Bekungamasa lokha uPitrosi nakaphika uJesu ihlandla lesithathu. Namalunga weSanhedrini aqedile ngomlandwawo wokuhlekisa ngoJesu sekayahlukana. Ekuseni ngeLesihlanu, ayahlangana godu alinga ukufihla umlandu ongasisemthethweni obekwe uJesu ebusuku ngokuthi awenze ubonakale ngathi usemthethweni. UJesu ulethwa phambi kwawo.

Amalunga ayabuyelela godu athi: “Nangabe unguKrestu, sitjela.” UJesu uyaphendula: “Ngitjho nanyana nginganitjela, angekhe nikholwe. Godu nanginganibuza, angekhe niphendule.” Ngesibindi, uJesu uwatjela ngokwatjhiwo ngokubonakala kwakhe okutlolwe kuDanyela 7:13. Uthi: “Kusukela nje iNdodana yomuntu izabe ihlezi esandleni sokudla sakaZimu esinamandla.”—Lukasi 22:67-69; Matewu 26:63.

Ayakatelela athi: “Alo-ke, uyiNdodana kaZimu na?” UJesu uthi kiwo: “Nina ngokwenu niyatjho ukuthi ngingiyo.” Lokhu kuwanikela amandla wokuthi abulale uJesu ngebanga lomlandu abekwe wona wokuhlambalaza. Ayabuza athi: “Sisabutlhogelani obunye ubufakazi?” (Lukasi 22:70, 71; Markosi 14:64) Abopha uJesu amusa emBusini weRoma uPontiyasi Pilatu.

Kungenzeka uJudasi Iskariyodi uyambona uJesu nakasiwa kuPilatu. Nakalemuka ukuthi uJesu uyokubulawa, uzwa ubuhlungu bewuyazisola. Nanyana kunjalo, kunokuthi abawe ukulitjalelwa nguZimu, atjengise ukutjhuguluka kwamambala, uthatha iimpaparwana zesiliva ezima-30 uzibuyisela emva. UJudasi utjela abaphristi abakhulu uthi: “Ngonile ngokuthengisa iingazi ezinganamlandu.” Ufumana ipendulo ebuhlungu ethi: “Alo-ke thina singenaphi lapho? Ziimbonwa nguwe lezo!”—Matewu 27:4.

UJudasi ufuthela iimpaparwana zesilivezo ngethempelini, nakasuka lapho wenza intwembi godu, ulinga ukuzilengisa. Njengombana uJudasi alinga ukuzilengisa, ipande yomuthi alinga ukuzibophelela kiyo iyaphuka. Umzimbakhe ubetheka ematjeni angenzasi uvuleka phakathi.—IzEnzo 1:17, 18.

Kusesesekuseni uJesu nakasiwa esigodlweni sakaPontiyasi Pilatu. Kodwana amaJuda amusa lapho ayabhala ukungena nabafikako. Acabanga ukuthi ukuzihlanganisa nabantu abangasimaJuda kuzowasilaphaza. Lokho kungawakhandela bona angadli isidlo ngoNisan 15, ilanga lokuthoma loMnyanya weSikwa esinganaSibiliso eliqalwa njengeliyingcenye yePhasika.

UPilatu uphumela ngaphandle uwabuza ukuthi: “Nimbeka muphi umlandu umuntu lo?” Ayamphendula athi: “Ngathana umuntu lo akakenzi okumbi, bengekhe simlethe kuwe.” UPilatu kungenzeka uzizwa ngasuthi alinga ukumgandelela, kungebangelo athi: “Mthatheni nina nimgwebe ngokomthetho wenu.” AmaJuda aveza ihloswawo malungana nokubulala athi: “Akukavumeleki ngathi bona sibulale umuntu.”—Jwanisi 18:29-31.

Kuhlekuhle, amaJuda nawangabulala uJesu ngesikhathi somnyanya wePhasika angabanga itjharagano emphakathini. Kodwana, amaJuda nawangakghona ukunikela amaRoma ibanga elingawenza bona abulale uJesu, ngebanga lokuphula umthetho othileko weRoma, lokho kuzowavikela ekubekweni babantu umlandu wokumbulala.

Abadosiphambili bezekolo abamtjeli uPilatu ukuthi basole uJesu ngokuhlambalaza. Kwanjesi bamthwesa eminye imilandu emamanga bathi: “Sifumene umuntu lo [1] adurhisa isitjhaba sethu, [2] angavumeli ukubhadelwa komthelo kuKhesari, begodu [3] athi yena unguKrestu ikosi.”—Lukasi 23:2.

Njengomjameli weRoma, uPilatu iyamtshwenya indaba le, ufuna ukwazi ibanga elenza uJesu azibize ngokuthi uyikosi. Nje-ke, uPilatu ungena esigodlweni bese ubiza uJesu umbuza uthi: “UyiKosi yamaJuda na?” Ngamanye amezwi uthi: ‘Kghani uphule umthetho wombuso ngokuzibiza ngekosi ephikisana noKhesari?’ Mhlamunye uJesu ufuna ukwazi bona kungangani uPilatu akuzwileko ngaye, uyambuza uthi: “Umbuzo loyo usuka kuwe na, namkha kunabantu abakutjele ngami?”—Jwanisi 18:33, 34.

Avuma ukuthi akanalwazi elinengi ngoJesu kodwana uyafuna ukwazi ngaye, uPilatu umphendula uthi: “AngisimJuda angithi?” Uraga uthi: “Isitjhaba sekhenu nabaphristi abakhulu bakulethe kimi. Wenzeni?”—Jwanisi 18:35.

UJesu akalingi ukuyibalekela indaba esematheni le, yobukhosi. Kodwana indlela aphendula ngayo imrara khulu umBusi uPilatu.

UJesu akalingi ukufihlela uPilatu ukuthi uyikosi. Nanyana kunjalo, umBuswakhe awusiyingozi embusweni weRoma. UJesu uthi: “UmBuswami awusiyingcenye yephaseli. Ngathana umBuswami bewuyingcenye yephaseli, abalandeli bami bebazokulwa bona nginganikelwa emaJudeni. Kodwana, umBuswami awuveli emthonjeni lo.” (Jwanisi 18:36) Iye, uJesu uyikosi kodwana umBuswakhe awusingewephaseli.

UPilatu akagcini lapho. Uyambuza godu uthi: “Alo-ke, uyikosi na?” UJesu uyamvezela ukuthi uyibethe khona, uthi kuye: “Wena ngokwakho uyatjho ukuthi ngiyikosi. Ngombana ngibelethelwe lokho, begodu ngizele lokhu ephasini, bona ngifakazele iqiniso. Woke umuntu osehlangothini leqiniso uyalilalela ilizwi lami.”—Jwanisi 18:37.

Ngaphambilini uJesu uthe kuTomasi: “Ngiyindlela neqiniso nokuphila.” Njenganje uPilatu naye uyazizwela ukuthi ihloso yokuza kwakaJesu ephasini kukuthi azokufakazela “iqiniso,” khulukhulu iqiniso ngomBuswakhe. UJesu uzimisele ukuhlala aqinile eqiniswenelo nanyana kungatjho ukufa kwakhe. UPilatu ubuza uJesu uthi: “Liyini iqiniso?” kodwana akalindi ipendulo. Uzitjela ukuthi sele abufumene boke ubufakazi abutlhogako bona angakhipha isigwebo.—Jwanisi 14:6; 18:38.

UPilatu ubuyela ebantwini abalinde ngaphandle kwesigodlo. Kungenzeka uJesu ujame eqadi kwakhe njengombana atjela abaphristi abakhulu nabantu abalapho ukuthi: “Umuntu lo akanamlandu.” Abantu basilingeka khulu nabezwa lokho, bayaphikelela bathi: “Uhlangahlanganisa abantu ngokufundisa kiyo yoke iJudiya, uthome eGalile bewafika nalapha.”—Lukasi 23:4, 5.

UPilatu urareka khulu nakezwa lokho. Njengombana abaphristi abakhulu namadoda amadala arhuwelela, uPilatu ubuza uJesu uthi: “Uyezwa na bona zingaki izinto abakumangalela ngazo?” (Matewu 27:13) UJesu uthula du! Lokho kumrara khulu uPilatu.

AmaJuda aveze ukuthi uJesu “uthome eGalile.” Lokho kwenza uPilatu bona aphethe ngokuthi uJesu mGalile. Ufumana iqhinga elihle lokubalekela ukugweba uJesu. UHerode Antiphasi (indodana kaHerode omKhulu) uyikosi yeGalile, sikhuluma nje useJerusalema emnyanyeni wePhasika. UPilatu uthumela uJesu kuHerode. Kazi uHerode Antiphasi lo, nguye owabulala uJwanisi uMbhabhadisi. UHerode wathi nakezwa bona uJesu wenza imikarisomraro, wacabanga ukuthi kungenzeka nguJwanisi uvukile kwabafileko.—Lukasi 9:7-9.

UHerode iyamthabisa indaba yokuthi uzokubona uJesu. Akakathatjiswa kukuthi uzomsiza namkha uzokufumana ithuba lokuzwa ukuthi imilandu athweswa yona iliqiniso na. Kunalokho, unethemba lokuthi ‘uzokubona eminye yemikarisomraro eyenziwa nguye.’ (Lukasi 23:8) Kodwana uJesu akenzi namunye umkarisomraro. Kunalokho uHerode nakambuza imibuzo, uyazithulela. Kumdanisa khulu lokho uHerode. Yeke, yena namasotjakhe ‘abamphathi ngehlonipho.’ (Lukasi 23:11) Bahlekisa ngaye ngokumbathisa isambatho esihle. Ngemva kwalokho uHerode ubuyisela uJesu kuPilatu. Kusukela ngelangelo uHerode noPilatu bathoma ukuba bangani, ngombana ngaphambilini bebamanaba.

UJesu nakafikako, uPilatu ubiza abaphristi abakhulu, ababusi bamaJuda nabantu, uthi kibo: “Ngimphenyisise phambi kwenu kodwana ngangafumana iinsekelo zemilandu enimbeka yona. Kuhlekuhle noHerode akhenge amfumane amlandu, ngombana umbuyisele kithi; akakenzi litho elimenza afanelwe kukufa. Yeke ngizomjezisa bese ngiyamtjhaphulula.”—Lukasi 23:14-16.

UPilatu ufuna ngehliziywakhe yoke ukutjhaphulula uJesu ngombana uyabona ukuthi abaphristi bamlethe kuye ngebanga lomona. Njengombana uPilatu alinga ukutjhaphulula uJesu, ufumana okuthileko okumupha amandla. Kuthe uPilatu asahlezi esihlalweni sokugweba, wafumana umlayezo ovela kumkakhe othi: “Hlukana nomuntu olungileko loyo, ngombana ngitshwenyeke khulu ebhudangweni namhlanjesi [ngasuthi livela kuZimu] ngebanga lakhe.”—Matewu 27:19.

UPilatu uzoyitjhaphulula njani indoda enganamlandu le?

UPilatu utjele isiqubuthu esifuna uJesu abulawe, wathi: “Ngimphenyisise . . . ngangafumana iinsekelo zemilandu enimbeka yona. Kuhlekuhle noHerode akhenge amfumane amlandu.” (Lukasi 23:14, 15) Nje, uPilatu ulinga enye indlela bona asindise uJesu, uthi ebantwini: “Ninesiko lokuthi kufuze nginitjhaphululele umuntu ngePhasika. Nifuna nginitjhaphululele iKosi yamaJuda na?”—Jwanisi 18:39.

UPilatu uyazi ngoBharabhasi, isibotjhwa esaziwa ngokuba lisela, ivukelambuso nombulali. Nje-ke, uPilatu uyababuza uthi: “Ngimuphi enifuna nginitjhaphululele yena, uBharabhasi namkha uJesu okuthiwa nguKrestu?” Bahlohlozelwe baphristi abakhulu, abantu bafuna kutjhatjhululwe uBharabhasi ingasi uJesu. UPilatu uyababuza godu uthi: “Ngimuphi kilaba ababili enifuna nginitjhaphululele yena?” Isiqubuthu siyarhuwelela sithi: ‘UBharabhasi’!—Matewu 27:17, 21.

Adane khulu, uPilatu uyababuza uthi: “Alo-ke, ngenzeni ngoJesu okuthiwa nguKrestu?” Abantu bayarhuwelela bathi: “Akabulawelwe esigodweni!” (Matewu 27:22) Abananhloni, bakatelela bona umuntu onganamlandu abulawe. Abetha irhobhe, uPilatu uyababuza uthi: “Kubayini? Ngibuphi ubumbi obenziwe mumuntu lo? Angikafumani litho kuye elimenza afanelwe kukufa; ngalokho ngizomjezisa bese ngimtjhaphulule.”—Lukasi 23:22.

Naphezu kwemizamo kaPilatu, isiqubuthu esizele ilaka sirhuwelela sithi: “Akabulawelwe esigodweni!” (Matewu 27:23) Abadosiphambili bezekolo baphehle inturhu ebantwini kangangokuthi abantu banukelwa ziingazi! Okubuhlungu kukuthi akusiziingazi zesilelesi namkha zombulali. Ziingazi zomuntu onganamlandu, iKosi abayamukele eJerusalema emalangeni amahlanu adlulileko. Nangabe abafundi bakaJesu bakhona eduze, bathulile begodu abafuni ukuziveza ebantwini.

UPilatu uyabona ukuthi imizamwakhe ayimusi ndawo. Umguruguru uyavuka, nje-ke uthatha amanzi uhlamba izandla zakhe phambi kwesiqubuthu. Uthi kiso: “Ngimsulwa eengazini zendoda le. Ziboneleni ukuthi niphuma njani.” Naso isenzwesi asibathambisi abantu. Kunalokho bathi: “Iingazi zakhe azibe phezu kwethu nabantwabethu.”—Matewu 27:24, 25.

Kunokuthi enze okulungileko, umbusi ufuna ukuthabisa abantu. Nje-ke, wenza lokho abakufunako, ubatjhaphululela uBharabhasi. Uyavuma bona uJesu ahlutjuliswe bekabethwe.

Ngemva kokumbetha kabuhlungu, amasotja athatha uJesu amusa esigodlweni. Nabafika lapho isihlopha samabutho siyabuthana begodu siraga nokumtlhorisa. Amasotja aluka isihlohlo sameva amthwesa sona. Amembathisa isambatho esibomvu be, esifana nesembathwa babantu bebukhosini begodu amphathisa nomhlanga ngesandleni sakhe sangesidleni. Ayamtshima athi: “Bayede, wena Kosi yamaJuda!” (Matewu 27:28, 29) Ngaphezu kwalokho, ayamkhafulela begodu amwahla ebusweni. Ammuka umhlanga bese ambetha ehloko ngawo, lokho kwenza bona ameva ahlabako ‘wesihlohlo’ sakhe esimehlisa isithunzi angene ehlokwakhe.

Isithunzi nokuqina kwakaJesu kikho koke lokhu kuthinta uPilatu ihliziyo, kangangokuthi uyalinga godu ukuzikhipha endabeni le, uthi: “Qalani! Ngimkhuphela ngaphandle kini bona nazi ukuthi angifumani mlandu kuye.” Kghani kungenzeka bona uPilatu ucabanga ukuthi ngokukhipha uJesu okghubukileko nowophako, isiqubuthu sizokuthamba? Njengombana uJesu ajame phambi kwesiqubuthu esinganahliziyo, uPilatu uthi kiso: “Nang’ umuntu lo!”—Jwanisi 19:4, 5.

Nanyana abethiwe begodu alimele, uJesu usaziphatha ngehlonipho begodu unommoya ophasi, noPilatu uyakubona lokhu ngombana amezwi awatjho esiqubuthwini atjengisa ihlonipho ehlangene nezwela.

Naphezu kokuphathwa kumbi nokuhlekwa uJesu aqalana nakho, uPilatu usalinga ngamandla bona amtjhaphulule, kodwana lokho akubathinti nakancani abaphristi abakhulu nabasizi babo. Abafuni litho engavimbela bona uJesu abulawe. Bayarhuwelela bathi: “Akabulawelwe esigodweni! Akabulawelwe esigodweni!” UPilatu uphendula uthi: “Mthatheni nina niyombulala, ngombana angifumani mlandu kuye.”—Jwanisi 19:6.

AmaJuda awamkholisi uPilatu ukuthi uJesu ufanelwe kukufa ngebanga lomlandu abekwe wona wezepolotiki, alo kuthiwani ngomlandu wekolo? Abuyela emlandwini wokuhlambalaza athweswe wona ekhotho yeSanhedrini. Athi: “Thina sinomthetho, begodu ngokomthethwethu kufuze afe, ngombana uzenze indodana kaZimu.” (Jwanisi 19:7) Lo mlandu omutjha kuPilatu.

UPilatu ubuyela esigodlweni sakhe, ulinga ukufumana indlela yokutjhaphulula umuntu ophethwe ngendlela engakalungi lo, loyo umkakhe ambhudangileko. (Matewu 27:19) Alo-ke, kuthiwani ngomlandu omutjha amaJuda ambeka wona—wokuthi isibotjhwesi ‘yindodana kaZimu’? UPilatu uyazi ukuthi uJesu ubuya eGalile. (Lukasi 23:5-7) Nanyana kunjalo uyambuza uthi: “Uvelaphi?” (Jwanisi 19:9) Kungenzeka bona uPilatu ucabanga ukuthi uJesu khewaphila ezulwini nokuthi mhlamunye nguzimu.

UPilatu uzizwele lokha uJesu nakathi uyikosi kodwana umBuswakhe awusiyingcenye yephaseli. UJesu uyathula ngombana akutlhogeki bona ahlathulule lokho akutjhwileko phambilini. Ukuthula kwakhe kumzwisa ubuhlungu uPilatu begodu kuyamsilinga, kungebangelo athi kuJesu: “Awufuni ukungikhulumisa? Awazi na ukuthi nginamandla wokukutjhaphulula namandla wokukubulala?”—Jwanisi 19:10.

Ngamezwi alula, uJesu umphendula uthi: “Bengekhe ube namandla phezu kwami ngathana bewungakawanikelwa ezulwini. Kungakho umuntu onginikele kuwe anesono esikhulu kunesakho.” (Jwanisi 19:11) Kungenzeka uJesu nakakhuluma ‘ngomuntu omnikele kuye,’ akakhulumi ngoJudasi Iskariyodi yedwa ngombana uKhayafasi nabasizi bakhe nabo bamlandu. Amezwi kaJesu la ahlathulula ukuthi ngibo abanesono esikhulu esidlula sakaPilatu.

UPilatu ukarwa mamezwi kaJesu nendlela aziphethe ngayo begodu usaba ukuthi mhlamunye uJesu nguzimu, kungebangelo alinga godu ukumtjhaphulula. Nanyana kunjalo, amaJuda angezelela ivalo lakaPilatu. Amthusela athi: “Nawungatjhaphulula umuntu lo, kutjho bona awusimngani kaKhesari. Nanyana ngubani ozenza ikosi uphikisana noKhesari.”—Jwanisi 19:12.

Ahlezi esihlalweni sakhe sokwahlulela, umbusi ukhiphela uJesu ngaphandle, uthi ebantwini: “Qalani ikosenu!” AmaJuda awayingeni leyo, arhuwelela athi: “Msuse! Msuse! Akatjhinge esigodweni!” UPilatu uyawarabhela, uthi: “Ngibulale ikosenu na?” AmaJuda anyenyiswa kubuswa mbuso wamaRoma; nanyana kunjalo abaphristi abakhulu ngesibindi bathi: “Ikosethu nguKhesari kwaphela.”—Jwanisi 19:14, 15.

Ngebanga lokuba litjhatjha, uPilatu uthuswa litjhada elibangwa maJuda ngalokho akufunako, uwanikela uJesu bona ambulale. Amasotja amhlubulisa isambatho esibubende ngemva kwalokho ambathisa izambatho zakhe zangaphandle. Njengombana bakhamba naye, bamkatelela bona azithwalele isigodo sakhe sokuhlunguphazwa.

Kusesesekuseni ngeLesihlanu ngoNisan 14. UJesu akhenge alale kusukela ngeLesine, bekube nje usaqalene nobujamo obuhlukahlukeneko obubuhlungu. UJesu utlhaga nokudosa isigodo esibudisi, nje-ke uphelelwa mamandla. Amasotja akatelela uSimoni weSirene e-Afrika, ozidlulelako, bona athwale isigodo sokuhlunguphazwa asise endaweni uJesu azokubulawelwa kiyo. Abantu abanengi bayamlandela, bazibetha ngebanga lesizi begodu bayalila ngebanga lalokho okwenzekako.

UJesu uthi ebafazini abalilako: “Madodakazi weJerusalema, lisani ukungililela. Kunalokho zilileleni nina nabantwabenu; ngombana isikhathi siyeza lapho abantu bazokuthi khona, ‘Bayathaba abafazi abaziinyumba, iimbeletho ezingakhenge zibelethe namabele angakhenge amunyise!’ Bazokuthoma bathi eentabeni, ‘Welani phezu kwethu!’ Neendundumeni bathi, ‘Sigubuzesani!’ Nangabe benza izintwezi lokha umuthi nawuhlaza, kuzokwenzekani nasele utjhwabile?”—Lukasi 23:28-31.

UJesu uqalisele esitjhabeni samaJuda. Usifanisa nomuthi ofako kodwana osesehlaza, ngombana uJesu usesekhona begodu kunamaJuda ambalwa akholelwa kuye. UJesu nakafako, nabafundi bakhe nabalahla ikolo yamaJuda, isitjhaba sama-Israyeli sizokufana nomuthi ofileko. Kuzokuba nesililo esikhulu lokha amabutho weRoma nakatjhabalalisa isitjhabesi!

UJesu neenlelesi ezimbili basiwa endaweni eseduze nedorobho lapho bazokubulawelwa khona. Indawo le ibizwa ngokuthi yiGolgotha, okutjho indawo yeKhakhayi begodu ukghona ukuyibona ‘ukudanyana.’—Markosi 15:40.

Amadoda amathathu agwetjelwe ukufa la ahlutjuliswa izambatho zawo. Bawanikela iwayini elinesidakamizwa ekuthiwa yimire nelivangwe nenyongo. Iwayineli elidambisa iinhlungu kungenzeka lenziwe bafazi beJerusalema begodu amaRoma ayakuvumela ukuthi umuntu ozokubulawa asezwe lona. Kodwana uJesu nakalizwako uyabhala ukulisela. Kubayini? Kungombana akafuni ukuqalana nobujamobu asele isidakamizwa; ufuna ukuthembeka ngokupheleleko bekube sekufeni.

UJesu ulaliswa esigodweni. (Markosi 15:25) Amasotja abethela iimpikiri ezandleni neenyaweni zakhe, zidabula inyama nemisipha, lokho kumbangela ubuhlungu obukhulu. Njengombana baphakamisa isigodo, umzimbakhe uyalenga, lokho kwenza amanceba avuleke khulu begodu kubangela ukurhagala kweenhlungu. Nanyana kunjalo, uJesu akawathuki amasotja la. Kunalokho uyawabawela kuZimu, uthi: “Baba, balibalele, ngombana abakwazi abakwenzako.”—Lukasi 23:34.

Kulisiko lamaRoma ukubeka umtlolo ngehla kwesilelesi esizokubulawa ohlathulula umlandwaso. Nje-ke, uPilatu ubeke itshwayo elithi: “UJesu umNazaretha iKosi yamaJuda.” Litlolwe ngesiHebheru, ngesiLathini, nangesiGirigi ukwenzela bona woke umuntu akghone ukulifunda. Isenzo sakaPilatu sitjengisa ukuthi akakhambisani namaJuda akatelele ukuthi uJesu abulawe. Kubasilinga khulu lokho abaphristi abakhulu, bathi kuye: “Ungatloli ukuthi, ‘IKosi YamaJuda,’ kodwana ukuthi yena wathi, ‘NgiyiKosi YamaJuda.’” UPilatu akafuni bamdose ngepumulo godu, uthi kibo: “Engikutlolileko, ngikutlolile.”—Jwanisi 19:19-22.

Abaphristi abasilingekilekwaba babuyelela ubufakazi obumamanga obukhulunywe yiSanhedrini nakugwetjwa umlandu. Akurari ukuthi abantu abadlulako bayamthuka, banikina iinhloko bathi: “Wena owathi ungagiriza ithempeli bewulakhe ngamalanga amathathu, zisindise ngokwehla esigodweni sokuhlunguphazweso.” Abaphristi abakhulu nabatloli bakhuluma bodwa bathi: “UKrestu loyo, iKosi yakwa-Israyeli, akehle nje esigodweni sokuhlunguphazwa, simbone bese siyamkholwa.” (Markosi 15:29-32) Ngitjho neenlelesi ezimphahlileko ziyamthuka, nanyana anganamlandu.

Amasotja amane weRoma nawo ahlekisa ngoJesu. Kungenzeka bekasela iwayini elimunyu, nje-ke ayalithatha ayamrhalisela. Amasotja weRoma aqalisela emtlolweni obekwe ngehla kwakaJesu ayamrhuga athi kuye: “Nangabe uyiKosi yamaJuda, zisindise.” (Lukasi 23:36, 37) Akhucabange! Umuntu oyindlela neqiniso nokuphila uyahlunguphazwa bekuhlekiswa ngaye. UJesu ukukghodlhelelela koke lokhu, akawathuki amaJuda ambukeleko, amasotja weRoma ahlekisa ngaye namkha iinlelesi ezimbili ezibethelwe naye.

Amasotja amane athatha izambatho zakaJesu zangaphandle azihlukanisa zibe ziingcenye ezine. Isotja ngalinye lifumana ingcenye yinye. Isambatho sakaJesu sangaphakathi ngesakanokutjho, ‘asinamthungo, silukiwe kusukela phezulu kuya phasi.’ Amasotja abonisana ngaso athi: “Asingasidabuli, kodwana asenzeni ifumbe ukuqunta ukuthi sizokuba ngesakabani.” Ngokwenza njalo bazalisa umtlolo othi: “Bahlukaniselana izambatho zami, benzelana ifumbe ngesambatho sami.”—Jwanisi 19:23, 24; IRhubo 22:18.

Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, esinye isilelesi siyabona ukuthi kwamambala uJesu uyikosi. Sikhalima esinye isilelesi sithi: “Awumsabi nakancani uZimu na, njengombana nawe ufumene isigwebo esifanako? Thina sisifanele, ngombana sifumana lokho okusifaneleko ngebanga lezinto esizenzileko; kodwana indoda le akunalitho elimbi elenzileko.” Ngemva kwalokho, sincenga uJesu sithi: “Ungikhumbule nawufika emBuswenakho.”—Lukasi 23:40-42.

UJesu uthi kiso: “Ngiqinisile ngithi kuwe namhlanjesi, uzokuba nami,” ingasi emBusweni, kodwana “ePharadesi.” (Lukasi 23:43) Isithembiswesi asifani nesithembiso uJesu asitjela abapostoli bakhe, sokuthi bazokuhlala naye eenhlalweni zobukhosi emBuswenakhe. (Matewu 19:28; Lukasi 22:29, 30) Kungenzeka ukuthi isilelesi esimJudesi khesezwa ngePharadesi lephasini uJehova alilungiselela u-Adamu no-Eva nabantwana babo. Nje-ke, isilelesesi sesingahlongakala sinethembelo.

Njenganje “yisimbi yetjhumi nambili.” Ubumnyama obungakajayeleki ‘bugubuzesa inarha yoke bekube yisimbi yesithathu ntambama.’ (Markosi 15:33) Ubumnyama obuthusakobu abubangelwa kufiphala kwelanga, okwenzeka lokha inyanga nayisitha ilanga. Kanengi lokho kwenzeka nakuthwasa inyanga, kodwana njenganje yiPhasika begodu inyanga igcwele. Ubumnyamobu buthatha isikhathi eside ukudlula sokufiphala kwelanga. Kusemtarini ukuthi nguZimu obangela ubumnyamobu. Akhusucabange indlela lokhu okubathusa ngayo labo egade barhuga uJesu.

Hlangana nobumnyamobu, abafazi abane babandamela esigodweni sokuhlunguphazwa. Abafazaba ngunina lakaJesu, uSalome, uMariya Marhdalina noMariya unina kampostoli uJakopo Omncani.

Umpostoli uJwanisi ujame nonina likaJesu osesizini “eduze nesigodo sokuhlunguphazwa.” UMariya ubukele indodana ayibelethako bewayitlhogomela njengombana ilenga esigodweni iseenhlungwini. UMariya uzwa ubuhlungu ngasuthi “uhlatjwe ngesabula ede.” (Jwanisi 19:25; Lukasi 2:35) Nokho, naphezu kobuhlungu obukhulu akibo, uJesu ucabanga ngehlalakuhle kanina. Ukhomba uJwanisi ngehloko uthi kunina: “Qala! Indodanakho!” Ngemva kwalokho ukhomba uMariya ngehloko bese uthi kuJwanisi: “Qala! Unyoko!”—Jwanisi 19:26, 27.

UJesu ubeka ihlalakuhle kanina osele amhlolokazi ezandleni zompostoli amthanda khulu. UJesu uyazi ukuthi abafowabo ngakunina abakabi balandeli bakhe. Nje-ke, wenza amalungiselelo wokobana unina atlhogonyelwe, khulukhulu ezintweni zokulotjha uZimu. Sibonelo esihle khulu lesi!

Nakuthoma ukukhanya, uJesu uthi: “Ngomile.” Ngokutjho lokhu uzalisa imitlolo. (Jwanisi 19:28; IRhubo 22:15) UJesu uyazi ukuthi ayikho into uYise azoyenza bona amvikele ebudisini aqalene nabobu, ukwenzela bona ukuthembeka kweNdodanakhe kulingwe ngokupheleleko. UKrestu urhuwelela ngesi-Aramu esikhulunywa eGalile, uthi: “Eli, Eli, lama sabakthani?” okutjho ukuthi, “Zimami, Zimami, ungitjhiyeleni na?” Abanye abajame eduze abamzwisisi, yeke bayakhuza bathi: “Qalani! Ubiza u-Eliya.” Omunye wabo uyagijima, uthatha isipontji usifaka ngewayinini elimunyu usihloma emgabeni, unikela uJesu bona asele. Abanye bathi: “Mliseni anjalo! Akhesibone ukuthi u-Eliya uzokuza amehlise na.”—Markosi 15:34-36.

Ngemva kwalokho uJesu uthi: “Kuphethiwe!” (Jwanisi 19:30) Kwamambala, ukuphethile koke lokho uYise amthumele ephasini bona azokwenza. Ekugcineni, uJesu uthi: “Baba, nginikela ummoyami ezandleni zakho.” (Lukasi 23:46) UJesu uthembele ngokuzeleko emandleni kaJehova wokumvusa kwabafileko, nje-ke ngemva kokutjho amezwi la uyahlongakala.

Khonokho iphasi liyasikinyeka, namadwala ahlukana phakathi. Ukusikinyekokhu kunamandla kangangokuthi amathuna angaphandle kweJerusalema ayavuleka begodu iindumbu ziphoseka ngaphandle. Abantu abadlulako nababona iindumbezi, bangena “edorobheni elicwengileko” babika abakubonileko.—Matewu 12:11; 27:51-53.

UJesu nakahlongakalako, irharideni lethempeli elide nelibudisi elihlukanisa iNdawo eCwengileko neCwengeke Khulu litleruka phakathi ukusuka phezulu ukuya phasi. Isehlakalo esirarakwesi sitjengisa ilaka lakaZimu kilabo ababulele iNdodanakhe begodu siveza nokuthi indlela eya eNdaweni eCwengeke Khulu, ezulwini, seyivulekile.—Hebheru 9:2, 3; 10:19, 20.

Abantu bathukwa khulu nababona lokhu. Isikhulu sebutho esengamele ukubulawa kwakaJesu sithi: “Kwamambala indoda le beyiyiNdodana kaZimu.” (Markosi 15:39) Kungenzeka besikhona nakugwetjwa umlandu kaJesu phambi kwakaPilatu, kukhulunywa ngendaba yokuthi uyindodana kaZimu na, namkha awa. Njenganje isikhulwesi siyaqiniseka ukuthi uJesu ulungile begodu uyiNdodana kaZimu.

Abanye, bathuswe zizehlakalo ezingakajayelekezi, babuyela emakhaya ‘bazibetha eemfubeni’ ngebanga lokuba lisizi nokuzisola kwabo. (Lukasi 23:48) Hlangana nesiqubuthu esibukele sijamele kude, kunabafazi ababalandeli bakaJesu ebebajayele ukukhamba naye. Nabo bathinteke khulu ngezehlakalo ezirarakwezi.

Kusentambama ngeLesihlanu, ngoNisan 14. Ngemva kokutjhinga kwelanga kuzokuthoma iSabatha langoNisan 15. UJesu sekahlongakele kodwana iinlelesi ezimbili ezimphahlileko zisaphila. NgokomThetho, iindumbu zabantu kufuze ‘zingahlali ubusuku boke esigodweni,’ kunalokho kufuze zibulungwe “khona mhlokho.”—Duteronomi 21:22, 23.

Ukungezelela kilokho, ilanga langeLesihlanu ntambama libizwa ngokuthi ngelokuLungiselela, ngombana abantu balungisa ukudla, baqedelela imisebenzabo engekhe yakghona ukulinda bekudlule iSabatha. ISabatha “elikhethekileko” lizokuthoma nakutjhinga ilanga. (Jwanisi 19:31) Libizwa ngokuthi liSabatha “elikhethekileko” ngombana ngelangeli kuhlangana amaSabatha amabili. Lokhu kutjho ukuthi uNisan 15 ungoMgqibelo okulilanga ekugidingwa ngalo iSabatha. UNisan 15 lilanga lokuthoma lokugidinga uMnyanya wesiKwa esinganaSibiliso othatha amalanga alikhomba, kuba liSabatha kinanyana ngiliphi ilanga uNisan 15 awela kilo.—Levitikusi 23:5, 6.

AmaJuda abawa uPilatu bona abulale uJesu neenlelesi ezimbili ezimphahlileko msinyana. Uzokwenza njani lokho? Ngokuthi baphulwe imilenze. Lokho kuzobenza bangakghoni ukusebenzisa imilenzabo ukuzisunduzela phezulu bona bakghone ukuphefumula kuhle. Amasotja aphula imilenze yeenlelesi ezimbili. Kodwana nakafika kuJesu akhange amphule imilenze ngombana besekafile. Lokhu kuzalisa umtlolo wamaRhubo 34:21 ethi: “Alonde woke amathambakhe, kungabikho nelilodwa kiwo elizakwephulwa.”

Bona liqinisekise ukuthi uJesu uhlongakele kwamambala, isotja lithatha umkhonto limhlaba ehlangothini. “Kwaphuma iingazi namanzi.” (Jwanisi 19:34) Lokhu kuzalisa omunye umtlolo othi: “Bazakufuna isizo kimi, balilele loyo ebamhlabako.”—Zakariya 12:10.

UJosefa we-Arimathiya, “indoda enjingileko” begodu olilunga elihlonitjhwako leSanhedrini naye ukhona nakubulawa uJesu. (Matewu 27:57) Uhlathululwa ngokuthi ‘yindoda ehle nelungileko’ begodu ‘elindele umBuso kaZimu.’ Kuhlekuhle, bekangakhambisani nesiqunto esithethwe yikhotho sokuthwesa uJesu umlandu, ngebanga lokuthi ‘bekamfundi kaJesu kodwana angafuni ukuziveza ngombana asaba amaJuda.’ (Lukasi 23:50; Markosi 15:43; Jwanisi 19:38) UJosefa uqunga isibindi ubawa umzimba kaJesu kuPilatu. UPilatu ubiza isikhulu sebutho bona siqinisekise ukuthi uJesu uhlongakele. Ngemva kokufumana isiqinisekisweso uPilatu unikela uJosefa isidumbu.

UJosefa uze nelineni elisezingeni eliphezulu, nakafikako wehlisa umzimba kaJesu esigodweni. Uphuthela isidumbeso ngelineni, usilungiselela ukubulungwa. UNikhodemusi, “indoda eyaya kuJesu ebusuku kokuthoma” usiza ngamalungiselelo. (Jwanisi 19:39) Uza aphethe umqarho ongaba makhilogremu ama-30 wemire nomarobazibukhali. Umzimba kaJesu usongwa ngamatjhila athelwe ngamakha la, ngokwesiko lamaJuda lokubulunga.

UJosefa unesimu eduze nendawo uJesu abulawelwe kiyo, begodu esimini leyo kunethuna eligobhodlhwe edwaleni okungakhenge kulaliswe muntu kilo, kulapho uJesu abulungwa khona. Ngemva kwalokho kugedwa ilitje kuvalwa ngalo umnyango wethuna. Lokhu kwenziwa msinyana ngaphambi kokuthoma kweSabatha. UMariya Marhdalina noMariya unina lakaJakopo Omncani kungenzeka bebasiza ngokulungiselela isidumbu sakaJesu. Kwanje, bayagijima babuyela emva “bayokulungiselela amakha namafutha anuka kamnandi” ukwenzela bona bazokuthela umzimba kaJesu ngemva kweSabatha.—Lukasi 23:56.

Ngelanga elilandelako, okulilanga leSabatha abaphristi abakhulu nabaFarisi, baya kuPilatu bathi: “Sikhumbula okwakhulunywa mkhohlisi loya nakasaphila wathi, ‘Ngemva kwamalanga amathathu ngizokuvuswa.’ Ngalokho, khupha umyalo wokobana kugadwe ithuna bekube lilanga lesithathu, ukwenzela bona abafundi bakhe bangezi bamebe bese bathi ebantwini, ‘Uvusiwe kwabafileko!’ Bese ikohliso yamva izakudlula yokuthoma.” UPilatu uthi kibo: “Ningamfumana unogada. Khambani niyoligada ngendlela eningakghona ngayo.”—Matewu 27:63-65.

KungoSondo ekuseni, uMariya Marhdalina, uMariya unina lakaJakopo nabanye abafazi beza namakha bazokuthela umzimba kaJesu. Bakhuluma bodwa bathi: “Kazi sizaligedelwa ngubani ilitje okuvalwe ngalo ithuna?” (Markosi 16:3) Nokho iphasi lisikinyekile. Ingilozi kaZimu iligedile ilitje, abonogada abekho nethuna libonakala linganalitho.