Lingisa Ukholo Lwabo

Wafinyelela “Iziphetho Enhliziyweni Yakhe”

UMARIYA wazihlela ukuze ahlale kahle phezu kwembongolo. Kwase kuphele amahora amaningi eyigibele. Phambi kwakhe kwakuhamba uJosefa ehola njengoba belibangise kude eBhetlehema. UMariya waphinde wezwa umntwana enyakaza esiswini.

Kwase kuyisikhathi eside uMariya ekhulelwe; ngalesi sikhathi iBhayibheli limchaza ngenkulumo engagunci ethi ‘wayesezobeletha.’ (Luka 2:5) Njengoba lo mbhangqwana wawulokhu unqamula emasimini, mhlawumbe abanye abalimi bayeka ukulima noma ukutshala bazibuza ukuthi kungani owesifazane okulesi simo ethathe lolu hambo. Yini eyayiholele uMariya kude kangaka nomuzi wakubo waseNazaretha?

Kwaqala ezinyangeni ezithile ngaphambi kwalokho lapho le ntombi engumJuda ithola isabelo esiyingqayizivele kunazo zonke emlandweni wesintu. Yayizobeletha umntwana owayezoba nguMesiya, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu! (Luka 1:35) Njengoba isikhathi sokubeletha sasisondela, kwaphakama isidingo sokuba ithathe lolu hambo. Phakathi nalo, uMariya wabhekana nezinselele eziningi zokholo. Ake sibone ukuthi yini eyamsiza ukuba ahlale eqinile ngokomoya.

Uhambo Oluya EBhetlehema

Akuyena uJosefa noMariya kuphela abathatha lolu hambo. UKhesari Awugustu wayekhiphe umyalo wokuba abantu babhalise ezweni lonke, ngakho kwadingeka ukuba baye emizini yakubo ukuze bahambisane nalo mthetho. UJosefa wenzenjani? Ukulandisa kuthi: “Yebo, uJosefa naye wakhuphuka eGalile, waphuma emzini waseNazaretha, waya eJudiya, emzini kaDavide, okuthiwa iBhetlehema, ngenxa yokuba eyilungu lendlu nomndeni kaDavide.”—Luka 2:1-4.

Akuzange kube ukuqondana nje kwezinto ukushaya kukaKhesari lo mthetho ngaleso sikhathi. Isiprofetho esasilotshwe eminyakeni engaba amakhulu angu-7 ngaphambili sabikezela ukuthi uMesiya wayeyozalelwa eBhetlehema. Kwakunomuzi okuthiwa iBhetlehema ongamakhilomitha angu-11 kuphela ukusuka eNazaretha. Kodwa, isiprofetho sasisho ngokuqondile ukuthi uMesiya wayeyovela “eBhetlehema-Efratha.” (Mika 5:2) Namuhla, lowo muzi omncane oseningizimu uqhele ngamakhilomitha angaba ngu-150 ukusuka eNazaretha, emigwaqweni enqamula emagqumeni. UJosefa kwakufanele aye kulelo Bhetlehema, ngoba umkhaya weNkosi uDavide wawudabuka lapho—umkhaya bobabili uJosefa nomkakhe ababevela kuwo.

Ingabe uMariya wayezosisekela isinqumo sikaJosefa sokuhambisana nalo mthetho? Phela, lolu hambo lwaluzoba nzima kuye. Cishe kwakusanda kungena ikwindla, ngakho kwakungenzeka kube nemikhemezelo njengoba kuphela inkathi eyomile kancane kancane. Ngaphezu kwalokho, inkulumo ethi “wakhuphuka eGalile” iyafaneleka, ngoba iBhetlehema lalisendaweni ephakeme ngamamitha angaphezu kwangu-760—okuwumqansa onzima ekupheleni kohambo lwezinsuku ezimbalwa. Mhlawumbe lwaluyothatha isikhathi eside kunesivamile, ngoba isimo sikaMariya sasingase sidinge ukuba aphumule izikhathi eziningana. Manje, kunanini ngaphambili, owesifazane osemusha angase afise ukuba seduze nasekhaya, lapho kunomkhaya nabangane abakulungele ukumsiza uma kuqala imihelo. Akungabazeki ukuthi kwakudingeka abe nesibindi ukuze athathe lolu hambo.

Noma kunjalo, uLuka ubhala ukuthi uJosefa waya lapho “ukuze abhaliswe kanye noMariya.” Uphawula nokuthi uMariya ‘wayendiselwe kuJosefa njengoba kwakuthenjisiwe.’ (Luka 2:4, 5) Ukuba umkaJosefa kwenza umahluko omkhulu ezinqumweni zikaMariya. Wayebheka umyeni wakhe njengenhloko yakhe ngokomoya, wamukela indima ayeyinikwe uNkulunkulu njengomsizi wakhe ngokumsekela ezinqumweni azenzayo.a Ngakho wabhekana nalesi simo esasingase sibe inselele okholweni lwakhe ngokulalela.

Yini enye okungenzeka yashukumisela uMariya ukuba alalele? Ingabe wayesazi isiprofetho esithi uMesiya wayeyozalelwa eBhetlehema? IBhayibheli alisho. Kungenzeka kunjalo, ngoba kusobala ukuthi lokhu kwakwaziwa abaholi benkolo kanye nabantu bonkana. (Mathewu 2:1-7; Johane 7:40-42) UMariya wayenolwazi oluhle kakhulu lwemiBhalo. (Luka 1:46-55) Kunoma ikuphi, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi uMariya wanquma ukuhamba ngoba elalela umyeni wakhe, umthetho kahulumeni, noma isiprofetho sikaJehova—noma ngenxa yazo zonke lezi zizathu—wabeka isibonelo esihle kakhulu. UJehova uwazisa ngempela umoya wokuzithoba nokulalela wabesilisa nabesifazane. Esikhathini sethu, lapho ukuzithoba kubonakala kuphakathi kwezinto ezinganakwa nhlobo, isibonelo sikaMariya siyisikhuthazo esihle kubantu abathembekile kuyo yonke indawo.

Ukuzalwa KukaKristu

Kumelwe ukuba uMariya wakhululeka lapho ebona iBhetlehema. Njengoba bekhuphuka emagqumeni, bedlula emahlathini omnqumo—ophakathi kwezilimo ezivunwa ekugcineni—uMariya noJosefa kungenzeka bacabanga ngomlando walo mzana. Wawumncane kakhulu ukuba ungabalwa phakathi kwemizi yakwaJuda, njengoba nje umprofethi uMika ayeshilo; kodwa wawuyindawo okwazalelwa kuyo uBhowazi, uNawomi kanye noDavide kamuva, eminyakeni engaphezu kwenkulungwane ngaphambili.

UMariya noJosefa bathola umuzi ugcwele. Abanye babefike ngaphambi kwabo bezobhalisa, ngakho kwakungenandawo ababengalala kuyo.b Akukho okunye ababengakwenza ngaphandle kokulala esitebeleni. Ungase ucabange ukuthi uJosefa wayekhathazeke kanjani njengoba ebona umkakhe ezwa izinhlungu ayengakaze azizwe ngaphambili, ezaziqhubeka ziba namandla. Wahlaselwa imihelo kuyo le ndawo.

Abesifazane kuyo yonke indawo bangazwelana noMariya. Eminyakeni engaba ngu-4 000 ngaphambi kwalokho, uJehova wayebikezele ukuthi kwakuyoba into evamile ngabesifazane ukuba nemihelo ngenxa yesono esizuzwe njengefa. (Genesise 3:16) Abukho ubufakazi obubonisa ukuthi akuzange kumehlele lokhu uMariya. Ukulandisa kukaLuka akusitsheli ukuthi kwenzekani ngale nkathi, ngoba kumane nje kuthi: “Wayibeletha indodana yakhe, izibulo.” (Luka 2:7) Yebo, lase lizelwe “izibulo” lakhe—elingelokuqala ezinganeni zikaMariya eziningi, okungenani ezingu-7 sezizonke. (Marku 6:3) Kodwa lena yayizohluka ngokuphelele. Yayingelona nje izibulo likaMariya kodwa ‘yayiyizibulo layo yonke indalo’ kaJehova, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu ezelwe yodwa!—Kolose 1:15.

Kukuleli qophelo lapho ukulandisa kunezela khona lo mniningwane owaziwayo: “Wayisonga ngemidweshu yendwangu wayibeka emkhombeni.” (Luka 2:7) Imidlalo yaseshashalazini ephathelene nokuzalwa kukaJesu, imidwebo, nemifanekiso emhlabeni wonke iyeqisa uma iveza lesi simo. Kodwa cabanga ngaleli qiniso. Umkhombe uyindawo lapho kuphakelwa khona izilwane. Ngakho lo mkhaya walala esitebeleni, indawo eyayingenawo umoya ohlanzekile noma inhlanzeko—ngaleso sikhathi ngisho nanamuhla. Empeleni, abazali abanjani ababengakhetha ukuba umntwana wabo azalelwe endaweni enjalo uma ikhona enye ababengayikhetha? Abazali abaningi bazifunela okungcono kakhulu izingane zabo. Yeka ukuthi uMariya noJosefa babefuna kangakanani ukwenzela iNdodana kaNkulunkulu okungcono kakhulu!

Kodwa abazange bavumele ukulinganiselwa kwabo ukuba kubadikibalise; bamane benza okusemandleni abo ngalokho ababenakho. Ngokwesibonelo, phawula ukuthi uMariya walunakekela ngokwakhe usana, walusonga ngemidweshu yendwangu ukuze lufudumale, wabe eselulalisa emkhombeni, eqiniseka ukuthi lufudumele futhi luphephile. UMariya wayengeke avumele ukukhathazeka ngezimo zakhe zangaleso sikhathi kumphazamise ekwenzeni okungcono kakhulu ayengakwenza. Yena noJosefa babazi nokuthi ukunakekela lolu sana ngokomoya kwakuyoba into ebaluleke kakhulu abangayenza. (Duteronomi 6:6-8) Namuhla, abazali abahlakaniphile balwela ukubeka izinto ezifanayo kuqala njengoba bekhulisa izingane zabo kuleli zwe elintulayo ngokomoya.

Ukuvakashelwa Okwaba Isikhuthazo

Kwaphakama isimo esiphazamisayo. Kwatheleka abelusi esitebeleni, befuna ukubona lo mkhaya kanye nomntwana ngokukhethekile. La madoda ayejabule, injabulo ibonakala ebusweni. Ayefike ngokushesha evela emagqumeni lapho ayehlala khona nemihlambi yawo.c Atshela laba bazali abamangele ngesimangaliso ayesanda kusibona. Phakathi nomlindo wasebusuku, ingelosi yayibonakale kuwo kungazelelwe. Kwakubonakale inkazimulo kaJehova kuyo yonke indawo, futhi ingelosi yabatshela ukuthi uKristu, noma uMesiya, wayesanda kuzalwa eBhetlehema. Ayezothola lo mntwana elaliswe emkhombeni, esongwe ngemidweshu yendwangu. Kwabe sekubonakala okunye okumangalisa nakakhulu—kwabonakala isixuku esikhulu sezingelosi, zihuba ngenkazimulo kaJehova!

Yingakho la madoda aya eBhetlehema ephuthuma! Kumelwe ukuba ajabula lapho ebona usana lulele lapho njengoba nje ingelosi yayishilo. Awazigodlanga lezi zindaba ezinhle. ‘Abalandisa amazwi. Futhi bonke abezwa bamangala ngezinto ababezitshelwa abelusi.’ (Luka 2:17, 18) Ngokusobala abaholi benkolo bangaleso sikhathi babebabukela phansi abelusi. Kodwa uJehova wayewazisa ngempela la madoda athobekile futhi athembekile. Kodwa lokhu kuvakashelwa kwamthinta kanjani uMariya?

Ngokuqinisekile uMariya wayekhathele ngemva kobunzima bokubeletha, kodwa wawalalelisisa wonke amazwi. Futhi wenza okungaphezu kwalokho: “UMariya wawalondoloza wonke la mazwi, efinyelela iziphetho enhliziyweni yakhe.” (Luka 2:19) Ngempela lona wesifazane osemusha wayecabangisisa. Wayazi ukuthi lesi sigijimi sengelosi sasibalulekile. UNkulunkulu wakhe, uJehova, wayefuna ukuba azi futhi aqonde ukuthi ingubani indodana yakhe, nokuthi ibaluleke ngani. Ngakho wenza okungaphezu nje kokulalela. Wawagcina enhliziyweni la mazwi ukuze azindle ngawo ngokuphindaphindiwe phakathi nezinyanga neminyaka eyayizolandela. Nasi isihluthulelo esiyinhloko sokholo uMariya alubonisa ekuphileni kwakhe konke.

Ingabe uyosilandela isibonelo sikaMariya? UJehova ubhale amaqiniso angokomoya abalulekile eZwini lakhe. Kodwa lawo maqiniso ngeke asizuzise uma singaqali ngokuwanaka. Lokho sikwenza ngokufunda iBhayibheli njalo—hhayi njengencwadi nje evamile kodwa njengeZwi likaNkulunkulu eliphefumulelwe. (2 Thimothewu 3:16) Khona-ke, njengoMariya, kudingeka sigcine amazwi angokomoya enhliziyweni yethu, sifinyelele iziphetho. Uma sizindla ngalokho esikufunda eBhayibhelini, sicabange ngezindlela esingasisebenzisa ngayo ngokugcwele iseluleko sikaJehova, siyokondla ukholo lwethu ngalokho okudingekayo ukuze lukhule.

Amazwi Engeziwe Okwakudingeka Awagcine

Lapho usana selunezinsuku ezingu-8 ubudala, uMariya noJosefa balusoka ngokwemfuneko yoMthetho KaMose, balwetha ngokuthi uJesu njengoba babeyaliwe. (Luka 1:31) Kamuva, ngosuku lwama-40, baluthatha eBhetlehema baya nalo ethempelini eJerusalema, eliqhele ngamakhilomitha ambalwa, futhi banikela imihlatshelo yokuhlanzwa eyayivunyelwe uMthetho kubantu abampofu—amahobhe noma amajuba amabili. Uma kuwukuthi babenamahloni ngokunikela okungaphansi kwenqama nehobhe abanye abazali ababekunikela, bawachilizela eceleni. Kunoma ikuphi, bathola isikhuthazo esinamandla ngesikhathi belapho.—Luka 2:21-24.

Ikhehla okuthiwa uSimeyoni leza kubo futhi latshela uMariya amazwi engeziwe okwakufanele awagcine enhliziyweni yakhe. Lalithenjiswe ukuthi lizobona uMesiya ngaphambi kokuba life, futhi umoya ongcwele kaJehova walitshela ukuthi usana olunguJesu lwalunguMsindisi owayebikezelwe. USimeyoni wabuye waxwayisa uMariya ngobuhlungu ayeyobhekana nabo ngolunye usuku. Wathi uMariya wayeyokuzwa sengathi udatshulwa inkemba ende. (Luka 2:25-35) Ngisho nalawo mazwi asabisayo kungenzeka asiza uMariya ukuba akhuthazele lapho kufika isikhathi esinzima ngemva kweminyaka engaphezu kwamashumi amathathu. Ngemva kukaSimeyoni, umprofethikazi okuthiwa u-Ana wabona usana olunguJesu wayeseqala ukukhuluma ngalo kubo bonke abantu ababazisa ithemba lokukhululwa kweJerusalema.—Luka 2:36-38.

Yeka isinqumo esihle uJosefa noMariya abasenza ngokuletha usana lwabo ethempelini likaJehova eJerusalema! Kanjalo basiza indodana yabo yaqala inkambo yokuphila konke yokuya ethempelini likaJehova ngokwethembeka. Ngesikhathi belapho, bazinikela ngokwamandla abo futhi batshelwa amazwi afundisayo nakhuthazayo. Ngokuqinisekile uMariya wahamba ethempelini ngalolo suku enokholo oluqinile, inhliziyo yakhe igcwele amazwi angokomoya ayengazindla ngawo futhi awatshele nabanye.

Kuyinto enhle ukubona abazali belandela leso sibonelo namuhla. Phakathi koFakazi BakaJehova, abazali baya nezingane zabo emihlanganweni yobuKristu ngokwethembeka. Abazali abanjalo benza konke okusemandleni, bakhuthaza namanye amakholwa. Baphuma kuleyo mihlangano beqinile, bejabula futhi benezinto eziningi abangazixoxa nabanye. Umenywa ngokufudumele ukuba uhlanganyele nabo. Uma wenza kanjalo, uyothola ukuthi ukholo lwakho, njengolukaMariya, luyoqhubeka luqina.

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