Isahluko Seshumi
Isithembiso SeSikhulu Sokuthula
1. Isintu siye sabhekana nani kusukela esikhathini sikaKayini?
EMINYAKENI engaba yizinkulungwane eziyisithupha edlule, kwazalwa umntwana wokuqala ongumuntu. Igama lakhe kwakunguKayini, futhi ukuzalwa kwakhe kwakukhetheke kakhulu. Abazali bakhe, izingelosi, ngisho noMdali babengakaze bambone umntwana ongumuntu. Lolu sana olusanda kuzalwa lwalungalulethela ithemba uhlanga lwesintu olulahliwe. Yeka indlela okwadumaza ngayo lapho eba umbulali lapho esekhulile! (1 Johane 3:12) Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi isintu siye sabona inqwaba yabanye ababulali. Njengoba abantu bethambekele ebubini, abanakho ukuthula phakathi komunye nomunye noma noNkulunkulu.—Genesise 6:5; Isaya 48:22.
2, 3. Yimaphi amathuba avulwa ngoJesu Kristu, futhi yini okumelwe siyenze ukuze sithole lezo zibusiso?
2 Eminyakeni engaba yizinkulungwane ezine ngemva kokuzalwa kukaKayini, kwazalwa omunye umntwana. Igama lakhe kwakunguJesu, nokuzalwa kwakhe kwakukhetheke kakhulu. Wazalwa incasakazi, ngamandla omoya ongcwele—okuwukuphela komuntu owazalwa ngaleyo ndlela emlandweni. Ngesikhathi ezalwa, isixuku sezingelosi ezithokozile sahlabelelela uNkulunkulu izindumiso, sithi: “Inkazimulo kuNkulunkulu ezindaweni eziphakeme eziphezulu, naphezu komhlaba ukuthula phakathi kwabantu abathakazelelwayo.” (Luka 2:13, 14) Kunokuba abe umbulali, uJesu wavulela abantu indlela yokuba babe sekuthuleni noNkulunkulu futhi bazuze ukuphila okumi phakade.—Johane 3:16; 1 Korinte 15:55.
3 U-Isaya waprofetha ukuthi uJesu wayezobizwa ngokuthi “iSikhulu Sokuthula.” (Isaya 9:6) Wayezonikela ukuphila kwakhe ngenxa yesintu, ngaleyo ndlela enze ukuba izono zithethelelwe. (Isaya 53:11) Namuhla, ukuthula noNkulunkulu nokuthethelelwa kwezono kungatholakala ngesisekelo sokholo kuJesu Kristu. Kodwa izibusiso ezinjalo azizizeli nje. (Kolose 1:21-23) Abazifunayo kumelwe bafunde ukulalela uJehova uNkulunkulu. (1 Petru 3:11; qhathanisa neyamaHeberu 5:8, 9.) Osukwini luka-Isaya, u-Israyeli noJuda benza okuphambene.
Ukuphendukela Emademonini
4, 5. Zinjani izinto ngosuku luka-Isaya, futhi abanye baphendukela kubani?
4 Ngenxa yokungalaleli kwabo, abantu besikhathi sika-Isaya basesimweni esidabukisayo sokuziphatha, umgodi wobumnyama obungokomoya uqobo lwawo. Ngisho nombuso waseningizimu wakwaJuda, lapho kukhona khona ithempeli likaNkulunkulu, awunakho ukuthula. Ngenxa yokungathembeki kwabo, abantu bakwaJuda basongelwa ukuhlaselwa ama-Asiriya, futhi kuzokuza izikhathi ezinzima. Baphendukelaphi ukuze bathole usizo? Kuyadabukisa ukuthi abaningi baphendukela kuSathane, hhayi kuJehova. Cha, abanxusi kuSathane ngokuqondile. Kodwa, njengenkosi yasendulo uSawule, basebenzisa imimoya, bafune amakhambi ezinkinga zabo ngokuzama ukuxhumana nabafileyo.—1 Samuweli 28:1-20.
5 Abanye baze bazame ngisho nokuwugqugquzela lo mkhuba. U-Isaya ubhekisela ekuhlubukeni okunjalo lapho ethi: “Uma kwenzeka bethi kini: ‘Buzani kwabanemimoya noma kulabo abanomoya wokubikezela abatshiyozayo futhi bakhulume ngokunyenyeza,’ akufanele yini isizwe sibuze kuNkulunkulu waso? Ingabe kufanele yini ukuba kubuzwe abantu abafileyo ngenxa yabantu abaphilayo?” (Isaya 8:19) Abanemimoya bangabakhohlisa abantu, ‘batshiyoze futhi bakhulume ngokunyenyeza.’ Imisindo enjalo, okuthiwa eyemimoya yabafileyo, ingenziwa umuntu ophilayo kube sengathi iphuma kwenye indawo hhayi kuye. Nokho, ngezinye izikhathi amademoni angase ahileleke ngokuqondile futhi azenze abafileyo, njengoba ngokusobala kwenzeka kanjalo ngesikhathi uSawule ecela usizo kumthakathikazi wase-Eni-dori.—1 Samuweli 28:8-19.
6. Kungani esoleka nakakhulu ama-Israyeli aphendukele ekusebenziseni imimoya?
6 Konke lokhu kwenzeka kwaJuda naphezu kokuba uJehova ewenqabela umkhuba wokusebenzisa imimoya. Ngaphansi koMthetho KaMose, unesijeziso sokufa. (Levitikusi 19:31; 20:6, 27; Duteronomi 18:9-12) Kungani abantu abayimpahla kaJehova ekhethekile benza isiphosiso esibi kangaka? Yingoba bawushiyile uMthetho kaJehova neseluleko sakhe futhi ‘benziwa lukhuni amandla okukhohlisa esono.’ (Heberu 3:13) “Inhliziyo yabo ayisazweli njengamafutha,” futhi sebeye bahlukaniswa noNkulunkulu wabo.—IHubo 119:70.a
7. Abaningi namuhla bawalingisa kanjani ama-Israyeli osuku luka-Isaya, futhi liyoba yini ikusasa labanjalo uma bengaphenduki?
7 Cishe bacabanga ukuthi, ‘Uzosenzelani uMthetho kaJehova sibe sibhekene nokuhlaselwa abase-Asiriya okuseduze?’ Bafuna ikhambi elisheshayo nelilula lenkinga yabo futhi abazimisele ukulindela uJehova ukuba afeze intando yakhe. Nasosukwini lwethu, abaningi bawushaya indiva umthetho kaJehova bafune abanemimoya, bathole ukwaziswa ngezinkanyezi, futhi basebenzise ezinye izinhlobo zokulumba ukuze baxazulule izinkinga zabo. Nokho, ukuba abaphilayo bafune izimpendulo kwabafileyo kuyinto engasile namuhla njengoba kwakunjalo ngaleso sikhathi. Ikusasa lanoma ubani owenza izinto ezinjalo futhi angaphenduki liyoba ‘njengelababulali, izifebe, abakhonza izithombe nabo bonke abaqamba amanga.’ Abanawo amathemba okuphila esikhathi esizayo.—IsAmbulo 21:8.
‘UMthetho KaNkulunkulu Nobufakazi’
8. Uyini ‘umthetho nobufakazi’ thina namuhla okufanele siye kukho ukuze sithole isiqondiso?
8 Umthetho kaJehova owenqabela ukusebenzisa imimoya, kanye neminye imiyalo yakhe, akufihliwe kwaJuda. Kulondolozwe emibhalweni. Namuhla iZwi lakhe litholakala liwumbhalo ophelele. LiyiBhayibheli, elingelona nje kuphela iqoqo lemithetho yaphezulu, kodwa futhi elinokulandisa kokusebenzelana kukaNkulunkulu nabantu bakhe. Lokhu kulandisa kweBhayibheli ngokusebenzelana kukaJehova nabantu kwakha ubufakazi, kusifundisa ngobuntu bukaJehova nezimfanelo zakhe. Kunokuba aye kwabafileyo, kufanele ngabe ayaphi ama-Israyeli ukuze athole isiqondiso? U-Isaya uyaphendula: “Emthethweni nasebufakazini!” (Isaya 8:20a) Yebo, labo abafuna ukukhanyiselwa kweqiniso kufanele baye eZwini likaNkulunkulu elilotshiwe.
9. Ukucaphuna iBhayibheli ngezikhathi ezithile kuyazisiza yini izoni ezingaphenduki?
9 Amanye ama-Israyeli adlala ngokusebenzisa imimoya angase athi ayalihlonipha iZwi likaNkulunkulu elilotshiwe. Kodwa ukusho kanjalo kuwukuhhema nokuzenzisa. U-Isaya uthi: “Ngokuqinisekile bayoqhubeka bekhuluma okuvumelana nala mazwi angeke abe nakho ukukhanya kokuntwela kokusa.” (Isaya 8:20b) Yimaphi la mazwi akhuluma ngawo lapha u-Isaya? Mhlawumbe yilawa athi: “Emthethweni nasebufakazini!” Kungenzeka ukuthi amanye ama-Israyeli ayizihlubuki ayalicaphuna iZwi likaNkulunkulu, njengoba nje nezihlubuki nabanye namuhla bengacaphuna imiBhalo. Kodwa lokhu akusho lutho. Ukucaphuna imiBhalo ngeke kuholele ‘ekukhanyeni kokuntwela kokusa,’ noma ekukhanyiselweni nguJehova, uma kungahambisani nokwenza intando kaJehova nokuyeka imikhuba engahlanzekile.b
“Indlala Okungeyona Eyesinkwa”
10. Abantu bakwaJuda bahlupheka kanjani ngenxa yokulahla uJehova?
10 Ukungamlaleli uJehova kuholela ebumnyameni ngokwengqondo. (Efesu 4:17, 18) Ngomqondo ongokomoya, abantu bakwaJuda sebeyizimpumputhe, abanakho ukuqonda. (1 Korinte 2:14) U-Isaya uchaza isimo sabo: “Ngokuqinisekile yilowo nalowo uyodabula izwe ecindezeleke kanzima futhi elambile.” (Isaya 8:21a) Ngenxa yokungathembeki kwalesi sizwe—ikakhulu phakathi nokubusa kweNkosi u-Ahazi—ukusinda kukaJuda njengombuso ozimele kuyasongelwa. Lesi sizwe sikakwe izitha. Ibutho lase-Asiriya lizigwazela ibhece nje emizini yaseJudiya. Isitha senza izwe elikhiqizayo libe yincithakalo, senze ukudla kube yindlala. Abaningi ‘bacindezelekile futhi balambile.’ Kodwa izwe lihlushwa olunye uhlobo lwendlala. Emashumini athile eminyaka ngaphambili, u-Amose wayeprofethile: “‘Bhekani! Kuza izinsuku,’ kusho iNkosi EnguMbusi uJehova, ‘lapho ngiyothumela indlala ezweni, indlala okungeyona eyesinkwa, nokoma okungekhona okwamanzi, kodwa okokuzwa amazwi kaJehova.’” (Amose 8:11) UJuda manje ubhekene nendlala engokomoya enjalo!
11. Ingabe uJuda uzosifunda isifundo ekuyalweni akutholayo?
11 Ingabe uJuda uzosifunda isifundo abuyele kuJehova? Abantu bakhona bayokuyeka yini ukusebenzisa imimoya nokukhonza izithombe babuyele “emthethweni nasebufakazini”? UJehova ukubona kusengaphambili ukusabela kwabo: “Kuyothi ngenxa yokuba elambile futhi eye wazenza wathukuthela, empeleni uyoqalekisa inkosi yakhe noNkulunkulu wakhe futhi ngokuqinisekile uyosinga phezulu.” (Isaya 8:21b) Yebo, abaningi bayosola inkosi yabo engumuntu ngokubaholela kulesi simo. Abanye, ngobuwula, bayoze basole ngisho noJehova ngezinsizi zabo! (Qhathanisa noJeremiya 44:15-18.) Namuhla, abaningi basabela ngendlela efanayo, basola uNkulunkulu ngezinhlekelele ezibangelwa ububi babantu.
12. (a) Ukufulathela uNkulunkulu kumholelephi uJuda? (b) Yimiphi imibuzo ebalulekile ebuzwayo?
12 Ingabe ukuqalekisa uNkulunkulu kuyobalethela ukuthula abakhileyo kwaJuda? Cha. U-Isaya uyabikezela: “Uyobheka emhlabeni, bheka! usizi nobumnyama, ukusitheka, izikhathi ezinzima nesigayegaye esingenakho ukukhanya.” (Isaya 8:22) Ngemva kokuphakamisela amehlo abo ezulwini ukuze basole uNkulunkulu, babuye babheke umhlaba, babuke izimo zabo ezingenathemba. Ukufulathela kwabo uNkulunkulu kuholele osizini. (IzAga 19:3) Kuthiwani-ke kodwa ngezithembiso uNkulunkulu azenza ku-Abrahama, u-Isaka noJakobe? (Genesise 22:15-18; 28:14, 15) Ingabe uJehova uzoshaya ingwijikhwebu? Abase-Asiriya noma omunye umbuso wezempi uzoluqeda yini uhlu lozalo lwasebukhosini olwathenjiswa uJuda noDavide? (Genesise 49:8-10; 2 Samuweli 7:11-16) Ingabe ama-Israyeli ayolahlelwa ebumnyameni unomphela?
Izwe ‘Eliphathwa Ngokwedelela’
13. Liyini “iGalile lezizwe,” futhi kwenzeka kanjani ukuba ‘liphathwe ngokwedelela’?
13 U-Isaya manje ubhekisela kwesinye isigigaba esibi kunazo zonke ezehlela inzalo ka-Abrahama: “Ukusitheka ngeke kube njengalapho izwe licindezelekile, njengasesikhathini sangaphambili lapho umuntu eliphatha ngokwedelela izwe lakwaZebuloni nezwe lakwaNafetali nalapho esikhathini sakamuva umuntu enza ukuba idunyiswe—indlela engasolwandle, esifundeni saseJordani, iGalile lezizwe.” (Isaya 9:1) IGalile indawo esembusweni wakwa-Israyeli osenyakatho. Esiprofethweni sika-Isaya ihlanganisa ‘nezwe lakwaZebuloni nezwe lakwaNafetali nendlela engasolwandle,’ umgwaqo wasendulo owawugudla uLwandle LwaseGalile uze uyoshaya oLwandle iMedithera. Ngosuku luka-Isaya, le ndawo ibizwa ngokuthi “iGalile lezizwe,” cishe ngoba emizini yalo eminingi kuhlala abangewona ama-Israyeli.c Leli zwe ‘liphathwa’ kanjani “ngokwedelela”? Abase-Asiriya abangamaqaba bayalinqoba, bathumbe ama-Israyeli, babuye bahlalise amaqaba kule ndawo, amaqaba angeyona inzalo ka-Abrahama. Umbuso wasenyakatho wezizwe eziyishumi ushabalala kanjalo emlandweni njengesizwe esizimele!—2 AmaKhosi 17:5, 6, 18, 23, 24.
14. Kungamuphi umqondo ‘ukusitheka’ kukaJuda kuyoba kuncane kunokombuso wezizwe eziyishumi?
14 UJuda naye ucindezelwa abase-Asiriya. Ingabe ‘uzositheka’ unomphela njengoba kwenzeka embusweni wezizwe eziyishumi ezifanekiselwa uZebuloni noNafetali? Cha. “Esikhathini sakamuva,” uJehova uzoletha izibusiso endaweni yombuso waseningizimu wakwaJuda ngisho nasezweni elalibuswa umbuso wasenyakatho. Kanjani?
15, 16. (a) Yisiphi ‘isikhathi sakamuva’ isimo ‘ezigodini zakwaZebuloni nakwaNafetali’ esishintsha ngaso? (b) Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba izwe elaphathwa ngokwedelela lidunyiswe?
15 Umphostoli uMathewu uphendula lo mbuzo embhalweni wakhe ophefumulelwe wenkonzo kaJesu yasemhlabeni. Echaza izinsuku zokuqala zaleyo nkonzo, uMathewu uthi: “Ngemva kokusuka eNazaretha, [uJesu] wafika eKapernawume wahlala khona eceleni kolwandle ezifundeni zakwaZebuloni nakwaNafetali, ukuze kugcwaliseke lokho okwakhulunywa ngo-Isaya umprofethi, ethi: ‘O, lizwe lakwaZebuloni nezwe lakwaNafetali, ngasemgwaqweni wasolwandle, ngakolunye uhlangothi lweJordani, Galile lezizwe! abantu abahlezi ebumnyameni babona ukukhanya okukhulu, futhi ngokuqondene nalabo abahlezi endaweni yethunzi elibulalayo, ukukhanya kwaphumela phezu kwabo.’”—Mathewu 4:13-16.
16 Yebo, ‘isikhathi sakamuva’ esabikezelwa u-Isaya yisikhathi senkonzo kaKristu yasemhlabeni. Ingxenye enkulu yokuphila kukaJesu kwasemhlabeni yaba seGalile. Inkonzo yakhe wayiqala esifundeni saseGalile futhi waqala khona ukumemezela: “Umbuso wamazulu ususondele.” (Mathewu 4:17) EGalile, wanikeza iNtshumayelo yakhe edumile yaseNtabeni, wakhetha abaphostoli bakhe, wenza isimangaliso sakhe sokuqala futhi waziveza kubalandeli bakhe abangaba ngu-500 ngemva kokuvuswa kwakhe. (Mathewu 5:1–7:27; 28:16-20; Marku 3:13, 14; Johane 2:8-11; 1 Korinte 15:6) Ngale ndlela, uJesu wagcwalisa isiprofetho sika-Isaya ngokudumisa “izwe lakwaZebuloni nezwe lakwaNafetali.” Yebo, uJesu akagcinanga kubantu baseGalile kuphela ukwenza inkonzo yakhe. Ngokushumayela izindaba ezinhle ezweni lonke, uJesu ‘wadumisa’ sonke isizwe sakwa-Israyeli, kuhlanganise noJuda.
“Ukukhanya Okukhulu”
17. “Ukukhanya okukhulu” kukhanya kanjani eGalile?
17 Kuthiwani-ke ‘ngokukhanya okukhulu’ eGalile uMathewu akhuluma ngako? Nalokhu kwakuyingcaphuno yesiprofetho sika-Isaya. U-Isaya wabhala: “Abantu ababehamba ebumnyameni babone ukukhanya okukhulu. Ngokuqondene nalabo abahlala ezweni lethunzi elimnyama, ukukhanya kuye kwakhanya phezu kwabo.” (Isaya 9:2) Ekhulwini lokuqala C.E., amanga amaqaba ayesithibeze ukukhanya kweqiniso. Abaholi benkolo abangamaJuda babenze le nkinga yaba yimbi nakakhulu ngokubambelela emasikweni abo enkolo ‘ayelenzé ize’ “izwi likaNkulunkulu.” (Mathewu 15:6) Abathobekileyo babecindezelwa futhi bedidekile, belandela ‘abaqondisi abayizimpumputhe.’ (Mathewu 23:2-4, 16) Ngesikhathi kuvela uJesu, uMesiya, amehlo abantu abaningi abathobekile avuleka ngendlela eyisimanga. (Johane 1:9, 12) Umsebenzi kaJesu ngesikhathi esemhlabeni nezibusiso eziwumphumela womhlatshelo wakhe kuchazwe ngokufanele esiprofethweni sika-Isaya ngokuthi “ukukhanya okukhulu.”—Johane 8:12.
18, 19. Yisiphi isizathu esikhulu sokuthokoza abanaso labo abasabela ekukhanyeni?
18 Labo abasabela ekukhanyeni baba nezizathu eziningi zokuthokoza. U-Isaya waqhubeka: “Wenzé isizwe saba nabantu abaningi, usenzelé ukuthokoza kwaba kukhulu. Siye sathokoza phambi kwakho njengokuthokoza kwangesikhathi sokuvuna, njengalabo abajabulayo lapho behlukanisa impango.” (Isaya 9:3) Ngenxa yomsebenzi wokushumayela owawenziwa uJesu nabalandeli bakhe, abanhliziyo ziqotho baziveza, bazibonakalisa befisa ukukhulekela uJehova ngomoya nangeqiniso. (Johane 4:24) Eminyakeni engaphansi kwemine, izixuku zamukela ubuKristu. Ngosuku lwePhentekoste 33 C.E. kwabhapathizwa abayizinkulungwane ezintathu. Ngemva nje kwalokho, “inani lamadoda laba cishe izinkulungwane eziyisihlanu.” (IzEnzo 2:41; 4:4) Njengoba abafundi bebonakalisa ukukhanya ngentshiseko, “isibalo sabafundi saqhubeka siphindaphindeka kakhulu eJerusalema; isixuku esikhulu sabapristi saqala ukulalela ukholo.”—IzEnzo 6:7.
19 Njengalabo abathokozayo ngenxa yesivuno esikhulu noma abethabayo lapho kuhlukaniselwana impango eyigugu ngemva kokunqoba okukhulu empini, abalandeli bakaJesu bathokoza ngenxa yokwanda. (IzEnzo 2:46, 47) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, uJehova wenza ukuba ukukhanya kukhanye ezizweni. (IzEnzo 14:27) Ngakho abantu bazo zonke izinhlanga bathokoza ngokuthi base bevulelwe indlela yokuya kuJehova.—IzEnzo 13:48.
“Njengasosukwini LukaMidiyani”
20. (a) AbakwaMidiyani bazibonisa ngaziphi izindlela beyizitha zika-Israyeli, futhi uJehova waluqeda kanjani usongo ababeyilo? (b) ‘Osukwini’ oluzayo “lukaMidiyani” uJesu uyoluqeda kanjani usongo lwezitha zabantu bakaNkulunkulu?
20 Imiphumela yomsebenzi kaMesiya ihlala njalo, njengoba sibona emazwini alandelayo ka-Isaya: “Ijoka lomthwalo wabo nenduku ephezu kwamahlombe abo, ubhoko lwalowo obaqhuba ukuba basebenze, uye wakuphihliza kwaba izicucwana njengasosukwini lukaMidiyani.” (Isaya 9:4) Emakhulwini eminyaka ngaphambi kosuku luka-Isaya, abakwaMidiyani babopha uzungu nabakwaMowabi ukuze banxenxele u-Israyeli esonweni. (Numeri 25:1-9, 14-18; 31:15, 16) Kamuva, abakwaMidiyani bahlukumeza ama-Israyeli ngokuwabhudubeza nangokuphanga imizana namapulazi awo iminyaka engu-7. (AbAhluleli 6:1-6) Kodwa uJehova, ngenceku yakhe uGideyoni, wawangquzula amabutho akwaMidiyani. Ngemva kwalolo ‘suku lukaMidiyani,’ abukho ubufakazi bokuthi abantu bakaJehova bake baphinda bahlupheka ezandleni zabakwaMidiyani. (AbAhluleli 6:7-16; 8:28) Maduze nje, uJesu Kristu, uGideyoni omkhulu, uzozijuqa izitha zanamuhla zabantu bakaJehova. (IsAmbulo 17:14; 19:11-21) Khona-ke, “njengasosukwini lukaMidiyani,” kuyoba nokunqoba okuphelele nokuhlala njalo ngamandla kaJehova, hhayi ngekhono lomuntu. (AbAhluleli 7:2-22) Abantu bakaNkulunkulu ngeke baphinde bahlupheke ngaphansi kwejoka lokucindezelwa!
21. Isiprofetho sika-Isaya sibonisani ngekusasa lempi?
21 Ukubonakaliswa kwamandla aphezulu akukhona ukukhazinyuliswa kwempi. UJesu ovusiwe uyiSikhulu Sokuthula, futhi uyoletha ukuthula kwaphakade ngokuqothula izitha zakhe. U-Isaya manje ukhuluma ngezivatho zempi njengokungathi zishiswe ngomlilo: “Yilelo nalelo wudlu lalowo odavuza kuze kundindizele futhi isiphuku esigingqwe egazini kuye kwashiswa kwaba ngukudla komlilo.” (Isaya 9:5) Ukundindizela okubangelwa ukudavuza kwamawudlu amasosha amashayo ngeke kuphinde kuzwakale. Izingubo ezinegazi zamaqhawe alukhuni ngenxa yokulwa ngeke ziphinde zibonakale. Ngeke iphinde ibe khona impi!—IHubo 46:9.
“UMeluleki Omangalisayo”
22. Yiliphi igama elingokwesiprofetho elinezingxenye eziningi elinikezwa uJesu encwadini ka-Isaya?
22 Ngesikhathi sokuzalwa kwakhe okuyisimangaliso, lowo owazalelwa ukuba abe uMesiya wethiwa igama elithi Jesu, elisho ukuthi “UJehova Uyinsindiso.” Kodwa unamanye amagama, amagama angokwesiprofetho achaza indima yakhe eyinhloko nesikhundla sakhe esiphakeme. Elinye lawo lithi Imanuweli, okusho ukuthi “UNkulunkulu Unathi.” (Isaya 7:14, umbhalo waphansi) U-Isaya manje uchaza elinye igama elingokwesiprofetho: “Sizalelwe umntwana, siphiwe indodana; ukubusa kwesikhulu kuyoba phezu kwehlombe lakhe. Igama lakhe kuyothiwa nguMeluleki Omangalisayo, uNkulunkulu Onamandla, uYise Ongunaphakade, iSikhulu Sokuthula.” (Isaya 9:6) Cabangela incazelo egcwele yaleli gama elingokwesiprofetho elinezingxenye eziningi.
23, 24. (a) UJesu ‘unguMeluleki Omangalisayo’ ngayiphi indlela? (b) Abeluleki abangamaKristu namuhla bangasilingisa kanjani isibonelo sikaJesu?
23 Umeluleki umuntu onikeza iseluleko. Ngesikhathi esemhlabeni uJesu Kristu wanikeza iseluleko esihle kakhulu. EBhayibhelini sifunda ukuthi “izixuku zakhexa ngendlela yakhe yokufundisa.” (Mathewu 7:28) UnguMeluleki okhaliphile nonozwela, osiqonda kahle kakhulu isimo somuntu. Iseluleko sakhe asigcini ngokukhuza nokujezisa. Ezikhathini eziningi siyafundisa futhi siyiseluleko sothando. Iseluleko sikaJesu sihle kakhulu ngoba sihlale sihlakaniphile, siphelele, singenaphutha. Uma silandelwa, siholela ekuphileni okumi phakade.—Johane 6:68.
24 Iseluleko sikaJesu asiveli nje engqondweni yakhe ekhaliphile. Kunalokho, uthi: “Lokho engikufundisayo akukhona okwami, kodwa kungokwalowo ongithumile.” (Johane 7:16) Njengoba kwakunjalo ngoSolomoni, uJehova uNkulunkulu unguMthombo wokuhlakanipha kukaJesu. (1 AmaKhosi 3:7-14; Mathewu 12:42) Isibonelo sikaJesu kufanele sikhuthaze abafundisi nabeluleki ebandleni lobuKristu ukuba ngaso sonke isikhathi basekele ukufundisa kwabo eZwini likaNkulunkulu.—IzAga 21:30.
‘UNkulunkulu Onamandla NoYise Ongunaphakade’
25. Igama elithi “uNkulunkulu Onamandla” lisitshelani ngoJesu wasezulwini?
25 UJesu futhi ‘unguNkulunkulu Onamandla noYise Ongunaphakade.’ Lokhu akusho ukuthi uqhwaga igunya nesikhundla sikaJehova, ‘onguNkulunkulu uBaba.’ (2 Korinte 1:2) ‘[UJesu] akakucabangelanga ukuqhwaga, okuwukuthi, ukuba alingane noNkulunkulu.’ (Filipi 2:6) Ubizwa ngokuthi uNkulunkulu Onamandla, hhayi uNkulunkulu OnguMninimandla onke. UJesu akazange azibheke njengonguNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke, ngoba wakhuluma ngoYise ngokuthi ‘uwukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso,’ okusho ukuthi, uwukuphela kukaNkulunkulu okufanele akhulekelwe. (Johane 17:3; IsAmbulo 4:11) EmiBhalweni, igama elithi “nkulunkulu” lingasho ‘onamandla’ noma ‘oqinile.’ (Eksodusi 12:12; IHubo 8:5; 2 Korinte 4:4) Ngaphambi kokuba uJesu eze emhlabeni, ‘wayewunkulunkulu,’ ‘ekhona ngesimo sikaNkulunkulu.’ Ngemva kokuvuswa kwakhe, waphindela esikhundleni esiphezulu nakakhulu emazulwini. (Johane 1:1; Filipi 2:6-11) Ngaphezu kwalokho, igama elithi “nkulunkulu” linenye incazelo. Kwa-Israyeli abahluleli babebizwa ngokuthi ‘onkulunkulu’—noJesu wake wababiza kanjalo. (IHubo 82:6; Johane 10:35) UJesu unguMahluleli kaJehova omisiwe, “omiselwe ukwahlulela abaphilayo nabafileyo.” (2 Thimothewu 4:1; Johane 5:30) Ngokusobala, ubizwa kufanele ngokuthi uNkulunkulu Onamandla.
26. Kungani uJesu engase abizwe ngokuthi ‘unguYise Ongunaphakade’?
26 Isiqu esithi “uYise Ongunaphakade” sibhekisela emandleni nasegunyeni leNkosi enguMesiya lokunikeza abantu ithemba lokuphila okuphakade emhlabeni. (Johane 11:25, 26) Ifa lomzali wethu wokuqala, u-Adamu, kwakungukufa. UJesu, u-Adamu wokugcina, “waba umoya onika ukuphila.” (1 Korinte 15:22, 45; Roma 5:12, 18) Njengoba nje uJesu, uYise Ongunaphakade, eyophila phakade, nesintu esilalelayo siyozijabulela kuze kube phakade izinzuzo zokuba kwakhe ubaba.—Roma 6:9.
“ISikhulu Sokuthula”
27, 28. Yiziphi izinzuzo ezinhle ezitholwa izikhonzi ‘zeSikhulu Sokuthula’ manje nasesikhathini esizayo?
27 Ngaphandle kokuphila okumi phakade, umuntu udinga nokuthula, kokubili ukuthula noNkulunkulu nomuntu aphila naye. Ngisho nanamuhla, labo abazithoba ekubuseni ‘kweSikhulu Sokuthula’ baye ‘bakhanda izinkemba zabo zaba ngamageja nemikhonto yabo yaba izikele zokuthena izihlahla.’ (Isaya 2:2-4) Abayifukameli inzondo ebangelwa izingxabano zezombangazwe, zendawo, zobuhlanga nezomnotho. Bamunye ekukhulekeleni uNkulunkulu oyedwa weqiniso, uJehova, futhi basebenzela ukulondoloza ubuhlobo obunokuthula nomakhelwane babo, kokubili ngaphakathi ebandleni nangaphandle.—Galathiya 6:10; Efesu 4:2, 3; 2 Thimothewu 2:24.
28 Ngesikhathi sikaNkulunkulu esifanele, uKristu uyomisa emhlabeni ukuthula kwembulunga yonke okungeke kuphazanyiswe, okuyohlala phakade. (IzEnzo 1:7) “Ngeke kuphele ukuchichima kokubusa kwesikhulu kanye nokuthula, phezu kwesihlalo sobukhosi sikaDavide naphezu kombuso wakhe ukuze umiswe ngokuqinile futhi usekelwe ngobulungisa nangokulunga, kusukela manje kuze kube phakade.” (Isaya 9:7a) Lapho esebenzisa igunya lakhe njengeSikhulu Sokuthula, uJesu ngeke asebenzise izindlela zobushiqela. Izikhonzi zakhe ngeke ziphucwe inkululeko yazo yokuzikhethela bese ziyaphoqwa ukuba zithobeke. Kunalokho, konke lokho ayokufeza kuyoba “ngobulungisa nangokulunga.” Yeka ushintsho oluqabulayo!
29. Yini okufanele siyenze uma sifisa ukujabulela isibusiso sokuthula okumi phakade?
29 Ngenxa yezincazelo ezimangalisayo zegama likaJesu elingokwesiprofetho, isiphetho sika-Isaya sale ngxenye yesiprofetho sakhe sivusa amadlingozi ngempela. Uyabhala: “Yona kanye intshiseko kaJehova wamabutho iyokwenza lokhu.” (Isaya 9:7b) Yebo, uJehova wenza izinto ngentshiseko. Akenzi lutho ngendlela yokugcina icala. Singaqiniseka ukuthi noma yini ayithembisayo, uyoyifeza ngokugcwele. Uma-ke noma ngubani efisa ukujabulela ukuthula okumi phakade, makakhonze uJehova ngenhliziyo yonke. NjengoJehova uNkulunkulu noJesu, iSikhulu Sokuthula, kwangathi zonke izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ‘zingashisekela imisebenzi emihle.’—Thithu 2:14.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Abaningi bakholelwa ukuthi iHubo 119 lalotshwa uHezekiya engakabi inkosi. Uma kunjalo, cishe lalotshwa ngesikhathi kusaprofetha u-Isaya.
b Inkulumo ethi “la mazwi” eku-Isaya 8:20 ingabhekisela emazwini aphathelene nokusetshenziswa kwemimoya, acashunwe ku-Isaya 8:19. Uma kunjalo, u-Isaya uthi, abagqugquzeli bokusetshenziswa kwemimoya kwaJuda bazoqhubeka benxenxa abanye ukuba babuze kwabanemimoya futhi ngaleyo ndlela bangakutholi ukukhanyiselwa kukaJehova.
c Abanye baye basikisela ukuthi cishe imizi engu-20 yaseGalile, iNkosi uSolomoni eyathi izoyinika uHiramu, inkosi yaseTire, yayihlala abangewona ama-Israyeli.—1 AmaKhosi 9:10-13.
[Ibalazwe/Isithombe ekhasini 122]
(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)
IKorazini
IKapernawume
IBetsayida
Ithafa Lase-Genezaretha
ULwandle LwaseGalile
IMagadani
ITiberiya
UMfula
IJordani
IGADARA
IGadara
[Izithombe ekhasini 119]
Ukuzalwa kukaKayini noJesu kwakukhetheke kakhulu. Ukuzalwa kukaJesu kuphela okwaba nomphumela ojabulisayo
[Isithombe ekhasini 121]
Kuyoba nendlala embi kakhulu kunendlala yesinkwa nokomela amanzi
[Isithombe ekhasini 127]
UJesu wayengukukhanya ezweni