Abesifazane AbangamaKristu Bafanelwe Udumo Nenhlonipho
“Nina madoda, qhubekani nihlala nabo . . . ngokolwazi, nibanika udumo njengesitsha esibuthakathaka kakhudlwana, isifazane.”—1 PETRU 3:7.
1, 2. (a) Ikuphi ukukhathazeka okwabangelwa ingxoxo kaJesu nowesifazane ongumSamariya ngasemthonjeni, futhi ngani? (Bheka nombhalo waphansi.) (b) Ngokushumayeza owesifazane ongumSamariya, yini uJesu ayibonisa?
NGASEMTHONJENI wamanzi wakudala eduze komuzi waseSikhari ngenye imini ngasekupheleni kuka-30 C.E., uJesu wembula indlela ayenomuzwa wokuthi abesifazane kufanele baphathwe ngayo. Wayechithe isikhathi sasekuseni esohambweni olunqamula ezweni elinamagquma laseSamariya futhi wafika kulomthombo ekhathele, elambile, futhi omile. Njengoba ayehlala eceleni komthombo, owesifazane ongumSamariya weza ezokha amanzi. “Ngiphuzise,” kusho uJesu kuye. Kumelwe ukuba lona wesifazane wamgqolozela emangele. Owesifazane wabuza: “Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba wena, naphezu kokuba ungumJuda, ungicele ukuba ngikuphuzise, ngibe ngingowesifazane ongumSamariya?” Kamuva, lapho abafundi bakhe bebuya ukuyothenga ukudla, bamangala, bezibuza ukuthi kungani uJesu ‘ayekhuluma nowesifazane.’—Johane 4:4-9, 27.
2 Yini eyabangela lombuzo wowesifazane nokukhathazeka kwabafundi? WayengumSamariya, futhi amaJuda ayengasebenzelani namaSamariya. (Johane 8:48) Kodwa ngokusobala kwakunesinye futhi isizathu sokukhathazeka. Ngaleso sikhathi, isiko lorabi lalingakukhuthazi ukuba amadoda akhulume nabesifazane obala.a Nokho, uJesu washumayela obala kulona wesifazane oqotho, emembulela ngisho nokuthi wayenguMesiya. (Johane 4:25, 26) Ngaleyo ndlela uJesu wabonisa ukuthi wayengenakuvinjelwa amasiko angewona angokombhalo, kuhlanganise nalawo ayelulaza abesifazane. (Marku 7:9-13) Ngokuphambene, ngalokho akwenza nangalokho akufundisa, uJesu wabonisa ukuthi abesifazane kufanele baphathwe ngodumo nangenhlonipho.
Indlela UJesu Aphatha Ngayo Abesifazane
3, 4. (a) UJesu wasabela kanjani kowesifazane owathinta ingubo yakhe? (b) UJesu wawabekela kanjani amadoda angamaKristu isibonelo esihle, ikakhulukazi ababonisi?
3 Ububele besisa uJesu ayenabo ngabantu babonakaliswa endleleni ayesebenzelana ngayo nabesifazane. Ngesinye isikhathi owesifazane owayehlushwa ukopha iminyaka engu-12 wafuna uJesu esixukwini. Isimo sakhe sasimenza abe ongahlanzekile ngokwesiko, ngakho kwakungafanele abe lapho. (Levitikusi 15:25-27) Kodwa wayekhathazeke kakhulu kangangokuthi wasondela ngesinyelela ngemva kukaJesu. Lapho ethinta ingubo yakhe, waphulukiswa ngaso leso sikhathi! Nakuba ayelibangise emzini kaJayiru, ondodakazi yakhe yayigula kakhulu, uJesu wama. Njengoba ayezwe amandla ephuma kuye, waqalaza ukuze abone owayemthintile. Ekugcineni, lona wesifazane weza wayeseguqa phambi kwakhe eqhaqhazela. Ingabe uJesu wayezomthethisa ngokuba sesixukwini noma ngokuthinta ingubo yakhe ngaphandle kwemvume? Ngokuphambene, lona wesifazane wathola ukuthi uJesu wayenobubele obukhulu futhi enomusa. “Ndodakazi,” esho, “ukholo lwakho lukwenze waphila.” Lesi kwakuwukuphela kwesikhathi uJesu abiza ngaso owesifazane ngokuthi “ndodakazi.” Yeka ukuthi kumelwe ukuba lelozwi lamduduza kanjani lona wesifazane!—Mathewu 9:18-22; Marku 5:21-34.
4 UJesu wabheka ngalé kwalokho okushiwo uMthetho. Wayeyibonile inhloso yawo nesidingo sokuba nesihe nobubele. (Qhathanisa noMathewu 23:23.) UJesu wazibona izimo zokukhathazeka zalona wesifazane ogulayo futhi wakucabangela ukuthi wayeshukunyiswa ukholo. Ngaleyo ndlela wabekela amadoda angamaKristu isibonelo esihle, ikakhulukazi ababonisi. Uma udade ongumKristu ebhekene nezinkinga zomuntu siqu noma isimo esinzima noma esivivinya ngokukhethekile, abadala kufanele bazame ukubheka ngalé kwamazwi okuphahluka noma izenzo futhi bacabangele izimo nezisusa. Ukuqonda okunjalo kungase kubonise ukuthi kudingeka isineke, ukuqonda, nobubele esikhundleni seseluleko nesiqondiso.—IzAga 10:19; 16:23; 19:11.
5. (a) Iyiphi indlela abesifazane ababevinjelwe ngayo amasiko orabi? (Bheka umbhalo waphansi.) (b) Obani ababengabokuqala ukubona nokufakaza ngoJesu ovusiwe?
5 Njengoba babevinjelwe amasiko orabi, abesifazane ababephila lapho uJesu esemhlabeni babenqatshelwe ukukhonza njengofakazi abangokomthetho.b Cabangela okwenzeka ngokushesha nje ngemva kokuba uJesu evuswe kwabafile ekuseni ngo-Nisan 16, 33 C.E. Ubani owayezoba owokuqala ukubona uJesu ovusiwe futhi anikeze ubufakazi kwabanye abafundi ukuthi iNkosi yabo yayivusiwe? Kwaba abesifazane ababesale endaweni yokubethelwa kwakhe kwaze kwaba yilapho efa.—Mathewu 27:55, 56, 61.
6, 7. (a) Yini uJesu ayitshela abesifazane ababeze ethuneni? (b) Abafundi bakaJesu besilisa basabela kanjani okokuqala ebufakazini obanikezwa abesifazane, futhi yini engase ifundwe kulokhu?
6 Ekuseni kakhulu ngosuku lokuqala lwesonto, uMariya Magdalena nabanye besifazane baya ethuneni bephethe amakha ukuze bagcobe umzimba kaJesu. Lapho bethola ithuna lingenamuntu, uMariya wagijima eyotshela uPetru noJohane. Abanye besifazane basala. Ngokushesha, ingelosi yabonakala kubo futhi yabatshela ukuthi uJesu wayevusiwe. “Hambani masinyane nitshele abafundi bakhe,” kuyala ingelosi. Njengoba laba besifazane babephuthuma ukudlulisela lezi zindaba, uJesu ngokwakhe wabonakala kubo. “Hambani, niyobikela abafowethu,” ebatshela. (Mathewu 28:1-10; Marku 16:1, 2; Johane 20:1, 2) Engaqaphele ukuthi uvakashelwe ingelosi futhi ekhungethwe usizi, uMariya Magdalena wabuyela ethuneni elingenalutho. UJesu wabonakala kuye lapho, futhi ngemva kokuba lona wesifazane esembona ekugcineni, uJesu wathi: “Hamba uye kubafowethu futhi uthi kubo, ‘Nginyukela kuBaba noYihlo kuNkulunkulu wami noNkulunkulu wenu.’”—Johane 20:11-18; qhathanisa noMathewu 28:9, 10.
7 UJesu wayengase abonakale kuPetru, kuJohane, noma komunye wabafundi bakhe besilisa kuqala. Kunalokho, wakhetha ukubonisa laba besifazane umusa ngokubenza babe ofakazi bokuqala bokuzibonela bokuvuswa kwakhe nangokubathuma ukuba bafakaze ngakho kubafundi bakhe besilisa. Lamadoda asabela kanjani ekuqaleni? Ukulandisa kuthi: “Lamazwi abonakala njengembudane kubo futhi babengabakholelwa abesifazane.” (Luka 24:11) Kungenzeka yini ukuthi bakuthola kunzima ukwamukela lobu bufakazi ngenxa yokuthi babuvela kwabesifazane? Uma kunjalo, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi babamukela ubufakazi obuningi bokuthi uJesu wayevusiwe kwabafile. (Luka 24:13-46; 1 Korinte 15:3-8) Namuhla, amadoda angamaKristu enza ngokuhlakanipha lapho ecabangela imibono yodadewabo abangokomoya.—Qhathanisa noGenesise 21:12.
8. Yini uJesu ayembula ngendlela ayesebenzelana ngayo nabesifazane?
8 Kuyajabulisa ngempela ukuphawula indlela uJesu asebenzelana ngayo nabesifazane. Njengoba ayelokhu enobubele futhi elinganisela ngokuphelele ekusebenzelaneni nabesifazane, akazange abaphakamise noma abalulaze. (Johane 2:3-5) Wawalahla amasiko orabi ayebehlisa isithunzi futhi enza iZwi likaNkulunkulu libe yize. (Qhathanisa noMathewu 15:3-9.) Ngokuphatha abesifazane ngodumo nangenhlonipho, uJesu wayiveza mathupha indlela uJehova uNkulunkulu anomuzwa wokuthi kufanele baphathwe ngayo. (Johane 5:19) UJesu wabuye wabekela amadoda angamaKristu isibonelo esihle kakhulu sokulingiswa.—1 Petru 2:21.
Izimfundiso ZikaJesu Ngokuphathelene Nabesifazane
9, 10. UJesu wawalahla kanjani amasiko orabi ngokuphathelene nabesifazane, futhi yini ayisho ngemva kokuba abaFarisi bephakamise umbuzo ngesehlukaniso?
9 UJesu akazange nje alahle amasiko orabi futhi adumise abesifazane ngezenzo zakhe kuphela kodwa nangezimfundiso zakhe. Ngokwesibonelo, cabangela lokho akufundisa ngesehlukaniso nokuphinga.
10 Ngokuphathelene nesehlukaniso, uJesu wabuzwa lombuzo: “Kungokomthetho yini ukuba umuntu ahlukanise nomkakhe ngayo yonke inhlobo yesizathu?” Ngokokulandisa kukaMarku, uJesu wathi: “Noma ubani ohlukanisa nomkakhe [ngaphandle kwesizathu sobufebe] ashade nomunye uyaphinga kuye, futhi uma kwenzeka owesifazane, ngemva kokuhlukanisa nendoda yakhe, eshada nenye, uyaphinga.” (Marku 10:10-12; Mathewu 19:3, 9) Lawo mazwi ashiwo ngokucacile abonisa inhlonipho ngesithunzi sabesifazane. Kanjani?
11. Amazwi kaJesu athi “ngaphandle kwesizathu sobufebe” abonisani ngokuphathelene nesibopho somshado?
11 Okokuqala, ngamazwi athi “ngaphandle kwesizathu sobufebe” (atholakala ekulandiseni kweVangeli likaMathewu), uJesu wabonisa ukuthi isibopho somshado akufanele sithathwe kalula noma sigqashulwe kalula. Imfundiso yorabi eyayivamile yayivumela isehlukaniso ngezizashwana ezinjengokona ukudla noma ukukhuluma nendoda eyisihambi. Phela, isehlukaniso sasivunyelwa ngisho nalapho indoda ithole owesifazane okhanga kakhudlwana emehlweni ayo! Esinye isazi seBhayibheli siyaphawula: “Lapho uJesu ekhuluma ngendlela enza ngayo . . . wayesekela abesifazane ngokufuna ukubuyisela umshado endaweni okwakufanele ube kuyo.” Ngempela, umshado kufanele ube isibopho esihlala njalo owesifazane angase azizwe elondekile kuso.—Marku 10:6-9.
12. Ngamazwi athi “uyaphinga kuye,” imuphi umqondo uJesu ayewuveza?
12 Okwesibili, ngamazwi athi “uyaphinga kuye,” uJesu waveza umbono owawungaqashelwa ezinkantolo zorabi—umqondo wokuthi indoda iyaphinga kumkayo. I-Expositor’s Bible Commentary iyachaza: “Enkolweni yobuJuda yorabi owesifazane ngokungathembeki wayengaphinga kumyeni wakhe; futhi indoda, ngokuba nobuhlobo bobulili nomfazi wenye indoda, yayingaphinga endodeni yalowo mfazi. Kodwa indoda yayingasoze iphinge kumkayo, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yayenzeni. UJesu, ngokubeka indoda ngaphansi kwesibopho sokuziphatha esifanayo nesomfazi, waphakamisa isikhundla nesithunzi sabesifazane.”
13. Ngokuphathelene nesehlukaniso, uJesu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi ngaphansi kwesimiso sobuKristu, kwakuyoba nendinganiso eyodwa yamadoda nabesifazane?
13 Okwesithathu, ngamazwi athi “ngemva kokuhlukanisa nendoda yakhe,” uJesu wayeliqaphela ilungelo lowesifazane lokufakela indoda yakhe engathembekile isehlukaniso—umkhuba ngokusobala owawaziwa kodwa owawungavamile ngaphansi komthetho wobuJuda ngaleso sikhathi.c Kwakuthiwa “owesifazane wayengase afakelwe isehlukaniso ethanda noma engathandi, kodwa indoda yayingase ifakelwe isehlukaniso ngentando yayo kuphela.” Nokho, ngokukaJesu, ngaphansi kwesimiso sobuKristu, indinganiso efanayo yayiyosebenza emadodeni nakwabesifazane.
14. Ngezimfundiso zakhe, uJesu wabonisani?
14 Izimfundiso zikaJesu zikubonisa ngokucacile ukukhathalela okujulile inhlalakahle yabesifazane. Ngakho-ke, kulula ukuqonda ukuthi kungani abesifazane abathile babenothando olukhulu ngoJesu kangangokuba babenakekela izidingo zakhe ngempahla yabo. (Luka 8:1-3) UJesu wathi: “Lokho engikufundisayo akukhona okwami, kodwa kungokwalowo ongithumile.” (Johane 7:16) Ngalokho akufundisa, uJesu wabonisa ukucabangela kwesisa kukaJehova ngokwakhe ngabesifazane.
“Nibanika Udumo”
15. Yini umphostoli uPetru ayibhala ngokuphathelene nendlela amadoda okufanele aphathe ngayo omkawo?
15 Umphostoli uPetru wazibonela mathupha indlela uJesu asebenzelana ngayo nabesifazane. Eminyakeni engaba ngu-30 kamuva, uPetru wanikeza abafazi iseluleko sothando wayesebhala: “Nina madoda, qhubekani nihlala nabo ngendlela efanayo ngokolwazi, nibanika udumo njengesitsha esibuthakathaka kakhudlwana, isifazane, njengoba nani niyizindlalifa kanye nabo zomusa ongafanelwe wokuphila, ukuze imithandazo yenu ingathiyeki.” (1 Petru 3:7) Wayesho ukuthini uPetru ngamazwi athi “nibanika udumo”?
16. (a) Lisho ukuthini ibizo lesiGreki elihunyushwe ngokuthi “udumo”? (b) UJehova wamdumisa kanjani uJesu phakathi nokuguqulwa kwakhe isimo, futhi yini esiyifunda kulokhu?
16 Ngokomunye umlobi wesichazamazwi, ibizo lesiGreki elihunyushwe ngokuthi “udumo” (ti·meʹ) lisho “inani, ukubaluleka, udumo, inhlonipho.” Izimo zaleli gama lesiGreki zihunyushwa ngokuthi ‘izipho’ nangokuthi “igugu.” (IzEnzo 28:10; 1 Petru 2:7) Sithola ukukuqonda lokho okushiwo ukudumisa othile uma sihlola ukusebenzisa kukaPetru isimo segama elifanayo kweyesi-2 Petru 1:17. Ebhekisela ekuguqulweni kukaJesu isimo wathi lapho: “Wamukela udumo nenkazimulo kuNkulunkulu uBaba, lapho inkazimulo enhle kakhulu iletha kuye amazwi anjengalawa: ‘Lena indodana yami, othandekayo wami, engiyamukele mina ngokwami.’” Lapho uJesu eguqulwa isimo, uJehova wadumisa iNdodana yakhe ngokuveza ukwamukela kwakhe uJesu, futhi uNkulunkulu wenza kanjalo kuzwa abanye. (Mathewu 17:1-5) Khona-ke, indoda edumisa umkayo ayimlulazi noma imehlise. Kunalokho, ibonisa ngamazwi nangezenzo zayo—ngasese nasobala—ukuthi iyamazisa.—IzAga 31:28-30.
17. (a) Kungani umfazi ongumKristu efanelwe udumo? (b) Kungani kungafanele ukuba indoda ibe nomuzwa wokuthi ibaluleke kakhulu emehlweni kaNkulunkulu kunokuba kunjalo ngowesifazane?
17 UPetru uthi amadoda angamaKristu kufanele ‘anike’ omkawo lolu dumo. Akumelwe lunikezwe njengomusa, kodwa njengelungelo elifanele lomkawo. Kungani abafazi befanelwe udumo olunjalo? Ngenxa yokuthi “nani niyizindlalifa kanye nabo zomusa ongafanelwe wokuphila,” kuchaza uPetru. Ekhulwini lokuqala C.E., amadoda nabesifazane abamukela incwadi kaPetru bonke babebiziwe ukuba babe izindlalifa ezikanye noKristu. (Roma 8:16, 17; Galathiya 3:28) Babengenayo imithwalo yemfanelo efanayo ebandleni, kodwa ekugcineni babeyohlanganyela ekubuseni noKristu ezulwini. (IsAmbulo 20:6) Ngokufanayo, namuhla lapho abaningi babantu bakaNkulunkulu benethemba lasemhlabeni, kungaba iphutha elingathi sína nganoma iyiphi indoda engumKristu ukuba ibe nomuzwa wokuthi ngenxa yamalungelo okungenzeka inawo ebandleni, ibaluleke kakhulu emehlweni kaNkulunkulu kunokuba kunjalo ngabesifazane. (Qhathanisa noLuka 17:10.) Amadoda nabesifazane banokuma okungokomoya okulinganayo phambi kukaNkulunkulu, ngenxa yokuthi ukufa kukaJesu okungokomhlatshelo kwavulela kokubili amadoda nabesifazane ithuba elifanayo—lokukhululwa ekulahlweni kwesono nokufa, benombono wokuphila okumi phakade.—Roma 6:23.
18. Isiphi isizathu esinamandla uPetru asinikezayo sokuba indoda ihloniphe umkayo?
18 UPetru unikeza esinye isizathu esinamandla sokuthi kungani indoda kufanele idumise umkayo, “ukuze imithandazo [yayo] ingathiyeki.” Inkulumo ethi ‘ukuthiyeka’ ivela esenzweni sesiGreki (en·koʹpto) ngokwezwi nezwi esisho “ukusika ushone.” Ngokwe-Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words kaVine, “sasisetshenziswa kubantu ababethiya ngokumba umgwaqo, noma ngokubeka isithiyo esibukhali endleleni.” Ngakho, indoda ehluleka ukunika umkayo udumo ingase ithole ukuthi kunesithiyo phakathi kwemithandazo yayo nokuzwa kukaNkulunkulu. Indoda ingase izizwe ingakufanelekele ukusondela kuNkulunkulu, noma uJehova angase angathambekeli ekuyilaleleni. Ngokusobala, uJehova uyikhathalela kakhulu indlela amadoda aphatha ngayo abesifazane.—Qhathanisa nesiLilo 3:44.
19. Amadoda nabesifazane ebandleni bangakhonza kanjani ndawonye ngokuhloniphana?
19 Akuwona amadoda kuphela anesibopho sokubonisa udumo. Nakuba indoda kufanele idumise umkayo ngokumphatha ngothando nangesizotha, umfazi kufanele adumise indoda yakhe ngokuzithoba nangokubonisa inhlonipho ejulile. (1 Petru 3:1-6) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uPawulu wayala amaKristu ukuba ‘abonisane udumo.’ (Roma 12:10) Lesi isimemo sokuba amadoda nabesifazane ebandleni bakhonze ndawonye ngokuhloniphana. Lapho kunesimo esinjalo, abesifazane abangamaKristu abanakukhuluma ngendlela elulaza igunya lalabo abaholayo. Kunalokho, bayosekela abadala futhi babambisane nabo. (1 Korinte 14:34, 35; Heberu 13:17) Ngokwengxenye yabo, ababonisi abangamaKristu bayophatha ‘abesifazane abadala njengawonina, nabesifazane abasha njengawodadewabo ngabo bonke ubumsulwa.’ (1 Thimothewu 5:1, 2) Ngokuhlakanipha, abadala bayokucabangela ngomusa okushiwo odadewabo abangamaKristu. Ngakho, lapho udade ebonisa ukwazisa kwakhe ngobunhloko obungokwasezulwini futhi ngenhlonipho ebuza umbuzo othile noma ngisho eveza okuthile okudinga ukunakekelwa, abadala bayowucabangela ngenjabulo umbuzo noma inkinga ayiletha ekunakekeleni kwabo.
20. Ngokokulandisa okungokomBhalo, kufanele baphathwe kanjani abesifazane?
20 Kusukela isono sangena ensimini yase-Edene, abesifazane ezimpucukweni eziningi baye behliselwa esikhundleni sokungahlonishwa. Kodwa lolo akulona uhlobo lokuphathwa uJehova ayehlose ukuba baluthole kwasekuqaleni. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi imiphi imibono engokwempucuko engase idlange ngabesifazane, ukulandisa kwakho kokubili imiBhalo YesiHeberu neyamaKristu yesiGreki kubonisa ngokucacile ukuthi abesifazane abahlonipha uNkulunkulu kufanele baphathwe ngodumo nangenhlonipho. Kuyilungelo labo abalinikwe uNkulunkulu.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a I-International Standard Bible Encyclopedia iyachaza: “Abesifazane babengadli nezimenywa zesilisa, futhi abesilisa babengakhuthazwa ukuba bakhulume nabesifazane. . . . Ukuxoxa nowesifazane endaweni esobala kwakuyihlazo ngokukhethekile.” I-Mishnah yamaJuda, iqoqo lezimfundiso zorabi, yaluleka: “Ungakhulumi kakhulu nesifazane. . . . Okhuluma kakhulu nesifazane uzilethela okubi futhi udebeselela ukufundwa koMthetho futhi ekugcineni uyodla ifa laseGehena.”—Aboth 1:5.
b Incwadi ethi Palestine in the Time of Christ ithi: “Kwezinye izimo, owesifazane wayebekwa cishe esilinganisweni esifanayo nesesigqila. Ngokwesibonelo, wayengenakubunikeza ubufakazi enkantolo yobulungisa, ngaphandle kokufakazela ukufa komyeni wakhe.” Ibhekisela kuLevitikusi 5:1, i-Mishnah iyachaza: “[Umthetho ophathelene] ‘nesifungo sobufakazi’ usebenza emadodeni kodwa hhayi kwabesifazane.”—Shebuoth 4:I.
c Isazi-mlando esingumJuda sekhulu lokuqala uJosephus sibika ukuthi udadewabo weNkosi uHerode uSalome wathumelela umyeni wakhe “incwadi eyayiqeda umshado wabo, okwakungavumelani nomthetho wamaJuda. Ngenxa yokuthi indoda (kuphela) evunyelwe yithi ukuba yenze lokhu.”—Jewish Antiquities, XV, 259 [vii, 10].
Ithini Impendulo Yakho?
◻ Iziphi izibonelo ezibonisa ukuthi uJesu waphatha abesifazane ngodumo nangenhlonipho?
◻ Izimfundiso zikaJesu zayibonisa kanjani inhlonipho ngesithunzi sabesifazane?
◻ Kungani indoda kufanele inike umkayo ongumKristu udumo?
◻ Isiphi isibopho sokubonisa udumo wonke amaKristu anaso?
[Isithombe ekhasini 17]
Abesifazane abahlonipha uNkulunkulu baba ngabokuqala ukubona uJesu ovusiwe, owenza ukuba bafakaze ngakho kubafowabo, kwaba injabulo kulaba besifazane