Incwadi YeBhayibhile 43—Yohane

Umbhali: Ngumpostile uYohane

Indawo Eyabhalelwa Kuyo: E-Efese okanye kufuphi nalapho

Ukugqitywa Kokubhalwa Kwayo: Malunga nowama-98 C.E.

Ixesha Eligutyungelweyo: Emva kwesandulela, owama-29–33 C.E.

 1. Zibonisa ntoni iZibhalo ngokusondelelana konxulumano lukaYohane noYesu?

INCWADI yeVangeli kaMateyu, kaMarko nekaLuka sele zisasazwa kangangeminyaka engaphezu kwama-30 yaye ziye zaxatyiswa ngamaKristu enkulungwane yokuqala njengeencwadi zamadoda aphefumlelwe ngomoya oyingcwele. Ngoku, njengokuba loo nkulungwane yayisondela ekupheleni yaye nenani labo babekunye noYesu liya lincipha, kusenokuba kwaphakama umbuzo wokuba, Ngaba kwakusekho nto ithile ekumele kuthethwe ngayo? Ngaba kwakusekho mntu uthile owayenokuthi, ngokwenkumbulo yobuqu, ongezelele iinkcukacha ezibalulekileyo ezingobulungiseleli bukaYesu? Ewe, wayesekho. UYohane owayesele aluphele wayesikelelwe ngokukhethekileyo ngonxulumano lwakhe noYesu. Kubonakala ukuba wayephakathi kwabafundi bokuqala bakaYohane uMbhaptizi abathi baba ngabokuqala ukwaziswa kwiMvana kaThixo ibe wayengomnye wabokuqala kwabane ukumenywa yiNkosi ukuba bayithelele kubulungiseleli bexesha elizeleyo. (Yoh. 1:35-39; Marko 1:16-20) Waqhubeka nolu nxulumano lusenyongweni noYesu kubo bonke ubulungiseleli bakhe ibe wayengumfundi “obethandwa nguYesu” nowayeyame esifubeni sikaYesu ngePasika yokugqibela. (Yoh. 13:23; Mat. 17:1; Marko 5:37; 14:33) Wayekho kwisiganeko esibuhlungu sokubulawa kwakhe, apho uYesu wamnika imbopheleleko yokunyamekela umama Wakhe wokwenyama, yaye nguye owashiya uPetros njengoko babebaleka ukuya engcwabeni ukuya kuqonda ngengxelo yokuvuka kukaYesu.—Yoh. 19:26, 27; 20:2-4.

 2. UYohane wayekuxhobele njani yaye wahlaziywa njani ukuba abhale incwadi yakhe yeVangeli, yaye ngayiphi injongo?

² Ekubeni wayegqibe iminyaka enokuba ngama-70 exakeke kubulungiseleli yaye enelungelo lokubona imibono nethuba lokucamngca ngoxa wayesandul’ ukuvalelwa yedwa entolongweni kwisiqithi sePatmos, uYohane wayekuxhobele kakuhle ukuzibhala ezi zinto ekukudala ezigcinile entliziyweni yakhe. Ngoku umoya oyingcwele wayihlaziya ingqondo yakhe ukuze ayikhumbule aze ayibhale phantsi inkoliso yezo ngxelo zibalulekileyo nezinik’ ubomi ukuze ngamnye ozifundayo ‘akholwe ukuba uYesu unguye uKristu, uNyana kaThixo, nokuze athi, ekholwa, azuze ubomi egameni likaYesu.’—20:31.

 3, 4. Bubuphi ubungqina obuvela kwimithombo yangaphandle nobukule ncwadi yeVangeli bokuba (a) iyinxalenye yemibhalo engcwele, nokuba (b) yabhalwa nguYohane?

³ AmaKristu asekuqaleni kwenkulungwane yesibini amgqala uYohane njengombhali wale ngxelo yaye kwakhona awujonga lo mbhalo njengenxalenye engathandabuzekiyo yemibhalo engcwele yeZibhalo eziphefumlelweyo. UClement wakwa-Alesandire, uIrenaeus, uTertullian no-Origen, bonke abo ababephila ngasekupheleni kwenkulungwane yesibini nasekuqaleni kweyesithathu, bayangqina ukuba nguYohane owabhala le ncwadi. Ngaphezu koko, ubungqina obuninzi bokuba uYohane wayengumbhali wayo bufunyanwa kule ncwadi ngokwayo. Ngokucacileyo umbhali wayengumYuda yaye wayeqhelene kakuhle namasiko obuYuda nelizwe lawo. (2:6; 4:5; 5:2; 10:22, 23) Ubunzulu bale ngxelo bubonisa ukuba wayengengompostile nje kuphela kodwa wayengomnye kwabathathu abangabona baphambili—uPetros, uYakobi noYohane— abapheleka uYesu kwizihlandlo ezikhethekileyo. (Mat. 17:1; Marko 5:37; 14:33) Kwaba, ayinakuba nguYakobi (unyana kaZebhedi) kuba wabulawa njengomfeli-nkolo nguHerode Agripa I malunga nowama-44 C.E., kude kudala ngaphambi kokubhalwa kwale ncwadi. (IZe. 12:2) Ingenakuba nguPetros kuba ukhankanywa ndawonye nombhali kuYohane 21:20-24.

⁴ Kwezi ndinyana zokugqibela, kubhekiselwa kumbhali njengomfundi “obethandwa nguYesu,” eli binzana nafana nalo asetyenziswa izihlandlo eziliqela kule ngxelo, nangona igama lompostile uYohane lingaze likhankanywe. Apha uYesu ucatshulwa njengothi ngaye: “Ukuba ndithi ndithande ukuba yena ahlale ndide ndifike, iyini na loo nto kuwe?” (Yoh. 21:20, 22) Oku kubonisa ukuba umfundi ekubhekiselwa kuye wayeya kuphila ixesha elide kunoPetros nabanye abapostile. Konke oku kuyavisisana nemeko yompostile uYohane. Kubangel’ umdla ukuba uYohane, emva kokufumana kwakhe umbono weSityhilelo wokuza kukaYesu, usiqukumbela eso siprofeto sibalaseleyo ngamazwi athi: “Amen. Ewe, yiza, Nkosi Yesu.”—ISityhi. 22:20.

 5. Kukholelwa ukuba uYohane wayibhala nini le ncwadi yakhe yeVangeli?

⁵ Nangona imibhalo kaYohane ngokwayo inganikeli nkcazelo ingqalileyo ngalo mbandela, ngokuqhelekileyo kukholelwa ukuba uYohane wayibhala ngokwakhe le ncwadi yeVangeli emva kokubuya kwakhe ekuvalelweni kwisiqithi sePatmos. (ISityhi. 1:9) Umlawuli waseRoma uNerva, ngowama-96-98 C.E., ukhumbula abaninzi ababevalelwe ngasekupheleni kolawulo lwalowo yena wangena ezihlangwini zakhe, uDomitian. Emva kokubhala incwadi yakhe yeVangeli, malunga nowama-98 C.E., kukholelwa ukuba uYohane wafa ngoxolo e-Efese ngonyaka wesithathu woMlawuli uTrajan, ngowe-100 C.E.

 6. Bubuphi ubungqina obubonisa ukuba incwadi yeVangeli kaYohane yabhalelwa ngaphandle kwePalestina, e-Efese okanye kufuphi nalapho?

⁶ Ngokuphathelele iEfese okanye imimandla eyingqongileyo njengendawo ekwabhalelwa kuyo, umbhali-mbali uEusebius (malunga nowama-260-342 C.E.) ucaphula amazwi kaIrenaeus athi: “UYohane, umfundi weNkosi, owade wangqiyama esifubeni sakhe, kwayena wabhala le ncwadi yeVangeli, ngoxa wayehlala e-Efese eAsiya.”a Ukuba le ncwadi yabhalwa ngaphandle kwePalestina oko kuxhaswa kukubhekisela kwayo izihlandlo ezininzi kwabo babemchasile uYesu ngegama eliqhelekileyo elithi, “amaYuda,” kunokuthi “abaFarisi” “ababingeleli abakhulu,” njalo njalo. (Yoh. 1:19; 12:9) Kwakhona, uLwandle lwaseGalili luchazwa ngegama lalo lesiRoma elithi, uLwandle lwaseTibheriya. (6:1; 21:1) Ngenxa yabo bangengomaYuda, uYohane unikela iinkcazelo eziluncedo ngemithendeleko yamaYuda. (6:4; 7:2; 11:55) Indawo awayevalelwe kuyo, iPatmos, yayikufuphi ne-Efese, yaye ukuqhelana kwakhe ne-Efese, kuquka namanye amabandla aseAsiya Mayina, kuboniswa siSityhilelo isahluko 2 nesesi-3.

 7. Ibaluleke ngantoni iPapyrus Rylands 457?

⁷ Okubonisa ukunyanisa kwencwadi yeVangeli kaYohane yimibhalo-ngqangi ebalulekileyo efunyenwe ngenkulungwane yama-20. Omnye wayo sisiqwenga sencwadi yeVangeli kaYohane esifunyenwe eYiputa, ngoku esaziwa ngokuba yiPapyrus Rylands 457 (P⁵²), esiqulethe uYohane 18:31-33, 37, 38, esiye sagcinwa kuMzi Weencwadi iJohn Rylands, eManchester, eNgilani.b Ngokubonakalisa kwayo uhlobo lokubhala lukaYohane ekupheleni kwenkulungwane yokuqala, uMhlekazi Frederic Kenyon ongasekhoyo wathi kwincwadi yakhe ethi The Bible and Modern Scholarship, yowe-1949, iphepha 21: “Nangona sisincinane ngolo hlobo, siye sakwazi ukunikela ubungqina bokuba umbhalo-ngqangi wale ncwadi yeVangeli wawusasazwa mhlawumbi kwiphondo laseYiputa apho safunyanwa khona, malunga nowe-A.D. 130-150. Ekubeni sichaza kwanoqikelelo lwexesha lokusasazwa kwale ncwadi ukusuka kwindawo eyabhalelwa kuyo, oku kuya kubangela ukuba ixesha lokubhalwa kwayo lihlehliselwe umva lize libe kufutshane gqitha kwixesha elaziwayo leminyaka kanye yokugqibela yenkulungwane yokuqala kangangokuba akusayi kubakho nasiphi na isizathu sokuthandabuza ukunyanisa kwale ngxelo.”

 8. (a) Yintoni ebalaseleyo ngentshayelelo yencwadi yeVangeli kaYohane? (b) Bubuphi ubungqina obunikelwayo bokuba ubulungiseleli bukaYesu bathabatha iminyaka emithathu enesiqingatha?

⁸ Incwadi yeVangeli kaYohane ibalasele ngentshayelelo yayo, etyhila uLizwi, njengalowo “ebekho ekuqalekeni kuThixo,” njengaLowo zonke izinto zibekho ngaye. (1:2) Emva kokwazisa ulwalamano oluxabisekileyo phakathi koYise noNyana, uYohane udlulela kumfanekiso obalaseleyo wemisebenzi kaYesu neentshumayelo zakhe, ngokukodwa ngokwembono yokuqhutywa kwakhe luthando olusenyongweni oluyimbonakaliso yayo yonke imisebenzi kaThixo. Le ngxelo yobomi bukaYesu basemhlabeni igubungela ixesha lowama-29-33 C.E., yaye ayilibali ukukhankanya iiPasika ezine uYesu awaya kuzo ebudeni bobulungiseleli bakhe, ngaloo ndlela inikela obunye ubungqina bokuba ubulungiseleli bakhe bathabatha iminyaka emithathu enesiqingatha. Ezintathu zezi Pasika zikhankanywe njengezo waya kuzo. (2:13; 6:4; 12:1; 13:1) Enye yazo kubhekiselwa kuyo ngokuthi “umthendeleko wamaYuda,” kodwa umongo ubonisa ukuba yayingekude emva kokuba uYesu wayethe “iinyanga zisene, ukuze kufike ukuvuna,” ngaloo ndlela esalatha kuloo mthendeleko njengePasika, eyaqhutywa malunga nasekuqaleni kwexesha lokuvuna.—4:35; 5:1.c

 9. Yintoni ebonisa ukuba incwadi yeVangeli kaYohane yeyokongezelela, yaye sekunjalo ngaba izalisa zonke iinkcukacha ezingobulungiseleli bukaYesu?

⁹ Iindaba ezilungileyo “ngokubhalwe nguYohane” ubukhulu becala ziyongezelela; ama-92 ekhulwini azo ngumbandela omtsha ongagutyungelwanga zezinye iincwadi ezintathu zeVangeli. Sekunjalo, uYohane uqukumbela ngamazwi athi: “Kukho ke nezinye izinto ezininzi awazenzayo uYesu; ezingathi zithe zabhalwa ngazinye, ndithi nehlabathi eli alingezibambi iincwadi ezo zingabhalwayo.”—21:25.

OKUQULETHWE YEKAYOHANE

10. Uthini uYohane ‘ngoLizwi’?

¹⁰ Intshayelelo: Ukuchaza “uLizwi” (1:1-18). Ngendlela elula gqitha, uYohane ubonisa ukuba ekuqaleni ‘uLizwi waye ekuThixo’ ubomi babakho ngaye, waba “lukhanyiselo lwabantu,” yaye uYohane (uMbhaptizi) wangqina ngaye. (1:1, 4) Ukhanyiselo lwalusehlabathini, kodwa ihlabathi alizange limazi. Abo bamamkelayo baba ngabantwana bakaThixo, bazalwa nguThixo. Kanye njengokuba uMthetho wawunikelwe ngoMoses, ngokunjalo “lwabakho lona ubabalo nenyaniso ngoYesu Kristu.”—1:17.

11. UYohane uMbhaptizi umfanisa nantoni uYesu, yaye abafundi bakaYohane bamamkela njengantoni uYesu?

¹¹ Wafanekisela “iMvana kaThixo” ebantwini (1:19-51). UYohane uMbhaptizi uyavuma ukuba yena akanguye uKristu kodwa uthi kukho ozayo emva kwakhe, angafanelekanga yena ukuyikhulula imitya yeembadada zakhe. Kusuku olulandelayo, njengokuba uYesu esiza kuye, uYohane umbiza ngokuthi “iMvana kaThixo, ethwala isuse isono sehlabathi.” (1:27, 29) Ngokulandelayo, wazisa ababini babafundi bakhe kuYesu, yaye omnye waba, uAndreya, uzisa umntakwabo onguPetros kuYesu. UFilipu noNataniyeli nabo bayamamkela uYesu ‘njengoNyana kaThixo, uKumkani kaSirayeli.’—1:49.

12. (a) Nguwuphi ummangaliso wokuqala kaYesu? (b) Yintoni ayenzayo ngoxa eye kwiPasika eseYerusalem ebudeni bobulungiseleli bakhe?

¹² Imimangaliso kaYesu ingqina ukuba unguye “Oyingcwele kaThixo” (2:1–6:71). UYesu wenza ummangaliso wakhe wokuqala eKana yelaseGalili, eguqulela amanzi ekubeni yeyona wayini inencasa kumsitho womtshato. Oku ‘kukuqaleka kwemiqondiso yakhe, yaye abafundi bakhe bayakholwa kuye.’ (2:11) UYesu uya eYerusalem ePasikeni. Akufumana abathengisi nabananisi betshintshisa ngemali etempileni, uthabatha iziniya aze abakhuphele phandle ngamandla amakhulu kangangokuba abafundi bakhe bayaqonda ukuba oku kukuzaliseka kwesiprofeto esithi: “Ukuzondelela indlu yakho kundidlile kanye.” (Yoh. 2:17; INdu. 69:9) Uxela kusengaphambili ukuba itempile engumzimba wakhe iya kudilizwa ize yakhiwe kwakhona ngeentsuku ezintathu.

13. (a) UYesu ubonisa ukuba yintoni efunekayo ukuze kuzuzwe ubomi? (b) UYohane uMbhaptizi uthini ngaye ngokunxulumene noYesu?

¹³ UNikodimo owoyikayo uza kuYesu ebusuku. Uyavuma ukuba uYesu uthunywe nguThixo, yaye uYesu umxelela ukuba ubani umele azalwe ngamanzi nangomoya ukuze angene eBukumkanini bukaThixo. Ukuze ubani azuze ubomi umele akholelwe kuNyana womntu ovela ezulwini. “Kuba wenjenje uThixo ukulithanda kwakhe ihlabathi, ude wancama uNyana wakhe okuphela kwamzeleyo, ukuze bonke abakholwayo kuye bangatshabalali, koko babe nobomi obungunaphakade.” (Yoh. 3:16) Ukhanyiselo oluye lwafika ehlabathini aluhambisani nobumnyama, “ke lowo uyenzayo inyaniso uyeza elukhanyisweni,” uqukumbela ngelitshoyo uYesu. Wandula ke uYohane uMbhaptizi eve ngemisebenzi kaYesu kwelakwaYuda yaye uvakalisa ukuba ngoxa yena engenguye uKristu, kodwa “isihlobo ke somyeni . . . sivuya kunene ngenxa yezwi lomyeni.” (3:21, 29) Ngoku uYesu umele ande aze yena uYohane anciphe.

14. Yintoni uYesu ayicacisela intokazi yomSamariya eSikare, yaye waba yintoni umphumo wokushumayela kwakhe apho?

¹⁴ Kwakhona uYesu uyahamba ukuya eGalili. Endleleni, egqutyelwe luthuli yaye “ebulalekile kukuhamba,” uthi khebevu kwiqula likaYakobi eSikare, ngoxa abafundi bakhe besathe tshalala ukuya kuthenga ukutya esixekweni. (4:6) Kusemini emaqanda, ngeyure yesithandathu. Intokazi yomSamariya ize kukha amanzi, yaye uYesu ucela amanzi. Wandula ke, nangona edinwe enjalo, aqalise ukuthetha nayo ngawona “manzi” ahlaziya ngokwenene, abazuzisa ubomi obungunaphakade abo bamnqula uThixo “ngoMoya nangenyaniso.” Abafundi bayabuya baze bambongoze ukuba atye, yaye uthi kubo: “Okwam ukudla kukuba ndenze ukuthanda kowandithumayo, ndiwufeze umsebenzi wakhe.” Uchitha iintsuku ezimbini ezingakumbi kulo mmandla, kangangokuba abaninzi kumaSamariya bayakholwa ukuba “inyaniso, lo unguye uMsindisi wehlabathi.” (4:24, 34, 42) Akufika eKana yelaseGalili, uYesu uphilisa unyana wendoda ehloniphekileyo engakhange aye nokuya apho alele khona.

15. Ziziphi izityholo ezibekwa ngokuchasene noYesu eYerusalem, kodwa ubaphendula njani abo bamgxekayo?

¹⁵ Kwakhona uYesu unyukela eYerusalem esiya kumthendeleko wamaYuda. Uphilisa indoda egulayo ngeSabatha, yaye oku kumenza agxekwe ngamandla. UYesu uzithethelela ngokuthi: “UBawo uyasebenza kude kube ngoku, nam ndiyasebenza.” (5:17) Ngoku iinkokeli zamaYuda zithi uYesu uye wongeza isinyeliso phezu kwetyala lokwaphula iSabatha, ngokuthi azenze olingana noThixo. UYesu uphendula ngokuthi uNyana akanakwenza nanye into ngokwakhe kodwa uxhomekeke ngokupheleleyo kuYise. Unikela ingxelo emangalisayo yokuba ‘bonke abasemangcwabeni baya kuliva ilizwi lakhe; baphume ke’ beze eluvukweni. Kodwa kwaba bantu baphulaphuleyo bangenalukholo, uYesu uthi: “Ningathini na ukuba nako ukukholwa, nisamkelela uzuko omnye komnye nje nina, nibe uzuko lona oluvela kuThixo yedwa ningalufuni?”—5:28, 29, 44.

16. (a) Yintoni uYesu ayifundisayo ngokuphathelele ukutya nobomi? (b) UPetros ukuvakalisa njani oko abapostile beyiseke kuko?

¹⁶ Xa uYesu esondla amadoda angama-5 000 ngommangaliso ngezonka ezihlanu neentlanzana ezimbini, isihlwele sicinga ukumbamba size simenze ukumkani, kodwa uyemka aye entabeni. Kamva, uyaziluleka ukuba mazingasebenzeli “ukudla okutshabalalayo.” Kunoko, zifanele zisebenzele “ukudla okuhlala kuse ebomini obungunaphakade.” Walatha ukuba ukukholwa kuye njengoNyana kukuthabatha kwisonka sobomi, aze ongezelele ngokuthi: “Ukuba anithanga niyidle inyama yoNyana woMntu, nilisele igazi lakhe, aninabo ubomi kuni.” Abafundi bakhe abaninzi bayakhutyekiswa koku baze bamshiye. UYesu ubuza abali-12 esithi: “Nani nifuna ukumka, yini na?” aze uPetros aphendule esithi: “Nkosi, sosuka siye kubani na? Nguwe onamazwi obomi obungunaphakade. Nathi sikholiwe, sazile, ukuba wena unguye uKristu, uNyana kaThixo ophilileyo.” (6:27, 53, 67-69) Noko ke, uYesu, esazi ukuba uYuda uza kumngcatsha, uthi omnye wabo ungumngcatshi.

17. Ukufundisa kukaYesu etempileni ngoMthendeleko Weminquba kunawuphi umphumo?

¹⁷ “Ukhanyiselo” aluhambisani nobumnyama (7:1–12:50). UYesu engaziwa unyukela eYerusalem aze abonakale ebudeni boMthendeleko Weminquba, efundisa ngokuphandle etempileni. Abantu bayaphikisana enoba ngenene unguKristu kusini na. UYesu ubaxelela oku: “Andizanga ngokwam; uyinyaniso owandithumayo, . . . waye yena endithumile.” Ngesinye isihlandlo udanduluka esithi kwisihlwele: “Ukuba kukho othi anxanwe, makeze kum asele.” Amadindala athunywe ukuza kubamba uYesu abuya ephaca aze abaxelele oku ababingeleli: “Akuzanga kuthethe mntu njengoko athetha ngako lo mntu.” Becatshukiswe koku, abaFarisi baphendula besithi akukho mlawuli ukholiweyo, kungekho namprofeti oya kuvuswa kwelaseGalili.—7:28, 29, 37, 46.

18. AmaYuda amchasa njani uYesu, kwaye uphendula njani?

¹⁸ Kwintetho elandelayo, uYesu uthi: “Ndim ukhanyiselo lwehlabathi.” Kwizityholo ezibi zokuba ulingqina lobuxoki, zokuba uzalwe ngobuhenyu, nezokuba ungumSamariya, yaye uneedemon, ethetha kabukhali uYesu uphendula esithi: “Ukuba mna ndithi ndizizukise, uzuko lwam alungebi nto; nguBawo ondizukisayo.” Xa esithi, “Engekabikho uAbraham, mna ndikho kade,” amaYuda enza elinye ilinge elingaphumeleliyo lokumbulala. (8:12, 54, 58) Ecaphukile, kamva abuza indoda uYesu ayenze yabona ngokungummangaliso, yaye ayayigxotha le ndoda.

19. (a) Uthini uYesu ngolwalamano lwakhe noYise nokunyamekela kwakhe izimvu? (b) Uwaphendula njani amaYuda xa emsongela?

¹⁹ Kwakhona uYesu uthetha namaYuda, ngeli xesha ngokuphathelele umalusi olungileyo, ozibiza izimvu zakhe ngamagama nobuncamayo ubomi bakhe ngenxa yezimvu ‘ukuze zibe nobomi ngokugqithiseleyo.’ Uthi: “Ndinazo nezinye izimvu, ezingezizo ezobu buhlanti; nazo ezo ndimelwe kukuza nazo; zaye ziya kuliva izwi lam, zibe mhlambi mnye, nomalusi abe mnye.” (10:10, 16) Uxelela amaYuda ukuba akukho namnye onokuzihlutha izimvu esandleni sikaYise, yaye uthi yena noYise banye. Kwakhona afuna ukumxuluba ngamatye afe. Ephendula isityholo sawo sokuba uyanyelisa, uwakhumbuza ukuba encwadini yeeNdumiso, abathile ababenamandla emhlabeni babizwa ‘njengoothixo,’ kanti yena ubhekisele kuye njengoNyana kaThixo. (INdu. 82:6) Ubabongoza ukuba ubuncinane bakholwe yimisebenzi yakhe.—Yoh. 10:34.

20. (a) Nguwuphi ummangaliso okhethekileyo uYesu awenzayo ngokulandelayo? (b) Oku kukhokelela entwenini?

²⁰ EBhetani kufuphi neYerusalem kuvakala iindaba zokuba uLazaro, umntakobo Mariya noMarta, uyagula. Ngexesha uYesu efika apho, uLazaro ufile yaye sele eneentsuku ezine esengcwabeni. UYesu wenza ummangaliso omkhulu wokumbuyisela ebomini kwakhona uLazaro, nto leyo ebangela ukuba abaninzi babe nokholo kuYesu. Oku kubangela ukuba kubizwe iNtlanganiso ekhethekileyo Yamatyala, apho umbingeleli omkhulu, uKayafa, anyanzeleka ukuba aprofete ngokuba uYesu ufanele afele uhlanga. Njengoko ababingeleli abakhulu nabaFarisi beyalela ukuba abulawe, uYesu uya enqaba kancinane kwiindawo zasesidlangalaleni.

21. (a) Abantu nabaFarisi basabela njani ngoxa uYesu engena eYerusalem? (b) Nguwuphi umzekeliso uYesu awenzayo ngokuphathelele ukufa kwakhe nenjongo yako, yaye yintoni ababongoza yona abo bamphulaphuleyo?

²¹ Kwiintsuku ezintandathu ngaphambi kwePasika, kwakhona uYesu uza eBhetani esendleleni eya eYerusalem, yaye wamkelwa ngezandla ezishushu ngabendlu yakuloLazaro. Emva koku, kusuku olusemva kolweSabatha, ngoNisan 9, ukhwele ithole le-esile elitsha, ungena eYerusalem ekhawulelwa zizihlwele ezikhulu ezidanduluka zimzukisa; yaye abaFarisi bazithethela bodwa besithi: “Niyabona na kodwa ukuba anincedi lutho? Yabonani, ulandelwa lilizwe lonke.” Ngomzekeliso wokhozo lwengqolowa, uYesu ucacisa ukuba umele ahlwayelwe ekufeni ukuze kuveliswe isiqhamo sobomi obungunaphakade. Ucela uYise ukuba azukise igama Lakhe, yaye kuvakala ilizwi livela ezulwini lisithi: “Ndilizukisile, ndiya kubuya ndilizukise.” UYesu ubongoza abo bamphulaphuleyo ukuba babuphephe ubumnyama baze bahambe ekukhanyeni, ewe, babe “ngabokhanyiso.” Njengoko kungaselothuba lide ngaphambi kokuba abanjwe yimikhosi yobumnyama, ubabongoza ngamandla abantu ukuba bakholwe kuye ‘njengokhanyiso olufike ehlabathini.’—12:19, 28, 36, 46.

22. Nguwuphi umzekelo uYesu awumiselayo esidlweni sePasika, yaye nguwuphi umthetho omtsha awunikelayo?

²² UYesu ululeka abapostile abathembekileyo ngaphambi kokwahlukana nabo (13:1–16:33). Ngoxa eqhuba isidlo sangokuhlwa sePasika nabali-12, uYesu uyaphakama aze, ekhulule iingubo zakhe zokwaleka, athabathe itawuli nesitya sokuhlambela iinyawo aze ahlambe iinyawo zabafundi bakhe. UPetros uyala, kodwa uYesu umxelela ukuba naye umele ahlanjwe iinyawo. UYesu uyalela abafundi bakhe ukuba balandele umzekelo wakhe wokuthobeka, kuba “akukho mkhonzi umkhulu kunenkosi yakhe.” Uthetha ngomngcatshi, aze emva koko agxothe uYuda. Emva kokuba uYuda ephumile, uYesu uqhubeka ethetha ngokunothando nabanye. “Ndiniwisela umthetho omtsha, wokuba nithandane, njengoko ndinithandileyo nina, ukuze nani nithandane. Ngayo le nto baya kwazi bonke, ukuba ningabafundi bam, ukuba nithe nathandana.”—13:16, 34, 35.

23. Njengentuthuzelo, liliphi ithemba yaye nguwuphi umncedi othenjisiweyo uYesu axubusha ngaye?

²³ UYesu uthuthuzela abalandeli bakhe ngamazwi amnandi kweli xesha lamanqam. Bamele babe nokholo kuThixo nakuye. Endlwini kaYise, zininzi iindawo zokuhlala, yaye uza kubuya aze abamkele ukuze babe naye kokwabo. UYesu uthi: “Ndim indlela, ndim inyaniso, ndim ubomi; akukho namnye uzayo kuBawo, engezi ngam.” Ebathuthuzela ubaxelela abalandeli bakhe ukuba ngokholo, baya kwenza imisebenzi emikhulu kunale ayenzileyo, yaye uya kubapha nantoni na abayicelayo egameni lakhe, ukuze kuzukiswe uYise. Ubathembisa ngomnye umncedi, “umoya wenyaniso,” oya kubafundisa zonke izinto aze abakhumbuze konke abaxelele kona. Bafanele bavuye kuba esimka esiya kuYise, kuba, uYesu uthi, “UBawo mkhulu kunam.”—14:6, 17, 28.

24. UYesu uluxubusha njani ulwalamano lwabapostile kunye naye noYise, iziziphi iintsikelelo eziya kubafikela?

²⁴ UYesu uthetha ngaye njengomdiliya wenyaniso yaye uYise ngumlimi wawo. Ubabongoza ukuba bahlale kuye, esithi: “Uzukiswa uBawo ngale nto, yokuba nithwale isiqhamo esininzi; niya kuba ngabam abafundi ke.” (15:8) Yaye lunokupheleliswa njani uvuyo lwabo? Ngokuthandana njengoko wabathandayo. Ubabiza ngokuba bangabahlobo. Olunjani lona ukuxabiseka ulwalamano! Ihlabathi liya kubathiya njengoko limthiyile yena, yaye liya kubatshutshisa, kodwa uYesu uya kubathumelela umncedi wokungqina ngaye noya kubakhokelela kuyo yonke inyaniso abafundi bakhe. Ukunxunguphala kwabo kwakalokunje kuya kuba luvuyo xa ephinda ebabona, yaye akukho bani oya kuluhlutha kubo uvuyo lwabo. La ngamazwi akhe okubathuthuzela: “Kuba uBawo ngokwakhe uyanithanda ngokuba nina nindithandile, nakholwa ukuba mna ndaphuma kuThixo. Ndaphuma kuBawo.” Ewe, baya kuba ziintsali, kodwa, uYesu uthi, “Ezi zinto ndizithethile kuni, ukuze nibe noxolo kum. Ehlabathini niya kuba nembandezelo; yomelelani, mna ndiloyisile ihlabathi.”—16:27, 33.

25. (a) Yintoni uYesu ayivakalisayo emthandazweni kuYise? (b) Yintoni azicelela yona, ayicelela abafundi bakhe, nabo baya kuba nokholo ngelizwi labo?

²⁵ Umthandazo kaYesu ngenxa yabafundi bakhe (17:1-26). Emthandazweni uYesu uvakalisa oku kuYise: “Bubo ke obu ubomi obungunaphakade, ukuba mabakwazi, wena ukuphela koThixo oyinyaniso, naye uYesu Kristu omthumileyo.” Ekubeni ewugqibile umsebenzi awabelweyo emhlabeni, ngoku uYesu ucela ukuzukiswa ndawonye noYise ngozuko awayenalo ngaphambi kokubakho kwehlabathi. Ulazisile igama likaYise kubafundi bakhe yaye ucela uYise ukuba abalondoloze ‘ngenxa yegama Lakhe.’ Ucela uYise, kungekhona ukuba abasuse ehlabathini, kodwa abasindise kongendawo, aze abangcwalise ngelizwi Lakhe eliyinyaniso. UYesu uwenza banzi umthandazo wakhe ukuze aquke nabo bonke abaseza kuba nokholo ngokuphulaphula ilizwi laba bafundi, “ukuze bonke babe banye; njengokuba wena, Bawo, ukum, mna ndikuwe, ukuze nabo babe banye kuthi; ukuze ihlabathi likholwe ukuba wena wandithuma.” Uyacela ukuba ngamana naba banganesabelo kunye naye kuzuko lwasemazulwini, kuba ubazisile igama likaYise, ukuze uthando Lwakhe luhlale lukubo.—17:3, 11, 21.

26. Le ngxelo ithini ngokuphathelele ukubanjwa kukaYesu nokusiwa kwakhe ematyaleni?

²⁶ Ukusiwa kukaKristu ematyaleni nokubethelelwa kwakhe (18:1–19:42). Ngoku uYesu nabafundi bakhe baya kwisitiya esiphesheya kweNtlambo yaseKidron. Kulapha athi uYuda abonakale enehlokondiba lamasoldati aze angcatshe uYesu, othi ngobulali azinikezele. Noko ke, uPetros umkhusela ngekrele kwaye ululekwa ngokuthi: “Indebe andinikileyo uBawo andisayi kuyisela na?” (18:11) Emva koku uYesu usiwa kuAnas ekhonkxiwe, uyise womfazi kaKayafa, umbingeleli omkhulu. UYohane noPetros balandela kufuphi, yaye uYohane ubangenisa kwintendelezo yombingeleli omkhulu, apho uPetros amkhanyela kathathu uKristu. Ekuqaleni uYesu ubuzwa nguAnas aze emva koko asiwe kuKayafa. Emva koku, uYesu usiwa phambi kwerhuluneli yamaRoma uPilato, amaYuda enkqangaza esithi makabulawe.

27. (a) Yiyiphi imibuzo engobukumkani nengegunya ephakanyiswa nguPilato, yaye uYesu uphendula njani? (b) Kukuphi ukuma okuthatyathwa ngamaYuda ngobukumkani?

²⁷ Kumbuzo kaPilato othi, “Ungukumkani na wena?” uYesu uphendula esithi: “Nawe uthi ndingukumkani. Mna ndizalelwe oku; ndizele oku ehlabathini, ukuze ndiyingqinele inyaniso.” (18:37) UPilato, engafumani bungqina buyinene bakummangalela uYesu, uthi makakhululwe, njengoko kwakulisiko ukukhulula ibanjwa elithile ngePasika, kodwa amaYuda athi mawakhululelwe umphangi onguBharabhas kunokuba ibe nguye. UPilato uthi makatyatyulwe uYesu, yaye kwakhona uzama ukumkhulula, kodwa amaYuda adanduluka esithi: “Mbethelele [emthini, NW]! Mbethelele [emthini, NW]! . . . kuba uzenza uNyana kaThixo.” Xa uPilato exelela uYesu ukuba unegunya lokumbethelela, uYesu uphendula esithi: “Unge ungenagunya nakanye kum, ukuba ubungalinikwanga livela phezulu.” Kwakhona amaYuda ayankqangaza esithi: “Susa, susa, mbethelele [emthini, NW]! . . . Thina asinakumkani ungenguye uKesare.” Bakutsho, uPilato uyamnikela ukuba abethelelwe.—19:6, 7, 11, 15.

28. Yintoni eyenzeka eGologota, yaye ziziphi iziprofeto ezizaliseka apho?

²⁸ UYesu usiwa “endaweni ekuthiwa, yeyokakayi, ekuthiwa ngesiHebhere yiGologota,” yaye ubethelelwa phakathi kwabanye ababini. Entla kwakhe uPilato uxhoma umbhalo othi “UYESU WASENAZARETE, UKUMKANI WAMAYUDA,” obhalwe ngesiHebhere, ngesiLatini nangesiGrike, ukuze bonke bawubone baze bawuqonde. (19:17, 19) UYesu unikela unina ukuba anyanyekelwe nguYohane, yaye, emva kokwamkela iviniga, uyadanduluka athi: “Kugqityiwe!” Emva koko uthoba intloko yakhe aze afe. (19:30) Ukuzalisekisa iziprofeto, abo bambulalayo benza amaqashiso ngeengubo zakhe, bayarhoxa ekuyaphuleni imilenze yakhe, baze bamhlabe ngomkhonto ecaleni. (Yoh. 19:24, 32-37; INdu. 22:18; 34:20; 22:17; Zek. 12:10) Emva koko, uYosefu waseArimati noNikodemo balungisa umzimba ukuze bawungcwabe baze bawubeke kwingcwaba elitsha elikufuphi.

29. (a) Ziziphi izihlandlo zokubonakala kukaYesu ovusiweyo kubafundi bakhe? (b) Ziziphi iingongoma uYesu azivelisayo kumazwi akhe okugqibela kuPetros?

²⁹ Ukubonakala kukaKristu ovusiweyo (20:1– 21:25). Ubungqina obuninzi bukaYohane ngoKristu buqukunjelwa ngengongoma evuyisayo yovuko. UMariya waseMagadala ulifumanisa ingcwaba lize, yaye uPetros nomnye umfundi (uYohane) babaleka besiya apho kodwa bafumana nje kuphela izithandelo neqhiya isele apho. UMariya, osele ekufuphi nengcwaba uthetha nezithunywa zezulu ezibini aze ekugqibeleni, athethe nendoda abecinga ukuba ngumgcini-myezo. Xa iphendula isithi, “Mariya!” kwangoko uyaqonda ukuba lo nguYesu. Emva koko, uYesu uzibonakalisa kubafundi bakhe kwindlu etshixiweyo, yaye ubaxelela ngamandla abaza kuwazuza ngomoya oyingcwele. Emva koko, uTomas, owayengekho, akakholelwa, kodwa kwiintsuku ezisibhozo kamva uYesu uyabonakala kwakhona aze amqinisekise, nto leyo emenza uTomas adanduluke athi, “Nkosi yam, Thixo wam!” (20:16, 28) Kwiintsuku ezithile kamva kwakhona uYesu udibana nabafundi bakhe, kuLwandle lwaseTibheriya; ubenzela ummangaliso wokubambisa iintlanzi aze emva koko afumane isidlo sakusasa kunye nabo. Izihlandlo ezithathu ubuza uPetros enoba uyamthanda na. Njengoko uPetros emi ngelokuba uyamthanda, uYesu ugxininisa esithi: “Dlisa amatakane am,” “Yalusa izimvu zam,” “Dlisa izimvu zam.” Wandula ke aluxele kusengaphambili uhlobo lokufa uPetros aya kumzukisa ngalo uThixo. UPetros ubuza ngoYohane, aze uYesu athi: “Ukuba ndithi ndithande ukuba yena ahlale ndide ndifike, iyini na loo nto kuwe?”—21:15-17, 22.

ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE YINGENELO

30. UYohane ugxininisa njani ngokukhethekileyo kuphawu lothando?

³⁰ Ekubeni zinesigidimi esinamandla nesingqale ngendlela eyeyisayo, yaye zimchaza ngendlela efudumez’ intliziyo uLizwi, owaba nguKristu, iindaba ezilungileyo “ngokubhalwe nguYohane” zisinika umfanekiso opheleleyo wentetho nezenzo zalo Nyana kaThixo othanjisiweyo. Nangona isimbo sokubhala sikaYohane nesigama asisebenzisayo silula, simdiza ‘engumntu ongenamfundo,’ inamandla gqitha ingxelo yakhe. (IZe. 4:13) Incwadi yakhe yeVangeli ibalasele ekwaziseni uthando olusenyongweni phakathi koYise noNyana, kwakunye nolwalamano olusikelelekileyo nolusekelwe kuthando olunokufunyanwa ngokumanyana kunye nabo. UYohane usebenzisa igama elithi “uthando” nelithi “wathanda” izihlandlo ezininzi kunezinye iincwadi zeVangeli zidityaniswe zontathu.

31. Luluphi ulwalamano olugxininiswayo kuyo yonke incwadi yeVangeli kaYohane, yaye ifikelela njani encotsheni yayo?

³¹ Ekuqaleni olunjani ukuzuka ulwalamano olwalukho phakathi koLizwi noThixo uYise! Ngokolwalathiso lukaThixo “uLizwi waba yinyama, wahlala phakathi kwethu, sabubona ubuqaqawuli bakhe, ubuqaqawuli kanye bowokuphela kwamzeleyo uYise, ezele lubabalo nayinyaniso.” (Yoh. 1:14) Ngoko, kuyo yonke ingxelo kaYohane, uYesu ugxininisa ulwalamano lwakhe njengolo lokuzithoba ngokuthobela ngokungenasikrokro ekwenzeni ukuthanda kukaYise. (4:34; 5:19, 30; 7:16; 10:29, 30; 11:41, 42; 12:27, 49, 50; 14:10) Inkcazelo yakhe engolu lwalamano lothando ifikelela kwincopho yayo ezukileyo kumthandazo ochukumisayo obhalwe kuYohane isahluko 17, apho uYesu anikela ingxelo kuYise yokuba uwugqibile umsebenzi abemnike ukuba awenze emhlabeni yaye wongezelela esithi: “Ndizukise ke ngoku, wena Bawo, kuwe ngokwakho, ngozuko ebendinalo kuwe, lingekabikho ihlabathi.”—17:5.

32. UYesu ulubonisa ngawaphi amazwi ulwalamano lwakhe nabafundi bakhe nokuba ukuphela kwejelo ezidluliselwa ngalo iintsikelelo zobomi eluntwini?

³² Kuthekani ngolwalamano lukaYesu nabafundi bakhe? Indima kaYesu njengokuphela kwejelo likaThixo lokudlulisela iintsikelelo kubo nakulo lonke uluntu isoloko ibalaseliswa. (14:13, 14; 15:16; 16:23, 24) Kubhekiswa kuye ‘njengeMvana kaThixo,’ “isonka sobomi,” “ukhanyiselo lwehlabathi,” “umalusi olungileyo,” ‘uvuko nobomi,’ ‘indlela, inyaniso nobomi,’ ‘nomdiliya wenyaniso.’ (1:29; 6:35; 8:12; 10:11; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1) Kukulo mzekeliso ‘womdiliya wenyaniso’ uYesu acacisa kuwo umanyano olumangalisayo olukho kungekuphela phakathi kwabalandeli bakhe bokwenyaniso naye kodwa kwanoYise. Ngokuthwala iziqhamo ezininzi, baya kumzukisa uYise. UYesu ubaluleka esithi: “Njengoko uBawo wandithandayo, nam ndanithanda; hlalani ke eluthandweni lwam.”—15:9.

33. Yiyiphi injongo yobulungiseleli bakhe uYesu ayivakalisa emthandazweni?

³³ Enjani yona indlela athandaza ngokunzulu ngayo kuYehova emva koku ukuze bonke aba abathandayo, ‘nabo baya kukholwa kuye ngelizwi labo,’ babe bangamanyana noYise kunye naye, bengcwaliswe ngelizwi lenyaniso! Enyanisweni, iyonke nje injongo yobulungiseleli bukaYesu iye yavakaliswa ngokumangalisayo kumazwi okugqibela omthandazo wakhe kuYise athi: “Ndabazisa igama lakho, ndandiya kubazisa; ukuze uthando ondithande ngalo lube kubo, nam ndibe kubo.”—17:20, 26.

34. Sisiphi isiluleko esiyingenelo uYesu asinikelayo ngendlela yokoyisa ihlabathi?

³⁴ Nangona uYesu wayebashiya abafundi bakhe ehlabathini, wayengazi kubashiya bengenamncedi, “umoya wenyaniso.” Ngaphezu koko, wabanika isiluleko esifike ngexesha elifanelekileyo ngolwalamano lwabo nehlabathi, ebabonisa indlela yokoyisa ‘njengoonyana bokukhanya.’ (14:16, 17; 3:19-21; 12:36) UYesu wathi: “Ukuba nina nithe nahlala elizwini lam, noba ningabafundi bam, inyaniso. Naniya kuyazi inyaniso, yaye inyaniso iya kunikhulula.” Ngokwahlukileyo koko, wathi koonyana bobumnyama: “Nina ningaboyihlo uMtyholi, neenkanuko zoyihlo niyathanda ukuzenza. . . . Akemi enyanisweni, ngokuba akukho nyaniso kuye.” Ngoko, masizimisele ngamaxesha onke ukuma ngokuqinileyo enyanisweni, ewe, ‘ukumnqula uBawo ngomoya nangenyaniso,’ size somelezwe ngamazwi kaYesu athi: “Yomelelani, mna ndiloyisile ihlabathi.”—8:31, 32, 44; 4:23; 16:33.

35. (a) Bubuphi ubungqina uYesu abunikelayo ngokuphathelele uBukumkani bukaThixo? (b) Kutheni incwadi yeVangeli kaYohane inikela isizathu sokuba noyolo nesokuba nombulelo?

³⁵ Konke oku kwakunento yokwenza noBukumkani bukaThixo. UYesu wakungqina oku xa wayesematyaleni ngokuthi: “Ubukumkani bam asibubo obeli hlabathi; ukuba bebububo obeli hlabathi ubukumkani bam, amakhonza am ange ezama, ukuze ndinganikelwa kumaYuda; ngoku ke ubukumkani bam asibobalapha.” Wandula ke, ephendula umbuzo kaPilato, wathi: “Nawe uthi ndingukumkani. Mna ndizalelwe oku; ndizele oku ehlabathini, ukuze ndiyingqinele inyaniso. Bonke abangabenyaniso bayaliva ilizwi lam.” (18:36, 37) Ngenene banoyolo abo baphulaphulayo nabo ‘bazelwe ngokutsha’ ukuze ‘bangene ebukumkanini bukaThixo’ bemanyene noKumkani. Banoyolo ‘abezinye izimvu’ abaliphulaphulayo ilizwi loKumkani onguMalusi baze bazuze ubomi. Enyanisweni, kukho isizathu sokuba nombulelo ngelungiselelo lencwadi yeVangeli kaYohane, kuba yabhalelwa “ukuze nikholwe ukuba uYesu unguye uKristu, uNyana kaThixo, nokuze nithi, nikholwa, nibe nabo ubomi egameni lakhe.”—3:3, 5; 10:16; 20:31.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]