Wafinyelela ‘Iziphetho Enhliziyweni Yakhe’

1, 2. Chaza uhambo lukaMariya, uchaze nokuthi yini eyalwenza lwaba nzima.

UMARIYA wazama ukuhlala kahle phezu kwembongolo. Kwase kuphele amahora ehamba ngayo. Phambi kwakhe kwakunoJosefa ehamba kancane emgwaqweni oya kude le eBhetlehema. UMariya waphinde wezwa ingane inyakaza esiswini.

² Wayesenezinyanga eziningi ekhulelwe uMariya; iBhayibheli limchaza ngokuthi ngalesi sikhathi “wayesezobeletha.” (Luka 2:5) Njengoba lo mbhangqwana ulokhu udlula amasimu ngamasimu, mhlawumbe abanye babalimi babephakamisa amakhanda bazibuze ukuthi lo mame okulesi simo ubeyaphi nje nempela. Yini eyayibeke uMariya kude kangaka nakubo eNazaretha?

 3. Yisiphi isabelo esasitholwe uMariya, futhi yini esizoyifunda ngaye?

³ Indaba yaqala ezinyangeni eziningi ngaphambili lapho le ntombi engumJuda ithola isabelo esasingakaze sitholwe muntu emhlabeni. Yayizozala ingane eyayizoba uMesiya, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu! (Luka 1:35) Njengoba sisondela isikhathi sokubeletha, kwaphakama isidingo sokuba kuthathwe lolu hambo. Phakathi nalo, uMariya wanqwamana nezinto eziningi ezaba yinselele okholweni lwakhe. Ake sibone ukuthi yini eyamsiza wahlala eqinile ngokomoya.

4, 5. (a) Kungani uJosefa noMariya babelibangise eBhetlehema? (b) Umyalo kaKhesari waholela ekugcwalisekeni kwasiphi isiprofetho?

⁴ Kwakungeyena uJosefa noMariya kuphela ababethatha lolu hambo. UKhesari Awugustu wayesanda kukhipha umyalo wokuba abantu babhaliswe, ngakho abantu kwadingeka baye ezweni lenkaba yabo ukuze babhaliswe. Wasabela kanjani uJosefa? Indaba ithi: “Yebo, uJosefa naye wakhuphuka eGalile, waphuma emzini waseNazaretha, waya eJudiya, emzini kaDavide, okuthiwa iBhetlehema, ngenxa yokuba eyilungu lendlu nomndeni kaDavide.”—Luka 2:1-4.

⁵ Akumananga nje kwaqondana ukuba uKhesari awukhiphe ngalesi sikhathi lo myalo. Isiprofetho esasilotshwe eminyakeni engaba ngu-700 ngaphambili sasibikezele ukuthi uMesiya wayeyozalelwa eBhetlehema. Wawukhona umuzi owawubizwa ngeBhetlehema uqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-11 kuphela eNazaretha. Kepha isiprofetho sacacisa ukuthi ‘yiBhetlehema-Efratha’ okwakuyovela kulo uMesiya. (Funda uMika 5:2.) Uma izihambi zisuka eNazaretha ziya kulowo muzi omncane zizodlula ngaseSamariya, zazihamba amakhilomitha angaba ngu-130 ezindaweni ezinamagquma. Yilelo Bhetlehema uJosefa ayezokuya kulo ngoba lalingumuzi kakhokho womndeni weNkosi uDavide—umndeni wakubo kaJosefa nomkakhe.

6, 7. (a) Kungani lwalungase lube inselele kuMariya uhambo lwaseBhetlehema? (b) Ukuba umkaJosefa kwaba namuphi umthelela ezinqumweni zikaMariya? (Bheka nombhalo waphansi.)

⁶ Ingabe uMariya wayezomsekela uJosefa esinqumweni sakhe sokuya eBhetlehema? Phela lwaluzoba nzima kuye lolu hambo. Cishe kwakusekuqaleni kwekwindla, ngakho lalingase libe nemikhizwana njengoba isikhathi sokungabi nazimvula sase sizophela. Ngaphezu kwalokho, inkulumo ethi “wakhuphuka eGalile” iyafaneleka ngoba iBhetlehema lalisendaweni ephakeme ngamamitha angu-760—kukhuphukela impela, umqansa owawuphetha uhambo lwezinsuku ezimbalwa. Mhlawumbe lwaluzothatha isikhathi esijana kunokujwayelekile ngoba isimo sikaMariya sasingamenza adinge ukuphumula kaningi. Esikhathini esinjena, owesifazane osemusha angase athande ukuba seduze kwasekhaya, lapho kukhona khona umndeni nabangane abangamlekelela lapho eqala ukusikwa. Akungatshazwa ukuthi wayedinga isibindi ukuze athathe lolu hambo.

⁷ Noma kunjalo, uLuka uthi uJosefa wahamba “ukuze abhaliswe kanye noMariya.” Uveza nokuthi uMariya ‘wayendiselwe [kuJosefa] njengoba kwakuthenjisiwe.’ (Luka 2:4, 5) Ukuba umkaJosefa kwaba nomthelela omkhulu ezinqumweni zikaMariya. Wayebheka umyeni wakhe njengenhloko yakhe engokomoya, wamukela indima ayinikwe uNkulunkulu njengomsizi wakhe ngokumsekela ezinqumweni azenzayo.a Ngakho uMariya wabhekana nalesi simo esasingase sibekele ukholo lwakhe inselele ngokulalela umyeni wakhe.

 8. (a) Yini enye okungenzeka yashukumisa uMariya ukuba aye eBhetlehema noJosefa? (b) Kungani siyisikhuthazo isibonelo sikaMariya kubantu abathembekile?

⁸ Yini enye okungenzeka yashukumisa uMariya ukuba alalele? Ingabe wayesazi isiprofetho esiphathelene nokuthi uMesiya wayeyozalelwa eBhetlehema? IBhayibheli alisho. Kungenzeka ukuthi wayesazi ngoba abaholi benkolo ngisho nabantu abavamile babelazi lelo qiniso. (Math. 2:1-7; Joh. 7:40-42) UMariya wayeyazi kahle imiBhalo. (Luka 1:46-55) Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi uMariya wanquma ukuhamba ngoba elalela umyeni wakhe, umyalo kaKhesari, noma isiprofetho sikaJehova—noma inhlanganisela yezizathu—wabeka isibonelo esihle kakhulu. UJehova uwazisa kakhulu umoya wentobeko nowokulalela kubantu besilisa nabesifazane. Namuhla, lapho ukuthobeka kuvame ukuba phakathi kwezimfanelo ezingashaywa mkhuba, isibonelo sikaMariya siyisikhuthazo esikhulu kubo bonke abathembekile.

9, 10. (a) Kungenzeka uMariya noJosefa bacabangani njengoba besondela eBhetlehema? (b) Kungani uJosefa noMariya bahlala lapho bahlala khona?

⁹ Kumelwe ukuba kwathi gidi kuMariya lapho ebona iBhetlehema. Njengoba bekhuphuka imimmango, bedlula amasimu eminqumo—ephakathi kwezitshalo zokugcina ezazivunwa—kungenzeka ukuthi uMariya noJosefa bacabanga ngomlando walo mzana omncane. Wawungabalulekile neze ukuba ungabalwa phakathi kwemizi yakwaJuda, njengoba nje umprofethi uMika ayeshilo; noma kunjalo, uyindawo okwazalelwa kuyo uBhowazi, uNawomi, kamuva noDavide, eminyakeni engaphezu kweyinkulungwane ngaphambili.

¹⁰ UMariya noJosefa bafika kugcwele kulo mzana. Abanye babefike kuqala kunabo bezobhalisa, ngakho abayitholanga indawo egumbini lezihambi.b Ayikho into ababengayenza ngaphandle kokuhlala esitebeleni. Singakubona ukukhathazeka kukaJosefa njengoba ebona umkakhe ezwa izinhlungu ayeqala ukuzizwa, futhi zaya ziba zimbi nakakhulu. Wayeseqalile ukusikwa, kuyo le ndawo obungeke uyicabange.

11. (a) Kungani abesifazane yonke indawo bengasiqonda isimo uMariya ayekuso? (b) UJesu ‘wayeyizibulo’ ngaziphi izindlela?

¹¹ Kuyo yonke indawo omama bangasiqonda isimo uMariya ayekuso. Eminyakeni engaba ngu-4 000 ngaphambili, uJehova wayebikezele ukuthi bonke abesifazane bayozwa ubuhlungu lapho bebeletha ngenxa yesono esisizuze njengefa. (Gen. 3:16) Abukho ubufakazi obusikisela ukuthi uMariya yena wayengeke abuzwe ubuhlungu. Ukulandisa kukaLuka akusho lutho ngobuhlungu abuzwa, kumane nje kuthi: “Wayibeletha indodana yakhe, izibulo.” (Luka 2:7) Yebo, lase lifikile “izibulo” lakhe—ingane yokuqala ezinganeni zikaMariya eziningi, okungenani eziyisikhombisa sezizonke. (Marku 6:3) Kepha lena yayiyokwehluka kwezinye. Akukona nje ukuthi yayiyizibulo lakhe kodwa futhi yayiyizibulo likaJehova uqobo, “izibulo layo yonke indalo,” iNdodana kaNkulunkulu ezelwe yodwa!—Kol. 1:15.

12. UMariya wamlalisaphi umntwana, futhi okwenzeka ngempela kuhluke kanjani emidlalweni, emidwebweni nasemifanekisweni yokuzalwa kukaJesu?

¹² Kulapha lapho ukulandisa kwenezela khona isici esaziwa kakhulu: “Wayisonga ngemidweshu yendwangu wayibeka emkhombeni.” (Luka 2:7) Imidlalo, imidwebo nemifanekiso ebonisa ukuzalwa kukaJesu emhlabeni jikelele, konke kubonisa ukuthi sithandwa ngendlela eyeqisayo lesi sici. Kepha ake ucabange ngalokho okwenzeka ngempela. Umkhombe uyindawo okudlela kuyo izilwane ezifuyiwe. Khumbula, lo mkhaya wawungenise esitebeleni, indawo ongeke uthi inomoya oqabulayo noma ihlanzekile—ngaleso sikhathi namanje. Bakhona yini abazali abangakhetha indawo enjalo ukuba kuzalelwe kuyo ingane yabo uma zikhona izindawo ezingcono? Iningi labazali libafunela okuhle abantababo. Kangakanani-ke ngoMariya noJosefa, babeyifunela okungcono kakhulu iNdodana kaNkulunkulu!

13. (a) UMariya noJosefa bakwenza kanjani konke okusemandleni abo ngababenakho? (b) Abazali abahlakaniphile namuhla bangabalingisa kanjani oJosefa noMariya lapho bekhulisa izingane zabo?

¹³ Noma kunjalo, abazivumelanga izimo ezimbi zibaqedele injabulo; bamane benza konke ababengakwenza ngalokho ababenakho. Ngokwesibonelo, phawula ukuthi uMariya wazinakekelela usana lwakhe, walusonga ngemidweshu yendwangu lwafudumala kamnandi, wayeselubeka kahle emkhombeni ukuze lulale, waqikelela ukuthi luthokomele futhi luphephile. UMariya akazange avumele ukukhathazeka ngesimo esingesihle ayekuso kumphazamise ekunikezeni umntanakhe okungcono kakhulu ayengamnika kona. Yena noJosefa babazi nokuthi ukunakekela le ngane ngokomoya kwakuzoba into esemqoka kunazo zonke ababengayenzela yona. (Funda uDuteronomi 6:6-8.) Namuhla, abazali abahlakaniphile benza okufanayo lapho bekhulisa izingane zabo kuleli zwe elingenandaba noNkulunkulu.

14, 15. (a) Kungani abelusi babemagange ukubona ingane? (b) Abelusi benzani ngemva kokubona uJesu esitebeleni?

¹⁴ Kwasuka isiphithiphithana nje kungalindelekile saqeda ukuthula okwakukhona. Kwagulukudela abelusi esitebeleni, bemagange ukubona lo mkhaya, ikakhulukazi ingane. La madoda ayechichima injabulo, intokozo ibhalwe ebusweni. Ayevela emagqumeni ayehlala kuwo nemihlambi yawo.c Atshela abazali ababemangele ngento eyayisanda kuwehlela. Esemagqumeni phakathi kwamabili, kwakufike kuwo ingelosi engalindele. Inkazimulo kaJehova yayibenyezele nxazonke zawo, ingelosi yawatshela ukuthi uKristu, noma uMesiya, wayesanda kuzalwa eBhetlehema. Ayezomthola elele emkhombeni, esongwe ngemichilo yendwangu. Kwabe sekwenzeka okwabamangaza nakakhulu—kwavela ibutho lezingelosi ezinamandla lidumisa uNkulunkulu!—Luka 2:8-14.

¹⁵ Shono la madoda athobekile afika eseshesha kangaka eBhetlehema! Kumelwe ukuba kwawathokozisa ukubona usana olusanda kuzalwa lulele emkhombeni njengoba nje ingelosi yayichazile. Awazigcinanga kuwo lezi zindaba ezimnandi. ‘Abalandisa amazwi. Futhi bonke abezwa bamangala ngezinto ababezitshelwa abelusi.’ (Luka 2:17, 18) Abaholi benkolo bangaleso sikhathi babebabukela phansi abelusi. Kepha kusobala ukuthi uJehova wayewazisa la madoda athobekile nathembekile. Lokhu kuvakasha kwabo kwamthinta kanjani-ke kodwa uMariya?

16. UMariya wabonisa kanjani ukuthi uyacabangisisa ngempela ngezinto, okwembula siphi isihluthulelo sokholo lwakhe?

¹⁶ Ngokuqinisekile uMariya wayekhathele ngenxa yobunzima nobuhlungu bokubeletha, noma kunjalo walalelisisa izwi nezwi elalikhulunywa. Wenza nokwengeziwe: “Wawalondoloza wonke la mazwi, efinyelela iziphetho enhliziyweni yakhe.” (Luka 2:19) Le ntokazi yayicabangisisa ngempela ngezinto. Yayazi ukuthi lo myalezo wengelosi wawusemqoka. UNkulunkulu wayo, uJehova, wayefuna yazi futhi iqonde ukuthi ingubani indodana yayo nokuthi ibaluleke kangakanani. Ngakho yenza okungaphezu kokulalela. Yawalondoloza enhliziyweni yayo lawo mazwi ukuze izindle ngawo iphindelela ezinyangeni naseminyakeni eyayiseza. Yileso isihluthulelo esivelele sokholo uMariya alubonisa ukuphila kwakhe konke.—Funda eyamaHebheru 11:1.

17. Singasilandela kanjani isibonelo sikaMariya uma kuziwa emaqinisweni angokomoya?

¹⁷ Ingabe uzosilingisa isibonelo sikaMariya? UJehova ugcwalise amakhasi eZwi lakhe ngamaqiniso abaluleke kakhulu angokomoya. Kepha lawo maqiniso ngeke asisize ngalutho uma singawanaki. Siwanaka ngokufunda iBhayibheli njalo—singalifundi nje sengathi liyincwadi evamile kodwa njengeliyiZwi likaNkulunkulu eliphefumulelwe. (2 Thim. 3:16) Khona-ke, njengoMariya, kudingeka silondoloze amazwi angokomoya ezinhliziyweni zethu, sifinyelele iziphetho. Uma sizindla ngesikufunda eBhayibhelini, sicabange ngezindlela esingasebenzisa ngazo iseluleko sikaJehova ngokugcwele, siyonika ukholo lwethu umsoco oluwudingayo ukuze lukhule.

18. (a) UMariya noJosefa bawulalela kanjani uMthetho KaMose ngesikhathi uJesu esemncane? (b) Umnikelo uJosefa noMariya abawunikela ethempelini wembulani ngesimo sabo sezomnotho?

¹⁸ Ngosuku lwesishiyagalombili umntwana ezelwe, uMariya noJosefa bamsoka njengokusho koMthetho KaMose, bamqamba ngokuthi uJesu njengoba kwakushiwo. (Luka 1:31) Kwathi ngosuku lwama-40, bahamba naye besuka eBhetlehema baya ethempelini eJerusalema, uhambo olungamakhilomitha angaba yishumi, banikela iminikelo yokuzihlanza uMthetho owawuvumela abampofu ukuba bawunikele—amahobhe amabili noma amajuba amabili. Uma babenamahloni ngokunikela okungaphansi kwenqama nehobhe abanye abazali ababenamandla okukunikela, bayiziba leyo mizwa. Ngesikhathi belapho bathola isikhuthazo esinamandla.—Luka 2:21-24.

19. (a) USimeyoni wathini kuMariya lapho emnika amazwi ayezowalondoloza enhliziyweni yakhe? (b) Wasabela kanjani u-Ana lapho ebona uJesu?

¹⁹ Ikhehla okuthiwa uSimeyoni laya kubo latshela uMariya amazwi engeziwe ayezowalondoloza enhliziyweni yakhe. Lalithenjiswe ukuthi liyobona uMesiya ngaphambi kokuba life, futhi umoya ongcwele kaJehova walibonisa ukuthi lo Jesu osemncane unguMsindisi owayebikezelwe. USimeyoni waxwayisa uMariya nangobuhlungu okwakuyodingeka abukhuthazelele ngelinye ilanga. Wathi kwakuyoba njengokungathi inkemba ende idatshuliswe emphefumulweni wakhe. (Luka 2:25-35) Ngisho nalawo mazwi ethusayo kungenzeka amsiza uMariya ukuba akhuthazele lapho sifika leso sikhathi esinzima, ngemva kweminyaka engamashumi amathathu. Eseqedile uSimeyoni, uJesu wabonwa umprofethikazi okuthiwa u-Ana futhi waqala ukukhuluma ngaye kubo bonke ababelindele ukukhululwa kweJerusalema.—Funda uLuka 2:36-38.

20. Kungani kwaba isinqumo esihle ukuyisa uJesu ethempelini eJerusalema?

²⁰ Yeka isinqumo esihle esenziwa uJosefa noMariya sokuyisa umntanabo ethempelini likaJehova eJerusalema! Lokho kwaba isiqalo senkambo yokuphila yokuba khona ngokwethembeka ethempelini likaJehova. Belapho, banikela ngalokho ababenamandla ako base bethola amazwi abafundisa okuthile futhi abakhuthaza. Akungabazeki ukuthi ngalelo langa uMariya waphuma ethempelini enokholo oluqine nakakhulu, inhliziyo yakhe igcwele amaqiniso angokomoya ayengazindla ngawo awabele nabanye.

21. Singaqiniseka kanjani ukuthi ukholo lwethu luqina nakakhulu, njengoba kwaqina olukaMariya?

²¹ Kuhle ukubona abazali namuhla belandela leso sibonelo. Phakathi koFakazi BakaJehova, abazali beza ngokwethembeka nezingane zabo emihlanganweni yobuKristu. Labo bazali banikela ngabanamandla ako, bakhuthaze amanye amakholwa. Futhi bagoduka beqine nakakhulu, bejabule nakakhulu, benezinto eziningi ezinhle abangazabela nabanye. Akuve kumnandi ukuhlangana nabo! Uma senza kanjalo, siyothola ukuthi ukholo lwethu luyoqina nakakhulu, njengolukaMariya.