Ukubalekela KwamaKristu EPhela

NGO-33 C.E., uJesu Kristu waxwayisa abalandeli bakhe ukuba ‘babalekele ezintabeni’ lapho bebona “iJerusalema lihaqiwe izimpi.” (Luka 21:20-24) Kodwa kukuphi lapho ababalekela khona ngempela? UJoseph Ernest Renan ongowomdabu waseFrance nongumlobi-mlando uyaphendula: “Indawo eyakhethwa izinhloko zomphakathi [wamaKristu] ukuba isebenze njengendawo yesiphephelo eyinhloko yeBandla lababaleki kwakuyiPhela, elinye lamadolobha aseDekapholi, elalisendaweni enhle eseduze nechweba elingakwesobunxele leJordani, elibheke ngakolunye uhlangothi lwethafa laseGori, futhi ngakolunye uhlangothi elibheke amawa, ezansi kwawo okugeleza umfula. Akukho okunye ukukhetha kokuhlakanipha okwakungenziwa. IJudiya, i-Idumiya, iPhereya, neGalile ayevukela umbuso; iSamariya kanye nendawo engasogwini zazingenakho ukuthula . . . Ngakho idolobha laseSkithe nePhela kwakungamadolobha aseduze neJerusalema ayengathathi-hlangothi. IPhela, ngenxa yokuthi yayingaphesheya kweJordani, kumelwe ukuba yanikeza ukuthula okwengeziwe kunedolobha laseSkithe, elase lingenye yezinqaba zamaRoma. IPhela yayiyidolobha elikhululekile njengamanye amadolobha aseDekapholi . . . Ukuphephela lapho kwakuyisibonakaliso esisobala sokwesaba kwabo ukuvukela [kwamaJuda] . . . Kwakukulelidolobha labantu abangewona amaJuda lapho iBandla laseJerusalema laphephela khona phakathi nokwesaba okukhulu kokuvinjezelwa komuzi yimpi.”