“Inceku Ethembekileyo” NeNdikimba Yayo Ebusayo
“Pho, ngubani oyinceku ethembekileyo neqondayo, inkosi yayo eyimisile phezu kwabendlu yayo ukuba ibanike ukudla ngesikhathi sakho na?”—MATHEWU 24:45.
1. Kungani uJehova ezimisele ukuphathisa igunya, futhi ubani aye wamphathisa ngokuyinhloko?
UJEHOVA unguNkulunkulu wokuhleleka. Futhi unguMthombo walo lonke igunya elingokomthetho. Eqiniseka ngobuqotho bezidalwa zakhe ezithembekile, uJehova uzimisele ukuziphathisa igunya. Lowo amnike igunya eliphakeme kunawo wonke iNdodana yakhe, uJesu Kristu. Ngempela, uNkulunkulu “wakubeka konke phansi kwezinyawo zakhe, wammisa abe-yinhloko phezu kwakho konke kulo ibandla.”—Efesu 1:22.
2. UPawulu ulibiza ngokuthini ibandla lobuKristu, futhi uKristu uliphathise bani igunya?
2 Umphostoli uPawulu ubiza ibandla lobuKristu ngokuthi ‘indlu kaNkulunkulu’ futhi uthi iNdodana kaJehova ethembekile, uJesu Kristu, yabekwa phezu kwalendlu. (1 Thimothewu 3:15; Heberu 3:6) UKristu naye, uphathisa amalungu endlu kaNkulunkulu igunya. Lokhu singakubona emazwini kaJesu alotshwe kuMathewu 24:45-47. Wathi: “Pho, ngubani oyinceku ethembekileyo neqondayo, inkosi yayo eyimisile phezu kwabendlu yayo ukuba ibanike ukudla ngesikhathi sakho na? Ibusisiwe leyonceku, okuyakuthi kufika inkosi yayo, iyifumane yenze njalo. Ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Iyakuyimisa phezu kwakho konke enakho [yonke impahla yayo].”
Umphathi Wendlu Wekhulu Leminyaka Lokuqala
3. Obani abakha “inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo,” futhi yiliphi igama elisetshenziswa kubo ngabanye?
3 Ngokuyifunda kwethu ngokucophelela imiBhalo, siyazi ukuthi amalungu agcotshwe ngomoya endlu kaNkulunkulu nganoma yisiphi isikhathi ewonke akha “inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo,” “umphathi,” noma “umphathi wendlu.” Ngamanye, amalungu endlu kaJehova abizwa ngokuthi “abendlu” noma “indikimba yabalindi.”—Mathewu 24:45; Luka 12:42, NW; Reference Bible, umbhalo waphansi.
4. Ngokushesha ngaphambi kokufa kwakhe, uJesu waphakamisa muphi umbuzo, futhi wazifanisa nobani?
4 Ezinyangeni ezithile ngaphambi kokufa kwakhe, uJesu waphakamisa lombuzo, olotshwe kuLuka 12:42: “[Yi]muphi-ke umphathi othembekileyo noqondileyo, inkosi yakhe eyakumbeka phezu kwabendlu bayo ukuba abanike isabelo sabo sokudla ngesikhathi sakho?” Khona-ke, ezinsukwini ezimbalwa ngaphambi kokuba afe, uJesu wazifanisa nomuntu owayezohamba aye kwelinye izwe, owabiza izinceku zakhe futhi waziphathisa impahla yakhe.—Mathewu 25:14.
5. (a) UJesu wababela nini abanye ukuba banakekele impahla yakhe? (b) Yisiphi isabelo esandisiwe uKristu asinika labo ababeyoba yingxenye yomphathi wendlu ohlanganisa abantu abaningi?
5 UJesu wababela nini abanye ukuba babheke impahla yakhe? Lokhu kwenzeka ngemva kokuvuswa kwakhe. Emazwini akhe ajwayelekile atholakala kuMathewu 28:19, 20, uKristu okokuqala wanika labo ababeyoba yingxenye yomphathi wakhe wendlu ohlanganisa abantu abaningi isabelo esandisiwe sokufundisa nokwenza abafundi. Ngokufakaza ngabanye “ezingxenyeni ezikude zomhlaba,” abalindi babeyokwandisa insimu yezithunywa zevangeli uJesu ayeseqale ukuyihlakulela phakathi nenkonzo yakhe yasemhlabeni. (IzEnzo 1:8, NW) Lokhu kwahilela ukuba basebenze ‘njengamanxusa kaKristu.’ ‘Njengabaphathi bezimfihlakalo zikaNkulunkulu,’ babeyokwenza abafundi futhi bababele ukudla okungokomoya.—2 Korinte 5:20; 1 Korinte 4:1, 2.
INdikimba Ebusayo Yendlu
6. Yini isigaba somphathi sekhulu leminyaka lokuqala esasiphefumlelwe ngokwaphezulu ukuba siyilungiselele?
6 Njengeqembu, amaKristu agcotshwe ngomoya kwakumelwe abe umphathi wenkosi, noma umphathi wendlu, owabelwe ukwaba ukudla okungokomoya ngesikhathi esifanele emalungwini ngamanye endlu kaNkulunkulu. Phakathi neminyaka ka-41 C.E. no-98 C.E., amalungu esigaba somphathi sekhulu leminyaka lokuqala aphefumlelwa ngokwaphezulu ukuba alobe ukulandisa okungokomlando okuyisihlanu, nezincwadi ezingu-21, nencwadi yesAmbulo ukuze kuzuze abafowabo. Lemibhalo ephefumlelwe iqukethe ukudla okuhle okungokomoya kwabendlu, okungukuthi, bonke abagcotshiwe bendlu kaNkulunkulu.
7. Kungayiphi injongo uKristu akhetha inani lamadoda ambalwa esigabeni senceku?
7 Nakuba amaKristu agcotshiwe njengeqembu akha indlu kaNkulunkulu, kunobufakazi obuningi bokuthi uKristu wakhetha inani elincane lamadoda esigabeni senceku ukuba likhonze njengendikimba ebusayo ebonakalayo. Umlando wakuqala webandla ubonisa ukuthi abaphostoli abangu-12, kuhlanganise noMathiya, babeyisisekelo sendikimba ebusayo yekhulu leminyaka lokuqala. IzEnzo 1:20-26 zisibonisa lokhu. Ngokuqondene nokuthathelwa isikhundla kukaJuda Iskariyothe, kubhekiselwa ‘esikhundleni sakhe sobubonisi,’ ‘nakulenkonzo nobuphostoli.’
8. Imithwalo yemfanelo yendikimba ebusayo yekhulu leminyaka lokuqala yayihlanganisani?
8 Isikhundla esinjalo sobubonisi sasihlanganisa nomthwalo wemfanelo wabaphostoli wokumisa amadoda afanelekayo ezikhundleni zenkonzo nokuhlela inkonzo. Kodwa kwakusho okwengeziwe. Kwakuhilela futhi ukufunda nokucacisa amaphuzu ezimfundiso. Ugcwalisa isithembiso sikaJesu esibhalwe kuJohane 16:13, “u[m]oya weqiniso” kwakumelwe uqondise ibandla lobuKristu ngokuqhubekayo kulo lonke iqiniso. Kusukela ekuqaleni nje, labo abalamukela izwi futhi baba amaKristu abhapathiziwe nagcotshiwe, baqhubeka bezinikela “esifundisweni sabaphostoli.” Eqinisweni, isizathu sokuba amadoda ayisikhombisa atusekayo amiswe emsebenzini obalulekile wokwaba ukudla okubalulekile sasiwukuba “abayishumi nambili” bakwazi ukuhlala bekhululekile ukuba ‘baqinisele ekukhulekeni nasenkonzweni yezwi.’—IzEnzo 2:42; 6:1-6.
9. Indikimba ebusayo yokuqala yancipha kanjani yaba namalungu angu-11, kodwa ngokusobala kungani inani lingasheshanga ukubuyiselwa ku-12?
9 Kubonakala sengathi ekuqaleni indikimba ebusayo yayakhiwa abaphostoli bakaJesu kuphela. Kodwa ingabe yayiyohlala injalo? Cishe ngonyaka ka-44 C.E., umphostoli uJakobe, umfowabo kaJohane, wabulawa uHerode Agripha I. (IzEnzo 12:1, 2) Ngokusobala awukho umzamo owenziwa wokuba kufakwe omunye endaweni yakhe njengomphostoli, njengoba kwenziwa endabeni kaJuda. Kungani kungabanga njalo? Ngokungangabazeki lokhu kwakungenxa yokuthi uJakobe wafa ethembekile, owokuqala wabaphostoli abangu-12 owafa. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, uJuda wayeyimbuka elibi futhi kwadingeka omunye esikhundleni sakhe ukuze inani lamatshe ayisisekelo kaIsrayeli ongokomoya libuyele ku-12.—Efesu 2:20; IsAmbulo 21:14.
10. Indikimba ebusayo yekhulu leminyaka lokuqala yanda nini futhi kanjani, futhi uKristu wayisebenzisa kanjani ukuba iqondise indlu kaNkulunkulu?
10 Amalungu okuqala endikimba ebusayo yekhulu lokuqala leminyaka kwakungabaphostoli, amadoda ayehambe noJesu futhi ayeye aba ofakazi bokufa nokuvuswa kwakhe. (IzEnzo 1:21, 22) Kodwa lesimo sasizoshintsha. Njengoba iminyaka yayiqhubeka, amanye amadoda angamaKristu azuza ukuvuthwa ngokomoya futhi amiswa njengabadala ebandleni laseJerusalema. Ngonyaka ka-49 C.E. okungenani, indikimba ebusayo yase yandisiwe yangahlanganisa abaphostoli abasele kuphela kodwa namanye amadoda amadala amaningana eJerusalema. (IzEnzo 15:2) Ngakho isimo sendikimba ebusayo sasingamisiwe ngokungaguquki, kodwa ngokusobala uNkulunkulu walawula izinto ukuze sishintshe sifanelane nezimo zabantu bakhe. UKristu, iNhloko ekhuthele yebandla, wasebenzisa lendikimba ebusayo esiyandisiwe ukuba axazulule indaba ebalulekile engokwemfundiso ephathelene nokusoka kwamaKristu angewona amaJuda nokuzithoba eMthethweni kaMose. Indikimba ebusayo yabhala incwadi echaza isinqumo sayo futhi yakhipha imiyalo okufanele ilalelwe.—IzEnzo 15:23-29.
Isikhathi Sokulandisa Komphathi Wendlu
11. Ingabe abazalwane bakwazisa ukuhola okuqinile kwendikimba ebusayo, futhi yini ebonisa ukuthi uJehova walibusisa lelilungiselelo?
11 AmaKristu akuqala ngamanye, nanjengebandla, ayekwazisa lokuhola okuqinile okwakunikezwa indikimba ebusayo. Ngemva kokuba ibandla laseAntiyokiya yaseSiriya lifunde lencwadi evela endikimbeni ebusayo, lasijabulela lesosikhuthazo. Njengoba amanye amabandla ethola lokho kwaziswa futhi elalela leyomiyalo, “aqiniswa ekukholweni, anda ngobuningi imihla ngemihla.” (IzEnzo 16:5) Ngokusobala, uNkulunkulu walibusisa lelilungiselelo.—IzEnzo 15:30, 31.
12, 13. Yiziphi izenzakalo uJesu azibikezela emfanekisweni wakhe womina nowamathalenta?
12 Kodwa make sibheke esinye isici salendaba ebalulekile. Emfanekisweni wakhe womina, uJesu wazifanisa nomuntu wohlanga oluphakeme owaya ezweni elikude eyozithathela umbuso wayesebuya. (Luka 19:11, 12) Njengomphumela wokuvuswa kwakhe ngo-33 C.E., uJesu Kristu waphakanyiselwa ngakwesokunene sikaNkulunkulu, lapho ayezohlala khona kuze kube yilapho izitha zakhe zenziwa isenabelo sezinyawo zakhe.—IzEnzo 2:33-35.
13 Emfanekisweni ofana nawo, umfanekiso wamathalenta, uJesu wathi ngemva kwesikhathi eside, inkosi yabuya ukuzolungisa izindaba nezinceku zayo. Ezincekwini ezazibonakalisa zithembekile, inkosi yathi: ‘Nithembekile ezintweni eziyingcosana; ngizakunibeka phezu kokuningi; ngenani ekuthokozeni kwenkosi yenu.’ Kodwa ngenceku engathembekile, wathi: “Uyakwamukwa nalokho anakho. Leyonceku engasiziyo yiphonseni ebumnyameni obungaphandle.”—Mathewu 25:21-23, 29, 30.
14. Yini uJesu ayeyilindele ezincekwini zakhe ezigcotshwe ngomoya?
14 Ngemva kwesikhathi eside—cishe amakhulu eminyaka angu-19—uKristu wanikwa amandla okubusa ngo-1914, ekupheleni ‘kwezikhathi zabezizwe.’ (Luka 21:24) Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, ‘wabuya ukuzolungisa izindaba’ nezinceku zakhe, amaKristu agcotshwe ngomoya. (Mathewu 25:19) Yini uJesu ayeyilindele kuwona ngamanye nanjengeqembu? Isabelo somphathi saqhubeka njengoba sasinjalo ekhulwini lokuqala leminyaka. UKristu wayenike umuntu ngamunye amathalenta—‘ngokwamandla akhe.’ Ngakho, uJesu wayelindele imiphumela elingana namandla akhe. (Mathewu 25:15) Lapha kusebenza umthetho okweyoku-1 Korinte 4:2, othi: “Kufuneka kubaphathi ukuba umuntu afunyanwe ekholekile.” Ukusebenzisa amathalenta kwakusho ukusebenza ngokwethembeka njengamanxusa kaNkulunkulu, ukwenza abafundi nokubabela amaqiniso angokomoya.—2 Korinte 5:20.
“Inceku” Nendikimba Yayo Ebusayo Njengoba Isikhathi Sokuphela Sasisondela
15. (a) Yini uKristu ayeyilindele kumphathi wakhe wendlu oyiqembu? (b) Yini ebonisa ukuthi uKristu wayelindele isigaba senceku ukuba senze lokhu ngaphambi kokuba afike azohlola indlu yakhe?
15 UJesu walindela amaKristu agcotshiwe njengeqembu ukuba asebenze njengomphathi othembekile, anikeze indikimba yakhe yabalindi ‘isabelo sayo sokudla ngesikhathi sakho.’ (Luka 12:42) NgokukaLuka 12:43, uJesu wathi: “Ibusisiwe leyonceku okuyakuthi inkosi yayo, nxa ifika, iyifumane yenze njalo.” Lokhu kubonisa ukuthi esikhathini esithile ngaphambi kokuba uKristu afike ezolungisa izindaba nezinceku zakhe ezigcotshwe ngomoya, zaziyobe zabele amalungu ebandla lobuKristu, indlu kaNkulunkulu, ukudla okungokomoya. Ubani uKristu amthola enza kanjalo lapho ebuya namandla ombuso ngo-1914 futhi eqhubeka ehlola indlu kaNkulunkulu ngo-1918?—Malaki 3:1-4; Luka 19:12; 1 Petru 4:17.
16. Lapho uKristu efika ukuzohlola indlu kaNkulunkulu ngo-1918, kungani engawatholanga amasonto eLobukholwa aba ukudla okungokomoya ngesikhathi esifanele?
16 Njengoba inkathi ende yokulinda kukaJesu ngakwesokunene sikaJehova yayisondela ekupheleni, kancane kancane kwaba sobala ukuthi ubani owayenikeza ukudla okungokomoya kwabendlu bakaKristu ngisho nasesikhathini esingaphambi kuka-1914. Ingabe ucabanga ukuthi kwakungamasonto eLobukholwa? Ngokuqinisekile akunjalo, ngoba ayehileleke ngokujulile kwezombangazwe. Ayengamathuluzi okuzithandela okwandisa amakoloni futhi ayezama ukuqedana ukuze afakazele ukushisekela kwawo ubuzwe, kanjalo ekhuthaza ukuthanda ubuzwe. Lokhu ngokushesha kwaletha icala legazi elikhulu kubo, okungukuthi, lapho esekela ngenkuthalo ohulumeni bezombangazwe ababehileleke empini yezwe yokuqala. Ngokomoya, ukholo lwawo lwaba buthakathaka ngenxa yomkhuba wokuVumelanisa Inkolo Nesimanje. Kwaphakama isimo esibucayi ngokomoya ngenxa yokuthi abaningi babefundisi bawo babanjwa kalula ukucusumbula imibhalo nemfundiso yokuziphendukela kwemvelo. Akukho kondliwa okungokomoya okwakungalindelwa kubefundisi beLobukholwa!
17. Kungani uKristu awalahla amanye amaKristu agcotshiwe, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela kuwo?
17 Ngokufanayo, akukho kudla okungokomoya okunomsoco okwakuvela kulawomaKristu agcotshiwe ayekhathalela kakhulu ukusindiswa kwawo siqu kunokusebenzisa amathalenta eNkosi. Abonakala ‘evilapha,’ engakufanelekele ukunakekela impahla yeNkosi. Ngakho, alahlelwa “ebumnyameni obungaphandle,” lapho amasonto eLobukholwa esekhona nanamuhla.—Mathewu 25:24-30.
18. INkosi yathola bani abela indikimba yabalindi bayo ukudla okungokomoya ngesikhathi esifanele, futhi yini efakazela lokhu?
18 Ngakho-ke, lapho ifika ukuzohlola izinceku zayo ngo-1918, obani iNkosi, uJesu Kristu, eyabathola benika indikimba yayo yabalindi isabelo sabo sokudla ngesikhathi esifanele? Nokho, ngalesosikhathi, obani ababenika abafuni beqiniso abaqotho ukuqonda okuyikho ngomhlatshelo wesihlengo, ngegama laphezulu, ukungabonakali kokuba khona kukaKristu, nokubaluleka kuka-1914? Obani ababedalule amanga kaZiqu-zintathu, ukungafi komphefumulo womuntu, nesihogo somlilo? Futhi obani ababexwayise ngezingozi zemfundiso yokuziphendukela kwemvelo nokusebenzisa imimoya? Amaqiniso abonisa ukuthi kwakuyiqembu lamaKristu agcotshiwe ehlangene nabashicileli bakamagazini iZion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence, manje ebizwa ngokuthi INqabayokulinda Ememezela UMbuso KaJehova.
19. Isigaba senceku ethembekile sasizibonakalise kanjani ngaphambi kuka-1918, sasikwabe ngaziphi izindlela ukudla okungokomoya, futhi kusukela nini?
19 Kumagazini wayo kaNovember 1, 1944, INqabayokulinda yesiNgisi yathi: “Ngo-1878, eminyakeni engamashumi amane ngaphambi kokufika kweNkosi ethempelini ngo-1918, kwakunesigaba samaKristu aqotho azinikezele esasiphume ezinhlanganweni zabefundisi ezihlelwe ngezigaba futhi esafuna ukuqhuba ubuKristu . . . Ngonyaka olandelayo, okungukuthi, ngoJuly, 1879, ukuze amaqiniso uNkulunkulu awalungiselela ngoKristu ‘njengokudla okufika ngesikhathi esifanele’ asakazwe njalo kubo bonke abendlu yakhe yabantwana abazinikezele, lomagazini, INqabayokulinda, waqala ukunyatheliswa [ngesiNgisi].”
20. (a) INdikimba Ebusayo yosuku lwanamuhla yavela kanjani? (b) Amalungu eNdikimba Ebusayo ayenzani, futhi ngaphansi kokuqondisa kukabani?
20 Unikeza ukwaziswa ngentuthuko yeNdikimba Ebusayo yosuku lwanamuhla, umagazini INqabayokulinda, kaMay 15, 1972 wachaza: “Eminyakeni emihlanu kamuva [ngo-1884] iZion’s Watch Tower Tract Society yamiswa futhi yasebenza ‘njengenxusa’ ukuze inikeze ukudla okungokomoya ezinkulungwaneni zabantu abaqotho abafuna ukumazi uNkulunkulu nokuqonda iZwi lakhe . . . AmaKristu azinikezele, abhapathiziwe, agcotshiwe azihlanganisa naleyonhlangano endlunkulu ePennsylvania. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ayeseBhodini Yabaqondisi noma cha, azenza atholakalela umsebenzi okhethekile wesigaba ‘senceku ethembekileyo neqondayo.’ Asiza ekondleni nasekuqondiseni isigaba senceku, futhi yavela kanjalo indikimba ebusayo. Ngokusobala lokhu kwakungaphansi kokuqondisa kwamandla kaJehova angabonakali ayisiphekupheku noma umoya ongcwele. Nangaphansi kokuqondisa kweNhloko yebandla lobuKristu, uJesu Kristu.”
21. (a) Obani uKristu abathola baba ukudla okungokomoya, futhi wabavuza kanjani? (b) Yini eyayilindele inceku ethembekileyo neNdikimba yayo Ebusayo?
21 Ngo-1918, lapho uJesu Kristu ehlola labo ababethi bayizinceku zakhe, wathola iqembu lezizwe zonke lamaKristu lisakaza amaqiniso eBhayibheli ukuze asetshenziswe kokubili ngaphakathi nangaphandle kwebandla emsebenzini wokushumayela. Ngo-1919 kwaba njengoba nje uKristu ayebikezele: “Ibusisiwe leyonceku, okuyakuthi kufika inkosi yayo, iyifumane yenze njalo. Ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Iyakuyimisa phezu kwakho konke enakho.” (Mathewu 24:46, 47) LamaKristu eqiniso ajabula kanye neNkosi yawo. Esezibonakalise ‘ethembekile ezintweni eziyingcosana,’ iNkosi yawamisa “phezu kokuningi.” (Mathewu 25:21) Inceku ethembekileyo kanye neNdikimba yayo Ebusayo yayimi ngomumo, ilindele isabelo esandisiwe. Yeka ukuthi kufanele sijabule kangakanani ngokuthi lokhu kwaba njalo, ngoba amaKristu athembekile azuza ngokucebile emsebenzini owenziwa ngokuzinikela wenceku ethembekileyo kanye neNdikimba yayo Ebusayo!
Amaphuzu Asemqoka Okukhunjulwa
◻ Ubani iNhloko yendlu kaNkulunkulu, futhi Lona uye waliphathisa obani igunya?
◻ Yisiphi isabelo esihlanganisa izici eziningi uKristu asinika isigaba senceku?
◻ Iyiphi enye indikimba ehlangene eyayikhona esigabeni senceku, futhi yayiyini imisebenzi yayo eyinhloko?
◻ Lapho uKristu efika ezohlola indlu kaNkulunkulu, ubani owayelungiselela amalungu ayo ukudla okungokomoya?
◻ INdikimba Ebusayo yosuku lwanamuhla yavela kanjani?
[Isithombe ekhasini 10]
“Inceku” yekhulu leminyaka lokuqala yayinendikimba ebusayo eyayakhiwa abaphostoli nabadala basebandleni laseJerusalema