Umuntu Omkhulu Kunabo Bonke Owake Waphila
“Wena unguKristu, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu ophilayo.”—MATHEWU 16:16.
1, 2. (a) Ubukhulu bomuntu bungalinganiswa kanjani? (b) Imaphi amadoda emlandweni aye abizwa ngokuthi maKhulu, futhi ngani?
UBANI ocabanga ukuthi ungumuntu omkhulu kunabo bonke owake waphila? Ubulinganisa kanjani ubukhulu bomuntu? Ngokukhalipha kwakhe kwezempi? amandla akhe aphakeme engqondo? amandla akhe angokomzimba?
2 Ababusi abahlukahlukene baye babizwa ngokuthi baKhulu, njengoKoresi OmKhulu, uAlexander OmKhulu, noCharlemagne, owabizwa ngokuthi “omKhulu” ngisho nangesikhathi esaphila. Ngokuba khona kwawo okwesabekayo, amadoda anjengalawa aba nethonya elikhulu phezu kwalabo ayebabusa.
3. (a) Iyiphi indlela yokuhlola ubukhulu bomuntu? (b) Kusetshenziswa indlela enjalo yokuhlola, ubani umuntu omkhulu kunabo bonke owake waphila?
3 Ngokuthakazelisayo, isazi-mlando H. G. Wells sachaza indlela yaso yokuhlola ubukhulu bomuntu. Eminyakeni engaphezu kuka-50 edlule, sabhala: “Indlela isazi-mlando esihlola ngayo ubukhulu bomuntu iwukuthi ‘Yini ayishiya yasala ikhula? Wabenza yini abantu baqala ukucabanga kabusha ngentshiseko eyaqhubeka nangemva kwakhe?’ Ngalendlela yokuhlola,” kuphetha uWells, “uJesu Kristu uhamba phambili.” Ngisho noNapoléon Bonaparte waphawula: “UJesu Kristu uye wathonya futhi wayala izikhonzi zaKhe ngaphandle kokuba khona kwaKhe ngokomzimba okubonakalayo.”
4. (a) Imiphi imibono ephikisanayo ekhona ngokuphathelene noJesu? (b) Isazi-mlando esingeyena umKristu sibeka uJesu kuyiphi indawo emlandweni?
4 Nokho, abanye baye baphikisa ngokuthi uJesu akayena umuntu ongokomlando kodwa uyinganekwane. Ngakolunye uhlangothi olweqisayo, abaningi baye bakhulekela uJesu njengoNkulunkulu, bethi uNkulunkulu weza emhlabeni enguJesu. Nokho, esekela iziphetho zakhe ebufakazini obungokomlando kuphela ngokuqondene nokuba khona kukaJesu njengomuntu, uWells wabhala: “Kuyathakazelisa futhi kubalulekile ukuthi isazi-mlando, ngaphandle kwanoma iluphi ubandlululo olungokwemfundiso yenkolo, sithole ukuthi asinakukwazi ukuchaza intuthuko yesintu ngobuqotho ngaphandle kokunikeza umfundisi waseNazaretha ompofu indawo yokuqala. . . . Isazi-mlando esinjengami, esingazibizi ngisho nangokuthi siwumKristu, sithola konke kugxile ngendlela engeke inganakwa ekuphileni nasebuntwini balomuntu obaluleke kakhulu.”
Ingabe UJesu Waphila Ngempela?
5, 6. Izazi-mlando uH. G. Wells noWill Durant zithini mayelana nokuba kukaJesu ngumuntu ongokomlando?
5 Kodwa kuthiwani uma othile ebengakutshela ukuthi uJesu akakaze aphile ngempela, ukuthi eqinisweni, wayeyinganekwane, waqanjwa amadoda athile ekhulu lokuqala leminyaka? Ubungakuphendula kanjani lokhu kugxeka? Nakuba uWells evuma ukuthi “akukuningi esikwaziyo [ngoJesu] njengoba besingathanda ukwazi,” nokho uyaphawula: “AmaVangeli amane . . . ayavumelana ekusinikezeni umbono womuntu oqiniseke kakhulu; abonisa ubufakazi bokuqiniseka ngento engokoqobo. Ukuthatha ngokuthi akakaze aphile, ukuthi ukulandisa okukhuluma ngokuphila kwakhe kuyizinto eziqanjiwe, kunzima ngokwengeziwe futhi kudala izinkinga eziningi ngokwengeziwe kuyisazi-mlando kunokwamukela izici ezibalulekile zezindaba zamaVangeli njengeziyiqiniso.”
6 Isazi-mlando esihlonishwayo uWill Durant sacabanga ngendlela efanayo, sichaza: “Ukuthi amadoda ambalwa avamile [ayezibiza ngokuthi angamaKristu] esizukulwaneni esisodwa ayengaqamba umuntu onamandla nokhanga kangaka, indinganiso ephakeme kangaka nombono oshukumisa kangaka wobuzalwane besintu, bekungaba isimangaliso esingakholeki neze ukwedlula noma isiphi esilotshwe emaVangelini.”
7, 8. UJesu wawuthonya ngezinga elikhulu kangakanani umlando wesintu?
7 Ngakho-ke, ubungabonisana nomgxeki onjalo ngalendlela: Ingabe umuntu oyinganekwane—umuntu ongakaze aphile ngempela—ubengathonya umlando wesintu ngokuphawuleka kangaka? Incwadi ethi The Historians’ History of the World yaphawula: “Umphumela ongokomlando wemisebenzi [kaJesu] wawuphawuleka ngokwengeziwe, ngisho nangokombono wezwe kuphela, kunezenzo zanoma imuphi omunye umuntu emlandweni. Inkathi entsha, ephawulwa izimpucuko eziyinhloko zezwe, ihlehlela emuva esikhathini sokuzalwa kwakhe.” Cabanga nje ngakho. Ngisho namanye amakhalenda namuhla asekelwe onyakeni okucatshangwa ukuthi uJesu wazalwa ngawo. “Izinsuku ezingaphambi kwalowonyaka zibhalwa ngokuthi B.C., noma before Christ (ngaphambi kukaKristu),” kuchaza iWorld Book Encyclopedia. “Izinsuku ezingemuva kwalowonyaka zibhalwa ngokuthi A.D., noma anno Domini (onyakeni weNkosi yethu).”
8 Ngezimfundiso zakhe ezinamandla nangendlela ayephila ngayo ukuphila kwakhe ngokuvumelana nazo, sekuyiminyaka ecishe ibe yizinkulungwane ezimbili uJesu ekuthinta ngokunamandla ukuphila koquqaba lwabantu olungenakubalwa. Njengoba omunye umbhali akubeka kahle: “Wonke amabutho ake amasha, nayo yonke imikhumbi yempi eyake yakhiwa, nazo zonke izigele ezake zahlangana, wonke amakhosi ake abusa, sekukonke akukuthintanga ukuphila komuntu phezu kwalomhlaba ngokunamandla kangaka.” Kodwa abagxeki bathi: ‘Konke esikwaziyo ngempela ngoJesu kutholakala eBhayibhelini. Ayikho eminye imibhalo egciniwe yangesikhathi esifanayo ekhuluma ngaye.’ Nokho, ingabe lokhu kuyiqiniso?
9, 10. (a) Izazi-mlando zezwe zakuqala nabalobi bathini ngoJesu? (b) Ngesisekelo sobufakazi bezazi-mlando zakuqala, enye iencyclopedia ehlonishwayo iphetha ngokuthini?
9 Nakuba ukubhekisela kwezazi-mlando zezwe zakuqala kuJesu Kristu kukuncane, ukubhekisela okunjalo kukhona. UCornelius Tacitus, isazi-mlando esihlonishwayo esingumRoma sekhulu lokuqala leminyaka, wabhala ukuthi umbusi uNero waseRoma ‘wathwesa amaKristu icala lokushisa iRoma,’ futhi uTacitus wabe esechaza: “Igama elithi [umKristu] lisuselwa kwelithi Kristu, lowo umbusi wesifunda uPontiyu Pilatu ayembulele ngesikhathi sokubusa kukaTiberiyu.” USuetonius noPliny Omncane, abanye abalobi bamaRoma bangalesosikhathi, nabo babhekisela kuKristu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uFlavius Josephus, isazi-mlando esingumJuda sekhulu lokuqala leminyaka, sabhala kwethi Antiquities of the Jews mayelana nokufa komfundi ongumKristu uJakobe. UJosephus echaza wathi uJakobe ‘wayengumfowabo kaJesu, owayebizwa ngokuthi uKristu.’
10 Ngakho-ke iNew Encyclopædia Britannica iyaphetha: “Lokhu kulandisa okuzimele kufakazela ukuthi ezikhathini zasendulo ngisho nabaphikisi bobuKristu abazange bakungabaze ukuba ngokomlando kukaJesu, okwakuphikiswana ngakho ngokokuqala ngqá nangezizathu ezingagculisi ekupheleni kwekhulu le-18 leminyaka, phakathi nele-19, nasekuqaleni kwelama-20.”
Wayengubani Ngempela UJesu?
11. (a) Ngokuyisisekelo, imuphi umthombo okuwukuphela kwawo wokwaziswa okungokomlando ngoJesu? (b) Imuphi umbuzo abafundi bakhe siqu uJesu ababenawo mayelana nokuthi wayengubani?
11 Nokho, ngokuyisisekelo konke lokho okwaziwayo manje ngoJesu kwabhalwa abalandeli bakhe bekhulu lokuqala leminyaka. Imibiko yabo iye yalondolozwa emaVangelini—izincwadi zeBhayibheli ezabhalwa ngababili babaphostoli bakhe, uMathewu noJohane, kanye nababili babafundi bakhe, uMarku noLuka. Ukulandisa kwalamadoda kwembulani ngokuqondene nokuthi uJesu ungubani? Wayengubani ngempela? Abangane bakaJesu bekhulu lokuqala leminyaka bacabanga ngalowombuzo. Lapho bebona uJesu ethulisa ngokuyisimangaliso ulwandle olunesivunguvungu ngokulukhuza, bazibuza bemangele: “Kanti lo ungubani?” Kamuva ngesinye isikhathi, uJesu wabuza abaphostoli bakhe: “Nithi ngingubani na?”—Marku 4:41; Mathewu 16:15.
12. Sazi kanjani ukuthi uJesu akayena uNkulunkulu?
12 Uma ubungase ubuzwe lowombuzo, ubungaphendula kanjani? Wayengubani ngempela uJesu? Yebo, abaningi kweLobukholwa bebengathi wayenguNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke osesimweni somuntu, uNkulunkulu obonakalayo. Nokho, abangane bakhe siqu uJesu abakaze bakholelwe ukuthi wayenguNkulunkulu. Umphostoli uPetru wambiza ngokuthi “uKristu, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu ophilayo.” (Mathewu 16:16) Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi uhlola kangakanani, awusoze wafunda ukuthi uJesu wake wathi unguNkulunkulu. Kunalokho, watshela amaJuda ukuthi ‘wayeyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu,’ hhayi uNkulunkulu.—Johane 10:36.
13. UJesu wayehluke kanjani kubo bonke abanye abantu?
13 Ngenkathi uJesu ehamba phezu kolwandle olunesiphepho, abafundi bahlabeka umxhwele ngeqiniso lokuthi wayengeyena umuntu ofana nanoma yimuphi omunye umuntu. (Johane 6:18-21) Wayengumuntu okhetheke kakhulu. Lokhu kwakungenxa yokuthi wayeke waphila noNkulunkulu ngaphambili ezulwini njengomuntu womoya, yebo, njengengelosi, eBhayibhelini echazwa ngokuthi ingelosi enkulu. (1 Thesalonika 4:16; Juda 9) UNkulunkulu wayemdale ngaphambi kokuba adale zonke ezinye izinto. (Kolose 1:15) Ngakho-ke, enkathini yesikhathi engenakubalwa, ngaphambi kokuba ngisho nendawo yonke ebonakalayo idalwe, uJesu wayejabulela ubuhlobo obuseduze noYise, uJehova uNkulunkulu, uMdali Omuhle.—IzAga 8:22, 27-31; UmShumayeli 12:1.
14. UJesu waba kanjani ngumuntu?
14 Khona-ke, eminyakeni engaphezu kwezinkulungwane ezimbili edlule, uNkulunkulu wadlulisela ukuphila kweNdodana yakhe esibelethweni sowesifazane. Ngaleyondlela waba yiNdodana kaNkulunkulu engumuntu, eyazalwa ngendlela evamile ngowesifazane. (Galathiya 4:4) Ngenkathi uJesu ekhula esibelethweni sikanina, uMariya, futhi kamuva lapho ekhula njengomfana, wayexhomeke kulabo uNkulunkulu ayebakhethile ukuba babe abazali bakhe basemhlabeni. Ekugcineni uJesu wafinyelela ebudodeni, khona-ke ngokusobala wanikezwa inkumbulo yobuhlobo bakhe noNkulunkulu ezulwini. Lokhu kwenzeka ngenkathi ‘izulu livuleka’ lapho ebhapathizwa.—Mathewu 3:16; Johane 8:23; 17:5.
15. Sazi kanjani ukuthi uJesu wayengumuntu ngokuphelele lapho ephila emhlabeni?
15 Ngempela, uJesu wayengumuntu oyingqayizivele. Nakuba kunjalo, wayengumuntu, elingana noAdamu, lowo uNkulunkulu ayemdale ekuqaleni futhi wambeka ensimini yase-Edene. Umphostoli uPawulu wachaza: “Umuntu wokuqala uAdamu waba-ngumphefumulo ophilayo; uAdamu wokugcina waba-ngumoya ophilisayo.” UJesu ubizwa ngokuthi “uAdamu wokugcina,” ngoba, njengoAdamu wokuqala, uJesu wayengumuntu ophelele. Kodwa ngemva kokuba uJesu efile, wavuswa, futhi waphinde wahlangana noYise ezulwini njengomuntu womoya.—1 Korinte 15:45.
Indlela Engcono Kakhulu Yokufunda NgoNkulunkulu
16. (a) Yini eyenza ukuba ngumhlobo kaJesu kwaba ilungelo kangaka? (b) Kungani kwakungase kushiwo ukuthi ukubona uJesu kwakufana nokubona uNkulunkulu?
16 Ake ucabange okwesikhashana ngelungelo elimangalisayo elajatshulelwa abanye njengabangane bomuntu siqu bakaJesu ngenkathi esemhlabeni! Cabanga ngokulalela nokukhuluma, ukubukela, futhi ngisho nokusebenza naLowo owayechithe mhlawumbe izinkulungwane zezigidi zeminyaka njengomngane oseduze kaJehova uNkulunkulu ezulwini! Njengendodana ethembekile, uJesu wayelingisa uYise wasezulwini kukho konke ayekwenza. Eqinisweni, uJesu wamlingisa ngokuphelele uYise kangangokuba wayengatshela abaphostoli bakhe ngokushesha ngaphambi kokubulawa kwakhe: “Ongibonile mina ubonile uBaba.” (Johane 14:9, 10) Yebo, kuzo zonke izimo abhekana nazo lapha emhlabeni, uJesu wenza ngayo kanye indlela uYise, uNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke, ayeyokwenza ngayo ukuba wayelapha. Ngaleyondlela, lapho sihlola ukuphila nenkonzo kaJesu Kristu, eqinisweni sisuke sifunda ukuthi uNkulunkulu uluhlobo luni lomuntu.
17. Iyiphi injongo enhle eyafezwa uchungechunge lweNqabayokulinda oluthi “Ukuphila NeNkonzo KaJesu”?
17 Ngakho-ke, uchungechunge oluthi “Ukuphila NeNkonzo KaJesu,” olwaluphuma komagazini abalandelanayo beNqabayokulinda kusukela kuApril 1985 kuya kuJune 1991, alunikezanga nje kuphela umbono omuhle ngomuntu onguJesu kodwa futhi lwafundisa okuningi kakhulu ngoYise wasezulwini, uJehova uNkulunkulu. Ngemva kwezingxenye zalo ezimbili zokuqala, isikhonzi esiyiphayona sabhalela iWatch Tower Society ngokwazisa, sithi: “Ayikho indlela engcono yokusondela ngokwengeziwe kuBaba ngaphandle kokwazi iNdodana kangcono!” Yeka ukuthi lokho kuyiqiniso kangakanani! Ukunakekela kothando kukaYise ngabantu nokuphana kwakhe kubonakala kakhulu ekuphileni kweNdodana.
18. Ubani uMsunguli wesigijimi soMbuso, futhi uJesu wakuvuma kanjani lokhu?
18 Uthando lukaJesu ngoYise, njengoba lubonakaliswa ukuzithoba kwakhe okuphelele entandweni kaYise, kujabulisa ngempela ukuluphawula. “Angenzi-lutho ngokwami,” uJesu etshela amaJuda ayefuna ukumbulala, “kodwa ngikhuluma lokhu njengokuba uBaba engifundisile.” (Johane 8:28) Ngakho-ke, uJesu wayengeyena umsunguli wesigijimi soMbuso ayesishumayela. KwakunguJehova uNkulunkulu! Futhi uJesu ngokuphindaphindiwe wanikeza uYise udumo. “Mina angikhulumanga ngokwami,” esho, “kodwa uBaba ongithumileyo nguye onginiké umyalo wokuba ngizakuthini, ngikhulumeni. . . . Ngakho-ke lokho engikukhulumayo ngikukhuluma njengalokho uBaba angitshela khona.”—Johane 12:49, 50.
19. (a) Sazi kanjani ukuthi uJesu wafundisa ngendlela uJehova afundisa ngayo? (b) Kungani uJesu ayengumuntu omkhulu kunabo bonke owake waphila?
19 Nokho, uJesu akazange nje akhulume noma afundise lokho uYise ayemtshele khona. Wenza okungaphezu kwalokho. Wakukhuluma noma wakufundisa ngendlela uYise ayengakukhuluma noma akufundise ngayo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kuyo yonke imisebenzi yakhe nobuhlobo, waziphatha futhi wenza ngendlela uYise ayeyoziphatha futhi enze ngayo ngaphansi kwezimo ezifanayo. “Indodana ingenze-lutho ngokwayo,” kuchaza uJesu, “kuphela lokho ebona uYise ekwenza, ngokuba lokho akwenzayo yena, neNdodana iyakwenza kanjalo.” (Johane 5:19) Ngazo zonke izindlela, uJesu wayewukubonakaliswa okuphelele kukaYise, uJehova uNkulunkulu. Ngakho akumangalisi ukuthi uJesu wayengumuntu omkhulu kunabo bonke owake waphila! Khona-ke, ngokuqinisekile kubaluleke kakhulu ukuba simcabangele ngokuseduze lomuntu ovelele!
Uthando LukaNkulunkulu Lubonakala KuJesu
20. Kukanjani umphostoli uJohane ayengase azi ukuthi “uNkulunkulu uluthando”?
20 Yini ngokukhethekile esiyifundayo ngokwenza ukuhlola okujulile, okucophelelayo ngokuphila nenkonzo kaJesu? Nokho, umphostoli uJohane wavuma ukuthi “akakho oké wabona uNkulunkulu.” (Johane 1:18) Noma kunjalo, uJohane wabhala ngokuqiniseka okukhulu kweyoku-1 Johane 4:8: “UNkulunkulu uluthando.” UJohane wayengase akusho lokhu ngoba wayelwazi uthando lukaNkulunkulu ngalokho ayekubonile kuJesu.
21. Yini eyenza uJesu waba umuntu omkhulu kunabo bonke owake waphila?
21 NjengoYise, uJesu wayenozwela, enomusa, ethobekile, futhi engeneka. Ababuthaka nabacindezelekile babezizwa bekhululekile lapho benaye, njengoba kwakunjalo ngabantu balo lonke uhlobo—amadoda, abesifazane, abantwana, abacebile, abampofu, abanamandla, nezoni ezaziwayo. Ngempela, ikakhulukazi kwakuyisibonelo sikaJesu esivelele sothando, elingisa uYise, esamenza waba umuntu omkhulu kunabo bonke owake waphila. Ngisho noNapoléon Bonaparte kuthiwa wake wathi: “Mina, uAlexander, uCaesar, noCharlemagne, samisa imibuso, kodwa sasiyisekele kuphi leyomisebenzi yethu yobuhlakani? Phezu kwamandla. UJesu Kristu kuphela owasekela umbuso wakhe phezu kothando, futhi namuhla izigidi zabantu beziyomfela.”
22. Yini eyayenza izimfundiso zikaJesu zibangele izinguquko?
22 Izimfundiso zikaJesu zazibangela izinguquko. “Ningamelani nokubi,” kunxusa uJesu, “kodwa uma umuntu ekumukula esihlathini sokunene, mphendulele nesinye.” “Thandani izitha zenu, nibabusise abaniqalekisayo.” ‘Yenzani kwabanye njengoba ningathanda ukuba benze kini.’ (Mathewu 5:39, 44; 7:12) Yeka ukuthi izwe beliyoba elihluke kanjani ukuba bonke abantu bebesebenzisa lezimfundiso eziphakeme!
23. Yini uJesu ayenza ukuze athinte izinhliziyo futhi ashukumisele abantu ekwenzeni okuhle?
23 Imifanekiso kaJesu yayithinta izinhliziyo, ishukumisela abantu ukuba benze okuhle futhi bagweme okubi. Ungase ukhumbule indaba yakhe eyaziwayo yomSamariya odelelwayo owasiza indoda elimele yolunye uhlanga kuyilapho amadoda ayethi ayakholwa ohlanga lwayo siqu leyondoda ayengenakuyisiza. Noma indaba kababa onozwela, othethelelayo nendodana yakhe esaphazayo. Futhi kuthiwani ngaleyo ephathelene nenkosi eyathethelela inceku eyayinesikweletu sodenariyu abayizigidi ezingu-60, kodwa leyonceku yaphenduka futhi yaphonsa etilongweni inceku ekanye nayo eyehluleka ukukhokha isikweletu sodenariyu abayikhulu kuphela? Ngemifanekiso elula, uJesu wenza izenzo zobugovu nokuhaha zanyanyeka, futhi izenzo zothando nesihe zakhanga kakhulu!—Mathewu 18:23-35; Luka 10:30-37; 15:11-32.
24. Kungani singasho ukuthi uJesu ngokungangabazeki wayengumuntu omkhulu kunabo bonke owake waphila?
24 Nokho, okwadonsela abantu ngokukhethekile kuJesu futhi kwabathonyela ekwenzeni okuhle kwakuwukuthi ukuphila kwakhe siqu kwakuvumelana ngokuphelele nalokho ayekufundisa. Wayekwenza lokho ayekushumayela. Wayekubekezelela ngesineke ukushiyeka kwabanye. Lapho abafundi bakhe bephikisana ngokuthi ubani owayemkhulu, wabaqondisa ngomusa kunokuba abakhuze ngokhahlo. Wazikhonza ngokuthobeka izidingo zabo, egeza ngisho nokugeza izinyawo zabo. (Marku 9:30-37; 10:35-45; Luka 22:24-27; Johane 13:5) Okokugcina, ngokuzithandela wafa ukufa okubuhlungu, hhayi ngenxa yabo kuphela, kodwa ngenxa yaso sonke isintu! Ngokungangabazeki, uJesu wayengumuntu omkhulu kunabo bonke owake waphila.
Ubungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ Kunabuphi ubufakazi bokuthi uJesu wa-yengumuntu ongokoqobo emlandweni?
◻ Sazi kanjani ukuthi uJesu wayengu-muntu, kodwa wayehluke kanjani kubo bonke abanye abantu?
◻ Kungani ukuhlola ukuphila kukaJesu kuyindlela engcono kakhulu yokufunda ngoNkulunkulu?
◻ Yini esingayifunda ngothando lukaNkulunkulu ngokutadisha ngoJesu?
[Isithombe ekhasini 10]
Abafundi bakaJesu bazibuza bemangele: “Kanti lo ungubani?”