UPhetro loJohane bakwenzile lokho uJesu abatshele khona, baya eJerusalema ukuyalungiselela iPhasika. Ngemva kwesikhathi uJesu labanye abaphostoli abalitshumi bayalandela. UJesu labafundi bakhe behla eNtabeni Yama-Oliva sekuntambama ilanga selisiyatshona. Uyacina ukubona indawo le khathesi, uzaphinda ayibone esevusiwe.

Kungakayi ngaphi uJesu labafundi bakhe bayafika edolobheni futhi baya endlini abazadlela kuyo iPhasika. Baqonda endlini enkulu ephezulu. Bafica zonke izinto abazazisebenzisa ePhasikeni sezilungile. UJesu ubelilindele ngabomvu ilanga leli, uthi: “Bengifisa kakhulu ukulidla lani iPhasika leli ngingakahlupheki.”​—ULukha 22:15.

Kwasekuleminyaka eminengi kuqaliswe umkhuba wokuthi abasePhasikeni baqhubelane inkomitsho ezinengi zewayini. UJesu uthi esemukele enye inkomitsho abonge uNkulunkulu abesesithi: “Thathani inkomitsho le liyiqhubelane, ngoba ngilitshela ukuthi kusukela khathesi kangisoze ngiphinde nginathe iwayini elenziwe ngamagilebisi kuze kufike uMbuso kaNkulunkulu.” (ULukha 22:17, 18) Kumele ukuthi kuyabacacela abafundi ukuthi ukufa kwakhe sekuseduze.

Bathi besadla, uJesu enze into ebamangalisayo. Uyasukuma abeke izembatho zakhe zangaphandle eceleni athathe ithawulo, abesethela amanzi enditshini eseduze khonapho. Izikhathi ezinengi umnikazi wendlu nguye owayesiba leqiniso lokuthi inyawo zabantu bemzini ziyageziswa, mhlawumbe ethuma inceku ukuthi ikwenze lokho. (ULukha 7:44) Kodwa lapho abakhona umnikazi wendlu kakho, yikho uJesu esenza umsebenzi lo. Abaphostoli bebengawenza, kodwa akula ngitsho loyedwa osukumayo awenze. Mhlawumbe kukhona abalokhu bekubanga. Kungelani lokuthi kuyini okwenza bangagezisani inyawo, baba lenhloni nxa uJesu esebagezisa.

UJesu uthi esefuna ukugezisa inyawo zikaPhetro yena ale athi: “Kawusoze ugezise inyawo zami loba sekutheni.” UJesu umphendula athi: “Kawulasabelo lami ngaphandle ngingakugezisa.” UPhetro abesesithi kuye: “Nkosi, ungangigezisi inyawo kuphela, ngigezisa lezandla lekhanda.” Kufanele ukuthi uyamangala esizwa impendulo kaJesu ethi: “Ogeze umzimba kadingi kugeziswa okunye futhi ngaphandle kwenyawo, uyabe esehlanzeke waphelela. Lina madoda lihlanzekile, kodwa kayisini lonke elihlanzekileyo.”​—UJohane 13:8-10.

UJesu ugezisa inyawo zabafundi bakhe abangu-12, okutsho ukuthi ugezisa lezikaJudasi Iskariyothi. Ugqoka izembatho zakhe zangaphandle, abesehlala futhi etafuleni ababuze athi: “Liyakuzwisisa yini lokhu engikwenze kini? Lingibiza ngokuthi ‘Mfundisi’ langokuthi ‘Nkosi,’ njalo liqondile ngoba nginguye. Yikho-ke nxa mina engiyiNkosi loMfundisi ngiligezise inyawo, lani kumele ligezisane inyawo, ngoba ngilitshiyele isibonelo ukuze lani lenze njengoba ngenzile kini. Ngiqinisile sibili ngithi kini, inceku kayinkulu kulenkosi yayo, lalowo othunyiweyo kamkhulu kulalowo omthumileyo. Nxa lizazi izinto lezi lizathokoza lingazenza.”​—UJohane 13:12-17.

Lesi yisifundo esihle kakhulu esiphathelane lokuthobeka. Abalandeli bakaJesu akumelanga bazikhukhumeze, becabanga ukuthi baqakathekile lokuthi yibo okumele benzelwe izinto ngabanye. Kodwa kumele bamlingisele, hatshi ngokulandela umkhuba wokugezisana inyawo kodwa ngokuzimisela ukuthi bathobeke benzele wonke umuntu okuhle kungelani lokuthi ngubani.

UJesu uke wagezisa abafundi bakhe inyawo ukuze abafundise ukuthobeka. Khathesi kufanele ukuthi sebeqedile ukudla iPhasika futhi ukhuluma amazwi kaDavida athi: “Lomngane wami osekhwapheni, ebengimthembile, obekade ecupha lami emganwini, usengifulathele.” Uchasisa amazwi la esithi: “Omunye wenu uzangithengisa.”​—IHubo 41:9; UJohane 13:18, 21.

Abaphostoli bayakhangelana futhi ngamunye wabo ubuza athi: “Nkosi, kayisimi angithi?” LoJudasi Iskariyothi uyabuza. UPhetro utshela uJohane ohlezi eduze kukaJesu etafuleni ukuthi abuze ukuthi utsho bani. Yikho uJohane uyeyama esifubeni kukaJesu ambuze esithi: “Nkosi, ngubani lowo?”​—UMathewu 26:22; UJohane 13:25.

UJesu uphendula esithi: “Ngulowo engizamnika ucezu lwesinkwa engizasitsheba.” Utsheba esinye emganwini osetafuleni abesesinika uJudasi esithi: “INdodana yomuntu izalitshiya sibili, njengoba kubhaliwe ngayo. Kodwa maye kulowo ozathengisa iNdodana yomuntu! Bekungaba ngcono kuye aluba kazalwanga.” (UJohane 13:26; UMathewu 26:24) Ngemva kwalokho uSathane ungena kuJudasi. Indoda le esivele yonakele isizinikela ukwenza intando kaDeveli njalo lokhu kwenza ibe ‘yindodana yokubhujiswa.’​—UJohane 6:64, 70; 12:4; 17:12.

UJesu utshela uJudasi athi: “Okwenzayo kwenze masinyane.” UJudasi nguye ogcina ibhokisi lemali. Yikho abanye abaphostoli bacabanga ukuthi uJesu uthi kuye: ‘“Thenga esizakufuna emkhosini,” kumbe umtshela ukuthi anike abayanga imali.’ (UJohane 13:27-30) Kodwa uJudasi uphuma esiyathengisa uJesu.

UJudasi uthi esesukile uJesu asungule iSidlo SeNkosi Sakusihlwa ngalobobusuku. Uthatha isinkwa abonge uNkulunkulu, abesesihlephuna anike abaphostoli bakhe ukuthi badle. Uthi: “Lokhu kumela umzimba wami ozanikelwa ngenxa yenu. Qhubekani likwenza lokhu lingikhumbula.” (ULukha 22:19) Abaphostoli bayasiqhubelana isinkwa lesi futhi bonke bayasidla.

Ngemva kwalokho uJesu uthatha inkomitsho yewayini, abonge uNkulunkulu abesebaqhubela. Bonke bayanatha enkomitshini le uJesu athe ngayo: “Inkomitsho le imela isivumelwano esitsha esenziwa ngegazi lami elizachithwa ngenxa yenu.”​—ULukha 22:20.

UJesu usesungule isikhumbuzo sokufa kwakhe okumele abalandeli bakhe basinanze minyaka yonke ngoNisani 14. Sizabakhumbuza ngalokho uJesu loYise abakwenzileyo ukuze basuse isono lokufa ebantwini abalokholo. Isikhumbuzo lesi singcono kakhulu kulePhasika lamaJuda ngoba sikucacisa kuhle ukuthi abantu abakholwayo bazakhululeka kuze kube nini lanini.

UJesu uthi igazi lakhe ‘lizachithwa ngenxa yabanengi ukuze bathethelelwe izono.’ Abaphostoli bakhe abathembekileyo labanye abafundi baphakathi kwalabo abazathethelelwa. Yibo abazakuba laye eMbusweni kaYise.​—UMathewu 26:28, 29.

UJesu uthe esidla isidlo santambama sokucina labaphostoli bakhe, wabafundisa isifundo esihle sokuthobeka ngokubagezisa inyawo. Ubafundise lokhu ngenxa yokuthi bebesehluleka ukuba ngabathobekileyo. Bayamthanda uNkulunkulu, kodwa lokhu bekhathazeka ngokuthi ngubani omkhulu phakathi kwabo. (UMakho 9:33, 34; 10:35-37) Lalamuhla ntambama indaba le iyavuka futhi.

Abaphostoli ‘baphikisana kuthunqe uthuli, bebanga ukuthi ngubani omkhulu kulabo bonke phakathi kwabo.’ (ULukha 22:24) Kumele ukuthi kuyamdanisa uJesu ukubabona bexabana futhi. Wenzani ngalokho?

UJesu kabakhuzi ngolaka ngalokhu abakwenzayo kodwa uyabonisana labo kuhle athi: “Amakhosi ezizwe azenzela umathanda phezu kwezizwe lezo, leziphathamandla zazo zibizwa ngokuthi ngabantu abanceda uzulu. Kodwa lina akumelanga libe njalo. . . . Kanti omkhulu ngohlezi etafuleni kumbe ngosebenzayo?” Ubakhumbuza ngalokhu ahlala ekwenza okumele bakulingisele, uthi: “Kodwa phakathi kwenu mina nginjengalowo osebenzayo.”​—ULukha 22:25-27.

Abaphostoli ngabantu abalesono njalo bekungaba lula ukuthi bamlahle uJesu izinto sezinzima kodwa kabazange bamtshiye. Yikho uthi: “Ngenza lani isivumelwano sokuthi libuse embusweni, njengoba uBaba enze lami isivumelwano.” (ULukha 22:29) Amadoda la angabalandeli bakaJesu abathembekileyo. Uyawaqinisekisa ukuthi isivumelwano esiphakathi kwakhe lawo sizakwenza abe seMbusweni njalo abuse laye.

Lanxa abaphostoli bezathola isibusiso esihle kangaka balokhu bengabantu benyama njalo bayaphambanisa. UJesu uthi kubo: “USathane uthi uyalifuna lonke ukuze alenze lokho okwenziwa ngumuntu owehlukanisa ingqoloyi lamakhoba.” (ULukha 22:31) Uphinda abaxwayise athi: “Lonke lizakhubeka ngenxa yami ngalobubusuku ngoba kubhaliwe ukuthi: ‘Ngizatshaya umelusi izimvu ezisemhlambini zisabalale zigcwale indawo yonke.’”​—UMathewu 26:31; UZekhariya 13:7.

UPhetro ukhuluma elesibindi athi: “Lanxa bonke abanye bengakhubeka ngenxa yakho, mina kangisoze ngafa ngakhubeka!” (UMathewu 26:33) UJesu utshela uPhetro ukuthi uzamphika iqhude lingakakhali kabili ngalobobusuku. Kodwa uphinda athi: “Sengikuthandazele ngikuncengela ukuthi ukholo lwakho lungapheli, njalo nxa usuphendukile uqinise abafowenu.” (ULukha 22:32) UPhetro yena abesekhuluma ezithemba athi: “Lanxa sekumele ngife lawe, angisoze ngikuphike loba sekutheni.” (UMathewu 26:35) Labanye abaphostoli batsho njalo.

UJesu utshela abafundi bakhe athi: “Ngiseselani okwesikhatshana. Lizangidinga, futhi njengoba ngatshela amaJuda ngathi, ‘Lapho engiyakhona lingeke libuye,’ lani ngilitshela khonokho.” Uphinda athi: “Ngilinika umlayo omutsha wokuthi lithandane. Thandanani ngendlela lami engilithande ngayo. Nxa lithandana, abantu bonke bazakwazi ukuthi lingabafundi bami.”​—UJohane 13:33-35.

UPhetro uthi esizwa uJesu esithi useselabo okwesikhatshana, abuze athi: “Nkosi uyangaphi?” UJesu uphendula athi: “Lapho engiyakhona ungeke ungilandele khathesi, kodwa uzalandela ngokuhamba kwesikhathi.” UPhetro uyamangala abesesithi: “Nkosi, kungani ngingeke ngikulandele khathesi? Ngizanikela ngokuphila kwami ngenxa yakho.”​—UJohane 13:36, 37.

Khathesi uJesu ukhuluma ngesikhathi lapha ake athuma khona abaphostoli bakhe ukuthi bayetshumayela eGalile bengelasikhwama semali loba esokudla. (UMathewu 10:5, 9, 10) Ubuza athi: “Kulolutho elake laluswela yini?” Bona baphendula besithi: “Hatshi!” Kodwa kuyini okuzamele bakwenze ensukwini ezilandelayo? UJesu uthi kubo: “Olesikhwama semali kasithathe, lalowo olesokudla kenze njalo, futhi ongelankemba kathengise isembatho sakhe sangaphandle ayithenge, ngoba ngilitshela ukuthi kufanele kugcwaliseke okwabhalwa mayelana lami, ukuthi, ‘Laye kwathiwa ngomunye wezephulamthetho.’ Amazwi la ayagcwaliseka kimi.”​—ULukha 22:35-37.

UJesu ukhuluma ngesikhathi lapho azabethelwa khona esigodweni, ephahlwe yizephulamthetho. Ngemva kwalokhu abalandeli bakhe bazahlukuluzwa kakhulu. Bona bacabanga ukuthi sebelungiselele yikho besithi: “Nkosi, khangela! Nanzi izinkemba ezimbili.” Yena uphendula athi: “Zanele.” (ULukha 22:38) UJesu uzabafundisa isifundo esiqakathekileyo esebenzisa izinkemba ezimbili abalazo.

UJesu ulokhu esendlini ephezulu labaphostoli njalo sebeqedile ukudla isidlo seNkosi. Ubakhuthaza esithi: “Izinhliziyo zenu kazingakhathazeki. Tshengisani ukuthi lilokholo kuNkulunkulu, litshengise lokuthi lilokholo kimi.”​—UJohane 13:36; 14:1.

UJesu utshela abaphostoli abathembekileyo amazwi enza bangakhathazeki ngokuthi usehamba. Uthi: ‘Endlini kaBaba kulezindawo ezinengi zokuhlala. Nxa sengihambile ngayalilungisela indawo ngizaphinda ngibuye, njalo ngizalemukela ekhaya lami ukuze lapho engiyabe ngikhona lani libe khona.’ Kodwa abaphostoli kabazwisisi ukuthi ukhuluma ngokuya ezulwini. UTomasi umbuza athi: “Nkosi, kasikwazi ukuthi uyangaphi. Manje singayazi njani indlela?”​—UJohane 14:2-5.

UJesu umphendula athi: “Mina ngiyindlela leqiniso kanye lokuphila.” Umuntu angangena endlini kaNkulunkulu ezulwini nxa kuphela esamukela uJesu, elalela lokho akufundisayo futhi elingisela lokho akwenzayo. UJesu uthi: “Kakho ongeza kuBaba ngaphandle kokuthi eze ngami.”​—UJohane 14:6.

UFiliphu othiye indlebe uthi: “Nkosi, sitshengise uYihlo sihle sisuthiseke.” Kukhanya angani uFiliphu ufuna ukuthi uNkulunkulu aziveze kubo ngenye indlela njengoba waziveza kuMosi, lo-Elija, lo-Isaya esebenzisa imibono. Lanxa kunjalo, abaphostoli balokungcono okwedlula imibono le. UJesu ucacisa lokhu esithi: “Filiphu, utsho ukuthi kawukangazi mina sengibe lani madoda okwesikhathi eside kangaka? Loba ngubani ongibonileyo usembonile loBaba.” Okwenziwa nguJesu kutshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu unjani sibili. Yikho ukuphila loJesu kanye lokubona izinto azenzayo kufanana lokubona uBaba. Kodwa uBaba mkhulu kuleNdodana ngoba uJesu uthi: “Kangilitsheli izinto engizicabangela zona.” (UJohane 14:8-10) UJesu utshengisa ukuthi zonke izinto azifundisayo zivela kuYise njalo abaphostoli bayakubona lokho.

Abaphostoli bakaJesu bebembona esenza izimangaliso njalo bebemuzwa etshumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Khathesi uthi kubo: “Loba ngubani otshengisa ukuthi ulokholo kimi uzakwenza imisebenzi engiyenzayo futhi uzakwenza imisebenzi emikhulu ukwedlula le.” (UJohane 14:12) UJesu katsho ukuthi bazakwenza izimangaliso ezedlula lezo abezenza. Kodwa bazakwenza inkonzo yabo okwesikhathi eside, bazatshumayela ezindaweni ezinengi njalo bazatshumayeza abantu abanengi.

Abaphostoli kabasoze basale bebodwa nxa uJesu esesukile ngoba uthi kubo: “Nxa lingacela loba yini ngebizo lami ngizayenza.” Uphinda athi: “Ngizacela uBaba njalo uzalinika omunye umsizi ukuthi abe lani kuze kube nini lanini, umoya weqiniso.” (UJohane 14:14, 16, 17) Uyabaqinisekisa ukuthi bazakwamukela umoya ongcwele ozakuba ngomunye umsizi wabo. Lokhu kuyenzakala ngePhentekhosti.

UJesu uthi: “Ngesikhatshana nje umhlaba kawusoze uphinde ungibone kodwa lina lizangibona, njalo lizaphila ngoba mina ngiyaphila.” (UJohane 14:19) UJesu uzathi esevusiwe kwabafileyo abonakale kubo njalo ngokuhamba kwesikhathi labo uzabavusa ukuze babe laye ezulwini sebelemizimba yomoya.

Khathesi uJesu uthi: “Loba ngubani olemilayo yami futhi oyilalelayo nguye ongithandayo. Besekusithi loba ngubani ongithandayo uzathandwa nguBaba njalo lami ngizamthanda ngiziveze kuye.” Umphostoli uJudasi obizwa langokuthi nguThadewu umbuza athi: “Nkosi, sekutheni usufuna ukuziveza kithi hatshi emhlabeni?” UJesu umphendula athi: ‘Loba ngubani ongithandayo uzalilalela ilizwi lami futhi uBaba uzamthanda. Loba ngubani ongangithandiyo kawalaleli amazwi ami.’ (UJohane 14:21-24) Abalandeli bakaJesu bayakunanzelela ukuthi uJesu uyindlela, leqiniso, lokuphila, kodwa umhlaba kawukuboni lokho.

Pho abafundi bakaJesu bazakukhumbula njani konke abafundise khona, njengoba yena esehamba? Ubatshela athi: “Umsizi, umoya ongcwele uBaba azawuthumela ngebizo lami, uzalifundisa izinto zonke njalo uzalikhumbuza zonke izinto engilitshele zona.” Amazwi la ayaduduza sibili ngoba abaphostoli bawabonile amandla omoya ongcwele. UJesu uphinda athi: ‘Ngilitshiyela ukuthula; ngilinika ukuthula kwami. Izinhliziyo zenu kazingakhathazeki futhi kazingapheli amandla ngokwesaba.’ (UJohane 14:26, 27) Yikho-ke abafundi bakaJesu akumelanga bakhathazeke ngoba uYise uzabakhokhela futhi abavikele.

Esikhathini esiseduze bazakubona ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyabavikela. UJesu uthi: “Umbusi womhlaba uyeza futhi kalamandla phezu kwami.” (UJohane 14:30) UDeveli wangena kuJudasi waba lamandla phezu kwakhe. Kodwa uJesu ongelasono kalalutho olubi olungasetshenziswa nguSathane ukuthi amphambule kuNkulunkulu. Kanti njalo uDeveli kasoze enelise ukuvimbela ukuthi uJesu avuswe kwabafileyo. Ngenxa yani? UJesu uthi: “Ngenza njengoba nje uBaba engilayile.” Kathandabuzi ukuthi uYise uzamvusa kwabafileyo.​—UJohane 14:31.

UJesu ubekhuthaza abaphostoli bakhe abathembekileyo ebatshela okusenhliziyweni yakhe. Isikhathi sesihambile futhi kumele ukuthi sekwedlule u-12 ebusuku. Khathesi uJesu ulandisa umzekeliso ozabanceda kakhulu.

Uqala ngokuthi: “Mina ngilivini leqiniso, uBaba yena ngumlimi.” (UJohane 15:1) Umzekeliso wakhe uhambelana lalokho okwake kwatshiwo eminyakeni eminengi eyadlulayo mayelana lesizwe sako-Israyeli okwakuthiwa silivini likaJehova. (UJeremiya 2:21; UHoseya 10:1, 2) Kodwa uJehova usesilahla isizwe lesi. (UMathewu 23:37, 38) Yikho uJesu usekhuluma ngokunye. Nguye ivini uYise abelilima kusukela emgcoba ngomoya ongcwele ngo-29 C.E. Kodwa uJesu utshengisa ukuthi kayisuye yedwa olivini leli.

Uthi: “[UBaba] uyaziquma zonke ingatsha ezikimi ezingatheli izithelo njalo zonke ezithelayo uyazithena ukuze zihlanzeke besezithela izithelo ezinengi. . . . Njengoba nje ugatsha lungeke luthele izithelo lulodwa, ngaphandle kokuthi luqhubeke lusevinini, lani ngeke lithele izithelo ngaphandle lingaqhubeka limunye lami. Mina ngilivini, lina lizingatsha.”​—UJohane 15:2-5.

UJesu uthembise abafundi bakhe abathembekileyo ukuthi nxa esehambile uzabathumela umsizi, umoya ongcwele. Ngemva kwamalanga angu-51 abaphostoli labanye bamukela umoya lo besebesiba zingatsha zevini. ‘Ingatsha’ zonke kumele zihlale zimunye loJesu. Zizakwenzani?

UJesu uthi: “Loba ngubani ohlala emunye lami njalo lami ngimunye laye uzathela izithelo ezinengi, ngoba nxa lingekho kimi ngeke lenze lutho ngitsho.” Abalandeli bakhe abathembekileyo ‘abazingatsha’ babezathela izithelo ezinengi, balingisele ubuntu bukaJesu, bakhuthale emsebenzini wokutshela abanye ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu futhi benze abanye abafundi. Kuzakwenzakalani kulabo abangahlali bemunye loJesu futhi abangatheliyo izithelo? UJesu uthi: “Lowo ongahlali emunye lami uyalahlwa.” Kuthiwani ngalabo abazahlala bemunye laye? Uthi: “Nxa lihlala limunye lami, lamazwi ami ehlala ekini, celani loba yini eliyifisayo, lizayiphiwa.”​—UJohane 15:5-7.

Khathesi uJesu usekhuluma ngokugcina imilayo yakhe njalo uke wakhuluma kabili ngalokho. (UJohane 14:15, 21) Uqamba indlela eyisiqokoqela abafundi abangatshengisa ngayo ukuthi bayayigcina. Uthi: “Nxa lingayigcina imilayo yami, lizahlala lisethandweni lwami njengoba lami ngiyigcinile imilayo kaBaba ngahlala ngisethandweni lwakhe.” Kodwa kulokunye okumele kwenziwe ngaphandle kokuthanda uJehova uNkulunkulu leNdodana yakhe. UJesu uthi: “Umlayo wami yilo: Thandanani njengoba nje lami ngilithandile. Kakho olothando olwedlula olwalowo onikela ngokuphila kwakhe ngenxa yabangane bakhe. Lingabangane bami nxa lisenza engililaya khona.”​—UJohane 15:10-14.

Sekusele amahola amalutshwana ukuthi uJesu atshengise ukuthi ulothando ngokunikela ngokuphila kwakhe ngenxa yabantu abalokholo kuye. Lokho azakwenza kumele kufundise abalandeli bakhe ukuthi babe lothando olunjengolwakhe. Bazakhanya ukuthi bangabalandeli bakhe nxa bethandana ngoba uke wathi: “Nxa lithandana, abantu bonke bazakwazi ukuthi lingabafundi bami.”​—UJohane 13:35.

Abaphostoli kumele bakuqakathekise ukuthi uJesu ubabize ngokuthi ‘bangabangane bakhe.’ Uyabatshela ukuthi kungani ebabiza njalo, uthi: “Ngilibiza ngokuthi lingabangane bami ngoba sengilitshele zonke izinto engizizwe ngoBaba.” Kuyisibusiso sibili ukuthi bangabangane bakaJesu lokuthi bayakwazi lokho uYise amtshele khona. Kodwa kumele ‘baqhubeke bethela izithelo’ ukuze bahlale bengabangane bakhe. UJesu uthi nxa bangenza njalo ‘loba yini abayicela kuBaba ngebizo lakhe uzabanika yona.’​—UJohane 15:15, 16.

Abafundi bakhe ‘abazingatsha’ bazenelisa ukumela ubunzima obuzayo nxa bethandana. Ubaxwayisa ngokuthi umhlaba uzabazonda, kodwa aphinde abaqinise esithi: “Nxa umhlaba ulizonda, liyakwazi ukuthi waqala ngokuzonda mina ungakalizondi lina. Ngabe belingabomhlaba lo, umhlaba ubuzathanda okungokwawo. Kodwa umhlaba uyalizonda ngoba kalisibo bomhlaba.”​—UJohane 15:18, 19.

UJesu uqhubeka ekhuluma ngalokho okuzakwenza umhlaba ubazonde. Uthi: “Bazalenza zonke izinto lezi ngenxa yebizo lami ngoba kabamazi Lowo ongithumileyo.” Uveza ukuthi izimangaliso zakhe ziyabagweba labo abamzondayo, uthi: “Ngabe bengingenzanga phakathi kwabo imisebenzi engakaze yenziwe ngomunye, bebengasoze babe lesono. Kodwa bangibonile futhi bangizondile bazonda loBaba.” Ukumzonda kwabo kugcwalisa isiphrofetho.​—UJohane 15:21, 24, 25; IHubo 35:19; 69:4.

UJesu uyaphinda ukubathembisa ukuthi bazathunyelwa umsizi, umoya ongcwele. Bonke abalandeli bakhe bangenelisa ukuwuthola umoya ongcwele lo ozabanceda ukuthi bathele izithelo, ‘bafakaze ngaye.’​—UJohane 15:27.

UJesu labaphostoli bakhe sebezasuka endlini ephezulu lapho abadlele khona iPhasika. Ubaxwayisile okuzwayo njalo khathesi uqhubeka esithi: “Ngilitshele izinto lezi ukuze lingakhubeki.” Kungani bekuqakathekile ukuthi abaxwayise njalo? Ubatshela athi: “Abantu bazalixotsha esinagogeni. Isikhathi siyeza sibili lapho wonke umuntu olibulalayo ezacabanga ukuthi wenza inkonzo engcwele kuNkulunkulu.”​—UJohane 16:1, 2.

Kumele ukuthi abaphostoli bayakhathazeka besizwa lokhu. UJesu ubetshilo ukuthi umhlaba uzabazonda, kodwa ubengazange akuthi bhadla ukuthi bazabulawa. Kungani engazange abavezele izinto lezi? Uthi: “Kangilitshelanga ngazo ekuqaleni ngoba ngangilani.” (UJohane 16:4) Khathesi usebalimukisa engakasuki njalo lokhu kungabanceda ukuthi bangacini bekhubeka.

UJesu uqhubeka esithi: “Khathesi sengisiya kuLowo ongithumileyo, kodwa kakho phakathi kwenu ongibuza esithi, ‘Uyangaphi?’” Ntambama mhlalokho bebeke bambuza ukuthi uyangaphi. (UJohane 13:36; 14:5; 16:5) Kodwa khathesi bethukile ngalokho athe kuzabehlela futhi lokhu bekhathazeke kakhulu. Yikho bengabuzi eminye imibuzo emayelana lenkazimulo ebekwe phambi kwakhe lokuthi izanceda njani abalandeli bakhe abathembekileyo. UJesu uyakunanzelela lokhu abesesithi: “Izinhliziyo zenu sezigcwele usizi ngoba ngilitshele izinto lezi.”​—UJohane 16:6.

Ngemva kwalokho uJesu ubatshela athi: “Ukuhamba kwami kunceda lina. Nxa ngingayekela ukuhamba, umsizi kasoze abuye kini kodwa ngingahamba ngizalithumela yena.” (UJohane 16:7) Abafundi bakaJesu bazathola umoya ongcwele nxa eseqale wafa futhi waya ezulwini njalo uJesu uzabe ezathumela umoya lo ukuthi usize abalandeli bakhe kungelani lokuthi bangaphi.

Umoya ongcwele “uzanika umhlaba ubufakazi obusuthisayo mayelana lesono lokulunga kanye lokwahlulela.” (UJohane 16:8) Kuzavela egcekeni ukuthi umhlaba kawuzange ube lokholo eNdodaneni kaNkulunkulu. Ukwenyuka kukaJesu esiya ezulwini kuzakuba yibufakazi obusuthisayo bokuthi ulungile njalo kuzatshengisa ukuthi kungani uSathane, “umbusi womhlaba lo,” kumele ajeziswe kabuhlungu.​—UJohane 16:11.

UJesu uphinda athi: “Ngiseselezinto ezinengi okumele ngilitshele zona kodwa khathesi ngeke lenelise ukuzithwala.” Umoya ongcwele azabathululela wona uzabakhokhela benelise ukuzwisisa “lonke iqiniso” njalo bazalisebenzisa ekuphileni kwabo.​—UJohane 16:12, 13.

Abaphostoli basala bedidekile besizwa amazwi kaJesu alandelayo athi: “Ngesikhatshana nje kalisoze lingibone, kodwa lizaphinda lingibone ngesikhatshana nje.” Bayabuzana ukuthi utshoni. UJesu uyananzelela ukuthi bafuna ukumbuza ngalokho, abesechasisa esithi: “Ngiqinisile sibili ngithi kini, lizakhala lilile kodwa umhlaba wona uzathokoza, lizakuba losizi kodwa usizi lwenu luzantshintshwa lube yinjabulo.” (UJohane 16:16, 20) Ngemini elandelayo uJesu uyabulawa njalo abakhokheli benkolo bayathokoza, abafundi basale behlulukelwe. Kodwa usizi lwabo luntshintsha lube yinjabulo uJesu esevusiwe kwabafileyo. Baphinda bathokoze kakhulu ngesikhathi ebathululela umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu.

Lokho okuzakwehlela abaphostoli uJesu ukufanisa lowesifazana osehelelwa, uthi: “Nxa owesifazana ebeletha, uba losizi ngenxa yokuthi isikhathi sakhe siyabe sesifikile, kodwa nxa esebelethile kasabukhumbuli ubuhlungu obukhulu abekubo, ngoba usethokoziswa yikuthi kulomuntu osezelwe emhlabeni.” Ubakhuthaza esithi: “Lani liphakathi kosizi khathesi, kodwa ngizaphinda ngilibone, futhi izinhliziyo zenu zizathokoza njalo kakho ozalithathela injabulo yenu.”​—UJohane 16:21, 22.

Abaphostoli kabakaze bacele ulutho besebenzisa ibizo likaJesu. Kodwa khathesi uthi: “Ngalelolanga lizacela kuBaba ngebizo lami.” Bazabe sebekwenzelani lokho? Ayisikho ukuthi uYise uyabe edonda ukubaphendula ngoba uJesu uthi: “UBaba uyalithanda kakhulu ngoba lina lingithandile futhi lakholwa ukuthi ngeza ngingummeli kaNkulunkulu.”​—UJohane 16:26, 27.

Mhlawumbe amazwi kaJesu akhuthazayo asebaqinisile abaphostoli, yikho besithi: “Ngenxa yalokho, siyakholwa ukuthi wavela kuNkulunkulu.” Kodwa ngesikhatshana nje kuzakhanya ukuthi ukholo lwabo lunjani sibili. UJesu ubatshela osekuzakwenzakala, uthi: “Lalelani! Isikhathi siyeza futhi sesifikile, lapho elizasabalala khona ngamunye wenu aye endlini yakhe, lingitshiye ngedwa.” Kodwa ubaqinisa esithi: “Ngilitshele izinto lezi ukuze libe lokuthula ngenxa yami. Emhlabeni lizahlupheka, kodwa wobani lesibindi! Mina ngiwunqobile umhlaba.” (UJohane 16:30-33) UJesu kabalahli. Uyathemba ukuthi labo bangawunqoba umhlaba njengoba nje laye ewunqobile. Lokhu bangakwenza ngokuqhubeka bethembekile besenza intando kaNkulunkulu lanxa uSathane lomhlaba wakhe bezama ukubaphambukisa.

UJesu uyabathanda kakhulu abaphostoli bakhe, yikho ubebancedisa ukuthi bazilungiselele njengoba esezasuka. Khathesi uphakamisa amehlo akhe akhangele ezulwini akhuleke kuyise athi: “Khazimulisa indodana yakho ukuze indodana yakho ikukhazimulise, njengoba nje uyiphe amandla phezu kwabo bonke abantu ukuthi ibaphe ukuphila okungapheliyo bonke obanike yona.”​—UJohane 17:1, 2.

Kuyakhanya ukuthi uJesu uyananzelela ukuthi ukukhazimulisa uNkulunkulu kuqakatheke kakhulu. Kanti njalo kuyaduduza ukuthi ukhuluma langokuphila okungapheliyo. UJesu enganceda abantu bonke ngenhlawulo yakhe ngenxa yokuthi unikwe “amandla phezu kwabo bonke abantu.” Kodwa kayisibo bonke abazancedwa yinhlawulo yakhe. Ngenxa yani? Ngenxa yokuthi uJesu uzanceda labo abenza lokhu akutshoyo emazwini alandelayo, uthi: “Ukuze bathole ukuphila okungapheliyo, kumele bakwazi wena onguwe wedwa uNkulunkulu weqiniso lalowo omthumileyo, uJesu Khristu.”​—UJohane 17:3.

Umuntu kumele amazi kuhle uNkulunkulu kanye leNdodana yakhe njalo asondele kubo. Indlela abona ngayo izinto kumele ifanane lendlela ababona ngayo njalo kumele alingisele ubuntu babo obuhle, aphathe kuhle abanye. Kanti njalo kumele azwisise ukuthi lanxa abantu kumele bathole ukuphila okungapheliyo, ukukhazimulisa uNkulunkulu kuqakathekile ukwedlula lokhu. Khathesi uJesu uyaqhubeka ngendaba yokukhazimulisa uNkulunkulu, uthi:

“Ngikukhazimulisile emhlabeni, ngiwuqedile umsebenzi obungiphe wona. Khathesi-ke Baba, ngikhazimulisa eceleni kwakho ngenkazimulo engangilayo ngiseceleni kwakho umhlaba ungakabi khona.” (UJohane 17:4, 5) Lapha uJesu ucela ukuthi avuswe kwabafileyo abesebuyiselwa enkazimulweni yasezulwini.

Lanxa kunjalo uJesu kayikhohlwanga imisebenzi ayenzileyo enkonzweni yakhe. Uthandaza esithi: “Sengenze laziwa ibizo lakho ebantwini owangipha bona emhlabeni. Babengabakho wangipha bona, njalo baligcinile ilizwi lakho.” (UJohane 17:6) UJesu wenza ibizo likaNkulunkulu elithi Jehova laziwa ngesikhathi etshumayela njalo wanceda abaphostoli bakhe ukuthi bamazi uJehova, bakwazi ukuthi unjani njalo bayazi lendlela aphatha ngayo abantu.

Abaphostoli sebemazi uJehova lokuthi iNdodana yakhe yalandani emhlabeni njalo sebezazi izinto ebezifundiswa nguJesu. Uthi: “Sengibaphile amazwi owanginika wona njalo bawamukele. Sebekwazi mhlophe ukuthi ngabuya ngingummeli wakho futhi bayakholwa ukuthi ungithumile.”​—UJohane 17:8.

Ngemva kwalokhu uJesu utshengisa umehluko okhona phakathi kwabalandeli bakhe labantu abasemhlabeni nje, uthi: “Ngiyabacelela; kangiceleli umhlaba kodwa ngicelela labo ongiphe bona ngoba bangabakho . . . Baba Ongcwele, bakhangele ngenxa yebizo lakho ongiphe lona ukuze babe munye njengoba nje lathi simunye. . . . Bengibavikela njalo kakho loyedwa wabo oselahlekile ngaphandle kwendodana yokubhujiswa,” okutsho uJudasi Iskariyothi osezimisele ukuthi athengise uJesu.​—UJohane 17:9-12.

UJesu uqhubeka esithi: “Umhlaba ubazondile. . . . Angiceli ukuthi ubasuse emhlabeni kodwa engikucelayo yikuthi ubakhangele ngenxa yomubi. Kabasibo bomhlaba njengoba nje lami ngingayisuye womhlaba.” (UJohane 17:14-16) Lanxa abaphostoli labanye abafundi besemhlabeni, okutsho umphakathi wabantu obuswa nguSathane, kumele bazehlukanise lawo lezinto ezimbi ezikuwo. Bangakwenza njani lokhu?

Kumele bahlale bengcwele, okutsho ukuthi behlukaniselwe ukukhonza uNkulunkulu. Lokhu bangakwenza ngokulandela iqiniso eliseMibhalweni yesiHebheru kanye lalelo uJesu alifundisayo. UJesu uthi: “Bangcwelise ngeqiniso, ilizwi lakho liliqiniso.” (UJohane 17:17) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi abanye abaphostoli bazabhala amabhuku aphefumulelweyo njalo ‘aliqiniso’ anganceda umuntu ukuthi abe ngcwele.

Kodwa kuzakuba labanye abazalamukela ‘iqiniso.’ Yikho uJesu kakhulekeli ‘[labo alabo] kuphela, ucelela lalabo abathi bangezwa ilizwi lakhe babe lokholo kuye.’ Kuyini uJesu akucelayo? Uthi: “Ukuze bonke babe munye njengoba wena Baba umunye lami, lami ngimunye lawe. Ngifuna babe munye lathi.” (UJohane 17:20, 21) Kayisikho ukuthi uJesu loYise bangumuntu oyedwa kodwa bamunye ngenxa yokuthi bayavumelana ezintweni zonke. UJesu ukhulekela ukuthi abalandeli bakhe labo babe munye.

Uke watshela uPhetro labanye abafundi ukuthi uzabalungisela indawo, esitsho indawo ezulwini. (UJohane 14:2, 3) Khathesi usephinda akhulume ngalokhu emthandazweni wakhe, uthi: “Baba, ngifuna ukuthi ongiphe bona babe lami lapho engikhona ukuze babone inkazimulo yami ongiphe yona ngoba wangithanda umhlaba ungakasungulwa.” (UJohane 17:24) Amazwi akhe atshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayeyithanda iNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa uJesu Khristu kusukela kudala u-Adamu lo-Eva bengakabi labantwana.

UJesu uthi esephetha umkhuleko wakhe aphinde akhulume ngebizo likaYise lokuthi uNkulunkulu uyabathanda abaphostoli labanye abazalamukela ‘iqiniso.’ Uthi: “Sengenze balazi ibizo lakho njalo ngizalenza laziwe ukuze uthando owangithanda ngalo lube kubo, lami ngibe munye labo.”​—UJohane 17:26.

UJesu useqedile ukukhuleka labaphostoli bakhe abathembekileyo. Ngemva kwalokho ‘bahlabela izingoma zokudumisa, besebephuma baye eNtabeni Yama-Oliva.’ (UMakho 14:26) Baphuma beqonda empumalanga esivandeni okuthiwa yiGetsemane uJesu ajayele ukuya kuso.

UJesu labaphostoli bakhe bayafika endaweni le enhle elezihlahla zama-oliva. Kodwa abaphostoli bakhe abayisitshiyagalombili kumele ukuthi basala duze lentuba yesivande ngoba uthi kubo: “Hlalani lapha ngisake ngiyethandaza laphaya.” Uthatha abaphostoli abathathu uPhetro loJakhobe kanye loJohane abesengena phakathi esivandeni. Uyakhathazeka kakhulu abesesithi kubo: “Inhliziyo yami ibuhlungu kakhulu, kuthi ngife. Salani lapha, lihlale liphapheme kanye lami.”​—UMathewu 26:36-38.

UJesu uyasuka aye phambidlana afike ‘azilahle phansi aqalise ukuthandaza.’ Uthandaza esithini kuNkulunkulu ngalesisikhathi esinzima? Uthi: “Baba, uyenelisa ukwenza zonke izinto; susa inkomitsho le kimi. Kodwa kungabi ngokufunwa yimi, kube ngokufunwa nguwe.” (UMakho 14:35, 36) Kambe uJesu engabe ecela ukuthi angasabi yinhlawulo yabantu? Hatshi.

AmaRoma ayebahlukuluza kabuhlungu abantu ayebabulala njalo uJesu wathi esezulwini wakubona lokho. Ngakho kuyamkhathaza ukuthi laye uzakuzwa ubuhlungu obunjalo nxa esesifa. Kanti njalo okumzwisa ubuhlungu kakhulu yikuthi uzabulawa njengesigebenga besekungcolisa ibizo likaYise. Ngemva kwamahola amalutshwana nje uzabethelwa esigodweni angani ngumuntu othuke uNkulunkulu.

Ngemva kokukhuleka okwesikhathi eside uJesu uyaphenduka afice abaphostoli bakhe abathathu bebuthuza ubuthongo. Uthi kuPhetro: “Kambe uswele amandla okuthi uhlale uphapheme kanye lami okwehola elilodwa nje? Hlalani liphapheme futhi lihlale likhuleka ukuze lingangeni ekulingweni.” UJesu uyananzelela ukuthi abaphostoli bakhathazekile njengaye futhi badiniwe. Uqhubeka esithi: “Umoya uyafisa sibili kodwa inyama ibuthakathaka.”​—UMathewu 26:40, 41.

UJesu uyasuka futhi, abesecela ukuthi uNkulunkulu asuse “inkomitsho le” kuye. Uthi ephenduka afice abaphostoli bakhe abathathu sebejumekile bona bekumele bakhuleke ukuze bangangeni ekulingweni. UJesu uthi ekhuluma labo ‘baswele lokuthi bamphendule bathini.’ (UMakho 14:40) Uyabuyela futhi, afike aguqe aqalise ukukhuleka.

UJesu ukhathazeke kakhulu ngokuthi ukubulawa kwakhe njengesigebenga kuzangcolisa ibizo likaYise. Kodwa uJehova uyayizwa imithandazo yeNdodana yakhe. Uze athumele lengilosi ukuthi imqinise. Lanxa kunjalo uJesu kayekeli ukukhuleka emncenga uYise. Uqhubeka “ekhuleka ngenhliziyo yonke” ngoba udabuke kakhulu. Kumele abulawe ukuze yena kanye labantu abalokholo baphile phakade, yikho uthwele umthwalo osindayo sibili. ‘Izithukuthuku zakhe zize zibe njengamathonsi egazi ethontela phansi.’​—ULukha 22:44.

Uthi esebuyela okwesithathu kubaphostoli bakhe abafice belele futhi, abesesithi kubo: “Ngesikhathi esinje lilele futhi liyaphumula! Ihola lokuthi iNdodana yomuntu inikelwe ezandleni zezoni seliseduze. Sukumani sihambe. Umthengisi wami usesondele!”​—UMathewu 26:45, 46.

Khathesi sekusebusuku sibili, isikhathi sesihambile. Abaphristi bavumelane ukuthi babhadale uJudasi inhlamvu zesiliva ezingu-30 ukuze athengise uJesu. Yikho uJudasi ukhokhela iqembu elikhulu labaphristi abakhokhelayo labaFarisi besiyadinga uJesu. Bahamba leqembu lamasotsha eRoma elihlomileyo kanye lenduna yamabutho.

Kusegcekeni ukuthi uJudasi uhle waqonda kubaphristi abakhokhelayo ngesikhathi uJesu esithi asuke esidlweni sePhasika. (UJohane 13:27) Abaphristi abakhokhelayo laba babiza abalindi babo lamasotsha. Kumele ukuthi uJudasi uqala abase endlini lapho uJesu labaphostoli bakhe abananze khona iPhasika. Kodwa bayamswela uJesu besebechapha iSigodi SaseKhidroni beqonda esivandeni. Bathwele izikhali lezibane futhi bamdinga phansi phezulu.

UJudasi ukhwela iNtaba Yama-Oliva labantu ahamba labo njalo kathandabuzi ukuthi uzamthola ngaphi uJesu. Ngeviki ephelileyo uJesu labaphostoli bebesiya eJerusalema laseBhethani futhi bebejayele ukuphumula esivandeni seGetsemane. Khathesi sekusebusuku njalo kumele ukuthi uJesu usezihlahleni zama-oliva esivandeni lesi. Pho amasotsha azamazi njani uJesu njengoba kungenzeka ukuthi kawakaze ambone? UJudasi uzawanika isibonakaliso. Uthi: “Loba ngubani engizamqabuza, kuyabe kunguye; limthathe limbophe beselihamba laye limlindile.”​—UMakho 14:44.

UJudasi ungena lexuku labantu esivandeni abone uJesu elabaphostoli bakhe, ahle aqonde kuye. Uthi kuye, “Sakubona Rabi!” abesemqabuza. UJesu uthi kuye: “Ndoda ulandeni lapha?” (UMathewu 26:49, 50) UJesu kalindeli ukuthi uJudasi aphendule, uqhubeka esithi: “Judasi, kambe uthengisa iNdodana yomuntu ngokuyiqabuza?” (ULukha 22:48) Kodwa okukaJesu loJudasi sekuphelile.

UJesu uziveza phambi kwabantu abaphethe izibane abesebabuza athi: “Lidinga bani?” Bamphendula bathi: “UJesu umNazaretha.” UJesu ukhuluma engesabi athi: “Yimi.” (UJohane 18:4, 5) Amadoda la awela phansi njengoba engakwazi ukuthi uJesu uzakwenzani.

UJesu kathi nyawo mbeletha anyamalale emnyameni, kodwa uphinda ababuze ukuthi badinga bani. Bathi sebephinde bathi badinga “uJesu umNazaretha,” yena angethuki, abatshele athi: “Ngilitshelile ukuthi yimi. Nxa lidinga mina, yekelani amadoda la ahambe.” Lanxa uJesu eselandwe ngabantu abafuna ukumbopha, ulokhu esakhumbula ukuthi wayeke wathi kasoze alahlekelwe langoyedwa wabaphostoli bakhe. (UJohane 6:39; 17:12) UJesu ubagcinile abaphostoli bakhe abathembekileyo futhi kakho loyedwa olahlekileyo “ngaphandle kwendodana yokubhujiswa,” uJudasi. (UJohane 18:7-9) Yikho khathesi esecela ixuku ukuthi liyekele abalandeli bakhe abathembekileyo bahambe.

Abaphostoli bathi bebona amasotsha esondela kuJesu bananzelele ukuthi asefuna ukumbopha. Babuza bathi: “Nkosi, sigadle ngenkemba yini?” (ULukha 22:49) UJesu uthi engakaphenduli, uPhetro ahwatshe enye inkemba kwezimbili abaphostoli abalazo. Ugalela uMalikhusi oyinceku yomphristi omkhulu amqume indlebe yesokudla.

UJesu uthinta indlebe kaMalikhusi amelaphe. Ngemva kwalokho ufundisa isifundo esiqakathekileyo, uthi kuPhetro: “Buyisela inkemba yakho endaweni yayo ngoba bonke abasebenzisa inkemba bazakufa ngenkemba.” UJesu uzimisele ukuthi abotshwe njalo uchasisa athi: “Izagcwaliseka njani iMibhalo ethi lokhu kufanele kwenzakale?” (UMathewu 26:52, 54) Uphinda athi: “Akufanelanga ngiyinathe yini inkomitsho uBaba anginike yona?” (UJohane 18:11) UJesu uzimisele ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu lanxa kumele afe.

Ubuza ixuku athi: “Kambe lilande ukuzongibopha lithwele izinkemba lezinduku angani ngiyisigebenga? Bengijayele ukuhlala ethempelini nsuku zonke ngifundisa kodwa kalizange lingibophe. Lanxa kunjalo, konke lokhu kwenzakele ukuze kugcwaliseke okwabhalwa ngabaphrofethi.”​—UMathewu 26:55, 56.

Amasotsha lenduna yamabutho, labalindi bamaJuda bayambamba uJesu bambophe. Abaphostoli bathi bebona lokhu babaleke. Kodwa “elinye ijaha” okungenzakala ukuthi ngumfundi uMakho, liyasala exukwini lifuna ukulandela uJesu. (UMakho 14:51) Abasexukwini bayalibona ijaha leli besebezama ukulibamba, lona licele ezinyaweni litshiye isembatho salo selineni.

UJesu uthi esebotshiwe sasigebenga ahanjiswe ku-Anasi owayengumphristi omkhulu ngesikhathi uJesu exoxa labafundisi ethempelini esesemncane. (ULukha 2:42, 47) Ngemva kwesikhathi amanye amadodana ka-Anasi aba ngabaphristi abakhulu futhi khathesi umkhwenyana wakhe uKhayifasi nguye olesikhundla lesi.

UKhayifasi ubuthanisa iSanihedrini ngesikhathi uJesu ebuzwa imibuzo ngu-Anasi. Umphristi omkhulu labanye abake benza umsebenzi lo labo bangamalunga omthethwandaba lo obunjwa ngamalunga angu-71.

U-Anasi ubuza uJesu “ngabafundi bakhe langemfundiso yakhe.” UJesu umphendula esithi: “Ngikhulume lomhlaba egcekeni. Bengihlala ngifundisa esinagogeni lasethempelini, lapho wonke amaJuda abuthana khona. Kangitshongo lutho ensitha. Manje kungani ubuza mina? Buza labo abazwileyo engibatshele khona.”​—UJohane 18:19-21.

Omunye wabalindi omi khonapho utshaya uJesu ngempama ebusweni abesemsola esithi: “Ungaphendula njalo umphristi okhokhelayo?” Kodwa uJesu uyakwazi ukuthi kaphambanisanga lutho yikho umphendula athi: “Nxa engikukhulumileyo kungaqondanga, fakaza ukuthi ngiphambaniseni, kodwa nxa kuqondile, ungitshayelani?” (UJohane 18:22, 23) Ngemva kwalokho u-Anasi uthi uJesu ahanjiswe kumkhwenyana wakhe uKhayifasi.

Khathesi iSanihedrini yonke isithelekile emzini kaKhayifasi. Kulomphristi omkhulu, labadala besizwe kanye lababhali. Kulicala ukuthi umuntu athonisiswe ngobusuku bePhasika. Lanxa kunjalo, abantu laba bazimisele ukuqhubeka ngento embi abayihlosileyo.

Abanengi abaseqenjini leli sebehle bamahlulela uJesu. Phela wathi esevuse uLazaro iSanihedrini yavumelana ukuthi kumele afe. (UJohane 11:47-53) Kanti njalo emalangeni asanda ukwedlula, abakhokheli benkolo babumbe icebo lokumbamba bambulale. (UMathewu 26:3, 4) UJesu kakathonisiswa kodwa sekuhle kwathiwa kumele afe.

Abaphristi abakhokhelayo lamanye amalunga eSanihedrini bathi sebehlangene ngokungekho emthethweni baphinde badinge ofakazi abazafakaza amanga ukuze uJesu athonisiswe. Banengi ababizwayo ukuthi bafakaze, kodwa ubufakazi babo kabuvumelani. Kucina kusukuma ofakazi ababili abathi: “Samuzwa esithi, ‘Ngizadiliza ithempeli leli elenziwa ngezandla, besekusithi emalangeni amathathu ngibe sengakhe elinye elingenziwanga ngezandla.’” (UMakho 14:58) Kodwa ubufakazi bamadoda la labo kabuvumelani.

UKhayifasi ubuza uJesu athi: “Kanti kawuphenduli? Uthini ngalokho amadoda la akumangalela ngakho?” (UMakho 14:60) UJesu uqhubeka ezithulele esizwa ukumangalelwa lokhu okwenziwa ngofakazi bamanga abangavumelaniyo. Yikho uMphristi Omkhulu uKhayifasi usezama elinye iqhinga.

UKhayifasi uyakwazi ukuthi umuntu othi uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu uyabe esewahlokozile amaJuda. UJesu wake wathi uNkulunkulu nguYise, wona asezama ukumbulala esithi ‘uzenza olingana loNkulunkulu.’ (UJohane 5:17, 18; 10:31-39) UKhayifasi uyakwazi ukuthi kwake kwaba lendaba enjalo yikho wenza ubuqili abuze uJesu athi: “Ngithi kuwe funga ngoNkulunkulu ophilayo ukuthi uzakhuluma iqiniso, usitshele ukuthi unguye yini uKhristu iNdodana kaNkulunkulu!” (UMathewu 26:63) Nxa uJesu engayekela ukumphendula kuzakhanya angani usephika ukuthi unguKhristu lokuthi uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu ngoba ubevele ekuveza ukuthi uyiNdodana yakhe. (UJohane 3:18; 5:25; 11:4) Ngakho uthi: “Nginguye; futhi lizabona iNdodana yomuntu ihlezi esandleni sokudla saLowo Olamandla, njalo isiza ngamayezi ezulu.”​—UMakho 14:62.

UKhayifasi uthi esizwa lokhu adabule izembatho zakhe athi: “Usethuke uNkulunkulu! Sisabafunelani abanye ofakazi? Liyabona! Selizizwele-ke ethuka. Lina lithini ngakho?” ISanihedrini imahlulela kubi uJesu, ithi: “Kumele afe.”​—UMathewu 26:65, 66.

Ngemva kwalokhu bayamchothoza uJesu, bamtshaye ngenqindi. Abanye bayammakala ngamampama bamkhafulele ebusweni. Bayamvala ubuso bamtshaye ngamampama besebemphoxa besithi: “Phrofetha phela! Ngubani okutshayileyo?” (ULukha 22:64) Bayayihlukuluza iNdodana kaNkulunkulu phezu kokuyithonisisa ebusuku ngokungekho emthethweni.

Abaphostoli bakaJesu bayambalekela esebotshiwe esivandeni saseGetsemane. Kodwa uPhetro “lomunye umfundi” okungenzeka ngumphostoli uJohane bayabuyela kuJesu. (UJohane 18:15; 19:35; 21:24) Mhlawumbe bazamthola endleleni ehanjiswa ku-Anasi. U-Anasi uthi esedlulisele uJesu kuMphristi Omkhulu uKhayifasi, uPhetro loJohane balandele behambela khatshana. Kumele ukuthi bayesaba ukuthi bangabulawa njalo bakhathazekile ngokuthi kuyini okuzakwenzakala eNkosini yabo.

UJohane uyaziwa ngumphristi omkhulu uKhayifasi, yikho uyenelisa ukungena egumeni lendlu yakhe. UPhetro usala emile emnyango uJohane aze aphenduke akhulume lentombazana eyincekukazi elinde kulowomnyango. Ngemva kwalokho uPhetro uyavunyelwa ukungena.

Abantu abasegumeni bothe umlilo wamalahle ngoba kuyaqanda. UPhetro laye uhlezi khonapho ukuze akhudumale esalindele ‘ukubona ukuthi kuzaphetha ngani’ ukuthonisiswa kukaJesu. (UMathewu 26:58) Khathesi njengoba esesemlilweni, omngenisileyo emnyango usembona kuhle. Uthi kuye: “Pho lawe kawusimfundi wendoda le?” (UJohane 18:17) Bakhona labanye abamnanzelelayo uPhetro besebesithi laye ubeloJesu.​—UMathewu 26:69, 71-73; UMakho 14:70.

Lokhu kuyamcaphula kakhulu uPhetro ngoba kafuni abantu bamnanzelele. Uze asuke aye duze kwegedi. Yikho uPhetro uyaphika ukuthi ubeloJesu, aze athi: “Angimazi ngitsho, futhi angizwisisi ukuthi ukhuluma ngani.” (UMakho 14:67, 68) Ngemva kwalokhu ‘uyaqalekisa njalo uyafunga,’ okutsho ukuthi uzimisele ukutshengisa ukuthi amazwi akhe aliqiniso lokuthi ajeziswe nxa engamanga.​—UMathewu 26:74.

Kusenzakala konke lokhu uJesu uqhubeka ethonisiswa njalo kungenzakala usendaweni ekhangelane leguma endlini kaKhayifasi. Kumele ukuthi uPhetro labanye abalindileyo ngaphansi egumeni bayababona abantu abangena bephuma besiyafakaza.

Abantu abalapho bayabona ukuthi uPhetro uqamba amanga ngenxa yokuthi ukhuluma njengabantu baseGalile. Kanti njalo khonapho kulesihlobo sikaMalikhusi owaqunywa indlebe nguPhetro. Yikho isihlobo lesi sithi kuPhetro: “Kanti wena kangizange ngikubone ulaye ensimini?” UPhetro uyaphika okwesithathu, iqhude beselikhala njengoba kwakukhulunyiwe.​—UJohane 13:38; 18:26, 27.

Ngalesisikhathi uJesu engabe esendaweni ephezulu futhi indawo le ikhangelane leguma. Uyatshibilika amuthi nhlo uPhetro njalo kumele ukuthi lokhu kumzwisa ubuhlungu kakhulu. Ukhumbula lokho uJesu ake wakukhuluma endlini ephezulu kumahola amalutshwana asanda kwedlula. Ubona angani uPhetro uzwa njani ebona lokhu asekwenzile? Uyaphuma phandle akhale okuzwisa usizi.​—ULukha 22:61, 62.

UPhetro uyiphike njani iNkosi yakhe yena kade engathandabuzi ukuthi ulokholo oluqinileyo lokuthi uthembekile? Ngalesisikhathi amazwi kaJesu ayatshilwa njalo usesenziwa isigebenga. UPhetro bekumele ammele uJesu ongelacala njalo ‘olamazwi okuphila okungapheliyo’ kodwa wehlulekile ukwenza lokhu.​—UJohane 6:68.

Okwenzakala kuPhetro kutshengisa ukuthi nxa umuntu olokholo njalo ozinikeleyo engazilungiselelanga, laye angalukhutha ugatsha engajunywa yisilingo loba ehlelwe yibunzima akade engabulindelanga. Lokhu okwenzakala kuPhetro kumele kube yisixwayiso kuzo zonke izinceku zikaNkulunkulu.