‘Abesifazane Abakhandlekayo ENkosini’
‘Khonzani koTrifina noTrifosa [“abesifazane,” “NW”] abakhandlekayo eNkosini.’—ROMA 16:12.
1. Inkonzo kaJesu yasemhlabeni yaba kanjani yisibusiso kwabesifazane?
INKONZO kaJesu yasemhlabeni yayiyisibusiso ngempela kwabesifazane abangamaJuda. Umsebenzi awuqala wawuzoletha induduzo, ithemba nesithunzi esisha kwabesifazane bazo zonke izinhlanga. Akazange awalandele amasiko obuJuda ‘ayelenze laba yize izwi likaNkulunkulu.’ (Mathewu 15:6) Amaningi alawomasiko ayewadelela amalungelo abesifazane ayisisekelo ababewanikezwe uNkulunkulu.
Isimo Sengqondo SikaJesu Ngabesifazane
2. Kungani kungathiwa ukuxoxa kukaJesu nabesifazane kwakuyinto ehlukile ngalezozikhathi?
2 Yeka ukuthi kwakunomehluko ophawuleka kangakanani phakathi kwesimo sengqondo sikaJesu ngabesifazane naleso sabaholi benkolo bamaJuda! Uma sicaphuna iEncyclopaedia Judaica, laba okugcinwe ngabo babebheka abesifazane ‘njengabantu abahahayo, abathanda izindaba zabanye, abavilaphayo, nabanomona.’ Ukuxoxa nowesifazane kwakungathandwa, futhi “kwakuyihlazo ngesazi ukuba sikhulume nowesifazane emgwaqweni.” (Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus, kaJoachim Jeremias; qhathanisa noJohane 4:27.) Kuningi kakhulu okungashiwo ngesimo sengqondo sendelelo sabaholi bobuJuda ngabesifazane. Kodwa lokhu okungenhla kwanele ukuba kubonise indlela ukuxoxa kukaJesu nabesifazane okwakuhluke ngayo ngempela ngalezozikhathi.
3. Yiziphi izenzakalo phakathi nenkonzo kaJesu ezibonisa ukuthi wayezimisele ukufundisa abesifazane amaqiniso ajulile angokomoya?
3 UJesu unikeza isibonelo esiphelele sendlela amadoda angaba ngayo nobuhlobo obufudumele kodwa obumsulwa nabesifazane. Akazange axoxe nabo kuphela kodwa futhi wabafundisa amaqiniso ajulile angokomoya. Eqinisweni, yena kanye umuntu wokuqala ngqá embula kuye ngokusobala ukuba kwakhe nguMesiya kwakungowesifazane, owesifazane ongumSamariya nokwenza. (Johane 4:7, 25, 26) Ngaphezu kwalokho, isenzakalo esihilela uMarta noMariya sibonisa ngokucacile ukuthi ngokungafani nabaholi benkolo bamaJuda, uJesu akazange abe nomuzwa wokuthi owesifazane wayengenalo ilungelo lokushiya izimbiza zakhe okwesikhashana ukuze andise ulwazi lwakhe olungokomoya. Kulesosenzakalo, uMariya ‘wayekhethe isabelo esihle,’ ebeka izinto ezingokomoya kuqala. (Luka 10:38-42) Kodwa ezinyangeni ezimbalwa kamuva, ngemva kokufa komfowabo, kwakunguMarta, hhayi uMariya, owabonisa intshiseko enkulu yokukhuluma neNkosi. Yeka indlela esihlabeka ngayo umxhwele ngisho nanamuhla uma sifunda leyongxoxo ejulile engokomoya eyayiphakathi kukaJesu noMarta ephathelene nethemba lovuko! (Johane 11:20-27) Yeka ilungelo uMarta aba nalo!
Abesifazane Ababekhonza UJesu
4, 5. Ngaphandle kwabaphostoli, obani abalandela uJesu phakathi nenkonzo yakhe yaseGalile, futhi bamkhonza kanjani?
4 UJesu futhi wakwamukela ukukhonzwa ngabesifazane njengoba ayehambahamba ezweni. Ekulandiseni kwakhe kweVangeli, uMarku ukhuluma ‘ngabesifazane ababephelezela [uJesu] eseseGalile, bemkhonza.’ (Marku 15:40, 41, qhathanisa neNW.) Babengobani laba besifazane, futhi babemkhonza kanjani uJesu? Asiwazi amagama abo bonke, kodwa uLuka uveza abambalwa futhi unikeza indlela ababemkhonza ngayo uJesu.
5 ULuka uyabhala: “Kwathi emva kwalokho wayehamba imizi nemizana eshumayela ememezela ivangeli lombuso, benaye abayishumi nambili nabesifazane abathile ababephulukiswé kubo omoya ababi nasezifweni: uMariya obizwa ngokuthi uMagdalena, okwakuphumé kuye amademoni ayisikhombisa, noJowana umkaKhuza induna kaHerode, noSusana, nabanye abaningi ababebakhonza ngempahla yabo.” (Luka 8:1-3) UJesu wayekujabulela ukuba labo besifazane bamlandele futhi basebenzise impahla yabo ekukhonzeni izidingo zakhe ezingokwenyama nezabaphostoli bakhe.
6. (a) Obani abaphelezela uJesu phakathi nohambo lwakhe lokugcina lokuya eJerusalema? (b) Obani ababa noJesu kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwakhe, futhi abanye babo banikezwa kanjani umvuzo? (c) Ngokombono wamasiko obuJuda, yini ephawulekayo ngokulandisa okukuJohane 20:11-18?
6 Lapho uJesu ebulawa, “kwakukhona lapho abesifazane abaningi bebukela, bekude, ababemlandele uJesu bevela eGalile, bemkhonza; phakathi kwabo kwakukhona oMariya Magdalena, unina kaJakobe nokaJose.” (Mathewu 27:55, 56) Ngakho, abesifazane abaningi abathembekile babenaye uJesu ngesikhathi sokufa kwakhe. Kungokuphawulekayo futhi ukuthi abesifazane baba ofakazi bokuqala bokuvuka kwakhe. (Mathewu 28:1-10) Lokhu ngokwako kwaba yigalelo esikweni lamaJuda, ngoba ebuJudeni abesifazane babebhekwa njengabangafanele ukuba ofakazi abangokomthetho. Ucabanga ngalokhu, funda uJohane 20:11-18, futhi zama ukucabanga ngomzwelo ojulile uMariya Magdalena okumelwe ukuba wawuzwa lapho iNkosi evusiwe ibonakala kuye, imbiza ngegama lakhe siqu, futhi imsebenzisa njengofakazi wayo ukuba atshele abafundi bakhe ukuthi wayephila ngempela!
Abesifazane Abathembekile AbangamaKristu Ngemva KwePentekoste
7, 8. (a) Sazi kanjani ukuthi abesifazane babekhona lapho kuthululwa umoya ngePentekoste? (b) Abesifazane abangamaKristu bahlanganyela kanjani ekwandeni kokuqala kobuKristu?
7 Ngemva kokwenyukela kukaJesu ezulwini, abesifazane abesaba uNkulunkulu babekanye nabaphostoli abathembekile ekamelweni eliphezulu eJerusalema. (IzEnzo 1:12-14) Kusobala ukuthi kwakunabesifazane phakathi kwalabo umoya ongcwele owathululelwa kubo ngePentekoste. Ngani? Ngoba lapho uPetru echaza okwenzeka, wacaphuna uJoweli 2:28-30, okhuluma ngokuqondile ‘ngamadodakazi,’ ‘nangezincekukazi.’ (IzEnzo 2:1, 4, 14-18) Ngakho abesifazane abazelwe ngomoya, abangamaKristu agcotshiwe babeyingxenye yebandla lobuKristu khona kanye ezisekelweni zalo.
8 Abesifazane babenendima ebalulekile, nakuba ingeyona eyinhloko, ekusakazekeni kobuKristu. UMariya, umama kaMarku nongubabekazi kaBarnaba, wanikela ngendlu yakhe ngokusobala eyayinkulu ukuba isetshenziswe yibandla laseJerusalema. (IzEnzo 12:12) Futhi wayezimisele ukwenza lokhu ngesikhathi kwakusanda kuqala ukushushiswa kwamaKristu. (IzEnzo 12:1-5) Amadodakazi amane omvangeli uFiliphu anikezwa ilungelo lokuba abaprofethikazi abangamaKristu.—IzEnzo 21:9; 1 Korinte 12:4, 10.
Isimo Sengqondo SikaPawulu Ngabesifazane
9. Yisiphi iseluleko uPawulu asinikeza ngokuphathelene nabesifazane abangamaKristu encwadini yakhe yokuqala eya kwabaseKorinte, futhi yisiphi isimiso saphezulu ayekhuthaza abesifazane ukuba basihloniphe?
9 Ngezinye izikhathi umphostoli uPawulu usolwa ngokuthi wayenenzondo ngabesifazane futhi engabethembi. Yiqiniso, kwakunguPawulu owagcizelela ukuthi abesifazane kumelwe bagcine indawo yabo efanele ebandleni lobuKristu. Ngaphansi kwezimo ezivamile, kwakungamelwe bafundise emihlanganweni yebandla. (1 Korinte 14:33-35) Uma, ngenxa yokuthi wayengekho umKristu wesilisa noma ngenxa yokuthi wayezoprofetha ngaphansi kokushukunyiswa umoya ongcwele, owesifazane ongumKristu owayekhuluma ebandleni, kwakufuneka agqoke isembozo sekhanda. Lesisembozo “sasiwuphawu [lwegunya, NW],” ubufakazi obubonakalayo bokuthi owesifazane wayeluqaphela uhlelo lukaNkulunkulu lobunhloko.—1 Korinte 11:3-6, 10.
10. Abanye baye bamsola ngani umphostoli uPawulu, kodwa yini efakazela ukuthi lokhu kusola kungamanga?
10 Ngokusobala uPawulu wakuthola kudingekile ukuba akhumbuze amaKristu okuqala ngalezimiso ezingokwasezulwini ukuze ‘konke kwenziwe ngemfanelo’ emihlanganweni yebandla. (1 Korinte 14:40) Kodwa ingabe lokhu kusho ukuthi uPawulu wayemelene nabesifazane, njengoba abanye besho? Cha, akusho lokho. Ingabe kwakungeyena uPawulu esahlukweni sokugcina sencwadi yakhe eya kwabaseRoma owathumela imikhonzo efudumele kwabesifazane abayisishiyagalolunye abangamaKristu? Ingabe akazange abonise ukwazisa okujulile, ngoFebe, uPriska (uPrisila), uTrifina noTrifosa, laba ababili bokugcina ebabiza ngokuthi ‘abesifazane abakhandlekayo eNkosini’? (Roma 16:1-4, 6, 12, 13, 15) Futhi kwakunguPawulu owabhala ngaphansi kokuphefumlelwa: “Nonke enabhapathizelwa kuKristu nembatha uKristu. Akakho umJuda nomGreki, akakho oboshiweyo nokhululekileyo, akakho owesilisa nowesifazane, ngokuba nina nonke nimunye kuKristu Jesu.” (Galathiya 3:27, 28) Ngokucacile, uPawulu wayebathanda futhi ebazisa odadewabo abangamaKristu, kuhlanganise noLidiya, owabonisa umoya wokungenisa izihambi oyisibonelo phakathi nesikhathi sokulingwa.—IzEnzo 16:12-15, 40; Filipi 4:2, 3.
Abesifazane Abakhandlekayo Namuhla
11, 12. (a) IHubo 68:11 ligcwaliseka kanjani ngokoqobo namuhla? (b) Odadewethu abaningi bazithola bekusiphi isimo, futhi kungani bedinga uthando lwethu nemithandazo?
11 Ebandleni lobuKristu namuhla, kunabesifazane abaningi abangamaKristu ‘abakhandlekayo eNkosini.’ Eqinisweni, izibalo zibonisa ukuthi “abesifazane ababika indaba ejabulisayo bayisixuku esikhulu,” bakha ingxenye enkulu yebutho loFakazi uJehova alisebenzisayo kulesikhathi sokugcina. (IHubo 68:11) Laba besifazane abangamaKristu abakhandlekayo baye bazizuzela igama elihle njengoba belwela ukugcwalisa indima yabo njengabafazi, omama, abanakekeli bamakhaya, abondli, kanye nezikhonzi ezingamaKristu.
12 Abaningi balabodade abahle banabayeni abangakholwa. Kumelwe babhekane nalesisimo amahora angu-24 ngosuku. Abanye bebesebenza kanzima iminyaka eminingi ukuze babe abafazi abahle kuyilapho behlangabezana nezimfuneko zokuba yizinceku ezithembekile zikaJehova. Kuye kwaba nzima, kodwa baye bakhuthazela, njalo benethemba lokuthi abayeni babo ‘bangase bazuzwe ngaphandle kwezwi’ ngokuziphatha kwabo okuhle kobuKristu. Futhi yeka injabulo umkhaya wonke oyihlanganyelayo lapho indoda enjalo isabela! (1 Petru 3:1, 2) Okwamanje, labodade abathembekile ngokuqinisekile badinga uthando lobuzalwane nemithandazo yamanye amalungu ebandla. Njengoba nje ‘umoya omnene onokuthula’ abazama ukuwubonisa ‘uyigugu phambi kukaNkulunkulu,’ kanjalo ubuqotho babo obungantengantengi buyigugu emehlweni ethu.—1 Petru 3:3-6.
13. Kungani kungathiwa odadewethu abangamaphayona ‘bangabesifazane abakhandlekayo eNkosini,’ futhi kufanele babhekwe kanjani emabandleni abakuwo?
13 Odade abakhonza njengamaphayona ngokuqiniseke kakhulu kungathiwa ‘bayakhandleka eNkosini.’ Abaningi babo banamakhaya, abayeni, nabantwana okumelwe babanakekele, ngaphezu komsebenzi wabo wokushumayela. Abanye babamba amatoho ukuze babhekane nezidingo zabo ezingokwenyama. Konke lokhu kufuna ukuhleleka okuhle, ukuzimisela, ukuphikelela, kanye nokuzikhandla okukhulu. Laba besifazane abangamaKristu kufanele bakwazi ukuzwa uthando nokusekela kwalabo izimo zabo ezingabavumeli ukuba banikele ngamahora obuphayona emsebenzini wokufakaza.
14. (a) Yisiphi isibonelo esihle sokuphikelela okukhulunywe ngaso? (b) Yibaphi abanye abesifazane abangamaKristu abafanelwe ukutuswa, futhi ngani? Yisho noma yiziphi izibonelo ezisebandleni lenu.
14 Abanye abesifazane abangamaKristu baye babonisa isibindi esingavamile enkonzweni yamaphayona. ECanada, uGrace Lounsbury wangenela ubuphayona okokuqala ngo-1914. Kwadingeka ukuba aphume ohlwini lwamaphayona ngo-1918 ngenxa yokugula, kodwa ngo-1924 wayesebuyele enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele. Ngesikhathi kubhalwa lokhu, ubesesohlwini lwamaphayona, nakuba eseneminyaka engu-104 ubudala! Odade abaningi abayizithunywa zevangeli abaqeqeshwa ngawo-1940 emakilasini okuqala eWatchtower Bible School of Gilead basakhonza ngokwethembeka, kungaba semkhakheni wezithunywa zevangeli noma njengamalungu omkhaya waseBethel eBrooklyn noma kwelinye lamagatsha eWatch Tower Society. Bonke laba besifazane abangamaKristu, futhi empeleni bonke odade abazikhandlayo enkonzweni yaseBethel, babonisa umoya wokuzidela futhi bayizibonelo ezinhle. Ingabe sike sibatshele ukuthi bayaziswa?
Abafazi Bababonisi Abajikelezayo
15, 16. Yiliphi iqembu labesifazane abangamaKristu elifanelwa ukutusa kwethu okufudumele ngokukhethekile, futhi ngani?
15 Abafazi bababonisi abajikelezayo bakha elinye iqembu labesifazane abangamaKristu elifanelwa ukutuswa okufudumele nesikhuthazo. Labodade abathandekayo bazimisele ukulandela abayeni babo njengoba behambela amabandla ngamabandla, noma izifunda ngezifunda, ukuze bakhe abafowabo ngokomoya. Abaningi babo baye badela ukuthokomala kwekhaya; balala emibhedeni ehlukile isonto ngalinye, futhi akubi imibhede ekahle ngaso sonke isikhathi. Kodwa bayakujabulela ukwamukela noma yini abazalwane ababanika yona. Bayisibonelo esihle kodadewabo abangokomoya.
16 Laba besifazane abangamaKristu banikeza nokusekela okuyigugu kubayeni babo, njengoba nje abesifazane abesaba uNkulunkulu ababelandela uJesu ‘ukuze bamphelezele futhi bamkhonze.’ (Marku 15:41, qhathanisa neNW.) Abakwazi ukuchitha isikhathi esiningi bebodwa nabayeni babo, njalo ‘ababa nokuningi okumelwe bakwenze emsebenzini weNkosi.’ (1 Korinte 15:58, qhathanisa neNW.) Abanye babo, njengoRosa Szumiga waseFrance, owangenela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele ngo-1948, baye bapakishela abayeni babo amapotimende futhi bahamba nabo iminyaka engu-30 noma engu-40. Bazimisele ukuzidela ngenxa kaJehova nangenxa yabafowabo nodadewabo. Bafanelwe ukuba sibazise, sibathande, futhi sibathandazele.
Abafazi Babadala
17, 18. (a) Yiziphi izimfanelo ezifunekayo kubafazi babazalwane abamiswa ezikhundleni zenkonzo? (b) Yikuphi ukuzidela abafazi babadala abavumayo ukukwenza ngenxa kaJehova nabafowabo, futhi abanye abafazi bangabasiza kanjani abayeni babo?
17 Lapho ebala izimfanelo zabazalwane abangase bamiswe njengabadala nezinceku ezikhonzayo, umphostoli uPawulu wakhuluma nangabesifazane, ebhala: “Ngokunjalo nabesifazane mababe-nesizotha, abangahlebi, abazithibayo, abathembekayo ezintweni zonke.” (1 Thimothewu 3:11) Yiqiniso, lesiseluleko esivamile sisebenza kubo bonke abesifazane abangamaKristu. Kodwa uma sibheka umongo, ngokusobala kufanele silandelwe ngendlela eyisibonelo ngabafazi babazalwane abamiswe ezikhundleni zenkonzo.
18 Ngokujabulisayo, kunjalo ngezinkulungwane eziningi zabafazi bababonisi abangamaKristu. Bayalinganisela emikhubeni yabo nasekugqokeni kwabo, bakuthatha ngokungathi sína ukuphila kobuKristu, beqaphela abakushoyo, futhi bazama ngobuqotho ukuba ngabathembekile ezintweni zonke. Bayavuma futhi ukuzidela, bevuma ukuba abayeni babo basisebenzise ezindabeni zebandla isikhathi ebesingase sichithwe benabo. Laba besifazane abangamaKristu abathembekile bafanelwe uthando lwethu olufudumele nesikhuthazo. Mhlawumbe abazalwane abengeziwe bangalwela ukufanelekela amalungelo emabandleni ethu amaningi uma abafazi babo bengavuma ngokuzithoba ukwenza ukuzidela okunjalo ngenxa yenhlala-kahle yabo bonke.
“Abesifazane Abadala” Abathembekile
19. Kungani “abesifazane abadala” abaningi abathembekile baziswa kakhulu emabandleni abakuwo, futhi kufanele sizizwe kanjani ngabo?
19 Ukubukeza kwethu abesifazane okukhulunywa ngabo eBhayibhelini kusenze sakwazi ukubona ukuthi iminyaka yobudala ayibavimbeli abesifazane bokholo ekukhonzeni uJehova. Leliqiniso laboniswa endabeni kaSara, uElisabethe, noAna. Namuhla, kunabesifazane abaningi abangamaKristu asebekhulile ngeminyaka abayizibonelo ezinhle zokholo nokukhuthazela. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngokuqonda bangasekela abadala ngokusiza odade abasebasha. Besusela kokuhlangenwe nakho kwabo kwesikhathi eside, banganikeza iseluleko esihlakaniphile kwabesifazane abasebasha, njengoba nje imiBhalo ibagunyaza ukwenza kanjalo. (Thithu 2:3-5) Kungenzeka ngezinye izikhathi udade osekhulile naye adinge ukwelulekwa. Uma kunjalo, umdala owenza lokho kufanele ‘amyale njengonina.’ Abadala kufanele ‘bazise abafelokazi,’ futhi uma kudingeka, babahlelele usizo lwezinto ezibonakalayo. (1 Thimothewu 5:1-3, 5, 9, 10) Odadewethu abathandekayo asebekhulile kufanele ngokuqiniseke kakhulu bazizwe bedingeka kakhulu futhi baziswa.
Ababusi Abakanye NoKristu
20. Yiliphi ilungelo eliphakeme eliye lanikezwa abesifazane abaningi abangamaKristu, futhi kungani ezinye izimvu zingajabula ngalokhu?
20 Kusobala kakhulu emiBhalweni ukuthi “akukho ukukhetha umuntu kuNkulunkulu” ngokuphathelene nohlanga noma ubulili. (Roma 2:10, 11; Galathiya 3:28) Futhi lokhu kuyasebenza nasendleleni uJehova akhetha ngayo labo abazohlanganiswa neNdodana yakhe kuhulumeni woMbuso. (Johane 6:44) Yeka indlela esingabonga ngayo isixuku esikhulu sezinye izimvu ngokuthi abesifazane abathembekile, abanjengonina kaJesu uMariya, uMariya Magdalena, uPrisila, oTrifina, uTrifosa, kanye noquqaba lwabanye ababesebandleni lokuqala lamaKristu, manje bahlanganyela ekubuseni koMbuso, becebisa lowohulumeni ngokuqonda kwabo okujulile imizwa nokuhlangenwe nakho kwabantu besifazane! Yeka ukubona kusengaphambili kothando nokuhlakanipha kukaJehova!—Roma 11:33-36.
21. Sizizwa kanjani namuhla ‘ngabesifazane abakhandlekayo eNkosini’?
21 Nathi namuhla singahlanganyela imizwa yomphostoli uPawulu lapho ekhuluma ngothando nangokwazisa ‘ngabesifazane ababambisana nami evangelini.’ (Filipi 4:3) Bonke oFakazi BakaJehova, amadoda nabesifazane, bakubheka njengokuyinjabulo nokuyilungelo ukusebenza ngokubambisana ‘nesixuku esikhulu sabesifazane ababika indaba ejabulisayo,’ yebo, ‘abesifazane abakhandlekayo eNkosini.’—IHubo 68:11; Roma 16:12.
Imibuzo Yokubukeza
◻ UJesu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi wayengahlanganyeli obandlululweni abaholi benkolo bamaJuda ababenalo ngabesifazane?
◻ Abesifazane abesaba uNkulunkulu bamkhonza kanjani uJesu, futhi yiliphi ilungelo elikhulu abanye babo abalemukela?
◻ Yisiphi iseluleko uPawulu asinikeza ngokuphathelene nabesifazane emihlanganweni yebandla?
◻ Yiziphi izigaba zodade ezifanelwa uthando lwethu olukhethekile nokusekela, futhi ngani?
◻ Kufanele sizizwe kanjani ngabo bonke labo namuhla ‘abangabesifazane abakhandlekayo eNkosini’?
[Isithombe ekhasini 16, 17]
Abesifazane babekhonza uJesu nabaphostoli bakhe
[Izithombe ekhasini 18]
Abafazi abazidelayo bababonisi abajikelezayo nababanye abadala baba nengxenye ebalulekile emsebenzini kaNkulunkulu