“Ningabangane Bami”
“Ningabangane bami uma nenza lokho enginiyala ngakho.”—JOH. 15:14.
1, 2. (a) Abangane bakaJesu babenaziphi izizinda ezihlukahlukene? (b) Kungani kubalulekile ukuba sibe abangane bakaJesu?
UJESU uhlezi ekamelweni eliphezulu namadoda anezizinda ezihlukahlukene. UPetru nomfowabo u-Andreya babengabadobi. UMathewu wayengumthelisi—umsebenzi owawenyanywa amaJuda. Abanye, njengoJakobe noJohane kungenzeka ukuthi bazi uJesu besengabafana. Kanti, abanye, njengoNathanayeli, kungenzeka ukuthi babeneminyaka embalwa kuphela bemazi. (Joh. 1:43-50) Kodwa wonke la madoda ayekhona kulelo Phasika elibalulekile eJerusalema ayeqiniseka ngokuthi uJesu wayenguMesiya othenjisiwe, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu ophilayo. (Joh. 6:68, 69) Ngokuqinisekile kumelwe ukuba kwawajabulisa ukumuzwa ethi kuwo: “Nginibizé ngokuthi ningabangane, ngoba zonke izinto engizizwe kuBaba nginazisile zona.”—Joh. 15:15.
2 Namuhla lawo mazwi uJesu awasho kubaphostoli bakhe abathembekile asebenza ngokuyinhloko kuwo wonke amaKristu agcotshiwe futhi ngomqondo obanzi asebenza nakubangane bawo, ‘bezinye izimvu.’ (Joh. 10:16) Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sinasiphi isizinda, singaba nelungelo lokuba abangane bakaJesu. Ukuba abangane bakhe kuyinto ebaluleke kunazo zonke ngoba kubuye kusenze sibe abangane bakaJehova. Empeleni, akunakwenzeka ukuba sisondele kuJehova singazange siqale sisondele kuKristu. (Funda uJohane 14:6, 21.) Ngakho, yini okumelwe siyenze ukuze sibe abangane bakaJesu futhi sihlale siyibo? Ngaphambi kokuba sixoxe ngale ndaba ebalulekile, ake sihlole isibonelo sikaJesu ngokwakhe sokuba umngane omuhle bese sibona lokho esingakufunda endleleni abafundi bakhe abasabela ngayo kuye.
Isibonelo SikaJesu Sokuba Umngane Omuhle
3. UJesu wayaziwa ngani?
3 Inkosi ehlakaniphile, uSolomoni, yabhala: “Baningi abangane bomuntu ocebile.” (IzAga 14:20) Lawo mazwi afingqa ukuthambekela kwabantu abangaphelele kokwakha ubungane obusekelwe kulokho abangakuthola kunakulokho abangakupha. UJesu akazange abonise lobo buthakathaka. Akazange athonywe isimo somuntu esingokwezimali noma isikhundla sakhe emphakathini. Yiqiniso, uJesu wamthanda umbusi osemusha ocebile futhi wammema ukuba abe umlandeli wakhe. Nokho, uJesu wayala leyo nsizwa ukuba ithengise ngezinto eyayinazo futhi iphe abampofu. (Marku 10:17-22; Luka 18:18, 23) UJesu wayengaziwa njengomuntu ongumngane wabantu abacebile nabadumile, kodwa wayaziwa ngokuba umngane wabantu abaphansi nabadelelekile.—Math. 11:19.
4. Kungani kungase kuthiwe abangane bakaJesu babenamaphutha njengabantu bonke?
4 Abangane bakaJesu babenamaphutha njengabantu bonke. Ngesinye isikhathi uPetru wahluleka ukubheka izinto ngendlela kaNkulunkulu. (Math. 16:21-23) UJakobe noJohane babonisa umoya wokuhaha lapho becela uJesu ukuba abanike izikhundla eziphambili eMbusweni. Lokho kwabathukuthelisa abanye abaphostoli, futhi phakathi kwabo kwakulokhu kunempikiswano yokuthi ubani owayemkhulu. Nokho, uJesu wazama ngesineke ukulungisa ukucabanga kwabangane bakhe futhi akazange asheshe abathukuthelele.—Math. 20:20-28.
5, 6. (a) Kungani uJesu ahlala engumngane neningi labaphostoli bakhe? (b) Kungani uJesu abuqeda ubungane bakhe noJuda?
5 Akukhona ukuthi uJesu wahlala engumngane nala madoda angaphelele ngoba wayeyekelela kakhulu noma wayengakuboni ukungapheleli kwawo. Kunalokho, wakhetha ukugxila ezinhlosweni nasezimfanelweni zawo ezinhle. Ngokwesibonelo, uPetru, uJakobe noJohane balala kunokuba basekele uJesu phakathi nesikhathi esasinzima kakhulu kuye. Ngokungangabazeki uJesu wadumala ngesenzo sabo. Noma kunjalo, wabona ukuthi babengahlose bubi, wathi: “Yebo, umoya uyalangazela, kodwa inyama ibuthakathaka.”—Math. 26:41.
6 Ngokuphambene, uJesu wabuqeda ubungane bakhe noJuda Iskariyothe. Ngisho noma uJuda aqhubeka ezishaya sengathi ungumngane wakhe, uJesu wabona ukuthi lo muntu owayengumngane wakhe wayesevumele ukuba inhliziyo yakhe ibe yimbi. Ngenxa yokuthi uJuda wayesengumngane wezwe, wayesezenze isitha sikaNkulunkulu. (Jak. 4:4) Ngakho-ke, uJesu wayesemxoshile lapho etshela abaphostoli bakhe abathembekile abangu-11 ukuthi bangabangane bakhe.—Joh. 13:21-35.
7, 8. UJesu wababonisa kanjani abangane bakhe ukuthi uyabathanda?
7 UJesu akazange agxile emaphutheni abangane bakhe abaqotho futhi wenza okwakuyobazuzisa kakhulu. Ngokwesibonelo, wathandazela ukuba uYise abavikele lapho bevivinywa. (Funda uJohane 17:11.) UJesu wayezicabangela izidingo zabo ezingokwenyama. (Marku 6:30-32) Wayenesithakazelo hhayi nje ekubatsheleni lokho yena ayekucabanga kodwa nasekuzweni nasekuqondeni lokho bona ababekucabanga nendlela ababezizwa ngayo.—Math. 16:13-16; 17:24-26.
8 UJesu wabaphilela futhi wabafela abangane bakhe. Yiqiniso, wayazi ukuthi kumelwe anikele ngokuphila kwakhe njengemfuneko engokomthetho ukuze ahlangabezane nendinganiso kaYise yobulungisa. (Math. 26:27, 28; Heb. 9:22, 28) Kodwa wanikela ngokuphila kwakhe njengesibonakaliso sothando. Yingakho athi: “Akekho onothando olukhulu kunalolu, ukuba umuntu anikele umphefumulo wakhe ngenxa yabangane bakhe.”—Joh. 15:13.
Ukuba Abangane BakaJesu Kwabathinta Kanjani Abafundi?
9, 10. Ukuba kukaJesu nesandla esivulekile kwabathinta kanjani abantu?
9 UJesu waphana ngesikhathi, ngothando nangezinto ezibonakalayo. Ngenxa yalokho, abantu badonseleka kuye futhi nabo bakujabulela ukumupha izinto. (Luka 8:1-3) Ekhuluma ngokuhlangenwe nakho kwakhe, uJesu wayengase athi: “Kwenzeni umkhuba ukupha, khona-ke abantu bayonipha. Bayothela emathangeni enu isilinganiso esihle, esigxishiwe, esigxishisisiwe nesichichimayo. Ngoba isilinganiso enilinganisa ngaso, nani bayonilinganisela ngaso.”—Luka 6:38.
10 Yiqiniso, abanye bazama ukuzenza abangane bakaJesu ngenxa nje yalokho ababengase bakuthole kuye. Laba bangane-mbumbulu bamshiya uJesu ngemva kokuqonda kabi okuthile akusho. Kunokuba bamethembe ukuthi wayengaqonde bubi, bavele bafinyelela eziphethweni ezingalungile, bamshiya. Abaphostoli bona baba qotho kuye. Ubungane babo noKristu babuvame ukuvivinywa, kodwa benza konke ababengakwenza ukuze bamsekele ebuhleni nasebubini. (Funda uJohane 6:26, 56, 60, 66-68.) Ngobusuku bangaphambi kokufa kwakhe, uJesu wabatshela indlela ayebazisa ngayo laba bangane bakhe, wathi: “Nina aningishiyanga ekulingweni kwami.”—Luka 22:28.
11, 12. UJesu wabaqinisekisa ngani abafundi, futhi basabela kanjani?
11 Ngokushesha nje ngemva kokuba uJesu ebancomile abafundi bakhe ngobuqotho babo, wona la madoda amshiya. Avumela ukuqhutshwa ukwesaba abantu okwesikhashana kunothando lwawo ngoKristu. Nakulokhu, uJesu wawathethelela. Ngemva kokufa nokuvuswa kwakhe, wabonakala kuwo futhi wawaqinisekisa ngokuthi wayesawathanda. Ngaphezu kwalokho, wawaphathisa umsebenzi ongcwele—ukwenza “abantu bazo zonke izizwe” babe abafundi nokuba ofakazi bakhe “ezingxenyeni ezikude kakhulu zomhlaba.” (Math. 28:19; IzE. 1:8) Abafundi basabela kanjani?
12 Basakaza isigijimi soMbuso ngezinhliziyo nangemiphefumulo yabo yonke. Besekelwa umoya ongcwele kaJehova, baligcwalisa ngokushesha iJerusalema ngemfundiso yabo. (IzE. 5:27-29) Ngisho nalapho besongelwa ngokubulawa abazange bayeke ukulalela umyalo kaJesu wokwenza abafundi. Ngemva kwamashumi ambalwa nje eminyaka uJesu ebanike lo myalo, umphostoli uPawulu wayengabhala ukuthi izindaba ezinhle zase zishunyayelwe “kuyo yonke indalo engaphansi kwezulu.” (Kol. 1:23) Ngempela, laba bafundi babonisa ukuthi babebazisa ubungane babo noJesu!
13. Abafundi bakaJesu bavumela izimfundiso zakhe ukuba zibathinte kanjani?
13 Labo ababeba abafundi babevumela ukuba izimfundiso zikaJesu zithinte nokuphila kwabo. Kwabaningi, lokhu kwakusho ukwenza izinguquko ezinkulu ekuziphatheni nasebuntwini babo. Abanye abafundi abasha babeke baba ngongqingili, iziphingi, izidakwa noma amasela. (1 Kor. 6:9-11) Abanye kwadingeka bashintshe isimo sabo sengqondo ngabantu bezinye izinhlanga. (IzE. 10:25-28) Noma kunjalo, bamlalela uJesu. Balahla ubuntu babo obudala, bagqoka obusha. (Efe. 4:20-24) Bawazi kangcono “umqondo kaKristu,” okwabenza baqonda futhi balingisa indlela yakhe yokucabanga neyokwenza.—1 Kor. 2:16.
Ukuba Umngane KaKristu Namuhla
14. Yini uJesu athembisa ukuyenza phakathi ‘nesiphelo sesimiso sezinto’?
14 Abaningi kulawo maKristu ekhulu lokuqala babemazi mathupha uJesu noma bembone ngemva kokuvuswa kwakhe. Ngokusobala thina asilitholanga lelo lungelo. Ngakho, singaba kanjani abangane bakaKristu? Enye indlela iwukulalela isiqondiso esivela esigabeni senceku ethembekileyo neqondayo, esakhiwa abafowabo bakaJesu abagcotshwe ngomoya abasesemhlabeni. UJesu wathembisa ukuthi phakathi ‘nesiphelo sesimiso sezinto,’ wayeyomisa le nceku ‘phezu kwakho konke okungokwakhe.’ (Math. 24:3, 45-47) Namuhla, uquqaba lwalabo abafuna ukuba abangane bakaKristu aluwona amalungu alesi sigaba senceku. Indlela olusabela ngayo esiqondisweni olusithola esigabeni senceku ethembekileyo ibuthinta kanjani ubungane balo noKristu?
15. Yini enquma ukuthi umuntu uzobhekwa njengemvu noma njengembuzi?
15 Funda uMathewu 25:31-40. UJesu wabiza labo ababeyoba isigaba senceku ethembekileyo ngokuthi abafowabo. Emfanekisweni wokuhlukaniswa kwezimvu ezimbuzini, uJesu usho ngokucacile ukuthi ubheka indlela esiphatha ngayo abafowabo njengokungathi sikwenza kuye. Empeleni, wathi okwakuyonquma ukuthi umuntu uyimvu noma uyimbuzi yindlela aphathe ngayo ngisho ‘nomncane kunabo bonke walaba bafowabo.’ Ngakho-ke, indlela eyinhloko labo abanethemba lasemhlabeni ababonisa ngayo isifiso sokuba abangane bakaKristu iwukusekela lesi sigaba senceku ethembekileyo.
16, 17. Singabonisa kanjani ukuthi singabangane babafowabo bakaKristu?
16 Uma unethemba lokuphila emhlabeni lapho sekubusa uMbuso kaNkulunkulu, ungabonisa kanjani ukuthi ungumngane wabafowabo bakaKristu? Ake sixoxe ngezindlela ezintathu nje. Eyokuqala, ngokuhlanganyela emsebenzini wokushumayela ngenhliziyo yonke. UKristu wayala abafowabo ukuba bashumayele izindaba ezinhle emhlabeni wonke. (Math. 24:14) Nokho, kwakuyoba nzima ngabafowabo bakaKristu abasasele emhlabeni namuhla ukufeza lo mthwalo wemfanelo ngaphandle kosizo lwabangane babo bezinye izimvu. Ngempela, isikhathi ngasinye lapho abezinye izimvu behlanganyela emsebenzini wokushumayela, basiza abafowabo bakaKristu ukuba bafeze ukuthunywa kwabo okungcwele. NjengoKristu, isigaba senceku ethembekileyo neqondayo sisazisa kakhulu lesi senzo sobungane.
17 Indlela yesibili labo bezinye izimvu abangasiza ngayo abafowabo bakaKristu iwukusekela umsebenzi wokushumayela ngezimali. UJesu wakhuthaza abalandeli bakhe ukuba bazenzele abangane “ngengcebo engalungile.” (Luka 16:9) Lokhu akusho ukuthi singabuthenga ubungane noJesu noma noJehova. Kunalokho, ngokusebenzisa izinto zethu ezibonakalayo ukuze sisekele izithakazelo zoMbuso, sibonisa ubungane nothando lwethu, hhayi ngezwi kuphela, kodwa “ngesenzo nangeqiniso.” (1 Joh. 3:16-18) Sisekela umsebenzi woMbuso ngokwezimali lapho sihlanganyela emsebenzini wokushumayela, lapho sinikela ngemali yokwakha nokunakekela izindawo zethu zokuhlanganyela nalapho sinikelela umsebenzi wokushumayela emhlabeni wonke. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi imali esinikela ngayo incane noma inkulu, ngokuqinisekile uJehova noJesu bayakwazisa lapho sipha ngokwenama.—2 Kor. 9:7.
18. Kungani kufanele silalele isiqondiso esisekelwe eBhayibhelini esisinikezwa abadala ebandleni?
18 Indlela yesithathu sonke esibonisa ngayo ukuthi singabangane bakaKristu iwukulalela isiqondiso esisinikezwa abadala bebandla. La madoda amiswe umoya ongcwele ngaphansi kokuqondisa kukaKristu. (Efe. 5:23) Umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “Lalelani abaholayo phakathi kwenu futhi nizithobe.” (Heb. 13:17) Ngezinye izikhathi, singase sikuthole kuyinselele ukulalela isiqondiso esisekelwe eBhayibhelini esisinikezwa abadala ebandleni. Cishe siyawazi amaphutha abo, futhi lokhu kungase kubangele ukuba sisibheke ngombono ongafanele iseluleko sabo. Noma kunjalo, uKristu, iNhloko yebandla, uyakujabulela ukusebenzisa la madoda angaphelele. Ngakho-ke, indlela esisabela ngayo egunyeni lawo ibuthinta ngokuqondile ubungane bethu noKristu. Lapho singagxili emaphutheni abadala futhi silandela ngenjabulo isiqondiso sabo, sibonisa ukuthi sithanda uKristu.
Lapho Singathola Khona Abangane Abahle
19, 20. Yini esingayithola ebandleni, futhi sizoxoxa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?
19 UJesu uyaqhubeka esinakekela ngabelusi abanothando abasengamele nangokusinikeza omama, abafowethu nodadewethu abangokomoya ngaphakathi ebandleni. (Funda uMarku 10:29, 30.) Lapho uqala ukuhlanganyela nenhlangano kaJehova, izihlobo zakho zazizwa kanjani? Sethemba ukuthi zayisekela imizamo yakho yokusondela kuNkulunkulu nakuKristu. Kodwa uJesu waxwayisa ngokuthi ngezinye izikhathi “izitha zomuntu kuyoba abantu bendlu yakubo.” (Math. 10:36) Yeka ukuthi kududuza kanjani ukwazi ukuthi ebandleni singathola abangane abayonamathela kakhulu kunomfowethu wenyama!—IzAga 18:24.
20 Imikhonzo kaPawulu ekuphetheni kwencwadi yakhe ayeyibhalele ibandla laseRoma ibonisa ukuthi wayenabangane abaningi. (Roma 16:8-16) Umphostoli uJohane waphetha incwadi yakhe yesithathu ngala mazwi: “Ngikhonzele kubangane ngamagama.” (3 Joh. 14) Kusobala ukuthi naye waba nabangane beminyaka. Singasilingisa kanjani isibonelo sikaJesu nesabafundi bakhe bokuqala sokwakha nokulondoloza ubungane obuhle nabafowethu nodadewethu abangokomoya? Isihloko esilandelayo sizophendula lo mbuzo.
Ungaphendula Kanjani?
• Isiphi isibonelo uJesu asibekela sona ngokuba umngane omuhle?
• Abafundi bakaJesu basabela kanjani ebunganini bakhe?
• Singabonisa kanjani ukuthi singabangane bakaKristu?
[Isithombe ekhasini 14]
UJesu wayefisa ukwazi ukuthi abangane bakhe babecabangani nokuthi bazizwa kanjani
[Izithombe ekhasini 16]
Singabonisa kanjani ukuthi sifisa ukuba abangane bakaKristu?