Yokaana Omubatiza Ateekateeka Ekkubo

Waakayita emyaka nga 17 okuva Yesu lwe yali mu yeekaalu ng’abuuza abayigiriza ebibuuzo, nga wa myaka 12. Kati tuli mu mwaka gwa 29 E.E., era abantu bangi boogera ku omu ku b’eŋŋanda za Yesu ayitibwa Yokaana, abuulira buli wamu ebugwanjuba w’Omugga Yoludaani.

Endabika ya Yokaana n’ebintu by’ayigiriza byewuunyisa buli omu. Ekyambalo kye kyakolebwa mu byoya by’eŋŋamira, era yeesiba olukoba olw’eddiba mu kiwato. Alya nzige, ebiwuka ebinene ebifaanana ng’amayanzi, era alya n’omubisi gw’enjuki. Bubaka ki bw’abuulira? Agamba nti: “Mwenenye, kubanga Obwakabaka obw’omu ggulu busembedde.”​—Matayo 3:2.

Abantu abamuwuliriza bakwatibwako nnyo olw’obubaka bw’abuulira. Bangi bakiraba nti beetaaga okwenenya, kwe kugamba, okukyusa endowooza zaabwe n’okuleka ebintu ebibi bye bakola. “Abantu b’omu Yerusaalemi, n’ab’omu Buyudaaya yenna, n’ab’omu bitundu byonna ebyetoolodde Yoludaani” bajja gy’ali. (Matayo 3:5) Abasinga obungi ku bo beenenya, era Yokaana ababatiza ng’abannyika mu Mugga Yoludaani. Lwaki?

Ababatiza ng’akabonero akalaga nti beenenyezza olw’okumenya endagaano y’Amateeka Katonda gye yakola nabo. (Ebikolwa 19:4) Naye abamu ku bo tebatuukiriza bisaanyizo bya kubatizibwa. Abamu ku bakulembeze b’amadiini, Abafalisaayo n’Abasaddukaayo bwe bajja gy’ali, Yokaana abayita “abaana b’emisota egy’obusagwa.” Abagamba nti: “Mubale ebibala ebiraga nti mwenenyezza; era temweyibaala nga mugamba nti, ‘Ibulayimu ye kitaffe.’ Kubanga mbagamba nti Katonda asobola okufunira Ibulayimu abaana okuva mu mayinja gano. Embazzi eteekeddwa ku kikolo ky’emiti. N’olwekyo buli muti ogutabala bibala birungi gwa kutemebwa gusuulibwe mu muliro.”​—Matayo 3:7-10.

Olw’okuba abantu bangi bakkiriza obubaka bwa Yokaana era ne babatizibwa, bakabona n’Abaleevi batumibwa okumubuuza nti: “Ggwe ani?”

Yokaana abaddamu nti, “Si nze Kristo.”

Bongera okumubuuza nti: “Kati olwo ggwe ani? Ggwe Eriya?”

Abaddamu nti: “Nedda.”

Bamubuuza nti, “Ggwe nnabbi?” nga bategeeza Nnabbi eyandizze Musa gwe yayogerako.​—Ekyamateeka 18:15, 18.

Era Yokaana abaddamu nti “Nedda!”

Bamulemerako nga bamubuuza nti: “Ggwe ani? Tubuulire tusobole okubaako kye tuddamu abo abaatutumye. Ggwe weeyogerako otya?” Yokaana abaddamu nti: “Nze ddoboozi ly’oyo ayogera mu ddungu mu ddoboozi ery’omwanguka nti, ‘Mutereeze ekkubo lya Yakuwa,’ nga nnabbi Isaaya bwe yagamba.”​—Yokaana 1:19-23.

Bamubuuza nti: “Kati olwo lwaki obatiza bw’oba nga si ggwe Kristo, oba Eriya, oba Nnabbi?” Abaddamu nti: “Nze mbatiza mu mazzi. Waliwo ayimiridde wakati mu mmwe gwe mutamanyi, y’oyo anvaako emabega.”​—Yokaana 1:25-27.

Yokaana akiraga nti ateekateeka ekkubo ng’ayamba abantu okuteekateeka emitima gyabwe basobole okukkiriza Masiya eyasuubizibwa, era ajja okufuuka Kabaka. Yokaana ayogera bw’ati ku Masiya: “Anvaako ennyuma ansinga obuyinza, era sisaanira na kumuggyamu ngatto.” (Matayo 3:11) Mu butuufu Yokaana agamba n’okugamba nti: “Oyo anvaako emabega ansinga, kubanga yansooka okubaawo.”​—Yokaana 1:15.

N’olwekyo, obubaka Yokaana bw’abuulira obugamba nti, “Mwenenye, kubanga Obwakabaka obw’omu ggulu busembedde,” ddala butuukirawo. (Matayo 3:2) Buyamba abantu okukitegeera nti obuweereza bwa Yesu Kristo, Kabaka Yakuwa gwe yalonda, bunaatera okutandika.