UPhetro uphike uJesu okwesithathu sekuzakuba semadabukakusa. Amalunga eSanihedrini aseqedile ukuthonisisa uJesu njalo asechithekile. Kuthi sekusemathathakusa ngoLwesihlanu, baphinde bahlangane ukuze kukhanye angani benze okusemthethweni ngesikhathi bemthonisisa ebusuku. UJesu uyalethwa phambi kwabo.

Umthethwandaba uphinda uthi kuJesu: “Nxa unguKhristu sitshele.” UJesu yena uphendula athi: “Ngingaze ngilitshele, kalisoze lakholwa loba sekutheni, futhi nxa ngingalibuza ngeke liphendule.” Lanxa kunjalo, uJesu kesabi ukubavezela ukuthi nguye okwakukhulunywa ngaye kuDanyeli 7:13. Uthi: “Kusukela khathesi iNdodana yomuntu izahlala esandleni sikaNkulunkulu sokudla esilamandla.”​—ULukha 22:67-69; UMathewu 26:63.

Baqhubeka bebuza besithi: “Manje uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu yini?” UJesu ubaphendula athi: “Lina ngokwenu lithi ngiyiyo.” Lokhu kukhanya kuyisizatho esihle sokuthi uJesu abulawelwe icala lokuthuka uNkulunkulu. Bathi: “Sisabufunelani obunye ubufakazi? (ULukha 22:70, 71; UMakho 14:64) Yikho-ke bayambopha uJesu besebemusa kuSibalukhulu waseRoma, uPhontiyu Philathu.

Kungenzeka ukuthi uJudasi Iskariyothi uyambona uJesu esehanjiswa kuPhilathu. Uthi esenanzelela ukuthi sebemahlulele uJesu, azisole futhi akhathazeke. Lanxa kunjalo, kaphenduki abuyele kuNkulunkulu. Uthatha inhlamvu zesiliva ezingu-30 azame ukuzibuyisela, athi kubaphristi abakhokhelayo: “Ngonile ngokuthengisa igazi elingelacala.” Kodwa kibo akuthi thiki, bamphendula bathi: “Kulani lathi lokho? Zibonele ukuthi uzakwenzani!”​—UMathewu 27:4.

UJudasi uphosela inhlamvu zesiliva ezingu-30 ethempelini abesesengeza izono zakhe ngokuzama ukuzibulala. Kodwa kukhanya angani esazama ukuzibophela esihlahleni, ugatsha lwaso luyaqamuka. Uyawa atshayeke ematsheni aphansi, isisu sakhe besesidubuka.​—ImiSebenzi 1:17, 18.

UJesu uhanjiswa kuPhontiyu Philathu kulokhu kusekuseni kakhulu. Kodwa amaJuda ahamba laye kawafiki angene esigodlweni sikaPhilathu ngoba acabanga ukuthi kuzawangcolisa ukuba phakathi kwabantu beZizweni. Lokhu kuyabe kuzakwenza ukuthi engafaneli ukudla isidlo ngoNisani 15, ilanga lokuqala loMkhosi Wesinkwa Esingelamvubelo alibona njengengxenye yePhasika.

UPhilathu uyaphuma abuze amaJuda athi: “Liyimangalela ngani indoda le?” Wona amphendula athi: “Ngabe indoda le ibingayisiso sigangi, besingasoze siyilethe kuwe.” UPhilathu engabe ebona angani bafuna ukumbamba ngamandla ukuthi enze abakufunayo, yikho uthi kubo: “Mthatheni lina limahlulele ngomthetho wenu.” AmaJuda atshengisa ukuthi afuna uJesu abulawe ngokuphendula esithi: “Akukho emthethweni ukuthi sibulale umuntu.”​—UJohane 18:29-31.

Nxa amaJuda la engabulala uJesu ngesikhathi sePhasika, kuzavusa umsindo. Kodwa amaRoma wona ayavunyelwa ukubulala umuntu owephula umthetho wawo. Ngakho amaJuda afuna amaRoma abulale uJesu ngokuwenza akholwe ukuthi ulecala lokwephula umthetho wamaRoma. AmaJuda acabanga ukuthi angenza njalo azasala emsulwa phambi kwabantu.

Abakhokheli benkolo kabamtsheli uPhilathu ukuthi bebethese uJesu icala lokuthuka uNkulunkulu. Khathesi sebekhuluma amanye amanga besithi: “Sithole indoda le [1] idukisa isizwe sethu, [2] isithi abantu bangabhadali imithelo kuKhesari futhi [3] isithi yona inguKhristu inkosi.”​—ULukha 23:2.

UPhilathu uyisiphathamandla seRoma, yikho kuyamkhathaza ukuthi abantu laba bathi uJesu uzenza inkosi. Uyabuyela esigodlweni sakhe abize uJesu abesembuza athi: “UyiNkosi yamaJuda yini?” Ngamanye amazwi uthi kuJesu, ‘Wephule umthetho wombuso yini ngokuphikisana loKhesari uzithi uyinkosi?’ Mhlawumbe uJesu ufuna ukwazi ukuthi kuyini uPhilathu asekuzwile ngaye yikho embuza esithi: “Lokhu okubuzayo uzicabangele kumbe kulabanye abakutshele ngami?”​—UJohane 18:33, 34.

UPhilathu kaphiki ukuthi kakwazi lutho ngoJesu njalo utshengisa ukuthi uyafuna ukwazi, uthi: “NgingumJuda yini mina?” Uphinda athi: “Isizwe sakini labaphristi abakhokhelayo yibo abakulethe kimi. Kanti wenzeni?”​—UJohane 18:35.

UJesu kayibalekeli indaba yobukhosi amangalelwa ngayo. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi impendulo yakhe itshiya uSibalukhulu uPhilathu ebambe owangaphansi.

UJesu kamfihleli uPhilathu ukuthi uyinkosi. Lanxa kunjalo uMbuso wakhe kawuncintisani loweRoma. Uthi: “UMbuso wami kawusiwo walo umhlaba. Aluba uMbuso wami ubungowalumhlaba, izinceku zami bezizakulwa ukuze nginganikelwa kumaJuda. Kodwa uMbuso wami wona kawuveli lapha.” (UJohane 18:36) UJesu ulawo sibili uMbuso, kodwa kawusiwo walumhlaba.

UPhilathu uphinda abuze uJesu esithi: “Uyinkosi yini?” Impendulo kaJesu iveza ukuthi uPhilathu utshaye khona nxa esithi uyinkosi. Uthi kuye: “Njengoba nje usitsho ukuthi ngiyinkosi. Ngazalelwa ukuthi ngizofakaza iqiniso futhi lokho yikho engakulandayo emhlabeni. Wonke umuntu osekela iqiniso uyalilalela ilizwi lami.”​—UJohane 18:37.

UJesu wayeke watshela uTomasi wathi: “Mina ngiyindlela leqiniso kanye lokuphila.” Khathesi loPhilathu usekwazi ukuthi uJesu walanda ukuzofakaza “iqiniso” ngoMbuso wakhe. UJesu uzimisele ukulisekela iqiniso lelo lanxa lingamenza abulawe. UPhilathu umbuza athi: “Liyini iqiniso?” Kodwa kameleli mpendulo ngoba asekuzwile kwanele ukuthi ahlulele uJesu.​—UJohane 14:6; 18:38.

UPhilathu uyabuyela exukwini eliphandle kwesigodlo. Kukhanya uJesu useceleni kwakhe ngesikhathi etshela abaphristi abakhokhelayo labanye abakhonapho esithi: “Mina kangiliboni icala elenziwe yindoda le.” Ixuku liyazonda lisizwa lokhu, liphikelele lisithi: “Imfundiso yakhe yenza ukuthi kube lokuxokozela kulo lonke elaseJudiya, kusukela eGalile kuze kufike lapha.”​—ULukha 23:4, 5.

Kumele ukuthi uPhilathu uyamangala ebona ukuthi indlela amaJuda acabanga ngayo inxele. Abaphristi abakhokhelayo lamadoda amadala bathi belokhu bememeza, uPhilathu abuze uJesu athi: “Kanti awuzizwa izinto lezi abakumangalela ngazo?” (UMathewu 27:13) UJesu uyazithulela zwi njalo uPhilathu uyamangala embona engethuswa yilokho amangalelwa ngakho.

AmaJuda athe uJesu ‘wasukela eGalile.’ Lokhu kwenza uPhilathu abone ukuthi uJesu ngoweGalile. Uhle abe lecebo lokuthi uzakwenzani ukuze angabi lomlandu wokwahlulela uJesu. Uhambisa uJesu kuHerodi Antiphasi (indodana kaHerodi Omkhulu) umbusi waseGalile, olande umkhosi wePhasika eJerusalema. UHerodi Antiphasi nguye owathi uJohane uMbhabhathizi aqunywe ikhanda. Ngemva kwesikhathi wathi esizwa ukuthi uJesu wenza izimangaliso wakhathazeka esecabanga ukuthi mhlawumbe kwakunguJohane osevukile kwabafileyo.​—ULukha 9:7-9.

UHerodi uyathaba esizwa ukuthi uJesu uza kuye. Kodwa lokhu akubangelwa yikuthi ufisa ukunceda uJesu loba ukuthi ufuna ukuzwisisa ukuthi indaba amangalelwa ngayo iliqiniso yini. Yena ufuna ukumbona nje futhi ‘ufisa ukumbona esenza isimangaliso.’ (ULukha 23:8) Kodwa uJesu kakwenzi lokho uHerodi akhangelele ukuthi akwenze. Uyazithulela ngesikhathi uHerodi embuza imibuzo. UHerodi lamasotsha akhe bayadana ‘besebechothoza’ uJesu. (ULukha 23:11) Bamgqokisa isembatho esibucwazicwazi bamenze inhlekisa. Ngemva kwalokho uHerodi ubuyisela uJesu kuPhilathu. UHerodi loPhilathu bebeyizitha kodwa khathesi sebengabangane.

UJesu uthi esephendukile uPhilathu abize abaphristi abakhokhelayo lababusi bamaJuda kanye labantu. Uthi kubo: ‘Ngimthonisise phambi kwenu kodwa kangisitholanga isizatho sokumbeka icala ngalokho elimmangalela ngakho. UHerodi laye katholanga lutho, nanko phela usemphendukisile kithi. Indoda le kayenzanga lutho olungenza ibulawe. Yikho ngizayijezisa besengiyikhulula.’​—ULukha 23:14-16.

UPhilathu uyafuna sibili ukukhulula uJesu ngoba uyananzelela ukuthi abaphristi balomona yikho bemlethe kuye. Kusenjalo, kuba lokunye okumenza azimisele kakhulu ukumkhulula. Uthi esahlezi esihlalweni sakhe sokwahlulela, umkakhe amthumele umbiko esithi: “Ungayingeni indaba yendoda le elungileyo ngoba ngiyiphuphile lamuhla futhi iphupho lelo [okungenzeka livele kuNkulunkulu] lingihluphe kakhulu.”​—UMathewu 27:19.

UPhilathu uyakwazi okumele akwenze. Kodwa uzayikhulula njani indoda le engelacala?

UPhilathu utshele ixuku elifuna ukubulala uJesu wathi: ‘Kangisitholanga isizatho sokumbeka icala ngalokho elimmangalela ngakho. UHerodi laye katholanga lutho.’ (ULukha 23:14, 15) Khathesi uPhilathu uzama elinye icebo ukuze akhulule uJesu, uthi ebantwini: “Lijayele ukuthi ngilikhululele umuntu ngePhasika. Manje liyafuna yini ukuthi ngilikhululele iNkosi yamaJuda?”​—UJohane 18:39.

UPhilathu uyakwazi ukuthi kulendoda eyisibotshwa okuthiwa nguBharabha. Indoda le iyisigebenga njalo ilecala lokuvukela umbuso lokubulala. Yikho uPhilathu ubuza athi: “Lifuna ngilikhululele bani, uBharabha kumbe uJesu lowo abamuthi nguKhristu?” Abantu laba abatshotshozelwe ngabaphristi abakhokhelayo bathi kukhululwe uBharabha kulokuthi kukhululwe uJesu. UPhilathu uyabuza futhi athi: “Ngubani phakathi kwalaba ababili elifuna ngilikhululele yena?” Ixuku limemeza lisithi: “NguBharabha.”​—UMathewu 27:17, 21.

UPhilathu uyadana abesesithi: “Manje ngenzeni ngoJesu lo abamuthi nguKhristu?” Abantu bayavungama bathi: “Kabethelwe esigodweni!” (UMathewu 27:22) Kabalanhloni zokuthi bacela ukuthi kubulawe umuntu ongelacala. UPhilathu uncenga athi: “Ngenxa yani? Kuyini okubi okwenziwe yindoda le? Mina kangisitholanga isizatho sokuthi ibulawe, yikho ngizayijezisa besengiyikhulula.”​—ULukha 23:22.

Lanxa uPhilathu esezame wazama ixuku leli elidla amahabula limemeza kanye kanye lisithi: “Kabethelwe esigodweni!” (UMathewu 27:23) Abakhokheli benkolo sebebaphambanisile abantu laba ngoba sebeze befuna kuchitheke igazi. Bafuna igazi lomuntu ongelacala hatshi elesigebenga loba umbulali. Emalangeni amahlanu adlulileyo umuntu lo ongelacala ungene eJerusalema waphathwa njengeNkosi. Nxa kuyikuthi abafundi bakaJesu bakhona khonapho, baqhubeka bezithulele njalo bezifihla.

UPhilathu uyabona ukuthi akuzamayo kufanana lokuthela amanzi emhlane wedada. Sekuqalisa ukuba lesiphithiphithi, yikho uthatha amanzi ageze izandla phambi kwexuku. Uthi kulo: “Mina kangilacala ngegazi lendoda le. Ziboneleni elingakwenza.” Kodwa akuthi thiki kulo, lithi: “Igazi lakhe kalibe phezu kwethu laphezu kwabantwabethu.”​—UMathewu 27:24, 25.

Usibalukhulu uyakwazi okuqondileyo okumele akwenze, kodwa yena ufuna ukuthabisa abantu. Yikho wenza lokho abafuna akwenze, amkhulule uBharabha. Uthi uJesu akhitshwe impahla zakhe abesebhaxabulwa.

UJesu uthi esetshaywe kabuhlungu, amasotsha amhambise esigodlweni sikasibalukhulu. Lonke ibutho liyabuthana beselimhlukuluza. Leluka umqhele wameva beseliwubeka ekhanda lakhe. Amasotsha aphinda abambise uJesu umhlanga ngesandla sakhe sokudla amembathise lejazi eliyibubende elinjengalelo eligqokwa ngabesikhosini. Amenza inhlekisa athi: “Sakubona, wena Nkosi yamaJuda!” (UMathewu 27:28, 29) Aphinda amkhafulele, elokhu emtshaya ngamampama. Athatha umhlanga abembambise wona amtshaye ngawo ekhanda, ameva omqhele angene atshone.

Lanxa uJesu ehlukuluzwe kabuhlungu kangaka uqhubeka ezibamba njalo elesibindi. Lokhu kuyammangalisa uPhilathu aze aphinde azame ukwenza ukuthi ukufa kukaJesu kungabi ngumlandu wakhe, uthi: “Khangelani! Sengimletha phandle kini ukuze likwazi ukuthi kangiboni lutho aluphambanisileyo.” Kambe uPhilathu engabe ecabanga ukuthi nxa ixuku lingabona uJesu esemanxebanxeba futhi evuza igazi, lingantshintsha ingqondo? UJesu uthi esemi phambi kwexuku leli elingelazwelo, uPhilathu amemeze esithi: “Khangelani! Nansi indoda!”​—UJohane 19:4, 5.

Lanxa uJesu etshaywe kabuhlungu futhi elimele, kaphindiseli njalo uqhubeka ezithiba. Kumele ukuthi uPhilathu uyakunanzelela lokhu ngoba kukhanya angani amazwi akhe atshengisa ukuthi uyamhlonipha futhi uyamzwela.

UJesu ubehlukuluzwa kabuhlungu futhi esenziwa inhlekisa njalo uPhilathu ulokhu ezama ukumkhulula. Kodwa abakhokheli benkolo labanye abalabo kabafuni lakuzwa. Bafuna uJesu afe loba sekutheni. Balokhu bememeza besithi: “Kabethelwe esigodweni! Kabethelwe esigodweni!” UPhilathu uthi kubo: “Mthatheni lina liyembulala, mina kangiboni lutho aluphambanisileyo.”​—UJohane 19:6.

AmaJuda abefuna uJesu abulawelwe icala lokwephula umthetho wamaRoma, kodwa uPhilathu kavumelani lakho lokho. Yikho khathesi asebona kungcono ukuthi amangalele uJesu ngendaba yokuthuka uNkulunkulu ebikhulunywe ngesikhathi ethonisiswa phambi kweSanihedrini. Athi: “Thina silomthetho wethu, futhi ngokwalowomthetho kumele afe ngoba ubezenza indodana kaNkulunkulu.” (UJohane 19:7) Asebekutsho sekuyindaba entsha kuPhilathu.

Uyabuyela esigodlweni sakhe azame ukudinga elinye iqhinga lokukhulula indoda le umkakhe aphuphe ngayo futhi ebiqinisela kangaka ihlukuluzwa kabuhlungu. (UMathewu 27:19) Khathesi engabe esecabanga ngalokho amaJuda asemangalela ngakho uJesu esithi ‘uyindodana kaNkulunkulu.’ UPhilathu uyakwazi ukuthi uJesu uvela eGalile. (ULukha 23:5-7) Kodwa ubuza uJesu athi: “Ungowangaphi wena?” (UJohane 19:9) Mhlawumbe uyazibuza ukuthi uJesu wake waphila ezulwini yini lokuthi wake waba ngunkulunkulu.

UPhilathu uzizwele ngezakhe uJesu emtshela ukuthi uyinkosi lokuthi uMbuso wakhe kayisiwo womhlaba lo. UJesu kamphenduli ngoba kasiboni isizatho sokuthi akhulume okunye okunengi. Lokhu kwenza uPhilathu azibone edeleliwe abesecaphuka athi kuye: “Kanti kawufuni ukukhuluma lami? Kawukwazi yini ukuthi ngilamandla okukukhulula njalo ngilamandla okukubulala?”​—UJohane 19:10.

UJesu uthi kuye: “Wena ubungeke ube lamandla phezu kwami ngaphandle kokuthi uwaphiwe evela phezulu. Yikho umuntu ongilethe kuwe elesono esikhulu kakhulu.” (UJohane 19:11) Kungenzeka ukuthi lapha uJesu kakhulumi ngomuntu oyedwa. Engabe esitsho ukuthi uKhayifasi labanye bakhe kanye loJudasi Iskariyothi balecala elikhulu ukwedlula elikaPhilathu.

UPhilathu uyazama futhi ukukhulula uJesu ngoba umangaliswa ngamazwi akhe lokumbona elokhu ezinzile njalo wesaba ukuthi uJesu engabe evela ezulwini. Kodwa amaJuda avusa enye indaba engabe isenza uPhilathu engahlaliseki. Amethusela esithi: “Nxa ungakhulula indoda le, uyabe ungayisuye mngane kaKhesari. Wonke umuntu ozenza inkosi uphikisana loKhesari.”​—UJohane 19:12.

Usibalukhulu uPhilathu uphinda akhuphele uJesu phandle abesehlala esihlalweni sakhe sokwahlulela athi ebantwini: “Khangelani inkosi yenu!” Lanxa kunjalo, amaJuda kawabuyeli emuva. Amemeza athi: “Msuse lapha! Msuse lapha! Kabethelwe esigodweni!” UPhilathu uyawabuza athi: “Ngibulale inkosi yenu yini?” Lanxa sekulesikhathi eside amaJuda engakuthandi ukubuswa ngamaRoma, abaphristi abakhokhelayo baphendula bathi: “Kasila enye inkosi ngaphandle kukaKhesari.”​—UJohane 19:14, 15.

UPhilathu uba ligwala akhulelwe ngamaJuda, abesesithi uJesu ayebulawa. Amasotsha ahlubula uJesu isembatho esiyibubende abesemgqokisa izembatho zakhe zangaphandle. Athi esemqhuba amthwalise isigodo sakhe sokuhlutshwa.

Khathesi sekuyimini yekuseni yangoLwesihlanu ngoNisani 14. UJesu uyalwisa ukusithwala isigodo leso kodwa ucina ephela amandla. Phela ubengakabuquthi ubuthongo kusukela ngoLwesine ekuseni njalo ubelokhu ehlukuluzwa kakhulu. Ngakho enye indoda okuthiwa nguSimoni eyaseKhurene e-Africa ithi izidlulela khonapho amasotsha ayibambe ngamandla ayithwalise isigodo sokuhlutshwa. Abantu abanengi bayalandela betshaya izifuba zabo belila futhi baphakathi kosizi ngenxa yalokho okwenzakalayo.

UJesu utshela abesifazana abalilayo athi: “Madodakazi aseJerusalema, yekelani ukungikhalela. Zikhaleleni lina labantwabenu, ngoba insuku ziyeza lapho abantu abazakuthi, ‘Bayathokoza abesifazana abazinyumba lalabo abangazalanga kanye labalamabele angamunyisanga!’ Bazaqalisa lokuthi ezintabeni, ‘Welani phezu kwethu!’ baphinde bathi emaqaqeni, ‘Simbokotheni!’ Nxa besenza izinto lezi isihlahla siluhlaza, pho kuzakwenzakalani nxa sesiswabile?”​—ULukha 23:28-31.

UJesu ukhuluma ngesizwe samaJuda. Sinjengesihlahla esesizakoma kodwa esisaseluhlaza ngenxa yokuthi uJesu usesekhona njalo lamaJuda amanengi akholwa kuye asesekhona. Nxa uJesu esefile njalo abafundi bakhe sebelutshiyile ukholo lwesiJuda, isizwe lesi sizakuba njengesihlahla esomileyo. Kuzakuba lokulila okukhulu nxa amabutho eRoma esevunyelwe nguNkulunkulu ukuthi atshabalalise isizwe leso.

UJesu lezigebenga ezimbili bahanjiswa endaweni eseduze ledolobho abazabulawelwa kuyo. Indawo le ibizwa ngokuthi yiGoligotha loba iNdawo YoKhakhayi futhi yindawo umuntu angayibona ‘ekhatshana.’—UMakho 15:40.

Sebefikile khonale bakhitshwa izembatho zabo. Ngemva kwalokho baphiwa iwayini elihlanganiswe lesidakamizwa okuthiwa yimure lomhluzi obabayo. Iwayini leli okungenzeka lilethwe ngabesifazana beJerusalema liyabuthundubeza ubuhlungu futhi amaRoma kawali ukuthi abantu ababulawayo baliphiwe. Kodwa uJesu uthi eselinambithile ale ukulinatha. Kungani esala? Kafuni kube lento ezamphambanisa ngesikhathi lesi esiqakatheke kangaka njalo ufuna ukuhlala ephapheme futhi ethembekile aze afe.

Amasotsha alalisa uJesu esigodweni abesebethela izipikili ezandleni lasenyaweni zakhe futhi izipikili lezo zidabula inyama lemisipha, azwe ubuhlungu obukhulu. (UMakho 15:25) Isigodo sithi siphakanyiswa umzimba wakhe udonse lapho abethelwe khona, ubuhlungu buqine ngamandla. Lanxa kunjalo, uJesu kawatshingeli amasotsha. Ukhuleka athi: “Baba, bathethelele ngoba kabakwazi abakwenzayo.”​—ULukha 23:34.

AmaRoma ajayele ukufaka ibhakane elitshengisa ukuthi umuntu obulawayo wenzeni. Khathesi uPhilathu ufake ibhakane elilamazwi athi: “UJesu UmNazaretha, INkosi YamaJuda.” Libhalwe ngesiHebheru, ngesiLathini langesiGrikhi ukuze abantu abanengi benelise ukulibala. Okwenziwe nguPhilathu kutshengisa ukuthi kavumelani lobekutshiwo ngamaJuda abeqina ngokuthi uJesu kumele afe. Lokhu akubaphathi kuhle abaphristi abakhokhelayo yikho bathi: “Ungabhali ukuthi, ‘INkosi YamaJuda,’ bhala ukuthi yena wathi, ‘NgiyiNkosi YamaJuda.’” Kodwa uPhilathu kafuni ukuthi abantu laba babe belokhu bemenza udoli wabo, uthi: “Engikubhalileyo ngikubhalile.”​—UJohane 19:19-22.

Abaphristi laba abazondileyo bayaziphinda izinto akade bemangalela ngazo uJesu ngesikhathi ethonisiswa yiSanihedrini. Yikho labantu abazidlulelayo benyikinya amakhanda futhi bekhuluma kubi besithi: “Ehe! Wena owawusithi uzadiliza ithempeli ulakhe ngensuku ezintathu, zisindise phela, wehle esigodweni sokuhlutshwa.” Kanti njalo abaphristi abakhokhelayo lababhali bakhuluma bebodwa besithi: “Kehle phela uKhristu iNkosi ka-Israyeli esigodweni sokuhlutshwa, ukuze sibone futhi sikholwe.” (UMakho 15:29-32) Lezigebenga ezimphahlileyo ziyamthethisa lanxa engelacala.

Amasotsha eRoma amane lawo amenza inhlekisa. Kumele ukuthi abenatha iwayini elimunyu njalo kukhanya khathesi asemphoxa ngokwenza angani afuna ukumqhubela, wona ebona ukuthi ngeke alifikele. Aphinda amqale ngalokho okubhalwe ebhakaneni elingaphezu kwakhe. Athi: “Zisindise nxa uyiNkosi yamaJuda.” (ULukha 23:36, 37) Kambe indoda le etshengise ukuthi iyindlela, leqiniso kanye lokuphila yiyo esiphathwa kubi kangaka futhi isenziwa inhlekisa kanje? Lanxa kunjalo uJesu uyakumela konke lokhu. Kawathethisi amaJuda abukeleyo lamasotsha amenza inhlekisa kumbe izigebenga ezimbili ezimphahlileyo.

Amasotsha amane athethe izembatho zikaJesu zangaphandle azehlukanisa zaba zingxenye ezine asesenza inkatho ukuze abelane ingxenye lezi. Kodwa isembatho sikaJesu sangaphakathi sona ngesohlonzi ngoba ‘kasilamthungo futhi selukiwe kusukela phezulu kusiya phansi.’ Amasotsha akhuluma ewodwa athi: “Kasingasidabuli lesi, kodwa kasenzeni inkatho ukuze sibone ukuthi sizathathwa ngubani.” Lokhu kugcwalisa umbhalo othi: “Babelana izembatho zami, futhi benza inkatho ukuze bathathe izigqoko zami.”​—UJohane 19:23, 24; IHubo 22:18.

Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi omunye wezigebenga uyananzelela ukuthi uJesu uyinkosi sibili. Ukhuza esinye isigebenga athi: “Kanti kawumesabi ngitsho uNkulunkulu? Kawuboni yini ukuthi sonke sithole isigwebo esifananayo? Kodwa thina sisifanele ngoba sithola umvuzo wezinto esazenzayo. Indoda le yona kayonanga lutho.” Ngemva kwalokho isigebenga lesi sithi kuJesu: “Ungikhumbule nxa ufika eMbusweni wakho.”​—ULukha 23:40-42.

UJesu usiphendula esithi: “Ngikutshela iqiniso lamuhla ngithi, uzakuba lami ePharadayisi.” (ULukha 23:43) Isithembiso lesi sitshiyene laleso uJesu asenze labaphostoli bakhe esokuthi bazahlala laye ezihlalweni zobukhosi eMbusweni. (UMathewu 19:28; ULukha 22:29, 30) Kodwa kungenzeka ukuthi isigebenga lesi esingumJuda siyayazi indaba yePharadayisi lasemhlabeni uJehova ayefuna libe likhaya lika-Adamu lo-Eva lezizukulwane zabo. Khathesi isigebenga lesi sesizakufa silethemba lokuphila ePharadayisi.

Khathesi ‘sekulihola lesithupha’ (ngabo-12 emini). Kuba lobumnyama obungajayelekanga ‘kuyo yonke indawo kuze kube lihola lesitshiyagalolunye’ (ngabo-3 emini). (UMakho 15:33) Ubumnyama lobu kabubangelwa yikubola kwelanga. Lokhu kwenzakala nxa inyanga ithwasile kodwa khathesi yisikhathi sePhasika lapho inyanga eyabe igcwele khona. Kanti njalo ubumnyama lobu buthatha isikhathi eside ukwedlula obuthatha imizuzu emilutshwane obubangelwa yikubola kwelanga. UNkulunkulu nguye obangele ukuthi bube khona.

Ubona angani laba akade besenza uJesu inhlekisa bezwa njani lokhu kusenzakala? Kuthi kusenjalo abesifazana abane basondela eduze lesigodo sokuhlutshwa. Abesifazana laba ngunina kaJesu, loSalome, loMariya Magadalena loMariya unina womphostoli uJakhobe Omncane.

Umphostoli uJohane ulonina kaJesu olilayo “eduze lesigodo sokuhlutshwa.” UMariya ukhangele indodana yakhe ayizalayo njalo ayikhulisayo ifuthelwa. Uzwa angani ‘ugwazwe yinkemba ende.’ (UJohane 19:25; ULukha 2:35) Lanxa uJesu esizwa ubuhlungu obukhulu kamkhohlwa unina. Uyazama ukuthi anqekuze ikhanda ekhangele uJohane abesesithi kunina: “Mama, nansi indodana yakho!” Uphinda anqekuze ikhanda ekhangele uMariya abesesithi kuJohane: “Nangu unyoko!”​—UJohane 19:26, 27.

UJesu ukhethe umphostoli amthandayo uJohane ukuthi agcine unina okungenzeka usengumfelokazi. Uyananzelela ukuthi abafowabo abangamadodana kaMariya balokhu bengamkholwa, yikho esiba leqiniso lokuthi ukhetha umuntu ozagcina unina lozamncedisa ezintweni eziphathelane lokukhonza. Lesi yisibonelo esihle lathi esingasilandela.

Kuthi sekungabo-3 emini uJesu athi: “Sengomile.” Lokhu kugcwalisa okwatshiwo yimibhalo. (UJohane 19:28; IHubo 22:15) UJesu uyananzelela ukuthi uYise kasoze enze lutho ukuze amncede ngalesisikhathi. Lokhu kuzaveza ukuthi uJesu uzimisele kangakanani ukwenza intando kaYise. UKhristu umemeza ngolimi okungenzeka yisi-Aramayikhi esikhulunywa ngabantu beGalile, uthi: “Eli, Eli, lama sabakithani?” okutsho ukuthi: “Nkulunkulu wami, Nkulunkulu wami, ungitshiyeleni na?” Abanye abami eduzane khonapho kabamuzwa kuhle ukuthi uthini, bathi: “Zwanini! Ubiza u-Elija.” Omunye wabo uyagijima abesethatha isipontshi asigxamuze phakathi kwewayini elimunyu abesesihloma ekucineni komhlanga, anike uJesu ukuthi anathe. Kodwa abanye bathi: “Myekeleni enjalo! Wothini sibone ukuthi u-Elija uzabuya yini azomethula.”​—UMakho 15:34-36.

UJesu umemeza esithi: “Sekwenzakele!” (UJohane 19:30) Usekwenzile sibili konke uYise amthume ukuthi akwenze emhlabeni. Ngemva kwalokhu uthi: “Baba, umoya wami ngiwubeka ezandleni zakho.” (ULukha 23:46) UJesu kathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uzamvusa. Esetsho njalo uyagobisa ikhanda abesesifa.

Ngemva kwalokhu umhlaba uyazamazama besekusenza ukuthi amadwala aqhekezeke. Ukuzamazama lokhu kulamandla okokuthi amathuna angaphandle kweJerusalema ayavuleka, izidumbu ziphume phandle. Abantu abazidlulelayo ababona izidumbu lezi bangena “edolobheni elingcwele” besebebika abakubonileyo.​—UMathewu 12:11; 27:51-53.

UJesu esefile, ikhetheni elide njalo elisindayo elehlukanisa iNdawo Engcwele leNgcwele Ngcwele ethempelini likaNkulunkulu liyadabuka libe zingxenye ezimbili kusukela phezulu kusiya phansi. Isimanga lesi sitshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ubazondele abantu ababulele iNdodana yakhe njalo siyisibonakaliso sokuthi indlela yokuya endaweni eNgcwele Ngcwele, okutsho ezulwini isivulekile.​—KumaHebheru 9:2, 3; 10:19, 20.

Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi lokhu kwenza abantu besabe kakhulu. Umkhokheli webutho obebona ngokubulawa kukaJesu uthi: “Indoda le ibiyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu sibili.” (UMakho 15:39) Mhlawumbe ubekhona uJesu ethonisiswa phambi kukaPhilathu, kukhulunywa ngokuthi uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu yini. Khathesi kasathandabuzi ukuthi uJesu ulungile lokuthi uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu sibili.

Abanye bathi sebebone izinto lezi ezibaqeda amandla babuyele emakhaya abo “betshaya izifuba zabo” betshengisa ukuthi bayalila lokuthi bayangekile. (ULukha 23:48) Phakathi kwababukele okwenzakalayo kulabesifazana abanengi abangabafundi bakaJesu ababehamba laye ngezinye izikhathi. Labo bakhathazeke kakhulu ngezinto lezi ezenzakeleyo.

Khathesi sekusemini yantambama ngoLwesihlanu kaNisani 14. ISabatha likaNisani 15 lizaqalisa ilanga lingatshona. UJesu usefile kodwa izigebenga ezimbili ezimphahlileyo zilokhu zisaphila. UMthetho uthi izidumbu akumelanga ‘zilenge esihlahleni loba esigodweni ubusuku bonke.’ Kumele ‘zingcwatshwe mhlalokho.’​—UDutheronomi 21:22, 23.

ULwesihlanu lo ubizwa ngokuthi liLanga lokuLungiselela ngoba abantu bayabe belungisa ukudla futhi beqedisa eminye imisebenzi okumele ibe isiphelile kungakabi liSabatha. Ekutshoneni kwelanga kuzaqalisa iSabatha “elikhulu.” (UJohane 19:31) Kuthiwa ‘likhulu’ ngoba kuzabe kulamaSabatha amabili ngelanga lelo. UNisani 15 uzabe engoMgqibelo, ngelanga iSabatha eligcinwa ngalo. Kanti njalo uNisani 15 lilanga lokuqala loMkhosi Wesinkwa Esingelamvubelo othatha amalanga ayisikhombisa. UNisani 15 uhlala eliSabatha kungelani lokuthi ube khona ngaliphi ilanga.​—ULevi 23:5, 6.

Yikho amaJuda efuna ukuthi uJesu lezigebenga ezimbili ezimphahlileyo bafe masinyane. Acela kuPhilathu ukuthi inyawo zabo zephulwe. Nxa sezephuliwe, bayabe bengasenelisi ukuzisebenzisa ukuthi ziphakamise imizimba yabo ukuze baphefumule. Ngakho amasotsha afika ephule inyawo zezigebenga ezimbili. Kodwa kukhanya uJesu usefile yikho kawazephuli ezakhe. Lokhu kugcwalisa amazwi akuHubo 34:20 athi: “Uyawavikela wonke amathambo akhe, kungephuki loba lalinye.”

Elinye isotsha lifuna ukuba leqiniso lokuthi uJesu usefile, yikho limgwaza ngomkhonto emhlubulweni lapho okulenhliziyo khona. ‘Kuhle kuphume igazi kanye lamanzi.’ (UJohane 19:34) Lokhu kugcwalisa okwatshiwo ngomunye umbhalo futhi uJohane 19:37 uyakuveza lokho. Uthi: “Bazamkhangela lowo abamgwazayo.”​—UZekhariya 12:10.

Omunye okhonapho nguJosefa ovela edolobheni lase-Arimathiya. ‘Indoda le inothile’ futhi ililunga elihlonitshwayo leSanihedrini. (UMathewu 27:57) UJosefa uyindoda ‘elomusa futhi elungileyo’ njalo ‘elindele uMbuso kaNkulunkulu.’ Kazange avumelane lesigwebo umthethwandaba owasinika uJesu ngenxa yokuthi ‘ungumfundi wakhe kodwa uyakufihla lokho ngoba wesaba amaJuda.’ (ULukha 23:50; UMakho 15:43; UJohane 19:38) UJosefa uqunga isibindi acele isidumbu sikaJesu kuPhilathu. UPhilathu ubiza umkhokheli webutho ofika amtshele ukuthi uJesu usefile. Yikho uPhilathu uyamvumela uJosefa ukuthi athathe isidumbu sikaJesu.

Josefa uthenga ilineni lohlonzi elihlanzekileyo abesesethula isidumbu sikaJesu esigodweni. Usigoqela ngamalembu esilungiselela ukungcwatshwa. Uncediswa nguNikhodemu ‘owayeke walanda [uJesu] ebusuku.’ (UJohane 19:39) UNikhodemu ubuye lemure edulayo ehlanganiswe lenhlaba, elesisindo esingaba ngamakhilogiramu angu-30. Isidumbu sikaJesu siyagoqelwa ngamalembu alamakha la, kulandelwa umkhuba wamaJuda wokungcwaba.

UJosefa ulethuna eligujwe edwaleni khonapho eduze futhi kalikaze lingcwatshelwe muntu. UJesu ubekwa kulo besekugiqelwa ilitshe elikhulu phambi kwalo. Lokhu bakwenza bejahile ukuze baqede iSabatha lingakaqalisi. Kumele ukuthi uMariya Magadalena loMariya unina kaJakhobe Omncane bebencedisa ekulungiseni isidumbu sikaJesu. Khathesi sebegijimela endlini ‘besiyalungisa amakha lamafutha anukelelayo’ ukuze baqhubeke belungisa isidumbu sikaJesu ngemva kweSabatha.​—ULukha 23:56.

Kuthi sekuliSabatha ngelanga elilandelayo, abaphristi abakhokhelayo labaFarisi baye kuPhilathu bafike bathi: “Siyakhumbula ukuthi iqili leliyana lisaphila lake lathi, ‘Ngemva kwamalanga amathathu ngizavuswa.’ Ngakho-ke wothi ingcwaba lilindwe kuze kube lusuku lwesithathu ukuze abafundi bakhe bangabuyi bazomntshontsha besebesithi ebantwini, ‘Uvusiwe kwabafileyo!’ Ubuqili lobu bungaba bubi kulobakuqala.” UPhilathu uthi kubo: “Thathani abalindi liyelinda, lenze konke elikubona kufanele.”​—UMathewu 27:63-65.

UMariya Magadalena loMariya unina kaJakhobe kanye labanye abesifazana babuya lamakha ethuneni ngeSonto ekuseni kakhulu bezogcoba isidumbu sikaJesu. Babuzana bathi: “Manje ngubani ozasigiqela ilitshe alisuse entubeni yethuna?” (UMakho 16:3) Kodwa kube lokuzamazama komhlaba njalo ingilosi kaNkulunkulu isuse ilitshe ebelifakwe entubeni yethuna. Abalindi labo kabakho futhi kukhanya lasethuneni akuselalutho.