Isahluko 11

UJohane Ulungisa Indlela

SEKUPHELE iminyaka eyishumi nesikhombisa kusukela uJesu engumntwana oneminyaka engu-12 ebuzana nabafundisi ethempelini. Kusentwasahlobo yonyaka ka-29 C.E., futhi kubonakala sengathi bonke abantu bakhuluma ngomzala kaJesu uJohane, oshumayela kulo lonke izwe elingaseMfuleni iJordani.

UJohane ngempela uyindoda ehlaba umxhwele, kokubili ngokubukeka nangokukhuluma. Ingubo yakhe eyoboya bekamela, futhi ubopha ibhande lesikhumba okhalweni lwakhe. Ukudla kwakhe yizinkumbi noju lwasendle. Sithini isigijimi sakhe? “Phendukani, ngokuba umbuso wezulu ususondele!”

Lesigijimi sithakazelisa izilaleli zakhe. Abaningi bayasiqaphela isidingo sabo sokuphenduka, okuwukuthi, ukushintsha isimo sabo sengqondo nokulahla inkambo yabo yokuphila yangaphambili njengengathandeki. Ngakho bevela kuso sonke isifunda esizungeze iJordani, ngisho naseJerusalema, abantu beza kuJohane ngobuningi, futhi uyababhapathiza, ebacwilisa emanzini eJordani. Ngani?

UJohane ubhapathiza abantu njengophawu, noma ukuvuma ukuphenduka kwabo okusuka enhliziyweni ngenxa yokona isivumelwano soMthetho sikaNkulunkulu. Ngakho-ke, lapho abanye abaFarisi nabaSadusi beza eJordani, uJohane uyabalahla. “Nzalo yezinyoka,” esho. “Vezani izithelo ezifanele ukuphenduka. Ningacabangi ukuba ningasho phakathi kwenu ukuthi: Sinobaba uAbrahama; ngokuba ngithi kini: UNkulunkulu angamvusela uAbrahama abantwana kulawamatshe. Izembe selibekiwe empandeni yemithi; ngakho yonke imithi engatheli izithelo ezinhle iyanqunywa, iphonswe emlilweni.”

Ngenxa yakho konke ukunakwa uJohane akutholayo, amaJuda athumela kuye abapristi namaLevi. Bayabuza: “Wena ungubani na?”

“Angisiye uKristu mina,” kuvuma uJohane.

“Uyini pho?” bebuza. “UnguEliya na?”

“Angisiye,” ephendula.

“UngumProfethi na?”

“Qha.”

Ngakho bayaqala ukuphikelela: “Ungubani na? ukuze sibaphendule abasithumileyo; uzisho ukuthi ungubani na?”

UJohane uyachaza: “Ngiyizwi lomemeza ehlane, ethi: Lungisani indlela yeNkosi, njengalokho washo uIsaya umprofethi.”

“Pho, ubhapathizelani,” befuna ukwazi, “uma ungesiye uKristu, noEliya, nomProfethi, na?”

“Mina ngibhapathiza ngamanzi,” ephendula. “Umi phakathi kwenu eningamaziyo: yena ozayo emva kwami.”

UJohane ulungisa indlela ngokwenza abantu babe nesimo esihle senhliziyo ukuze bamukele uMesiya, oyoba iNkosi. NgaLona uJohane uthi: “Yena oza emva kwami unamandla kunami engingafanele ukuthwala izicathulo zakhe.” Eqinisweni, uJohane uze athi: “Lowo ozayo emva kwami uvelile ngaphambi kwami, ngokuba wayekhona kuqala kunami.”

Ngakho-ke isigijimi sikaJohane esithi, “umbuso wezulu ususondele,” siwukwazisa iningi ukuthi inkonzo yeNkosi kaJehova emisiwe, uJesu Kristu, isizoqala. Johane 1:6-8, 15-28; Mathewu 3:1-12; Luka 3:1-18; IzEnzo 19:4.

▪ UJohane uluhlobo luni lomuntu?

▪ Kungani uJohane ebhapathiza abantu?

▪ Kungani uJohane engase athi uMbuso ususondele?