Yini UJehova Ayifunayo Kithi Namuhla?
“Kwavela izwi kulelofu, lithi: ‘Lena iNdodana yami, ethandekayo, engiyamukele; yilaleleni.’”—MATHEWU 17:5.
1. UMthetho wayifeza nini injongo yawo?
UJEHOVA wanikeza isizwe sakwa-Israyeli uMthetho owawunezici eziningi. Ngokuphathelene nazo, umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “Kwakuyizimfuneko ezingokomthetho eziphathelene nenyama futhi zabekwa kwaze kwaba isikhathi esimisiwe sokuqondisa izinto.” (Heberu 9:10) Lapho uMthetho usuholele insali yama-Israyeli ukuba yamukele uJesu njengoMesiya, noma uKristu, wawusuyifezile injongo yawo. Ngakho, uPawulu wathi: “UKristu uyisiphetho soMthetho.”—Roma 10:4; Galathiya 3:19-25; 4:4, 5.
2. Obani ababengaphansi koMthetho, futhi bakhululwa nini kuwo?
2 Ingabe lokhu kusho ukuthi uMthetho awusibophi thina namuhla? Empeleni, iningi lesintu alikaze libe ngaphansi koMthetho, njengoba kwachaza umhubi: “[UJehova] uyatshengisa izwi lakhe kuJakobe, izimiso zakhe nezahlulelo zakhe ku-Israyeli. Akenzanga njalo kwesinye isizwe nesisodwa: izahlulelo zakhe asizazi.” (IHubo 147:19, 20) Lapho uNkulunkulu emisa isivumelwano esisha ngesisekelo somhlatshelo kaJesu wesihlengo, ngisho nesizwe sakwa-Israyeli asizange sisaba nesibopho sokulalela uMthetho. (Galathiya 3:13; Efesu 2:15; Kolose 2:13, 14, 16) Uma-ke uMthetho ungasabophi muntu, yini uJehova ayifunayo kulabo abafisa ukumkhonza namuhla?
Lokho UJehova Akufunayo
3, 4. (a) Yini ngokuyisisekelo uJehova ayifunayo kithi namuhla? (b) Kungani kufanele silandele izinyathelo zikaJesu eduze?
3 Phakathi nonyaka wokugcina wenkonzo kaJesu, abaphostoli bakhe uPetru, uJakobe noJohane bamphelezela baya naye entabeni ephakeme, cishe enhlonhlweni yeNtaba iHermoni. Lapho, babona umbono ongokwesiprofetho kaJesu esenkazimulweni emangalisayo futhi bezwa izwi likaNkulunkulu uqobo lithi: “Lena iNdodana yami, ethandekayo, engiyamukele; yilaleleni.” (Mathewu 17:1-5) Ngokuyisisekelo, yilokho uJehova akufunayo kithi—ukuba silalele iNdodana yakhe futhi silandele isibonelo nezimfundiso zayo. (Mathewu 16:24) Ngakho, umphostoli uPetru wabhala: “[UKristu] wahlupheka ngenxa yenu, enishiyela isibonelo sokuba nilandele izinyathelo zakhe eduze.”—1 Petru 2:21.
4 Kungani kufanele silandele izinyathelo zikaJesu eduze? Ngoba lapho simlingisa, silingisa uJehova uNkulunkulu. UJesu wayemazi ngokuseduze uYise, njengoba kwakuphele izigidigidi zeminyaka enaye ezulwini ngaphambi kokuba eze emhlabeni. (IzAga 8:22-31; Johane 8:23; 17:5; Kolose 1:15-17) Lapho esemhlabeni, uJesu wammelela ngokwethembeka uYise. Wachaza: “Lezizinto ngizikhuluma njengoba nje uBaba angifundisa.” Eqinisweni, uJesu wayelingisa uJehova ngokungaphazami kangangokuthi wathi: “Lowo ongibonile mina umbonile noBaba futhi.”—Johane 8:28; 14:9.
5. Yimuphi umthetho amaKristu angaphansi kwawo, futhi lowo mthetho waqala nini ukusebenza?
5 Yini ehilelekile ekulaleleni nasekulingiseni uJesu? Ingabe kudingeka umuntu abe ngaphansi komthetho othile? UPawulu wabhala: “Mina ngokwami [angikho] ngaphansi komthetho.” Lapha wayebhekisela ‘esivumelwaneni esidala,’ isivumelwano soMthetho esenziwa no-Israyeli. UPawulu wavuma ukuthi ‘wayengaphansi komthetho ngakuKristu.’ (1 Korinte 9:20, 21; 2 Korinte 3:14) Lapho kuphela isivumelwano esidala soMthetho, kwaqala “isivumelwano esisha” esasihamba ‘nomthetho [waso] kaKristu’ okumelwe zonke izinceku zikaJehova namuhla ziwulalele.—Luka 22:20; Galathiya 6:2; Heberu 8:7-13.
6. Ungachazwa kanjani “umthetho kaKristu,” futhi siwulalela kanjani?
6 UJehova akazange enze ukuba “umthetho kaKristu” ube umthetho obhalwe phansi, ohlelwe ngemikhakha ehlukahlukene, njengoba kwenziwa esivumelwaneni esidala soMthetho. Lo mthetho omusha wabalandeli bakaKristu awunalo uhlu olude lwezinto okumelwe nokungamelwe zenziwe. Nokho, eZwini lakhe, uJehova walondoloza ukulandisa okune okuningiliziwe kokuphila nezimfundiso zeNdodana yakhe. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uNkulunkulu waphefumulela abanye babalandeli bakaJesu bokuqala ukuba banikeze iziyalezo ezilotshiwe eziphathelene nokuziphatha komuntu, izindaba zamabandla, ukuziphatha emkhayeni nezinye izindaba. (1 Korinte 6:18; 14:26-35; Efesu 5:21-33; Heberu 10:24, 25) Lapho sivumelanisa ukuphila kwethu nesibonelo nezimfundiso zikaJesu Kristu futhi silalela iseluleko sabalobi beBhayibheli abaphefumulelwe bekhulu lokuqala, silalela “umthetho kaKristu.” Yilokhu uJehova akufuna ezincekwini zakhe namuhla.
Ukubaluleka Kothando
7. UJesu wawugcizelela kanjani umnyombo womthetho wakhe phakathi nePhasika lokugcina enabaphostoli bakhe?
7 Uthando lwalubalulekile ngaphansi koMthetho, kanti emthethweni kaKristu luyiwona mnyombo noma umgogodla walo mthetho. Leli qiniso lagcizelelwa uJesu lapho ehlangana nabaphostoli bakhe ukuze bagubhe iPhasika lika-33 C.E. Ngokwendlela efingqiwe umphostoli uJohane alandisa ngayo izenzakalo zangalobo busuku, phakathi kwezinto uJesu azikhuluma ngokusuka enhliziyweni wakhuluma ngothando izikhathi ezingu-28. Lokhu kwagcizelela kubaphostoli bakhe umnyombo, noma umoya, womthetho wakhe. Kuyaphawuleka ukuthi uJohane wethula ukulandisa kwakhe kwezenzakalo zangalobo busuku bamanqamu ngokuthi: “Ngoba wayazi ngaphambi komkhosi wephasika ukuthi ihora lakhe lase lifikile ukuba ahambe kulelizwe aye kuYise, uJesu, ebathandile abakhe siqu abasezweni, wabathanda kwaze kwaba sekupheleni.”—Johane 13:1.
8. (a) Yini ebonisa ukuthi kwakunempikiswano eqhubekayo phakathi kwabaphostoli? (b) UJesu wabafundisa kanjani abaphostoli bakhe isifundo sokuthobeka?
8 UJesu wayebathanda abaphostoli bakhe, yize ayebonakale engaphumeleli lapho ezama ukubasiza banqobe isifiso sabo eseqile sokuphatha nokuba nesikhundla esivelele. Kusasele izinyanga bafike eJerusalema, “babephikisene bodwa ngokuthi ubani omkhulu.” Futhi ngaphambi nje kokuba bangene kulo muzi bezele iPhasika, yaphinde yavuka impikiswano yesikhundla. (Marku 9:33-37; 10:35-45) Ukuthi lena kwakuyinkinga eqhubekayo kuboniswa yilokho okwenzeka ngemva nje kokuba abaphostoli bengene ekamelweni eliphezulu ukuze bahlanganyele kulokho okwakuzoba yiPhasika labo lokugcina bendawonye. Ngaleso sikhathi akekho owazibambela ithuba lokukhonza abanye ngendlela eyisiko yokwamukela izihambi ngokubageza izinyawo. Ukuze abafundise isifundo sokuthobeka, uJesu wabageza yena mathupha izinyawo.—Johane 13:2-15; 1 Thimothewu 5:9, 10.
9. UJesu wakusingatha kanjani okwenzeka ngemva kwePhasika lokugcina?
9 Naphezu kwaleso sifundo, ngemva kokugujwa kwePhasika nokumisa kukaJesu iSikhumbuzo sokufa kwakhe okwakusondela, phawula okwaphinda kwenzeka. Ukulandisa kweVangeli likaLuka kuthi: “Kwavela futhi impikiswano evuthayo phakathi kwabo ngokuthi ubani kubo owayebonakala emkhulu kunabo bonke.” Kunokuba abathukuthelele abaphostoli futhi abathethise, uJesu wabeluleka ngomusa ngesidingo sokuhluka kubabusi bezwe abanxanele ukuphatha. (Luka 22:24-27) Wabe esenikeza lokho okungase kubizwe ngokuthi uzime lomthetho kaKristu, ethi: “Ngininika umyalo omusha, wokuba nithandane; njengoba nje nami nginithandile, ukuba nani nithandane.”—Johane 13:34.
10. Yimuphi umyalo uJesu awunika abafundi bakhe, futhi wawuhilelani?
10 Kamuva ngalobo busuku uJesu waveza ukuthi uthando olunjengolukaKristu kumelwe lwenabe kangakanani. Wathi: “Yilona umyalo wami, ukuba nithandane njengoba nje nami nginithandile. Akekho onothando olukhulu kunalolu, ukuba umuntu anikele umphefumulo wakhe ngenxa yabangane bakhe.” (Johane 15:12, 13) Ingabe uJesu wayesho ukuthi abalandeli bakhe kufanele bazimisele ukufela abakholwa nabo uma isimo sifuna kanjalo? Yileyo ndlela aqonda ngayo uJohane, owayekhona ngokwakhe lapha, ngoba kamuva wabhala: “Ngalokhu sesiyalwazi uthando, ngoba lowo [uJesu Kristu] wanikela umphefumulo wakhe ngenxa yethu; futhi singaphansi kwesibopho sokunikela imiphefumulo yethu ngenxa yabafowethu.”—1 Johane 3:16.
11. (a) Siwugcwalisa kanjani umthetho kaKristu? (b) Yisiphi isibonelo uJesu asibeka?
11 Ngakho-ke, asiwufezi umthetho kaKristu ngokumane sifundise abanye ngaye. Kumelwe futhi siphile futhi siziphathe njengoba kwenza uJesu. Yiqiniso, uJesu wayesebenzisa amazwi amtoti, ayewakhethe kahle ezinkulumweni zakhe. Nokho, wayefundisa nangesibonelo. Nakuba ayekade eyisidalwa somoya esinamandla ezulwini, uJesu wabamba ithuba lokukhonza izithakazelo zikaYise emhlabeni nelokubonisa indlela okufanele siphile ngayo. Wayethobekile, enomusa futhi ecabangela, esiza abasindwayo nabacindezelekile. (Mathewu 11:28-30; 20:28; Filipi 2:5-8; 1 Johane 3:8) Futhi uJesu wanxusa abalandeli bakhe ukuba bathandane, njengoba nje naye ayebathanda.
12. Kungani kungase kuthiwe umthetho kaKristu awusilulazi isidingo sokuthanda uJehova?
12 Emthethweni kaKristu, lunayiphi indawo uthando ngoJehova—oluwumyalo omkhulu kunayo yonke eMthethweni? (Mathewu 22:37, 38; Galathiya 6:2) Ingabe indawo yesibili? Lutho neze! Uthando ngoJehova nothando ngamaKristu esikanye nawo kuhlobene ngendlela engenakwehlukaniswa. Umuntu akanakumthanda ngempela uJehova abe engamthandi umfowabo, ngoba umphostoli uJohane wathi: “Uma noma ubani ethi: ‘Ngiyamthanda uNkulunkulu,’ kodwa nokho abe ezonda umfowabo, ungumqambimanga. Ngoba ongamthandi umfowabo, ambonileyo, akunakwenzeka ukuthi uyamthanda uNkulunkulu, angambonanga.”—1 Johane 4:20; qhathanisa neyoku-1 Johane 3:17, 18.
13. Waba yini umphumela wokulalela kwabafundi umyalo omusha kaJesu?
13 Lapho uJesu enika abafundi bakhe umyalo omusha wokuba bathandane ngendlela ayebathanda ngayo, wachaza umphumela okwakuyoba nawo lokhu. Wathi: “Bonke bayokwazi ngalokhu ukuthi ningabafundi bami, uma ninothando phakathi kwenu.” (Johane 13:35) NgokukaTertullian, owayephila eminyakeni engaphezu kweyikhulu ngemva kokufa kukaJesu, uthando lobuzalwane lwamaKristu okuqala lwaba nalowo mphumela uqobo. UTertullian wacaphuna ababengewona amaKristu bethi ngabalandeli bakaKristu: ‘Ake nibheke indlela abathandana ngayo nendlela abazimisele ngayo ngisho nokufelana.’ Singase sizibuze, ‘Ingabe ngibonisa uthando olunjalo ngamaKristu engikanye nawo kangangokuthi luyakufakazela ukuthi ngingomunye wabafundi bakaJesu?’
Indlela Esilufakazela Ngayo Uthando Lwethu
14, 15. Yini engase ikwenze kube nzima ukulalela umthetho kaKristu, kodwa yini engasisiza ukuba siwulalele?
14 Kubaluleke kakhulu ukuba izinceku zikaJehova zibonise uthando olunjengolukaKristu. Kodwa ingabe ukuthola kunzima ukuthanda amaKristu okanye nawo abonisa izici zobugovu? Njengoba sesibonile, ngisho nabaphostoli baphikisana futhi bazama ukuthuthukisa ezabo izithakazelo. (Mathewu 20:20-24) AbaseGalathiya nabo bahilizisana ngobala. Ngemva kokuveza ukuthi uthando ngomakhelwane lugcwalisa uMthetho, uPawulu wabaxwayisa: “Nokho, uma niqhubeka nilumana futhi nishwabadelana, xwayani ukuba ningaqothulani.” Ngemva kokuveza umahluko phakathi kwemisebenzi yenyama nezithelo zomoya kaNkulunkulu, uPawulu wanezela lesi siyalo: “Masingabi abazazisayo, sibhebhezela ukuncintisana, sifelana umona.” Lo mphostoli wabe esenxusa: “Qhubekani nithwalelana imithwalo esindayo, kanjalo nigcwalise umthetho kaKristu.”—Galathiya 5:14–6:2.
15 Ingabe uJehova ufuna okunzima kakhulu kithi lapho efuna ukuba silalele umthetho kaKristu? Nakuba kungase kube nzima ukuba nomusa kulabo abaye basibhozomela futhi basilimaza ngokomzwelo, sinesibopho ‘sokuba abalingisi bakaNkulunkulu, njengabantwana abathandekayo, futhi siqhubeke sihamba othandweni.’ (Efesu 5:1, 2) Kudingeka siqhubeke sibheke esibonelweni sikaNkulunkulu, ‘otusa uthando lwakhe siqu kithi ngoba, ngesikhathi siseyizoni, uKristu wasifela.’ (Roma 5:8) Ngokuthatha isinyathelo kuqala sokusiza abanye, kuhlanganise nalabo abaye basiphatha kabi, singaba nokwaneliseka kokwazi ukuthi silingisa uNkulunkulu futhi silalela umthetho kaKristu.
16. Sikufakazela kanjani ukuthi sinothando ngoNkulunkulu nangoKristu?
16 Kufanele sikhumbule ukuthi ukuba kwethu nothando asikufakazeli ngalokho esikushoyo kuphela, kodwa nangalokho esikwenzayo. Ngisho noJesu wake wakuthola kunzima ukwamukela esinye isici sentando kaNkulunkulu ngenxa yakho konke okwakuhilelekile. Wathandaza: “Baba, uma uthanda, susa lendebe kimi.” Kodwa wabe esenezela ngokushesha: “Noma kunjalo, makungenzeki intando yami, kodwa eyakho.” (Luka 22:42) Naphezu kwakho konke uJesu abhekana nakho, wenza intando kaNkulunkulu. (Heberu 5:7, 8) Ukulalela kuwubufakazi bokuthi sinothando futhi kubonisa ukuthi siyaqaphela ukuthi indlela kaNkulunkulu iyona engcono kunazo zonke. IBhayibheli lithi: “Yilokhu okushiwo uthando ngoNkulunkulu, ukuba sigcine imiyalo yakhe.” (1 Johane 5:3) Futhi uJesu watshela abaphostoli bakhe: “Uma ningithanda, niyogcina imiyalo yami.”—Johane 14:15.
17. Yimuphi umyalo okhethekile uJesu awunika abalandeli bakhe, futhi sazi kanjani ukuthi uyasebenza kithi namuhla?
17 Ngalé kokuyala abalandeli bakhe ukuba bathandane, yimuphi umyalo okhethekile uKristu abanika wona? Wabayala ukuba benze umsebenzi wokushumayela ayebaqeqeshele wona. UPetru wathi: “Wasiyala ukuba sishumayele kubantu futhi sinikeze ubufakazi obuphelele.” (IzEnzo 10:42) UJesu wayenikeze umyalo oqondile othi: “Ngakho-ke hambani niyokwenza abantu bazo zonke izizwe babe abafundi, nibabhapathize egameni likaYise neleNdodana nelomoya ongcwele, nibafundise ukugcina zonke izinto enginiyale ngazo.” (Mathewu 28:19, 20; IzEnzo 1:8) UJesu wembula ukuthi lezo ziyalezo zaziyosebenza nakubalandeli bakhe manje “esikhathini sokugcina,” ngoba wathi: “Lezizindaba ezinhle zombuso ziyoshunyayelwa emhlabeni wonke owakhiweyo ngenjongo yobufakazi ezizweni zonke; khona-ke ukuphela kuyofika.” (Daniyeli 12:4; Mathewu 24:14) Yiqiniso, kuyintando kaNkulunkulu ukuba sishumayele. Nokho, abanye bangase bacabange ukuthi kunzima kakhulu lokho uNkulunkulu akufuna kithi ngokuba athi masenze lo msebenzi. Kodwa ingabe kunjalo ngempela?
Okungase Kwenze Kubonakale Kunzima
18. Yini okufanele siyikhumbule lapho sihlupheka ngenxa yokwenza lokho uJehova akufunayo?
18 Njengoba sibonile, uJehova uye wafuna ukuba abantu bazivumelanise nezimfuneko ezihlukahlukene kuwo wonke umlando. Futhi njengoba nje lokho okuye kwafunwa ukuba bakwenze kwakuhlukahlukene, kuye kwahlukahluka nokulingwa abaye babhekana nakho. INdodana kaNkulunkulu ethandekayo yabhekana nokulingwa okunzima kunakho konke, ekugcineni yabulawa ngendlela enonya kunazo zonke ngenxa yokwenza lokho uNkulunkulu ayekufuna. Kodwa lapho sihlupheka ngenxa yokwenza lokho uJehova akufunayo kithi, kufanele sikhumbule ukuthi akuyena obangela ukulingwa kwethu. (Johane 15:18-20; Jakobe 1:13-15) Ukuvukela kukaSathane kwaletha isono, ukuhlupheka nokufa, futhi nguye oye wadala izimo eziye zakwenza kwaba nzima ezikhathini eziningi ukwenza lokho uJehova akufunayo ezincekwini zakhe.—Jobe 1:6-19; 2:1-8.
19. Kungani kuyilungelo ukwenza lokho uNkulunkulu akufuna kithi ngeNdodana yakhe?
19 NgeNdodana yakhe, uJehova uye wayala ukuba kulesi sikhathi sokuphela, izinceku zakhe zimemezele emhlabeni wonke ukuthi okuwukuphela kwekhambi lakho konke ukuhlupheka kwesintu liwukubusa koMbuso. Lo hulumeni kaNkulunkulu uyosusa zonke izinkinga emhlabeni—impi, ubugebengu, ubumpofu, ukuguga, ukugula nokufa. Lo Mbuso uyoletha nepharadesi elikhazimulayo emhlabeni, okuyovuselwa kulo abafileyo. (Mathewu 6:9, 10; Luka 23:43; IzEnzo 24:15; IsAmbulo 21:3, 4) Yeka ukuthi kuyilungelo elingakanani ukumemezela izindaba ezinhle zezinto ezinjalo! Khona-ke, kuyacaca ukuthi akukho nkinga ngalokho uJehova afuna ukuba sikwenze. Sibhekana nokuphikiswa, kodwa nguSathane uDeveli nezwe lakhe abakubangelayo.
20. Singabhekana kanjani nanoma iyiphi inselele elethwa uDeveli?
20 Singabhekana kanjani ngokuphumelelayo nanoma iyiphi inselele elethwa uSathane? Ngokukhumbula la mazwi: “Ndodana yami, hlakanipha, uthokozise inhliziyo yami ukuba ngiphendule ongisolayo.” (IzAga 27:11) UJesu wanikeza uJehova impendulo ekuklolodeleni kukaSathane ngokushiya ukuphila okulondekile kwasezulwini ukuze azokwenza intando kaYise emhlabeni. (Isaya 53:12; Heberu 10:7) Njengomuntu, uJesu wakhuthazelela konke ukulingwa okwakulethwa kuye, ngisho nokufela esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa. Uma simlandela njengeSibonelo sethu, nathi singakhuthazelela ukuhlupheka futhi senze lokho uJehova akufunayo kithi.—Heberu 12:1-3.
21. Uzizwa kanjani ngothando oluboniswe nguJehova neNdodana yakhe?
21 Yeka uthando uNkulunkulu neNdodana yakhe abaye basibonisa lona! Ngenxa yomhlatshelo kaJesu, isintu esilalelayo sinethemba lokuphila phakade ePharadesi. Ngakho masingavumeli lutho lusithibeze ithemba lethu. Kunalokho, ngabanye masikubheke njengokubalulekile lokho uJesu akwenza kwenzeka, njengoba kwenza uPawulu, owathi: ‘INdodana kaNkulunkulu, yangithanda futhi yazinikela ngenxa yami.’ (Galathiya 2:20) Futhi kwangathi singabonisa ukubonga okusuka enhliziyweni kuNkulunkulu wethu onothando, uJehova, ongalokothi afune okunzima kakhulu kithi.
Ungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ Yini uJehova ayifuna kithi namuhla?
◻ Phakathi nobusuku bokugcina enabaphostoli bakhe, uKristu wakugcizelela kanjani ukubaluleka kothando?
◻ Singakufakazela kanjani ukuthi siyamthanda uNkulunkulu?
◻ Kungani kuyilungelo ukwenza lokho uJehova akufunayo kithi?
[Isithombe ekhasini 23]
Yisiphi isifundo uJesu asifundisa ngokugeza izinyawo zabaphostoli bakhe?
[Isithombe ekhasini 25]
Naphezu kokuphikiswa, ukuhlanganyela izindaba ezinhle nabanye kuyilungelo elijabulisayo