Isahluko 121

Phambi KweNtlanganiso Yamatyala, Kwandule Kuyiwe KuPilato

UBUSUKU buya esiphelweni. UPetros uye wamkhanyela uYesu isihlandlo sesithathu, yaye amalungu eNtlanganiso Yamatyala akugqibile ukuvavanywa kwetyala okugculelayo aza achithakala. Noko ke, ayahlanganisana kwakhona ngentsasa yangoLwesihlanu kungekudala emva nje kokuthi qheke kokusa, ngesi sihlandlo kwiHolo yeNtlanganiso Yamatyala. Injongo yawo isenokuba kukwenza ukuvavanywa kwetyala ebusuku kubonakale ngathi kusemthethweni. Xa uYesu eziswa phambi kwawo, athi, njengoko ebetshilo ebusuku: “Ukuba unguye uKristu wena, sixelele.”

UYesu uphendula athi: “Ukuba ndithe ndanixelela, anisayi kukholwa; nokuba ke ndithe ndanibuza, anisayi kundiphendula.” Noko ke, uYesu uzichaza ngenkalipho ukuba ungubani na, esithi: “Ethabatha kweli xa, uNyana woMntu uya kuba ehleli ekunene kwamandla kaThixo.”

“Unguye na ke wena uNyana kaThixo?” bonke bafuna ukwazi.

UYesu uphendula athi: “Nani nithi ndinguye.”

Kwaba bantu bazimisele ukubulala, le mpendulo yanele. Bayigqala ikukunyelisa. Babuza besithi: “Sisabufunelani na ubungqina, kuba thina ngokwethu sivile ngomlomo wakhe.” Ngoko bayambopha uYesu, bahambe naye, baze bamnikele kwirhuluneli yamaRoma uPontiyo Pilato.

UYuda, umngcatshi kaYesu, ebekubukele okuqhubekayo. Xa ebona ukuba uYesu ugwetyiwe, uyazohlwaya. Ngoko uya kubabingeleli abakhulu namadoda amakhulu ukuze abuyisele amaqhosha esilivere angama-30, ecacisa esithi: “Ndonile, kuba ndingcatshe igazi elingenatyala.”

“Iyini na kuthi loo nto? Zibonele wena,” baphendula ngokungenalusizi besitsho. Ngoko uYuda uwaphosa phantsi etempileni amaqhosha esilivere aze ahambe esiya kuzama ukuzixhoma. Noko ke, kubonakala ukuba isebe uYuda abophelela kulo intambo liyaphuka, yaye umzimba wakhe uwa ubetheke kumatye angezantsi, uze ugqabhuke phakathi.

Ababingeleli abakhulu abaqinisekanga ngento amabayenze ngala maqhosha esilivere. Bagqiba ngokuthi: “Akuvumelekile ukuwagalela emkhombeni weminikelo, ngokuba elinani legazi.” Ngoko, emva kokubhunga, bathenga ngale mali umhlaba wombumbi ukuze bangcwabe abasemzini kuwo. Ngaloo ndlela loo mhlaba ubizwa ngokuba ‘nguMhlaba weGazi.’

Kusesekuseni kakhulu xa uYesu esisiwa kwibhotwe lerhuluneli. Kodwa amaYuda abemphelekile ayala ukungena ngenxa yokuba akholelwa kukuba ukusondelelana okunjalo nabeeNtlanga kuya kuwenza iinqambi. Ngoko ukuwalungiselela, uPilato uyaphuma. Ubuza athi: “Nimisa tyala lini na kuye lo mntu?”

“Ukuba ebengenguye umenzi wobubi yena, singe singamnikelanga kuwe,” baphendula batsho.

Engafuni kuzibandakanya koku, uPilato uphendula athi: “Mthabatheni nina, nimgwebe ngesiko lenu.”

Etyhila injongo yawo yokubulala, amaYuda ame ngelithi: “Akuvumelekile kuthi ukuba sibulale umntu.” Eneneni, ukuba ayembulala uYesu ebudeni boMthendeleko wePasika, oko kwakusenokubangela ukuba abantu benze isiphithiphithi, ekubeni abaninzi bemhlonela uYesu. Kodwa ukuba anokwenza ukuba amaRoma ambulale ngesityholo sobupolitika, oku kuya kuwenza angabi natyala phambi kwabantu.

Ngoko iinkokeli zonqulo, zingakukhankanyi ukuvavanya kwazo ityala kwangaphambili ezithe kuko zamgweba uYesu ngokunyelisa, ngoku zivelisa zityholo zimbi. Zenza isityholo esintlu-ntathu zisithi: “Simfumene lo [1] elulahlekisa uhlanga, [2] engavumi ukuba kunikelwe irhafu kuKesare, [3] esithi, unguKristu ukumkani yena ngokwakhe.”

UPilato ukhathazwa sisityholo sokuba uYesu uzibanga engukumkani. Ngoko ke, uphinda angene ebhotwe, abizele uYesu kuye, aze ambuze oku: “Unguye na uKumkani wamaYuda?” Ngamanye amazwi, ngaba uye waphula umthetho ngokuzivakalisa ungukumkani ochasene noKesare?

UYesu ufuna ukwazi oko uPilato sele ekuvile ngaye, ngoko ubuza oku: “Uyithetha le nto iphuma kuwe, wayixelelwa ngabanye ngam, sini na?”

UPilato uzenza ongazi nto ngaye yaye uvakalisa nomnqweno wokufuna ukwazi inyaniso. Uphendula athi: “Kanene, mna ndingumYuda na? Luhlanga lwakowenu nababingeleli abakhulu abakunikeleyo kum; wenze ntoni na?”

UYesu akazami nangayiphi na indlela ukuyiphepha le mbambano, leyo yobukumkani. Impendulo ayinikelayo ngoku uYesu ngokungathandabuzekiyo iyamothusa uPilato. Luka 22:66–23:3; Mateyu 27:1-11; Marko 15:1; Yohane 18:28-35; IZenzo 1:16-20.

▪ Kungayiphi injongo ethi iNtlanganiso Yamatyala iphinde ihlanganisane kwakhona kusasa?

▪ UYuda ufa njani, yaye yintoni eyenziwayo ngamaqhosha esilivere angama-30?

▪ Kutheni amaYuda efuna amaRoma abulale uYesu, kunokuba ambulale ngokwawo?

▪ AmaYuda ambeka ziphi izityholo uYesu?

Isahluko 122

Ukusuka KuPilato Ukuya KuHerode Nokubuyela Kuye Kwakhona

NANGONA uYesu engazami kumfihlela uPilato ukuba ungukumkani, ucacisa ukuba uBukumkani bakhe abusosisongelo kwiRoma. UYesu uthi: “Ubukumkani bam asibubo obeli hlabathi; ukuba bebububo obeli hlabathi ubukumkani bam, amakhonza am ange ezama, ukuze ndinganikelwa kumaYuda; ngoku ke ubukumkani bam asibobalapha.” Ngaloo ndlela uYesu uvuma kathathu ukuba unabo uBukumkani, nangona bungebubo obeli hlabathi.

Sekunjalo, uPilato uyaqhubeka embuza: “Hina ke, ungukumkani na wena?” Okuthetha ukuthi, ngaba ungukumkani nakubeni uBukumkani bakho ingebubo obeli hlabathi?

UYesu uyamazisa uPilato ukuba ufikelele kwisigqibo esichanileyo, ephendula esithi: “Nawe uthi ndingukumkani. Mna ndizalelwe oku; ndizele oku ehlabathini, ukuze ndiyingqinele inyaniso. Bonke abangabenyaniso bayaliva ilizwi lam.”

Ewe, injongo yobukho bukaYesu emhlabeni kukunikela ubungqina ‘kwinyaniso,’ ingakumbi inyaniso engoBukumkani bakhe. UYesu ukulungele ukuthembeka kuloo nyaniso kwanokuba inokumlahlekanisa nobomi bakhe. Nangona uPilato ebuza ukuba: “Yintoni na yona inyaniso?” akalindeli nkcazelo ingakumbi. Uve ngokwaneleyo ukuba angadlulisela isigwebo.

UPilato ubuyela kwisihlwele esilinde ngaphandle kwebhotwe. Ngokucacileyo uYesu esecaleni lakhe, uxelela ababingeleli abakhulu nabo bakunye nabo oku: “Andifumani tyala kulo mntu.”

Zicatshukiswe sesi sigqibo, izihlwele ziqalisa ukunkqangaza zisithi: “Uxhokonxa abantu, efundisa kulo lonke elakwaYuda, eqalele kwelaseGalili, wada wezisa apha.”

Inzondelelo yempambano yamaYuda imele ukuba iyamothusa uPilato. Ngoko, njengoko ababingeleli abakhulu namadoda amakhulu beqhubeka bekhwaza, uPilato uphethukela kuYesu aze abuze: “Akuziva na ukuba zininzi kwazo iindawo abazingqinayo ngawe?” Sekunjalo uYesu akenzi nzame yakuphendula. Ukuzola kwakhe phezu kwazo nje izityholo ezibukhali kuyammangalisa uPilato.

Akuba evile ukuba uYesu ungummi waseGalili, uPilato ufumana indlela yokuzikhulula. Umlawuli waseGalili, uHerode Antipas (unyana kaHerode Omkhulu), ukwiPasika eYerusalem, ngoko uPilato uthumela uYesu kuye. Ngaphambili, uHerode Antipas wayalela ukuba uYohane umBhaptizi anqunyulwe intloko, waza ke uHerode woyika akuva ngemisebenzi engummangaliso uYesu awayeyenza, esoyika ukuba uYesu eneneni wayenguYohane ovuswe kwabafileyo.

Ngoku, uHerode uvuyiswa kakhulu lithemba lokubona uYesu. Oku akungenxa yokuba exhalabele ukulungelwa kukaYesu okanye kuba efuna ukwenza nayiphi na imigudu yokwenene yokufumanisa enoba ezi zityholo nxamnye naye ziyinyaniso okanye akunjalo kusini na. Kunoko, unomdla nje wokwazi yaye unethemba lokubona uYesu esenza ummangaliso.

Noko ke, uYesu uyala ukwanelisa ukufun’ ukwazi kukaHerode. Enyanisweni, njengoko uHerode embuza, akakhuphi nelimdaka. Edanile, uHerode nabalindi bakhe abangamasoldati bahlekisa ngoYesu. Bamnxibisa ingubo eqaqambileyo baze bamgculele. Bandule ke bambuyisele kuPilato. Ngenxa yoko, uHerode noPilato, abebefudula beziintshaba, baba ngabahlobo abakhulu.

Xa uYesu ebuya, uPilato ubizela ndawonye ababingeleli abakhulu, abalawuli bamaYuda nabantu aze athi: “Nizise kum lo mntu, ngathi ngophambukisa abantu; niyabona ke, ndimncinile mna emehlweni enu, andafumana tyala kulo mntu, kwezo zinto nimmangalele ngazo; kwanoHerode, kuba [naku embuyisela kuthi, NW]. Nanku ke kungekho nto ifanelwe kukufa, yenziwe nguye. Ndothi ke ngoko, ndakumbetha, ndimkhulule.”

Ngaloo ndlela uPilato uye wamvakalisa kabini uYesu emsulwa. Ungxamele ukumkhulula, kuba uyaqonda ukuba ababingeleli abakhulu bamnikela kuphela ngenxa yomona. Njengoko uPilato eqhubeka ezama ukukhulula uYesu, ufumana olunye ukhuthazo olunamandla ngakumbi lokwenjenjalo. Ngoxa ekwisihlalo sakhe sokugweba, umfazi wakhe uthumela isigidimi, embongoza esithi: “Uze ungabi nakuthini kuloo mntu ulilungisa, kuba namhlanje ndive izinto ezininzi ezinzima ephupheni [ngokucacileyo elivela kuThixo], ngenxa yakhe.”

Kodwa, uPilato unokumkhulula njani lo mntu ungenatyala, njengoko esazi ukuba ufanele amkhulule? Yohane 18:36-38; Luka 23:4-16, NW; Mateyu 27:12-14, 18, 19; 14:1, 2, NW; Marko 15:2-5, NW.

▪ UYesu uwuphendula njani umbuzo omalunga nokuba ngukumkani kwakhe?

▪ Yiyiphi “inyaniso” uYesu awachitha ubomi bakhe basemhlabeni eyingqinela?

▪ UPilato ugweba njani, basabela njani abantu, yaye yintoni uPilato ayenzayo ngoYesu?

▪ Ngubani uHerode Antipas, kutheni evuyiswa kakhulu kukubona uYesu, yaye wenza ntoni ngaye?

▪ Kutheni uPilato engxamele ukukhulula uYesu?

Isahluko 123

“Nanko Umntu”

ECHUKUMISEKILE sisimilo sikaYesu yaye eqonda ukuba msulwa kwakhe, uPilato uzama enye indlela yokumkhulula. Uzixelela oku izihlwele: “Ninesiko lokuba ndinikhululele abe mnye ngepasika.”

UBharabhas, umbulali odume kakubi, naye ulibanjwa, ngoko uPilato ubuza athi: “Nithanda ukuba ndinikhululele wuphi na, uBharabhas, uYesu ekuthiwa nguKristu, kusini na?”

Bephenjelelwa ngababingeleli abakhulu abaye babaxhokonxa, abantu bacela ukuba uBharabhas akhululwe kodwa uYesu abulawe. Enganikezeli, uPilato uphendula kwakhona ebuza esithi: “Nguwuphi na kwaba bobabini enithanda ukuba ndinikhululele yena?”

Bakhwaza bathi: “NguBharabhas.”

Edanile uPilato uyabuza: “Ndimenzeni na ke uYesu ekuthiwa nguKristu?”

Ngaxeshanye ngamazwi aphakamileyo atsho iindlebe zivaleke, baphendula bathi: “Makabethelelwe emthini.” “Bethelela emthini; mbethelele emthini.”

Esazi ukuba bafuna kubulawe umntu omsulwa, uPilato ubongoza esithi: “Kuba enze bubi buni na lo? Andifumananga tyala lakufa kuye; ndothi ngoko, ndakumbetha, ndimkhulule.”

Phezu kwayo nje imigudu yakhe, isihlwele esivuthayo ngumsindo sintyontyelwa ziinkokeli zaso zonqulo, siqhubeka sikhwaza sisithi: “Makabethelelwe emthini.” Sihlutshezwe ngababingeleli, esi sihlwele sinxanelwe igazi. Yaye khawufan’ ucinge, kwiintsuku nje ezintlanu ngaphambilana, abanye kuso ngokunokwenzeka bebephakathi kwabo bebesamkela uYesu njengoKumkani eYerusalem! Lonke eli xesha, abafundi bakaYesu, ukuba bakho, bathe cwaka yaye abaphawulwa.

UPilato, ebona ukuba izibongozo zakhe azincedi nto kodwa, kunoko, isiphithiphithi siyanda, uthabatha amanzi aze ahlambe izandla zakhe phambi kwesihlwele, aze athi: “Andinatyala egazini lalo mntu ulilungisa; ziboneleni nina.” Akutsho abantu baphendula bathi: “Igazi lakhe malibe phezu kwethu, naphezu kwabantwana bethu.”

Ngoko, ngokuvisisana noko bakuthethayo—yaye enqwenela ukwanelisa isihlwele ngaphezu kokwenza oko akwaziyo ukuba kulungile—uPilato ubakhululela uBharabhas. Uthabatha uYesu aze ayalele ukuba akhululwe aze atyakatywe. Oku yayingekokubethwa kuqhelekileyo. IThe Journal of the American Medical Association ichaza uqheliselo lwamaRoma lokutyakatya isithi:

“Isixhobo esiqhelekileyo yayisisabhokhwe esifutshane esineentambo eziliqela zofele ezinganye okanye ezalukiweyo nezinobude obahlukahlukeneyo, ekwakusithi kuzo kubotshelelwe iintsimbi ezincinane okanye iingceba ezibukhali zamathambo egusha. . . . Njengoko amasoldati amaRoma ayewubetha ngokuphindaphindiweyo nangezithonga ezivakalayo umqolo wexhoba, iintsimbi ezincinane bezidla ngokuvula imivumbo emikhulu, yaye iintambo zofele namathambo egusha ebedla ngokusisika isikhumba nezicwili ezingaphantsi kwesikhumba. Kwandule ke, njengoko ukutyakatya kwakuqhubeka, amanxeba ebedla ngokukrazula izihlunu ezisondele emathanjeni aze avelise inyama eyophayo eyimicu.”

Emva koku kubethwa kuthuthumbisayo, uYesu usiwa kwibhotwe lerhuluneli, yaye lonke ibutho lamasoldati libizelwa ndawonye. Apho amasoldati amxhaphaza ngakumbi ngokuthi aluke isithsaba sameva aze asinyanzele entlokweni yakhe. Abeka ingcongolo esandleni sakhe sokunene, yaye amnxibisa ingubo ebomvu, uhlobo olunxitywa ngabasebukhosini. Emva koko athi kuye ngokugculelayo: “Aa! Kumkani wamaYuda!” Kwaye ayamtshicela aze amqhwabe ebusweni. Ethabatha ingcongolo eyomeleleyo esandleni sakhe, ayisebenzisa ukumbetha ngayo entloko, enyanzela ngakumbi kukhakayi lwakhe ameva abukhali “esithsaba” sakhe sokumhlazisa.

Isidima namandla kaYesu aphawulekayo phezu koku kuphathwa kakubi kumchukumisa kakhulu uPilato kangangokuba ushukunyiselwa ukuba enze omnye umgudu wokumkhulula. Uxelela izihlwele oku: “Yabonani, ndimzisa phandle kuni, ukuze nazi ukuba andifumani nalinye ityala kuye.” Kunokwenzeka ukuba ucinga ukuba ukubona uYesu ekwimeko yokuthuthunjiswa kuya kuzithambisa iintliziyo zaso. Njengoko uYesu eme phambi kwehlokondiba elingenalusizi, enxibe isithsaba sameva nengubo yokwaleka ebomvu nobuso bakhe obophayo buzele iintlungu, uPilato uvakalisa oku: “Nanko umntu.”

Nangona eyiloo nto ngamanxeba nokubethwa, apha kume oyena mntu ubalaseleyo kuyo yonke imbali, enyanisweni oyena mntu ubalaseleyo owakha waphila! Ewe, uYesu ubonakalisa isidima ngokungakhuphi nelimdaka nangokuzola okubonisa ukubalasela kangangokuba noPilato umele avume, kuba amazwi akhe ngokuphandle avakalisa kokubini intlonelo nosizi. Yohane 18:39–19:5; Mateyu 27:15-17, 20-30; Marko 15:6-19; Luka 23:18-25.

▪ UPilato uzama ngayiphi indlela ukukhulula uYesu?

▪ UPilato uzama njani ukuzenza omsulwa?

▪ Ukutyakatywa kubandakanya ntoni?

▪ UYesu ugculelwa njani emva kokuba etyakatyiwe?

▪ Nguwuphi umgudu ongakumbi owenziwa nguPilato wokukhulula uYesu?

Isahluko 124

Uyanikelwa Aze Arholwe Kumkiwe Naye

XA UPILATO, eshukunyiswe yindlela uYesu azole ngayo ngoxa bemthuthumbisa, ezama ukumkhulula kwakhona, ababingeleli abakhulu bacaphuka ngakumbi. Bazimisele ukungavumeli nantoni na iphazamisane nenjongo yabo engendawo. Ngoko baqala phantsi ukunkqangaza besithi: “Mbethelele emthini! Mbethelele emthini!”

UPilato uphendula athi, “Mthabatheni nina nimbethelele emthini.” (Ngokuchasene nezityholo zabo zangaphambilana, amaYuda asenokuba nalo igunya lokuzigwebela ukufa izaphuli-mthetho ngenxa yamatyala anzulu angokonqulo.) Ngoko, ubuncinane okwesihlandlo sesihlanu, uPilato umvakalisa uYesu engenatyala, esithi: “Andifumani tyala kuye.”

AmaYuda, ebona ukuba izityholo zawo ezingokobupolitika aziphumelelanga, abuyela kwisityholo esingokonqulo sokunyelisa abesisebenzisile kwiiyure ezingaphambilana xa ebevavanya ityala likaYesu kwiNtlanganiso Yamatyala. Athi, “Thina sinomthetho, ngomthetho wethu ke ufanele ukufa, ngokuba ezenze unyana kaThixo.”

Esi isityholo uPilato uyaqala ukusiva, yaye simbangela ukuba oyike ngakumbi. Ngoku uyaqonda ukuba uYesu akangomntu nje oqhelekileyo, kwananjengokuba iphupha lomfazi wakhe namandla angummangaliso obuntu bukaYesu ebonisa. Kodwa ngaba ‘unguNyana kaThixo’? UPilato uyazi ukuba uYesu uvela kwelaseGalili. Kanti, ngaba kunokwenzeka ukuba wayekhe waphila ngaphambili? Ebuyela naye kwibhotwe, uPilato uyabuza: “Ungowaphi na wena?”

UYesu akakhuphi nelimdaka. Ngaphambilana ebemxelele uPilato ukuba ungukumkani, kodwa uBukumkani bakhe abuyonxalenye yeli hlabathi. Akukho nkcazelo ngoku ibhekele phaya inokufeza injongo ethile entle. Noko ke, ukungaphenduli kwakhe kumphatha emanyeni uPilato, ibe unyukelana noYesu ngala mazwi: “Akuthethi na kum? Akwazi na ukuba ndinegunya lokukukhulula nokuba ndinegunya lokukubethelela emthini?”

Ebonakalisa intlonelo uYesu uphendula athi, “Unge ungenagunya nakanye kum, ukuba ubungalinikwanga livela phezulu.” Ubhekisela ekuvumeleni kukaThixo abalawuli abangabantu ukuba balawule imicimbi yasemhlabeni. UYesu wongezelela athi: “Ngenxa yoko, ondinikeleyo kuwe unesono esikhulu ngakumbi.” Eneneni, umbingeleli omkhulu uKayafa nabancedisi bakhe noYuda Sikariyoti bonke banetyala elikhulu kunoPilato ngenxa yempatho embi efunyanwa nguYesu.

Echukumiseke ngakumbi nguYesu ibe esoyika ukuba uYesu usenokuba unemvelaphi engokobuthixo, kwakhona uPilato wenza imigudu yokumkhulula. Noko ke, amaYuda ayamgxeka uPilato. Aphinda isityholo sawo esingokobupolitika, ngobuqhophololo egrogrisa esithi: “Ukuba uthe wamkhulula lo, akusihlobo sikaKesare. Bonke abazenza ukumkani bachasa uKesare.”

Phezu kwazo nje ezi zityholo zinzulu, uPilato uphuma noYesu kwakhona. Aze kwakhona ababongoze esithi, “Nanko! uKumkani wenu! ”

“Susa! Susa! Mbethelele emthini!”

Ngelokuncama uPilato ubuza oku, “Ndimbethelele emthini na uKumkani wenu?”

AmaYuda aye atsala nzima phantsi kolawulo lwamaRoma. Enyanisweni, ayalucekisa ulawulo lweRoma! Kanti, ngokuhanahanisa, ababingeleli abakhulu bathi: “Thina asinakumkani ungenguye uKesare.”

Esoyikela isikhundla sakhe sobupolitika nodumo lwakhe, ekugqibeleni uPilato uyanikezela koko kufunwa ngamaYuda ngokungayekeleliyo nangokugrogrisa. Uyamnikela uYesu. Amasoldati amhluba uYesu ingubo ebomvu aze amambathise iingubo zakhe zokwaleka. Njengoko uYesu erholwa ukuya kubethelelwa, uthwaliswa umthi wakhe wentuthumbo.

Ngoku kusebudeni bentsasa yangoLwesihlanu, ngoNisan 14; mhlawumbi sele kuza kuba semini emaqanda. UYesu akakhange alale ukususela ekuseni ngoLwesine, ibe ebengcungcuthekiswa okokoko. Ngesizathu esiqondakalayo, kungekudala uphelelwa ngamandla okuthwala lo mthi unzima. Ngoko umhambi, umntu othile ogama linguSimon waseKirene eAfrika, unyanzelwa ukuba amthwalele wona. Njengoko beqhubeka behamba, kulandela inkitha eninzi yabantu kuquka abafazi abaninzi abambambazelelayo belilela uYesu.

Eguqukela kwabo bafazi, uYesu uthi: “Zintombi zaseYerusalem, musani ukundililela mna; kanye, zilileleni nina, nabantwana benu; ngokuba, yabonani, kuza imihla abaya kuthi ngayo, Banoyolo abaziindlolo, nezizalo ezingazalanga namabele anganyisanga. Oko baya kuqala bathi ezintabeni, Siweleni nasezindulini, Sigubungeleni. Ngokuba ukuba benza ezi zinto komanzi umthi, kuya kuba njani na kowomileyo?”

UYesu ubhekisela kumthi wohlanga lwamaYuda, osenentwana yobomi kuwo ngenxa yokuba uYesu nentsalela ekholelwayo kuye besekho. Kodwa xa bonke aba besusiwe kolo hlanga, kuya kusala kuphela umthi ofileyo ngokomoya, ewe, intlangano yohlanga olungenaziqhamo. Hayi indlela ekuya kubangela isijwili ngayo oku xa imikhosi yamaRoma, esetyenziswa njengabaphumezi bomgwebo kaThixo, iya kuluphanzisa uhlanga lwamaYuda! Yohane 19:6-17, NW; 18:31; Luka 23:24-31; Mateyu 27:31, 32; Marko 15:20, 21.

▪ Sisiphi isityholo iinkokeli zonqulo ezimbeka sona uYesu xa izityholo zazo ezingobupolitika zingaphumeleli?

▪ Yintoni ebangela ukuba uPilato oyike ngakumbi?

▪ Ngoobani abanesono esikhulu ngakumbi ngoko kwenzeka kuYesu?

▪ Ekugqibeleni, baphumelela njani ababingeleli ukwenza uPilato anikele uYesu ukuze abulawe?

▪ UYesu ubaxelela ntoni abafazi abamlilelayo, yaye uthetha ukuthini xa ebhekisela kumthi ‘njengomanzi’ nokuthi “owomileyo”?

Isahluko 125

Intlungu Engcungcuthekisayo Emthini

ECALENI kukaYesu izihange ezibini zisendleleni eya kubulawa. Kufutshane nje nesixeko, ungcelele luyema kwindawo ekuthiwa yiGologota, okanye iNdawo Yokakayi.

Amabanjwa akhululwa iingubo zawo. Emva koko anikwa iwayini ephithikezwe ngemore. Ngokucacileyo ilungiselelwe ngamabhinqa aseYerusalem, yaye amaRoma akabaleli abo baxhonyiweyo ukuba bafumane elo thamo leyeza liphelisa iintlungu. Noko ke, xa uYesu eyingcamla, uyala ukuyisela. Ngoba? Ngokucacileyo ufuna ukuba sezingqondweni ngokupheleleyo ebudeni bolu vavanyo lulolona lukhulu lokholo lwakhe.

Ngoku uYesu ulaliswa emthini izandla zakhe zibekwe ngasentla kwentloko yakhe. Andula ke amasoldati abethelele izikhonkwane ezikhulu ezandleni zakhe nasezinyaweni zakhe. Uyazibhijabhija ngenxa yeentlungu njengoko izikhonkwane zikrazula inyama nemisipha. Xa umthi uphakanyiswa, intlungu ayinyamezeleki, kuba ubunzima bomzimba bukrazula amanxeba akwiindawo ezinezikhonkwane. Sekunjalo, kunokuba awasongele, uYesu uyawathandazela amasoldati angamaRoma esithi: “Bawo, baxolele; kuba abayazi into abayenzayo.”

UPilato uye wayalela ukuba kuxhonywe emthini umbhalo ofundeka ngolu hlobo: “UYesu waseNazarete, uKumkani wamaYuda.” Ngokucacileyo, ukubhala oku kungekuphela nje kuba emhlonela uYesu kodwa kuba ethiye ababingeleli bamaYuda ngenxa yokumnyanzelela ukuba amgwebele ukufa uYesu. Ngoko ukuze bonke bakwazi ukuwufunda loo mbhalo, uPilato uye wayalela ukuba ubhalwe ngeelwimi ezintathu—ngesiHebhere, ngesiLatini esingokwaseburhulumenteni nangesiGrike esaziwa ngokubanzi.

Ababingeleli abakhulu, kuquka uKayafa noAnas, bayakhwankqiswa. Lo mbhalo ucacileyo ulibala elibi kweli xesha labo loloyiso. Ngoko ke bachasa ngokuthi: “Musa ukubhala uthi, UKumkani wamaYuda; bhala uthi, Wathi yena, NdinguKumkani wamaYuda.” Ecatshukiswa kukuba eye waba ngunopopi wababingeleli, ngendelelo yangabom uPilato uphendula athi: “Endikubhalileyo ndikubhalile.”

Ababingeleli, kunye nesihlwele esikhulu, bahlanganisana kwindawo ekuza kubulawelwa kuyo, yaye ababingeleli bakuvakalisa kungeyonyaniso oko kubhaliweyo. Baphinda ubungqina bobuxoki obabunikelwe ngaphambili ekuvavanyweni kwetyala kwiNtlanganiso Yamatyala. Ngoko ke, akumangalisi ukuba abadlulayo beqalisa ukuthetha kakubi, behlunguzela iintloko begculela yaye besithi: “Wena uchitha itempile, uyakhe ngeentsuku ezintathu, zisindise; ukuba unguNyana kaThixo, yihla [emthini wentuthumbo, NW].”

Ababingeleli abakhulu namaqabane abo angokonqulo batsho ngesanxwe besithi: “Abanye wabasindisa; yena ngokwakhe akanakuzisindisa. Ukuba unguKumkani kaSirayeli, makehle kaloku nje [emthini wentuthumbo, NW]; sokholwa nguye; ukholose ngoThixo, makamhlangule kalokunje, ukuba uyamthanda; kuba wathi, NdinguNyana kaThixo.”

Ekuloo moya, amasoldati ayathelela ekuhlekiseni ngoYesu. Ngokugculelayo amnika uYesu iviniga, ngokucacileyo eyibambele ngasentla kwemilebe yakhe eyomileyo. Ahlekisa athi: “Ukuba wena unguye uKumkani wamaYuda, zisindise.” Kwanezihange—esinye esixhonywe ngasekunene kukaYesu nesinye sixhonywe ngasekhohlo—ziyamgculela. Khawufan’ ucinge! Oyena mntu ubalaseleyo wakha waphila, ewe, lowo wasebenza noYehova uThixo ekudaleni zonke izinto, unyamezela konke oku kuphathwa kakubi!

Amasoldati athabatha iingubo zokwaleka zikaYesu aze azahlulahlule zibe zizabelo ezine. Enza amaqashiso ukubona ukuba ziya kuwela kubani na. Noko ke, ingubo yangaphantsi ayinamthungo, iyeyexabiso elikhulu. Ngoko amasoldati ayathethana athi: “Masingayikrazuli, masiqashise ngayo ukuba yoba yekabani na.” Ngaloo ndlela, engaqondanga, azalisekisa isibhalo esithi: “Babelana ngeengubo zam, benza amaqashiso ngesambatho sam.”

Ekuhambeni kwexesha esinye isihange siyaqonda ukuba uYesu umele ukuba ungukumkani ngokwenene. Ngoko ke, sikhalimela iqabane laso, sithi: “Akumoyiki na wena uThixo, ukwakoku kugwetywa nje? Thina ke okunene sigwetywe ngobulungisa, kuba samkela okufanele esakwenzayo; kodwa yena lo akenzanga nto ingendawo.” Sandula ke sibhekise kuYesu, sibongoza sisithi: “Uze undikhumbule, Nkosi, xa uthe weza usebukumkanini bakho.”

UYesu uphendula athi: “Inene ndithi kuwe namhlanje, uya kuba nam eParadisi.” (NW) Eli dinga liya kuzalisekiswa xa uYesu elawula njengoKumkani ezulwini aze avusele ebomini esi sihange siguqukayo emhlabeni kwiParadisi abaya kuba nelungelo lokuyilungisa abasindi beArmagedon namaqabane abo. Mateyu 27:33-44; Marko 15:22-32; Luka 23:27, 32-43; Yohane 19:17-24.

▪ Kutheni uYesu esala ukusela iwayini ephithikezwe ngemore?

▪ Ngokucacileyo, kutheni kuxhonywe umbhalo emthini kaYesu, yaye ubangela yiphi impikiswano phakathi koPilato nababingeleli abakhulu?

▪ Kukuphi ukuphathwa kakubi okungakumbi uYesu akufumanayo emthini, yaye ngokucacileyo yintoni ekuphembelelayo?

▪ Sizalisekiswa njani isiprofeto ngoko kwenziwayo ngeengubo zikaYesu?

▪ Yiyiphi inguqulelo eyenziwa sesinye sezihange, yaye uYesu uya kusizalisekisa njani isicelo saso?

Isahluko 126

“Inyaniso, Lo Mntu EbenguNyana KaThixo”

AKUKUDALA uYesu exhonywe emthini xa kuthi, emini emaqanda, kubekho ubumnyama obumangalisayo obuthabatha ubude obuziiyure ezintathu. Obu bumnyama abubangelwa kukusithwa kwelanga yinyanga, ekubeni oko kusenzeka kuphela ngexesha lenyanga entsha yaye inyanga isisonka ngexesha lePasika. Ngaphezu koko, ubumnyama obubangelwa kukusithwa kwelanga yinyanga buthabatha imizuzu embalwa kuphela. Ngoko obu bumnyama bubangelwe nguThixo! Kunokwenzeka ukuba buyabanqumamisa abo bagculela uYesu, bude bubangele ukuba bayeke ukuhlekisa ngaye.

Ukuba esi siganeko singaqhelekanga nesoyikekayo senzeka ngaphambi kokuba omnye wabenzi bobubi akhalimele iqabane lakhe aze acele uYesu ukuba amkhumbule, kunokwenzeka ukuba singunobangela wokuba aguquke. Mhlawumbi kusebudeni bobu bumnyama athi amabhinqa amane, angala, unina kaYesu nodade wabo uSalome, uMariya waseMagadala noMariya unina wompostile uYakobi Omnci, asondele ngakumthi wentuthumbo. UYohane, umpostile othandwayo nguYesu, ukunye nabo apho.

Hayi indlela ‘ebuhlungu ngayo’ intliziyo kamama kaYesu njengoko ebukele unyana wakhe awamkhulisayo nawamondlayo exhonywe apho ekwintlungu engcungcuthekisayo! Sekunjalo uYesu ucinga, kungekhona ngentlungu yakhe, kodwa ngentlalo-ntle kanina. Ngomgudu omkhulu, unqwalela ngakuYohane aze athi kunina: “Mfazi, nanko unyana wakho!” Emva koko, enqwalela ngakuMariya, uthi kuYohane: “Nanko unyoko!”

Ngaloo ndlela uYesu uyalela ukuba unina, ngokucacileyo ngoku ongumhlolokazi, anyanyekelwe ngumpostile wakhe amthanda ngokukhethekileyo. Oku ukwenza ngenxa yokuba abanye oonyana bakaMariya abakabonakalisi kukholelwa kuye. Ngaloo ndlela umisela umzekelo omhle wokulungiselela kungekhona kuphela iimfuno ezingokwenyama zikanina kodwa kwanezokomoya.

Malunga nentsimbi yesithathu emva kwemini, uYesu uthi: “Ndinxaniwe.” UYesu uyaqonda ukuba uYise uye, ngokungathi kunjalo, wayeka ukumkhusela ukuze ingqibelelo yakhe ivavanywe ukusa ekupheleni. Ngoko udanduluka ngelizwi elikhulu athi: “Thixo wam! Thixo wam! undishiyeleni na?” Bakukuva oku, abanye abame kufuphi bathi: “Yabonani, ubiza uEliya.” Kwangoko omnye wabo uyabaleka aze, athabathe imfunxa emanziswe ngeviniga ayifake engcongolweni, amnike ukuba asele. Kodwa abanye bathi: “Khanenze kuhle, khe sibone ukuba uEliya woza kumthula na.”

Xa uYesu esamkela iviniga, udanduluka ngelizwi elikhulu athi: “Kugqityiwe!” Ewe, uyigqibile yonke into uYise ebemthumele emhlabeni ukuba ayenze. Ekugqibeleni uthi: “Bawo, ndiyawunikela ezandleni zakho umoya wam.” Ngaloo ndlela uYesu unikela kuThixo amandla akhe obomi enethemba lokuba uThixo uya kuwabuyisela kuye kwakhona. Wandula ke athobe intloko yakhe aze afe.

Ngethuba uYesu atsala umoya wakhe wokugqibela, kubakho inyikima enkulu, ecanda amawa. Le nyikima inamandla kakhulu kangangokuba amangcwaba angaphandle kweYerusalem ayavuleka, yaye izidumbu zilahlelwa ngaphandle kwawo. Abadlulayo ababona ezi zidumbu ziqungquluze ngaphandle, bangena esixekweni baze bakubike oku.

Ngaphezu koko, ngexesha afa ngalo uYesu, ikhuselo elikhulu elahlula iNgcwele kwiNgcwele kaNgcwele kwitempile kaThixo lahlukana kubini, ukusuka phezulu kuse ezantsi. Ngokucacileyo eli khuselo lihonjiswe kakuhle limalunga neemitha ezili-18 ubude yaye lomelele gqitha! Lo mmangaliso wothusayo awuthi kuphela nje ubonakalise ingqumbo kaThixo nxamnye nababulali boNyana Wakhe kodwa ubonisa ukuba ithuba lokungena kwiNgcwele kaNgcwele, izulu ngokwalo, ngoku livulelekile ngokufa kukaYesu.

Ewe, xa abantu besiva inyikima baze babone izinto ezenzekayo, boyika gqitha. Umthetheli-mkhosi owayephambili ekubulaweni kukaYesu uzukisa uThixo. Uvakalisa oku: “Inyaniso, lo mntu ebenguNyana kaThixo.” Kusenokwenzeka ebekho xa bekuxutyushwa ngebango lokuba ngunyana kaThixo kwityala likaYesu phambi koPilato. Yaye ngoku weyisekile ukuba uYesu unguNyana kaThixo, ewe, ukuba eneneni ungoyena mntu ubalaseleyo wakha waphila.

Kwanabanye beyisekile yile mimangaliso yenzekileyo, yaye bagoduka bezibeth’ izifuba, njengembonakaliso yentlungu enzulu nokudana. Ababukele lo mmangaliso bemgama ngabafundi abangamabhinqa bakaYesu abachukumiseke ngokunzulu ngenxa yezi ziganeko zishiy ’ amehlo. Nompostile uYohane ukwakho apha. Mateyu 27:45-56; Marko 15:33-41; Luka 23:44-49; 2:34, 35; Yohane 19:25-30.

▪ Kutheni ingenakuba kukusithwa kwelanga yinyanga oko kubangela ubumnyama beeyure ezintathu?

▪ Ngaphambi nje kokufa kwakhe, nguwuphi umzekelo omhle uYesu ababekela wona abo banabazali abalupheleyo?

▪ Liliphi ilizwi lokugqibela uYesu alithethayo ngaphambi kokufa kwakhe?

▪ Yintoni ephunyezwa yinyikima, yaye iyintoni intsingiselo yokukrazuka kubini kwekhuselo letempile?

▪ Umthetheli-mkhosi owayephambili ekubulaweni kukaYesu uchaphazeleka njani yile mimangaliso?

Isahluko 127

Ungcwatywe NgoLwesihlanu—Ingcwaba Lize NgeCawa

NGOKU kusemva kwemini ngoLwesihlanu, yaye iSabatha kaNisan 15 iya kuqalisa ekutshoneni kwelanga. Umzimba kaYesu uyajinga utyokololo emthini, kodwa izihange ezibini ezibethelelwe ecaleni kwakhe zisaphila. Ithuba lasemva kwemini ngoLwesihlanu libizwa ngokuba yiMini Yokulungiselela ngenxa yokuba ngayo abantu balungiselela izidlo baze bagqibezele nawuphi na omnye umsebenzi ongxamisekileyo ongenakubekelwa ecaleni kude kube semva kweSabatha.

ISabatha esele iza kuqalisa asiyoSabatha nje eqhelekileyo (umhla wesixhenxe weveki) kodwa iziiSabatha ezimbini, okanye iSabatha ‘enkulu.’ Ibizwa ngolu hlobo ngenxa yokuba uNisan 15, ongumhla wokuqala woMthendeleko Wezonka Ezingenagwele othabatha iintsuku ezisixhenxe (yaye osoloko uyiSabatha, kungakhathaliseki ukuba ungaluphi na usuku lweveki), ungosuku olunye nolo lweSabatha eqhelekileyo.

Ngokomthetho kaThixo, imizimba ayimele ishiywe ijinga emthini ubusuku bonke. Ngoko amaYuda acela kuPilato ukuba abo bagwetyiweyo babulawe ngokukhawuleza ngokwaphulwa imilenze. Ngoko ke, amasoldati aphula imilenze yezihange ezibini. Kodwa ekubeni uYesu ebonakala efile, imilenze yakhe ayaphulwa. Oku kuzalisekisa isibhalo esithi: “Akuyi kutyunyuzwa thambo lakhe.”

Noko ke, ukuze laneliseke ukuba uYesu ufile ngokwenene, elinye lamasoldati limhlaba ngomkhonto ecaleni. Umkhonto umkrazula apha ngasentliziyweni, yaye ngoko nangoko kuphuma igazi namanzi. Umpostile uYohane, olingqina lokuzibonela, unikela ingxelo yokuba oku kuzalisekisa esinye isibhalo esithi: “Baya kukhangela kulowo bamhlabileyo.”

Omnye umntu okhoyo ngeli xesha lokubulawa kwakhe nguYosefu osuka kwisixeko saseArimati, ilungu leNtlanganiso Yamatyala elihloniphekileyo. Akazange avumelane nesenzo esingekho sikweni senkundla ephakamileyo nxamnye noYesu. Eneneni uYosefu ungumfundi kaYesu, nangona ebesoloko esoyika ukuzibonakalisa ekuhleni njengaye. Noko ke, ngoku ubonakalisa inkalipho aze aye kuPilato ukuya kucela umzimba kaYesu. UPilato ubiza umthetheli-khulu ophetheyo, yaye emva kokuba lo mthetheli-khulu eqinisekisile ukuba uYesu ufile, uPilato uyasinikezela esi sidumbu.

UYosefu uthabatha lo mzimba aze awusongele ngelinen entle ecocekileyo ukulungiselela ukuwungcwaba. Uncediswa nguNikodemo, elinye ilungu leNtlanganiso Yamatyala. UNikodemo naye uye wasilela ukubonakalisa ukholo kuYesu ngenxa yokoyika ukulahlekelwa sisikhundla sakhe. Kodwa ngoku uzisa umqulu welaphu oneekhilogram ezimalunga nezingama-33 zemore nekhala elixabisekileyo. Umzimba kaYesu uthandelwa ngezisongelo ezinobu bulawu, kanye ngokwesiko lamaYuda lokulungiselela imizimba eza kungcwatywa.

Wandula ke lo mzimba ubekwe kwingcwaba likaYosefu elitsha elimbiwe eliweni kumyezo okufutshane. Ekugqibeleni, kuqengqelwa ilitye elikhulu emlonyeni wengcwaba. Ukuze umngcwabo wenziwe ngaphambi kweSabatha, lo mzimba ulungiswa ngokungxama. Ngoko ke, uMariya waseMagadala noMariya unina kaYakobi Omnci, ekusenokuba bebencedisa ukulungisa umzimba, bakhawuleza bagoduke ukuya kulungiselela ubulawu neoli eyongezelelekileyo. Yakuba idlulile iSabatha, baceba ukuqhola umzimba kaYesu kwakhona ukuze ungaboli kangangethuba elide.