Iqiniso NgoKhisimusi

INGABE uyakukhathalela ukwazi iqiniso elingokomoya? Uma kunjalo, mhlawumbe wake wazibuza le mibuzo: (1) Ingabe uJesu wazalwa ngo-December 25 ngempela? (2) Zazingobani “izazi,” futhi ingabe zazintathu ngempela? (3) Hlobo luni “lwenkanyezi” olwaziholela kuJesu? (4) USanta Claus uhlobana kanjani nokuzalwa kukaJesu? (5) UNkulunkulu ulibheka kanjani isiko likaKhisimusi lokupha abanye izipho noma uma sikubeka ngokuqondile, ukuthengelana izipho?

Ake sicabangele le mibuzo ngokuhlola iBhayibheli namaqiniso angokomlando.

(1) Ingabe UJesu Wazalwa Ngo-December 25?

Inkambiso: Ngokwenkolelo evamile, ukuzalwa kukaJesu kwenzeka ngo-December 25 futhi kugujwa ngalolo suku. I-Encyclopedia of Religion ithi elithi “Khisimusi lisho ukugujwa komkhosi wokuzalwa kukaJesu abantu abaningi.”

Umsuka wawo: I-Christmas Encyclopedia ithi, “Ukumiswa kuka-December 25 akuveli entweni eyayenziwa ngezikhathi zeBhayibheli, kodwa emikhosini yobuqaba yamaRoma eyayigujwa ngasekupheleni konyaka,” ngosuku olufushane kunazo zonke ebusika eNhla Nenkabazwe. Le mikhosi yayihlanganisa iSaturnalia, umkhosi wokuhlonipha uSaturn, unkulunkulu wezolimo, “kanye nemikhosi emibili yonkulunkulu belanga, uSol wamaRoma noMithra wamaPheresiya,” kusho le encyclopedia. Zombili lezi zinsuku zokuzalwa zazigujwa ngo-December 25, usuku olufushane kunazo zonke ebusika ngokwekhalenda kaJulian.

Le mikhosi yamaqaba yaqala ukuhlanganiswa “nobuKristu” ngonyaka ka-350, lapho uPapa uJulius I emisa u-December 25 njengosuku lokuzalwa kukaKristu. I-Encyclopedia of Religion ithi, “Kancane kancane, Ukuzalwa KukaKristu kwathatha isikhundla seminye imikhosi eyayigujwa ngale nkathi yasebusika enosuku olufushane. Ukusetshenziswa komfanekiso welanga njengomelela ukuvuswa kukaKristu (owayebizwa nangokuthi uSol Invictus) kwanda, futhi isiyingi esidala selanga . . . saba umqhele wobungcwele oyindilinga (halo) oba sekhanda losanta bamaKristu.”

Lokho okushiwo iBhayibheli: IBhayibheli alilusho usuku lokuzalwa kukaJesu. Kodwa singaphetha ngokuqiniseka ukuthi akazalwanga ngo-December 25. Kungani? IBhayibheli lisitshela ukuthi lapho uJesu ezalwa, abelusi ‘babehlala ngaphandle’ belusa imihlambi yabo ebusuku endaweni yaseBhetlehema. (Luka 2:8) Inkathi ebandayo nenezimvula ngokuvamile yayiqala ngo-October, futhi abelusi—ikakhulukazi ezintabeni ezibandayo njengalezo eziseBhetlehema—babengenisa izimvu zabo endaweni evikelekile ebusuku. Isimo sezulu esibanda kakhulu, ngesinye isikhathi esihambisana nokukhithika sasiba ngo-December.a

Kuyaphawuleka ukuthi amaKristu okuqala, iningi lawo elake lahamba noJesu enkonzweni yakhe, awazange alugubhe nanini usuku lokuzalwa kwakhe. Kunalokho, ngokuvumelana nomyalo wakhe, akhumbula ukufa kwakhe kuphela. (Luka 22:17-20; 1 Korinte 11:23-26) Noma kunjalo, abanye bangase bathi, ‘Ingabe kunendaba ngempela ukuthi uKhisimusi uhlobene nobuqaba?’ Iyini impendulo? Kunendaba kuNkulunkulu. UJesu Kristu wathi, ‘Abakhulekeli beqiniso bayokhulekela uBaba ngomoya nangeqiniso.’—Johane 4:23.

(2) “Izazi”—Zazingaki? Zazingobani?

Inkambiso: Ziholwa inkanyezi evela empumalanga, “izazi” ezintathu zibonakala zinika uJesu izipho emkhombeni. Ngezinye izikhathi kubonakala kukhona nabelusi.

Umsuka wayo: Ngaphandle kokulandisa okufushane okuseBhayibhelini, “konke okulotshiwe ngeZazi kuthathwe enganekwaneni” kusho i-Christmas Encyclopedia.

Lokho okushiwo yiBhayibheli: IBhayibheli alisho ukuthi zazingaki “izazi” ezavakashela uJesu. Kungenzeka zazimbili, zintathu, zizine noma ngaphezulu. Nakuba zibizwa ngokuthi “izazi” kwezinye izinguqulo zeBhayibheli, igama lolimi lokuqala lithi magoi, okusho ababhula ngezinkanyezi noma abathakathi—okuyimisebenzi iBhayibheli elithi ‘iyanengeka kuJehova.’ (Duteronomi 18:10-12) Ngenxa yohambo olude besuka eMpumalanga, ababhula ngezinkanyezi abafikanga ngesikhathi uJesu esesesitebeleni. Kunalokho, mhlawumbe kwaba ngemva kwezinyanga behamba, base ‘bengena endlini’ uJesu ayekuyo. Bambona lapho-ke “umntwana enoMariya unina.”—Mathewu 2:11.

(3) Hlobo Luni Lwenkanyezi Olwaluhola Ababhula Ngezinkanyezi?

Umkhondo utholakala kulokho okwenziwa yile nkanyezi. Phakathi kokunye, ayizange iwaholele la madoda eBhetlehema ngokuqondile kodwa yawaholela eJerusalema, okwenza ukuba iNkosi uHerode izwe ukuthi uJesu uzelwe ngenxa yemibuzo yawo. UHerode “wababizela ngasese ababhula ngezinkanyezi,” babe sebemtshela ngosana ‘oluyinkosi yamaJuda.’ UHerode wabe esethi: “Nimfune ngokucophelela umntwana, uma senimtholile nibuye nizongibikela.” Nokho, isithakazelo sikaHerode kuJesu sasingesihle neze. Kunalokho, lo mbusi okhukhumele futhi ononya wayezimisele ukumbulala!—Mathewu 2:1-8, 16.

Ngokuthakazelisayo, “inkanyezi” yabe isiholela ababhula ngezinkanyezi eBhethlehema engaseningizimu. Lapho “yema” phezu kwendlu uJesu ayekuyo.—Mathewu 2:9, 10.

Kuyacaca ukuthi lena kwakungeyona inkanyezi evamile! Kungani nje uNkulunkulu owayesebenzise izingelosi ukutshela abelusi abathobekile ngokuzalwa kukaJesu, manje ayesesebenzisa inkanyezi ukuze aqondise ababhula ngezinkanyezi—aqale abayise esitheni sikaJesu kamuva abayise enganeni? Okuwukuphela kwesiphetho esinengqondo ukuthi inkanyezi yayiyithuluzi elibi likaSathane, okunguye okwazi ukwenza izinto ezinjalo. (2 Thesalonika 2:9, 10) Okuxakayo ukuthi umhlobiso obizwa ngokuthi inkanyezi yaseBhetlehema uvame ukubonakala uchonywe kuso kanye isihlahla sikaKhisimusi.

(4) USanta Claus Uhlangana Kanjani NoJesu Nokuzalwa Kwakhe?

Inkambiso: Emazweni amaningi uSanta Claus ubhekwa njengolethela izingane izipho.b Izingane zivame ukubhalela uSanta zicele izipho, okunenkolelo yokuthi otokoloshe bayamsiza lapho ezenza ekomkhulu lakhe eliseNorth Pole.

Umsuka wayo: Ngokombono ovamile, inganekwane kaSanta Claus yaqanjwa ngoSaint Nicholas, uMbhishobhi Omkhulu waseMyra e-Asia Minor, manje osekuyiTurkey. I-Christmas Encyclopedia ithi, “Cishe yonke into ebhalwe ngoSt. Nicholas isekelwe ensumansumaneni.” Igama elithi “Santa Claus” cishe livela kwelithi Sinterklaas, okuwukuphinyiselwa kabi kwamagama esiDashi asho ‘uSaint Nicholas.’ Ngokomlando nangokweBhayibheli, akukho lutho oluhlanganisa uSanta Claus noJesu Kristu.

Lokho okushiwo yiBhayibheli: “Njengoba seniwalahlile amanga, yilowo nalowo kini makakhulume iqiniso nomakhelwane wakhe.” ‘Omakhelwane’ bethu abaseduze kakhulu amalungu omkhaya wethu. (Efesu 4:25) IBhayibheli lithi futhi kufanele ‘sithande iqiniso,’ ‘sikhulume iqiniso enhliziyweni [yethu].’ (Zakariya 8:19; IHubo 15:2) Yiqiniso, ukutshela izingane ukuthi uSanta (noma umntwana onguKristu) uyena obapha izipho ngoKhisimusi kungabonakala kuwumdlalo ongenangozi, kodwa ingabe kulungile noma kuwukuhlakanipha ukukhohlisa izingane ezincane, ngisho noma izinhloso zomuntu zingezimbi? Awukutholi kuyindida ukuthi isenzakalo okuthiwa sihloselwe ukuhlonipha uJesu siba isikhathi sokukhohlisa izingane?

(5) UNkulunkulu Ukubheka Kanjani Ukuphana Izipho Nokuzijabulisa NgoKhisimusi?

Inkambiso: Ukuphana izipho kwangoKhisimusi kuyinto engavamile ngoba kuhilela ukushintshana ngezipho ngokuyinhloko, futhi inkathi kaKhisimusi ibonakala ngokuzijabulisa, ukwenza amadili nokuphuza.

Umsuka wakho: Imikhosi yaseRoma lasendulo yeSaturnalia, yayiqala ngo-December 17 iphele ngomhla ka-24, okwakuwusuku lokuphana izipho. Emakhaya nasemigwaqweni kwakuba namadili, umsindo, ukuphuza ngokweqile nokuxokozela. Lo mkhosi wawulandelwa ukugujwa kosuku lokuqala ku-January. Nalo lwaluba nomkhosi ngokuvamile owawuthatha izinsuku ezintathu. Umkhosi weSaturnalia nosuku lokuqala ku-January cishe kwakwakha umkhosi owodwa wokuzijabulisa.

Lokho okushiwo yiBhayibheli: Injabulo nokupha kuwuphawu lokukhulekela kweqiniso. IBhayibheli lithi, ‘Jabulani nina abalungileyo, nikhamuluke ngenjabulo.’ (IHubo 32:11) Leyo njabulo ngokuvamile ihlotshaniswa nokupha. (IzAga 11:25) UJesu Kristu wathi, “Kukhona injabulo eyengeziwe ekupheni kunasekwamukeleni.” (IzEnzo 20:35) Wabuye wathi: “Kwenzeni umkhuba ukupha,” noma kuvame ekuphileni kwenu.—Luka 6:38.

Ukupha okunjalo akufani nokupha okungokwesiko noma okuphoqelelwayo, mhlawumbe ngenxa yenkambiso yendawo. Lapho lichaza umoya wokupha ofanele, iBhayibheli lithi: “Yilowo nalowo makenze njengoba nje enqumile enhliziyweni yakhe, kungabi ngokudabuka noma ngaphansi kokucindezelwa, ngoba uNkulunkulu uthanda umuphi onamileyo.” (2 Korinte 9:7) Labo abalandela lezi zimiso ezinhle zeBhayibheli bapha ngoba beshukunyiswa inhliziyo yabo ephanayo, okungaba nganoma yisiphi isikhathi sonyaka. Ngokuqinisekile le ndlela yokupha inesibusiso sikaJehova, futhi ayiwona neze umthwalo.

Inkohliso!

Lapho uhlolwa kusetshenziswa iBhayibheli, cishe zonke izici zikaKhisimusi ziwubuqaba noma ukuphendukezelwa kokulandisa kweBhayibheli. Ngakho, amasiko kaKhisimusi awubuKristu ngegama nje. Kwenzeka kanjani lokho? Emakhulwini eminyaka ngemva kokufa kukaKristu kwavela abafundisi bamanga abaningi, njengoba nje iBhayibheli lalibikezele. (2 Thimothewu 4:3, 4) Lawo madoda angenazimiso, ayenesithakazelo esikhulu ekwenzeni ubuKristu buthandeke kubantu abangamaqaba kunokufundisa iqiniso. Ngakho-ke, kancane kancane amukela imikhosi yenkolo yobuqaba abe esethi “iwubuKristu.”

IBhayibheli laxwayisa ngokuthi, labo ‘bafundisi bamanga bayonixhaphaza ngamazwi enkohliso. Kodwa, isahlulelo esisukela kudala asibahambeli kancane, futhi ukubhujiswa kwabo akozeli.’ (2 Petru 2:1-3) OFakazi BakaJehova bawabheka njengabalulekile lawo mazwi—njengoba nje belithatha kanjalo neBhayibheli, abalibheka njengeZwi likaNkulunkulu elilotshiwe. (2 Thimothewu 3:16) Ngakho, bayawenqaba amasiko nemikhosi yenkolo yamanga. Ingabe lokhu kuye kwabancisha injabulo? Lutho neze! Njengoba manje sizobona, baye bazibonela ngawabo ukuthi iqiniso leBhayibheli liyakhulula!

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 8]

OHLWANYELA UKHULA, UYOVUNA LONA

Ngesinye isikhathi, izikhulu zesonto zalwa “kanzima nezinsalela zobuqaba,” kusho incwadi ethi Christmas Customs and Traditions—Their History and Significance. Kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, abaholi bamasonto baqala ukukhathazeka kakhulu ngokugcwalisa amasonto kunokufundisa iqiniso. Ngakho, baqala “ukuyishalazela” leyo mikhuba yobuqaba. Kamuva, bayamukela.

IBhayibheli lithi: ‘Uyovuna lokho okuhlwanyelayo.’ (Galathiya 6:7) Ngemva kokuhlwanyela insimu yawo ngembewu yobuqaba, amasonto kumelwe angamangaliswa ukuthi “ukhula” luyanda. Umkhosi okuthiwa owokuhlonipha ukuzalwa kukaJesu uba yizaba zokudakwa nemibuthano exokozelayo, izitolo zithatha indawo yesonto, imindeni ingena shí ezikweletini ithenga izipho, izingane zididanisa iqiniso nenganekwane noSanta Claus noJesu Kristu. Yebo, yingakho uNkulunkulu athi: ‘Yekani ukuthinta into engcolile.’—2 Korinte 6:17.

[Izithombe ekhasini 7]

Inkathi kaKhisimusi, njengomkhosi wasendulo weSaturnalia igcwala ukuzijabulisa, amadili nokuphuza

[Umthombo]

© Mary Evans Picture Library