Imibuzo Evela Kubafundi
◼ Kungani amanye amaJuda acabanga ukuthi uJohane uMbhapathizi wayenguEliya, njengoba kushiwo kuJohane 1:21?
Ngaphambi kokubhapathizwa kukaJesu, abanye abapristi namaLevi beza eBethabara ngaphesheya kweJordani, lapho uJohane ayebhapathiza khona, futhi bambuza ukuthi wayenguKristu yini. Lapho uJohane ethi wayengesiye, bambuza: “Uyini pho? UnguEliya na?”—Johane 1:19-28.
Kungani lawomaJuda acabanga ukuthi uJohane wayengase abe ngumprofethi ongumHeberu uEliya, owayesafa emakhulwini ayisishiyagalolunye eminyaka ngaphambili? Kwakungenxa yesiprofetho esasishiwo cishe phakathi kwesikhathi sikaEliya nokuqala kwenkonzo kaJohane. Umprofethi kaNkulunkulu uMalaki wayebikezele: “Bhekani, ngiyakuthuma kini uEliya umprofethi, lungakafiki usuku lukaJehova olukhulu nolwesabekayo.” (Malaki 4:5) Ngokusobala amanye amaJuda aqonda lokhu njengokusho ukubuya okungokwenyama kukaEliya, mhlawumbe ngokuba uNkulunkulu amvuse. Khona-ke uJohane wabonakala egqoke ingubo yoboya nebhande lesikhumba elifana nelengubo kaEliya. (Mathewu 3:4; 2 AmaKhosi 1:8) Futhi uJohane wayekhuluma ngokungafihli ekumemezeleni isigijimi sikaNkulunkulu esibizela ukuphenduka, njengoEliya. Ngakho-ke bambuza uJohane ukuthi wayenguEliya yini.
UJohane waphendula, “Angisiye.” Qha, wayengeyena umprofethi ongumHeberu ongokoqobo uEliya, owayesalele kwabafile. Eqinisweni, ingelosi yayitshele uZakariya (owaba nguyise kaJohane) ukuthi uJohane wayeyokhonza ‘ngomoya namandla kaEliya,’ ukuba abuyisele amaJuda kuJehova. (Luka 1:17) UJohane wayengenakuba nguEliya; kodwa wayeyokwenza umsebenzi ofana nowafezwa umprofethi uEliya owayesafa kudala.
Ngokuvumelana nalokhu, uJesu kamuva wathi, ecabanga ngoJohane: “UEliya sewafika; abamazanga nokho.” (Mathewu 17:12) Wayesho ukuthi uJohane wayesigcwalisile isiprofetho sikaMalaki 4:5. Wayeyilungisile indlela phambi kukaMesiya. Kodwa, iningi lamaJuda alizange limamukele uJohane njengogcwalisa leyondima. Futhi kulotshiwe kuJohane 10:41: “UJohane nempela akenzanga-sibonakaliso nasinye,” kodwa umprofethi wokuqala uEliya wenza izibonakaliso noma izimangaliso eziyisishiyagalombili.