Izibusiso Ezinkulu Eziza Ngesivumelwano Esisha

“UJesu . . . futhi ungumlamuleli wesivumelwano esingcono ngokuhambelanayo.”—HEBERU 8:6.

 1. Ubani owabonakala ‘eyinzalo yowesifazane’ eyathenjiswa e-Edene, futhi ‘walinyazwa’ kanjani ‘esithendeni’?

NGEMVA kokuba u-Adamu no-Eva bonile, uJehova wakhipha isahlulelo kuSathane, owayekhohlise u-Eva, ethi: “Ngizakubeka ubutha phakathi kwakho nowesifazane, naphakathi kwenzalo yakho nenzalo yakhe. Yona iyakuchoboza ikhanda lakho, wena uyakulimaza isithende sayo.” (Genesise 3:15) INzalo eyayithenjiswe e-Edene yavela ekugcineni lapho uJesu ebhapathizwa eMfuleni iJordani ngo-29 C.E. Lapho efa esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa ngo-33 C.E., kwagcwaliseka ingxenye ethile yaleso siprofetho sasendulo. USathane ‘wayelimaze isithende’ seNzalo.

 2. Ngokwamazwi kaJesu uqobo, ukufa kwakhe kusizuzisa kanjani isintu?

² Ngokujabulisayo, nakuba lelo nxeba lalibuhlungu kakhulu, alihlalanga unomphela. UJesu wavuswa kwabafileyo engumoya ongenakufa wanyukela kuYise ezulwini, lapho anikela khona inani legazi lakhe elalichithekile ‘njengesihlengo esenana abaningi.’ Kanjalo, amazwi akhe siqu afezeka: “INdodana yomuntu kumelwe iphakanyiswe, ukuze wonke umuntu okholelwa kuyo abe nokuphila okumi phakade. Ngoba uNkulunkulu walithanda izwe kakhulu kangangokuba waze wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa, ukuze wonke umuntu obonisa ukholo kuyo angabhujiswa kodwa abe nokuphila okumi phakade.” (Mathewu 20:28; Johane 3:14-16; Heberu 9:12-14) Isivumelwano esisha sifeza indima eyinhloko ekugcwalisekeni kwesiprofetho sikaJesu.

Isivumelwano Esisha

 3. Isivumelwano esisha saqala nini ukubonakala sisebenza?

³ Ngaphambi nje kokufa kwakhe, uJesu watshela abalandeli bakhe ukuthi igazi lakhe elalichithekile ‘laliyigazi lesivumelwano [esisha].’ (Mathewu 26:28; Luka 22:20) Ezinsukwini eziyishumi ngemva kokuba enyukele ezulwini, isivumelwano esisha sabonakala sisebenza lapho kuthululwa umoya ongcwele kubafundi abangaba ngu-120 ababebuthanele ekamelweni eliphezulu eJerusalema. (IzEnzo 1:15; 2:1-4) Ukungeniswa kwalaba bafundi abangu-120 esivumelwaneni esisha kwabonisa ukuthi isivumelwano “sangaphambili,” isivumelwano soMthetho, sasingasasebenzi manje.—Heberu 8:13.

 4. Ingabe isivumelwano esidala sasihlulekile? Chaza.

⁴ Ingabe isivumelwano esidala sasehlulekile? Lutho neze. Yiqiniso, njengoba manje sase sithathelwe isikhundla, u-Israyeli wenyama wayengasesona isizwe sikaNkulunkulu esikhethekile. (Mathewu 23:38) Kodwa lokho kwakungenxa yokungalaleli kuka-Israyeli nokwenqaba kwakhe oGcotshiweyo kaJehova. (Eksodusi 19:5; IzEnzo 2:22, 23) Nokho, ngaphambi kokuba uMthetho uthathelwe indawo, wafeza okukhulu. Amakhulu eminyaka, wawuyindlela yokusondela kuNkulunkulu nesivikelo enkolweni yamanga. Wawuqukethe izici ezazifanekisela isivumelwano esisha, futhi, ngemihlatshelo yawo eyayiphindaphindwa, wabonisa isidingo somuntu esikhulu sokukhululwa esonweni nasekufeni. Ngempela, uMthetho ‘wawungumfundisi oholela kuKristu.’ (Galathiya 3:19, 24; Roma 3:20; 4:15; 5:12; Heberu 10:1, 2) Nokho, isibusiso esathenjiswa u-Abrahama sasiyogcwaliseka ngokugcwele ngesivumelwano esisha.

Ukubusiswa Kwezizwe Ngenzalo Ka-Abrahama

 5, 6. Ekugcwalisekeni okungokomoya okuyisisekelo kwesivumelwano sika-Abrahama, ubani oyiNzalo ka-Abrahama, futhi yisiphi isizwe esaba esokuqala ukuthola isibusiso ngaye?

⁵ UJehova wathembisa u-Abrahama: “Ngenzalo yakho ziyakubusiswa izizwe zonke zo-mhlaba.” (Genesise 22:18) Ngaphansi kwesivumelwano esidala, abezizwe abaningi abanezinhliziyo ezithobekileyo babusiswa ngokuzihlanganisa kwabo no-Israyeli, inzalo ka-Abrahama eyisizwe. Nokho, ekugcwalisekeni okungokomoya okuyisisekelo, iNzalo ka-Abrahama yayingumuntu oyedwa ophelele. UPawulu wakuchaza lokhu lapho ethi: “Izithembiso zakhulunywa ku-Abrahama nasembewini yakhe. Asisho ukuthi: ‘Nasezimbewini,’ njengokungathi kungokuqondene neziningi ezinjalo, kodwa njengokungathi kungokuqondene neyodwa: ‘Nasembewini yakho,’ enguKristu.”—Galathiya 3:16.

⁶ Yebo, uJesu uyiNzalo ka-Abrahama, futhi ngaYe izizwe zithola isibusiso esiphakeme kakhulu kunanoma yini u-Israyeli wenyama ayengayithola. Yebo, isizwe sokuqala esathola lesi sibusiso kwakungu-Israyeli uqobo. Ngokushesha ngemva kwePhentekoste lika-33 C.E., umphostoli uPetru wathi eqenjini lamaJuda: “Ningamadodana abaprofethi nawesivumelwano uNkulunkulu avumelana ngaso nokhokho benu, ethi ku-Abrahama, ‘Futhi embewini yakho yonke imikhaya yomhlaba iyobusiswa.’ Ngemva kokuveza iNceku yakhe, uNkulunkulu wayithumela kini kuqala ukuba inibusise ngokwenza ukuba yilowo nalowo afulathele izenzo zakhe ezimbi.”—IzEnzo 3:25, 26.

 7. Yiziphi izizwe ezabusiswa ngoJesu, iNzalo ka-Abrahama?

⁷ Ngokushesha lesi sibusiso sadluliselwa kumaSamariya, kwase kuba abeZizwe. (IzEnzo 8:14-17; 10:34-48) Ngesikhathi esithile phakathi kuka-50 no-52 C.E., uPawulu wabhalela amaKristu aseGalathiya e-Asia Minor: “ImiBhalo, ibona kusengaphambili ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayeyothi abantu bezizwe balungile ngenxa yokholo, yamemezela kusengaphambili izindaba ezinhle ku-Abrahama, zokuthi: ‘Izizwe zonke ziyobusiswa ngawe.’ Ngenxa yalokho labo abanamathela okholweni babusiswa kanye no-Abrahama okholekile.” (Galathiya 3:8, 9; Genesise 12:3) Nakuba amaKristu amaningi eGalathiya ‘ayengabantu bezizwe,’ abusiswa ngoJesu ngenxa yokholo lwawo. Kanjani?

 8. KumaKristu osuku lukaPawulu, kwakuhlanganisani ukubusiswa ngeNzalo ka-Abrahama, futhi ekugcineni bangaki abathola isibusiso esinjalo?

⁸ Kungakhathaliseki isizinda sawo, uPawulu watshela amaKristu aseGalathiya: “Uma ningabakaKristu, ngempela niyimbewu ka-Abrahama, izindlalifa ngokubhekiselwe esithembisweni.” (Galathiya 3:29) Kulabo baseGalathiya, ukubusiswa ngeNzalo ka-Abrahama kwakuhlanganisa nokuba babe abahlanganyeli esivumelwaneni esisha kanye nokuba izindlalifa ezikanye noJesu, abangane bakaJesu enzalweni ka-Abrahama. Asilazi inani lika-Israyeli wasendulo. Esikwaziyo nje ukuthi waba “ngangesihlabathi solwandle ngobuningi.” (1 AmaKhosi 4:20) Nokho, siyalazi inani lokugcina labangane bakaJesu enzalweni engokomoya—lingu-144 000. (IsAmbulo 7:4; 14:1) Labo abangu-144 000 bavela “kuzo zonke izizwana nezilimi nabantu nezizwe” zesintu futhi bahlanganyela ekwenzeni izibusiso zesivumelwano sika-Abrahama zigcwaliseke kwabanye futhi.—IsAmbulo 5:9.

Isiprofetho Esigcwalisekile

 9. Kungayiphi indlela umthetho kaJehova ungaphakathi kulabo abasesivumelwaneni esisha?

⁹ Lapho ebikezela isivumelwano esisha, uJeremiya wabhala: “Yilesi esiyisivumelwano engizakusenza nendlu kaIsrayeli emva kwalezozinsuku, usho uJehova: ngiyakufaka umthetho wami ezibilinini zabo, ngiwulobe ezinhliziyweni zabo.” (Jeremiya 31:33) Kuwuphawu lwalabo abasesivumelwaneni esisha ukuthi bakhonza uJehova ngenxa yothando. (Johane 13:35; Heberu 1:9) Umthetho kaJehova ulotshwe ezinhliziyweni zabo, futhi bafisa ngobuqotho ukwenza intando yakhe. Yiqiniso, kwa-Israyeli wasendulo abantu abathile ababekholekile babewuthanda kakhulu umthetho kaJehova. (IHubo 119:97) Kodwa abaningi babengenjalo. Nokho baqhubeka beyingxenye yesizwe. Akekho ongaqhubeka esesivumelwaneni esisha uma umthetho kaNkulunkulu ungalotshiwe enhliziyweni yakhe.

10, 11. Kulabo abasesivumelwaneni esisha, uJehova ‘uba-nguNkulunkulu wabo’ ngayiphi indlela, futhi bayomazi kanjani bonke?

¹⁰ Ngokuqondene nalabo abasesivumelwaneni esisha uJehova waqhubeka wathi: “Ngibe-nguNkulunkulu wabo, bona babe-ngabantu bami.” (Jeremiya 31:33) Kwa-Israyeli wasendulo abaningi babekhulekela onkulunkulu bezizwe, kodwa baqhubeka bengama-Israyeli. Ngesisekelo sesivumelwano esisha, uJehova wakha isizwe esingokomoya, ‘u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu,’ ukuze uthathe isikhundla sika-Israyeli wenyama. (Galathiya 6:16; Mathewu 21:43; Roma 9:6-8) Nokho, akekho ohlala eyingxenye yesizwe esisha esingokomoya uma eyeka ukukhulekela uJehova, yena yedwa.

¹¹ UJehova wathi futhi: “Bonke bayakungazi, kusukela kwabancane kuya kwabakhulu babo.” (Jeremiya 31:34) Kwa-Israyeli, abaningi bamane bamshaya indiva uJehova, ngomqondo othile bethi: “UJehova akenzi okuhle, akenzi nokubi.” (Zefaniya 1:12) Akekho ohlala eyingxenye ka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu uma emshaya indiva uJehova noma engcolisa ukukhulekela okuhlanzekile. (Mathewu 6:24; Kolose 3:5) Ama-Israyeli angokomoya ‘angabantu abamaziyo uNkulunkulu wabo.’ (Daniyeli 11:32) Ayakujabulela ‘ukungenisa ulwazi ngowukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso nangoJesu Kristu.’ (Johane 17:3) Ukwazi uJesu kujulisa ulwazi lwawo ngoNkulunkulu, ngoba, ngendlela eyingqayizivele, uJesu “nguye oye wamchaza [uNkulunkulu].”—Johane 1:18; 14:9-11.

12, 13. (a) UJehova uzithethelela ngasiphi isisekelo izono zalabo abasesivumelwaneni esisha? (b) Ngokuqondene nokuthethelelwa kwezono, isivumelwano esisha siphakeme ngayiphi indlela kunesivumelwano esidala?

¹² Ekugcineni, uJehova wathembisa: “Ngiyakuthethelela ububi babo, nesono sabo angisayikusikhumbula.” (Jeremiya 31:34b) UMthetho kaMose wawuhlanganisa amakhulu ezimiso ezilotshiwe, ama-Israyeli ayalwa ukuba azilalele. (Duteronomi 28:1, 2, 15) Wonke ayephula uMthetho ayenikela imihlatshelo ukuze asibekele izono zawo. (Levitikusi 4:1-7; 16:1-31) AmaJuda amaningi ayesekholelwa ukuthi ayengaba alungileyo ngemisebenzi yawo siqu evumelana noMthetho. Nokho, amaKristu ayaqaphela ukuthi awasoze azuza ukulunga ngemisebenzi yawo siqu. Awanakukugwema ukona. (Roma 5:12) Ngaphansi kwesivumelwano esisha, ukuma okulungileyo phambi kukaNkulunkulu kungenzeka ngesisekelo somhlatshelo kaJesu kuphela. Nokho, ukuma okunjalo kuyisipho, umusa ongafanelwe ovela kuNkulunkulu. (Roma 3:20, 23, 24) UJehova usafuna izinceku zakhe zimlalele. UPawulu uthi labo abasesivumelwaneni esisha ‘bangaphansi komthetho ngakuKristu.’—1 Korinte 9:21.

¹³ Ngakho, namaKristu anawo umhlatshelo wesono, kodwa onenani elikhulu kakhulu kunemihlatshelo eyayingaphansi kwesivumelwano soMthetho. UPawulu wabhala: “Wonke umpristi [ngaphansi kwesivumelwano soMthetho] uthatha indawo yakhe usuku nosuku ukuba anikele inkonzo yasobala nokuba anikele imihlatshelo efanayo kaningi, njengoba lena ingakwazi nanini ukususa izono ngokuphelele. Kodwa [uJesu] wanikela umhlatshelo owodwa wezono ngokungapheliyo futhi wahlala phansi ngakwesokunene sikaNkulunkulu.” (Heberu 10:11, 12) Njengoba amaKristu esivumelwaneni esisha abonisa ukholo emhlatshelweni kaJesu, uJehova uthi alungile, awanasono, futhi kanjalo asesimweni sokugcotshwa njengamadodana akhe angokomoya. (Roma 5:1; 8:33, 34; Heberu 10:14-18) Lapho kwenzeka ona ngenxa yokungapheleli kobuntu, angancenga uJehova ukuba awathethelele, futhi ngesisekelo somhlatshelo kaJesu, uJehova uyawathethelela. (1 Johane 2:1, 2) Nokho, uma ekhetha inkambo yokona ngamabomu, alahlekelwa ukuma kwawo kokuba alungileyo kanye nelungelo lokuba ngabahlanganyeli esivumelwaneni esisha.—Heberu 2:2, 3; 6:4-8; 10:26-31.

Isivumelwano Esidala Nesisha

14. Yikuphi ukusoka okwakudingeka ngaphansi kwesivumelwano soMthetho? ngaphansi kwesivumelwano esisha?

¹⁴ Esivumelwaneni esidala abesilisa babesokwa njengophawu lokuthi bangaphansi koMthetho. (Levitikusi 12:2, 3; Galathiya 5:3) Ngemva kokuqala kwebandla lobuKristu, abanye baba nomuzwa wokuthi namaKristu angemaJuda kwakufanele asokwe. Kodwa abaphostoli nabadala eJerusalema, beqondiswa iZwi likaNkulunkulu nomoya ongcwele, babona ukuthi lokhu kwakungadingekile. (IzEnzo 15:1, 5, 28, 29) Eminyakeni embalwa kamuva, uPawulu wathi: “Akayena umJuda lowo onguye ngaphandle, futhi ukusoka akukhona lokho okungaphandle enyameni. Kodwa ungumJuda lowo onguye ngaphakathi, futhi ukusoka kwakhe yilokho kwenhliziyo ngomoya, hhayi ngesimiso esilotshiwe.” (Roma 2:28, 29) Ukusokwa okungokoqobo, ngisho nakumaJuda enyama, kwakungasenakubaluleka okungokomoya phambi kukaJehova. Kulabo abasesivumelwaneni esisha, yinhliziyo, hhayi inyama, okumelwe isokwe. Konke abakucabangayo, izifiso, nezisusa, okungajabulisi noma okungcolile phambi kukaJehova kumelwe kukhishwe.a Abaningi namuhla bawubufakazi obuphathekayo bamandla omoya ongcwele okuguqula izindlela zokucabanga ngalendlela.—1 Korinte 6:9-11; Galathiya 5:22-24; Efesu 4:22-24.

15. U-Israyeli wenyama uqhathaniseka kanjani no-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu ngokuqondene nobubusi?

¹⁵ Elungiselelweni lesivumelwano soMthetho, uJehova wayeyiNkosi yakwa-Israyeli, futhi ngokuhamba kwesikhathi wabusa ngamakhosi angabantu eJerusalema. (Isaya 33:22) UJehova futhi uyiNkosi ka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu, u-Israyeli ongokomoya, futhi kusukela ngo-33 C.E., uye wabusa ngoJesu Kristu, owamukela “lonke igunya . . . ezulwini nasemhlabeni.” (Mathewu 28:18; Efesu 1:19-23; Kolose 1:13, 14) Namuhla, u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu uqaphela uJesu njengeNkosi yoMbuso kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini, owamiswa ngo-1914. UJesu uyiNkosi engcono ngisho nakakhulu kunoHezekiya, uJosiya, namanye amakhosi ayekholekile akwa-Israyeli wasendulo.—Heberu 1:8, 9; IsAmbulo 11:15.

16. U-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu uluhlobo luni lobupristi?

¹⁶ U-Israyeli wayengewona nje umbuso kuphela kodwa futhi wayenabapristi abagcotshiwe. Ngo-33 C.E., u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu wathatha isikhundla sika-Israyeli wenyama waba ‘inceku’ kaJehova, “ofakazi” bakhe. (Isaya 43:10) Kusukela lapho kuqhubeke, amazwi kaJehova ku-Israyeli aku-Isaya 43:21 naku-Eksodusi 19:5, 6 asebenza ku-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu ongokomoya. Isizwe sikaNkulunkulu esisha esingokomoya manje sase ‘siwuhlanga olukhethiweyo, ubupristi bobukhosi, isizwe esingcwele, isizwe sokuba yimpahla ekhethekile,’ esinomthwalo wemfanelo ‘wokumemezela kabanzi ubuhle bukaJehova.’ (1 Petru 2:9) Bonke abaku-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu, abesilisa nabesifazane, bakha ubupristi obubumbene. (Galathiya 3:28, 29) Njengengxenye yesibili yenzalo ka-Abrahama, manje bathi: “Yenanelani abantu bakhe nina-zizwe.” (Duteronomi 32:43) Labo baka-Israyeli ongokomoya abasasele emhlabeni bakha “isigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo.” (Mathewu 24:45-47) Inkonzo engcwele eyamukelekayo inganikelwa kuNkulunkulu ngokuzihlanganisa nabo kuphela.

UMbuso KaNkulunkulu —Ukugcwaliseka Kokugcina

17. Labo abasesivumelwaneni esisha bathola kuphi ukuzalwa?

¹⁷ Ama-Israyeli azalwa ngemva kuka-1513 B.C.E. ayengena esivumelwaneni soMthetho lapho ezalwa. Labo uJehova abafaka esivumelwaneni esisha nabo bayazalwa—kubona ukuzalwa okungokomoya. UJesu wakuphawula lokhu kuNikodemu umFarisi lapho ethi: “Ngiqinisile impela ngithi kuwe, Ngaphandle kokuba umuntu aphinde azalwe, akakwazi ukuwubona umbuso kaNkulunkulu.” (Johane 3:3) Abafundi abangu-120 ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E. babengabantu bokuqala abangaphelele abathola lokhu kuzalwa kabusha. Njengoba kuthiwa balungile ngaphansi kwesivumelwano esisha, bamukela umoya ongcwele ‘njengophawu olunikezwa kusengaphambili’ lwefa labo lobukhosi. (Efesu 1:14) ‘Bazalwa umoya’ ukuze babe amadodana kaNkulunkulu okutholwa, okwabenza baba abafowabo bakaJesu futhi kanjalo baba “izindlalifa ezikanye noKristu.” (Johane 3:6; Roma 8:16, 17) ‘Ukuphinde bazalwe’ kwabavulela indlela yamathemba amangalisayo.

18. Ukuphinde bazalwe kuvula umnyango oholela kumaphi amathemba amangalisayo ngalabo abasesivumelwaneni esisha?

¹⁸ Lapho eba umlamuleli wesivumelwano esisha, uJesu wenza esinye isivumelwano nabalandeli bakhe, ethi: “Ngenza isivumelwano nani, njengoba nje uBaba enze isivumelwano nami, sombuso.” (Luka 22:29) Lesi sivumelwano soMbuso savula indlela yokugcwaliseka kombono omangalisayo, okuDaniyeli 7:13, 14, 22, 27. UDaniyeli wabona “onjengendodana yomuntu” enikwa igunya lobukhosi “omdala wezinsuku,” uJehova uNkulunkulu. UDaniyeli wabe esebona ukuthi ‘umbuso waba-ngowabangcwele.’ UJesu nguye “onjengendodana yomuntu,” okwathi ngo-1914, wamukela uMbuso wasezulwini kuJehova uNkulunkulu. Abafundi bakhe abagcotshwe ngomoya ‘bangabangcwele’ abahlanganyela naye kulowo Mbuso. (1 Thesalonika 2:12) Kanjani?

19, 20. (a) Isithembiso sikaJehova ku-Abrahama siyogcwaliseka kanjani okokugcina ngendlela enhle kakhulu kulabo abasesivumelwaneni esisha? (b) Yimuphi omunye umbuzo odinga ukucatshangelwa?

¹⁹ Ngemva kokufa kwabo, njengoJesu, laba abagcotshiwe bavuswa kwabafileyo beyizidalwa zomoya ezingenakufa ukuze bakhonze naye njengamakhosi nabapristi ezulwini. (1 Korinte 15:50-53; IsAmbulo 20:4, 6) Yeka ithemba elikhazimulayo! “Bazobusa njengamakhosi phezu komhlaba,” hhayi nje ezweni laseKhanani. (IsAmbulo 5:10) Ingabe ‘bayonqoba isango lezitha zabo’? (Genesise 22:17) Yebo, futhi ngendlela eqinisekile, lapho bebona ukubhujiswa kwesifebe esingokwenkolo esinobutha, iBabiloni Elikhulu, nalapho laba abagcotshiwe abavusiwe behlanganyela noJesu ekwaluseni izizwe “ngenduku yensimbi” nasekuchobozeni ikhanda likaSathane. Ngaleyo ndlela bayoba nengxenye ekugcwaliseni isici sokugcina sesiprofetho esikuGenesise 3:15.—IsAmbulo 2:26, 27; 17:14; 18:20, 21; Roma 16:20.

²⁰ Noma kunjalo, singase sibuze, Ingabe isivumelwano sika-Abrahama nesivumelwano esisha zihlanganisa lemiphefumulo engu-144 000 ekholekile kuphela? Cha, abanye abangekho ngokuqondile kulezi zivumelwano bayobusiswa ngayo, njengoba kuzobonakala esihlokweni esilandelayo.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

Uyakhumbula?

◻ Isivumelwano esisha saqala nini ukubonakala sisebenza?

◻ Yini eyafezwa ngesivumelwano esidala?

◻ Ubani ngokuyinhloko oyiNzalo ka-Abrahama, futhi izizwe zalandelana kanjani ekubusisweni ngaleyo Nzalo?

◻ Kulabo abangu-144 000, sigcwaliseka kanjani okokugcina isivumelwano sika-Abrahama nesivumelwano esisha?

[Isithombe ekhasini 15]

Ukuthethelelwa kwezono kunomqondo ojulile kulabo abangaphansi kwesivumelwano esisha kunakulabo ababengaphansi kwesivumelwano esidala