayafa

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 10]

Ibhokisi efunyenwe kutshanje enamathambo abantu abafileyo

[Inkcazelo Ngemifanekiso ekwiphepha 10]

Ossuary, inscription, and cave in background: Courtesy of Israel Antiquities Authority