Likuphi Ipharadesi Okukhulunywa Ngalo EBhayibhelini?

Imibuzo Evela Kubafundi Balo Magazini . . .

Likuphi Ipharadesi Okukhulunywa Ngalo EBhayibhelini?

▪ Indoda eyayiseceleni kukaJesu yabonisa isibindi nokholo kuye. UJesu wayethembisa: “Uyokuba nami ePharadesi.” (Luka 23:43) Yayizoba kuphi le ndoda? Ingabe iPharadesi lisezulwini, emhlabeni noma kwenye indawo lapho abantu belindela khona ukwahlulelwa?

Okhokho bethu bake bahlala ePharadesi. IBhayibheli lithi: “UJehova uNkulunkulu watshala insimu e-Edene, ngasempumalanga, wambeka lapho umuntu ayembumbile. . . . UJehova uNkulunkulu wabe esemthatha umuntu wambeka ensimini yase-Edene ukuba ayilime futhi ayinakekele.” (Genesise 2:8, 15) Ngesikhathi la mazwi ehunyushelwa olimini lwesiGreki, igama elithi “insimu” lahunyushwa ngokuthi pa·raʹdei·sos, futhi lavela lapho igama elithi “ipharadesi.”

Lapho sekunezingane eziningi ekhaya, abazali bavame ukunweba indlu. Ngokufanayo, njengoba abantu babezokwanda, abazali bethu bokuqala babelindeleke ukuba banwebe iPharadesi lize lidlule ngalé kwemingcele ye-Edene. UNkulunkulu wabatshela: ‘Gcwalisani umhlaba niwunqobe.’—Genesise 1:28.

Ngaleso sikhathi, injongo yoMdali wethu yayiwukuba abantu baphile futhi bazale abantwana ePharadesi lapha emhlabeni. Babeyophila phakade ensimini elapha emhlabeni futhi sasingeke sibe khona isidingo samathuna. Umhlaba wawuyoba ikhaya laphakade labo bonke abantu. Shono imvelo esemhlabeni isilethela injabulo engaka! Sadalelwa ukuba siphile emhlabeni omuhle.

Ingabe isishintshile injongo kaNkulunkulu? Cha. Uyasiqinisekisa: “Liyoba njalo nezwi lami eliphuma emlonyeni wami. Ngeke libuyele kimi lingabanga namiphumela, kodwa ngokuqinisekile liyokwenza lokho engikujabulelayo.” (Isaya 55:11) Ngemva kweminyaka engaphezu kuka-3 000 kwadalwa umuntu, iBhayibheli lathi ‘uMbumbi womhlaba noMenzi wawo akazange awudalele ize nje kodwa wawubumba ukuze uhlalwe ngisho nokuhlalwa.’ (Isaya 45:18) Injongo kaNkulunkulu ayikashintshi. Umhlaba usazokuba ipharadesi.

Okuthakazelisayo ukuthi imiBhalo eminingi ekhuluma ngePharadesi ichaza ukuphila kwalapha emhlabeni. Ngokwesibonelo, isiprofetho sika-Isaya sithi: “Ngokuqinisekile bayokwakha izindlu bahlale kuzo; nakanjani bayotshala izivini badle izithelo zazo.” (Isaya 65:21) Izindlu zakhiwa kuphi? Izivini zitshalwa kuphi? Izithelo zidliwa kuphi? Emhlabeni. IzAga 2:21 zikubeka ngokucacile lokhu: “Ngabaqotho abayohlala emhlabeni.”

UJesu naye wakhuluma ngepharadesi lasemhlabeni. Yiqiniso, wathembisa nepharadesi lasezulwini, kodwa bakhethiwe futhi bambalwa abayohlala kulo. (Luka 12:32) Ngemva kokufa, labo abakhethiwe bavuselwa ePharadesi elisezulwini ukuze babuse noKristu phezu komhlaba oyiPharadesi. (IsAmbulo 5:10; 14:1-3) Laba babusi abakanye noJesu bayoqinisekisa ukuthi iPharadesi lasemhlabeni libuswa ngokufanele futhi linakekelwa ngendlela uNkulunkulu afuna ngayo.

UJesu wayazi ukuthi lokhu kwakuyintando kaNkulunkulu ngomhlaba. Phela wayesezulwini noYise lapho kwenziwa insimu yase-Edene. Namuhla, bonke abantu bangakuthola ukuphila emhlabeni oyipharadesi ozayo inqobo nje uma bebonisa ukholo. (Johane 3:16) UJesu ubathembisa lokhu: ‘Niyokuba nami ePharadesi.’—Luka 23:43.

[Umthombo Wesithombe ekhasini 25]