Krisimasi​—Kodi Ilidi Yachikristu?

MALINGA ndi kunena kwa The World Book Encyclopedia, “Krisimasi ndi tsiku pamene Akristu amachita phwando la tsiku lakubadwa kwa Yesu Kristu.” Komabe, insaikulopediyayo ikunenanso kuti: “Akristu oyambirira sanachite phwando la kubadwa [kwa Yesu] chifukwa chakuti anaona kuchitira phwando kubadwa kwa munthu aliyense kukhala mwambo wachikunja.”

The Making of the Modern Christmas, yolembedwa ndi Golby ndi Purdue, ikuvomereza kuti: “Akristu oyambirira sanachitire phwando kubadwa kwa Kristu. Masiku akubadwa anaonedwa kukhala ndi machitachita achikunja; Mauthenga Abwino samanena kalikonse ponena za deti lenileni la kubadwa kwa Kristu.”

Ngati mapwando akubadwa sali ndi chiyambi Chachikristu, kodi ndimotani mmene tsiku lakubadwa kwa Kristu linakhalira phwando “Lachikristu” lalikulu motero?

Chiyambi Chachikunja cha “Krisimasi”

“Munthu aliyense anadya ndi kusangalala, ntchito ndi malonda zinaimitsidwa kotheratu panyengoyo, nyumba zinakometseredwa ndi maluŵa ndi zitsamba zobiriŵira, mabwenzi anachezerana ndi kupatsana mphatso, ndipo amalonda anapatsa mphatso ogula malonda awo. Nyengo yonseyo inali ya chisangalalo ndi yofunirana zabwino, ndipo anthu anamwerekera ndi zosangalatsa za mtundu uliwonse.”​—Paganism in Christian Festivals, yolembedwa ndi J. M. Wheeler.

Kodi malongosoledwe ameneŵa amayenerera mapwando a Krisimasi amene mumadziŵa? Modabwitsa, imeneyi siinali Krisimasi! M’malo mwake, amenewo ndiwo malongosoledwe a Saturnalia​—phwando lachikunja Lachiroma la mlungu umodzi logwirizanitsidwa ndi solstice ya m’chisanu (losonyezedwa patsamba lotsatiralo). Tsiku lakubadwa kwa dzuŵa losagonjetseka linachitiridwa phwando pa December 25, tsiku lalikulu lamadyerero la chipembedzo cha Roma cha Mithra.

Malinga ndi kunena kwa The New Encyclopædia Britannica, “December 25, tsiku lakubadwa kwa Mithra, mulungu Wachiirani wa kuunika ndi . . . tsiku loperekedwa ku dzuŵa losagonjetseka, ndiponso tsiku lotsatira Saturnalia, linatengedwa ndi tchalitchi kukhala Krisimasi, tsiku lakubadwa kwa Kristu, kuti achotse ziyambukiro za mapwando achikunja ameneŵa.” Motero kuchitira phwando tsiku lakubadwa kwachikunja kunapitiriza ndi kusintha kwakung’ono kwa dzina, m’malo mwa Mithra kukhala Kristu!

Komabe, mungalingalire kuti kubadwa kwa Mwana wa Mulungu, Yesu, kunali chinthu chapadera, choyenera kukumbukiridwa. Kuona zimene Baibulo limanena pa zimenezi kudzatipatsa chidziŵitso kwambiri.

Chochitika Chosangalatsa

Chaputala chachiŵiri cha Uthenga Wabwino wa Luka chimapereka chidziŵitso choonerapo. Luka akutiuza mmene angelo akumwamba, abusa odzichepetsa, ndi atumiki okhulupirika a Mulungu, ndi Mariya iyemwini anachitira pa chochitika chachikulu chimenechi.

Choyamba talingalirani za abusa “okhala kubusa” omwe anali “kuyang’anira zoŵeta zawo usiku,” chinthu chimene sakanachita m’nyengo yachisanu. Pamene “mngelo wa Ambuye” anaonekera ndipo ulemerero wa Mulungu unaunikira mowazinga, poyamba abusawo anachita mantha. Chilimbikitso chinafika pamene mngeloyo anafotokoza kuti: “Musawope; pakuti onani, ndikuuzani inu uthenga wabwino wachikondwerero chachikulu, chimene chidzakhala kwa anthu onse; pakuti wakubadwirani inu lero, m’mudzi wa Davide, Mpulumutsi, amene ali Kristu Ambuye.” Pamene “ambirimbiri a gulu la kumwamba” la angelo anaonekera mwadzidzidzi, abusawo anadziŵa kuti kubadwa kumeneku kunali kosiyana ndi kwina kulikonse. Mokondweretsa, angelowo sanabweretse mphatso zilizonse kwa khanda lobadwa chatsopanolo. M’malo mwake, angelowo anatamanda Yehova, akumati: “Ulemerero ukhale kwa Mulungu Kumwambamwamba, ndi mtendere pansi pano mwa anthu amene akondwera nawo.”​—Luka 2:8-14.

Mwachibadwa, abusawo anafuna kudzionera okha khanda limeneli, pakuti anali Yehova yemwe analengeza chochitika cha chisangalalo chimenecho. Atapeza khandalo lili chigonere m’chodyera ziŵeto, anauza makolo ake zimene angelo anali atanena. Ndiyeno abusawo anachoka, “nalemekeza ndi kutamanda Mulungu,” osati khandalo.​—Luka 2:15-18, 20.

Mariya, amayi wa Yesu, mosakayikira anakondwera pakubadwa bwinobwino kwa mwana wake wachisamba. Koma nayenso ‘analingalira mumtima mwake.’ Ndiyeno, mwamuna wake Yosefe atatsagana naye, anatenga ulendo kumka ku Yerusalemu momvera Chilamulo cha Mose. Limeneli silinali phwando la tsiku lakubadwa. M’malo mwake, inali nthaŵi yosonyeza khandalo kwa Mulungu, “monga mwalembedwa m’chilamulo cha Ambuye, kuti mwamuna aliyense wotsegula pamimba ya amake adzanenedwa wopatulika wa kwa Ambuye.”​—Luka 2:19, 22-24.

Pa kachisi mu Yerusalemu, Mariya ndi Yosefe anakumana ndi Simeoni, yemwe Luka anamnena kukhala “wolungama mtima ndi wopemphera, anali kulindira matonthozedwe a Israyeli.” Mwa kugwidwa ndi mzimu, iye anali atauzidwa kuti sakamwalira asanaone “Kristu wake wa Ambuye.” Chochitika chotsatirapo chinalinso mwa “mzimu” wa Mulungu. Simeoni anatenga khandalo m’manja mwake, osati kuti alipatse mphatso, koma m’malo mwake, kuti adalitse Mulungu kuti: “Tsopano, Ambuye, monga mwa mawu anu aja, lolani ine, kapolo wanu, ndichoke mumtendere; chifukwa maso anga adaona chipulumutso chanu, chimene munakonza pamaso pa anthu onse.”​—Luka 2:25-32.

Ndiyeno, mneneri wamkazi wokalamba Anna anafika pafupi. Nayenso anayamba “kutama Mulungu, nalankhula za iye kwa anthu onse akuyembekeza chiwombolo cha Yerusalemu.”​—Luka 2:36-38.

Mariya, Simeoni, Anna, abusa, limodzinso ndi angelo akumwamba, onsewo anasangalala ndi kubadwa kwa Yesu. Komabe, onani chonde kuti iwo sanachite phwando la kusekerera tsiku lakubadwa, ndipo sanadziloŵetse m’kupatsa mphatso. M’malo mwake, iwo analemekeza Yehova, Mpatsi wakumwamba wa njira ya chipulumutso.

Chikhalirechobe, ena angalingalire kuti, ‘Ndithudi kupatsa mphatso za Krisimasi sikungakhale kolakwa, pakuti nanga “amuna anzeru atatu” sanalemekeze Yesu ndi mphatso?’

Mphatso za Krisimasi

Tiyeni tipendenso nkhani ya m’Baibulo. Mudzaipeza italembedwa mu Uthenga Wabwino wa Mateyu, chaputala 2. Palibe phwando lililonse la tsiku lakubadwa limene likutchulidwa, ndiponso palibe nthaŵi yeniyeni imene ikuperekedwa ngakhale kuti mwachionekere zinali pambuyo pa kubadwa kwa Yesu. Mu vesi 1, Mateyu akutcha alendowo kuti “anzeru [Chigiriki, maʹgoi] a kummaŵa,” motero anali akunja osadziŵa Yehova Mulungu. Nyenyezi imene amunawa analondola sinawatsogolere molunjika kumene Yesu anabadwira m’Betelehemu, koma ku Yerusalemu, kumene Mfumu Herode analamulira.

Pamene mfumu yoipa imeneyi inawamva iwo akufunsa za “amene anabadwa Mfumu ya Ayuda,” inaitana ansembe kuti akapeze “adzabadwira kuti Kristuyo” kotero kuti aphe mwanayo. Ansembewo anayankha mwa kugwira mawu ulosi wa Mika umene unasonyeza malo obadwira Mesiya m’Betelehemu. (Mika 5:2) Herode mwachinyengo analangiza alendo ake kuti: “Yendani mufunitsitse za kamwanako; ndipo pamene mudzampeza, mundibwezere mawu, kuti inenso ndidzadze kudzamlambira iye.” Anzeruwo anamuka ndipo nyenyeziyo “inawatsogolera iwo, kufikira inadza niima pamwamba pomwe panali kamwanako.” Onani kuti iye akunenedwa kukhala “kamwana,” osati khanda lobadwa chatsopano.​—Mateyu 2:1-10.

Mwa chizoloŵezi cha anthu otchuka a Kummaŵa pochezera wolamulira, anzeru achikunjawo anagwada pansi “nampatsa [kamwanako] mitulo, ndiyo golidi ndi libano ndi mure.” Mateyu akuwonjezera kuti: “Ndipo iwo, pochenjezedwa m’kulota kuti asabwerere kwa Herode, anachoka kupita ku dziko lawo pa njira ina.”​—Mateyu 2:11, 12.

Mwa nkhani yachidule ya m’Malemba imeneyi, anthu ena angafune kupezapo chochirikizira kupatsa kwawo mphatso za Krisimasi. Komabe, Discovering Christmas Customs and Folklore ikulongosola kuti mwambo wamakono wa kupatsa mphatso uli ndi chiyambi chake m’mphatso za Saturnalia zimene Aroma anapatsa anansi awo osauka. “Tchalitchi choyambirira . . . mochenjera chinasamutsira kufunika kwa [mwambowo] pa dzoma lokumbukira mphatso za Amagi.” Zimenezi nzosiyana chotani nanga ndi olambira oona​—onga abusa odzichepetsa​—omwe anangotamanda Mulungu pa kubadwa kwa Yesu!

Lemekezani Kristu Monga Mfumu!

Lerolino Yesu salinso khanda. Iye ali Mwini Mphamvu, Mfumu ya Ufumu wakumwamba wa Mulungu, motero ayenera kulemekezedwa monga wotero.​—1 Timoteo 6:15, 16.

Ngati tsopano ndinu wamkulu, kodi munachitapo manyazi pamene anthu anasonyeza zithunzithunzi zanu zoonetsa pamene munali khanda? Zoona, zithunzithunzi zoterozo zimakumbutsa makolo anu za chisangalalo chawo pa kubadwa kwanu. Koma popeza kuti ndinu munthu wamkulu, kodi kaŵirikaŵiri simumakonda kukuonani monga momwe mulili tsopano? Mofananamo, tangolingalirani mmene kuliri kupanda ulemu kulinga kwa Kristu Yesu pamene awo odzinenera kukhala omtsatira amwerekera kwambiri chaka ndi chaka m’miyambo yachikunja ya Krisimasi ndi m’kulemekeza khanda moti nkulephera kumlemekeza iye monga Mfumu. Eya, ngakhale m’zaka za zana loyamba, mtumwi Wachikristu Paulo anaganizira za kuyenera kwa kuona Kristu monga momwe aliri tsopano​—Mfumu kumwamba. Paulo analemba kuti: “Ngati tazindikira Kristu monga mwa thupi, . . . tsopano sitimzindikiranso motero”!​—2 Akorinto 5:16.

Kristu, monga Mfumu ya Ufumu wa Mulungu, posachedwapa adzakwaniritsa lonjezo laulosi la kuchotsa zoŵaŵitsa, kuvutika, matenda, ndi imfa. Ali Iye amene adzatheketsa kukhalapo kwa nyumba zokwanira ndi ntchito yopindulitsa kwa onse okhala mu Paradaiso pompano padziko lapansi. (Yesaya 65:21-23; Luka 23:43; 2 Akorinto 1:20; Chivumbulutso 21:3, 4) Ndithudi, izi ndi zifukwa zokwanira zopeŵera kunyoza Yesu!

Polondola chitsanzo cha Kristu mwiniyo, Akristu oona amayesayesa kupatsa anansi awo imodzi ya mphatso zazikulu koposa iliyonse imene munthu aliyense angapereke​—chidziŵitso cha chifuno cha Mulungu, chimene chingatsogolere ku moyo wamuyaya. (Yohane 17:3) Mphatso ya mtundu umenewu imawapatsa chisangalalo chachikulu, monga momwe Yesu ananenera kuti: “Kupatsa kutidalitsa koposa kulandira.”​—Machitidwe 20:35; Luka 11:27, 28.

Akristu amene ali ndi chikondwerero chenicheni mwa wina ndi mnzake samapeza vuto posonyeza chikondi chawo panthaŵi iliyonse ya chaka. (Afilipi 2:3, 4) Monga chitsanzo chapafupi, kukakhala kokondweretsa chotani nanga kulandira chithunzithunzi kwa wachichepere Wachikristu, chimene wachijambula monga chiyamikiro chake pambuyo pomvetsera nkhani ya Baibulo! Ndiponso kupereka chilimbikitso ndiko mphatso yosayembekezera yochokera kwa wachibale monga chizindikiro cha chikondi chake. Mofananamo, makolo Achikristu amapeza chisangalalo chachikulu pamene asankha nthaŵi zabwino mkati mwa chaka chonse zopatsira mphatso ana awo. Kuoloŵa manja Kwachikristu koteroko kumakhala kopanda lingaliro lolakwika la thayo la kupatsa pa masiku aphwando ndiponso kopanda mwambo wachikunja.

Chifukwa chake, lerolino pali Akristu oposa mamiliyoni anayi ndi theka ochokera m’mitundu yonse amene samachitira phwando Krisimasi. Ameneŵa ndiwo Mboni za Yehova, amene amakhala otanganitsidwa nthaŵi zonse ndi kupatsa anansi awo umboni wonena za mbiri yabwino ya Ufumu wa Mulungu. (Mateyu 24:14) Mungaonane nawo bwino lomwe pamene afika panyumba panu, mwinamwake posachedwapa. Lolani kuti kutchera khutu kwanu pa zimene akubweretserani kutsogolere banja lanu ku chisangalalo chachikulu, pamene mudzaphunzira kutamanda Yehova Mulungu masiku onse a chaka.​—Salmo 145:1, 2.

[Chithunzi patsamba 7]

Akristu amapatsa anansi awo imodzi ya mphatso zazikulu koposa​—chidziŵitso cha chifuno cha Mulungu chotsogolera ku moyo wamuyaya

[Mawu a Chithunzi patsamba 4]

Culver Pictures