Fakaza NgoJehova Ungakhathali
“Cabangani ngokunakisisa ngalowo oye wakhuthazelela inkulumo enjalo engathandeki yezoni . . . ukuze ningakhathali futhi imiphefumulo yenu iphele amandla.”—HEBERU 12:3, “NW.”
1, 2. Yibuphi ubufakazi obuqinisekisayo uJesu abunikeza abafundi bakhe bokuthi wayevusiwe?
“NGIYIBONILE iNkosi!” Ngalawomazwi amangalisayo, uMariya Magdalena wasakaza izindaba zokuvuka kukaJesu. (Johane 20:18) Lokhu kwaphawula ukuqalisa kwezinsuku ezingama-40 ezigcwele izenzakalo ezijabulisayo kubafundi bakaKristu, ngaphambili ababedabukiswe ukufa kwakhe.
2 UJesu akafunanga ukushiya ukungabaza ezingqondweni zabafundi bakhe ngokuqondene nokuthi wayephila ngempela. Kanjalo, njengoba uLuka elandisa: “[UJesu] waziveza kubo ephilile emva kokuhlupheka kwakhe ngobufakazi obuningi, wabonwa yibo izinsuku ezingamashumi amane.” (IzEnzo 1:3) Eqinisweni, kwesinye isenzakalo “wabonwa ngasikhathi sinye ngabazalwane abadlula amakhulu ayisihlanu.” (1 Korinte 15:6) Ngokuqinisekile, manje kwakungasenakungabaza. UJesu wayephila!
3. Yimuphi umbuzo ngokuqondene noMbuso abafundi bakaJesu abambuza wona, futhi kungani impendulo yakhe yabamangaza?
3 Abafundi bakaJesu ngalesosikhathi babecabanga kuphela ‘ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu’ wasemhlabeni, obuyiselwe kuIsrayeli. (Luka 19:11; 24:21) Ngakho babuza uJesu: “Nkosi, usawubuyisela umbuso kuIsrayeli ngalesisikhathi na?” Ngokungangabazeki impendulo yakhe yabamangaza, ngoba wathi: “Akusikho okwenu ukwazi izikhathi noma imizuzu uBaba akumisele ngamandla akhe; kodwa nizakwamukeliswa amandla, uMoya oNgcwele esefikile phezu kwenu, nibe-ngofakazi bami eJerusalema, naseJudiya lonke, naseSamariya kuze kube-sekugcineni komhlaba.” (IzEnzo 1:6-8) Yeka inselele manje eyase ibekwe phambi kwabafundi! Futhi yeka umthwalo wemfanelo! Babeyowufeza kanjani umsebenzi onjalo? Impendulo ngokushesha yafika ngendlela emangalisayo.
Ukwamukela Inselele
4. Chaza okwenzeka ngosuku lwePentekoste.
4 ULuka uyalandisa: “Kwathi sekufikile usuku lwePhentekoste, bonke, babebuthene ndawonye. Ngokungazelelwe kwavela ezulwini inhlokomo kwangathi eyokuvunguza komoya onamandla; yona yagcwalisa indlu yonke ababehlezi kuyo. Kwase kubonakala kubo izilimi ezahlukeneyo kungathi ezomlilo; zahlala phezu kwalowo nalowo kubo. Base begcwala bonke uMoya oNgcwele, baqala ukukhuluma ngezinye izilimi, njengalokho uMoya wabapha ukuphumisela.” Umsindo wawumkhulu kangangokuthi waheha isixuku samaJuda esasize emkhosini eJerusalema. Samangala ukuzwa ‘ngemisebenzi emikhulu kaNkulunkulu ngezilimi zaso.’—IzEnzo 2:1-11.
5. Isibikezelo sikaJesu esikuzEnzo 1:8 ngokushesha sagcwaliseka ngezinga elingakanani?
5 UPetru akazange apholise maseko ekunikezeni inkulumo enamandla, enikeza ubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda bokuthi “uJesu waseNazaretha,” ababembethele, ‘wayeyiNkosi’ eyabikezelwa uDavide ngamazwi athi: “INkosi [uJehova] yathi eNkosini yami: Hlala ngakwesokunene sami, ngize ngibeke izitha zakho zibe-yisenabelo sezinyawo zakho.” Zihlabeke izinhliziyo, izilaleli zikaPetru zabuza: “Madoda, bazalwane, siyakwenze-njani na?” Ephendula uPetru wazinxusa: “Phendukani, yilowo nalowo abhapathizwe egameni likaJesu Kristu kukho ukuthethelelwa kwezono zenu.” Waba yini umphumela? Izinkulungwane ezintathu zabhapathizwa! (IzEnzo 2:14-41) Kakade ubufakazi base bunikezwa eJerusalema. Kamuva, badlulela kulo lonke elaseJudiya, kwase kuba seSamariya, futhi ekugcineni “ezingxenyeni ezikude zomhlaba.” Ukwanda komsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso kwakushesha kakhulu kangangokuthi cishe ngo-60 C.E. umphostoli uPawulu wayengathi izindaba ezinhle ‘zashunyayelwa kukho konke okudaliweyo okuphansi kwezulu.’—Kolose 1:23.
Ukwanda KoMbuso Noshushiso
6, 7. (a) Ukwanda koMbuso nokushushiswa kwamaKristu kwahambisana kanjani phakathi nekhulu leminyaka lokuqala? (b) Yisiphi isidingo esiphuthumayo esaphakama phakathi kwamaKristu eJerusalema, futhi lesidingo sagcwaliswa kanjani?
6 Ngokushesha ngemva kwePentekoste lika-33 C.E., abafundi bakaJesu babenesizathu sokukhumbula amazwi akhe: “Inceku ayinkulu kunenkosi yayo. Uma [bengishushisile] mina, nani [bayonishushisa].” (Johane 15:20, qhathanisa neNW.) Abaholi bamaJuda bathukuthela lapho ‘izwi likaNkulunkulu landa, umumo wabafundi ukhula eJerusalema.’ Emangalelwe ngamanga, umfundi uStefanu wakhandwa ngamatshe waze wafa. Lokho kwaba isibonakaliso esasilindelwe abaningi, ngoba “ngalolosuku kwavela ukuzingelwa [ukushushiswa] okukhulu kwebandla laseJerusalema; bahlakazeka bonke emazweni aseJudiya naseSamariya; kwasala abaphostoli bodwa.”—IzEnzo 6:7; 7:58-60; 8:1.
7 Ushushiso lwathula okwesikhashana. Kodwa ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, uHerode Agripha I wabulala umphostoli uJakobe. UPetru waboshwa kodwa wakhululwa ingelosi. Kamuva abazalwane baseJerusalema baba mpofu ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo, futhi kwadingeka bathunyelelwe usizo ngabakholwa kanye nabo bakwenye indawo. (IzEnzo 9:31; 12:1-11; 1 Korinte 16:1-3) Phakathi nokuhambela komphostoli uPawulu eJerusalema, ubuhlanya obungokwenkolo babubonakala njengoba isixuku samemeza: “Msuseni onje emhlabeni, ngokuba akufanele ukuba aphile.” (IzEnzo 22:22) Ngokuqinisekile, lawomaKristu ayehlala eJerusalema naseJudiya ayedinga isikhuthazo esikhulu sokuba aqhubeke efakaza ngokwethembeka ngoMbuso. UJesu wayethembise abafundi bakhe ukuthi “uMoya oNgcwele, uBaba ayakumthumela egameni lami,” wawuyosebenza ‘njengoMduduzi [umsizi, NW].’ (Johane 14:26) Kodwa manje uBaba wayezolunikeza kanjani usizo noma induduzo enjalo edingekayo? Ngokwengxenye, impendulo yeza ngomphostoli uPawulu.
Incwadi KaPawulu Eya KumaHeberu
8. (a) Yini eyashukumisa uPawulu ukuba abhalele amaHeberu? (b) Isiphi isici salencwadi esizogxilisa ukunakekela kwethu kuso, futhi ngani?
8 Cishe ngo-61 C.E., uPawulu wayeboshiwe eRoma, kodwa wayekwazi okwakwenzeka kubafowabo nodadewabo abangamaHeberu. Ngakho-ke, ngaphansi kokuqondisa komoya kaJehova, wabhala incwadi yakhe eyafika ngesikhathi kumaHeberu. Igcwele ukukhathalela kothando ngabafowabo nodade abangamaHeberu. UPawulu wayazi ukuthi yini ababeyidinga ukuze kwakhiwe ukholo lwabo nethemba labo kuJehova njengoMsizi wabo. Khona-ke ‘babengagijima ngokukhuthazela emncintiswaneni wejubane owawubekwe phambi kwabo’ futhi ngokuqiniseka bathi: “UJehova ungumsizi wami; angiyikwesaba. Umuntu angangenzani na?” (Heberu 12:1; 13:6, NW) Manje sifisa ukugxilisa ukunakekela kwethu kulesici salencwadi kaPawulu eya kumaHeberu (izahluko 11-13). Ngani? Ngoba isimo lawomaKristu ayebhekene naso siyafana naleso oFakazi BakaJehova ababhekene naso namuhla?
9. Iyiphi impikiswano eyayibhekene namaKristu ekhulu lokuqala leminyaka ebhekene namaKristu namuhla, futhi iyiphi okuwukuphela kwendlela yokuhlangabezana nayo?
9 Esizukulwaneni sethu, izixuku ziye zasabela kahle esigijimini soMbuso ngokuzinikezela kuJehova nangokubhapathizwa njengoFakazi bakhe. Nokho, lokhu kwanda kokukhulekela kweqiniso kuye kweza noshushiso olunobudlova, amaKristu amaningi aye adela ngisho nokuphila kwawo njengoba kwenza uStefanu, uJakobe, nabanye ofakazi abathembekile bekhulu leminyaka lokuqala. Ngakho, impikiswano isenjengoba yayinjalo ngalesosikhathi: Obani abayokwazi ukumelela ukuvivinywa kobuqotho babo bebhekene nokuphikiswa okwandayo kwesigijimi soMbuso? Ngokungaphezulu, obani abayokwazi ukubhekana nezenzakalo ezisabisayo njengoba “usizi olukhulu” olungenakuqhathaniswa ngokushesha lwehlela lesizukulwane esikhona manje? (Mathewu 24:21) Impendulo ithi, yilabo abazimisele ‘ukulwa ukulwa okuhle kokukholwa,’ labo ‘abaqinile ekukholweni.’ Laba yibona abayokwazi ekugcineni ukuthi: “Lokhu kuyinqobo enqobé izwe: ukukholwa kwethu.”—1 Thimothewu 6:12; 1 Petru 5:9; 1 Johane 5:4.
Ukuzuza Ezibonelweni Zabathembekileyo
10. (a) Luyini ukholo? (b) UNkulunkulu wazizwa kanjani ngamadoda nabesifazane bokholo bezikhathi zasendulo?
10 Luyini ukholo? UPawulu uyaphendula: “Ukukholwa kungukuqiniseka ngezinto ezithenjwayo, kuyiqiniso ngezinto ezingabonwayo. Ngokuba okhokho bafakazelwa ngakho.” (Heberu 11:1, 2) Khona-ke uPawulu usekela incazelo yakhe yokholo ngokubonisa ukholo lusebenza. Ucaphuna izenzakalo ezivelele ekuphileni ‘kokhokho’ abathile, kanye nabesifazane abanjengoSara, noRahabi. Yeka ukuthi kukhuthaza kanjani ukuthola ukuthi “uNkulunkulu akanamahloni ngabo ukuba abizwe ngokuthi uNkulunkulu wabo”! (Heberu 11:16) Ingabe uNkulunkulu angasho okufanayo ngathi ngenxa yokholo lwethu? Kwangathi singemnikeze isizathu sokuba namahloni ngathi ekupheleni kosuku ngalunye.
11. Singazuza kanjani namuhla ‘efwini lofakazi elisihaqileyo’?
11 Ngemva kokulandisa ngalamadoda nabesifazane abathembekile, uPawulu uthi: “Ngalokho-ke nathi, lokhu sinefu elingaka lawofakazi elisihaqileyo, masilahle konke okusindayo nesono esithandela kangaka kithi, sigijime ngokubekezela kulokhukuncintisana esikumiselweyo.” (Heberu 12:1) Nakuba manje sebelele emathuneni, ingabe labofakazi abathembekile abayisibonelo bayaphila ezingqondweni zethu? Ingabe ubazi kahle ngokwanele kanye nokuhlangenwe nakho kwabo ukuba uphendule ngokuthi yebo? Lokhu kungomunye wemivuzo yesifundo seBhayibheli sasikhathi sonke, sisebenzisa zonke izinzwa zethu ukuba lokho okuhlangenwe nakho okujabulisayo ‘kwalelifu lofakazi’ sikubone ngamehlo engqondo. Ngempela, ukusifaka ezinhliziyweni zethu isibonelo sabo sokwethembeka kuyosisiza kakhulu ukuba sinqobe noma yikuphi ukuntula ukholo. Ngenxa yalokho, lokhu kuyosisiza ukuba sifakaze ngeqiniso ngesibindi futhi singesabi ngaphansi kwazo zonke izimo.—Roma 15:4.
Ukungakhathali
12. (a) Isibonelo sikaJesu singasisiza kanjani ukuba ‘singakhathali futhi imiphefumulo yethu iphele amandla’? (b) Yiziphi izibonelo zosuku lwanamuhla zalabo abangakhathali?
12 Isibonelo sethu esikhulu sokholo uJesu. UPawulu uyanxusa: “Masigijime ngokukhuthazela kulomncintiswano wejubane obekwe phambi kwethu, njengoba sibheka ngokucophelela kumMeleli Oyinhloko noMphelelisi wokholo lwethu, uJesu. . . . Yebo, cabangani ngokunakisisa ngalowo oye wakhuthazelela inkulumo engathandeki yezoni ezizigwaza ngowazo, ukuze ningakhathali futhi imiphefumulo yenu iphele amandla.” (Heberu 12:1-3, NW) Uye wasicabangela “ngokunakisisa” kangakanani isibonelo sikaJesu? Uye wambheka “ngokunakisisa” kangakanani? (1 Petru 2:21) USathane ufuna ukuba ‘sikhathale futhi imiphefumulo yethu iphele amandla.’ Ufuna ukuba siyeke ukwenza umsebenzi wokufakaza. Ukwenza kanjani lokhu? Ngezinye izikhathi ngokuphikiswa okuza kuvela kuziphathi-mandla zenkolo nezezwe, njengasekhulwini leminyaka lokuqala. Ngonyaka odlule, umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso wavinjelwa emazweni angama-40. Kodwa ingabe lokho kwabangela abazalwane bethu ukuba baphele amandla? Cha! Umsebenzi wabo wokwethembeka uye waphumela ekubeni abantu abangu-17 000 nangaphezulu babhapathizwe kulawomazwe ngo-1988. Yeka ukuthi lokhu kufanele kube isikhuthazo kanjani kulabo abahlala emazweni lapho kusenenkululeko khona! Masingalokothi sikhathale ekushumayeleni izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso!
13. (a) Yiziphi ezinye zezinto ezicashile ezingasibangela ukuba sikhathale emsebenzini wethu wokushumayela? (b) Iyiphi ‘injabulo eyayibekwe phambi kukaJesu,’ futhi singasifinyelela kanjani isimo sengqondo esifanayo sokujabula?
13 Nokho, kunezinye izinto ezifihlekile ezingasibangela ukuba sikhathale. Lezi zihlanganisa ukuphikiswa ekhaya elihlukene phakathi, ukucindezeleka okungokwengqondo, izinkinga zempilo, ukucindezela kontanga, ukudumazeka ngenxa yokungabikho kwemiphumela emihle emsebenzini wethu wokushumayela, noma mhlawumbe umuzwa wokungabekezeli ngenxa yokuthi isiphelo salesimiso sezinto asikafiki. Nokho, yini eyasiza uJesu ukuba akhuthazelele ukuhlupheka okungokwengqondo nokungokomzimba? ‘Kwakuyinjabulo eyayibekwe phambi kwakhe.’ (Heberu 12:2) UJesu wasekelwa injabulo yokwenza inhliziyo kaYise ijabule nokumlwela nangokulindela injabulo yakamuva ayezoyithola ekunikezeni izibusiso ezinhle zoMbuso wobuMesiya. (IHubo 2:6-8; 40:9, 10; IzAga 27:11) Ingabe singasilandela ngokucophelela ngokwengeziwe lesimo sengqondo sikaJesu sokujabula? Futhi khumbula isiqinisekiso sikaPetru esikweyoku-1 Petru 5:9: “Zona lezozinhlupheko zehlela abazalwane b[akho] abasezweni.” Ukwazi ukuthi uJehova uyaqonda, ukuzwa imfudumalo yobuzalwane bomhlaba wonke, nokugcina amehlo ethu esenjabulweni engaphambi kwethu ngaphansi kokubusa koMbuso—konke lokhu kuyosisiza ukuba singakhathali ekukhonzeni uJehova ngokholo nasekushumayeleni njengoba isiphelo siseduze kangaka.
Isizathu Sokuba UJehova Ayale
14. Yiziphi izinzuzo ezingaba umphumela wokulingwa nokuhlupheka okungadingeka sikukhuthazelele?
14 UPawulu manje ukhanyisa isizathu sokuthi kungani singase sidinge ukukhuthazelela uvivinyo nezinhlupheko. Usikisela ukuthi sikubheke njengohlobo lwesiyalo. UPawulu uyachaza: “Ndodana yami, ungadeleli ukulaya kweNkosi, uphele amandla, nxa usolwa yiyo, ngokuba iNkosi iyamlaya emthandayo.” (Heberu 12:5, 6) Ngisho noJesu “wafunda ukulalela ngalokho ahlupheka ngakho.” (Heberu 5:8) Ngokuqinisekile, nathi sidinga ukufunda ukulalela. Phawula imiphumela enenzuzo yokuvumela isiyalo ukuba sisilolonge. UPawulu wathi: “Kuyabathelela isithelo esihle sokulunga labo abahlakahliswé yikho.” Yeka ukuthi lokho kukhuthaza kanjani!—Heberu 12:11.
15. Singasisebenzisa kanjani iseluleko sikaPawulu ‘sokwenzela izinyawo zethu izindlela eziqondile’?
15 Uma samukela “ukulaya kweNkosi” ngalomqondo, siyosamukela iseluleko sikaPawulu esihle: “Ngakho-ke qinisani izandla ezibuthakathaka namadolo axegayo, nenzele izinyawo zenu izindlela eziqondileyo.” (Heberu 12:12, 13) Ngezinye izikhathi kulula ukuphambuka ‘endleleni eyingcingo eyisa ekuphileni.’ (Mathewu 7:14) Umphostoli uPetru nabanye eAntiyokiya bake baba necala lokwenza lokhu. Ngani? Ngoba ‘babengahambi ngokweqiniso levangeli.’ (Galathiya 2:14) Namuhla, kumelwe siqhubeke silalela uMeluleki wethu Omkhulu, uJehova uNkulunkulu. Sidinga ukulusebenzisa ngokugcwele usizo alunikeza ‘ngenceku ethembekileyo neqondayo.’ Lokhu kuyoqinisekisa ‘indlela eqondileyo’ yezinyawo zethu.—Mathewu 24:45-47; Isaya 30:20, 21.
16. (a) ‘Impande ewushevu’ ingaba kanjani nethonya ebandleni? (b) Kungani uPawulu ehlanganisa ukuziphatha okubi nokuntula ukwazisa ngezinto ezingcwele, futhi singazivikela kanjani ezingozini ezinjalo?
16 UPawulu ngokulandelayo uxwayisa ngokuthi kufanele “[si]qaphelisise kungabikho osilelayo emseni kaNkulunkulu, funa kumile impande imbe ebabayo [ewushevu, NW], i[si]xobise, kungcoliswe abaningi yiyo.” (Heberu 12:15) Ukukhononda, ukunganeliseki, ukubona amaphutha endleleni izinto ezenziwa ngayo ebandleni kungaba ‘njengempande ewushevu’ engasakazeka ngokushesha ibe ushevu emicabangweni emihle yabanye ebandleni. Singayinqoba imicabango enjalo ephambene ngokucabanga ngezibusiso ezingenakubalwa eziye zalethwa iqiniso ekuphileni kwethu. (IHubo 40:5) Enye ingozi eyokuthambekela ekuziphatheni okubi noma ‘eyokuntula ukwazisa ngezinto ezingcwele, njengoEsawu.’ (Heberu 12:16, NW) UPawulu uyazihlanganisa lezingozi zombili, ngoba kulula ukuba enye iholele kwenye. Akukho mKristu okudingeka anqotshwe izifiso ezinjalo zobugovu uma esebenzisa lamazwi kaPetru: “Melanani naye [uDeveli], niqinile ekukholweni.”—1 Petru 5:9.
‘Izinto Ezithenjwayo’
17. Qhathanisa izenzakalo ezisabisayo eNtabeni yaseSinayi nalezo amaKristu namuhla abhekene nazo.
17 Ukholo lwethu luxhomeke kakhulu ‘ezintweni ezithenjwayo.’ (Heberu 11:1) Ezinye zalezinto zangempela ezingakabonwa uPawulu uyaqhubeka ekhuluma ngazo kumaHeberu 12:18-27. Uchaza izenzakalo ezisabisayo eNtabeni yaseSinayi ngenkathi uNkulunkulu ekhuluma ngokuqondile noIsrayeli nalapho uMose ethi: “Nginovalo olukhulu, ngiyathuthumela.” Khona-ke umphostoli uyanezela: “Kodwa nizé entabeni yaseSiyoni nasemzini kaNkulunkulu ophilayo, iJerusalema lasezulwini, nasezigidigidini zezingelosi, nasebandleni.” UPawulu wathi endabeni yamaIsrayeli asendulo entabeni yaseSinayi, izwi likaNkulunkulu lazamazamisa umhlaba, kodwa manje uthembisile, ethi: “Kusezakuba-kanye ngizamazamise kungabi-ngumhlaba wodwa, kepha nezulu futhi.” Nakuba lamazwi ebhekiselwe ngokuyinhloko kumaKristu agcotshiwe, “isixuku esikhulu” sabanye abanjengezimvu naso singawamukela. (IsAmbulo 7:9) Ingabe uyakuqonda ngokugcwele lokho uPawulu akushoyo? Simi phambi kwenhlangano yamashumi ezinkulungwane ezingelosi. Yiqiniso, simi futhi phambi kukaJehova. Ngakwesokunene sakhe kunoJesu Kristu. Ngempela, sisesimweni esisabisa kakhulu futhi singaphansi komthwalo wemfanelo omkhulu kunalowo amaHeberu asendulo ayenawo eNtabeni yaseSinayi! Futhi khumbula, ukuzamazama empini ezayo yeArmagedoni kuyobangela ukuba izulu nomhlaba omubi okukhona kunyamalale. Ngokuqinisekile namuhla akusona isikhathi sokubeka izaba ngokuzwa nokulalela iZwi likaNkulunkulu!
18. Iyiphi okuwukuphela kwendlela esingaqhubeka ngayo sifakaza ngoJehova, singapheli amandla?
18 Khona-ke, ngempela, siphila esikhathini esisabisa kakhulu emlandweni wesintu. NjengoFakazi BakaJehova, sithunyelwe ezingxenyeni ezikude zomhlaba ukuba sishumayele izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu omisiwe. Ukuze senze kanjalo, kumelwe sibe nokholo olungenakushukunyiswa, ukholo olungakhathali, ukholo olusenza sikwazi ukwamukela isiyalo sikaJehova. Uma sinokholo olunjalo, siyotholakala phakathi kwalabo ‘abazoqhubeka bethola umusa ongasifanele, esingamenzela ngawo uNkulunkulu inkonzo engcwele ngokwamukelekayo sinokwesaba uNkulunkulu nokuthuthumela.’ (Heberu 12:28, NW) Yebo, futhi siyoqhubeka sifakaza ngoJehova futhi singakhathali.
Ubungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ Kungani incwadi kaPawulu eya kumaHeberu inenzuzo kithi?
◻ Iyiphi impikiswano amaKristu okumelwe abhekane nayo namuhla?
◻ Singazuza kanjani kofakazi abathembekile basendulo?
◻ Kungani uJehova ebayala labo abathandayo?
◻ Siyini isihluthulelo sokushumayela singakhathali?