Namathela Esibonelweni Esabekwa UJesu
“Nginibekela isibonelo, sokuthi njengoba nje ngenzile kini, nani nenze kanjalo.”—JOHANE 13:15.
1. Kungani uJesu eyisibonelo sokulingiswa amaKristu?
KUWO wonke umlando wesintu, munye kuphela umuntu ongazange one ekuphileni kwakhe konke. Lowo muntu uJesu. Ngaphandle kukaJesu, “akekho umuntu ongoni.” (1 AmaKhosi 8:46; Roma 3:23) Ngaleso sizathu, amaKristu eqiniso abheka uJesu njengoyisibonelo esiphelele sokulingiswa. Empeleni, ngoNisani 14, 33 C.E., ngaphambi nje kokuba afe, uJesu ngokwakhe watshela abalandeli bakhe ukuba bamlingise. Wathi: “Nginibekela isibonelo, sokuthi njengoba nje ngenzile kini, nani nenze kanjalo.” (Johane 13:15) Ngalobo busuku bokugcina, uJesu waphawula izindlela eziningana amaKristu okufanele alwele ngazo ukufana naye. Kulesi sihloko, sizoxoxa ngezinye zazo.
Isidingo Sokuthobeka
2, 3. UJesu wayeyisibonelo esiphelele sokuthobeka ngaziphi izindlela?
2 Lapho uJesu ekhuthaza abafundi bakhe ukuba balandele isibonelo asibekile, wayekhuluma ikakhulukazi ngokuthobeka. Ezikhathini ezingaphezu kwesisodwa, wayeluleke abalandeli bakhe ukuba bathobeke, kwathi ngobusuku bukaNisani 14, wabonisa ukuzithoba kwakhe ngokugeza izinyawo zabaphostoli bakhe. UJesu wabe esethi: “Uma mina, nakuba ngiyiNkosi noMfundisi, nginigezé izinyawo, nani kufanele nigezane izinyawo.” (Johane 13:14) Ngemva kwalokho watshela abaphostoli bakhe ukuba balandele isibonelo asibekile. Futhi yeka ukuthi kwakuyisibonelo sokuthobeka esihle kanjani leso!
3 Umphostoli uPawulu usitshela ukuthi ngaphambi kokuba eze emhlabeni, uJesu ‘wayephila ngesimo sikaNkulunkulu.’ Noma kunjalo, wazidela waba umuntu ophansi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, “wazithoba futhi walalela kwaze kwaba sekufeni, yebo, ekufeni esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa.” (Filipi 2:6-8) Cabanga ngalokho. UJesu, umuntu wesibili ngokuphakama endaweni yonke, wavuma ukuba ngaphansi kwezingelosi, ukuba azalwe abe umntwana ongakwazi kuzenzela lutho, ukuba akhuliswe abazali abangaphelele, ekugcineni afe njengeselelesi esidelelekile. (Kolose 1:15, 16; Hebheru 2:6, 7) Ukuthobeka okungaka! Kungenzeka yini ukulingisa leso ‘simo sengqondo’ nokuhlakulela ‘ukuthobeka kwengqondo’ okunjalo? (Filipi 2:3-5) Kungenzeka, kodwa akulula.
4. Zinto zini ezenza abantu baqhoshe, futhi kungani ukuqhosha kuyingozi?
4 Okuphambene nokuthobeka ukuqhosha. (IzAga 6:16-19) Ukuqhosha kwawisa uSathane. (1 Thimothewu 3:6) Kwakheka kalula ezinhliziyweni zabantu, futhi uma sekuké kwakheka, kunzima ukukususa. Abantu baqhosha ngezwe labo, ubuzwe babo, izinto abanazo, imfundo yabo, izinto abazifezile ezweni, isikhundla abakuso emphakathini, ukubukeka kwabo, amakhono abo kwezemidlalo nangezinye izinto eziningi. Kodwa ayikho kulezi zinto ebalulekile kuJehova. (1 Korinte 4:7) Futhi uma zisenza siqhoshe, zilimaza ubuhlobo bethu naye. “UJehova uphakeme, nokho uyambona othobekile; kodwa ophakeme umazela kude kuphela.”—IHubo 138:6; IzAga 8:13.
Sithobekile Phakathi Kwabafowethu
5. Kungani kubalulekile ukuba abadala bathobeke?
5 Ngisho nalokho esikwenzayo nesikufezayo enkonzweni kaJehova akufanele kusenze siqhoshe; kungokufanayo nangemisebenzi esinayo ebandleni. (1 IziKronike 29:14; 1 Thimothewu 6:17, 18) Eqinisweni, lapho imisebenzi yethu ithé ukuba nzima yilapho kudingeka sithobeke nakakhulu. Umphostoli uPetru wakhuthaza abadala ukuba ‘bangazenzi izingqongqo phezu kwalabo abayifa likaNkulunkulu, kodwa babe yizibonelo emhlambini.’ (1 Petru 5:3) Abadala bamiswe ukuba babe izinceku nezibonelo, hhayi ukuba izingqongqo namakhosi.—Luka 22:24-26; 2 Korinte 1:24.
6. Iziphi izici zokuphila kobuKristu esidinga kuzo ukuthobeka?
6 Akubona abadala bodwa okudingeka bathobeke. Ebhalela izinsizwa, okungenzeka ziqhoshe ngezingqondo zazo ezisheshayo nangemizimba yazo enamandla uma kuqhathaniswa nasebekhulile, uPetru wathi: “Bhincani isimo sengqondo sokuthobelana, ngoba uNkulunkulu uyamelana nabazidlayo, kodwa abathobekile ubapha umusa ongafanelwe.” (1 Petru 5:5) Yebo, kubalulekile ukuba wonke umuntu athobeke njengoKristu. Kudinga ukuthobeka ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle, ikakhulukazi lapho abantu benganaki noma benobutha. Kudinga ukuthobeka ukwamukela iseluleko noma ukwenza lula ukuphila kwethu ukuze sandise ingxenye yethu enkonzweni. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kudingeka sithobeke futhi sibe nokholo nesibindi lapho kukhulunywa kabi ngathi, simangalelwa ezinkantolo, noma sishushiswa ngobudlova.—1 Petru 5:6.
7, 8. Iziphi ezinye zezindlela esingahlakulela ngazo ukuthobeka?
7 Umuntu angakunqoba kanjani ukuqhosha aziphathe “ngokuthobeka kwengqondo [ebheka] abanye njengabakhulu” kunaye? (Filipi 2:3) Kudingeka azibheke ngendlela uJehova ambheka ngayo. UJesu wasichaza isimo sengqondo esifanele lapho ethi: “Nani, lapho nenze zonke izinto enabelwe zona, anothi, ‘Siyizinceku ezingelusizo lwalutho. Lokho esikwenzile yilokho obekufanele sikwenze.’” (Luka 17:10) Khumbula, akukho lutho esingalwenza olungalingana nalokho uJesu akwenza. Nokho, uJesu wayethobekile.
8 Ngaphezu kwalokho, singacela uJehova asisize sikwazi ukuzibheka ngendlela efanele. Singathandaza njengomhubi: “Ngifundise ubuhle, ukuba nengqondo nolwazi, ngoba ngibonisé ukholo emiyalweni yakho.” (IHubo 119:66) UJehova uyosisiza sizibheke ngendlela enengqondo nenokulinganisela, futhi uyosibusisa ngenxa yesimo sethu sengqondo sokuthobeka. (IzAga 18:12) UJesu wathi: “Noma ubani oziphakamisayo uyothotshiswa, futhi noma ubani ozithobayo uyophakanyiswa.”—Mathewu 23:12.
Umbono Ofanele Ngokulungile Nokungalungile
9. UJesu wayekubheka kanjani okulungile nokungalungile?
9 Naphezu kokuphila iminyaka engu-33 phakathi kwabantu abangaphelele, uJesu wahlala ‘engenasono.’ (Hebheru 4:15) Eqinisweni, eprofetha ngoMesiya, umhubi wathi: “Ukuthandile ukulunga futhi uyabuzonda ububi.” (IHubo 45:7; Hebheru 1:9) Nakulokhu futhi amaKristu alwela ukulingisa uJesu. Akusikho nje ukuthi ayakwazi okulungile nokungalungile; ayakuzonda okungalungile athanda okulungile. (Amose 5:15) Lokhu kuwasiza akwazi ukulwa nokuthambekela esonweni azalwe nako.—Genesise 8:21; Roma 7:21-25.
10. Uma singaphenduki ekwenzeni “izinto ezimbi,” sibonisa ukuthi sinasiphi isimo sengqondo?
10 UJesu wathi kumFarisi uNikodemu: “Onomkhuba wokwenza izinto ezimbi uyakuzonda ukukhanya futhi akezi ekukhanyeni, ukuze imisebenzi yakhe ingasolwa. Kodwa lowo owenza okuyiqiniso uyeza ekukhanyeni, ukuze imisebenzi yakhe ibonakaliswe njengeyenziwe ngokuvumelana noNkulunkulu.” (Johane 3:20, 21) Cabanga: UJohane wathi uJesu ‘ungukukhanya kweqiniso okunika zonke izinhlobo zabantu ukukhanya.’ (Johane 1:9, 10) Nokho, uJesu wathi uma senza “izinto ezimbi”—izinto ezingalungile, ezingamukeleki kuNkulunkulu—siyobe siyakuzonda ukukhanya. Ungazicabanga uzonda uJesu nezindinganiso zakhe? Kodwa banjalo labo abangaphenduki esonweni. Mhlawumbe bona abazibheki kanjalo izinto, kodwa kusobala ukuthi uJesu uzibheka kanjalo.
Indlela Yokuhlakulela Umbono KaJesu Ngokulungile Nokungalungile
11. Yini ebalulekile ukuze sibe nombono kaJesu ngokulungile nokungalungile?
11 Kudingeka sikwazi kahle okulungile nokungalungile ngokombono kaJehova. Lolo lwazi siluthola kuphela ngokutadisha iZwi likaNkulunkulu, iBhayibheli. Lapho sitadisha iBhayibheli kanjalo, kudingeka sithandaze njengomhubi: “O Jehova, ngazise izindlela zakho; ngifundise imikhondo yakho.” (IHubo 25:4) Nokho, khumbula ukuthi uSathane uyakhohlisa. (2 Korinte 11:14) Angase akufihle okungalungile akwenze kubonakale kulungile kumKristu ongaqaphile. Yingakho kudingeka sizindle ngokujulile ngalokho esikufundayo sisilalelisise iseluleko ‘senceku ethembekileyo neqondayo.’ (Mathewu 24:45-47) Ukutadisha, ukuthandaza nokuzindla ngalokho esikufundayo kuyosisiza sifinyelele ekuvuthweni futhi sibe phakathi kwalabo “okuthe ngokusebenzisa amandla abo okuqonda bawenza aqeqeshelwa ukuhlukanisa kokubili okulungile nokungalungile.” (Hebheru 5:14) Ngaleyo ndlela siyothambekela ekukuzondeni okungalungile sithande okulungile.
12. Isiphi iseluleko seBhayibheli esisisiza ukuba singakwenzi ukungabi namthetho?
12 Uma sikuzonda okungalungile, ngeke sivume ukuba kukhule ezinhliziyweni zethu isifiso sezinto ezingalungile. Ngemva kweminyaka eminingi uJesu afa, umphostoli uJohane wabhala: “Ningalithandi izwe noma izinto ezisezweni. Uma umuntu ethanda izwe, uthando lukaBaba alukho kuye; ngoba konke okusezweni—isifiso senyama nesifiso samehlo nokugabisa ngalokho umuntu aziphilisa ngakho—akuveli kuBaba, kodwa kuvela ezweni.”—1 Johane 2:15, 16.
13, 14. (a) Kungani kuyingozi kumaKristu ukuthanda izinto zezwe? (b) Singakugwema kanjani ukuhlakulela uthando lwezinto ezisezweni?
13 Abanye bangase bathi akuyona yonke into esezweni engalungile. Noma kunjalo, izwe nezinto zalo ezikhangayo lingasiphazamisa kalula ekukhonzeni uJehova. Futhi akukho lutho ezweni oluklanyelwe ukuba lusisondeze kuNkulunkulu. Ngakho sisengozini uma siya ngokuya sithanda izinto ezisezweni, ngisho nalezo zinto ezingezimbi ngokwazo. (1 Thimothewu 6:9, 10) Ngaphandle kwalokho, okuningi okusezweni kubi ngempela futhi kungasonakalisa. Uma sibukela amabhayisikobho noma izinhlelo zethelevishini ezigqamisa ubudlova, ukuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo, noma ukuziphatha okubi ngokobulili, lezo zinto zingase zibonakale zilungile—bese ziyasilinga. Uma sijwayelana nabantu abamgomo wabo oyinhloko ukuthuthukisa indlela yabo yokuphila noma ukwakha amathuba amabhizinisi, nakithi lezo zinto zingaba izona zinto ezibaluleke kakhulu.—Mathewu 6:24; 1 Korinte 15:33.
14 Kanti, uma silithanda iZwi likaJehova, “isifiso senyama nesifiso samehlo nokugabisa ngalokho umuntu aziphilisa ngakho” ngeke kusikhange. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uma sijwayelana nalabo ababeka phambili izithakazelo zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, siyofana nabo, sithande lokho abakuthandayo sigweme lokho abakugwemayo.—IHubo 15:4; IzAga 13:20.
15. Ukuthanda ukulunga nokuzonda ukungabi namthetho kungasiqinisa kanjani njengoba kwenzeka kuJesu?
15 Ukuzonda ukungabi namthetho nokuthanda ukulunga kwamsiza uJesu ukuba agcine amehlo akhe ‘esenjabulweni eyayibekwe phambi kwakhe.’ (Hebheru 12:2) Kungaba njalo nakithi. Siyazi ukuthi “izwe liyadlula, kanjalo nesifiso salo.” Noma ikuphi ukwaneliseka okutholakala kuleli zwe kungokwesikhashana. Kodwa, “lowo owenza intando kaNkulunkulu uhlala kuze kube phakade.” (1 Johane 2:17) Ngenxa yokuthi uJesu wenza intando kaNkulunkulu, wénza ukuba isintu sithole ukuphila okuphakade. (1 Johane 5:13) Kwangathi sonke singamlingisa sizuze ebuqothweni bakhe.
Ukubhekana Noshushiso
16. Kungani uJesu anxusa abalandeli bakhe ukuba bathandane?
16 UJesu waveza enye indlela abafundi bakhe ababeyomlingisa ngayo, wathi: “Yilo umyalo wami, ukuba nithandane njengoba nje nami nginithandile.” (Johane 15:12, 13, 17) Ziningi izizathu ezenza amaKristu athande abafowabo. Ngalesi sikhathi, uJesu wayecabanga ikakhulu ngenzondo ababezoyithola ezweni. Wathi: “Uma izwe linizonda, niyazi ukuthi liye lazonda mina ngaphambi kokuba lizonde nina. . . . Inceku ayinkulu kunenkosi yayo. Uma beye bashushisa mina, bayonishushisa nani.” (Johane 15:18, 20) Yebo, amaKristu afana noJesu ngisho nangokushushiswa. Kudingeka akhe isibopho sothando esiqinile ukuze amelane naleyo nzondo.
17. Kungani izwe liwazonda amaKristu eqiniso?
17 Izwe lalizowazondelani amaKristu? Ngenxa yokuthi, njengoJesu, ‘awayona ingxenye yezwe.’ (Johane 17:14, 16) Awathathi hlangothi ezindabeni zempi nezombusazwe, futhi agcina izimiso zeBhayibheli ngokuhlonipha ubungcwele bokuphila nangokugcina izimiso eziphakeme zokuziphatha. (IzEnzo 15:28, 29; 1 Korinte 6:9-11) Imigomo yawo eyinhloko ingokomoya, akuyona eyezinto ezibonakalayo. Aphila ezweni, kodwa njengoba uPawulu abhala, ‘awalisebenzisi ngokugcwele.’ (1 Korinte 7:31) Yiqiniso, abanye baye bazincoma izindinganiso eziphakeme zoFakazi BakaJehova. Kodwa oFakazi BakaJehova abazehlisi izindinganiso zabo ukuze batuswe noma bamukeleke kwabanye. Ngenxa yalokho, iningi ezweni alibaqondi, futhi abaningi bayabazonda.
18, 19. Elandela isibonelo sikaJesu, amaKristu abhekana kanjani nokuphikiswa noshushiso?
18 Abaphostoli bakaJesu bayibona inzondo yezwe ejulile lapho uJesu eboshwa futhi ebulawa, bayibona nendlela uJesu ayisingatha ngayo leyo nzondo. Abaphikisi bakaJesu benkolo bafika ensimini yaseGetsemane bezombopha. UPetru wazama ukumvikela ngenkemba, kodwa uJesu wathi kuPetru: “Buyisela inkemba yakho endaweni yayo, ngoba bonke abaphatha inkemba bayobhubha ngenkemba.” (Mathewu 26:52; Luka 22:50, 51) Ezikhathini zangaphambili, ama-Israyeli alwa nezitha zawo ngenkemba. Kodwa manje izinto zase zihlukile. UMbuso kaNkulunkulu ‘wawungeyona ingxenye yaleli zwe’ futhi kwakungekho mingcele yesizwe okudingeka ivikelwe. (Johane 18:36) Ngokushesha uPetru wayezoba ingxenye yesizwe esingokomoya, esimalungu aso ayezoba izakhamuzi zasezulwini. (Galathiya 6:16; Filipi 3:20, 21) Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, abalandeli bakaJesu babeyosingatha inzondo noshushiso ngendlela uJesu akusingatha ngayo—ngesibindi, nokho ngokuthula. Ngesibindi babezoshiya izinto ezandleni zikaJehova bathembele kuye ukuthi uzobanika amandla okukhuthazela.—Luka 22:42.
19 Ngemva kweminyaka, uPetru wabhala: “[UKristu] wahlupheka ngenxa yenu, enishiyela isibonelo sokuba nilandele izinyathelo zakhe eduze. . . . Lapho ethukwa, akaphindiselanga ngokuthuka. Lapho ehlupheka, akasongelanga, kodwa waqhubeka ezibeka kulowo owahlulela ngokulunga.” (1 Petru 2:21-23) Njengoba nje uJesu axwayisa, amaKristu aye ashushiswa ngonya sonke lesi sikhathi. Ekhulwini lokuqala nasesikhathini sethu, aye alandela isibonelo sikaJesu azakhela umlando omuhle wokukhuthazela ngokwethembeka, ebonisa ukuthi angabagcini bobuqotho abanokuthula. (IsAmbulo 2:9, 10) Kwangathi sonke ngabanye singenza okufanayo lapho sibhekene nezimo ezinjalo.—2 Thimothewu 3:12.
“Gqokani INkosi UJesu Kristu”
20-22. AmaKristu ‘ayigqoka’ ngayiphi indlela “iNkosi uJesu Kristu”?
20 UPawulu wabhalela ibandla laseRoma: “Gqokani iNkosi uJesu Kristu, futhi ningazihleleli kusengaphambili izifiso zenyama.” (Roma 13:14) AmaKristu agqoka uJesu njengengubo. Alwela ukulingisa izimfanelo nezenzo zakhe kangangokuthi aba umfanekiso—yize kungongaphelele—weNkosi yawo.—1 Thesalonika 1:6.
21 Singaphumelela ‘ukugqoka iNkosi uJesu Kristu’ uma sijwayelana nokuphila kweNkosi futhi silwela ukuphila njengayo. Silingisa ukuthobeka kwayo, uthando lwayo ngokulunga, inzondo yayo ngokungalungi, uthando lwayo ngabafowabo, ukungabi kwayo ingxenye yezwe nokukhuthazelela kwayo ukuhlupheka ngesineke. ‘Asizihleleli kusengaphambili izifiso zenyama’—okungukuthi, akuyona injongo yethu eyinhloko ekuphileni ukufinyelela imigomo yezwe noma ukwanelisa izifiso zenyama. Kunalokho, lapho senza izinqumo noma sisingatha izinkinga, sibuza ukuthi: ‘UJesu ubengenzani esimweni esinje? Yini abengathanda ukuba ngiyenze?’
22 Okokugcina, silingisa uJesu ngokuba matasa ‘sishumayela izindaba ezinhle.’ (Mathewu 4:23; 1 Korinte 15:58) Nangaleyo ndlela futhi, amaKristu alandela isibonelo uJesu asibeka, futhi isihloko esilandelayo sizokhuluma ngokuthi akwenza kanjani lokho.
Ungachaza?
• Kungani kubalulekile ukuba amaKristu athobeke?
• Singawuhlakulela kanjani umbono ofanele ngokulungile nokungalungile?
• AmaKristu amlingisa ngayiphi indlela uJesu ekusingatheni ukuphikiswa nokushushiswa?
• Kungenzeka kanjani ukuba umuntu ‘agqoke iNkosi uJesu Kristu’?
[Isithombe ekhasini 7]
UJesu wabeka isibonelo esiphelele sokuthobeka
[Isithombe ekhasini 8]
Zonke izici zokuphila komKristu, kuhlanganise nokushumayela, zidinga ukuthobeka
[Isithombe ekhasini 9]
USathane angenza ukuzijabulisa okungafanele kubonakale kulungile kumKristu
[Isithombe ekhasini 10]
Uthando lwabafowethu luyosiqinisa simelane nokuphikiswa