Isahluko 7
Lokho UNkulunkulu Akwenzile Ukuze Asindise Isintu
1, 2. (a) Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba induna yekhulu yaseRoma iqaphele ukuthi ubani iNdodana kaNkulunkulu? (b) Kungani uJehova avumela ukuba uJesu afe?
NGOLUNYE usuku ntambama kuyisentwasahlobo eminyakeni ecishe ibe ngu-2 000 edlule, induna yekhulu yaseRoma yayibuka amadoda amathathu efa kancane kancane, kalusizi. Lelo sosha laqaphela ikakhulukazi eyodwa kuwo—uJesu Kristu. UJesu wayebethelwe esigxotsheni sokhuni. Isibhakabhaka, emini bebade, saba mnyama njengoba umzuzu wokufa kwakhe wawusondela. Lapho efa, umhlaba wandindizela ngamandla, leli sosha labe selithi: “Ngokuqinisekile lomuntu ubeyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.”—Marku 15:39.
2 INdodana kaNkulunkulu! Lelo sosha laliqinisile. Lalisanda kubona isenzakalo esibaluleke kakhulu kwezake zenzeka emhlabeni. Ezenzakalweni zangaphambili, uNkulunkulu uqobo wayebize uJesu ngokuthi iNdodana yakhe ethandekayo. (Mathewu 3:17; 17:5) Kungani uJehova ayevumele iNdodana yakhe ukuba ife? Ngoba lena kwakuyindlela kaNkulunkulu yokusindisa isintu esonweni nasekufeni.
WAKHETHELWA INJONGO EKHETHEKILE
3. Kungani kwakufaneleka ukuba iNdodana kaNkulunkulu ezelwe yodwa ikhethelwe ukufeza injongo ekhethekile ngesintu?
3 Njengoba sifundile ngaphambili kulencwadi, uJesu wayeke waphila ngaphambi kokuba abe umuntu. Ubizwa ngokuthi ‘iNdodana’ kaNkulunkulu “ezelwe yodwa” ngoba uJehova wamdala ngokuqondile. Ngemva kwalokho uNkulunkulu wasebenzisa uJesu ekwenzeni zonke ezinye izinto zibe khona. (Johane 3:18; Kolose 1:16) UJesu wayesithanda ngokukhethekile isintu. (IzAga 8:30, 31) Akumangalisi ukuthi uJehova wakhetha leNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa ukuba ifeze injongo ekhethekile lapho isintu sithola isahlulelo sokufa!
4, 5. Ngaphambi kokuba uJesu eze emhlabeni, yini eyembulwa iBhayibheli ngeMbewu enguMesiya?
4 Lapho ekhipha isigwebo sika-Adamu, u-Eva, noSathane ensimini yase-Edene, uNkulunkulu wabiza uMhlengi wesikhathi esizayo ngokuthi ‘imbewu.’ LeMbewu, noma inzalo, yayiyoza ukuze izoqeda izinkinga ezimbi kakhulu ezabangelwa uSathane uDeveli, “inyoka yokuqala.” Eqinisweni, iMbewu eyayithenjisiwe yayiyochoboza uSathane nabo bonke abamlandelayo.—Genesise 3:15, qhathanisa ne-NW; 1 Johane 3:8; IsAmbulo 12:9.
5 Phakathi namakhulu eminyaka, kancane kancane uNkulunkulu wembula okwengeziwe ngaleMbewu, ebizwa nangokuthi uMesiya. Njengoba kubonisiwe eshadini elisekhasini 37, iziprofetho eziningi zanikeza imininingwane nezici eziningi zokuphila kwayo emhlabeni. Ngokwesibonelo, yayiyokhuthazelela ukuphathwa kabi okukhulu ukuze ifeze indima yayo enjongweni kaNkulunkulu.—Isaya 53:3-5.
OKWAKUYOKWENZA UMESIYA AFE
6. NgokukaDaniyeli 9:24-26, yini uMesiya ayeyoyifeza, futhi kanjani?
6 Isiprofetho esilotshwe kuDaniyeli 9:24-26 sabikezela ukuthi uMesiya—oGcotshiweyo kaNkulunkulu—wayeyofeza injongo enkulu. Wayeyoza emhlabeni ‘ezoqeda iziphambeko, akhawule izono, enze ukubuyisana ngobubi, futhi angenise ukulunga’ kuze kube phakade. UMesiya wayeyosusa isahlulelo sokufa esintwini esithembekile. Kodwa wayeyokwenza kanjani lokhu? Lesi siprofetho sichaza ukuthi ‘wayeyonqunywa,’ noma abulawe.
7. Kungani amaJuda ayenikela ngemihlatshelo yezilwane, futhi yayifanekiselani?
7 Ama-Israyeli asendulo ayejwayelene nomqondo wokuhlawulela amaphutha. Ekukhulekeleni kwawo, ngaphansi koMthetho ayewunikwe uNkulunkulu ngoMose, ayenikela njalo ngemihlatshelo yezilwane. Yayikhumbuza abantu bakwa-Israyeli ukuthi abantu badinga okuthile okuzohlawulela, noma kusibekele, izono zabo. Umphostoli uPawulu wabeka ngamafuphi lesi simiso kanje: “Ngaphandle kokuba kuthululwe igazi akukho ukuthethelelwa okuba khona.” (Heberu 9:22) AmaKristu awekho ngaphansi koMthetho kaMose nezimfuneko zawo, njengemihlatshelo. (Roma 10:4; Kolose 2:16, 17) Futhi ayazi ukuthi imihlatshelo yezilwane ngeke inikeze intethelelo yezono ehlala njalo nephelele. Kunalokho, leminikelo eyimihlatshelo yayifanekisela umhlatshelo obaluleke nakakhulu—okaMesiya, noma uKristu. (Heberu 10:4, 10; qhathanisa neyabaseGalathiya 3:24.) Nokho, ungase ubuze, ‘Ingabe kwakudingeka ngempela ukuba uMesiya aze afe?’
8, 9. Yiziphi izinto eziyigugu u-Adamu no-Eva abazilahla, futhi izenzo zabo zayithinta kanjani inzalo yabo?
8 Yebo, uMesiya kwakumelwe afe ukuze kusindiswe isintu. Ukuze siqonde ukuthi kungani, kumelwe sihlehle ngezingqondo siye ensimini yase-Edene futhi sizame ukuqonda ukubaluleka kwalokho u-Adamu no-Eva abakulahla lapho behlubuka kuNkulunkulu. Babebekelwe ukuphila okuphakade! Njengabantwana bakaNkulunkulu, babejabulela ukusebenzelana naye ngokuqondile. Kodwa lapho benqaba ukubusa kukaJehova, balahla konke lokho futhi balethela uhlanga lwesintu isono nokufa.—Roma 5:12.
9 Kwaba njengokungathi abazali bethu bokuqala basaphaze ingcebo eningi, bazifaka esikweletwini esikhulu. U-Adamu no-Eva badlulisela leso sikweletu enzalweni yabo. Ngenxa yokuthi asizalwanga siphelele singenasono, sonke sinesono futhi siyafa. Lapho sigula noma sisho amazwi abuhlungu esifisa sengathi singawagwinya, sisuke sibhekana nemiphumela yesikweletu sethu esasizuza njengefa—ukungapheleli kobuntu. (Roma 7:21-25) Okuwukuphela kwethemba lethu ukuba kubuyiswe lokho u-Adamu akulahla. Nokho, ngeke sizenze sikufanelekele ukuphila kobuntu okuphelele. Njengoba bonke abantu abangaphelele bona, bonke bafanelwe ukufa, hhayi ukuphila.—Roma 6:23.
10. Yini eyayidingeka ukuze kubuye kuthengwe lokho u-Adamu akulahla?
10 Nokho, kukhona yini okwakunganikelwa ngakho ukuze kwenanwe ukuphila u-Adamu akulahla? Indinganiso kaNkulunkulu yobulungisa ifuna ukuba kulinganiswe, “ukuphila ngokuphila.” (Eksodusi 21:23) Ngakho kwadingeka ukuba kunikelwe ngokuphila ukuze kukhokhwe ukuphila okwalahleka. Kwakungeke kufaneleke ukuphila kwanoma ubani. IHubo 49:7, 8 lithi ngabantu abangaphelele: “Umuntu angemhlenge umfowabo, angemnike uNkulunkulu ihlawulo ngaye. Ngokuba ukuhlengwa komphefumulo wabo kubiza kakhulu; akunakuphela nanini.” Ngenxa yalokho ingabe lesi simo asinathemba? Lutho neze.
11. (a) Igama elithi “isihlengo” lisho ukuthini ngesiHeberu? (b) Ubani okuwukuphela kwakhe owayengahlenga isintu, futhi ngani?
11 Ngolimi lwesiHeberu, igama elithi “isihlengo” lisho imali ekhokhelwa ukuhlenga othunjiwe futhi libonisa ukulingana. Umuntu onokuphila kobuntu okuphelele kuphela owayenganikela ngokuthile okulingana nalokho okwalahlwa u-Adamu. Ngemva kuka-Adamu, okuwukuphela komuntu ophelele owazalwa emhlabeni kwaba uJesu Kristu. Ngakho, iBhayibheli libiza uJesu ngokuthi “u-Adamu wokugcina” futhi lisiqinisekisa ukuthi uKristu “wazinikela waba isihlengo esihambelanayo sabo bonke.” (1 Korinte 15:45; 1 Thimothewu 2:5, 6) Njengoba u-Adamu adlulisela ukufa kubantwana bakhe, uJesu wadlulisela ukuphila okuphakade. Eyoku-1 Korinte 15:22 iyachaza: “Njengoba nje bonke befa ku-Adamu, kanjalo nakuKristu bonke bayokwenziwa baphile.” Khona-ke, ngokufanelekile uJesu ubizwa ngokuthi “uYise ongunaphakade.”—Isaya 9:6, 7.
INDLELA ISIHLENGO ESAKHOKHWA NGAYO
12. UJesu waba nini uMesiya, futhi ngemva kwalokho waphishekela yiphi inkambo yokuphila?
12 Ekwindla ka-29 C.E., uJesu waya esihlotsheni sakhe uJohane ukuze abhapathizwe futhi ngalokho eziletha ukuba enze intando kaNkulunkulu. Kuleso senzakalo uJehova wagcoba uJesu ngomoya ongcwele. Ngalokho uJesu waba uMesiya, noma uKristu, ogcotshwe uNkulunkulu. (Mathewu 3:16, 17) UJesu wabe eseqala inkonzo yakhe yeminyaka emithathu nengxenye. Wahamba kulo lonke elakubo, eshumayela ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu futhi eqoqa abalandeli abathembekile. Nokho, njengoba kwabikezelwa, ukuphikiswa kwakhe kwakhula ngokushesha.—IHubo 118:22; IzEnzo 4:8-11.
13. Yiziphi izenzakalo ezaholela ekufeni kukaJesu njengomgcini wobuqotho?
13 Ngesibindi uJesu wadalula ubuzenzisi babaholi benkolo, futhi bafuna ukumbulala. Ekugcineni babopha uzungu olubi olwahilela ukukhashelwa, ukuboshwa ngokungafanele, ukuquliswa ngokungemthetho, nokumangalelwa ngamanga ngokuvukela umbuso. UJesu washaywa, wakhafulelwa, wahlekwa usulu, futhi wabhaxabulwa ngesiswebhu esasiklanyelwe ukuba sidabule inyama yakhe. Umbusi waseRoma uPontiyu Pilatu wabe esemgwebela ukufa esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa. Wabethelwa ogodweni futhi walengiswa kulo emi eqondile. Isikhathi ngasinye lapho ephefumula wayezwa ubuhlungu, futhi kwathatha amahora amaningi ukuba afe. Phakathi nalolo sizi, uJesu wagcina ubuqotho obuphelele kuNkulunkulu.
14. Kungani uNkulunkulu avumela ukuba iNdodana yakhe ihlupheke futhi ife?
14 Ngakho, kwakunguNisañ 14, 33 C.E., lapho uJesu enikela ngokuphila kwakhe ukuba kube “isihlengo esenana abaningi.” (Marku 10:45; 1 Thimothewu 2:5, 6) Esezulwini, uJehova wayeyibona iNdodana yakhe ethandekayo ihlupheka futhi ifa. Kungani uNkulunkulu avumela into ebuhlungu kangako ukuba yenzeke? Wakwenza ngoba ethanda isintu. UJesu wathi: “UNkulunkulu walithanda izwe kakhulu kangangokuba waze wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa, ukuze wonke umuntu obonisa ukholo kuyo angabhujiswa kodwa abe nokuphila okumi phakade.” (Johane 3:16) Futhi ukufa kukaJesu kusifundisa ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu onobulungisa obuphelele. (Duteronomi 32:4) Abanye bangase bazibuze ukuthi kungani uNkulunkulu engazange achezuke ezimisweni zakhe zobulungisa ezifuna ukuphila ngokuphila futhi ayishaye indiva inkokhelo eyayidingeka ngenxa yenkambo ka-Adamu yokona. Isizathu siwukuthi ngaso sonke isikhathi uJehova uyanamathela emithethweni yakhe futhi uyayisekela, ngisho nalapho kusho ukuba alahlekelwe kakhulu.
15. Njengoba kwakungeke kube ubulungisa ukuvumela ukuba uJesu afe unomphela, yini uJehova ayenza?
15 Futhi ubulungisa bukaJehova babufuna ukuba ukufa kukaJesu kube nesiphetho esijabulisayo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ingabe kwakuyoba ubulungisa ukuvumela uJesu othembekile ukuba alale ekufeni kuze kube phakade? Kwakungeke neze! ImiBhalo YesiHeberu yayiprofethe ukuthi othembekileyo kaNkulunkulu wayengeke ahlale ethuneni. (IHubo 16:10; IzEnzo 13:35) Walala ekufeni izingxenye zezinsuku ezintathu, uJehova uNkulunkulu wabe esemvusela ekuphileni njengomuntu womoya onamandla.—1 Petru 3:18.
16. Yini uJesu ayenza lapho ephindela ezulwini?
16 Lapho efa, uJesu wadela ukuphila kwakhe njengomuntu kwaba kanye. Lapho evuselwa ekuphileni ezulwini, waba umoya onikeza ukuphila. Ngaphezu kwalokho, lapho uJesu ekhuphukela endaweni engcwele kunazo zonke endaweni yonke, wabuye waba ndawonye noYise othandekayo futhi wayisa kuYe ngokomthetho inani lokuphila kwakhe kobuntu okuphelele. (Heberu 9:23-28) Inani lalokho kuphila okuyigugu lase lingenziwa lisebenze esintwini esilalelayo. Kusho ukuthini lokho ngawe?
ISIHLENGO SIKAKRISTU KANYE NAWE
17. Singenza kanjani ukuba sithole intethelelo ngesisekelo somhlatshelo kaKristu wesihlengo?
17 Cabangela izindlela ezintathu umhlatshelo kaKristu wesihlengo okuzuzisa ngazo ngisho namanje. Okokuqala, uletha ukuthethelelwa kwezono. Ngokuba nokholo egazini likaJesu elachitheka, sithola “ukukhululwa ngesihlengo,” yebo, “ukuthethelelwa kweziphambeko zethu.” (Efesu 1:7) Ngakho ngisho noma senze isono esingathi sína, singacela intethelelo kuNkulunkulu egameni likaJesu. Uma siphenduka ngempela, uJehova usebenzisa inani lomhlatshelo wesihlengo weNdodana yakhe kithi. UNkulunkulu uyasithethelela, esinikeza isibusiso sokuba nonembeza omuhle, esikhundleni sokuphoqelela isijeziso sokufa esizilethela sona ngokona.—IzEnzo 3:19; 1 Petru 3:21.
18. Kungayiphi indlela umhlatshelo kaJesu usinikeza ithemba?
18 Okwesibili, umhlatshelo kaKristu wesihlengo uyisisekelo sethemba lethu ngesikhathi esizayo. Embonweni, umphostoli uJohane wabona ukuthi “isixuku esikhulu, okungekho muntu owakwazi ukusibala” sasiyosinda ekupheleni okuyinhlekelele kwalesi simiso sezinto. Kungani siyosinda lapho uNkulunkulu ebhubhisa abanye abaningi kangako? Ingelosi yatshela uJohane ukuthi isixuku esikhulu ‘sasigeze izivatho zaso sazenza zaba mhlophe egazini leWundlu,’ uJesu Kristu. (IsAmbulo 7:9, 14) Uma nje sisabonisa ukholo egazini likaJesu Kristu elachithwa futhi siphila ngokuvumelana nezimfuneko zaphezulu, siyoba abahlanzekile emehlweni kaNkulunkulu futhi siyoba nethemba lokuphila okumi phakade.
19. Umhlatshelo kaKristu ukufakazela kanjani ukuthi yena noYise bayakuthanda?
19 Okwesithathu, umhlatshelo wesihlengo uwubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda bothando lukaJehova. Ukufa kukaKristu kwaqokomisa izenzo ezimbili zothando ezinkulu kunazo zonke emlandweni wendawo yonke: (1) uthando lukaNkulunkulu ngokuthumela iNdodana yakhe ukuba izosifela; (2) uthando lukaJesu ngokuzinikela ngokuzithandela ukuba abe isihlengo. (Johane 15:13; Roma 5:8) Uma sibonisa ukholo ngempela, lolu thando lusebenza kithi sonke ngabanye. Umphostoli uPawulu wathi: ‘INdodana kaNkulunkulu, yangithanda futhi yazinikela ngenxa yami.’—Galathiya 2:20; Heberu 2:9; 1 Johane 4:9, 10.
20. Kungani kufanele sibonise ukholo emhlatshelweni kaJesu wesihlengo?
20 Ngakho-ke, masibonise ukubonga kwethu ngothando olwaboniswa uNkulunkulu noKristu ngokubonisa ukholo emhlatshelweni kaJesu wesihlengo. Ukwenza kanjalo kuholela ekuphileni okumi phakade. (Johane 3:36) Nokho, ukusindiswa kwethu akusona isizathu esibaluleke kunazo zonke sokuphila nokufa kukaJesu emhlabeni. Cha, ayekukhathalela kakhulu kwakuyimpikiswano enkulu nakakhulu, yendawo yonke. Njengoba sizobona esahlukweni esilandelayo, leyompikiswano isithinta sonke ngoba ibonisa ukuthi kungani uNkulunkulu evumele ububi nokuhlupheka ukuba kuqhubeke isikhathi eside kangaka kulomhlaba.
HLOLA ULWAZI LWAKHO
Kungani kwadingeka ukuba uJesu afe ukuze kusindiswe isintu?
Isihlengo sakhokhwa kanjani?
Uzuza ngaziphi izindlela esihlengweni?
[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi ekhasini 67]