UPitrosi noJwanisi sele bafikile eJerusalema ukuzokulungiselela iPhasika njengombana uJesu atjhwile. Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi uJesu nabapostoli bakhe abalitjhumi bayabalandela. Ilanga selithoma ukutjhinga, uJesu nabapostoli bakhe bayehla basuka eNtabeni yama-Oliva. UJesu uyibona kokugcina imini le, kazi phela enye imini uzoyibona nasele avusiwe.

Msinyana uJesu nabapostoli bakhe bayafika edorobheni, begodu batjhinga emzini abayokudlela kiwo isidlo sePhasika. Nabafikako, bakhuphuka ngeentepisi batjhinga ekumbeni ekulu ephezulu. Bathola ukuthi woke amalungiselelo wesidlo sangemsitheleni sele enziwe. Kuyatjho bona uJesu bekasiqale ngabomvu isikhathesi, ngombana uthi: “Bengifisa khulu ukudla iPhasikeli nani ngaphambi kobana ngitlhage.”—Lukasi 22:15.

Eminyakeni eminengi edlulileko, abantu abagidinga iPhasika bathoma isiko lokudluliselana iinkapho zewayini. Yeke ngemva kokwamukela enye yeenkapho, uJesu uthokoza uZimu uthi: “Thathani lokhu nidluliselane khona, ngombana ngithi kini, kusukela nje, angekhe ngisasela iwayini bekufike umBuso kaZimu.” (Lukasi 22:17, 18) Kufuze bona kuyakhanya ukuthi ukufa kwakhe kutjhidele.

Phakathi nesidlo sePhasika, kwenzeka okuthileko okungakajayeleki. UJesu uyasikima, uhlubula izambatho zakhe zangaphandle, begodu uthatha ithawula. Uthela amanzi ngesikotlelweni esihlanu kwabo. Ngokujayelekileko, umuntu omeme iimvakatjhi angahlambisa iimvakatjhi zakhe iinyawo namkha kube sisebenzi sakhe. (Lukasi 7:44) Nokho emnyanyeni lo akakho umuntu omeme iimvakatjhi, yeke uJesu nguye obahlambisa iinyawo. Lokhu bekungenziwa nginanyana ngimuphi umpostoli kibo, kodwana akakho okwenzako. Inga-kghani kungombana kusesenokuphikisana okukhona hlangana nabo? Nanyana ngikuphi, kubaphathisa iinhloni ukubona uJesu abahlambisa iinyawo.

UJesu nakafika kuPitrosi bona amhlambise iinyawo, uPitrosi uthi: “Awa, angekhe ungihlambise iinyawo.” UJesu uthi: “Ngaphandle kokuthi ngikuhlambise, awunatjhebiswano nami.” UPitrosi uthi: “Kosi, ungangihlambisi iinyawo kwaphela kodwana ngihlambisa nezandla nehloko.” Imrara khulu ipendulo kaJesu, nakathi: “Nanyana ngubani ohlambileko akutlhogeki ahlanjiswe okhunye ngaphandle kweenyawo zakhe, kodwana uhlwenge ngokupheleleko. Nina madoda nihlwengile, kodwana ingasi noke.”—Jwanisi 13:8-10.

UJesu ubahlambisa iinyawo boke abapostoli bakhe abali-12, kuhlanganise noJudasi Iskariyodi. Ngemva kokumbatha izambatho zakhe zangaphandle nokubuyela godu etafuleni, uyababuza, uthi: “Niyakuzwisisa na engikwenze kini? Ningibiza ngokuthi ‘Mfundisi’ nokuthi ‘Kosi,’ nitjho kufanele, ngombana ngingikho. Nje-ke, nangabe mina, nanyana ngiyiKosi noMfundisi, nginihlambise iinyawo, nani kufuze nihlambisane iinyawo. Ngombana nginibekela isibonelo sokuthi njengombana ngenzile kini, nani nenze okufanako. Ngiqinisile ngithi kini, isigqila asisisikhulu kunekosaso, nothunyiweko akasimkhulu kunaloyo omthumileko. Nanazi izintwezi, niyathaba nanizenzako.”—Jwanisi 13:12-17.

Nangambala uJesu ubafundisa isifundo esihle sokuthobeka! Abalandeli bakaJesu akukafuzi bafune izinto eziphambili, bacabange nokuthi baqakatheke ukudlula abanye begodu kufuze benzelwe izinto. Kunalokho, kufuze balingise uJesu, ingasi ngokuhlambisa abanye iinyawo, kodwana ngokuzimisela ukwenzela abanye izinto ngokuthobeka begodu bangakhethi.

Khona esidlwenesi, uJesu ufundise abapostoli bakhe isifundo sokuthobeka nakabahlambisa iinyawo. Nje, ngemva kwesidlo sePhasika udzubhula amezwi kaDavida asiphorofido, athi: “Ngitjho nomkhozami engimethembako, iye, loyo onghwatha nami ungiphendukele waba mkhapheli.” Ngemva kwalokho uyahlathulula, uthi: “Omunye wenu uzongithengisa.”—IRhubo 41:10; Jwanisi 13:18, 21.

Abapostoli bayaqalana, begodu ngamunye uyabuza: “Kosi, akusingimi, angitjho?” Ngitjho noJudasi Iskariyodi uyabuza. UPitrosi ukhuthaza uJwanisi ohlezi eduze noJesu bona abuzisise ukuthi ngubani. Yeke, uJwanisi uyama kuJesu, uyambuza: “Kosi, ngubani?”—Matewu 26:22; Jwanisi 13:25.

UJesu uthi: “Ngiloyo engizomnikela isiqetjhana sesikwa engisitjhebileko.” Yeke utjheba isikwa esingesitjeni esisetafuleni, usinikela uJudasi, uthi: “INdodana yomuntu iyakhamba, njengombana kutloliwe ngayo, kodwana maye ngaloyo iNdodana yomuntu ezokuthengiswa nguye! Bekuzokuba ngcono ngomuntu loyo ngathana azange abelethwe.” (Jwanisi 13:26; Matewu 26:24) Ngemva kwalokho, uSathana ungena kuJudasi. Indoda esele ikhohlakele le, izinikela kuDeveli bona yenze intandwakhe, ngalokho iba ‘yindodana yokutjhatjalaliswa.’—Jwanisi 6:64, 70; 12:4; 17:12.

UJesu uthi kuJudasi: “Lokho okwenzako, kwenze msinyana khulu.” Abanye abapostoli bacabanga bona njengombana uJudasi aphatha ibhoksi lemali, uJesu uthi kuye: “‘Khamba uyokuthenga izinto esizitlhogela umnyanya,’ namkha ukuthi kufuze anikele abadududu okuthileko.” (Jwanisi 13:27-30) Kunalokho, uJudasi uyakhamba uyokukghaphela uJesu.

Ntambama njengombana isidlo sePhasika siragela phambili, uJesu uthomisa omunye umhlobo omutjha wesidlo. Uthatha isikwa, bese uthokoza uZimu, uyasihlephula, usinikela abapostoli bakhe bona basidle. Uthi: “Lokhu kutjho umzimbami, ozokunikelwa ngebanga lenu. Hlalani nikwenza lokhu bona ningikhumbule.” (Lukasi 22:19) Isiqetjhana sesikweso abapostoli babelana ngaso, bayasidla.

Nje, uJesu uthatha ikapho yewayini, uthokoza uZimu begodu uyidlulisela kibo. Ngamunye usela iwayini leyo uJesu athi ngayo: “Ikapho le itjho isivumelwano esitjha esiqinisekiswa ngeengazi zami, ezizokuphalazwa ngebanga lenu.”—Lukasi 22:20.

Ngalokhu uJesu uhlela isikhumbuzo sokufa kwakhe, abalandeli bakhe ekufuze basikhumbule qobe mnyaka ngoNisan 14. Sizobakhumbuza lokho uJesu noYise abakwenzileko ukusiza abantu abakholwako babalekele isigwebo sesono nokufa. Ilungiselelweli linikela abantu abakholwako itjhaphuluko yamambala, ukudlula iPhasika lamaJuda.

UJesu uthi iingazi zakhe, ‘zizokuphalazwa ngebanga labanengi bona kulitjalelwe izono.’ Abanye abazokufumana ukulitjalelwokho, bapostoli bakhe abathembekileko nabanye abafana nabo. Bazokuba naye emBusweni kaYise.—Matewu 26:28, 29.

Ngobusuku bakhe bamaswaphela anabapostoli bakhe, uJesu ubafundise isifundo sokuthobeka lokha nakabahlambisa iinyawo. Kubayini isifundweso siqakathekile? Kungombana kunobuthakathaka obuthileko abanabo. Bayamthanda uZimu, nanyana kunjalo basaphikisana ngokuthi ngubani omkhulu kibo. (Markosi 9:33, 34; 10:35-37) Ubuthakathakobo bubonakala khulu ngobusukobu.

Abapostoli bathoma “ipikiswano evuthako phakathi kwabo ngokuthi ngubani ongomkhulu kibo boke.” (Lukasi 22:24) Ukubabona baphikisana kumdanisa khulu uJesu. Alo, wenzani?

Kunokubakhalima kabuhlungu abapostoli bakhe ngesenzo sabesi, ngomusa uJesu ubonisana nabo, uthi: “Ababusi beentjhaba bakatelela ubukhosi babo phezu kwazo, begodu labo abanelawulo phezu kwazo babizwa ngamabizo akhethekileko. Kodwana nina akukafaneli nibe njalo. . . . Ngubani omkhulu, ngiloyo ohlezi etafuleni namkha ngiloyo ophakululako?” Ubakhumbuza ngesibonelo ebekababekela sona qobe, uthi: “Kodwana mina ngingophakululako phakathi kwenu.”—Lukasi 22:25-27.

Abapostoli bakaJesu bebahlala banaye lokha nakaqalene neentjhijilo ngitjho nanyana bebanesono. Yeke uthi kibo: “Ngenza isivumelwano nani, njengombana noBaba enze isivumelwano sombuso nami.” (Lukasi 22:29) Amadoda la, abalandeli bakaJesu abathembekileko. Uyabaqinisekisa ngokuthi isivumelwanesi sizobenza bangene emBusweni begodu babuse kunye naye.

Nanyana banikelwe ilungelo elihle kangaka, basesenemizimba yenyama begodu basesenesono. UJesu uthi kibo: “USathana unifune noke bona anihlunge njengekoroyi” erhatjhekako nayihlungwako. (Lukasi 22:31) Uyabayelelisa godu, uthi: “Noke nizokuwa ngebanga lami kilobu busuku, ngombana kutloliwe ukuthi: ‘Ngizokubetha umelusi, izimvu zomhlambi ziphadlhalale.’”—Matewu 26:31; Zakariya 13:7.

Ngokuzithemba okukhulu, uPitrosi uthi: “Nanyana boke bangawa ngebanga lakho, mina angekhe ngiwe!” (Matewu 26:33) UJesu utjela uPitrosi ukuthi ngaphambi kokuthi umkukurumbu ulile kabili ebusukwinobo, uPitrosi uzabe amphikile. Nanyana kunjalo, uJesu uraga uthi: “Ngikubawele bona ukukholwa kwakho kungapheli; kodwana wena, nawubuyako, uqinise abafowenu.” (Lukasi 22:32) Nokho uPitrosi uthi kuye: “Ngitjho nanyana kungafuze ngife nawe, angekhe ngikuphike.” (Matewu 26:35) Nabanye abapostoli batjho okufanako.

UJesu uthi ebafundini bakhe: “Nginani isikhatjhana. Nizongifuna; godu lokho engikutjele amaJuda nangithi, ‘Lapho engiya khona angekhe nize,’ ngikutjho nakini nje.” Ungezelela uthi: “Ngininikela umyalo omutjha, wokuthi nithandane; njengombana nami nginithandile, nani thandanani. Boke bazokwazi ngalokhu ukuthi nibafundi bami—nanithandanako.”—Jwanisi 13:33-35.

Lokha nakezwa uJesu athi uzokuba nabo isikhatjhana, uPitrosi uyambuza, uthi: “Kosi, uyaphi?” UJesu umphendula uthi: “Lapho ngiya khona, angekhe ungilandele nje, kodwana uzongilandela ngokukhamba kwesikhathi.” Ararekile, uPitrosi uthi kuye: “Kosi, kubayini ngingekhe ngikghone ukukulandela nje? Ngizokudela ukuphila kwami ngebanga lakho.”—Jwanisi 13:36, 37.

Nje uJesu ubakhumbuza ngesikhathi athuma abapostoli eGalile bona bayokutjhumayela bangakaphathi iinkhwama zemali namkha iinkhwama zomphako. (Matewu 10:5, 9, 10) Ubabuza uthi: “Azange nitlhoge litho, akusinjalo?” Bathi: “Kunjalo!” Nje-ke bazokwenzani emalangeni alandelako? UJesu ubanqophisa uthi: “Loyo onesikhwama semali akasithathe, nonesikhwama somphako akasithathe, kanti loyo onganasabula akathengise isambatho sakhe ayithenge. Ngiyanitjela bona lokho okutloliweko kufuze kuzaliseke kimi, ukuthi, ‘Wabalwa nabanganamthetho.’ Ngombana lokho kuyazaliseka malungana nami.”—Lukasi 22:35-37.       

UJesu ukhuluma ngesikhathi la azokubulawa nabantu abambi, abanganamthetho. Ngemva kwalokho abalandeli bakhe bazokutjhutjhiswa. Abapostoli bakhe bazibona bazilungiselele kuhle, yeke bathi: “Kosi, siphethe iinsabula ezimbili.” Uthi kibo: “Zanele.” (Lukasi 22:38) Ukuphatha kwabo iinsabula ezimbili kuzokunikela uJesu ithuba lokubafundisa esinye godu isifundo esiqakathekileko.

UJesu usesenabapostoli bakhe ekumbeni ephezulu ngemva kwesidlo sesikhumbuzo, uyabakhuthaza, uthi: “Ningatshwenyeki eenhliziyweni zenu. Kholwani kuZimu; kholwani nakimi.”—Jwanisi 13:36; 14:1.

UJesu unikela abapostoli bakhe abathembekileko ibanga lokuthi kubayini kungakafuzi batshwenyeke ngokukhamba kwakhe, uthi: “Endlini kaBaba kuneendawo zokuhlala ezinengi. . . . Nangikhambako ngiyonilungisela indawo, ngizokubuya ngizonithatha, bona lapha ngikhona nani nibe khona.” Kodwana abapostoli abazwisisi bona ukhuluma ngokuya ezulwini. Nje-ke uTomasi uyambuza: “Kosi, asikwazi lapho uya khona. Singayazi njani indlela?”—Jwanisi 14:2-5.

UJesu uyamphendula, uthi: “Ngiyindlela neqiniso nokuphila.” Yeke ngokumamukela nokwamukela iimfundiso zakhe nangokulingisa ikambwakhe yokuphila, umuntu angakghona ukungena endlini kaYise esezulwini. UJesu uthi: “Akakho oza kuBaba ngaphandle kokuthi eze ngami.”—Jwanisi 14:6.

UFlebhe, ulalelisise kuhle, nje-ke ubawa uJesu, uthi: “Kosi, sitjengisa uBaba, lokho kusanele.” Kubonakala ngasuthi uFlebhe ufuna isibonakaliso sakaZimu, njengemibono leya eyabonwa nguMosi, u-Eliya no-Isaya. Nokho, abapostoli babone okungcono khulu kunemibono leyo. UJesu uyakuveza lokho nakabaphendulako, athi: “Ngitjho nangemva kobana madoda ngibe nani isikhathi eside kangaka, Flebhe, awukangazi? Nanyana ngubani ongibonileko ubone noBaba.” UJesu ubuveza kuhle ubuntu bakaYise; ngalokho-ke ukuhlala noJesu nokubona izenzo zakhe, kufana nokubona uYise. Kwamambala, uBaba mkhulu kuneNdodana njengombana uJesu akuveza lokho nakathi: “Izinto engizitjho kini angizikhulumi ngokwami.” (Jwanisi 14:8-10) Abapostoli bayabona ukuthi iimfundiso zakaJesu zivela kuYise, kungebangelo aqalisa loke idumo kuYise.

Abapostoli khebambona enza imisebenzi emihle begodu bamuzwa atjhumayela iindaba ezimnandi zomBuso kaZimu. Yeke uthi kibo: “Nanyana ngubani okholwa kimi naye uzokwenza imisebenzi engiyenzako; begodu uzokwenza imisebenzi emikhulu kunale.” (Jwanisi 14:12) UJesu akatjho ukuthi bazokwenza imikarisomraro emikhulu ukudlula le akhewayenza. Kunalokho, bazokwenza umsebenzi wokutjhumayela lo isikhathi eside, bazokufika neendaweni ezikude begodu bafikelele abantu abanengi.

Ukukhamba kwakaJesu akutjho bona uyabalahla, ngombana ubathembisa uthi: “Nanibawa nanyana yini ngebizo lami, ngizoyenza.” Uyaraga uthi: “Ngizakubawa uBaba, yena uzoninikela omunye umsizi bona abe nani bekube phakade, ummoya weqiniso.” (Jwanisi 14:14, 16, 17) Uyabaqinisekisa ukuthi bazokufumana omunye umsizi, ummoya ocwengileko. Ngilokho-ke okwenzeka ngelanga lePentekoste.

UJesu uthi: “Kungasikade iphasi ngeze lisangibona, kodwana nina nizongibona, ngombana ngiyaphila, nani nizokuphila.” (Jwanisi 14:19) Ngemva kokuvuswa kwakhe, uJesu angekhe abonakale kibo ngomzimba wenyama kwaphela, kodwana ngokukhamba kwesikhathi uzobavusa ekufeni bona babe ziimbunjwa zommoya naye ezulwini.

Nje uJesu uveza iqinisweli, uthi: “Owamukela imiyalo yami bekayilalele, nguye ongithandako. Ongithandako uzokuthandwa nguBaba, nami ngizomthanda, ngizibonakalise ngokukhanyako kuye.” Khonokho, umpostoli uJudasi obizwa nangokuthi nguThadiyosi uthi kuye: “Kosi, kuza njani unqophe ukuzibonakalisa ngokukhanyako kithi ingasi ephasini?” UJesu uyamphendula uthi: “Loyo ongithandako, uzolilalela ilizwi lami, noBaba uzomthanda . . . Ongangithandiko akagcini amezwami.” (Jwanisi 14:21-24) Abantu bephasi abafani nabalandeli bakhe, abalemuki ukuthi uJesu uyindlela, neqiniso nokuphila.

Njengombana uJesu akhamba, abafundi bakhe bazokukhumbula njani koke abafundise khona? Uyahlathulula: “Umsizi, ummoya ocwengileko, uBaba azowuthumela ngebizo lami, uzonifundisa zoke izinto, unikhumbuze nazo zoke izinto enginitjele zona.” Amezwi la ayabaduduza abapostoli ngombana khebabona ukuthi ummoya ocwengileko unamandla kangangani. UJesu uraga uthi: “Nginitjhiya nokuthula; ngininikela ukuthula kwami. . . . Ningatshwenyeki eenhliziyweni zenu namkha nisabe.” (Jwanisi 14:26, 27) Yeke, abafundi abanabanga lokutshwenyeka—uYise lakaJesu uzobanqophisa begodu abavikele.

Ubufakazi bokuthi uZimu uyabavikela buzokubonakala kungasikade. UJesu uthi: “Umbusi wephasi uyeza, begodu akanamandla kimi.” (Jwanisi 14:30) UDeveli wangena kuJudasi bewakghona ukumlawula. Kodwana uJesu, akanaso isono uSathana angasisebenzisa bona amenze afulathele uZimu. UDeveli godu akanawo amandla wokuvalela uJesu ekufeni. Kubayini kunjalo? UJesu uthi: “Ngenza njengombana uBaba angiyale bona ngenze.” Uyaqiniseka bona uYise uzomvusa.—Jwanisi 14:31.

Sekusikhatjhana uJesu akhuthaza abapostoli bakhe abathembekileko. Nje kungenzeka sele kumathathakusa. UJesu ubenzela umfanekiso okhuthazako.

Uthoma ngokuthi: “Mina ngisitjalo samadiribe samambala, uBaba mlimi.” (Jwanisi 15:1) Umfanekiswakhe ufana nalokho okwatjhiwo eminyakeni emakhulu ngaphambilini ngesitjhaba sakwa-Israyeli, ebesibizwa ngokuthi sidiribe sakaJehova. (Joromiya 2:21; Hosiya 10:1, 2) Kodwana uJehova uyasilahla isitjhabeso. (Matewu 23:37, 38) Nje-ke uJesu wethula indaba etja. Usitjalo samadiribe uYise ebekasolo asilima kusukela ngesikhathi uJesu azeswa ngommoya ocwengileko ngomnyaka ka-29. Nokho uJesu utjengisa ukuthi isitjalo samadiribe sifanekisela okungaphezu kwakhe, uthi:

“Zoke iimpande ezingatheli [uBaba] uyazisusa kimi, ahlwengise zoke ezithelako, bona zithele iinthelo ezingeziweko. . . . Njengombana ipande ingekhe izithelele ngokwayo ngaphandle kokuthi ihlale esitjalweni samadiribe, ngokunjalo nani angekhe nithele ngaphandle kokuthi nihlale nimunye nami. Mina ngisitjalo samadiribe; nina niziimpande.”—Jwanisi 15:2-5.

UJesu uthembise abafundi bakhe abathembekileko ukuthi ngemva kokukhamba kwakhe uzokuthumela umsizi, ummoya ocwengileko. Ngemva kwamalanga ama-51, abapostoli nabanye babazimpande zesitjalo samadiribe lokha nabamukela ummoya ocwengileko loyo. Zoke “iimpande” kuzokufanele zibe munye noJesu. Kubayini?

Uyahlathulula uthi: “Nanyana ngubani ohlala amunye nami, nami ngimunye naye, uthela iinthelo ezinengi; ngombana ngaphandle kwami angekhe nenza litho.” ‘Iimpandezi’—okubalandeli bakhe abathembekileko—zizokuthela iinthelo ezinengi, zilingise uJesu, zitjhumayele ngetjiseko kabanye ngomBuso kaZimu begodu zenze abafundi abanengi. Alo-ke, kuthiwani nangabe omunye akahlali amunye noJesu begodu akatheli iinthelo? UJesu uthi: “Nanyana ngubani ongahlali amunye nami, uphoselwa ngaphandle.” Ngakelinye ihlangothi, uJesu uthi: “Nangabe nihlala nimunye nami, namezwami ahlala kini, bawani nanyana yini eniyifisako, izokwenzeka.”—Jwanisi 15:5-7.

Nje-ke uJesu ubuyela endabeni akhe wayitjho ngaphambilini—ukulalela imiyalwakhe. (Jwanisi 14:15, 21) Uveza indlela eqakathekileko abafundi abangatjengisa ngayo bona bayayilalela imiyalwakhe, uthi: “Nanilalela imiyalo yami, nizokuhlala ethandweni lami, njengombana nami ngilalele imiyalo kaBaba begodu ngihlala ngisethandweni lakhe.” Nokho, kunengi okubandakanyekako kunokuthanda uJehova uZimu neNdodanakhe. UJesu uthi: “Naku umyalo wami, ukuthi nithandane njengombana nami nginithandile. Akakho onethando elikhulu kunaleli, bona umuntu angadela ukuphila kwakhe ngebanga labangani bakhe. Nibangani bami nanenza lokho enginiyala ngakho.”—Jwanisi 15:10-14.

Esikhathini esingaphelisi ihliziyo, uJesu uzokunikela ngokuphila kwakhe ukutjengisa ukuthi uyabathanda abalandeli bakhe abakholelwa kuye. Abalandeli bakhe nabo kufuze bafunde kuye babe nethando lokuzidela komunye nomunye. Ithandweli lizobahlukanisa kwabanye, njengombana uJesu atjhwile phambilini ukuthi: “Boke bazokwazi ngalokhu ukuthi nibafundi bami—nanithandanako.”—Jwanisi 13:35.

Abapostoli kufuze batjheje ukuthi uJesu ubabiza ngokuthi ‘bangani.’ Ubahlathululela nebanga lokuthi kubayini ababiza njalo, uthi: “Nginibize ngokuthi nibangani bami, ngombana nginazise zoke izinto engizizwe kuBaba.” Ukuba mngani kaJesu oseduze nokwazi koke uYise amtjele khona—singani esiligugu khulu! Nokho, bona bathabele isinganesi kufuze ‘baragele phambili bathela iinthelo.’ UJesu uthi nabenza njalo, ‘nanyana yini abayibawa kuBaba ngebizo lakhe, uzobapha yona.’—Jwanisi 15:15, 16.

‘Iimpandezi,’ okubafundi bakhe, kufuze bathandane. Ithandweli lizobasiza bakghodlhelele okusezako. Ubayelelisa ngokuthi iphasi lizobahloya, kodwana ubaduduza uthi: “Nangabe iphasi liyanihloya, niyazi ukuthi langihloya nami ngaphambi kokuthi linihloye. Ngathana beniyingcenye yephasi, iphasi belizokuthanda okungekwalo. Nje-ke ngebanga lokuthi anisiyingcenye yephasi, . . . kungebangelo iphasi linihloya.”—Jwanisi 15:18, 19.

Nakahlathulula ukuthi kubayini iphasi lizobahloya, uJesu ungezelela uthi: “Bazokwenza zoke izintwezi kini ngebanga lebizo lami, ngombana abamazi loyo ongithumileko.” UJesu uthi kuhlekuhle misebenzakhe elahla abamhloyileko: “Ngathana akhenge ngenze kibo imisebenzi engakhenge kheyenziwe ngomunye umuntu, bebangekhe babe nesono; kodwana nje bangibonile begodu bahloya mina noBaba.” Ukumhloya kwabo kuzalisa isiphorofido.—Jwanisi 15:21, 24, 25; IRhubo 35:19; 69:5.

UJesu godu uthembisa ukuthumela umsizi, ummoya ocwengileko. Boke abalandeli bakhe bangawufumana ummoya onamandla loyo begodu uzobasiza bathele iinthelo, ‘bebafakaze.’—Jwanisi 15:27.

UJesu nabapostoli bakhe balungiselela ukuphuma ekumbeni ebebadlela kiyo iPhasika. Ngemva kobana abayelelisile, uJesu ungezelela uthi: “Ngikhulume izintwezi kini bona ningawi.” Kubayini isiyeleliswesi besiqakathekile? Uyabatjela uthi: “Abantu bazoniqotha esinagogeni. Eqinisweni, kuza isikhathi lapho woke umuntu onibulalako azokucabanga bona wenzela uZimu umsebenzi ocwengileko.”—Jwanisi 16:1, 2.

Kungenzeka lezi ziindaba ezibuhlungu ebapostolini. Nanyana uJesu bekabatjelile ngaphambilini ukuthi iphasi lizobahloya, akhenge abatjele ngokunqophileko ukuthi bazokubulawa. Kubayini kunjalo? Uthi: “Azange nginitjele izintwezi ekuthomeni, ngombana benginani.” (Jwanisi 16:4) Kwanje uyabahlomisa ngaphambi kobana akhambe. Lokhu kungabasiza bona bangawi ngokukhamba kwesikhathi.

UJesu uraga uthi: “Ngiya kiloyo ongithumileko; kodwana akakho namunye wenu ongibuzako ukuthi, ‘Uyaphi?’” Ngelangelo khebambuza ukuthi uyaphi. (Jwanisi 13:36; 14:5; 16:5) Kodwana nje, batlhuwile ngombana bathuswe ngilokho akutjhoko ngendaba yokuhlunguphazwa. Ngebanga lalokho babhalelwa kumbuza ngephazimulo emlindeleko namkha ngokuthi kutjho ukuthini lokho ebantwini abalotjha uZimu ngeqiniso. Nakabona lokhu uJesu uthi: “Ngebanga lokuthi nginitjele izintwezi, iinhliziyo zenu sezitlhuwe khulu.”—Jwanisi 16:6.

Nje uJesu uhlathulula uthi: “Ukukhamba kwami kuzokuzuzisa nina. Ngombana nangingakhambiko, umsizi angekhe eze kini; kodwana nangikhambako, ngizomthumela kini.” (Jwanisi 16:7) Ngokufa kwakaJesu nokuya kwakhe ezulwini, abafundi bakhe bazokuthola ummoya ocwengileko, azowuthumela ubemsizi ebantwini bakhe abasephasini.

Ummoya ocwengileko lo “uzokunikela iphasi ubufakazi obukholisako malungana nesono, malungana nokulunga begodu malungana nesahlulelo.” (Jwanisi 16:8) Iye, ukungakholelwa kwephasi eNdodaneni kaZimu kuzokwambulwa. Ukukhuphukela kwakaJesu ezulwini kuzokunikela ubufakazi obuqinisekisako bokulunga kwakhe bebuveze ngokukhanyako ukuthi kubayini uSathana, “umbusi wephaseli,” afanelwe sisahlulelo esibuhlungu.—Jwanisi 16:11.

UJesu uraga uthi: “Ngisesenezinto ezinengi ekufuze nginitjele zona, kodwana angekhe nikghone ukuzithwala nje.” Ummoya ocwengileko azowuthululela phezu kwabo uzobanqophisa bona bazwisise “iqiniso ngokuzeleko” begodu bazokukghona ukuphila ngeqiniswelo.—Jwanisi 16:12, 13.

Abapostoli barareka khulu ngekulumo kaJesu le: “Kuzaba sikhatjhana ningasangiboni, bese kuthi ngemva kwesikhatjhana ningibone godu.” Bayabuzana ukuthi utjho ukuthini. UJesu uyabona ukuthi bafuna ukumbuza ngendaba le, ngalokho-ke uyahlathulula uthi: “Ngiqinisile ngithi kini, nizokulila begodu nirhahlawule, kodwana iphasi lizokuthaba; nizokutlhuwa, kodwana ukutlhuwa kwenu kuzokutjhugululwa kube lithabo.” (Jwanisi 16:16, 20) Ngelanga elilandelako ntambama uJesu nakabulawako, abadosiphambili bezekolo bayathaba, kodwana abafundi bayatlhuwa. Ukutlhuwa kwabo kuba lithabo uJesu nakavuswako. Ithabo labo liragela phambili nakathululela phezu kwabo ummoya ocwengileko kaZimu.

UJesu umadanisa ubujamo babapostoli neenhlungu zomfazi obelethako, uthi: “Umfazi nakabelethako, uyatlhuwa ngombana isikhathi sakhe sifikile, kodwana nasekambelethile umntwana, akasalikhumbuli isizi ngebanga lethabo lokuthi kubelethwe umuntu ephasini.” UJesu ukhuthaza abapostoli bakhe uthi: “Ngokufanako nani, nje nitlhuwile; kodwana ngizonibona godu, iinhliziyo zenu zizokuthaba, begodu akunamuntu ongathatha ithabo lenu.”—Jwanisi 16:21, 22.

Bekubesikhathesi, abapostoli bebangakabawi ebizweni lakaJesu. Nje-ke uthi: “Mhlokho nizokubawa kuBaba ngebizo lami.” Kghani lokhu kutjho ukuthi uBaba uyariyada ukuphendula? UJesu uthi: “UBaba ngokwakhe uyanithanda, ngombana ningithandile . . . njengomjameli kaZimu.”—Jwanisi 16:26, 27.

Amezwi kaJesu akhuthazako la kungenzeka aqinisekisa abapostoli bebavuma ukuthi: “Ngalokhu siyakholwa ukuthi uvela kuZimu.” Ukuqinisekokho kuzokulingwa kungasikade. UJesu uhlathulula lokho okuzokwenzeka, uthi: “Qalani! Isikhathi siyeza, kuhlekuhle, sesifikile, lapho nizokuphadlhalala noke, ngamunye atjhinge ngendlinakhe ningitjhiye ngingedwa.” Ubaqinisekisa ngokuthi: “Nginitjele izintwezi ukwenzela bona nibe nokuthula ngami. Ephasini nizokuba nesizi, kodwana yibani nesibindi! Ngilihlulile iphasi.” (Jwanisi 16:30-33) UJesu akabalahli. Uyaqiniseka ngokuthi nabo bangalihlula iphasi njengaye, ngokuthembeka ekuphumeleliseni intando kaZimu naphezu kweenlingo zakaSathana nephasi lakhe ezilinga ukuthembeka kwabo.

Atjhukunyiswa lithando, uJesu uhlomisa abapostoli bakhe bona bakghone ukuqalana nokukhamba kwakhe okuzokwenzeka msinyana. Uqala ezulwini uthandaza kuYise, uthi: “Phazimulisa indodanakho ukwenzela bona nayo ikuphazimulise, njengombana uyinikele amandla phezu kwabo boke abantu, ukuthi ibanikele ukuphila okungapheliko boke labo oyinikele bona.”—Jwanisi 17:1, 2.

Kuyabonakala ukuthi ukuphazimulisa uZimu yinto eqakathekileko kuJesu. Kodwana kududuza kwamambala ukuthi uJesu ukhuluma nangokuphila okungapheliko. Abantu bangafumana ukuphila okungapheliko, ngomhlatjelo kaJesu, ngombana uZimu ‘umnikele amandla phezu kwabo boke abantu.’ Nokho, bambalwa abazokufumana ukuphila okungapheliko. Kubayini kunjalo? Ngombana umhlatjelo kaJesu usebenza kwaphela ebantwini abenza lokhu uJesu akhuluma ngakho, nakathi: “Lokhu kutjho ukuphila okungapheliko, bona bakwazi wena, okunguwe wedwa uZimu weqiniso naloyo omthumileko, uJesu Krestu.”—Jwanisi 17:3.

Umuntu kufuze amazi kuhle uBaba neNdodanakhe begodu abe nesingani esihle nabo. Kufuze aqale izinto ngendlela abaziqala ngayo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kufuze alingise ubuntu bakaZimu neNdodanakhe endleleni aphatha ngayo abanye. Ukungezelela kilokho, kufuze azi ukuthi ukuphazimulisa uZimu kuza qangi kunokufumana ukuphila okungapheliko. Njenganje uJesu ubuyela endabeni akhulume ngayo ngaphambilini, uthi:

“Ngikuphazimulisile ephasini, ngokuqeda umsebenzi onginikele wona bona ngiwenze. Nje-ke Baba, ngiphazimulisa eqadi kwakho ngephazimulo egade nginayo eqadi kwakho ngaphambi kobana kube nephasi.” (Jwanisi 17:4, 5) UJesu ubawa uYise bona amvuse ekufeni ambuyisele ephazimulweni ebegade anayo nakasezulwini.

Kodwana lokho akutjho ukuthi uJesu sele akhohliwe ngomsebenzi awenzileko ephasini. Uthandaza uthi: “Ngilibonakalisile ibizo lakho ebantwini onginikele bona ephasini. Bebangebakho, wabanikela mina begodu balilalele ilizwi lakho.” (Jwanisi 17:6) UJesu nakasephasini, wenza okungaphezu kokufundisa abantu ibizo lakaZimu elithi Jehova. Wasiza abapostoli bakhe bona bazwisise ukuthi ibizweli litjho ukuthini—ubuntu bakaZimu nendlela asebenzelana ngayo nabantu.

Abapostoli bamazi kuhle uJehova, indima edlalwa yiNdodanakhe nezinto uJesu abafundise zona. Ngokuzithoba uJesu uthi: “Ngibanikelile amezwi owanginikela wona, bawamukele begodu sebazi kuhle ukuthi ngize njengomjamelakho, bayakholwa nokuthi ungithumile.”—Jwanisi 17:8.

UJesu uveza umehluko hlangana nabalandeli bakhe nephasi, uthi: “Ngiyababawela; angibaweli iphasi, kodwana ngibawela labo onginikele bona, ngombana ngebakho . . . Baba oCwengileko, bavikele ngebanga lebizo lakho, onginikele lona, bona babe munye njengombana nathi simunye. . . . Ngibavikele, akakho namunye wabo olahlekileko ngaphandle kwendodana yokutjhatjalaliswa,” okunguJudasi Iskariyodi, ozokuthengisa uJesu.—Jwanisi 17:9-12.

UJesu nakathandazako uraga uthi: “Iphasi libahloyile. Angibawi ukuthi ubasuse ephasini, kodwana bona ubavikele ngebanga lomumbi. Abasiyingcenye yephasi, njengombana nami ngingasiyingcenye yephasi.” (Jwanisi 17:14-16) Abapostoli nabanye abafundi baphila hlangana nabantu ababuswa nguSathana khona ephasinapha, kodwana kufuze balinge ngamandla ukuthi bangaziphathi njengabo. Bazokwenza njani lokho?

Kufuze bahlwengeke, balotjhe uZimu begodu benze zoke izinto abazifunda emiTlolweni yesiHebheru nalezo uJesu abafundisa zona. UJesu ubabawela kuZimu uthi: “Bacwengise ngeqiniso; ilizwi lakho liliqiniso.” (Jwanisi 17:17) Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, abanye abapostoli bazokutlola iincwadi eziphefumulelwe nguZimu, ezizokuba yingcenye ‘yeqiniso’ begodu zisize abantu bona bahlwengeke.

Kodwana ngokukhamba kwesikhathi kunabanye abazokwamukela ‘iqiniso.’ UJesu uraga nokuthandaza, uthi “angibaweli laba kwaphela [anabo lapho], kodwana ngibawela nalabo abazokukholwa kimi ngemva kokuzwa ilizwi labo.” UJesu ubabawela ini? Uthi: “Khona bazakuba munye boke, njengombana nawe Baba umunye nami, nami ngimunye nawe, ukuthi nabo babe munye nathi.” (Jwanisi 17:20, 21) UJesu noYise abasi mumuntu oyedwa. Bamunye ngombana benza zoke izinto ngokuvumelana. UJesu uthandazela ukuthi nabalandeli bakhe babe munye.

Ngaphambi kokutjho amezwi la, uJesu utjele uPitrosi nabanye abapostoli ukuthi uyobalungiselela indawo, ezulwini. (Jwanisi 14:2, 3) UJesu uveza lokho emthandazweni, nakathi: “Baba, ngifuna ukuthi labo onginikele bona babe nami lapha ngikhona, bonyana babone iphazimulo onginikele yona, ngombana ungithande ngaphambi kokuthonyiswa kwephasi.” (Jwanisi 17:24) Ngalokho, uqinisekisa ukuthi eminyakeni eminengi eyadlulako—ngaphambi kobana u-Adamu no-Eva babe nabantwana—uZimu wayithanda iNdodanakhe ebelethwe yodwa, uJesu Krestu.

Nakaphetha umthandazwakhe, uJesu uyabuyelela uveza ukuqakatheka kwebizo lakaYise begodu uqinisekisa abapostoli nabanye abazokwamukela ‘iqiniso’ ukuthi uZimu uyabathanda, uthi: “Ngibazisile ibizo lakho begodu ngizolenza laziwe, ukwenzela bona ithando ongithande ngalo libe kibo nokuthi ngimunye nabo.”—Jwanisi 17:26.

UJesu uqeda ukuthandaza nabapostoli bakhe abathembekileko. ‘Ngemva kokuvuma iingoma zokudumisa, bayaphuma baya eNtabeni yama-Oliva.’ (Markosi 14:26) Batjhinga ngepumalanga yeNtaba, esimini uJesu ajayele ukuya kiyo, ebizwa ngokuthi yiGetsemani.

Nabafika endaweni ehle yesimu le, hlangana nemithi yama-oliva, uJesu uthi kibo: “Yijani nihlezi lapha, ngisaya laphaya ngiyokuthandaza.” Uthatha abapostoli abathathu—uPitrosi, uJakopo noJwanisi—utjhinga nabo phambidlana. Utlhuwa khulu begodu uthi ebapostolini abathathwaba: “Ngilisizi khulu, bekube sekufeni. Hlalani lapha. Nihlale niqalile kunye nami.”—Matewu 26:36-38.

UJesu utjhinga phambidlana ‘uguqa phasi, uthoma ukuthandaza.’ Khuyini ayithandazelako ebudisini aqalene nabobu? Uthi: “Baba, zoke izinto ziyakghoneka kuwe; susa ikapho le kimi. Nokho ingasi ngokufuna kwami, kodwana ngokufuna kwakho.” (Markosi 14:35, 36) Utjho ukuthini? Kghani ungenwa mamanzi emadolweni ngendimakhe yokuba Sihlengo? Awa.

Nakasezulwini, uJesu wayibona indlela abahlunguphazwa ngayo abantu ababulawa maRoma. Nje uJesu uphila ephasini, unemizwa njengawo woke umuntu, nje-ke akakaqali phambili kilokho okumlindeleko. Nokho, okumtshwenya khulu kukuthi kungenzeka bona ukufa kwakhe njengesilelesi esikhohlakeleko kuhlambalaze ibizo lakaYise. Ema-irini ambalwa, uzokulengiswa esigodweni njengomuntu ohlambalaze uZimu.

Ngemva kokuthandaza isikhathi eside, uJesu ubuyela ebapostolini abathathu ubafumana bayile ngobuthongo. Uthi kuPitrosi: “Beningekhe nakghona ngitjho nokuhlala niqalile nami i-iri linye na? Hlalani niqalile begodu nithandaze qobe, bona ningangeni esilingweni.” UJesu uyazwisisa ukuthi abapostoli nabo bagandelelekile begodu badiniwe. Nje-ke, ungezelela uthi: “Kwamambala, ummoya uyafisa, kodwana inyama iyabogaboga.”—Matewu 26:40, 41.

Ngemva kwalokho, uJesu ukhamba ihlandla lesibili ubawa uZimu bona asuse “ikapho le” kuye. Nakabuyako, ufumana abapostoli abathathu balele godu kunokuthi bathandaze bona bangangeni esilingweni. UJesu nakakhuluma nabo “khenge bazi bona bamphendule bathini.” (Markosi 14:40) UJesu ukhamba ihlandla lesithathu, uyaguqa bese uyathandaza.

UJesu utshwenyeke khulu ngokuthi ukufa kwakhe njengesilelesi kuzokuhlambalaza ibizo lakaYise. Nokho uJehova uyayizwa imithandazo yeNdodanakhe begodu uthumela ingilozi bona iyomqinisa. Nanyana kunjalo uJesu uraga nokurabhela uYise, ‘uthandaza ngokudephileko.’ Ugandeleleke khulu ngokwamazizo. Uthwele umthwalo obudisi. Phela ukuphila kwakhe okungapheliko nokwabantu abakholwako kusemahlombakhe. Ugandeleleke kangangokuthi ‘ingurumelakhe iba njengamathosi weengazi awela ehlabathini.’—Lukasi 22:44.

UJesu nakabuyela ihlandla lesithathu, godu ufumana abapostoli balele. Uthi kibo: “Ngesikhathi esinje, nilele begodu niphumulile! Qalani! I-iri lokobana iNdodana yomuntu ithengiswe ezandleni zezoni selitjhidele. Sikimani sikhambeni. Loyo ongithengisako sekatjhidele.”—Matewu 26:45, 46.

Besele kumathathakusa. Abaphristi bavumile ukubhadela uJudasi iimpaparwana zesiliva izima-30 bona athengise uJesu. Nje-ke uJudasi udosa phambili isiqubuthu sabaphristi abakhulu nabaFarisi bayokufuna uJesu. Baphekelelwa siqhema samasotja weRoma ahlomileko nenduna yawo.

UJesu nakamqothako esidlweni sePhasika, uJudasi utjhinge ngokunqophileko ebaphristini abakhulu. (Jwanisi 13:27) Beza boke basiqubuthu sabonogada babapristi abakhulu nesiqhema samasotja. Kungenzeka uJudasi uthome ngokubasa ekumbeni ephezulu lapho uJesu nabapostoli bebagidingela khona iPhasika. Kodwana zange babathole, ngemva kwalokho bayama umRhoba weKidroni batjhinga esimini. Njengombana bayokufuna uJesu, bakhamba baphethe iinkhali neenkhanyisi ngombana bazimisele ukumfumana.

Njengombana uJudasi adosa phambili isiqubuthu utjhinga naso eNtabeni yama-Oliva, unesiqiniseko sokuthi uzomthola kuphi uJesu. UJesu nabapostoli nabaphasi phezulu bakhamba hlangana neJerusalema neBhethaniya bebajayele ukujama esimini yeGetsemani baphumule. Kodwana nje kumnyama ngaphandle uJesu kungenzeka ungaphasi kwemithi yama-Oliva esimini. Alo, amasotja angakhenge ambone uJesu ngaphambilini azomazi njani? Ukuze abasize uJudasi uzobenzela itshwayo. Uthi: “Loyo engizommanga, nguye enimfunako; mbambeni nimbophe nikhambe naye ngokuphepha.”—Markosi 14:44.

Nabasesimini uJudasi ubona uJesu nabapostoli bakhe, utjhinga kibo. Nakafikako uthi kuJesu: “Lotjha, Rabi!” bese ummanga ngomusa. Kodwana uJesu uthi kuye: “Mfo, uze ngamuphi umnqopho lapha?” (Matewu 26:49, 50) Uraga uthi: “Judasi, uthengisa iNdodana yomuntu ngokuyimanga?” (Lukasi 22:48) UJesu akasenandaba noJudasi.

UJesu ubandamela emkhanyweni, uyababuza uthi: “Nifuna ubani?” Bamphendula bathi: “UJesu weNazaretha.” Ngesibindi uJesu uthi: “Nginguye.” (Jwanisi 18:4, 5) Kubarara khulu lokho, bahlehlela emuva bawela phasi.

Kunokuthi asebenzise ithubelo bona abaleke, uJesu uyababuza godu ukuthi bafuna ubani. Bayamphendula godu bathi, “uJesu weNazaretha,” ngommoya ophasi uthi: “Nginitjelile ukuthi nginguye. Nje-ke nangabe nifuna mina, lisani amadoda la akhambe.” Nebujamweni obumasikizobu, uJesu ukhumbula lokho akutjho ngaphambilini ukuthi angeze alahlekelwa nangoyedwa. (Jwanisi 6:39; 17:12) UJesu ubavikele abapostoli bakhe abathembekileko begodu akukho namunye wabo olahlekileko “ngaphandle kwendodana yokutjhatjalaliswa”—uJudasi. (Jwanisi 18:7-9) Nje-ke ubawa bona balise abalandeli bakhe abathembekileko bakhambe.

Njengombana amasotja atjhidela kuJesu abapostoli bayabona ukuthi ikosabo isengozini. Bayayibuza bathi: “Kosi, sibarherhebule ngesabula na?” (Lukasi 22:49) UJesu angakaphenduli, uPitrosi uthatha isabula. Urharhabula uMalirhusi osisebenzi somphristi ophakemeko, umqunta indlebe yangesidleni.

UJesu uthinta indlebe kaMalirhusi uyampholisa. Nje-ke ubafundisa isifundo esiqakathekileko, uyala uPitrosi uthi: “Buyisela isabulakho endawenayo, ngombana boke abasebenzisa isabula bazokubhubha ngesabula.” UJesu akakubalekeli ukubotjhwa, ngombana uthi: “Izokuzaliseka njani imiTlolo ethi kufuze kwenzeke bunjesi?” (Matewu 26:52, 54) Uraga uthi: “Akukafuzi na ngisele ikapho engiyinikelwe nguBaba?” (Jwanisi 18:11) UJesu uzimisele ukwenza intando kaZimu bekube sekufeni.

UJesu ubuza isiqubuthu uthi: “Alo-ke niphumele ukuzokubopha mina niphethe iinsabula neembhuku ngasuthi nizokubamba isilelesi na? Mihla namalanga bengihlala ethempelini ngifundisa, kodwana khenge ningibambe. Kodwana koke lokhu kwenzeke bona kuzaliseke imitlolo yabaphorofidi.”—Matewu 26:55, 56.

Isiqhema samasotja, induna yawo nesiqubuthu sabonogada bamaJuda babamba uJesu bayambopha. Abapostoli bayabaleka nababona lokhu. Nanyana kunjalo, “isokana elithileko”—mhlamunye mfundi kaJesu uMarkosi—lingena hlangana nesiqubuthu lilandela uJesu. (Markosi 14:51) Bayalibona isokaneli, balinga ukulibamba, liyabaleka litjhiya itjhila lalo lelineni.

Ngemva kobana babophe uJesu njengesilelesi, bayamthatha bamusa ku-Anasi obekamphristi ophakemeko uJesu nakasakhulako, lokha nakarara abafundisi ethempelini ngendlela azwisisa ngayo. (Lukasi 2:42, 47) Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, amanye amadodana ka-Anasi aba baphristi, kodwana njenganje mkhwenyanakhe u-Khayafasi osele amphristi.

Ngesikhathi u-Anasi ahloma uJesu ngemibuzo, uKhayafasi ufumana ithuba lokubiza umhlangano weSanhedrini. Amalunga womkhandlu loyo ama-71, kubalwa hlangana umphristi omkhulu nabanye ebebabaphristi ngaphambilini.

U-Anasi ubuza uJesu “ngabafundi bakhe nangefundiswakhe.” UJesu umphendula uthi: “Ngikhulume nephasi tjhatjhalazi. Bengihlala ngifundisa esinagogeni nethempelini, lapho woke amaJuda ahlangana khona, akunalitho engilikhulume ngemsitheleni. Kubayini ubuza mina? Buza labo abezwe lokho engibatjele khona.”—Jwanisi 18:19-21.

Omunye wabonogada ojame lapho uwahla uJesu ngepama ebusweni, uthi: “Yindlela ophendula ngayo umphristi omkhulu le?” UJesu azi ukuthi akanamlandu, uyamphendula uthi: “Nangabe kunento embi engiyikhulumileko, fakazela ubumbobo; kodwana nangabe lokho engikukhulumileko kuliqiniso, ungibethelani?” (Jwanisi 18:22, 23) Yeke, u-Anasi uthumela uJesu kumkhwenyanakhe uKhayafasi.

Kodwana nje, woke amalunga womkhandlu weSanhedrini—umphristi ophakemeko, amadoda amadala nabatloli sebahlangene. Bahlangene emzini kaKhayafasi. Umthetho awubavumeli bona bagwebe umlandu ngobusuku bePhasika, kodwana lokho akutjho litho kibo ngombana leli lithuba elihle lokuthi bafeze iinhloso zabo ezimbi.

Isiqhemesi besele sithethe ihlangothi. Ngemva kobana uJesu avuse uLazaru, iSanhedrini yaqunta bona uJesu kufuze abulawe. (Jwanisi 11:47-53) Emalangeni ambalwa adlulileko, abadosiphambili bezekolo baluke amano wokubamba uJesu bambulale. (Matewu 26:3, 4) Nangambala, nangaphambi kokufunyanwa anomlandu, uJesu sele agwetjelwe ukufa!

Ngaphezu kokuthi bahlangene ngokungasisemthethweni, abaphristi abakhulu namanye amalunga womkhandlu weSanhedrini balinga ukufumana abantu abazokufakaza amanga ngoJesu. Bafumana abantu abanengi, kodwana izinto abazikhulumako azivumelani. Ekugcineni, kuvela abantu ababili bathi: “Simzwile athi, ‘Ngizokugiriza ithempeleli elenziwe ngezandla, ngakhe elinye ngamalanga amathathu elingakenziwa ngezandla.’” (Markosi 14:58) Kodwana nabo abakutjhoko kuyaphikisana.

UKhayafasi ubuza uJesu uthi: “Awutjho litho bona uziphendulele? Zizinto bani lezi abantwaba abakumangalela ngazo?” (Markosi 14:60) UJesu akatjho litho ngobufakazi obumamanga amangalelwa ngabo. Nje-ke, umPhristi oPhakemeko uKhayafasi uluka amanye amano.

UKhayafasi wazi kuhle ukuthi amaJuda amhloyile umuntu ozibiza ngokuthi uyiNdodana kaZimu. Ngaphambilini, ngesikhathi uJesu abiza uZimu ngokuthi nguBabakhe, amaJuda bekafuna ukumbulala ngombana athi ‘uzenza olingana noZimu.’ (Jwanisi 5:17, 18; 10:31-39) Azi indlela amaJuda azizwa ngayo, uKhayafasi ugandelela uJesu uthi: “Ngikufungisa uZimu ophilako bona usitjele ukuthi unguKrestu na, iNdodana kaZimu!” (Matewu 26:63) Iye, uJesu khange azifihle ukuthi uyiNdodana kaZimu. (Jwanisi 3:18; 5:25; 11:4) Nange angawuphenduli umbuzo lo, kungaba bufakazi bokuthi akasiyiNdodana kaZimu namkha uKrestu. UJesu uthi: “Nginguye; begodu nizokubona iNdodana yomuntu ihlezi ngesandleni sokudla soMninimandla woke begodu iza ngamafu wezulu.”—Markosi 14:62.

Nakezwa lokho uKhayafasi urathula izambatho zakhe, uthi: “Uhlambalazile! Sisabafunelani abanye abofakazi? Niyabona! Nani nizizwele ukuhlambalaza kwakhe. Nicabangani?” Amalunga weSanhedrini akhipha isahlulelo athi: “Ufanelwe kukufa.”—Matewu 26:65, 66.

Bathoma ukuhlekisa ngoJesu, bambetha nangamaguduva. Abanye bamwahla ngeempama ebusweni bebayamkhafulela. Ngemva kokumdula nokumgubuzesa ebusweni, bayamtshima bathi kuye: “Phorofida! Ngubani okubethileko?” (Lukasi 22:64) Akhusucabange, nasi iNdodana kaZimu ihlunguphazwa ngomlandu ongasisemthethweni ogwetjwa ngobusuku!

Ngemva kokubotjhwa kwakaJesu esimini yeGetsemani, abapostoli bayamlahla, bayabaleka ngebanga lokusaba. Nokho, ababili babo bayabuya. Ababuyako nguPitrosi “nomunye umfundi” okungenzeka ngumpostoli uJwanisi. (Jwanisi 18:15; 19:35; 21:24) Kungenzeka bahlangana noJesu nabamusa ku-Anasi. U-Anasi nakathumela uJesu emPhristini oPhakemeko uKhayafasi, uPitrosi noJwanisi bayabalandela, kodwana bakhambela kudanyana. Mhlamunye bayasaba ukuthi bangabulawa, ngakelinye ihlangothi batshwenyekile ngokuthi kuzokwenzekani eKosinabo.

UJwanisi bayamvumela bona angene ngesirhodlweni emzini kaKhayafasi ngombana bayamazi. UPitrosi yena usala ngaphandle esangweni bekube kulapho uJwanisi abuya azomkhulumela nesisebenzi somntazana esimlindisango. Ngemva kwalokho uPitrosi naye bayamvumela bona angene.

Abantu abangesirhodlweni bothele umlilo ngombana kumakhaza. UPitrosi uhlala nabo bona azifuthumeze njengombana alinde ‘ukubona ukuthi uzokuphetha ngani’ umlandu kaJesu. (Matewu 26:58) Umlindisango ongenise uPitrosi umbona kuhle, ngombana basemkhanyweni. Uthi kuye: “Kghani nawe ungomunye wabafundi bendoda le?” (Jwanisi 18:17) Akusinguye yedwa obona uPitrosi nomkhumbulako ukuthi bekanoJesu.—Matewu 26:69, 71-73; Markosi 14:70.

Lokhu kumsilinga khulu uPitrosi. Phela ulinga ngamandla bona angazidoseli amehlo, kangangokuthi uhlehlela esangweni. Nje-ke uPitrosi uyaphika ukuthi bekanoJesu, uthi: “Angimazi nokumazi umuntu lo begodu angazi ukuthi ukhuluma ngani.” (Markosi 14:67, 68) Uthoma “ukuqalekisa nokufunga,” okutjho ukuthi uzimisele ukufunga ukuthi amezwakhe aliqiniso begodu nangabe ukhuluma amanga ukulungele ukujeziswa.—Matewu 26:74.

Kwenzeka koke lokhu, umlandu kaJesu uyaraga, kungenzeka ngakenye ikumba yendlu kaKhayafasi engaphezu kwesirhodlo. Mhlamunye uPitrosi nabanye abalinde ngenzasi bayababona abofakazi bangena baphuma ngekumbeni leyo.

Bayazi ukuthi uPitrosi ukhuluma amanga ngombana uzwakala ngendlela akhuluma ngayo ukuthi mGalile. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kunomunye esiqhemenesi ohlobene noMalirhusi, loya uPitrosi amqunte indlebe. Nje-ke uthi kuPitrosi: “Ngikubone esimini unaye, akusinjalo?” UPitrosi nakaphika kwesithathu, umkukurumbu uyalila, njengombana kwabikezelwa.—Jwanisi 13:38; 18:26, 27.

Ngomzuzu loyo, kubonakala ngasuthi uJesu ujame emathurini uqale ngesirhodlweni. IKosi iyajika iqala poro kuPitrosi, kufuze bona lokhu kumzwisa ubuhlungu khulu uPitrosi. Ukhumbula amezwi uJesu awakhulume mva nje nabasekumbeni ephezulu. Akhusucabange ukuthi uPitrosi uzizwa njani ngesenzo sakhesi! Uya ngaphandle ukhihla isililo esibuhlungu.—Lukasi 22:61, 62.

Kungenzeka njani lokhu? Kungenzeka njani ukuthi uPitrosi—obekaqiniseka kangaka ukuthi uqinile ekulotjheni uZimu begodu uthembekile—aphike iKosakhe? Ngesikhatheso amezwi kaJesu bekahlanakelwa begodu bekavezwa njengesilelesi esikhohlakeleko. Ngebanga lokuthi uJesu bekanganamlandu, bekulindeleke bona uPitrosi ahlale naye begodu amsekele, kodwana walahla iNdodana kaZimu ‘enamezwi wokuphila okungapheliko.’—Jwanisi 6:68.

Indaba ebuhlungu kaPitrosi le, itjengisa kuhle ukuthi nomuntu onokukholwa okuqinileko nozinikele kuZimu, angawa nangabe akakazilungiseleli kusesengaphambili bona aqalane neentjhijilo neenlingo ezingamehlela angakalindeli. Kwangathi lokho okwavelela uPitrosi kungaba siyeleliso kibo boke abantu abalotjha uZimu.