21—IBhetesda NeSanhedrin

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kuYohane 5]

“Ke kaloku kukho eYerusalem apho ngakwelezimvu isango, ichibi, ekuthiwa ukubizwa yiBhetesda ngesiHebhere, lineevaranda ezintlanu. Kwakulele kuzo inkitha eninzi yemilwelwe: iimfama, iziqhwala, abome umzimba, belinde ukuzanyazanyiswa kwamanzi.” ULw 201.1

Ngamaxesha athile amanzi echibi ayezanyazanyiswa, kwaye kwakukholelwa njengesithethe ukuba oku kwakusisiphumo samandla angasentla, nokuba, lowo uthe wangowokuqala emva kokuba ligxojiwe ichibi ukungena emanzini, uya kuphiliswa nasiphina isifo anaso. Amakhulu ezigulana ayeyihambela le ndawo; kodwa sasisikhulu kakhulu isihlwele akuba egxojiwe amanzi kangangokuba zazityhalana, zinyathelane, amadoda, abafazi kunye nabantwana, abangenamandla kunabo. Abaninzi babengakwazi ukusondela equleni. Abaninzi abaphumelelayo ekufikeleleni kulo bafa enyeleni yalo. Iindawo zenkuseleko zazakhiwe ziyijikelezile indawo, ukuze abagulayo bakhuseleke kubushushu bemini nakwiingqele zasebusuku. Babekho abo babechitha ubusuku kwezi veranda, barhubuluzele elungqamekweni lwequla yonke imihla, ngethemba elize lokuphila. ULw 201.2

UYesu wayeseYerusalem kwakhona. Ehamba yedwa, ebonakala ecamngca ethandaza, wafika kweli chibi. Wabona izigulana ezixhwalekileyo zilindele oko zazicinga ukuba liya kuba kuphela kwethuba labo lokunyangwa. Wanga angasebenzisa amandla aKhe okuphilisa, aphilise wonke umntu. Yaye iyimini yeSabatha. Izihlwele zazisiya kunqula etempileni, waza wazi ukuba isenzo esikukuphilisa siya kuvusa inkathazo kumaYuda enokuwucutha umsebenzi waKhe.ULw 201.3

Noko kunjalo, uMsindisi wabona imeko embi kakhulu. Yayiyindoda eyayingumlwelwe ingenako ukuzinceda iminyaka engamashumi amathathu anesibhozo. Isifo sayo, ubukhulu becala, sasibangelwe sisono sayo, yaza yabonwa njengebethwa nguThixo. Eyedwa, engenamhlobo, eziva ingathi uvalelwe ngaphandle kwenceba kaThixo, lo mguli wadlula kwiminyaka emide yenkxwaleko. Ngexesha xa kulindeleke ukuba amanzi ashukunyiswe, abo babenemfesane ngokungabi nako ukuzinceda, babeyithwalela ezivarandeni. Wawusithi kodwa wakufika umzuzu ofanelekileyo, ingabi naye umntu wokuyinceda ayingenise. Yayikubona ukushukuma kwamanzi, kodwa ayizange ikwazi ukudlula elungqamekweni lwechibi. Abanye abanamandla kunayo babeziphosa ngaphambi kwayo. Imizamo yayo eyayizingisa ukufikelela kwinjongo enye, nexhala layo kunye nokusoloko idaniswa, zizinto ezazikhawuleza ukuphelisa naloo ntwana yamandla ayo aseleyo.ULw 202.1

Le ndoda igulayo yayilele elukhukweni, ithi ngamaxesha athile iphakamise intloko ikhangela echibini, ngexesha ubuso obunothando nemfesane buthoba phezu kwayo, yaza ingqalelo yayo yatsalwa ngamazwi athi, “Uyafuna na ukuba uphile?” Kwafika ithemba entliziyweni yayo. Yeva ukuba ngandlela ithile iza kufumana uncedo. Loo ntlantsana yenkuthazo yakhawuleza yaphela. Yakhumbula amaxesha amaninzi eyayizama ukufika echibini, yaye ngoku yayinethuba elincinane lokuphila lide liphinde lishukunyiswe. Yabuya inxaphile, yathi, “Nkosi, andinamntu wokuthi, xa athe agxojwagxojwa amanzi, andiphose echibini. Kuthi ke, ndakubon’ ukuba mna ndiyaya, ndiphangelwe ngomnye ukuhla.” ULw 202.2

UYesu akathi kulo ugulayo makasebenzise ukholo kuYe. Usuka athi, “Vuka, uthabathe ukhuko lwakho, uhambe.” Lwasuka ukholo lwale ndoda lwabambelela kwelo lizwi. Yonke imithambo-luvo nemisipha idlobe bubomi obutsha, kuthi kubekho ukushukuma okunempilo kumalungu ayo alimeleyo. Yathi, ngaphandle kwentandabuzo, yasuka yayimilisela intando yayo ekuthobeleni umyalelo kaKristu, yathi yonke imisipha yayo yasabela kwintando yayo. Yaya yaxhuma yema ngenyawo, yafumanisa ukuba ingumntu okwaziyo ukushukuma. ULw 203.1

UYesu wayengayinikanga ngqinisekiso yoncedo lwezulu. Le ndoda yayinako ukuma ithandabuze, ize ilahlekwe lithuba lokuphiliswa ekuphela kwalo elinikiweyo. Yasuka yakholelwa elizwini likaKristu, kwathi ngokwenza ngokwayo, yawafumana amandla.ULw 203.2

Kwangolo kholo lunye sifumana ukuphiliswa kwasemoyeni. Isono siye sasisusa ebomini bobuThixo. Imiphefumlo yethu inedumbe. Thina ngokwethu asikwazi ukuphila ubomi obungcwele kunokuba yayinjalo indoda eyayingakwazi ukuhamba. Baninzi abakubonayo ukungabi nakuzinceda kwabo, nabathi balangazelele obo bomi basemoyeni obunokubazisa ekuhambelaneni noThixo; bazama ngokulilize ukubuzuza. Ngokuphelelwa lithemba bayakhala, “Athi ke mna, mntu uludwayi! Azi, ngubani na oya kundihlangula kulo mzimba woku kufa?” Roma 7:24. UMsindisi uthobile phezu kwabathengwa ngegazi laKhe, ethetha ngobubele nemfesane engathethekiyo, esithi, “Uyafuna na ukuba uphile?” Uya kuyalela ukuba uvuke uphilile unoxolo. Musa ukulinda ukuba ude uve ukuba uphilisiwe. Kholwa lilizwi laKhe, kuya kwenzeka. Beka intando yakho kwicala likaKristu. Vuma ukumkhonza, uya kuthi ngokwenza ngokwelizwi laKhe, ufumane amandla. Nokuba buyintoni ububi obenzayo, ukuvutha okukulawulayo ekuthe, kuba ukuyekele ixesha elide, kwakubopha umphefumlo nomzimba, uKristu unako, kwaye elangazelela, ukukuhlangula. Uya kunika ubomi kumphefumlo ofileyo ziziphoso (Efese 2:1). Uyamkhulula othinjiweyo, obanjwe bubuthakathaka nalilishwa namatyathanga esono. ULw 203.3

Le ndoda yayinamalungu awomileyo yathoba ukuba ithabathe umandlalo wayo, owawuyirhagi nengubo, yaza yema nkqo inovuyo, yabhekabheka ikhangela uMhlanguli wayo; kodwa uYesu wayephel’ mehlweni phakathi kwenkitha yabantu. Le ndoda yaba nexhala lokuba hleze ingangaphindi imbone. Yathi xa ihamba indlela yayo ngesingqi samanyathelo aqinileyo nakhululekileyo, idumisa uThixo inovuyo ngamandla amatsha asanda kufumaneka, yahlangana nabaninzi kubaFarisi, yabaxelela kwangoko ngokuphila kwayo. Yamangaliswa yindlela ebandayo abalimamela ngayo ibali layo.ULw 203.4

Bathi befing’ iintshiyi, bayibuza ukuba kutheni ithwele umandlalo wayo ngemini yeSabatha. Bayikhumbuza ngqongqo ukuba akukho mthethweni ukuthwala imithwalo ngemini yeNkosi. Ekuvuyeni kwayo yayilibele ukuba yiSabatha, kodwa ke ayazivainobutyala ngokuthobela umyalelowaLowoowayenamandlaanjaloavela ULw 203.5

kuThixo. Yaphendula ngesibindi, “Owandiphilisayo, nguye owathi kum, Thabatha ukhuko lwakho, uhambe.” Bambuza ukuba ngubani na owenze le nto, kodwa akamazi. Aba baphathi babesazi kakuhle ukuba ngubani Lowo wazivezayo ukuba uya kwazi ukwenza lo mmanngaliso; kodwa banqwenela ukuzuza ubungqina obuthe ngqo ukuba yayinguYesu, ukuze bakwazi ukumgweba njengowaphula iSabatha. Ngokokubona kwabo, wayenganelanga nje ukwaphula umthetho ngokuphilisa indoda egulayo ngeSabatha, kodwa wayeyihlambele ngokuyiyalela ukuba ihambe ithwale umandlalo wayo. ULw 204.1

AmaYuda ayewugqwethe kakhulu kakhulu umthetho kangangokuba awenza wayidyokhwe yembophelelo. Imininingwana engabhekisi ndawo awayeyifuna yaba yinto yokuhlekisa phakathi kwezinye izizwe. Yayiphume yodwa iSabatha ngokuvalelwa phakathi ngazo zonke iintlobo zezithintelo ezingabalulekanga. Yayingesiso isonwabiso kuwo, imini engcwele yeNkosi, ezukileyo. Ababhali nabaFarisi bakwenza ukuyigcina kwaba ngumthwalo onganyamezelekiyo. UmYuda wayengavumelekanga ukuba abase umlilo nokuba akhanyise ikhandlela ngeSabatha. Isiphumo soko saba kukuba abantu baxhomekeke kwiiNtlanga ngeenkonzo ezininzi ezazisalelwa yimithetho yabo ukuba bazenzele. Abazange babonise ukuthi, ukuba ezi zenzo zazisisono, abo babeqesha abanye ukuba bazenze nabo babe netyala ngokwabawenze ngokwabo umsebenzi. Bacinga ukuba usindiso luphelele kumaYuda, nokuba imeko yabo bonke abanye, eyayingase nalo ithemba, yayingasayi kuba senziwa ibe mandundu ngaphezu kokuba yayihleli injalo. UThixo Yena akanikanga mthetho ungenako ukuthotyelwa ngabantu bonke. Imithetho yaKhe ayivumeli ukuba kubekho imiqobo engenamsebenzi nejonge ukulungelwa ngokuzithandela. ULw 204.2

Etempileni uYesu wahlangana nayo indoda eyayiphilisiwe. Yayizise umnikelo wesono kunye nowombulelo ngenceba enkulu eyayifumanayo. Wathi akuyifumana phakathi kwabakhonzayo, uYesu wazazisa kuyo, enamazwi ayilumkisayo, athi, “Uyabona, uphilile; musa ukuba sona, ukuze ungahlelwa yinto embi kunaleyo.” ULw 204.3

Indoda eyayiphilisiweyabanovuyoolukhulukakhulu yakuhlangana noMhlanguli wayo. Ingazi nto ngobutshaba ngakuYesu, yaxelela abaFarisi ababeyibuza, ukuba nguYe lo wayiphilsayo. “Ngenxa yoko ayemtshutshisa uYesu amaYuda, afuna ukumbulala ngokuba wayesenza ezo zinto ngeSabatha.”ULw 204.4

UYesu waziswa phambi kweSanhedrin ukuba aphendule kwisimangalo sokwaphula iSabatha. Ukuba amaYuda ngeli xesha ayesisizwe esizimeleyo, isimangalo esinjalo sasiya kuyifeza injongo yawo yokuba abulawe. Oku kwathintelwa kukuba bengaphantsi kwamaRoma.AmaYuda ayengenaloigunya lokuwisaisigwebo sokubulala, ngoko ke izityholo ezazibekwa ukuchasa uKristu zazingavakali kwinkundla zaseRoma. Zazikho phofu nezinye izinto ayethembe ukuba aya kuzibamba. Nangona ikho imizamo yawo yokuwuthintela umsebenzi waKhe, uKristu, naseYerusalem, waba nempembelelo ebantwini engaphezu kweyawo [amaYuda]. Izihlwele ezazingenawo umdla kwingxwabangxwaba zoorabhi zatsaleleka kwimfundiso yaKhe. Zaziwaqonda amazwi aKhe, kwaye iintliziyo zazo zifumana ubushushu nentuthuzelo. Wayethetha ngoThixo, engenje ngomgwebi onempindezelo, kodwa njengomzali onothando, waza wawutyhila umfanekiselo kaThixo njengoko ubonakala kuYe. Amazwi waKhe ayefana nomathunga kumoya olimeleyo. Ngako kokubini, ngamazwi waKhe nangemisebenzi yaKhe yenceba, waye waphula amandla engcinezelo yezithethe zakudala nemithetho eyenziwe ngumntu, ebeka uthando lukaThixo ngokuzaliseka kwalo okungenakuze kuphele. ULw 204.5

Kwesinye seziprofeto zangaphambili ezingoKristu, kubhaliwe, kwathiwa, “Intonga ayiyi kumka kuYuda, intonga yommisi-mthetho ayiyi kumka phakathi kweenyawo zakhe, ade afike uShilo, zimlulamele izizwe.” Gen. 49:10. Abantu babebuthelana kuKristu. Iintliziyo ezinovelwano zazamkela izifundo zothando nobubele ukudlula iinkonzo ezingqongqo ezazifunwa ngababingeleli. Ukuba ababingeleli noorabhi babengathanga bangenelela, imfundiso yaKhe ngeyeza nohlaziyo olungazange lwabonwa kulo mhlaba. Zathi kodwa, ukuze zigcine elazo igunya, ezi nkokeli zazimisela ukuyisingela phantsi impembelelo kaYesu. Ukuvezwa kwaKhe phambi kweSanhedrin, nokugxekwa esidlangalaleni kweemfundiso zaKhe, kwakuza kunceda ekufezekiseni oku; kuba abantu babesenayo intlonipho enkulu kwiinkokheli zabo zasemoyeni. Nabanina owaye nokuba nesibindi sokugxeka iimfuno zoorabhi, okanye azame ukuphungula imithwalo ababeyibeke phezu kwabantu, wayethatyathwa ngokuba unetyala, kungekuphela elokunyelisa, kodwa elokubhukuqa umbuso. Kule ndawo, oorabhi bathemba ukuba bangaxhokonxa ukukrokreleka ngakuKristu. Bambeka njengozama ukubhukuqa amasiko amiselweyo, ngoko esenza kubekho ukwahlukana phakathi kwabantu, nokulungisa indlela yokucinezelwa ngokupheleleyo ngamaRoma.ULw 205.1

Phofu, amacebo oorabhi ababesebenza ngenzondelelo ukuba azaliseke ayevela kwelinye iqumrhu elingelilo elo leSanhedrin. Emva kokuba uSathana ewe phantsi ekoyiseni uKristu entlango, wahlanganisa imikhosi yakhe ukuba imchase uKristu kulungiselelo lwaKhe, kuze kuthi, ukuba kunokwenzeka, uthintelwe umsebenzi waKhe. Into awayengakwazi ukuyenza ngelinge elifikelela ngqo kuYe, wazimisela ukuba uza kuyenza ngecebo. Kuthe kungekudala ebuyile kwidabi elalisentlango, nakwintlanganiso nomkhosi wakhe, wakhulisa amacebo okumfamekisa ngakumbi iingqondo zohlanga lwamaYuda, ukuze bangamamkeli uMhlanguli. Waceba ukusebenza ngezenzeleli ezingabantu kwilizwe lenkolo, ngokubazalisa ngobakhe ubutshaba kwakwintshatsheli yenyaniso. Wayeza kubakhokelela ukuba bamale uKristu baze babenze bube bubi kangangoko ubomi baKhe, ethemba ukuba uya kumthintela uKristu emsebenzini azele wona. Ezi nkokheli zakwaIsrayeli zaba zizixhobo zikaSathana ekulweni noMsindisi.ULw 205.2

UYesu weza ukuba “awukhulise umyalo, [awenze ube] nobungangamsha.” Wayengayi kuwuthoba isidima sawo, kodwa wayeza kuwuphakamisa. Isibhalo sithi, akayi kuba nakucinywa, akayi kuvikiveka, ade akumise okusesikweni ehlabathini.” Isa. 42:21, 4. Wayeze ukuze ayikhulule iSabatha kwimithetho engumthwalo eyayiyenza ukuba ibe sisiqalekiso endaweni yokuba ibe yintsikelelo. ULw 206.1

Ngenxa yesi sizathu wakhetha iSabatha ukuba enze ngayo isenzo sokuphilisa eBhetesda. Wayenako ukuwuphilisa umlwelwe nangenye imini evekini; okanye wayenokuwuphilisa nje, angawuyaleli ukuba uthwale umandlalo wawo. Oku kodwa kwakungayi kumnika ithuba awayelilangazelela. Injongo elumkileyo yayingqengqe kwisiseko saso sonke isenzo sokuphila kukaKristu emhlabeni. Yonke into awaye yenza yayibaluleke yona ngokwayo kunye nemfundiso yayo. Phakathi kwabo babandezelekileyo echibini, wakhetha eyona meko yayimbi ukuba asebenzise amandla waKhe okuphilisa, waza wayiyalela le ndoda ukuba ithabathe ukhuko lwayo ingene emzini ukuze iwusasaze umsebenzi omkhulu owenziwe kuyo. Oku kwakuza kuvusa umbuzo wokuba ingaba kusesikweni na ukwenza oku ngeSabatha, kuze kuvule indlela yokuba akwazi ukuhlasela imiqathango yamaYuda ngokubhekiselele kwimini yeNkosi, nokuvakalisa ukuba izithethe zawo azinto, lilize kuphela. ULw 206.2

UYesu wawaxelela ukuba, umsebenzi wokukhulula abantu ababandezelekileyo wawuvumelana kakuhle nomthetho weSabatha. Wawuvumelana nomthetho weengelosi zikaThixo, ezihla zinyuka phakathi kwezulu nomhlaba zilungiselela kuluntu olubulalekayo. UYesu wathi, “UBawo uyasebenza kude kube ngoku, nam ndiyasebenza.” Yonke imihla yekaThixo, ukuba asebenze amacebo aKhe ngenxa yohlanga loluntu. Ukuba ukuchaza umthetho kwamaYuda kwakulungile, uYehova makube yena wayesemposisweni, kuba umsebenzi waKhe wawukhulisa uxhase yonke into ephilayo kususela ukuba ekuqalekeni wabeka iziseko zomhlaba; ngoko ke, Lowo wavakalisa ukuba umsebenzi waKhe ulungile, waza wamisela iSabatha ukuba ibe sisikhumbuzo sokugqitywa kwawo, makathi xha ekubulalekeni kwaKhe, ayimise inkqubo engenasiphelo elandelwa yindalo yonke. ULw 206.3

Ingaba kufuneka uThixo alalele ilanga ukuba lenze umsebenzi walo ngeSabatha, lisuse imitha yalo enobubele ekufudumezeni nasekondleni imveliso [okanye utyani]? Ingaba uhlelo lokusebenzakwamazwekufuneka lume ngxi yonkeimini engcwele? Ingaba kufuneka Yena ayalele imithombo ukuba ingankcenkcesheli amasimi namahlathi, axelele amaza olwandle ukuba eme akuyeke ukuhla nokunyuka? Ingaba kufuneka ukuba ingqolowa nombona ziyeke ukukhula, nesihloko esivuthwayo sikubeke bucala ukutyatyamba kwaso okuhle? Ingaba kufuneka ukuba imithi neentyatyambo zingakhuli mathupha okanye zityatyambe ngeSabatha? ULw 206.4

Kwimeko enjalo, abantu bebeya kulahlekwa ziziqhamo zomhlaba, neentsikelelo ezenza ukuba ubomi bunqweneleke. Indalo kufuneka iqhubeke nendlela yayo engaguqukiyo. UThixo akanako ukuthi nokuba kokomzuzwana asisonge isandla saKhe, kungenjalo umntu angaphelelwa ngamandla, afe. Nomntu ke, unawo umsebenzi anokuwenza ngale mini. Iimfuno zobomi kufuneka zihoyiwe, abagulayo kufuneka bekhathalelwe, iimfuno zabasweleyo kufuneka bezinikiwe. Akasayi kuba msulwa otyeshela ukukhulula ababulalekayo ngeSabatha. Imini kaThixo engcwele yokuphumla yenzelwa umntu, ngoko izenzo zenceba zihambelana ngokupheleleyo nale njongo. UThixo akathandi ukuba izidalwa zaKhe zibulaleke nomzuzu ebezinokukhululwa ngawo ngeSabatha okanye nangayiphi na imini. ULw 207.1

Okufunwa kuThixo kukhulu kakhulu ngeSabatha nangaphezu kweminye imihla. Abantu baKhe baye bashiye iindawo abasebenza kuzo ngokwesiqhelo, bachithe ixesha becamngca, benqula. Bacela kuYe iintsikelelo ezininzi ngeSabatha kuneminye imihla. Babawela ezona zikhethekileyo iintsikelelo. UThixo akalindeli ukuba iSabatha idlule aze andule ukubanika ezi zicelo. Umsebenzi wezulu awuze ume, nabantu akufuneki baphumle ekwenzeni okulungileyo. ISabatha ayimele ukuba ibe lixesha lokungenzi nto. Umthetho walela umsebenzi wehlabathi ngemini yeNkosi yokuphumla; umsebenzi wengeniselo kufuneka ume; akukho msebenzi wokuzuza ubumnandi behlabathi okanye ingeniso ufanelwe ukwenziwa ngokusemthethweni ngaloo mini; kodwa, njengoko uThixo wawuyeka umsebenzi waKhe wokudala, waphumla ngeSabatha wayisikelela, ngokunjalo umntu kufuneka awushiye umsebenzi wobomi bemihla ngemihla, azinikele ezo yure zingcwele ekuphumleni okunempilo, ekunquleni, nakwizenzo ezingcwele. Umsebenzi kaKristu ekuphiliseni abagulayo wawuhambelana ngokugqibeleleyo nomthetho. Wawuyinika intlonipho iSabatha. ULw 207.2

UYesu wabanga amalungelo alinganayo nakaThixo ekwenzeni umsebenzi ongcwele ngokulinganayo, nesimilo esifana neso sibandakanya uYise osemazulwini [emsebenzini]. Noko kunjalo, abaFarisi babesacaphuka ngakumbi. Wayenganelanga ukwaphula nje umthetho, kodwa waya wabiza noThixo ngokuthi, “ngowaKhe uYise” esithi Yena uyalingana noThixo. Yohane 5:18.ULw 207.3

Sonke isizwe samaYuda sasimbiza uThixo ngokuthi unguYise, ngoko ke,aye ngayi kuba nengqumbo engako ukuba uKristuwayeziveze ngokuthi umikubudlelwaneobufanayokuThixo.Baya bamtyhola ngokunyelisa, bebonisa ukuba bambona ngolenza eli bango kowona mgangatho ungentla. ULw 208.1

Aba bachasi bakaKristu babengenanto banokuyibeka abanokuphikisa ngayo iinyaniso uKristu awayezibethelela kwizazela zabo. Kuphela babecaphula kumasiko nezithethe, zaye ezi zingenawo amandla zinganiki mdla xa zithelekiswa neengxoxo uYesu awayezikhupha elizwini likaThixo nakumjikelezo ongayekiyo wendalo. Ukuba oorabhi babeziva belangazelela ukufumana ukukhanya, ngebaboyisakele ukuba uYesu wayethetha inyaniso. Bona baziphepha iindawo zenyaniso awayezibeka ngokubhekiselele kwiSabatha, bafuna ukuvusa umsindo ngakuYe kuba wayesithi uyalingana noThixo. Umsindo wabalawuli wawungenamida. Ukuba babengoyiki abantu, ababingeleli noorabhi ngabambulala kwangoko uYesu. Imvakalelo eninzi eyayingakwicala laKhe yayinamandla. Babebaninzi ababebona umhlobo kuYesu owayephilise izifo zabo, wabathuthuzela kwiintsizi zabo, baza bakwamkela ukuphilisa kwaKhe owayegula eBhetesda. Ngoko ke, okweli xesha, iinkokeli zazinyanzelekile ukuba ziyibambe intiyo yazo. ULw 208.2

UYesu wasichitha isimangalo sabo sokunyelisa. Igunya lam, watsho, lokwenza umsebenzi enindimangalela ngawo, lelokuba Mna ndinguNyana kaThixo, ndimnye naYe ngendalo, intando, kwanangenjongo. Kuyo yonke imisebenzi yaKhe yokudala nokuthanda kukaThixo, ndisebenzisana naYe. UNyana akanakwenza nto ngokwakhe, engathanga abone uYise eyenza.” Ababingeleli noorabhi babemxoxisa uNyana kaThixo kanye ngalo msebenzi azele wona emhlabeni ukuba awenze. Ngezono zabo babezahlule kuThixo, kwathi ngekratshi labo basuka bahambela kude naYe. Baziva banelisekile zizinto zonke, abasibona isidingo sobulumko bangasentla ukuba bukhokele izenzo zabo. Yena uNyana kaThixo wayezinikele kwintando kaYise, exhomekeke kumandla aKhe. Wazibhokoxa ngokupheleleyo uKristu u-mna kangangokuba akazange azilungiselele macebo Yena. Wamkela amacebo kaThixo ngaYe, kuthi, imihla ngemihla, uYise awatyhile amacebo aKhe. Ngokunjalo, nathi simele ukuxhomekeka kuThixo, ukuze ubomi bethu bube lula ekwenzeni intando yaKhe. ULw 208.3

Xa uMoses wayeza kwakha ingcwele njengendawo yokuhlala kukaThixo, wanikwa imiyalelo ukuba azenze zonke izinto ngokomfuziselo awawuboniswa entabeni. UMoses wayezele yinzondelelo yokwenza umsebenzi kaThixo; amadoda anobona buchule nobuchwephesha ayekho ukuba akwenze oko akucebisayo. Kanti ke, sekunjalo, wayengazi kuyenza intsimbi, irharnate, isisitheliso, intshinga, ilengalenga, okanye nasiphi isitya sengcwele, kungengawo umfuziselo awawuboniswayo. UThixo wambizelaentabeni,wamtyhilelaizinto zasezulwini.UYehova wamgquma ngobaKheubuqaqawuli,ukuze akwazi ukubona umfuziselo, zaza zenziwa ngokwawo zonke izinto. Ngoko ke, kuIsrayeli, awayengazelele ukumenza indawo yaKhe yokuhlala, wayebutyhilile ubuqaqawuli obububo besimilo saKhe. Umfuziselo abawuboniswayo entabeni xa kwakunikwa umthetho eSinayi, naxa uYehova wayedlula phambi kukaMoses evakalisa esithi, “UYehova, uYehova, uThixo onemfesane, onobabalo, ozeka kade umsindo, omninzi ngenceba nenyaniso; olondolozela amawaka inceba, oxolela ubugwenxa, nokreqo.” Eks. 34:6, 7.ULw 208.4

UIsrayeli wayekhetha iindlela zakhe. Babengazange bakhe ngokomboniso; kodwa uKristu, itempile eyinyaniso yokuhlala kukaThixo ngaphakathi, wabumba bonke ubucukubhede bobomi basemhlabeni ngokuhambelana nomgangatho omiswe nguThixo. Wathi, “Ukwenza okulikholo kuwe, Thixo wam, ndikunanzile, nomyalelo wakho usezibilinini zam ngaphakathi.” Nd. 40:8. Ngoko ke, izimilo zethu kufuneka zakhelwe “ukuze [si]be yindawo yokuhlala kaThixo ngaye uMoya.” Efese 2:22. Kuyafuneka ukuba “uzenze zonke izinto ngokomfuziselo owawuboniswayo entabeni, kuba naYe “weva ubunzima ngenxa yethu, esishiya nomzekelo, ukuze silandele emkhondweni wakhe.” Heb. 8:5; 1 Petros 2:21.ULw 209.1

Amazwi kaKristu afundisa ukuba sinako ukuzithabatha ngokungathi siqanyangelwe noBawo wethu osemazulwini ngendlela engenako ukwahlulwa. Nokuba injani imeko yethu, sixhomekeke kuThixo, ezisesandleni zaKhe zonke iziphelo zethu. Usibekele umsebenzi wethu, wasinika izakhono nezinto zawo loo msebenzi. Lonke ixesha sizinikela kwintando kaThixo, sithembela kumandla nobulumko baKhe, siya kukhokelelwa kwiindlela ezikhuselekileyo, ukuba siyizalisekise indawo yethu esiyibekelweyo kwicebo laKhe elikhulu. Lowo ke uthi axhomekeke kobakhe ubulumko namandla uyazahlula kuThixo. Endaweni yokusebenza kunye noKristu, ufezekisa injongo yotshaba lukaThixo nomntu. ULw 209.2

UMsindisi waqhubeka: “Kuba izinto asukuba ezenza yena [uYise], ezo uyazenza uNyana kwangokunjalo. . . . Njengoko uYise abavusayo abafileyo, abadlise ubomi, kwangokunjalo noNyana ubadlisa ubomi abo athandayo.” abaSadusi babesithi alukho uvuko lomzimba; kodwa uYesu ubaxelela ukuba, lowo ngomnye wemisebenzi emikhulu kayise ukuvusa abafileyo, nokuba naYe unalo igunya lokuwenza lo sebenzi mnye. “Kuza ilixa, nangoku liselikho, xa abafileyo baya kuliva izwi loNyana kaThixo, bathi abalivileyo badle ubomi.” AbaFarisi babe kholelwa eluvukweni lwabafileyo. UKristu waya wathi, amandla anika ubomi kwabafileyo khona ngoku aphakathi kwabo, kwaye kufuneka bakubone ukubonakalaliswa kwawo. La mandla manye ovuko, ngala anika ubomi emphefumlweni “[ofileyo] ziziphoso nazizono.” Efese 2:1. Loo moya wobomi ukuKristuYesu,“amandla ovukolwakhe,” “[a]khulula emthethweni wesono nokufa.” Filipi 3:10; Roma 8:2. Ubukumkani bobubi bophulwe, kwathi ngokholo, umphefumlo wagcinwa kude nesono. Lowo uyivulayo intliziyo yakhe kuMoya kaThixo uba lidlelane namandla amakhulu aya kuthi awuvuse umzimba wakhe engcwabeni. ULw 209.3

UmNazarete othobekileyo ubonisa ukundiliseka kwaKhe kwenene. Unyukela ngaphaya koluntu, akuveze ukuzifihla kwesono nehlazo, ame ebonakala, engoZukiswayo ziingelosi, uNyana kaThixo, Okunye noMdali wendalo [iyunivesi] yonke. Abo bamvayo bayakhwankqiswa. Akakho umntu owakha wawathetha amazwi anje ngawaKhe, okanye aziphathe ngobungangamsha obunjalo bobukumkani. Iintetho zaKhe zicacile kwaye ziphandle, zivakalisa umsebenzi awuzeleyo, kunye noxanduva lwehlabathi. “Kuba kananjalo uYise akagwebi namnye; uthe umgwebo wonke wawunikela kuNyana; ukuze bonke bambeke uNyana, kwanjengoko bambekayo uYise. Lowo ungambekiyo uNyana, akambeki uYise owamthumayo. . . . Kuba njengokuba uYise enabo ubomi kuYe ngokwakhe, ngokunjalo wamnika noNyana ukuba abe nobomi kuye ngokwakhe. Wamnika negunya lokugweba; ngokuba enguNyana woMntu.” ULw 210.1

Ababingeleli nabaphathi bazibeka njengabagwebi bokugweba umsebenzi kaKristu, kodwa Yena wazazisa ukuba ungumgwebi wabo, nomgwebi wawo wonke umhlaba. Ilizwe liye lanikelwa kuKristu, kwathi ngaYe yeza yonke intsikelelo evela kuThixo kuluntu oluwileyo. Waba nguMhlanguli kwaphambi kokuba azalwe engumntu. Ngako nje ukuba kubekho isono, kwabakho uMsindisi. Unike ukukhanya nobomi kubo bonke, ukuze kuthi, ngokomlinganiselo wokukhanya okunikiweyo, elowo nalowo agwetywe. Lowo ke unike ukukhanya, Lowo owulandeleyo umphefumlo ngesona sicengo sinothando, efuna ukuwuzuza ukuba uphume esonweni uze ebungcweleni, ikwangulowo ungumthetheleli nomgwebi. Kususela ekuqalekeni kwembambano enkulu ezulwini, uSathana uwugcine umsebenzi wakhe ngenkohliso; abe uKristu esebenza ukuwatyhila amacebo akhe nokuwaphula amandla akhe. NguYe oqubisene nomkhohlisi, nothe, kuwo onke amaphakade, wazama ukubahlutha abathinjwa esandleni sakhe umkhohlisi, noza kugweba wonke umphefumlo. ULw 210.2

UThixo “wamnika negunya lokugweba; ngokuba enguNyana woMntu.” Ngenxa yokuba engcamle nentlenga yembandezelo yomntu nokulingwa kwakhe, ebuqonda ubuthakathaka nezono zabantu; kuba, ngenxa yethu wamelana ngoloyiso nezilingo zikaSathana, kwaye uya kuyiphatha ngobulungisa nangothando imiphefumlo elathi igazi laKhe laphalala ukuze asindise,--ngenxa yoku, uNyana womntu unyulwe ukuba enze ugwebo.ULw 210.3

Umsebenzi kaKristu ngoko wawungenguwo owokugweba, kodwa owokusindisa . “UThixo akamthumangauNyanawakhe ehlabathini, ukuze aligwebe ihlabathi; wamthuma ukuze ihlabathi lisindiswe ngaye.” Yohane 3:17. Phambi kweSanhedrin, uYesu wathi, “Lowo ulivayo ilizwi lam, akholwe ngulowo wandithumayo, unobomi obungunaphakade; akezi ekugwetyweni; uphume ekufeni, wangena ebomini.” Yohane 5:24.ULw 211.1

Ebayalela abaphulaphuli baKhe ukuba bangamangali, uKristu wabeka phambi kwabo, ngombono obanzi, imfihlelo yexesha elizayo. “Kuza ilixa,” watsho, “abaya kuthi ngalo bonke abasemangcwabeni balive ilizwi lakhe; baphume ke: abo benza izinto ezilungileyo beze eluvukweni lobomi; nabo ke benza izinto ezimbi, beze eluvukweni lokugwetywa.” Yohane 5:28, 29.ULw 211.2

Esi siqinisekiso sobomi obuzayo, siso eso uIsrayeli wayesilindele ixesha elide, nababethembe ukusifumana ekufikeni kukaMesiya. Ukukhanya ekuphela kwako okunokukhanyisa ebumnyameni bengcwaba kwakukhanya phezu kwabo. Inkani ayiboni. UYesu wayaphule izithethe zoorabhi, akalihlonipha igunya labo, baza abakholelwa. ULw 211.3

Ixesha, indawo, isiganeko, ubunzima bovakalelo obabukho entlanganisweni, zizonke ezo zinto zahlangana ukwenza ukuba amazwi kaYesu phambi kweSanhedrin abe negalelo elikhulu. Awona magunya aphezulu enkolo yesizwe ayefuna ubomi baKhe Lowo wazazisa njengombuyiseli kaIsrayeli. INkosi yeSabatha yayimiswe phambi kwenkundla yasemhlabeni ukuba iphendule isityholo sokwaphula umthetho weSabatha. Wathi akuwuxela umsebenzi waKhe ngokungoyiki okukhulu, abagwebi baKhe bamjonga bemangalisiwe nangengqumbo; kodwa amazwi aKhe ayengaphenduleki. Babengakwazi ukumgweba. Walilandula igunya lababingeleli noorabhi lokumbuza ngegunya laKhe. Babengazange balinikwe igunya elinjalo. Amabango abo ayemile kwikratshi labo nokuziphakamisa kwabo. Wakwala ukuvuma ukuba unetyala kwizimangalo zabo, okanye ukufundiswa ngabo. ULw 211.4

Endaweni yokuxolisa ngesenzo ababekhalaza ngaso, okanye yokuchaza injongo yaKhe yokusenza, uYesu wabajikela abaphathi, baza abamangali baba ngabamangalelwa. Wabathethisa ngobulukhuni beentliziyo zabo, nokungazazi kwabo iziBhalo. Wabaxelela ukuba balalile ilizwi likaThixo, njengoko bale Yena othunywe nguThixo. “Niyaziphengulula iziBhalo, ngokuba nina niba ninobomi obungunaphakade kuzo; zaye zona zingqina ngam.” Yohane, 5:39, NKJV.ULw 211.5

Kulo lonke iphepha, nokuba lelembhali, okanye umthetho, okanye isiprofeto, imiBhalo yeTestamente eNdala, yayizaliswe kukukhanya kobuqaqawuli boNyana kaThixo. Njengokuba yayisisimiso sezulu, uhlelo lonke lwesiYuda lwalusisiprofeto esihlanganiswe ndawonye seendaba ezilungileyo. KuKristu “bonke abaprofeti bayamngqinela.” IZenzo 10:43. Kususela kwisithembisoesasinikweuAdam,kuhlekufikelele kumnombo wamanyange kunye nexesha lomthetho, ukukhanya okuqaqambileyo kwezulu kwawenza acaca amanyathelo oMhlanguli. Iimboni zayibona iNkwenkwezi yaseBhetelehem, uShilo owayeza kufika, xa izinto ezizayo zazikhawuleza ukulandelelana phambi kwabo ngokuyimfihlakalo. Kuwo wonke umbingelelo, ukufa kukaKristu kwaboniswa kulo lonke ilifu lesiqhumiso, kwakunyuka ubulungisa baKhe. Ngalo lonke ixilongo lentlokoma, igama laKhe lalivakaliswa. Kwimfihlakalo eyoyikekayo yengcwele kangcwele, ubuqaqawuli baKhe babukho.ULw 211.6

AmaYuda ayeneziBhalo kuwo, ecinga ukuba ngolwazi nje lwangaphandle lwelizwi anobomi obungunaphakade. UYesu wathi, “Nezwi lakhe aninalo lihleli kuni.” Kuba bemalile uKristu elizwini laKhe, bamala nesiqu saKhe. “[Anithandi] ukuza kum,” watsho” “ukuze nibe nobomi.” Iinkokheli zamaYuda zazizifundile iimfundiso zabaprofeti ngokubhekiselele kubukumkani bukaMesiya; kodwa zazikwenze oko, zingenalo ulangazelelo olunyanisekileyo lokuyazi inyaniso, kodwa ngenjongo yokufumana ubungqina bokuxhasa amathemba amabhongo abo. Wathi uKristu akufika ngendlela echasene noko babekulindele, ababinako ukumamkela; bathi, ukuze bazithethelele, bazama ukubonisa ukuba ungumkhohlisi. Bathi ngako nje ukuba bazibeke iinyawo zabo kule ndlela, kwaba lula kuSathana ukuyiqinisa inkcaso yabo ngakuKristu. Namazwi nje ayemele ukuba amkelwe njengobungqina bobuThixo baKhe achazwa ngendlela yokuba amchase. Ngoko ke, bayijika inyaniso kaThixo ukuba ibe bubuxoki, kwathi okona uMsindisi ethetha ngqo kubo ngemisebenzi yaKhe yenceba, kwaba kukhona bezimisela ukuba bamelane nako ukukhanya. ULw 212.1

UYesu wathi, “Andamkeli luzuko bantwini.” Yayingeyiyo impembelelo yeSanhedrin, ingeyiyo imvume yabo awayeyilangazelela. Wayengayi kufumana luzuko ngokuvunyelwa ngabo. Wayenikwe imbeko negunya liZulu. Ukuba wayelunqwenela, iingelosi ngezeza ukuba zimnike imbeko; uYise ngewaphinda wangqina ngobuThixo baKhe, kwathi kodwa ngenxa yabo, ngenxa yesizwe ababeziinkokheli zaso, walangazelela ukuba abalawuli bamaYuda basiqonde isimilo saKhe, baze bamkele iintsikelelo awayebazisele zona. ULw 212.2

“Mna ndize egameni likaBawo, anindamkeli; ukuba omnye uthe weza ngelilakhe igama, nomamkela yena.” UYesu weza ngegunya likaThixo, enomfanekiselo waKhe, izalisekisa ilizwi laKhe, efuna uzuko lwaKhe; ukanti ke akazange amkelwe ziinkokeli kwaIsrayeli; kodwa ukuba bebeya kuza abanye, bezimilise okukaKristu, kodwa beqhutywayeyabo intando befuna olwabo uzuko, babeya kwamkeleka. Ngokuba kutheni? Kuba, lowo ufuna olwakhe uzuko, ubhenela kulangazelelo lokuziphakamisakwabanye.Kwabanjalo,amaYudaayenokusabela. Ayeya kuyamkela ititshala yobuxoki kuba ilikhohlisa ikratshi labo ngokuvumela iimbono nezithethe azithandayo. Ke yona imfundiso kaKristu ayizange ivumelane neengcinga zabo. Yayiyeyomoya, kwaye ifuna umbingelelo ka-mna; ngoko ke ayengenako ukuyamkela. Ayengaqhelananga noThixo, kwaye kuwo, ilizwi laKhe ngoKristu lalilelongaziwayo, owasemzini. ULw 212.3

Akuphindeki into enjalo na ngale mihla yethu? Ababaninzi na, nakwiinkokeli zenkolo, abazenza lukhuni iintliziyo zabo ngakuMoya Oyingcwele, benze ukuba bangabi nakho ukuba baliqonde ilizwi likaThixo? Abalilanduli na ilizwi likaThixo, ukuze bagcine ezabo izithethe? ULw 213.1

“Ukuba benikholiwe nguMoses,” watsho uYesu, “ninge nikholiwe ndim; kuba yena wabhala ngam. Ke ukuba anikholwa zizibhalo zakhe yena, ningathini na ukukholwa ngawam amazwi?” YayinguKristu owayethetha noIsrayeli ngoMoses. Ukuba babeliphulaphule ilizwi lezulu elalithethwa ngenkokeli yabo enkulu, ngababeliqondile kwiimfundiso zikaKristu. Ukuba babekholelwe kuMoses, ngebabekholelwe kuLowo wabhala ngaYe uMoses. ULw 213.2

UYesu wayesazi ukuba ababingeleli noorabhi babezimisele ukumbulala; kodwa ke waqhubeka ebacacisela ngokuphandle ubunye baKhe noYise, nolwalamano lwaKhe nehlabathi. Bayibona into yokuba inkcaso yabo yayingathetheleleki, kodwa intiyo yabo enokubulala yayingakholiswa. Bathiwa hlasi luloyiko xa bebona amandla awoyisayo awayehambelana nomsebenzi waKhe; kodwa bamelana nezicengo zaKhe, bazivalela ebumnyameni. ULw 213.3

Basilela ngokukhulu ukuliwisa igunya likaYesu okanye ukulahlula kwintlonipho nengqwalasela yabantu, abaninzi kuba ababewamkele amazwi waKhe.Abaphathi ngokwabo babebuva ubutyala obunzulu xa wayekubethelela ukuba netyala kwizazela zabo; kodwa oku kwanela ukubenza babe nobukrakra obugqithisileyo ngakuYe. Babezimisele ukumbulala. Bathumela abathunywa kulo lonke ilizwe ukuba balumkise abantu ukuba bamchase uYesu njengebhedengu. Iintlola [okanye abacuphi] bathunyelwa ukuba bamjonge, banike ingxelo ngakuthethayo nakwenzayo. UMsindisi onexabiso ngoku ngokuqinisekileyo wayemi phantsi kwethunzi lomnqamlezo. ULw 213.4