Incwadi YeBhayibheli Yama-43—UJohane

Umlobi: Umphostoli uJohane

Yalotshelwa: E-Efesu noma eduze nakhona

Ukuloba Kwaphela: Cishe ngo-98 C.E.

Isikhathi Esihlanganisiwe: Ngemva kwesandulelo, 29–33 C.E.

 1. ImiBhalo ibonisani ngobungane obuseduze bukaJohane noJesu?

IMIBHALO egciniwe yeVangeli likaMathewu, uMarku, noLuka yayisineminyaka engaphezu kwengu-30 isakazwa futhi iyigugu kumaKristu ekhulu lokuqala leminyaka njengezincwadi zabantu ababephefumlelwe umoya ongcwele. Manje, njengoba ukuphela kwekhulu leminyaka kwakusondela futhi inani lalabo ababenoJesu lehla, kungenzeka ukuthi kwaphakama lombuzo, Ingabe kwakusekhona okwakusazoshiwo? Ingabe wayesekhona umuntu, ngezinkumbulo zakhe siqu, owayenganezela imininingwane eyigugu ngenkonzo kaJesu? Yebo, wayekhona. UJohane owayesegugile wayebusiswe ngokukhethekile ebunganeni bakhe noJesu. Ngokusobala wayephakathi kwabokuqala babafundi bakaJohane uMbhapathizi abethulwa eWundlwini likaNkulunkulu futhi engomunye wabokuqala abane abamenywa yiNkosi ukuba basebenze nayo isikhathi esigcwele enkonzweni. (Joh. 1:​35-39; Marku 1:​16-20) Waqhubeka esebuhlotsheni obuseduze noJesu kuyo yonke inkonzo yakhe futhi wayengumfundi “uJesu amthandayo” owayencike esifubeni sikaJesu ngePhasika lokugcina. (Joh. 13:​23; Math. 17:⁠1; Marku 5:​37; 14:​33) Wayekhona esigamekweni esidabukisa inhliziyo sokubulala, lapho uJesu amphathisa khona ukuba anakekele unina ongokwenyama, futhi nguye owagijima washiya uPetru lapho bephuthuma ethuneni ukuyohlola umbiko wokuthi uJesu wayevukile.​—⁠Joh. 19:​26, 27; 20:​2, 3.

 2. UJohane wahlonyiswa futhi wanikezwa kanjani amandla okuloba iVangeli lakhe, futhi ngayiphi injongo?

² Ecetshiswe iminyaka engaba ngu-70 enkonzweni yenkuthalo futhi eshukunyiswe imibono nokuzindla ngokuboshwa kwakhe kwakamuva eyedwa esiqhingini sasePhatmose, uJohane wayehlonyiswe kahle ukuba alobe ngezinto ayesenesikhathi eside ezigcine enhliziyweni yakhe. Manje umoya ongcwele wanika umqondo wakhe amandla okukhumbula nokuloba amaningi alawomazwi ayigugu, anikeza ukuphila ukuze ngamunye ofundayo ‘akholwe ukuthi uJesu unguKristu, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu, nokuba ngokukholwa, abe-nokuphila ngegama likaJesu.’​—⁠20:⁠31.

 3, 4. Yibuphi ubufakazi bangaphandle nobukulo (a) bokuba kwaleliVangeli ingxenye yohlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli, (b) nokuba kukaJohane umlobi walo?

³ AmaKristu asekuqaleni kwekhulu lesibili leminyaka amukela uJohane njengomlobi walokhu kulandisa futhi athatha lencwadi njengengxenye engenakungatshazwa yohlu lwezincwadi zemiBhalo ephefumlelwe. UClement waseAlexandria, uIrenaeus, uTertullian, no-Origen, bonke abaphila ekupheleni kwekhulu lesibili nasekuqaleni kwekhulu lesithathu leminyaka, bayakufakazela ukuthi uJohane owayiloba. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ubufakazi obuningi obukuyo bokuthi uJohane owayiloba butholakala encwadini ngokwayo. Ngokusobala umlobi wayengumJuda futhi wayejwayelene kahle namasiko amaJuda nezwe lawo. (2:⁠6; 4:⁠5; 5:⁠2; 10:​22, 23) Khona kanye ukwaziswa okujulile okukulokhu kulandisa kubonisa ukuthi wayengeyena nje umphostoli kodwa wayengomunye wabathathu ababesondelene kakhulu​—⁠uPetru, uJakobe, uJohane⁠—​ababehamba noJesu ngezikhathi ezikhethekile. (Math. 17:⁠1; Marku 5:​37; 14:​33) Kulaba, akunakuba uJakobe (indodana kaZebedewu) ngoba wabulawelwa ukholo uHerode Agripha I cishe ngo-44 C.E., esikhathini eside ngaphambi kokuba lencwadi ilotshwe. (IzE. 12:⁠2) Akunakuba uPetru ngoba uthintwa kanye nomlobi kuJohane 21:​20-⁠24.

⁴ Kulamavesi okugcina, kubhekiselwa kumlobi ngokuthi umfundi “uJesu amthandayo,” lenkulumo kanye nezinye ezifana nayo isetshenziswa kaningi kulombhalo, nakuba igama likamphostoli uJohane lingathintwa nakanye. UJesu lapha ucashunwa ethi ngaye: “Uma ngithanda ukuba ahlale ngize ngifike, kuyini kuwe na?” (Joh. 21:​20, 22) Lokhu kusikisela ukuthi umfundi okubhekiselwe kuye wayeyophila isikhathi eside kunoPetru nabanye abaphostoli. Konke lokhu kufanela umphostoli uJohane. Kuyathakazelisa ukuthi uJohane, ngemva kokuba enikezwe umbono wesAmbulo wokuza kukaJesu, uphetha lesosiprofetho esiphawulekayo ngalamazwi: “Amen. Woza, Nkosi Jesu!”​—⁠IsAm. 22:⁠20.

 5. Kukholelwa ukuthi uJohane waliloba nini iVangeli lakhe?

⁵ Nakuba izincwadi zikaJohane ngokwazo zingakunikezi ukwaziswa okuthé ngqo kulendaba, kunenkolelo evamile yokuthi uJohane waloba iVangeli lakhe ngemva kokubuya kwakhe ekudingisweni esiqhingini sasePhatmose. (IsAm. 1:⁠9) Umbusi wamaRoma uNerva, wango-96-98 C.E., wabuyisa abaningi ababedingiswe ekupheleni kokubusa komanduleli wakhe, uDomitian. Ngemva kokuloba iVangeli lakhe, cishe ngo-98 C.E., kunenkolelo yokuthi uJohane wafa ngokuthula e-Efesu ngonyaka wesithathu woMbusi uTrajan, ngo-100 C.E.

 6. Yibuphi ubufakazi obubonisa ukuthi iVangeli likaJohane lalotshelwa ngaphandle kwasePalestina, e-Efesu noma eduze nakhona?

⁶ Ngokuphathelene ne-Efesu noma amaphethelo ayo njengendawo eyalotshelwa kuyo, isazi-mlando uEusebius (owaphila cishe ngo-260-342 C.E.) ucaphuna uIrenaeus ethi: “UJohane, umfundi weNkosi, owancika ngisho nasesifubeni sayo, yena wabhala futhi nevangeli, lapho ehlala e-Efesu eAsia.”a Ukuthi lencwadi yalotshelwa ngaphandle kwasePalestina kusekelwa ukubhekisela kwayo kaningi kubaphikisi bakaJesu ngegama elivamile elithi, “abaJuda,” kunelithi “abaFarisi,” “abapristi abakhulu,” namanye. (Joh. 1:​19; 12:⁠9) Futhi, uLwandle LwaseGalile luchazwa ngegama lalo lesiRoma elithi, uLwandle LwaseTiberiya. (6:⁠1; 21:⁠1) Ngenxa yabangemaJuda, uJohane unikeza izincazelo eziwusizo zemikhosi yamaJuda. (6:⁠4; 7:⁠2; 11:​55) Indawo adingiselwa kuyo, iPhatmose, yayiseduze ne-Efesu, futhi ukujwayelana kwakhe ne-Efesu, kanye namanye amabandla aseAsia Minor, kuboniswa isAmbulo izahluko 2 no-⁠3.

 7. Ibaluleke ngani iPapyrus Rylands 457?

⁷ Okufakazela ubuqiniso beVangeli LikaJohane yimibhalo yesandla ebalulekile eyatholakala ekhulwini lama-20 leminyaka. Omunye walena ucezu lweVangeli likaJohane olwatholakala eGibithe, manje olwaziwa ngokuthi iPapyrus Rylands 457 (P⁵²), oluqukethe uJohane 18:​31-33, 37, 38, futhi olulondolozwe eJohn Rylands Library, eManchester, eNgilandi.b Endabeni yokufakazela kwalo inkolelo yokuloba kukaJohane ekupheleni kwekhulu lokuqala leminyaka, uSir Frederic Kenyon ongasekho wathi encwadini yakhe ethi The Bible and Modern Scholarship, ka-1949, ikhasi 21: “Ngakho-ke nakuba luluncane kangaka, lwanele ukubonisa ukuthi umbhalo wesandla waleliVangeli wawususakazekile, ngokunokwenzeka esifundazweni saseGibithe lapho watholakala khona, cishe ngo-A.D. 130-150. Uma sivumela ngisho nesikhathi esincane sokusakazeka kwalencwadi kusuka endaweni eyadabuka kuyo, lokhu kuyohlehlisa usuku lokulotshwa kwayo lube seduze kakhulu nosuku olwamukelwayo eshumini lokugcina lekhulu lokuqala leminyaka kangangokuthi asisekho isizathu sokungabaza ubuqiniso balenkolelo.”

 8. (a) Yini ephawulekayo ngesethulo seVangeli likaJohane? (b) Yibuphi ubufakazi elibunikezayo bokuthi inkonzo kaJesu yathatha iminyaka emithathu nengxenye?

⁸ IVangeli likaJohane liphawuleka ngesethulo salo, esembula uLizwi, ‘ekuqaleni owayekuNkulunkulu,’ njengaLowo okwavela ngaye konke. (1:⁠2) Ngemva kokubenza baziwe ubuhlobo obuyigugu phakathi kukaYise neNdodana, uJohane ungena ekuvezeni ngobuciko imisebenzi nezinkulumo zikaJesu, ikakhulukazi ngombono wothando olujulile oluzihlanganisa ngobunye zonke izinto ezisohlelweni olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu. Lokhu kulandisa ngokuphila kukaJesu kwasemhlabeni kuhlanganisa inkathi ka-29-33 C.E., futhi kuyaqikelela ukukhuluma ngamaPhasika amane uJesu aya kuwo phakathi nenkonzo yakhe, ngaleyondlela kunikeza obunye ubufakazi bokuthi inkonzo yakhe yathatha iminyaka emithathu nengxenye. Amathathu alamaPhasika agaguliwe. (2:​13; 6:⁠4; 12:⁠1; 13:⁠1) Elinye lawo kubhekiselwa kulo ngokuthi “umkhosi wabaJuda,” kodwa umongo uveza ukuthi lalingemva nje kokuba uJesu ethé “izinyanga zisezine kufike ukuvuna,” ngaleyondlela ebonisa ukuthi lomkhosi wawungowePhasika, elalenziwa ngasekuqaleni kokuvuna.​—⁠4:​35; 5:⁠1.c

 9. Yini ebonisa ukuthi iVangeli likaJohane liyagcwalisela, futhi nokho ingabe ligcwalisa yonke imininingwane yenkonzo kaJesu?

⁹ Izindaba ezinhle “ngokukaJohane” ikakhulukazi ziyagcwalisela; amaphesenti angu-92 awukwaziswa okusha okungahlanganiswanga kwamanye amaVangeli amathathu. Noma kunjalo, uJohane uphetha ngalamazwi: “Kukhona nezinye izinto eziningi azenza uJesu; uma zilotshiwe zona ngazinye, ngithi nezwe lonke lingezanele izincwadi ezingalotshwa.”​—⁠21:⁠25.

OKUQUKETHWE INCWADI KAJOHANE

10. UJohane uthini ‘ngoLizwi’?

¹⁰ Isandulelo: Ukwethula “uLizwi” (1:​1-18). Ngobulula obuhle, uJohane uphawula ukuthi ekuqaleni “uLizwi wayekuNkulunkulu,” ukuthi ukuphila ngokwakho kwakukuye, ukuthi waba “ukukhanya kwabantu,” nokuthi uJohane (uMbhapathizi) wafakaza ngaye. (1:​1, 4) Ukukhanya kwakusezweni, kodwa izwe alimazanga. Labo abamamukela baba abantwana bakaNkulunkulu, bazalwa nguNkulunkulu. Njengoba nje uMthetho wanikezwa ngoMose, kanjalo “umusa neqiniso kwavela ngoJesu Kristu.”​—⁠1:⁠17.

11. UJohane uMbhapathizi ubiza uJesu ngokuthini, futhi abafundi bakaJohane bamamukela njengani uJesu?

¹¹ Ukuletha “iWundlu likaNkulunkulu” kubantu (1:​19-51). UJohane uMbhapathizi uyavuma ukuthi yena akayena uKristu kodwa uthi kukhona oza emva kwakhe, nomchilo wesicathulo sakhe akafanele ukuwuthukulula. Ngosuku olulandelayo, njengoba uJesu eza kuye, uJohane umbiza ngokuthi “iWundlu likaNkulunkulu elisusa izono zezwe.” (1:​27, 29) Ngokulandelayo, wethula ababili babafundi bakhe kuJesu, futhi omunye walaba, uAndreya, uletha umfowabo uPetru kuJesu. UFiliphu noNathanayeli nabo bamukela uJesu ‘njengeNdodana kaNkulunkulu, iNkosi kaIsrayeli.’​—⁠1:⁠49.

12. (a) Yisiphi isimangaliso sikaJesu sokuqala? (b) Yini ayenzayo lapho ephezulu eJerusalema ePhasikeni lokuqala phakathi nenkonzo yakhe?

¹² Izimangaliso zikaJesu zibonisa ukuthi “ungoNgcwele kaNkulunkulu” (2:​1–6:​71). UJesu wenza isimangaliso sakhe sokuqala eKhana laseGalile, ephendula amanzi eba yiwayini elimnandi kakhulu edilini lomshado. Lokhu “ukuqala kwezibonakaliso, . . . abafundi bakhe bakholwa nguye.” (2:​11) UJesu ukhuphukela eJerusalema ngenxa yePhasika. Ethola abathengisi nabashintsha imali ethempelini, uthatha inkalivasi futhi ubaxosha ngentshiseko kangangokuthi abafundi bakhe baqaphela ukugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho: “Ukushisekela indlu yakho kuyangidla.” (Joh. 2:​17; IHu. 69:⁠9) Ubikezela ukuthi ithempeli eliwumzimba wakhe siqu liyobhidlizwa futhi livuswe ngezinsuku ezintathu.

13. (a) Yini uJesu ayibonisa njengedingekile ekuzuzeni ukuphila? (b) UJohane uMbhapathizi ukhuluma kanjani ngaye ngokwakhe ngokuphathelene noJesu?

¹³ UNikodemu onovalo uza kuJesu ebusuku. Uyavuma ukuthi uJesu uthunywe evela kuNkulunkulu, futhi uJesu umtshela ukuthi umuntu kumelwe azalwe ngamanzi nangomoya ukuze angene eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu. Ukukholelwa eNdodaneni yomuntu evela ezulwini kudingekile ekuphileni. “Ngokuba uNkulunkulu walithanda izwe kangaka, waze wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa ukuba yilowo nalowo okholwa yiyo angabhubhi, kodwa abe-nokuphila okuphakade.” (Joh. 3:​16) Ukukhanya okufiké ezweni kuphambene nobumnyama, “kepha owenza iqiniso uyeza ekukhanyeni,” kuphetha uJesu. Khona-ke uJohane uMbhapathizi uzwa ngomsebenzi kaJesu eJudiya futhi uthi nakuba yena ngokwakhe engeyena uKristu, nokho “umhlobo womyeni . . . uthokoza nokuthokoza ngezwi lomyeni.” (3:​21, 29) Manje uJesu kumelwe akhule, futhi uJohane anciphe.

14. Yini uJesu ayichazela owesifazane waseSamariya eSikhari, futhi uba yini umphumela wokushumayela kwakhe lapho?

¹⁴ UJesu uya eGalile futhi. Endleleni, egcwele uthuli futhi “ekhathele ukuhamba,” uhlala phansi uyaphumula ngasemthonjeni kaJakobe eSikhari, ngenkathi abafundi bakhe besaye kothenga ukudla emzini. (4:⁠6) Kusemini, ngehora lesithupha. Owesifazane waseSamariya uyasondela ukuzokukha amanzi, futhi uJesu ucela ukuba amphuzise. Khona-ke, nakuba ekhathele, uqala ukukhuluma naye ‘ngamanzi’ angempela aqabula ngempela, anika ukuphila okuphakade kulabo abakhulekela uNkulunkulu “ngomoya nangeqiniso.” Abafundi bayabuya futhi bamkhuthaza ukuba adle, futhi uthi: “Ukudla kwami kungukwenza intando yongithumileyo, ngifeze umsebenzi wakhe.” Uhlala kuleyondawo ezinye izinsuku ezimbili, kangangokuthi amaSamariya amaningi ayakholwa ukuthi “lo ngempela unguMsindisi wezwe.” (4:​24, 34, 42) Lapho efika eKhana laseGalile, uJesu uphulukisa indodana yesikhulu ngaphandle kokuya ngisho naseduze kombhede wayo.

15. Yimaphi amacala athweswa uJesu eJerusalema, kodwa ubaphendula kanjani abamsolayo?

¹⁵ UJesu uyaphinda futhi ukhuphukela eJerusalema ngomkhosi wamaJuda. Uphulukisa umuntu ogulayo ngeSabatha, futhi lokhu kubangela ukugxekwa okukhulu kakhulu. UJesu uyaphendula: “UBaba usebenza kuze kube-manje, nami ngiyasebenza.” (5:​17) Manje abaholi bamaJuda bathi uJesu usenezele ukuhlambalaza, kokuzenza olingana noNkulunkulu, ecaleni lokwephula iSabatha. UJesu uphendula ngokuthi iNdodana ayenzi lutho ngokwayo kodwa incike ngokuphelele kuYise. Ukhuluma inkulumo emangalisayo yokuthi “bonke abasemathuneni okukhunjulwa bayakulizwa izwi layo baphume” beze ovukweni. Kodwa ezilalelini zakhe ezingenalukholo, uJesu uthi: “Ningakholwa kanjani nina enidumisana nodwa, ningalufuni udumo oluvela kuNkulunkulu yedwa, na?”​—⁠5:​28, 29, 44, qhathanisa neNW.

16. (a) Yini uJesu ayifundisayo ngokuphathelene nokudla nokuphila? (b) UPetru ukuveza kanjani ukukholwa kwabaphostoli?

¹⁶ Lapho uJesu esuthisa ngokuyisimangaliso amadoda angu-⁠5 000 ngezinkwa eziyisihlanu nezinhlanzana ezimbili, isixuku sicabangela ukumbamba futhi simbeke inkosi, kodwa umonyukela entabeni. Kamuva, uyasikhuza ngokulandelela “ukudla okuphelayo.” Kunalokho, kumelwe sisebenzele “ukudla okuhlala kuze kube-ngukuphila okuphakade.” Uveza ukuthi ukubonisa ukholo kuye njengeNdodana kuwukudla isinkwa sokuphila, futhi uyanezela: “Uma ningayidli inyama yeNdodana yomuntu, niphuze igazi layo, aninakuphila phakathi kwenu.” Abaningi babafundi bakhe bayacunuka ngalokhu futhi bayamshiya. UJesu ubuza abangu-12: “Nani nithanda ukumuka na?” futhi uPetru uyaphendula: “Nkosi, siyakuya kubani na? Amazwi okuphila okuphakade akuwe. Siyakholwa, siyazi ukuthi wena ungoNgcwele kaNkulunkulu.” (6:​27, 53, 67-69) Nokho, uJesu, azi ukuthi uJuda uzomkhaphela, uthi omunye wabo ungusathane.

17. Kuba namuphi umphumela ukufundisa kukaJesu ethempelini ngoMkhosi wamaDokodo?

¹⁷ “Ukukhanya” akuhlangani nobumnyama (7:⁠1–12:​50). UJesu unyukela eJerusalema ngokunyenya, futhi ubonakala sekuphakathi noMkhosi wamaDokodo, efundisa obala ethempelini. Abantu bayaphikisana ngokuthi unguKristu ngempela yini. UJesu uyabatshela: “Angizizelanga, kodwa ongithumileyo uqinisile, . . . futhi nguye ongithumileyo.” Ngesinye isikhathi umemeza esixukwini: “Uma ekhona owomileyo, akeze kimi, aphuze.” Izikhonzi ezithunywe ukuba zibambe uJesu zibuya zilambatha futhi zibikela abapristi: “Akuzange kukhulume-muntu njengokuba kukhuluma lowomuntu.” Becasukile, abaFarisi baphendula ngokuthi akekho ezikhulwini oye wakholwa, futhi akekho umprofethi ozovela eGalile.​—⁠7:​28, 29, 37, 46.

18. AmaJuda amphikisa kanjani uJesu, futhi uphendula kanjani?

¹⁸ Kwenye inkulumo, uJesu uthi: “Mina ngingukukhanya kwezwe.” Ekumangaleleni konya kokuthi ungufakazi wamanga, kokuthi uzalwe ngokuphinga, nokokuthi ungumSamariya futhi unedemoni, uJesu uphendula ngokunamandla: “Uma ngizidumisa mina, udumo lwami luyize; nguBaba ongidumisayo.” Lapho ethi, “Engakabikho uAbrahama, ngangikhona mina,” amaJuda aphinde azama ukumbulala kodwa ayahluleka. (8:​12, 54, 58) Ekhungathekile, kamuva aphenya umuntu uJesu ayemvule amehlo ngokuyisimangaliso, futhi amkhiphela ngaphandle.

19. (a) UJesu ukhuluma kanjani ngobuhlobo bakhe noYise nokunakekela kwakhe izimvu zakhe? (b) Uwaphendula kanjani amaJuda lapho emsongela?

¹⁹ UJesu uphinda ukhuluma namaJuda, manje ngokuphathelene nomalusi omuhle, obiza izimvu ngamagama nodela ukuphila kwakhe ngenxa yezimvu ‘ukuba zibe nokuphila kuchichime.’ Uthi: “Nezinye izimvu nginazo ezingesizo ezalesisibaya; nalezo ngimelwe ukuziletha; ziyakuzwa izwi lami, kube-mhlambi munye nomalusi munye.” (10:​10, 16) Utshela amaJuda ukuthi akekho ongahlwitha izimvu esandleni sikaYise, futhi uthi yena noYise bamunye. Bayaphinda futhi bafuna ukumkhanda ngamatshe aze afe. Ephendula icala abambeka lona lokuhlambalaza, ubakhumbuza ukuthi encwadini yamaHubo, amaqhawe athile asemhlabeni kubhekiselwa kuwo ngokuthi “onkulunkulu,” kuyilapho yena ebhekisele kuye ngokwakhe ngokuthi iNdodana kaNkulunkulu. (IHu. 82:⁠6) Ubakhuthaza ukuba okungenani bakholwe imisebenzi yakhe.​—⁠Joh. 10:⁠34.

20. (a) Yisiphi isimangaliso esivelele uJesu asenzayo ngokulandelayo? (b) Lesi siholelaphi?

²⁰ Kufika izindaba ezivela eBethaniya eduze neJerusalema zokuthi uLazaru, umfowabo kaMariya noMarta, uyagula. Ngesikhathi uJesu efika lapho, uLazaru usefile futhi usenezinsuku ezine esethuneni. UJesu wenza isimangaliso esikhexisayo sokubuyisela uLazaru ekuphileni, enza ukuba abaningi babe nokholo kuJesu. Lokhu kusheshisa ukuba kwenziwe umhlangano okhethekile weSanhedrin, lapho umpristi omkhulu, uKayafase, ephoqelelwa khona ukuba aprofethe ukuthi uJesu umiselwe ukufela isizwe. Njengoba abapristi abakhulu nabaFarisi beceba ukumbulala, uJesu uyahoxa isikhashana ezindaweni zasobala.

21. (a) Abantu nabaFarisi basabela kanjani ekungeneni kukaJesu eJerusalema? (b) Yimuphi umfanekiso uJesu awunikezayo ngokuphathelene nokufa kwakhe nenjongo yakho, futhi yini ayikhuthazayo ezilalelini zakhe?

²¹ Ezinsukwini eziyisithupha ngaphambi kwePhasika, uJesu uphinda ufika eBethaniya njengoba eya eJerusalema, futhi ubungazwa abendlu kaLazaru. Khona-ke, ngosuku lwangemva kweSabatha, ngoNisan 9, ekhwele imbongolo esencane, ungena eJerusalema phakathi nokuhalalisa kwesixuku esikhulu; futhi abaFarisi bathi komunye nomunye: “Niyabona ukuthi anisizi-lutho; bheka, izwe lonke liyamlandela.” Ngomfanekiso wenhlamvu kakolweni, uJesu usikisela ukuthi kumelwe atshalwe ekufeni ukuze kuvele izithelo zokuphila okuphakade. Ucela uYise ukuba akhazimulise igama laKhe, futhi kuzwakala izwi ezulwini lithi: “Ngilikhazimulisile, ngobuye ngilikhazimulise.” UJesu ukhuthaza izilaleli zakhe ukuba zigweme ubumnyama futhi zihambe ekukhanyeni, yebo, ukuze zibe “abantwana bokukhanya.” Njengoba amandla obumnyama esondela kuye, wenza ukunxusa okunamandla kwasobala kokuba abantu babe nokholo kuye ‘njengokukhanya okuzé ezweni.’​—⁠12:​19, 28, 36, 46.

22. Yisiphi isibonelo uJesu asinikezayo esidlweni sePhasika, futhi yimuphi umyalo omusha awunikezayo?

²² Iseluleko sikaJesu sokuvalelisa kubaphostoli abathembekile (13:⁠1–16:​33). Lapho isidlo sakusihlwa sePhasika nabangu-12 sisaqhubeka, uJesu uyasukuma, futhi esusa izingubo zakhe, uthatha indwangu nomcengezi wokugeza izinyawo futhi ugeza izinyawo zabafundi bakhe. UPetru uyenqaba, kodwa uJesu umtshela ukuthi nezakhe izinyawo kumelwe zigezwe. UJesu uyala abafundi ukuba balandele isibonelo sakhe sokuthobeka, ngoba “inceku ayinkulu kunenkosi yayo.” Ukhuluma ngomkhapheli abese exosha uJuda. Ngemva kokuba uJuda esephumile, uJesu uqala ukukhuluma ngobungane nalaba abanye. “Ngininika umyalo omusha wokuba nithandane; njengalokho nginithandile, nani nithandane. Ngalokho bonke bayakukwazi ukuthi ningabafundi bami, uma nithandana.”​—⁠13:​16, 34, 35.

23. Njengenduduzo, yiliphi ithemba namuphi umduduzi othenjisiwe uJesu axoxa ngakho?

²³ UJesu ukhuluma amazwi amangalisayo enduduzo kubalandeli bakhe ngalelihora elibucayi. Kumelwe babonise ukholo kuNkulunkulu nakuye. Ekhaya likaYise, kunezindlu eziningi, futhi uyobuye eze ababuyisele kuye. “Mina ngiyindlela, neqiniso, nokuphila,” kusho uJesu. “Akakho oza kuBaba ngaphandle kwami.” Ngokududuzayo utshela abalandeli bakhe ukuthi ngokubonisa ukholo, bayokwenza imisebenzi emikhulu kunayenza nokuthi uyobanikeza noma yini abayicela egameni lakhe, ukuze uYise akhazinyuliswe. Ubathembisa omunye umsizi, “uMoya weqiniso,” oyobafundisa konke futhi ubakhumbuze konke abatshele khona. Kumelwe bajabule ngokuthi uya kuYise, ngoba, kusho uJesu, “uBaba mkhulu kunami.”​—⁠14:​6, 17, 28.

24. UJesu ubuchaza kanjani ubuhlobo babaphostoli naye noYise, naziphi izibusiso kubo?

²⁴ UJesu ukhuluma ngaye siqu njengomvini owonawona nangoYise njengomlimi. Ubakhuthaza ukuba bahlale besebunyeni naye, ethi: “UBaba uyakhazimuliswa ngalokhu ukuba nithele izithelo eziningi, nibe-ngabafundi bami.” (15:⁠8) Futhi ukuthokoza kwabo kungagcwala kanjani? Ngokuthandana njengoba nje yena ebathandile. Ubabiza ngokuthi abahlobo. Yeka ubuhlobo obuyigugu! Izwe liyobazonda njengoba limzondile yena, futhi liyobazingela, kodwa uJesu uyothumela umsizi ukuba afakaze ngaye futhi aqondise abafundi bakhe kulo lonke iqiniso. Usizi lwabo lwamanje luyophenduka injabulo lapho ephinda ebabona futhi, futhi akekho oyobaphuca injabulo yabo. Amazwi akhe ayaduduza: “UBaba uqobo uyanithanda, ngokuba ningithandile nina, nakholwa ukuthi mina ngavela kuNkulunkulu.” Yebo, bayohlakazeka, kodwa, uJesu uthi, “Lokho ngikukhulumé kini ukuba nibe-nokuthula kimi. Ezweni niyakuba-lusizi, kepha yimani isibindi, mina ngilinqobile izwe.”​—⁠16:​27, 33.

25. (a) Yini uJesu ayivumayo emthandazweni kuYise? (b) Yini ayicelayo ngokuphathelene naye siqu, abafundi bakhe, nalabo abayoba nokholo ngezwi labo?

²⁵ Umthandazo kaJesu awenzela abafundi bakhe (17:​1-26). Emthandazweni uJesu uyavuma kuYise: “Ukuphila okuphakade yilokhu ukuba bazi wena-Nkulunkulu wedwa oqinisileyo, nomthumileyo, uJesu Kristu.” Esewuqedile umsebenzi abewabelwe emhlabeni, manje uJesu ucela ukukhazinyuliswa kuye uYise ngenkazimulo ayenayo izwe lingakabikho. Ulibonakalisile igama likaYise kubafundi bakhe futhi ucela uYise ukuba abagcine ‘egameni laKhe.’ Akaceli kuYise ukuba basuswe ezweni, kodwa ukuba abalonde kokubi futhi abangcwelise ngezwi laKhe leqiniso. UJesu wenabisa umthandazo wakhe ukuba uhlanganise nalabo abasazobonisa ukholo ngokuzwa izwi lalabafundi, “ukuba bonke babe-munye, njengalokhu wena-Baba ukimi, nami ngikuwe, ukuba nabo babe-kithina, ukuze izwe likholwe ukuthi wena ungithumile.” Ucela ukuba sengathi nalaba bangahlanganyela naye enkazimulweni yakhe yasezulwini, ngoba ubazisile igama likaYise, ukuze uthando lwaKhe lube kubo.​—⁠17:​3, 11, 21.

26. Yini ukulandisa okuyishoyo ngokuphathelene nokuboshwa nokuthethwa kwecala likaJesu?

²⁶ UKristu uquliswa icala futhi uyabethelwa (18:⁠1–19:​42). Manje uJesu nabafundi bakhe baya ensimini ngaphesheya koMfudlana iKedroni. Kulapha lapho uJuda eqhamuka khona nesigaba samabutho futhi ekhaphela uJesu, ovuma ngobumnene. Nokho, uPetru uyamlwela ngenkemba futhi uyasolwa: “Angiyikusiphuza kanti isitsha [a]nginiké sona uBaba na?” (18:​11) Khona-ke eboshiwe uJesu uyiswa kuAnase, umkhwe kaKayafase, umpristi omkhulu. UJohane noPetru balandela eduze, futhi uJohane uthola imvume yokuba bangene bobabili egcekeni lompristi omkhulu, lapho uPetru ephika khona izikhathi ezintathu ukuthi uyamazi uKristu. Okokuqala uJesu uphenywa uAnase abese elethwa phambi kukaKayafase. Ngemva kwalokho, uJesu ulethwa phambi kombusi wamaRoma uPilatu, namaJuda ememeza isigwebo sokufa.

27. (a) Yimiphi imibuzo ngobukhosi negunya ephakanyiswa uPilatu, futhi uJesu uphendula kanjani? (b) Yisiphi isimo ngobukhosi amaJuda asithathayo?

²⁷ Embuzweni kaPilatu othi, “Kanti nokho uyinkosi na?” uJesu uyaphendula: “Usho khona. Ngiyinkosi, ngizalelwe lokho, ngafikela lokho ezweni ukuba ngifakazele iqiniso.” (18:​37) UPilatu, engabutholi ubufakazi bangempela ngokumelene noJesu, ufuna ukumkhulula, njengoba kwakuyisiko ukukhulula isiboshwa esithile ngePhasika, kodwa amaJuda afuna umphangi uBaraba esikhundleni sakhe. UPilatu ushaya uJesu, futhi uyaphinda uzama ukumkhulula, kodwa amaJuda ayamemeza: “Mbethele, mbethele . . . ngokuba ezenzile iNdodana kaNkulunkulu.” Lapho uPilatu etshela uJesu ukuthi unamandla okumbethela, uJesu uyaphendula: “Ngabe awunamandla neze phezu kwami, ukuba awuwanikwanga ngaphezulu.” AmaJuda ayaphinda ayamemeza: “Susa, susa, mbethele . . . Asinankosi, uKesari kuphela.” Ngalokhu, uPilatu uyamnikela ukuba abethelwe.​—⁠19:​6, 7, 11, 15.

28. Kwenzekani eGolgotha, futhi yiziphi iziprofetho ezigcwalisekayo lapho?

²⁸ UJesu uyiswa “endaweni ethiwa iNdawo Yekhanda, ethiwa ngesiHeberu iGolgotha,” futhi ubethelwa phakathi kwabanye ababili. Ngaphezu kwakhe uPilatu unamathisela isaziso esithi “UJESU WASENAZARETHA, INKOSI YABAJUDA,” esilotshwe ngesiHeberu, ngesiRoma, nangesiGreki, ukuze bonke basibone futhi basiqonde. (19:​17, 19) UJesu uphathisa uJohane ukunakekelwa kukanina, futhi ngemva kokwamukela uviniga, uyamemeza: “Kufeziwe!” Khona-ke ugebisa ikhanda futhi uyafa. (19:​30) Kugcwaliseka iziprofetho, iqembu lababulali lenza inkatho ngezingubo zakhe, aliyephuli imilenze yakhe, futhi limgwaza ohlangothini ngomkhonto. (Joh. 19:​24, 32-37; IHu. 22:​18; 34:​20, 22:17; Zak. 12:​10) Ngemva kwalokho, uJosefa waseArimatheya noNikodemu bayasilungisa isidumbu ukuba simbelwe futhi basibeka ethuneni elisha eliseduze.

29. (a) UJesu ovusiwe uzibonakalisa kanjani kubafundi bakhe? (b) Yimaphi amaphuzu uJesu awavezayo enkulumweni yakhe yokugcina kuPetru?

²⁹ Ukubonakala okuningi kukaKristu ovusiwe (20:​1–21:​25). Uchungechunge lobufakazi bukaJohane ngokuphathelene noKristu luphetha ngendaba ejabulisayo yovuko. UMariya Magdalena uthola ithuna lingenalutho, futhi uPetru nomunye umfundi (uJohane) bagijimela khona kodwa babona kusele izindwangu zelineni neduku lasekhanda kuphela. UMariya, osale eduze nethuna, ukhuluma nezingelosi ezimbili futhi ekugcineni, ngokucabanga kwakhe, ukhuluma nomphathi wensimu. Lapho ephendula ethi, “Mariya!” uqaphela ngokushesha ukuthi uJesu. Ngokulandelayo, uJesu uzibonakalisa kubafundi bakhe endlini evaliwe, futhi ubatshela ngamandla abayowamukela ngomoya ongcwele. Ngemva kwalokho, uTomase, owayengekho, uyenqaba ukukholelwa, kodwa ezinsukwini eziyisishiyagalombili kamuva uJesu uphinda uyabonakala futhi umnikeza ubufakazi, obenza uTomase amemeze: “Nkosi yami, Nkulunkulu wami!” (20:​16, 28) Ezinsukwini ezithile kamuva uJesu uhlangana nabafundi bakhe futhi, ngasoLwandle lwaseTiberiya; ubenza ukuba babambe izinhlanzi ngokuyisimangaliso abese edla nabo ukudla kwasekuseni. Izikhathi ezintathu ubuza uPetru ukuthi uyamthanda yini. Njengoba uPetru egcizelela ukuthi uyamthanda, uJesu ngokungagunci uthi: “Yipha amawundlu ami,” “Yalusa izimvu zami,” “Yipha izimvu zami.” Khona-ke ubikezela uhlobo lokufa uPetru ayomdumisa ngalo uNkulunkulu. UPetru ubuza ngoJohane, futhi uJesu uthi: “Uma ngithanda ukuba ahlale ngize ngifike, kuyini kuwe na?”​—⁠21:​15-17, 22.

ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE NENZUZO

30. UJohane uyigcizelela kanjani ngokukhethekile imfanelo yothando?

³⁰ Njengoba zinamandla ekungaguncini kwazo futhi zanelisa ekuvezeni kwazo uLizwi, owaba uKristu, ngendlela ebonisa ukumazi kahle, nethokozisayo, lezindaba ezinhle “ngokukaJohane” zisinikeza umbono okhanyayo waleNdodana kaNkulunkulu egcotshiwe ngezwi nangesenzo. Nakuba indlela kaJohane yokuloba namagama olimi kulula, kumphawula njengendoda ‘engafundile, ewumfunda nje,’ inkulumo yakhe inamandla amakhulu. (IzE. 4:​13) IVangeli lakhe lifinyelela imivuthwandaba yalo ephakeme kakhulu ekwenzeni uthando olujulile phakathi kukaYise neNdodana lwaziwe, kanye nobuhlobo obubusisiwe, obunothando obutholakala ngokuba sebunyeni nabo. UJohane usebenzisa amagama athi “uthando” nelithi “thandile” izikhathi ezingaphezu kwamanye amaVangeli amathathu ehlangene.

31. Yibuphi ubuhlobo obugcizelelwayo kulo lonke iVangeli likaJohane, futhi kufinyelela kanjani emvuthwandaba?

³¹ Ekuqaleni yeka ubuhlobo obukhazimulayo obabukhona phakathi kukaLizwi noNkulunkulu uYise! Ngelungiselelo likaNkulunkulu “uLizwi waba-yinyama, wakha phakathi kwethu, sabona inkazimulo yakhe, inkazimulo njengeyozelwe yedwa kuYise, egcwele umusa neqiniso.” (Joh. 1:​14) Khona-ke, kukho konke ukulandisa kukaJohane, uJesu ugcizelela ukuthi ubuhlobo bakhe bungobokuzithoba ngokulalela intando kaYise ngokungangabazi. (4:​34; 5:​19, 30; 7:​16; 10:​29, 30; 11:​41, 42; 12:​27, 49, 50; 14:​10) Ukubonakalisa kwakhe lobuhlobo obuseduze kufinyelela umvuthwandaba wakho okhazimulayo emthandazweni oshukumisa imizwelo otholakala kuJohane isahluko 17, lapho uJesu ebikela khona uYise ukuthi uwuqedile umsebenzi amnikeza wona ukuba awenze emhlabeni abese enezela: “Manje-ke ngikhazimulise wena-Baba kuwe uqobo ngenkazimulo ebenginayo ngikuwe, izwe lingakabikho.”​—⁠17:⁠5.

32. UJesu ububonisa ngaziphi izinkulumo ubuhlobo bakhe siqu nabafundi bakhe nokuthi uwukuphela komzila izibusiso zokuphila eziza ngawo esintwini?

³² Kuthiwani ngobuhlobo bukaJesu nabafundi bakhe? Indima kaJesu njengowukuphela komzila izibusiso zikaNkulunkulu ezidluliselwa ngawo kubo nakuso sonke isintu kugcinwa njalo kusemqoka. (14:​13, 14; 15:​16; 16:​23, 24) Kubhekiselwa kuye ngokuthi “iWundlu likaNkulunkulu,” “isinkwa sokuphila,” “ukukhanya kwezwe,” “umalusi omuhle,” “ukuvuka nokuphila,” “indlela, neqiniso, nokuphila,” nangokuthi “umvini owonawona.” (1:​29; 6:​35; 8:​12; 10:​11; 11:​25; 14:⁠6; 15:⁠1) Kukulomfanekiso ‘womvini owonawona’ lapho uJesu enza khona baziwe ubunye obumangalisayo obungekho kuphela phakathi kwabalandeli bakhe beqiniso naye ngokwakhe kodwa futhi noYise. Ngokuthela izithelo eziningi, bayokhazimulisa uYise. “Njengalokho uBaba engithandile, nami nginithandile; hlalani othandweni lwami,” kweluleka uJesu.​—⁠15:⁠9.

33. Iyiphi injongo yenkonzo yakhe uJesu ayizwakalisayo emthandazweni?

³³ Khona-ke yeka indlela athandaza ngayo ngomzwelo kuJehova ukuba bonke laba abathandekayo, kanye nalabo ‘abakholwa kuye ngezwi labo,’ babe munye noYise naye ngokwakhe, bengcwelisiwe ngezwi leqiniso! Ngempela, yonke injongo yenkonzo kaJesu ivezwe ngokumangalisayo emazwini okugcina omthandazo wakhe kuYise: “Ngibazisile igama lakho, ngizakubazisa lona ukuba uthando ongithandé ngalo lube-kubo, nami ngibe-kubo.”​—⁠17:​20, 26.

34. Yisiphi iseluleko esinenzuzo uJesu asinikeza ngendlela yokunqoba izwe?

³⁴ Nakuba uJesu ayeshiya abafundi bakhe ezweni, wayengeke abashiye bengenaye umduduzi, “uMoya weqiniso.” Ngaphezu kwalokho, wabanikeza iseluleko esifike ngesikhathi ngobuhlobo babo nezwe, ebabonisa indlela yokunqoba ‘njengabantwana bokukhanya.’ (14:​16, 17; 3:​19-21; 12:​36) “Uma nimi ezwini lami, ningabafundi bami isibili,” kusho uJesu, “niyakulazi iqiniso, neqiniso liyakunikhulula.” Ngokuphambene, wathi kubantwana bobumnyama: “Nina ningabakayihlo uSathane, nithanda ukwenza izinkanuko zikayihlo. . . . Akemi eqinisweni, ngokuba iqiniso lingekho kuye.” Khona-ke, masizimisele ukuba ngaso sonke isikhathi sime eqinisweni, yebo, ‘sikhuleke kuBaba ngomoya nangeqiniso,’ futhi sithole amandla emazwini kaJesu: “Yimani isibindi, mina ngilinqobile izwe.”​—⁠8:​31, 32, 44; 4:​23; 16:⁠33.

35. (a) Yibuphi ubufakazi uJesu abunikezayo ngokuphathelene noMbuso kaNkulunkulu? (b) Kungani iVangeli likaJohane linikeza isizathu sokujabula nokubonga?

³⁵ Futhi, konke lokhu kuhlangene noMbuso kaNkulunkulu. UJesu wafakaza ngenkathi kuthethwa icala lakhe: “Umbuso wami awusiwo owalelizwe. Uma umbuso wami ubungowalelizwe, izikhonzi zami zaziyakulwa ukuba nginganikezelwa kubaJuda. Kepha kalokhu umbuso wami awusiwo owalapha.” Khona-ke, ephendula umbuzo kaPilatu, wathi: “Usho khona. Ngiyinkosi; ngizalelwe lokho, ngafikela lokho ezweni ukuba ngifakazele iqiniso. Bonke abeqiniso bayalizwa izwi lami.” (18:​36, 37) Bayajabula ngempela labo abalalelayo nalabo ‘abazelwe ngokusha’ ukuba ‘bangene embusweni kaNkulunkulu’ ebunyeni neNkosi. Ziyajabula “ezinye izimvu” ezilalela izwi laleNkosi enguMalusi futhi zizuze ukuphila. Ngempela, kunesizathu sokubonga ngelungiselelo leVangeli likaJohane, ngoba lalotshelwa “ukuba nikholwe ukuthi uJesu unguKristu, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu, nokuba nikholwe, nibe-nokuphila egameni lakhe.”​—⁠3:​3, 5; 10:​16; 20:⁠31.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]