Xelisa Ukholo Lwabo
Wafunda Ukuxolela Enkosini Yakhe
UPetros wayengasoze ayilibale into eyenzekayo xa uYesu wamjonga ntsho emehlweni. Ngaba indlela awamjonga ngayo uYesu yayibonisa ukuba wayephoxekile? Asinakuqiniseka kuba iBhayibhile ayisixeleli zinkcukacha, kuphela ithi “iNkosi yajika yajonga kuPetros.” (Luka 22:61) Kodwa ke loo nto yenza uPetros wabona ukuba wayonile. Wayeqonda ukuba wayekhanyele iNkosi yakhe—nto leyo uYesu wayemlumkisile ngayo, nangona uPetros wayemqinisekisile ukuba wayengasoze ayenze. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba eli yayilelona xesha lakhe lanzima kubomi bukaPetros.
Kodwa ke, esi yayingesosiphelo sobomi bakhe. Ngenxa yokuba uPetros wayeyindoda enokholo, wayesenalo ithuba lokuzilungisa iimpazamo zakhe aze afunde esinye sezona zifundo zibalulekileyo awayenokuzifunda kuYesu. Eso sifundo kukuxolela. Ngamnye wethu kufuneka afunde isifundo esifanayo, ngoko makhe sibone indlela awasifunda ngayo esi sifundo uPetros.
Indoda Ekwakufuneka Ifunde Izinto Ezininzi
Malunga neenyanga ezintandathu ngaphambili xa babeseKapernahum idolophu yakowabo, uPetros wabuza uYesu esithi: “Nkosi, zingaphi izihlandlo umzalwana wam amele andone ngazo ndize ndimxolele? Ukusa kwizihlandlo ezisixhenxe na?” Mhlawumbi uPetros wayecinga ukuba wayenenceba. Ngapha koko abefundisi belo xesha babefundisa ukuba umntu wayefanele axolelwe izihlandlo ezithathu kuphela. Kodwa uYesu waphendula wathi: “Kungekhona, Ukusa kwizihlandlo ezisixhenxe, kodwa, Ukusa kwizihlandlo ezingamashumi asixhenxe anesixhenxe.”—Mateyu 18:21, 22.
Ngaba uYesu wayesithi kuPetros makabhale encwadini qho esoniwa? Wayengathethi loo nto, kunoko ukuxelela kukaYesu uPetros ukuba wayefanele axolele kungekhona izihlandlo ezisixhenxe kodwa ezingama-77 kwakubonisa ukuba ukuxolela akunamda. UYesu wabonisa uPetros ukuba wayephenjelelwe ngumoya wokuba nesixhiba nokungaxoleli owawugquba ngelo xesha. Noko ke ukuxolela okukhuthazwa nguThixo kunenceba.
UPetros akazange amphikise uYesu. Kodwa ngaba wafunda bethu? Ngamanye amaxesha sifunda lukhulu ngokuxolela xa sibona indlela esikudinga ngayo nathi. Ngoko makhe sithethe ngezinto ezenzeka ngaphambi kokufa kukaYesu. Kwezo yure zobunzima, iNkosi kwafuneka imxolele kaninzi uPetros.
Izizathu Ezingakumbi Zokuxolela
Yayibubusuku obuxakekileyo—obokugqibela uYesu engumntu. UYesu wayenezinto ezininzi awayefuna ukuzifundisa abapostile bakhe, njengokuthobeka. Wabamisela umzekelo ngokubahlamba iinyawo abafundi bakhe, esenza umsebenzi owawudla ngokwenziwa sesona sicaka siphantsi. Ekuqaleni uPetros waqala wayithandabuza le nto yayisenziwa nguYesu waza akavuma ukuba amhlambe iinyawo. Kamva wathi uYesu makangamhlambi iinyawo nje kuphela kodwa amhlambe nezandla nentloko. UYesu akazange acatshukiswe yile nto kodwa wamchazela isizathu nokubaluleka kokubahlamba kwakhe iinyawo.—Yohane 13:1-17.
Kodwa ke kungekudala emva koko abapostile baxambulisana ngokuba ngubani oyena mkhulu. Sinokuqiniseka ukuba uPetros wayekho naye koko kuxambulisana okwakuqhutywa likratshi. Nakuba kunjalo, uYesu wabaluleka ngembeko wada wabancoma ngezinto ezintle ababezenzile njengokunamathela kwiNkosi yabo. Noko ke, wabaxelela kwangaphambili ukuba babeza kumshiya. UPetros wamphikisa esithi wayexolele ukufa kunokuba amshiye. Kodwa ke, uYesu waprofeta wathi yayiza kuthi ingekakhali kabini inkuku abe sele emkhanyele izihlandlo ezithathu. UPetros akazange aphelele nje ekumphikiseni uYesu kodwa waphinda waqhayisa esithi yena wayeza kuthembeka ngaphezu kwabanye abapostile.—Mateyu 26:31-35; Marko 14:27-31; Luka 22:24-28.
Ngaba uYesu waphelelwa ngumonde ngoPetros? Akunjalo, kunoko nangona kwakunzima waqhubeka ekhangela izinto ezintle kwabo bapostile bakhe bangafezekanga. Wayesazi ukuba uPetros wayeza kumphoxa kodwa wathi kuye: “Ndiye ndenza isikhungo ngenxa yakho ukuze ungatyhafi elukholweni; yaye nawe, wakubuya, bomeleze abazalwana bakho.” (Luka 22:32) UYesu waba nentembelo yokuba uPetros uza kuphinda omelele elukholweni aze aqhubeke nenkonzo yakhe. Wamisela umzekelo omhle wokuxolela.
Kamva kumyezo waseGetsemane, uPetros kwafuneka alulekwe izihlandlo eziliqela. UYesu wacela yena, uYakobi noYohane ukuba balinde ngoxa wayethandaza. UYesu wayengcungutheka emphefumlweni yaye efuna ukuthuthuzelwa kodwa uPetros nabanye balala. UYesu wathetha la mazwi abonisa ukuqonda: “Umoya, kambe ke, unentumekelelo, kodwa inyama ibuthathaka.”—Marko 14:32-38.
Kungekudala kwafika ihlokondiba liphethe izibane, amakrele kunye neentonga. Eli yayilixesha lokuba umntu achul’ ukunyathela. Kodwa uPetros watyhuthuzela waza waxabela ikhoboka lombingeleli omkhulu endlebeni. UYesu wamluleka kakuhle uPetros, waphilisa inxeba lelo khoboka waza wachaza umgaqo wokungabheneli kwizigalo osasebenza nanamhla oku kubalandeli bakhe. (Mateyu 26:47-55; Luka 22:47-51; Yohane 18:10, 11) UPetros wayesele exolelwe izihlandlo ezininzi yiNkosi yakhe. Imeko yakhe inokusikhumbuza ukuba nathi “siyakhubeka izihlandlo ezininzi.” (Yakobi 3:2) Ngubani kuthi ongakufuniyo ukuxolelwa nguThixo yonke imihla? Kodwa ke kwakusanyelw’ iintambo kuba obo busuku babuseza kuba bude, ingakumbi kuPetros.
Esona Sono Sikhulu SikaPetros
UYesu waxelela elo hlokondiba ukuba ekubeni lalifuna yena, lalifanele libayeke bahambe abapostile bakhe. UPetros wabukela engenanto anokuyenza njengoko abo bantu babebopha uYesu. Emva koko uPetros wababelek’ abasicatyana njengoko benzayo nabanye abapostile.
UPetros noYohane bakhe be xha, mhlawumbi ngakumzi ka-Anas owayekade enguMbingeleli oMkhulu, apho uYesu waqala wasiwa khona ukuze ancinwe. Njengoko uYesu wayesisiwa apho, uPetros noYohane babemlandela, kodwa “kumgama othe qelele.” (Mateyu 26:58; Yohane 18:12, 13) UPetros wayengelogwala. Kwakufuneka abe nenkalipho ukuze akwazi ukulandela elo hlokondiba elalixhobile ingakumbi njengoko wayesele enzakalise omnye wabantu ababehamba nalo. Kodwa ke ukuza kuthi ga ngoku asikakuboni ukuzincama ebethethe ngako ngaphambili—ukukulungela ukufa nenkosi yakhe.—Marko 14:31.
Bakho nanamhlanje abantu abanjengoPetros, abalandela uKristu “kumgama othe qelele”—ukuze bangabonwa ngabanye abantu. Njengokuba uPetros wabhala kamva, ekuphela kwendlela yokulandela uKristu kakuhle kukunamathela ngokusondeleyo kuye kangangoko kunokwenzeka, uxelisa umzekelo wakhe kwizinto zonke enokuba kuza kuphumela entwenini.—1 Petros 2:21.
UPetros walandela isihlwele esasibambe uYesu de waya kufika kwenye yezona zindlu zakha zankulu eYerusalem. Yayingumzi kaKayafa, umbingeleli omkhulu owayesisityebi yaye enempembelelo. Imizi elolo hlobo yayidla ngokuba neyadi enkulu kunye nesango elingaphambili. UPetros wafika esangweni kodwa ke akazange avunyelwe ukuba angene. UYohane owayesele engaphakathi wacela umgcini sango ukuba amngenise. Kubonakala ngathi uPetros akazange eme ngakuYohane yaye akazange angene ngaphakathi endlwini ukuze aye kuma ecaleni kweNkosi yakhe. Wema eyadini apho amakhoboka nezinye izicaka zazothe umlilo yaye zibukele njengoko kwakusiziswa amangqina obuxoki ukuze anikele ubungqina nxamnye noYesu.—Marko 14:54-57; Yohane 18:15, 16, 18.
Njengoko babeme ngasemlilweni intombazana eyayingenise uPetros yatsho yambona kakuhle. Yayimazi. Yathi kuye: “Nawe, ubukunye noYesu umGalili!” UPetros owayengayilindelanga noko lento wakhanyela wema ngomlenze omnye. Wade wemka nalapho waya kuma ngasesangweni ukuze angabonwa, kodwa ke nalapho wabonwa yenye intombazana eyamxelela into efanayo isithi: “Lo mntu wayekunye noYesu umNazarete.” UPetros wafunga wathi: “Andimazi lo mntu!” (Mateyu 26:69-72) Mhlawumbi uPetros weva inkuku ikhala emva kokuba ekhanyele uYesu okwesibini, kodwa ke akazange asikhumbule nokusikhumbula isiprofeto esasithethwe nguYesu kwiiyure ezimbalwa ngaphambili.
Emva kwexesha elingephi, uPetros wayesazama ukubaleka amehlo abantu. Kodwa iqela labantu elalimi kulo yadi leza kuye. Omnye wabo wayesisalamane sikaMalko, ikhoboka awayelixabele. Wathi kuPetros: “Ndikubonile emyezweni unaye, akunjalo?” UPetros waziva enyanzelekile ukubeyisela ukuba babephazama. Ngoko wafunga, ngokucacileyo esithi wayefanele aqalekiswe ukuba wayexoka. Akuzange kube kudala emva kokuba ethethe loo mazwi yakhala inkuku—yayiyinkuku yesibini awayiva ikhala ngobo busuku.—Yohane 18:26, 27; Marko 14:71, 72.
Ngelo xesha uYesu wayemiswe kwivaranda. Kwakungeso sihlandlo kuthethwe ngaso ekuqaleni kweli nqaku apho wajongana khona uPetros. Lo mpostile watsho wayibona indlela awayeyiphoxe ngayo iNkosi yakhe. UPetros wemka apho edimazeke kakhulu ngenxa yesono sakhe. Wahamba kwizitrato ezazikhanyiswe yinyanga. Ufanele ukuba wayedimazeke ngokwenene. Le ndoda yatsho esofelweyo.—Marko 14:72; Luka 22:61, 62.
Kungalula ngomntu owenze isono esinzulu kangako ukucinga ukuba akanakuxolelwa. Mhlawumbi noPetros wayecinga ngaloo ndlela. Kodwa ngaba nyhani kwakunjalo?
Ngaba UPetros wayengenakuze Axolelwe?
Kunzima ukuyithelekelela intlungu awayekuyo uPetros njengoko kwakusithi qheke ukusa ngemini elandelayo yaye ekhumbula nezinto ezenzekileyo. Ufanele ukuba wayezisola kakhulu njengoko wayebona uYesu esifa emva kokungcungcuthekiswa ixesha elide. UPetros umele ukuba wayebuhlungu gqitha xa ecinga ngegalelo lakhe kwintlungu eyeviwa yiNkosi yakhe kusuku lwayo lokugqibela ingumntu wenyama emhlabeni. Nangona wayebuhlungu ngendlela engathethekiyo uPetros akazange atyhafe. Loo nto siyazi ngenxa yokuba kungekudala simfumana ekunye nabazalwana bakhe kwakhona. (Luka 24:33) Akuthandabuzeki ukuba abapostile babezisola ngezinto ababezenzile ngobo busuku yaye bethuthuzelana.
Singatsho sithi nalapha uPetros wazingqina ukuba wayeyindoda elumkileyo. Xa umkhonzi kaThixo ewela esonweni, eyona nto ibalulekileyo asibobunzulu baso eso sono kodwa kukuzimisela kwakhe ukuphakama azivuthulule aze alungise iindlela zakhe. (IMizekeliso 24:16) UPetros wabonisa ukholo ngokuhlanganisana nabazalwana bakhe nangona wayedimazekile. Xa umntu ebuhlungu ngenxa yesono kunokuba lula ukuzahlula kodwa ke kuyingozi. (IMizekeliso 18:1) Ikhondo lobulumko kukuhlala namanye amaKristu ude uchache.—Hebhere 10:24, 25.
Ekubeni wayekunye nabazalwana bakhe, uPetros weva ukuba umzimba kaYesu wawungekho engcwabeni. UPetros noYohane babaleka baya engcwabeni likaYesu. UYohane ekusenokwenzeka ukuba wayeselula kunoPetros wafika kuqala. Wafika wema esakubona ingcwaba livuliwe. Kodwa uPetros akazange ayenze loo nto. Nangona wayediniwe wafika wangena phakathi engcwabeni. Ingcwaba lalingenamntu.—Yohane 20:3-9.
Ngaba uPetros wayekholelwa ukuba uYesu wayevusiwe? Ekuqaleni akazange akholwe nangona abafazi abanyanisekileyo bamxelela ukuba babebone ingelosi eyabachazela ngokuvuswa kukaYesu. (Luka 23:55–24:11) Kodwa lwathi luphela olo suku wabe uPetros eyekile ukudimazeka nokuthandabuza. UYesu wayephila yaye eyingelosi enamandla. Wabonakala kubo bonke abapostile bakhe. Kodwa ke kukho into awaqala wayenza ngaphambi kokuba abonakale kubo bonke. Abapostile bathi ngaloo mini: “Enyanisweni iNkosi ivusiwe yaye ibonakele kuSimon!” (Luka 24:34) Kamva nompostile uPawulos wabhala ngosuku uYesu ‘abonakala ngalo kuKefas nakwabalishumi elinesibini.’ (1 Korinte 15:5) UKefas noSimon ngamanye amagama kaPetros. UYesu wabonakala kuye ngaloo mini—ngokucacileyo xa wayeyedwa.
IBhayibhile ayisixeleli ukuba uYesu noPetros bathetha ngantoni ngaloo mini. Sinokuyithelekelela indlela amele ukuba wavuya ngayo uPetros xa wabona iNkosi yakhe ayithandayo kwakhona waza wafumana ithuba lokucela uxolo kuyo. Ayikho into awayeyifuna ngaphezu kokuxolelwa. Akuthandabuzeki ukuba uYesu wazixolela zonke izono zakhe? Xa amaKristu ewela esonweni kufuneka akhumbule lo mzekelo kaPetros. Singaze sicinge ukuba uYehova akanakuze asixolele. UYesu wazibonakalisa kakuhle iimpawu zikaYise ‘oya kuxolela ngokukhulu.’—Isaya 55:7.
Ubungqina Obungakumbi Bokuxolelwa
UYesu wayalela abafundi bakhe ukuba baye eGalili apho wayeza kudibana nabo khona. Ukufika kwabo apho uPetros waya kuloba. Nabanye abapostile bamlandela. Kwakhona uPetros wabuyela kulwandle lwaseGalili awayechithe ubomi bakhe obuninzi eloba kulo. Kufanele ukuba waziva esekhaya kolo lwandle. Ngaba wazibuza ukuba wayeza kwenza ntoni ngobomi bakhe ekubeni uYesu wayeyekile ukushumayela emhlabeni? Ngaba wayecinga ngokubuyela ekulobeni kwakhona? Phofu ke babuya nemband’ esikhova ngobo busuku.—Mateyu 26:32; Yohane 21:1-3.
Kwathi xa kusithi qheke ukusa kwabonakala ndoda ithile elunxwemeni yaze yabayalela ukuba baphose iminatha kwakhona. Bayiphosa baza babambisa iintlanzi eli-153. UPetros wayeyazi ukuba yayingubani loo ndoda. Watsiba esikhepheni waza wadada esiya elunxwemeni. Apho uYesu wabapha intlanzi awayeyosile. Wathetha noPetros.
UYesu wabuza uPetros enokuba iNkosi wayeyithanda “ngaphezu kwezi”—ngokucacileyo esalatha kwinkitha yeentlanzi ababezibambisile. Ngaba kwakuza kubakho ukhuphiswano entliziyweni kaPetros phakathi kokuthanda ishishini lokuloba nokuthanda uYesu? UYesu wanika uPetros ithuba lokuba amqinisekise kathathu phambi kwabahlobo bakhe ukuba wayemthanda, kanye njengokuba naye wayemkhanyele kathathu. Njengoko uPetros wayevuma ukuba uyamthanda, uYesu wambonisa indlela yokulubonakalisa olo thando: ngokubeka inkonzo yakhe ngaphambi kwayo nantoni na enye, nangokondla okanye ukwalusa abalandeli okanye izimvu zikaKristu.—Yohane 21:4-17.
Ngaloo ndlela uYesu waqinisekisa uPetros ukuba wayesaxabisekile kuye nakuYise. UPetros wayeza kuba nendima ebalulekileyo kwibandla elalathiswa nguKristu. UYesu wamnika ubungqina obucacileyo bokuba wayemxolele. Ngokuqinisekileyo loo nceba yayichukumisa intliziyo kaPetros.
UPetros wasenza ngokunyaniseka esi sabelo kangangeminyaka. Wabomeleza abazalwana bakhe kanye njengokuba noYesu wayemthumile kubusuku awafa ngabo. UPetros wabalusa enomonde yaye enobubele abalandeli bakaYesu. Indoda ekwakuthiwe nguSimon yalandela igama eyayilinikwe nguYesu—elithi Petros okanye uLwalwa—ngokomelela ingagungqi nangokuba nempembelelo entle ebandleni. Ubungqina obuninzi obuxhasa loo nto bubonakala kwiileta ezimbini ezabhalwa nguPetros nezaba yinxalenye yeencwadi zeBhayibhile. Ezo leta ziphinde zibonise ukuba uPetros akazange azilibale izifundo awazifundiswa nguYesu ngokuxolela.—1 Petros 3:8, 9; 4:8.
Ngamana nathi singasifunda esi sifundo. Ngaba sicela uThixo ukuba asixolele izono zethu imihla ngemihla? Ngaba ke ngoko siyakwamkela oko kuxolelwa yaye siyawakholelwa amandla ako okusihlambulula? Ngaba nathi siyabaxolela abanye? Ukuba senjenjalo, sixelisa ukholo lukaPetros—nenceba yeNkosi yakhe.
[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 22]
Kwafuneka uPetros axolelwe izihlandlo ezininzi yiNkosi yakhe, kodwa ke ngubani kuthi ongakufuniyo ukuxolelwa imihla ngemihla?
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 23]
“INkosi yajika yajonga kuPetros”
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 24]
“INkosi . . . ibonakale kuSimon!”