Isahluko 117

Intlungu Engcungcuthekisayo Emyezweni

XA UYESU egqiba ukuthandaza, yena nabapostile bakhe abathembekileyo abali-11 bavuma iingoma zokudumisa uYehova. Emva koku bayehla kwigumbi eliphezulu, baphumele phandle kubumnyama bobusuku obupholileyo, baze banduluke ukubuyela ngaphesheya kweNtlambo iKidron kwindlela eya eBhetani. Kodwa besendleleni, bamisa kwindawo abayithandayo, umyezo waseGetsemane. Lo myezo ukwiNtaba yemiNquma okanye kwindawo ekufuphi nayo. Ngokufuthi uYesu ebehlanganisana apha nabapostile bakhe phakathi kwemithi yeminquma.

Eshiya abasibhozo kubapostile—mhlawumbi kufuphi nesango lomyezo—uyabayalela: “Hlalani phantsi apha, ndikhe ndiye kuthandaza phaya.” Wandula ke athabathe abanye abathathu—uPetros, uYakobi noYohane—aze ahambe umganyana emyezweni. UYesu uba buhlungu aze akhathazeke kakhulu. Ubaxelela oku: “Umphefumlo wam ubuhlungu kakhulu, ngokokude ube sekufeni; hlalani apha nilinde nam.”

Ehambe umganyana, uYesu uwa emhlabeni aze athi ubuso bakhe busemhlabeni aqalise ukuthandaza ngokunyanisekileyo athi: “Bawo, ukuba kunokwenzeka, mayidlule kum le ndebe; noko makungabi njengokuthanda kwam, makube njengokuthanda kwakho.” Uthetha ukuthini? Kutheni ‘ebuhlungu kakhulu, ngokokude abe sekufeni’? Ngaba uyarhoxa kwisigqibo sakhe sokufa aze alungiselele intlawulelo?

Akunjalo! UYesu akaceli ukuba asindiswe ekufeni. Kwanengcamango yokuphepha ukufa okulidini, eyakhe yacetyiswa nguPetros, inezothe kuye. Kunoko, ubuhlungu kuba esoyikela ukuba indlela aza kuthi kungekudala afe ngayo—njengesaphuli-mthetho esithiyekileyo—iza kuzisa ugculelo kwigama likaYise. Ngoku uyaqonda ukuba kwiiyure ezimbalwa uza kuxhonywa emthini njengoyena mntu ungendawo—umntu onyelisa uThixo! Oku koko kumkhathaza kakhulu.

Emva kokuthandaza ixesha elide, uYesu uyabuya aze afumane abapostile abathathu belele. Ethetha noPetros, uthi: “Ninje na ukungabi nako ukulinda nam nexa elinye? Lindani nithandaze, ukuze ningangeni ekuhendweni.” Noko ke, eqonda uxinezeleko abakulo nokuba ubusuku sebuhambile, uthi: “Umoya wona okunene unentumekelelo, ke yona inyama ithambile.”

Ngoko uYesu uyahamba okwesibini yaye ucela ukuba uThixo ayidlulise “le ndebe” kuye, oko kukuthi, isabelo uYehova amnike sona, okanye ukuthanda kwakhe, ngaye. Xa ebuya, kwakhona ufumana abapostile abathathu belele ngoxa bebefanele ukuba bayathandaza ukuze bangangeni ekuhendweni. Xa uYesu ethetha nabo, abazi ukuba mabathini ukuphendula.

Ekugqibeleni, okwesithathu, uYesu uhamba umganyana, yaye eguqile, edanduluka eneenyembezi, uthandaza athi: “Bawo, ukuba uyavuma, mayidlule le ndebe kum.” UYesu ubuhlungu ngokugqithiseleyo ngenxa yogculelo ukufa kwakhe njengesaphuli-mthetho okuza kuluzisa kwigama likaYise. Kaloku, ukutyholwa njengomnyelisi—lowo uqalekisa uThixo—kuphantse kube nzima kakhulu ukukuthwala!

Sekunjalo, uYesu uqhubeka ethandaza esithi: “Makungabi kokuthandwa ndim, makube kokuthandwa nguwe.” UYesu ngokuthobeka uvisisanisa ukuthanda kwakhe nokukaThixo. Ngeli xesha, isithunywa sezulu siyeza size simomeleze ngamazwi athile akhuthazayo. Kunokwenzeka ukuba, isithunywa sezulu sixelela uYesu ukuba uYise ukholisiwe nguye.

Kanti, onjani wona ukuba mkhulu umthwalo osemagxeni kaYesu! Ubomi bakhe obungunaphakade nobo besizwe esingabantu siphela busemngciphekweni. Ucinezeleke kakhulu ngokweemvakalelo. Ngoku uYesu uqhubeka ethandaza ngokunyaniseka okungakumbi, yaye ukubila kwakhe kuba njengamathontsi egazi njengoko kusiwela emhlabeni. IThe Journal of the American Medical Association ithi, “Nangona oku kuyinto engafane yenzeke, ukubila okuligazi . . . kusenokwenzeka kwiimeko ezicinezela gqitha ngokweemvakalelo.”

Emva koko, uYesu ubuyela okwesithathu kubapostile bakhe, yaye kwakhona ubafumana belele. Badinwe kakhulu ngenxa yokunxunguphala ngokugqithiseleyo. Udanduluka esithi: “Ngexesha elinje nilele yaye niphumle! Kwanele! Lifikile ilixa! Yabonani! UNyana woMntu uyanikelwa ezandleni zaboni. Vukani, sihambe. Yabonani! Lowo undinikelayo usondele.” (NW)

Ngoxa esathetha, uYuda Sikariyoti uyeza, ephelekwa sisihlwele esikhulu esiphethe izikhanyiso nezibane nezixhobo. Mateyu 26:30, 36-47; 16:21-23; Marko 14:26, 32-43; Luka 22:39-47; Yohane 18:1-3; Hebhere 5:7.

▪ Emva kokuphuma kwigumbi eliphezulu, uYesu ubakhokelela phi abapostile, yaye yintoni ayenzayo apho?

▪ Ngoxa uYesu athandazayo, benza ntoni abapostile?

▪ Kutheni uYesu ebuhlungu nje, yaye yintoni ayicelayo kuThixo?

▪ Yintoni eboniswa kukubila kukaYesu okuba njengamathontsi egazi?

Isahluko 118

Ukungcatshwa Nokubanjwa

KUSEMVA kwasezinzulwini zobusuku njengoko uYuda ekhokela ihlokondiba elikhulu lamasoldati, ababingeleli abakhulu, abaFarisi nabanye ukungena kumyezo waseGetsemane. Ababingeleli bavumile ukuhlawula uYuda amaqhosha esilivere angama-30 ukuze angcatshe uYesu.

Ngaphambilana, xa uYuda wagxothwayo kwisidlo sePasika, kuyacaca ukuba waya ngqo kubabingeleli abakhulu. Ngokukhawuleza aba bahlanganisa awabo amadindala, kwakunye nebutho lamasoldati. Mhlawumbi uYuda waqala ngokubakhokelela apho uYesu nabapostile bakhe babeyenzele khona iPasika. Efumanisa ukuba bemkile, eli hlokondiba likhulu lixhobileyo neliphethe izibane nezikhanyiso lilandela uYuda ukuphuma eYerusalem nokuwela iNtlambo yeKidron.

Njengoko uYuda ekhokela lo mngcelele ukunyuka iNtaba yeMinquma, uqinisekile ukuba uyayazi indawo aza kumfumana kuyo uYesu. Ebudeni beveki edluleyo, njengoko uYesu nabapostile bebesoloko benyuka besihla phakathi kweBhetani neYerusalem, ngokufuthi bebemisa kumyezo waseGetsemane ukuze baphumle nokuze bancokole. Kodwa, ngoku, ekubeni kusenokuba uYesu akabonakali ngenxa yobumnyama obungaphantsi kwemithi yeminquma, amasoldati aza kumqonda njani? Kusenokuba awazange ambone ngaphambili. Ngoko ke, uYuda unikela umqondiso esithi: “Lowo ndithe ndamanga, nguye; mbambeni, nimrhole nimnqabisile.”

UYuda ukhokelela eli hlokondiba kulo myezo, ubona uYesu nabapostile bakhe, aze aye ngqo kuye. “Aa, Rabhi!” akutsho uyamanga ngobubele.

Ephendula uYesu uthi, “Wethu! ukho ngani na?” Aze eziphendula athi: “Yuda, umngcatsha uNyana woMntu ngokumanga na?” Wanele ngulo mgcatshi! UYesu usondela ekukhanyeni kwezikhanyiso nezibane aze abuze: “Nifuna bani na?”

Impendulo ithi, “UYesu umNazarete.”

“Ndinguye,” uYesu uyaphendula, njengoko esima ngenkalipho phambi kwabo bonke. Emangalisiwe kukungafihlisi kwakhe yaye engazi ukuba mawalindele ntoni na, la madoda ayahlehla aze awe emhlabeni.

Ezolile uYesu uhlabela mgama athi, “Ndinixelele ukuba ndinguye; ukuba ngoko nifuna mna, bayekeni aba bemke.” Kungekudala ngaphambi koku kwigumbi eliphezulu, uYesu emthandazweni wayexelele uYise ukuba wayebagcinile abapostile bakhe abathembekileyo nokuba akukho namnye wabo oye walahleka “ingenguye lowo wentshabalalo.” Ngoko, ukuze ilizwi lakhe lizaliseke, ucela ukuba abalandeli bakhe bayekwe bahambe.

Njengoko amasoldati ezuza amandla kwakhona, aphakame, aze aqalise ukumbopha uYesu, abapostile bayakuqonda okuza kwenzeka. Bayabuza “Nkosi, sixabele na ngekrele?” Ngaphambi kokuba uYesu aphendule, uPetros esebenzisa elinye lamakrele amabini abapostile ababeze nawo, uhlasela uMalko, umkhonzi wombingeleli omkhulu. Xa uPetros egalela uyayiphosa intloko yalo mkhonzi kodwa uxabela indlebe yakhe yasekunene.

Njengoko uYesu engenelela uthi, “Yekani, kwanele.” Echukumisa indlebe kaMalko, uyaliphilisa elo nxeba. Wandula ke afundise isifundo esibalulekileyo, eyalela uPetros esithi, “Libuyisele endaweni yalo ikrele lakho; kuba bonke abathabatha ikrele baya kutshabalala likrele. Uba andinako na ngoku ukumbongoza uBawo, andikhuphele imikhosi yezithunywa zezulu engaphezu kweshumi elinamibini?”

UYesu ukulungele ukubanjwa, kuba uyacacisa: “Bezingathini na ke oko ukuzaliseka izibhalo ezithi, kumele ukuba kube nje?” Aze ongezelele athi: “Indebe andinikileyo uBawo andisayi kuyisela na?” Uvumelana ngokupheleleyo nokuthanda kukaThixo ngaye!

Ngoko uYesu uthetha nehlokondiba. Uyabuza esithi: “Niphumele ukuza kubamba mna na, ninamakrele neentonga nje, ngathi niphumele isihange? Bendihleli nani imihla ngemihla, ndifundisa etempileni, anandibamba. Oku ke konke kwenzeke, ukuze zizaliseke izibhalo zabaprofeti.”

Akutsho ibutho lamasoldati nomthetheli-mkhosi namadindala amaYuda ayambamba uYesu ambophe. Bakubona oku, abapostile bayamshiya uYesu baze babaleke. Noko ke, umfana oselula—ekusenokwenzeka ukuba ngumfundi uMarko—uyasala phakathi kwehlokondiba. Usenokuba wayekwikhaya apho uYesu wenza khona iPasika waza kamva walandela ihlokondiba ukusuka apho. Noko ke, ngoku ubhaqiwe, yaye bazama ukumbamba. Kodwa ushiya ngasemva ingubo yakhe yelinen aze abaleke enxibe ingubo yangaphantsi kuphela. Mateyu 26:47-56; Marko 14:43-52; Luka 22:47-53; Yohane 17:12; 18:3-12.

▪ Kutheni uYuda eqinisekile ukuba uza kumfumana uYesu kumyezo waseGetsemane?

▪ UYesu uyibonakalisa njani inkxalabo ngabapostile bakhe?

▪ Yintoni eyenziwa nguPetros ukukhusela uYesu, kodwa uYesu uthini kuPetros ngoko?

▪ UYesu ubonisa njani ukuba uvumelana ngokupheleleyo nokuthanda kukaThixo ngaye?

▪ Xa abapostile bemshiya uYesu, ngubani osalayo, yaye kwenzeka ntoni kuye?

Isahluko 119

Urholelwa KuAnas, Aze Asiwe KuKayafa

UYESU, ebotshiwe njengasaphuli-mthetho, usiwa kuAnas, owayesakuba ngumbingeleli omkhulu onempembelelo. UAnas wayengumbingeleli omkhulu xa uYesu owayeyinkwenkwana owathi engoneminyaka eli-12 ubudala wamangalisa abafundisi bamaYuda etempileni. Oonyana abaliqela baka-Anas kamva bakhonza njengababingeleli abakhulu, yaye ngoku umkhwenyana wakhe uKayafa ukweso sikhundla.

Mhlawumbi uYesu uqala asiwe kwikhaya lika-Anas ngenxa yokuba loo mbingeleli mkhulu wayedume kakhulu kubomi bonqulo lwamaYuda. Oku kuphambukela kuAnas kuvulela uMbingeleli Omkhulu uKayafa ithuba lokuba abize iNtlanganiso Yamatyala, inkundla ephakamileyo yamaYuda enamalungu angama-71, nokuba ahlanganisele ndawonye amangqina obuxoki.

Ngoku umbingeleli omkhulu uAnas ubuza uYesu ngabafundi bakhe nangemfundiso yakhe. Noko ke, uYesu umphendula athi: “Mna ndathetha ngokungafihlisiyo kulo ihlabathi; mna bendihleli ndifundisa endlwini yesikhungu nasetempileni, apho amaYuda ebesakubuthelana khona, evela kumacala onke; emfihlekweni andithethanga nto. Yini na ukuba ubuze kum? Buza kwabo bayivileyo into endayithetha kubo; uyabona, aba bayakwazi oko ndakuthethayo.”

Akutsho, elinye lamadindala elimi kufuphi noYesu limqhwaba ngempama, lisithi: “Wenjenje na ukumphendula umbingeleli omkhulu?”

UYesu uphendula athi: “Ukuba ndithethe kakubi, ngqinela ububi obo; kodwa ukuba ndithethe kakuhle, undibethelani na?” Emva kwale mpikiswano, uAnas uthumela uYesu ebotshiwe kuKayafa.

Ngoku bonke ababingeleli abakhulu namadoda amakhulu nababhali, ewe, iNtlanganiso Yamatyala iphela, baqalisa ukubuthelana ndawonye. Ngokucacileyo bahlanganisene kwikhaya likaKayafa. Ukuchophela ityala elinjalo ngobusuku bePasika ngokucacileyo kuchasene nomthetho wamaYuda. Kodwa oku akuzithinteli iinkokeli zonqulo kwinjongo yazo engendawo.

Kwiiveki ezithile ngaphambili xa uYesu ebevuse uLazaro, iNtlanganiso Yamatyala yayisele igqibile phakathi kwayo ukuba umele afe. Yaye iintsuku nje ezimbini ngaphambili, ngoLwesithathu, iinkokeli zonqulo zabhungisana ukuba zimbambe uYesu ngeyelenqe lobuqhophololo ukuze zimbulale. Khawufan’ ucinge, enyanisweni wayesele egwetyelwe ukufa kwangaphambi kokuchotshelwa kwetyala lakhe!

Ngoku kwenziwa imigudu yokufumana amangqina aza kunikela ubungqina bobuxoki ukuze uYesu abe nokubekw’ ityala. Noko ke, akakho amangqina anokufunyanwa avumelanayo ngobungqina bawo. Ekugqibeleni, amabini eza ngaphambili aze angqine athi: “Thina samva yena esithi, Mna ndiya kuyichitha le tempile yenziwe ngezandla, ndize ngeentsuku ezintathu ndakhe enye engenziwe ngazandla.”

UKayafa ubuza athi: “Akuphenduli nento le na? Bangqina ntoni na aba ngawe?” Kodwa uYesu uhlala athi tu. Nakwesi sityholo sobuxoki, amangqina akakwazi ukubenza buvisisane ubungqina bawo, nto leyo eyihlazisayo iNtlanganiso Yamatyala. Ngoko umbingeleli omkhulu uzama iqhinga elahlukileyo.

UKayafa uyayazi indlela amaYuda akhawuleza acatshukiswe ngayo ngumntu ozibanga enguNyana kaThixo. Kwizihlandlo ezibini ngaphambilana, aye ngaphandle kokuqwalasela izibakala amgqala uYesu njengomnyelisi ofanelwe kukufa, akuba nje ngempazamo ecingela ukuba wayezibanga elingana noThixo. Ngobuqhophololo uKayafa ngoku uyambuza esithi: “Ndikufungisa uThixo ophilileyo, ukuba usixelele ukuba unguye na uKristu, unyana kaThixo!”

Kungakhathaliseki oko amaYuda akucingayo, uYesu unguye ngokwenene uNyana kaThixo. Yaye ukuthula kwakhe bekuya kuqondwa njengokukhanyela kwakhe ukuba unguKristu. Ngoko uYesu uphendula ngenkalipho athi: “Ndinguye; niya kumbona nokumbona uNyana woMntu, ehleli ngasekunene kwamandla, esiza namafu ezulu.”

Akuba eve oku, egqwashula, uKayafa ukrazula iingubo zakhe aze adanduluke esithi: “Unyelisile; sisawafunelani na amangqina? Yabonani, ngoku nikuvile ukunyelisa kwakhe; nithini na nina?”

INtlanganiso Yamatyala ivakalisa oku: “Unetyala lokuba afe.” Ngoko baqalisa ukumenza intlekisa, yaye bathetha izinto ezininzi bemnyelisa. Bamqhwaba ngeempama baze bamtshicele ebusweni. Abanye bagquma ubuso bakhe baze bambethe ngamanqindi baze bephoxisa bathi: “Siprofetele, wena Kristu; ubethwe ngubani na?” Esi senzo sokuxhaphaza nesichasene nomthetho senzeka ebudeni bokuchotshelwa kwetyala ebusuku. Mateyu 26:57-68; 26:3, 4; Marko 14:53-65; Luka 22:54, 63-65; Yohane 18:13-24; 11:45-53; 10:31-39; 5:16-18.

▪ UYesu usiwa phi kuqala, yaye kwenzeka ntoni kuye apho?

▪ UYesu usiwa phi ngokulandelayo, yaye ngayiphi injongo?

▪ UKayafa uyibangela njani ukuba iNtlanganiso Yamatyala ivakalise ukuba uYesu ufanelwe kukufa?

▪ Sisiphi isenzo sokuxhaphaza nesichasene nomthetho esenzeka ebudeni bokuchotshelwa kwetyala?

Isahluko 120

Ukukhanyela Entendelezweni

EMVA kokuba bemshiyile uYesu emyezweni waseGetsemane baza babaleka nabo bonke abapostile ngenxa yokoyika, uPetros noYohane bayema. Mhlawumbi bayamfumana uYesu xa esisiwa kwikhaya lika-Anas. Xa uAnas emthumela kuMbingeleli Omkhulu uKayafa, uPetros noYohane bayalandela bemgama, ngokucacileyo bengazi ukuba mabathini na ngenxa yokoyikela ubomi babo nangenxa yenkxalabo enzulu abanayo ngoko kuza kwenzeka kwiNkosi yabo.

Ekufikeni kwabo kwikhaya likaKayafa elinendawo ephangaleleyo, uYohane uyakwazi ukungena entendelezweni, ekubeni esaziwa ngumbingeleli omkhulu. Noko ke, uPetros ushiywa emi ngaphandle emnyango. Kodwa kungekudala uYohane uyabuya aze athethe nomgcini-sango, isicakakazi, yaye uPetros uyavunyelwa ukuba angene.

Ngoku kuyabanda, yaye abakhonzi namadindala ombingeleli omkhulu babase umlilo wamalahle. UPetros usondela kubo khon’ ukuze afudumale ngoxa elinde umphumo wokuvavanywa kwetyala likaYesu. Apho, ekukhanyiseni komlilo odangazelayo, umgcini-sango obengenise uPetros umbona kakuhle. Udanduluka esithi: “Nawe ubunaye uYesu lo waseGalili.”

Ephazamisekile kukuba ebhaqiwe, uPetros ukhanyela phambi kwabo bonke ukuba uyamazi uYesu. Uthi: “Andiyazi, andiyiqondi kanye into oyithethayo wena.”

Akuba etshilo, uPetros uyaphuma aye ngasesangweni. Elapho, esinye isicakakazi siyambona size naso sithi kwabo bemi kufuphi: “Naye lo ebenaye uYesu waseNazarete.” Kwakhona, uPetros uyakukhanyela oko, efunga esithi: “Andimazi loo mntu.”

UPetros uhlala entendelezweni, ezama ukuba angabonakali kangangoko kunokwenzeka. Mhlawumbi ngeli xesha wothuswa kukulila kwenkuku kubumnyama besifingo. Ngeli xesha, ityala likaYesu lisavavanywa, ngokucacileyo livavanyelwa kwicandelo lendlu elingaphezu kwentendelezo. Alithandabuzeki elokuba uPetros nabanye abalinde ngaphantsi bayakubona ukungena nokuphuma kwamangqina awahlukahlukeneyo angeniswa ukuze anikele ubungqina.

Sele kudlule ixesha elinokuba ngangeyure enye ukususela ekubeni uPetros eye wafaniswa njengesinxulumani sikaYesu. Ngoku iqela labo beme kufuphi liza kuye lize lithi: “Inyaniso, nawe ungowabo; kuba nokuthetha kwakho kuyakudiza.” Omnye weli qela sisalamane sikaMalko, obenqanyulwe indlebe nguPetros. Uthi, “Andikubonanga mna yini na emyezweni unaye?”

Egxininisa ngamandla uPetros uthi: “Andimazi loo mntu.” Enyanisweni, ngokushwabula nangokufunga kulo mbandela, uzama ukubeyisela ekubeni babone ukuba bonke bayaphazama ngenene, eziqalekisa ukuba akathethi nyaniso.

Kanye njengokuba uPetros ekhanyela okwesithathu, inkuku iyalila. Yaye ngelo xesha, uYesu, ekubonakala ukuba uye waphumela kwivaranda ephezu kwentendelezo, uyajika aze amjonge. Kwangoko, uPetros ukhumbula oko uYesu ebekuthethile kwiiyure nje ezimbalwa ngaphambilana kwigumbi eliphezulu: “Ingekalili kabini inkuku, uya kundikhanyela kathathu.” Ebuhlungu gqitha ngenxa yobunzulu besono sakhe, uPetros uphuma phandle aze alile ngokukrakra.

Kunokwenzeka njani oku? Emva kokuqiniseka kangaka ngokomelela kwakhe ngokomoya, uPetros unokuyikhanyela njani iNkosi yakhe izihlandlo ezithathu ezilandelelana ngokukhawuleza kangaka? Ngokungathandabuzekiyo uPetros uqutyulwe ziimeko. Inyaniso iyagqwethwa, yaye uYesu ugqalwa njengesaphuli-mthetho esingendawo. Oko kulungileyo kwenziwa kubonakale kungalunganga, omsulwa enetyala. Ngoko ngenxa yeengcinezelo zesi sihlandlo, uPetros udidekile. Ngequbuliso ukunyaniseka kwakhe kubekwa eluvavanyweni. Ngelishwa ngenxa yokoyika abantu uphelelwa ngamandla okuxhathisa. Ngamana oko kungangaze kwenzeke kuthi! Mateyu 26:57, 58, 69-75; Marko 14:30, 53, 54, 66-72; Luka 22:54-62; Yohane 18:15-18, 25-27.

▪ UPetros noYohane bangena njani entendelezweni yombingeleli omkhulu?

▪ Ngoxa uPetros noYohane besentendelezweni, yintoni eqhubekayo endlwini?

▪ Inkuku ilila izihlandlo ezingaphi, yaye uPetros ukhanyela izihlandlo ezingaphi ukuba uyamazi uYesu?

▪ Kuthetha ukuthini ukushwabula nokufunga kukaPetros?

▪ Yintoni ebangela ukuba uPetros akhanyele ukuba uyamazi uYesu?