Kodi Isitala Imatanthauzanji kwa Mulungu?

ISITALA—“amayi wa mapwando!” festum festorum!—imanenedwa kukhala phwando la kuuka kwa Kristu. Koma kodi Yesu ananenapo za kuchita chikumbutso cha chiukiriro chake? Kodi atumwi anatilamula kumachita phwandolo? Kodi kuchita phwando la Isitala kuli lamulo loperekedwa ndi Mulungu kapena uli mwambo wa anthu? Mukhoza kupeza mayankho a mafunsoŵa mosavuta mwakusanthula magwero aŵiri opezako chidziŵitso—mbiri ndi Baibulo.

Zimene Mbiri Imanena

Choyamba, kodi mbiri imanenanji? Polemba m’zaka za zana lachisanu C.E., wolemba mbiri Socrates Scholasticus anati m’bukhu lake lakuti Ecclesiastical History: “Ine ndikuwona kuti phwando la Isitala langoloŵetsedwa m’tchalitchi kuchokera ku miyambo yakale, monga momwe miyambo yambiri yakhazikitsidwira.”

Bukhu lakuti Curiosities of Popular Customs limafotokoza kuti linali lamulo la “Tchalitchi kuika ulemu Wachikristu pa mapwando achikunja okhalapo popeza kuti analephera kuwachotsa. Ponena za Isitala kusinthidwa kwake kunali kokhweka kwambiri. Kukondwerera kutuluka kwa dzuŵa, ndi kupita kwa nyengo ya chisanu, kunasinthidwa kukhala kukondwerera kutuluka kwa Dzuŵa lachilungamo, pa kuuka kwa Kristu kuchokera kumanda. Ena a mapwando achikunja omwe anachitika pafupifupi 1 May anasinthidwanso kuti akhale patsiku la Isitala. Mbali zambiri zinawonjezedwako.”

M’bukhu lake lakuti Celebrations, Robert J. Myers anavomereza, akunena kuti “madzoma achikunja ambiri a kubadwanso, ochitidwa pamene dzuŵa lifika pakati m’mphakasa, anakhala mbali ya phwandolo.” Ndemanga zimenezi zimachirikizidwa ndi The New Encyclopædia Britannica, imene imati: “Monga pa Krisimasi, zimakhalanso tero pa Isitala, miyambo yofala imasonyeza miyambo yambiri yakale—pachochitika chimenechi, yogwirizanitsidwa ndi madzoma akubala a m’mphakasa, monga ngati zizindikiro za dzira la Isitala ndi kafumbwe kapena kalulu wa Isitala.”

Kodi Magwero Ake Ngachikunja?

Mwachiwonekere pamenepa, Isitala monga momwe imachitidwira lerolino imadzala ndi madzoma ndi miyambo yachikunja. Komabe, zimenezi sizikutanthauza kuti phwando la Isitala liribe kugwirizana kulikonse ndi zochitika za m’Baibulo.

Mwachitsanzo, Isitala imanenedwa kukhala mmloŵa malo wa Paskha Wachiyuda, chochitika cha m’Baibulo. Bukhu lakuti Curiosities of Popular Customs limatiuza kuti “m’Tchalitchi choyambirira Isitala inali patsiku limodzi ndi Paskha, popeza kuti mapwando aŵiriwo ali ndi magwero ofanana.” Pamenepo, sikodabwitsa kuti m’zinenero zingapo, monga ngati Chifalansa, Chigiriki, Chitaliyana, Chisipanya, ndi zina, liwu lotanthauza Isitala ndi liwu lotanthauza Paskha ngofanana.

Komabe, Akristu oyambirira sanachite phwando lapachaka lokondwerera mpangidwe Wachikristu wa Paskha Wachiyuda. Abingdon Dictionary of Living Religions imati ponena za Isitala: “Phwando loyambirira linali kwenikweni chochitika chapachaka (Nisani 14, malinga ndi kalenda ya miyezi Yachiyuda) cha kupachikidwa kwa Yesu.”

Baibulo limatiuza kuti madzulowo Yesu asanaphedwe, anakumana ndi ophunzira ake m’chipinda chachikulu kuti adye Paskha Wachiyuda. (Marko 14:12-16) Panali pambuyo pa chochitika chimenechi, Paskha wake womalizira, pamene Yesu anayambitsa phwando lotchedwa Mgonero wa Ambuye. Ndiyeno analamula ophunzira ake kuti: ‘Chitani ichi chikumbukiro changa.’—Luka 22:19.

Mgonero wa Ambuye umenewu, umene unayenera kuchitidwa kamodzi pachaka, unali wokumbukira imfa ya Yesu. Mtumwi Paulo anati ponena za chochitika chapachaka chimenechi: ‘Pakuti nthaŵi zonse mukadya mkate uwu ndi kumwera chikho, mulalikira imfa ya Ambuye.’—1 Akorinto 11:25, 26.

Kululuza Chiphunzitso cha Baibulo

Pomvera lamulo Lamalemba limeneli, Akristu owona anachita phwando limeneli chaka chirichonse pa Nisani 14. Komabe, mkupita kwanthaŵi, anthu anayambanso kuchita phwando la chiukiriro cha Yesu. The New Encyclopædia Britannica imafotokoza kuti “Akristu oyambirira enieni anachita phwando la Paskha wa Ambuye panthaŵi imodzi ndi Ayuda, m’nthaŵi yausiku wa (paschal) Mwezi wathunthu woyamba wa mwezi woyamba wa mphakasa (Nisani 14-15). Pofika chapakati pa zaka za zana lachiŵiri, matchalitchi ambiri anasamutsira phwando limeneli pa Sande pambuyo pa phwando la Ayuda.”

Bukhu lakuti Seasonal Feasts and Festivals limanena kuti: “Kunali chakumapeto kwa zaka za zana lachinayi m’Yerusalemu pamene anthu anayamba kuchita phwando la Good Friday ndi Tsiku la Isitala monga zikumbutso zosiyana.”

Akatswiri ena amakhulupirira kuti chifukwa cha udani womakula pakati pa odzitcha kukhala Akristu ndi Ayuda, atsogoleri ena a Chikristu Chadziko sanafune kuti holide yawo yofunika koposa ikhale patsiku limodzimodzi ndi holide yofunika koposa ya Ayuda. Mzimu umenewu unapangitsa kuti pakhale kusintha. Mkupita kwanthaŵi anthu ambiri a Chikristu Chadziko anayamba kuchita phwando la chiukiriro cha Yesu pa Sande yoyamba pambuyo pa mwezi wathunthu woyamba umene umatsatira nthaŵi imene dzuŵa limafika pakati m’mphakasa ndipo anapanga phwando limeneli kukhala lofunika koposa m’chipembedzocho. Kwenikweni iwo ananyalanyaza kuchita phwando la imfa ya Yesu.

Pamenepa, malinga nkunena kwa magwero ameneŵa, Isitala ya Chikristu Chadziko inatenga malo a phwando lapachaka loyambirira la imfa ya Yesu.

Zimene Baibulo Limanena

Kodi Baibulo limanenanji pankhani ya Isitala? Ndithudi, Malemba amapereka umboni wokwanira ponena za chenicheni chakuti Yesu anaukitsidwa. Chiukiriro cha Kristu ndichiphunzitso chachikulu cha Chikristu chowona. Mtumwi Paulo mosakaikira konse anakhulupirira zimenezi. Iye anati: ‘Ngati Kristu sanaukitsidwa kulalikira kwathu kuli chabe, chikhulupiriro chanunso chiri chabe. Ndipo ngati Kristu sanaukitsidwa, chikhulupiriro chanu chiri chopanda pake; muli chikhalire m’machimo anu.’—1 Akorinto 15:14, 17.

Ngakhale ndichoncho, palibe pamene Baibulo limapereka ngakhale lingaliro lokha lakuchita phwando la chiukiriro cha Yesu. Wolemba mbiri Socrates Scholasticus anavomereza kuti: “Mpulumutsi ndi atumwi ake sanatipatse lamulo lirilonse lakuchita phwando limeneli: ndiponso ngakhale Chipangano Chatsopano sichimapereka chiopsezo chirichonse cha chiweruzo, chilango, kapena temberero ngati sitichita zimenezo.” Magazini achatsopano a The Christian Century ananena m’nkhani ya Isitala kuti: ‘Akristu oyambirira anayamba kuchita phwando la chiukiriro m’zaka za zana lachiŵiri.’ Chifukwa chake, Isitala inayambitsidwa pambuyo panthaŵi yaitali atumwi onse atamwalira ndi pambuyo pakumalizidwa kwa Baibulo. Sinkhani yachinsinsi kunena kuti mwambo wa Isitala ngwa anthu osati woperekedwa ndi Mulungu.

Komabe, ena angafunse kuti: ‘Kodi cholakwa nchiyani ndi kukumbukira chiukiriro cha Yesu?’ Kunena zowona, Baibulo silimalamula kuti Akristu ayenera kuchita phwando la Isitala. Koma kodi Baibulo limanena zirizonse zimene zimaliletsa?

Kulambira Koyera ndi Kosadetsedwa

Ndithudi, palibe chiletso chachindunji chirichonse m’Baibulo ponena za kuchita phwando la chiukiriro cha Yesu. Komabe, Baibulo limachenjeza Akristu ponena za kululuza kulambira kowona ndi miyambo ya anthu. Zimenezi zikatanthauza makamaka mwambo, monga Isitala, umene umaphatikiza miyambo yachikunja ndi madzoma amakedzana a zipembedzo zonyenga.

M’mawu oyamba a bukhu lake lamasamba 123 lonena za Isitala, Alan W. Watts ananena kuti: “Nkhani yonse ya Isitala ili msanganizo wocholoŵanacholoŵana wa mbiri ndi nthanthi—kotero kuti kusiyanitsa ziŵirizo nkovuta ndi kosatheka kulongosoledwa m’bukhu laling’ono.” Pokhala ziri choncho ponena za Isitala, kodi Mulungu angalandire kulambira kwathu ngati kunaphatikizapo miyambo yachikunja yoteroyo? Ayi. Mulungu amalandira kokha ‘mapembedzedwe oyera ndi osadetsa.’ Ndipo izi zimatanthauza ‘kudzisungira mwini wosachitidwa maŵanga ndi dziko lapansi,’ zimene zikaphatikizapo miyambo yakudziko yogwirizanitsidwa ndi Isitala.—Yakobo 1:27.

Mtumwi Paulo anachenjeza Akristu ponena za kuyambitsa miyambo ya anthu mumpingo pamene anati: ‘Penyani kuti pasakhale wina wakulanda inu ngati chuma, mwakukonda nzeru kwake, ndi chinyengo chopanda pake, potsata mwambo wa anthu, potsata zoyamba za dziko lapansi, osati potsata Kristu.’—Akolose 2:8.

Yesu iyemwini anatsutsa miyambo Yachiyuda imene inapotoza zenizeni Zamalemba ndi kululuza kulambira kowona. Pa Marko 7:6-8, timapeza mawu a Yesu kwa atsogoleri achipembedzo a m’tsiku lake akuti: ‘Yesaya ananenera bwino za inu onyenga, monga kwalembedwa, Anthu awa andilemekeza ine ndi milomo yawo, koma mtima wawo ukhala kutali ndi ine. Koma andilambira ine kwachabe, ndi kuphunzitsa maphunzitso, malangizo a anthu. Musiya lamulo la Mulungu, nimusunga mwambo wa anthu.’

Pa 2 Akorinto 6:14-17, Baibulo limatichenjeza kuti: ‘Musakhale omangidwa m’goli ndi osakhulupirira osiyana; Pakuti chilungamo chigaŵana bwanji ndi chosalungama? Kapena kuunika kuyanjana bwanji ndi mdima? Ndipo Kristu avomerezana bwanji ndi Beliyali? Kapena wokhulupirira ali nalo gawo lanji pamodzi ndi wosakhulupirira? . . . Chifukwa chake, tulukani pakati pawo, ndipo patukani, ati [Yehova, NW] ndipo musakhudza kanthu kosakonzeka.’

Phwando Lapachaka la Imfa Yake

Kuwonjezerapo, malinga ndi chiphunzitso cha Baibulo, makonzedwe a chipulumutso chathu amaphatikizapo nsembe ya Yesu ya moyo wake wangwiro, chiukiriro chake, ndi kupereka kwake mtengo wa nsembe yake kwa Mulungu kumwamba. Mbali zonsezi nzofunika. (Ahebri 7:25; 9:11-14) Yesu analamula otsatira ake kuchita phwando lapachaka la imfa yake. Ichi ndicho chochitika chokha chimene Malemba amalamula Akristu kumachita phwando lakuchikumbukira.

Chaka chino mamiliyoni a Mboni za Yehova adzasonkhana dzuŵa litaloŵa, pa April 17 (Nisani 14), 1992, kukumbukira imfa ya Yesu. Phwandolo lidzaphatikizapo nkhani yofotokoza tanthauzo la imfa yansembe ya Yesu. Idzakuthandizani kudziŵa ukulu wa chikondi cha Yehova Mulungu kaamba ka mtundu wa anthu chakupereka Mwana wake wobadwa yekha kotero kuti mukhale ndi chiyembekezo cha moyo wosatha. Bwerani mudzasonkhane nafe patsiku lofunika koposa limeneli m’chaka cha 1992!

[Mawu Otsindika patsamba 6]

Madeti a madzoma achikunja anasinthidwa kuti akhale paphwando la Isitala

[Mawu Otsindika patsamba 8]

Palibe pamene Baibulo limapereka ngakhale lingaliro la kusunga chaka kapena phwando la chiukiriro cha Yesu

[Bokosi patsamba 6]

Kodi Liwu Lakuti “Isitala” Linachokera Kuti?

▪ “Dzinalo, limene limagwiritsiridwa ntchito ndi anthu olankhula Chingelezi ndi Chijeremani okha, mothekera kwambiri, linachokera ku dzina la mulungu wamkazi wa Asaxon akunja, Ostara, Osterr, kapena Eastre. Iye anatenga dzina la Kum’maŵa, la mmaŵa, amphakasa.”—Curiosities of Popular Customs, lolembedwa ndi William S. Walsh.

▪ “Wolemekezeka, katswiri wolemba mbiri Wachingelezi wamakedzana wotchedwa Venerable Bede, ananena kuti liwu lakuti ‘Isitala’ choyamba linali dzina la mulungu wamkazi wa mbandakucha wa Angelezi ndi Asaxon, wotchedwa Eostre kapena Ostara, amene phwando lake lalikulu linkachitidwa pamene dzuŵa linafika pakati m’mphakasa. Tiri kokha ndi mawu a Bede amene amalifotokoza, popeza kuti palibe cholembedwa chonena za mulungu wamkazi woteroyo chimene chingapezedwe kulikonse, koma sikotheka kwenikweni kuti Bede, monga Mkristu wachangu, akanapeka magwero achikunja a Isitala. Koma kaya mulungu wamkazi woteroyo analiko konse kapena ayi, zikuwoneka kukhala zotheka kuti payenera kukhala kugwirizana kwa m’mbiri yakale pakati pa mawu akuti ‘Isitala’ ndi ‘East’ (Kum’maŵa), kotulukira dzuŵa.”—Easter—Its Story and Meaning, lolembedwa ndi Alan W. Watts.

▪ “Magwero a liwu lotchulira phwando la Chiukiriro cha Kristu alingaliridwa mofala kukhala Eastre wa Angelezi ndi Asaxon, mulungu wamkazi wa mphakasa. Komabe, kufufuza kwaposachedwapa kochitidwa ndi Knobloch . . . kumapereka malongosoledwe ena.”—New Catholic Encyclopedia.

▪ “Dzina Lachingelezi lakuti Easter, lofanana ndi Lachijeremani lakuti Ostern, nlothekera kutengedwa ku liwu lakuti Eostur, liwu la chinenero cha ku Norway lotanthauza nyengo ya mphakasa, osati ku liwu la Eostre, dzina la mulungu wamkazi wa Angelezi ndi Asaxon.”—The Encyclopedia of Religion.

[Bokosi patsamba 8]

ISITALA PASKHA

Chidenish påske påske

Chidatchi Pasen joods paasfeest

Chifinish pääsiäinen pääsiäinen (juutalaisten)

Chifalansa Pâques La Pâque

Chijeremani Ostern Passah

Chigiriki Paskha Paskha

Chitaliyana Pasqua Pasqua ebraica

Chispanya Pascuaflorida Pascua

Chiswahili Pasaka Pasaka

[Chithunzi patsamba 7]

Madzoma akale achikunja anakhalitsidwa Achikristu ndipo anaphatikizidwa ku phwando la Isitala

[Chithunzi patsamba 9]

Yesu anayambitsa Mgonero wa Ambuye ndi ophunzira ake