Lokhu kuhlanganyela okwahlukahlukene kube nomthelela kuwo wonke umuntu ngamunye. Njengamanje, abantu sebengakwazi ngempela ekugcineni ukuzwa ubukhona bukaNkulunkulu ngokweqiniso nokuthi empeleni uNkulunkulu usondelene kakhulu nabo. Nakuba abantu bekholwe kuNkulunkulu iminyaka eminingi, abakaze bayiqonde ngokwempela imicabango kanye nemiqondo Yakhe njengoba benza manje, noma bazizwe ngokweqiniso izenzo Zakhe ezibonakalayo njengoba kwenzeka manje. Noma ngabe ukuhlakanipha noma ukwenza okubonakalayo, abantu abaningi sebefunde into entsha futhi bazuza nokuqonda okukhulu, futhi balibonile iphutha ekufuneni kwabo okwedlule, babona ukukha phezulu kwalokho abadlule kukho nokuthi okuningi akuhambisani nentando kaNkulunkulu, babona nokuthi into umuntu ayiswele kakhulu ulwazi ngesimo sikaNkulunkulu. Lolu lwazi ngasengxenyeni yabantu luwuhlobo lolwazi lwemibono; ukwenyukela ezingeni lolwazi olunengqondo kubiza ukujula kancane kancane kanye nokuqiniswa ngalokho abadlula kukho. Ngaphambi kokuba umuntu aqonde uNkulunkulu ngokweqiniso, ngokwabo kungashiwo ukuthi bayakholwa ebukhoneni bukaNkulunkulu ezinhliziyweni zabo, kodwa abanakho ukuqonda kweqiniso ngemibuzo enjengokuthi Yena empeleni uluhlobo luni lukaNkulunkulu, iyini intando Yakhe, siyini isimo Sakhe, nokuthi ingabe usibheka kanjani ngempela isintu. Lokhu kwehlisa kakhulu ukukholwa kwabantu kuNkulunkulu—ukukholwa kwabo akufinyeleli impela ekubeni msulwa noma ekuphelelisweni. Noma ngabe ubhekene nezwi likaNkulunkulu ubuso nobuso, noma uzwa ukuthi wazane noNkulunkulu ngodlule kukho, kuselokhu kungeke kushiwo namanje ukuthi usuyamqonda ngokugcwele. Ngoba awuyazi imicabango kaNkulunkulu, noma ukuthi uthandani futhi uzondani, yini emthukuthelisayo futhi yini emjabulisayo, awunakho ukumqonda ngokweqiniso. Ukukholwa kwakho kumi esisekelweni esingenaso isiqiniseko kanye nasemicabangweni, kuncike ezifisweni zakho zokuzicabangela. Kusekude kakhulu nenkolo yangempela, futhi usekude kakhulu nokuba ngumlandeli weqiniso. Izincazelo zalezi zibonelo ezisezindabeni zeBhayibheli zivumele abantu ukuba bazi inhliziyo kaNkulunkulu, ukuthi wayecabangani kuso sonke isinyathelo somsebenzi Wakhe ngasinye nokuthi kungani enza lo msebenzi, kwabe kuyini inhloso Yakhe yasekuqaleni kanye nohlelo Lwakhe ngesikhathi ewenza, wawafeza kanjani amasu Akhe, nokuthi walihlelela kanjani futhi walikhulisa kanjani icebo Lakhe. Ngalezi zindaba, singazuza ukuqonda okunemininingwane futhi okuqonde ngqo mayelana nayo yonke inhloso kaNkulunkulu kanye nomcabango okuyiwona wona ngesikhathi seminyaka eyizinkulungwane eziyisithupha somsebenzi Wakhe wokuphatha, kanye nendlela Yakhe abuka ngayo abantu ngezikhathi ezahlukene nangezinkathi ezahlukene. Ukuqonda ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayecabangani, sabe sinjani isimo sengqondo Yakhe, kanye nesimo ayesiveza lapho ebhekana nezimo zonke, kungasiza wonke umuntu ukuthi abone ngokujulile ubukhona Bakhe beqiniso, futhi ngokujulile kakhulu ezwe ubukhona kanye nobuqotho Bakhe. Injongo yami ngokuxoxa lezi zindaba akusikho nje ukuthi abantu baqonde umlando weBhayibheli, futhi akusikho ukubasiza ukuba bajwayele izincwadi zeBhayibheli noma abantu abakulo, futhi ikakhulukazi akusikho ukusiza abantu baqonde isendlalelo salokho uNkulunkulu akwenza ngesikhathi seNkathi Yomthetho. Kungukusiza abantu ukuthi baqonde intando kaNkulunkulu, isimo Sakhe, kanye nazo zonke izingxenye ezincane Zakhe, futhi bazuze kakhulu ukuqonda kanye nolwazi lweqiniso futhi olucophelele ngoNkulunkulu. Ngale ndlela, izinhliziyo zabantu zingavuleleka kuNkulunkulu kancane kancane, zisondele kuNkulunkulu, futhi zingamqonda kangcono, isimo Sakhe, ingqikithi Yakhe, futhi bazi kangcono uNkulunkulu weqiniso uqobo Lwakhe.

Ulwazi ngesimo sikaNkulunkulu kanye nalokhu anakho nayikho Yena, kungaba nomthelela omuhle kubantu. Kungabasiza ukuthi babe nokuzethemba okukhulu kuNkulunkulu, futhi kungabasiza bazuze ukulalela kweqiniso kanye nokumesaba Yena. Ngalokho, abasebona abalandeli abayizimpumputhe, noma abasamkhonzi Yena ngokungaqondi. UNkulunkulu akazifuni iziphukuphuku noma labo abalandela isixuku ngobumpumputhe, kodwa iqembu labantu elinokuqonda nolwazi olucacile ezinhliziyweni zalo ngesimo sikaNkulunkulu futhi abangaba wofakazi baNkulunkulu, abantu abangasoze bamdele uNkulunkulu ngenxa yokuthandeka Kwakhe, ngenxa yalokho anakho nayikho, kanye nangenxa yesimo Sakhe esilungile. Njengomlandeli kaNkulunkulu, uma enhliziyweni yakho kusenokuswela ukucaciseleka, noma kukhona isidididi noma ukuphithizela ngobukhona ngeqiniso bukaNkulunkulu, isimo Sakhe, lokhu anakho nayikho, kanye nohlelo Lwakhe lokusindisa isintu, ngakho ukukholwa kwakho angeke kuzuze ukunconywa nguNkulunkulu. UNkulunkulu akalufuni lolu hlobo lomuntu ukuba lumlandele Yena, futhi akafuni lolu hlobo lomuntu luze phambi Kwakhe. Ngoba lolu hlobo lomuntu alumqondi uNkulunkulu, abakwazi ukunikela izinhliziyo zabo kuNkulunkulu—izinhliziyo zabo zivalekile Kuye, ngakho ukholo lwabo kuNkulunkulu lugcwele ukungcola. Ukulandela kwabo uNkulunkulu kungabizwa kuphela ngokuthi ubumpumputhe. Abantu bangazuza kuphela inkolo yeqiniso futhi babe abalandeli beqiniso uma benolwazi kanye nokuqonda uNkulunkulu ngokweqiniso, lokhu okudala ukulalela nokumesaba Yena kweqiniso. Yingale ndlela kuphela abanganikela ngayo izinhliziyo zabo kuNkulunkulu, bazivulele Yena. Yilokhu uNkulunkulu akufunayo, ngoba konke abakwenzayo nabakucabangayo kungamelana nokuvivinya kukaNkulunkulu, futhi kungaba ubufakazi kuNkulunkulu. Konke engikukhuluma nani mayelana nesimo sikaNkulunkulu, noma lokhu anakho nayikho, noma intando Yakhe kanye nemicabango Yakhe kukho konke akwenzayo, noma ngabe ukubuka ngayiphi indlela, noma ngabe iyiphi indlela engikubeka ngayo, konke lokhu kwenzelwe ukusiza wena ukuba ube nesiqiniseko esikhulu ngobukhona bangempela bukaNkulunkulu, kanye nokuthi niqonde futhi nazise kakhulu uthando Lwakhe athanda ngalo isintu, futhi niqonde niphinde nazise kakhulu ukuzihlupha kukaNkulunkulu ngabantu, kanye nokulangazelela Kwakhe okungazenzisi ukuphatha kanye nokusindisa isintu.

Namuhla sizobeka ngokufingqiwe imicabango, imibono, kanye nakho konke ukusebenza kukaNkulunkulu kusukela ekudaleni abantu, nokuthi sibheke ukuthi imuphi umsebenzi awenza kusukela ekudalweni kwezwe kuze kufike ekuqaleni kweNkathi Yomusa ngokusemthethweni. Ngakho sizokwazi ukuthola ukuthi imiphi imicabango kanye nemibono kaNkulunkulu engaziwa muntu, kusukela lapho-ke sesingachaza ukuhleleka kwecebo likaNkulunkulu lokuphatha, futhi siqonde ngokuphelele isimo uNkulunkulu adalela kuso umsebenzi Wakhe wokuphatha, umsuka wawo kanye nendlela yokuwuthuthukisa, futhi siqonde ngokuphelele ukuthi imiphi imiphumela ayifunayo emsebenzi Wakhe wokuphatha—okusho, umnyombo kanye nenhloso yomsebenzi Wakhe wokuphatha. Ukuze siqonde lezi zinto kumele sibuyele emuva, esikhathini esikude futhi esithule lapho kwakungekho bantu …

Ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu evuka embhedeni Wakhe, umcabango aba nawo kuqala kwakuyilo: ukudala umuntu ophilayo, umuntu ophilayo wangempela—umuntu ozophila Naye futhi abe umhlobo Wakhe njalo. Lo muntu owayezokwazi ukumlalela, futhi uNkulunkulu wayezokwazi ukukhipha isifuba Sakhe kuyena futhi akhulume naye. Kwase kuthi, ngokokuqala ngqa, uNkulunkulu wathatha umhlabathi ogcwele isandla, futhi wawusebenzisa ukudala umuntu wokuqala ngqa ophilayo ayekade emcabanga, wabe esenika lesi sidalwa esiphilayo igama—Adamu. Lapho uNkulunkulu esezuze lo muntu ophilayo futhi ophefumulayo, ingabe Wazizwa kanjani? Ngokokuqala ngqa, wazizwela injabulo yokuba nothandekayo, umhlobo. Ngokokuqala ngqa, waphinde wazizwela umthwalo wokuba ubaba, kanye nokukhathazeka okufika nakho. Lo muntu ophilayo futhi ophefumulayo walethela uNkulunkulu intokozo kanye nenjabulo; wazizwela eduduzekile ngokokuqala ngqa. Lokhu kwakuyinto yokuqala uNkulunkulu ayeyenzile ayengayenzanga ngemicabango noma nangamazwi Akhe, kodwa kwenziwa ngezandla Zakhe zombili. Ngesikhathi lolu hlobo lwesidalwa—umuntu ophilayo futhi ophefumulayo—sima phambi kukaNkulunkulu, senziwe ngenyama negazi, sinomzimba futhi nesimo, futhi sikwazi ukukhuluma noNkulunkulu, Wazizwela uhlobo lwenjabulo ayengakaze aluzwe ngaphambili. Wazizwela ngempela umthwalo futhi lomphefumulo ophilayo akusikho nje ukuthi wawumenza azizwe enozwelo enhliziyweni Yakhe, kodwa konke ngisho nokuncinyane okwakukwenza nakho kwamthinta futhi kwafudumeza inhliziyo Yakhe. Ngakho ngesikhathi lo mphefumulo ophilayo uma phambi kukaNkulunkulu, kwakungokokuqaka efikelwa umcabango wokuba nabantu abaningi abazofana nalo. Lokhu kwakuwuchungechunge lwezehlakalo ezaqala ngomcabango wokuqala uNkulunkulu abe nawo, zonke lezi zehlakalo zazenzeke ngokokuqala, kodwa ngalezi zehlakalo, noma ngabe yini lena abe eyizwa ngaleso sikhathi—injabulo, umthwalo, ukukhathalela—kwakungekho muntu ayengakhuluma naye ngalokhu. Kusukela ngalowo mzuzu, uNkulunkulu waba nomzwangedwa ngempela kanye nosizi ayengakaze aluzwe ngaphambili. Yena wezwa ukuthi abantu babengakwazi ukwamukela noma ukuqonda uthando kanye nokukhathalela Kwakhe, noma izinjongo Zakhe ngesintu, ngalokho Yena waba nokudabuka kanye nobuhlungu enhliziyweni Yakhe. Noma ngabe umuntu wayemenzele le nto, umuntu wayengazi ngayo futhi engaqondi. Ngaphandle nje kwentokozo, ukujabula kanye nenduduzo eyalethwa umuntu Kuye, masinyane yaletha futhi imizwa Yakhe yokuqala yosizi kanye nomzwangedwa. Lena kwakuyimicabango kanye nemizwa kaNkulunkulu ngezikhathi zonke. Ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu ekwenza konke lokhu, enhliziyweni Yakhe wasuka enjabulweni waya osizini, waphinda wasuka osizini waya ezinhlungwini, konke kuxubene nokukhathazeka. Konke ayefuna ukukwenza kwakungukushesha ukuba enze lo muntu, lolu hlanga lwesintu ukuba lwazi ukuthi kwakukhonani enhliziyweni Yakhe futhi luqonde izinjongo Zakhe ngokushesha. Ngalokho, babengakwazi ukuphenduka abalandeli Bakhe futhi babe nhliziyonye Naye. Babengeke besalalele uNkulunkulu ekhuluma kodwa bahlale bengenamazwi; babengeke besahlale bengazi ukuthi bangahlanganyela kanjani noNkulunkulu emsebenzini Wakhe; ngaphezu kwakho konke, babengeke besaba ngabantu abangenandaba nokuthi ziyini izidingo zikaNkulunkulu. Lezi zinto zokuqala uNkulunkulu aziqeda zinenjongo enkulu futhi zibaluleke kakhulu ecebeni Lakhe lokuphatha nakubantu namuhla.

Emva kokudala izinto zonke kanye nabantu, uNkulunkulu akaphumulanga. Wayengasakwazi ukulinda ukuba afeze ukuphatha Kwakhe, noma ukulinda ukuzuza abantu abathandayo phakathi kwesintu.

Okulandelayo, akuphelanga sikhathi emva kokuthi uNkulunkulu edale abantu, siyabona eBhayibhelini ukuthi kwaba nozamcolo emhlabeni wonke. UNowa kukhulunywa ngaye kokulotshiwe ngozamcolo, futhi kungashiwo ukuthi uNowa waba umuntu wokuqala ukwamukela ubizo lukaNkulunkulu lokusebenza Naye ukufeza umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu. Nembala, lokhu kwakungo kokuqala ukuthi uNkulunkulu abize umuntu emhlabeni ukuba enze utho ngomyalo Wakhe. Ngesikhathi uNowa eqeda ukwakha umkhumbi, uNkulunkulu waletha uzamcolo emhlabeni ngokokuqala ngqa. Ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu ebhubhisa umhlaba ngozamcolo, kwakungokokuqala kusukela abadala ukuba azizwe enqotshwa ukunyanya abantu; yilokhu okwaphoqa ukuthi uNkulunkulu athathe isinqumo esibuhlungu sokubhubhisa uhlanga lwesintu ngozamcolo. Emva kokuba uzamcolo usubhubhise izwe, uNkulunkulu wenza isivumelwano Sakhe sokuqala kanye nabantu ukuthi ngeke aphinde akwenze futhi. Uphawu lwesivumelwano kwaba uthingo lwenkosazana. Lokhu kwakuwuphawu lokuqala lukaNkulunkulu lwesivumelwano esintwini; ngakho kwakuyisivumelwano sokuqala esanikwa uNkulunkulu; lesi sivumelwano siyinto ekhona, eyiqiniso futhi ephathekayo. Ubukhona bothingo lwenkosazana obenza ukuba uNkulunkulu abe nosizi ngohlanga lwesintu olwamlahlekela, luhlala luyisikhumbuzo kuYena ngalokhu okwenzeka kubo.... UNkulunkulu ngeke ehlise isivinini ahamba ngaso—akakwazanga ukulinda ukuthatha isinyathelo esilandelayo ekuphatheni Kwakhe. Okwalandela, uNkulunkulu wamqoka u-Abrahama njengokhethiweyo Wakhe wokuqala emkhethela umsebenzi Wakhe ku-Israyeli wonke. Lokhu kwaku ngokokuqala lapho uNkulunkulu eqoka uhlobo olunje lwekhandidethi. UNkulunkulu waphetha ngokuthi aqale ukwenza umsebenzi Wakhe wokuhlenga isintu ngalo muntu, nokuthi aqhubeke nalo msebenzi ezizukulwaneni zalo muntu. Siyabona eBhayibhelini ukuthi yilokhu uNkulunkulu akwenza ku-Abrahama. UNkulunkulu wabe esenza kwa-Israyeli kwaba izwe lokuqala elikhethiweyo, wabe eseqala umsebenzi Wakhe weNkathi Yomthetho ngabantu Bakhe abakhethiweyo, ama-Israyeli. Kwenzeka futhi ngokokuqala, uNkulunkulu wanika ama-Israyeli incwadi yezimiso nemithetho okumele isintu siyilandele, futhi bese iyachazwa kabanzi. Lokhu kwakungokokuqala uNkulunkulu enikeza abantu izimiso eziqondile, futhi ezimile zokuthi kumele bayinikele kanjani imihlatshelo, kumele baphile kanjani, yini okumele bayenze kanye nokumele bangayenzi, imiphi imikhosi nezinsuku okumele bazigcine, kanye nezimiso okumele bazilandele ezintweni zonke ababezenza. Lokhu kwakungokokuqala lapho uNkulunkulu wayenike isintu imigomo nezimiso ezicacile futhi ezimile zezimpilo zabo.

Uma ngithi “okokuqala,” kusho ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayengakaze afeze umsebenzi ofana nalona ngaphambilini. Into eyayingakaze ibe khona ngaphambili, noma ngabe uNkulunkulu wayedale isintu futhi wayedale zonke izinhlobo zezidalwa kanye nezinto eziphilayo, wayengakaze afeze umsebenzi onjalo. Wonke lo msebenzi wawufaka ukuphathwa kwabantu nguNkulunkulu; konke kwakumayelana nabantu kanye nensindiso Yakhe kanye nokuphatha abantu. Emva kuka-Abrahama, uNkulunkulu waphinde wakhetha futhi okokuqala—Yena wakhetha uJobe ukuthi kube nguye ngaphansi komthetho owayengamelana nezilingo zikaSathane ngesikhathi esaqhubeka nokwesaba uNkulunkulu nokubalekela okubi futhi ame amfakazele Yena. Lokhu futhi kwakungokokuqala lapho uNkulunkulu evumela uSathane ukuba alinge umuntu, futhi kwakungokokuqala lapho uNkulunkulu abheje noSathane. Ekugcineni, ngokokuqala, uNkulunkulu wazuza umuntu owayekwazi ukuma engufakazi Wakhe ngesikhathi ebhekene noSathane—umuntu owayezokwazi ukuba ufakazi Wakhe futhi athele ngokupheleleyo uSathane ngehlazo. Selokhu uNkulunkulu wadala isintu, lona wayengumuntu wokuqala ayemzuzile ukuba akwazi ukufakazela Yena. Emva kokuzuza lo muntu, uNkulunkulu wabanogqozi lokuqhubeka nokuphatha Kwakhe nokuthi athathe isigaba esilandelayo emsebenzini Wakhe, elungiselela ukukhetha Kwakhe okulandelayo kanye nendawo Yakhe yokusebenzela.

Emva kokuhlanganyela ngakho konke lokhu, ingabe niyiqonda ngeqiniso intando kaNkulunkulu? UNkulunkulu uthatha lesi sibonelo sokuphatha Kwakhe isintu, sokusindisa kwakhe isintu, njengesibaluleke kakhulu kunoma yini enye. Akakwenzi konke lokhu ngomqondo Wakhe kuphela, noma ngamazwi Akhe kuphela, futhi Yena ikakhulukazi akakwenzi ngokunganaki—ukwenza konke lokhu ngokohlelo, ngenjongo, ngezinga, kanye nentando Yakhe. Kuyacaca ukuthi lo msebenzi wokusindisa isintu ubaluleke kakhulu kuNkulunkulu nakumuntu. Noma ngabe unzima kanjani umsebenzi, noma ngabe zizinkulu kangakanani iziphazamiso, noma ngabe babuthakathaka kanjani abantu, noma ngabe kujule kangakanani ukuhlubuka kwesintu, akukho kulokhu okunzima kuNkulunkulu. UNkulunkulu uzenza matasatasa, efaka amandla Akhe acophelelayo futhi ephatha umsebenzi afuna ukuwenza Yena uqobo Lwakhe. Futhi Yena uhlela konke, futhi ebusa abantu bonke kanye nomsebenzi afuna ukuwuqeda—akukho okwalokhu okwake kwenziwa ngaphambili. Kungokokuqala uNkulunkulu asebenzisa lezi zindlela futhi akhokha nenani elikhulu ngalo msebenzi omkhulu wokuphatha nokusindisa isintu. Ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu esenza lo msebenzi, kancane kancane uveza futhi akhiphe esintwini, ngaphandle kokugodla umsebenzi Wakhe onzima, lokhu anakho nayikho, ukuhlakanipha kanye namandla Akhe, nayo yonke ingxenye yesimo Sakhe. Ukhipha futhi aveze lezi zinto ngendlela angakaze enze ngayo ngaphambili. Ngakho-ke, emhlabeni wonke, ngaphandle kwabantu uNkulunkulu aqonde ukubaphatha nokubasindisa, ayikaze ibe khona noma iyiphi indalo esondelene noNkulunkulu, enobudlelwano obusondelene Naye ngalo luhlobo. Enhliziyweni Yakhe, isintu afuna ukusiphatha nokusisindisa sibalulekile kakhulu, futhi siyigugu Kuye ngaphezu kwakho konke; noma ngabe ekhokhe inani elikhulu ngabo, futhi noma ngabe bemzwisa ubuhlungu futhi bengalaleli, Yena akabadeli futhi uqhubeka ngokungakhathali emsebenzini Wakhe, engenakukhononda futhi engazisoli. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi uyazi ukuthi masinyane noma kungekudala, isintu ngelinye ilanga siyovumela ubizo Lwakhe, futhi sinyakaziswe amazwi Akhe, sibone ukuthi Yena uyiNkosi yendalo, bese sibuyela ngasohlangothini Lwakhe …

Emva kokuzwa konke lokhu namhlanje, ningezwa sengathi konke uNkulunkulu akwenzayo kujwayelekile. Kusengathi abantu bebelokhu beyizwa intando kaNkulunkulu ngabo emazwini Akhe kanye nasemsebenzini Wakhe, kodwa kuhlala njalo kuyibanga elithile phakathi kwemizwa yabo noma ulwazi lwabo kanye nalokhu uNkulunkulu akucabangayo. Ngakho-ke, ngicabanga ukuthi kubalulekile ukukhuluma nabantu bonke ngokuthi kungani uNkulunkulu wadala uhlanga lwesintu, kanye nesendlalelo mayelana nesifiso Sakhe sokuzuza abantu Yena abenethemba ngabo. Kubalulekile ukuhlephulela abantu bonke ngalento, ukuze bonke abantu bacacelwe ezinhliziyweni zabo. Ngoba wonke umcabango kanye nombono, kanye naso sonke isigaba kanye nenkathi yomsebenzi Wakhe ebopheke kuso, kanye nexhumene naso eduze, umsebenzi Wakhe wonke wokuphatha, uma uqonda imicabango kaNkulunkulu, imibono, kanye nentando Yakhe kulo lonke igxathu lo msebenzi Wakhe, kuyafana nokuqonda umthombo womsebenzi wecebo lokuphatha Kwakhe. Kukulesi sisekelo lapho ukuqonda kwakho uNkulunkulu kujula khona. Noma yonke into uNkulunkulu ayenza ngesikhathi eqala ukudala izwe ebengikhulume ngayo ngaphambili kuwumbiko nje kubantu manje, futhi kubukeka sengathi ayinamsebenzi ekufuneni iqiniso, emva kwesikhathi solwazi lwakho kuyoba nosuku lapho ungeke ucabanga ukuthi kuyinto elula njengezicucwana zemininingwane, noma ukuthi into elula njengezimfihlakalo. Ngesikhathi impilo yakho iqhubeka futhi kunokuncane kwesimo sikaNkulunkulu enhliziyweni yakho, noma ngesikhathi usuqonda ngokugcwele nangokujula intando Yakhe, uyakuqonda ngokweqiniso ukubaluleka kanye nesidingo salokhu engikhuluma ngakho namuhla. Akusho lutho ukuthi lento niyamukele ngokungakanani; kubalulekile ukuba niqonde futhi nizazi lezi zinto. Uma uNkulunkulu enza into, uma enza umsebenzi Wakhe, noma ngabe kuyimibono Yakhe noma izandla Zakhe uqobo, noma ngabe kungokokuqala noma uma kungokokugcina—ekugcineni, uNkulunkulu unohlelo, futhi izinjongo Zakhe kanye nemicabango Yakhe kumele isimo sikaNkulunkulu, futhi kuveza lokhu anakho nayikho. Lezi zinto ezimbili—isimo sikaNkulunkulu kanye nalokhu anakho nayikho—kumele ziqondwe yibo bonke. Uma abantu bengaqonda isimo Sakhe kanye nalokhu anakho nayikho, bangaqonda kancane kancane ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukwenzelani lokhu akwenzayo futhi kungani esho lokhu Akushoyo. Kusukela lapho-ke, sebengaba nokukholwa okuthe xaxa ekulandeleni uNkulunkulu, bafune iqiniso, futhi bafuna uguquko esimweni sabo. Lokho kusho ukuthi, ukuqonda komuntu uNkulunkulu kanye nokukholwa kwakhe kuNkulunkulu ngeke ukwehlukanise.

Uma lokhu abantu abathola ukukwazi nokukuqonda kuyisimo sikaNkulunkulu nalokho anakho nayikho, khona-ke lokhu abakuzuzayo kuyoba ukuphila okuvela kuNkulunkulu. Uma le mpilo isisebenzile kuwe, ukwesaba kwakho uNkulunkulu kuyokhula njalo njalo, futhi ukuvuna lesi sivuno kuyazenzekela ngokwemvelo. Uma ungafuni ukuqonda, noma ukwazi ngesimo sikaNkulunkulu noma ingqikithi Yakhe, uma kungukuthi awufuni nokucabanga noma ugxile kulezi zinto, ngingakutshela ngesiqiniseko ukuthi indlela ofuna ngayo ukukholwa kuNkulunkulu njengamanje ngeke ikuvumele ukuba ugculise intando Yakhe noma uzuze indumiso Yakhe. Nangaphezu kwalokho, ngeke uze ukwazi ukufinyelela ensindisweni ngeqiniso—lena imiphumela yokugcina. Uma abantu bengamqondi uNkulunkulu futhi bengasazi isimo Sakhe, izinhliziyo zabo azisoze zavuleleka Kuye. Uma sebemqonda uNkulunkulu, bayoqala bazise futhi bathokozele lokho okusenhliziyweni Yakhe ngokulangazelela kanye nokukholwa. Uma wazisa futhi uthokozela lokho okusenhliziyweni Yakhe, inhliziyo yakho iyovuleleka Kuye ngokuqhubeka, kancane kancane. Ngesikhathi inhliziyo ivuleleka Kuye, uyozizwela ukuthi ukuxoxa kwakho noNkulunkulu kuyihlazo futhi kuyadeleleka, izimfuno zakho kuNkulunkulu, kanye nezifiso zakho ezivile. Ngesikhathi inhliziyo yakho ivuleleka ngeqiniso kuNkulunkulu, uzobona ukuthi inhliziyo yakho ifana nezwe elingenamkhawulo, futhi uzobe usungena endaweni ongakaze ungene kuyo ngaphambili. Kule ndawo akukho ubuqili, ayikho inkohliso, abukho ubumnyama, kanye nobubi. Kukhona kuphela ubuqotho kanye nokwethembeka; ukukhanya nokuqonda ngqo kuphela; ukulunga nomusa kuphela. Igcwele uthando nokunakekela, igcwele uzwelo nokubekezelelana, futhi ngayo uyazizwela intokozo nenjabulo yokuphila. Lezi zinto yilezo azozembula kuwe Yena uma uvulela uNkulunkulu inhliziyo yakho. Leli zwe elingenamkhawulo ligcwele ukuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu, ligcwele amandla onke Akhe; ligcwele uthando Lwakhe kanye negunya Lakhe. Lapho ungabona zonke izingxenye zokuthi uNkulunkulu unani futhi ungubani, yini emlethela injabulo, kungani ekhathazeka futhi kungani eba lusizi, kungani ethukuthela…. Yilokhu okungabonwa yiwo wonke umuntu ovula inhliziyo yakhe bese evumela uNkulunkulu ukuba angene. UNkulunkulu angangena kuphela enhliziyweni yakho uma uyivulela Yena. Ungabona kuphela ukuthi uNkulunkulu unani futhi ungubani, futhi ungabona kuphela intando Yakhe ngawe, uma esengenile enhliziyweni yakho. Ngaleso sikhathi, uyothola ukuthi yonke into ngoNkulunkulu iyigugu, lokho anakho nayikho kufanele kube yigugu. Uma uqhathanisa nalokho, abantu abakuzungezile, izinto nezigameko empilweni yakho, kanye nabathandiweyo bakho, umlingani wakho, kanye nezinye izinto ozithandayo, azifanele nokuphathwa. Zincane kakhulu, futhi ziphansi kakhulu; uyozwa ukuthi ayikho into ephathekayo eyoke ikwazi ukuphinde ikudonse, futhi ngeke ziphinde zikwazi ukukukhokhisa noma yiliphi inani. Ekuthobekeni kukaNkulunkulu uyobona ubukhulu Bakhe nobukhosi Bakhe; nangaphezu kwalokho, entweni ayenzile, okholwa ukuthi incane impela, uyobona ukuhlakanipha Kwakhe okungenamkhawulo kanye nokubekezelela Kwakhe, uyobona isineke Sakhe, ukuzithiba kwakhe, kanye nokuqonda wena Kwakhe. Lokhu kuyodala uthando Lwakhe kuwe. Ngalolo suku, uzozizwela ukuthi isintu siphila ezweni elingcolile kakhulu, ukuthi abantu abangakuwe kanye nezinto ezenzeka empilweni yakho, kanye nalabo obathandayo, uthando lwabo kuwe, kanye nokuvikela-mbumbulu kwabo noma ukukhathalela kwabo wena akufanele nokuphathwa—uNkulunkulu kuphela ongothandiweyo wakho, futhi uNkulunkulu kuphela oyigugu kakhulu. Ngesikhathi lufika lolo suku, ngiyakholwa kuyoba khona abantu abathi: Uthando lukaNkulunkulu lukhulu, futhi ingqikithi Yakhe ingcwele—kuNkulunkulu ayikho inkohliso, abukho ububi, awukho umhobholo, futhi akukho ukuxabana, kodwa ukulunga neqiniso, futhi yonke into uNkulunkulu Anayo Nayiyo kumele ilangazelelwe ngabantu. Abantu kumele bakulwele futhi bakuphokophelele. Iziphi izisekelo ezizokwenza ukuba isintu sikwazi ukufeza lesi sakhiwo? Sakhiwe esisekelweni esiwukuqonda isimo sikaNkulunkulu, kanye nokuqonda ingqikithi kaNkulunkulu. Ngakho ukuqonda isimo sikaNkulunkulu kanye nalokhu anakho nayikho, kuyisifundo sempilo yonke yawo wonke umuntu, futhi kuyinjongo yempilo yonke efunwa umuntu wonke olwela ukuguqula isimo sakhe, futhi olwela ukumazi uNkulunkulu.

Kade sikhuluma ngawo wonke umsebenzi ofezwe nguNkulunkulu, uchungechunge lwezinto Azenzile ngokokuqala. Ngayinye yalezi zinto iyahambisana nohlelo lukaNkulunkulu lokuphatha, kanye nentando kaNkulunkulu. Ziyahambisana futhi nesimo Sakhe uNkulunkulu kanye nobunjalo Bakhe. Uma sifuna ukuqonda ngokwengeziwe lokhu uNkulunkulu anakho nayikho, angeke sikwazi ukumisa iTestamente Elidala noma iNkathi Yomthetho, kodwa kuzomele siqhubekele phambili ngokuhambisana nezinyathelo ezathathwa uNkulunkulu emsebenzini Wakhe. Ngakho, njengoba uNkulunkulu eqede iNkathi Yomthetho wabe eseqala iNkathi Yomusa, izinyathelo zethu sezifike eNkathini Yomusa—inkathi egcwele umusa nokuhlengwa. Kule nkathi, uNkulunkulu waphinde wenza into ebaluleke kakhulu ngokokuqala. Umsebenzi kule nkathi entsha wawuyisiqalo esisha kubo bobabili, uNkulunkulu nesintu. Isiqalo esisha sasingewona futhi umsebenzi omusha uNkulunkulu awenzile ngokokuqala. Lo msebenzi omusha kwakuyinto eyayingakaze ibe khona, uNkulunkulu ayenza futhi eyayingakaze icatshangwe ngabantu noma izidalwa zonke. Sekuyinto eyaziwa kakhulu kubantu bonke—lokhu kwakungokokuqala uNkulunkulu aphenduka umuntu, kwakungokokuqala eqala ukusebenza enesimo somuntu, futhi efana nomuntu. Lo msebenzi omusha ufanekisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayeqede umsebenzi Wakhe ngeNkathi Yomthetho, ukuze Yena angabe esenza noma esasho lutho ngaphansi komthetho. Angabe esakhuluma noma asho noma yini ngokwesimo somthetho noma ngokwezimiso noma imigomo Yomthetho. Okungukuthi, wonke umsebenzi Wakhe osekelwe umthetho wamiswa ingunaphakade futhi ngeke usaqhutshezwa, ngoba uNkulunkulu wayefuna ukuqala umsebenzi omusha kanye nokwenza izinto ezintsha, icebo Lakhe labuye laba nesiqalo esisha futhi. Ngakho, uNkulunkulu wayehole isintu enkathini elandelayo.

Noma ngabe lokhu kwakuyizindaba ezithokozisayo noma ezesabekayo kubantu kuncike ekutheni yayinjani ingqikithi yabo. Kungashiwo ukuthi lokhu kwakungesizo izindaba ezithokozisayo, kodwa kwakuyizindaba ezesabekayo kwabanye abantu, ngoba ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu eqala umsebenzi Wakhe omusha, labo bantu ababelandela imithetho nezimiso, ababelandela izifundiso kodwa bengamesabi uNkulunkulu bevame ukusebenzisa umsebenzi omdala kaNkulunkulu ukuze bahlulele umsebenzi Wakhe omusha. Ngokuba kulaba bantu, lezi kwakuyizindaba ezesabekayo, kodwa kuwo wonke umuntu owayemsulwa futhi evulelekile, eqotho kuNkulunkulu futhi ezimisele ukwamukela ukuhlenga Kwakhe, ngokokuqala uNkulunkulu ethatha isimo somuntu kwaba izindaba ezithokozisayo. Ngenxa yokuthi kwakunabantu, lokhu kwakungokokuqala uNkulunkulu ebonakala futhi ehlala phakathi kwesintu enesimo esingewona uMoya; kunalokho, wazalwa umuntu futhi waphila phakathi kwabantu njengeNdodana yomuntu, futhi wasebenza phakathi kwabo. Lokhu “ngokokuqala” kwadilizwa imibono yabantu futhi kwakungaphezu kokucabanga konke. Ngaphezu kwalokho, bonke abalandeli baNkulunkulu bathola inzuzo ephathekayo. UNkulunkulu akagcinanga kuphela ngokuqeda inkathi endala, kodwa waqeda kanye nezindlela Zakhe ezindala zokusebenza. Wayengasazivumeli izithunywa Zakhe ukuba zidlulise intando Yakhe, futhi Yena wayengasacashile emafini, futhi wayengasaveli noma akhulume ngokuphoqa kubantu ngokuduma kwezulu. Ngokungafani nanoma yini ngaphambili, ngendlela engacabangeki kubantu futhi eyayinzima ukuba bayiqonde noma bayamukele—ukuba athathe isimo senyama—waba iNdodana yomuntu ukuze azothuthukisa umsebenzi waleyo nkathi. Lesi senzo sikaNkulunkulu sasizuma kakhulu isintu; futhi sasidumaza, ngokuba uNkulunkulu wayesephinde waqala umsebenzi omusha ayengakaze awenze ngaphambili. Namuhla, sizobheka ukuthi imuphi lo msebenzi omusha uNkulunkulu awenza ngenkathi entsha, futhi kuwo wonke lo msebenzi omusha, isiphi isimo sikaNkulunkulu kanye nalokhu anakho nayikho esingakuqonda?

Lokhu okulandelayo kungamazwi abhaliwe eTestamenteni Elisha leBhayibheli.

1. UMathewu 12:1 Ngaleso sikhathi uJesu wahamba phakathi kwamasimu ommbila ngesabatha; futhi abafundi Bakhe babelambile, base beqala ukukha izikhwebu ukuze badle.

2 UMathewu 12:6-8 Kepha ngithi kini, Lapha kukhona omkhulu kunethempeli. Kepha ukuba benazi ukuthi lokhu kusho ukuthini, ngizoba nesihawu, futhi hhayi umhlatshelo, ngabe ningabalahlanga laba abangenacala. Ngokuba iNdodana yomuntu iyiNkosi ngisho yosuku lwesabatha.

Ake sibheke lesi siqephu kuqala: “Ngaleso sikhathi uJesu wahamba phakathi kwamasimu ommbila ngesabatha; futhi abafundi Bakhe babelambile, base beqala ukukha izikhwebu ukuze badle.”

Kungani sikhethe lesi siqephu? Sihlangana kanjani nesimo sikaNkulunkulu? Kulo mbhalo, okokuqala esikwaziyo ukuthi kwakulusuku lweSabatha, kodwa iNkosi uJesu waphumela ngaphandle futhi waholela abafundi Bakhe emasimini. “Okubi” nakakhulu ukuthi baze “baqala ukukha izikhwebu ukuze badle.” NgeNkathi Yomthetho, imithetho kaJehova uNkulunkulu yayithi abantu akumele nje baphume phandle noma bazibandakanye nezinto ezenziwa ngeSabatha—zaziziningi izinto okwakungamele ukuba zenziwe ngeSabatha. Lesi senzo seNkosi uJesu sasidida kulabo ababephile ngaphansi komthetho isikhathi eside, futhi savusa ukugxekwa. Mayelana nokudideka kwabo kanye nangendlela abakhuluma ngayo ngalokhu uJesu akwenza, sizokubuyisela eceleni okwamanje bese siqala ngokugxila ekutheni kungani wakhetha ukukwenza ngeSabatha, phakathi kwazo zonke izinsuku, nanokuthi yini lena ayefuna ukuyikhuluma kubantu ababehlala phansi komthetho ngalesi senzo. Lokhu ukuxhumana phakathi kwalesi siqephu kanye nesimo sikaNkulunkulu engifuna ukukhuluma ngaso.

Ngesikhathi ifika iNkosi uJesu, yasebenzisa izenzo ezibonakalayo ukuze ikhulume nabantu: UNkulunkulu wayesesukile eNkathini Yomthetho futhi eseqale umsebenzi omusha, kanti lo msebenzi omusha wawungadingi ukugcinwa kweSabatha; ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu ephuma emikhawulweni yosuku lweSabatha, lokhu kwakungamazwibela omsebenzi Wakhe omusha, umsebenzi wangempela futhi omkhulu wawuseza. Ngesikhathi iNkosi uJesu iqala umsebenzi Wayo, yayisishiye ngemuva izintambo zeNkathi Yomthetho, futhi yayisidlubulundele emigomeni nezimiso zangaleyo nkathi. Kuyena, kwakungekho nokuncane oluhambisana nomthetho; Wayesewulahla ngokuphelele futhi engasawugcini, futhi wayengasadingi ukuba isintu siwugcine. Ngakho lapha uyabona ukuthi iNkosi uJesu yadabula emasimini ngeSabatha; iNkosi ayiphumulanga, kodwa yayingaphandle isebenza. Lesi senzo Sakhe sethusa indlela abantu ababecabanga ngayo futhi Wabatshela ukuthi Yena akasaphili ngaphansi komthetho, nanokuthi useyishiyile imikhawulo yeSabatha wabe esevela phambi kwesintu futhi phakathi kwabo ngomfanekiso omusha, nange ndlela entsha yokusebenza. Lesi senzo Sakhe satshengisa abantu ukuthi Yena ufike nomsebenzi omusha owaqala ngokuthi uphume emthethweni futhi uphume naseSabatheni. Ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu enza umsebenzi Wakhe omusha, akabuyanga esanamathela kokudala, futhi wayengasakhathazekile ngezinqubo zeNkathi Yomthetho. Futhi wayengaphazamiswa umsebenzi Wakhe wangenkathi engaphambilini, kodwa Wasebenza ngokujwayelekile ngeSabatha futhi ngesikhathi abafundi Bakhe sebelambile, bakha izikhwebu badla. Konke lokhu kwakujwayelekile emehlweni kaNkulunkulu. UNkulunkulu wayengaba nesiqalo esisha somsebenzi Wakhe omningi afuna ukuwenza kanye nezinto afuna ukuzisho. Uma eke waba nesiqalo esisha, Yena akabe esakhuluma ngomsebenzi Wakhe omdala noma aqhubeke nawo. Ngokuba uNkulunkulu unezimiso Zakhe emsebenzini Wakhe. Ngesikhathi Yena efuna ukwenza umsebenzi omusha, kungesikhathi lapho efuna ukuletha isintu esigabeni esisha somsebenzi Wakhe, futhi lapho umsebenzi Wakhe usungene esigabeni esiphezulu ngokuthe xaxa. Uma abantu beqhubeka nokwenza ngendlela yokushiwo kudala noma imigomo noma beqhubeka nokubambelela kukho, Yena ngeke akukhumbule noma akutuse lokho. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi Yena uselethe umsebenzi omusha, futhi usengene esigabeni esisha somsebenzi Wakhe. Uma eqala umsebenzi omusha, Uvela kubantu enomfanekiso omusha, ngasohlangothini olusha sha, futhi nangendlela entsha sha ukuze abantu babone izingxenye ezahlukene zesimo Sakhe kanye nalokhu anakho nayikho. Lena enye yezinjongo Zakhe emsebenzini Wakhe omusha. UNkulunkulu akabambeleli kokudala noma athathe indlela eyaziwayo; uma Yena esebenza futhi ekhuluma, akukho nzima ngale ndlela abantu abacabanga ngayo. KuNkulunkulu, konke kumahhala futhi kukhululiwe, futhi akukho ukuthikanyezwa, akukho izithiyo—lokhu akuletha esintwini inkululeko nokukhululwa kodwa. UnguNkulunkulu ophilayo, uNkulunkulu okhona ngobuqotho nangeqiniso. Yena akasiwo unodoli noma isithombe sobumba, futhi uhluke kakhulu ezithixweni abantu abazingcwelisayo futhi bazidumise. Yena uyaphila futhi unomdlandla, futhi lokho okulethwa amazwi nomsebenzi Wakhe kubantu kungukuphila kanye nokukhanya kuphela, inkululeko nokukhululwa kuphela, ngokuba uphethe iqiniso, ukuphila, kanye nendlela—Akakhinyabezwa yilutho kunoma imuphi umsebenzi Wakhe. Noma ngabe abantu bathini futhi noma ngabe babona kanjani noma bawuhlola kanjani umsebenzi Wakhe omusha, Uzokwenza umsebenzi Wakhe ngaphandle kokukhononda. Akakhathazeki ngemicabanga yanoma ubani noma ngeminwe ekhomba ngokusola emsebenzini nasemazwini Akhe, ngisho noma ukumelana nokuphikisana kwabo Naye okunamandla, emsebenzini Wakhe omusha. Akukho noyedwa phakathi kwendalo ongasebenzisa ukucabanga komuntu, noma ukubona ngamehlo engqondo komuntu, ulwazi, noma ubuqotho bomuntu ukukala noma ukuchaza lokhu okwenziwa uNkulunkulu, ukujivaza noma ukuketula umsebenzi Wakhe. Akukho ukuthikanyezwa emsebenzini Wakhe nakulokho kwenzayo, futhi ngeke kwavinjwa yinoma imuphi umuntu, into, noma okuthile, futhi ngeke aphazanyiswa imimoya yobutha. Ngokomsebenzi Wakhe omusha, uhlala njalo eyiNkosi enqobayo, kanti noma iyiphi imimoya yobutha kanye nawo wonke amahlubuka kanye nabakhohlisi esintwini, bonke bacindezelekile ngaphansi kwezinyawo Zakhe. Noma ngabe umsebenzi Wakhe awenzayo ukusiphi isigaba esisha, nakanjani uzothuthukiswa futhi ukhuliswe phakathi kwesintu, futhi nakanjani uzokwenziwa ngaphandle kokuthikanyezwa emhlabeni wonke kuze kube sekuphethweni komsebenzi Wakhe omkhulu. Lona uNkulunkulu onamandla onke nokuhlakanipha, kanye negunya namandla. Ngakho, iNkosi uJesu yayingaphumela phandle ngokusobala futhi isebenze ngosuku lweSabatha ngokuba enhliziyweni Yayo yayingekho imigomo, futhi lwalungekho ulwazi noma isifundiso esavela esintwini. Lokhu ayenakho kwakungumsebenzi kaNkulunkulu omusha kanye nendlela Yakhe, futhi umsebenzi Wakhe wawuyindlela yokukhulula abantu, ukubadedela, ukubavumela ukuba babekhona ekukhanyeni, nokubavumela ukuba baphile. Kanti labo abakhonza izithixo noma onkulunkulu bamanga baphila nsuku zonke beboshiwe uSathane, bebanjwe yilo lonke uhlobo lwemigomo namahlazo—namhlanje into eyodwa ayivumelekile, kusasa enye—ayikho inkululeko ezimpilweni zabo. Bafana neziboshwa zifakwe ozankosi, ayisaphathwa eyenjabulo. Ingabe “ukuthiywa” kumele ini? Kumele izingqinamba, izibopho, kanye nobubi. Ngesikhathi umuntu eseqala ukukhonza izithixo, bakhonza unkulunkulu wamanga, bakhonza umoya omubi. Izithiyo ziza kanye nalokhu. Angeke udle lokhu nalokhuya, namhlanje awukwazi ukuphuma phandle, kusasa awukwazi ukulayitha isitofu, ngosuku olulandelayo awukwazi ukungena endlini entsha, kumele kukhethwe izinsuku ezithile zemishado nemingcwabo, kubandakanya nokuzalwa kwabantwana. Kubizwa ngokuthini lokhu? Lokhu kubizwa ngokuthi yisithiyo; kungukuboshwa kwesintu, izintambo zikaSathane kanye nemimoya emibi ebalawulayo, ebamba izinhliziyo kanye nemizimba yabo. Ingabe lezi zithiyo zikhona kuNkulunkulu? Uma ukhuluma ngobungcwele bukaNkulunkulu, kumele ucabange lokhu kuqala: KuNkulunkulu azikho izivimbelo. UNkulunkulu unezimiso emazwini nasemsebenzini Wakhe, kodwa azikho izithiyo, ngokuba uNkulunkulu uqobo Lwakhe uyiqiniso, indlela, nokuphila.

Manje ake sibheke kulesi siqephu esilandelayo, “Kepha ngithi kini, Lapha kukhona omkhulu kunethempeli. Kepha ukuba benazi ukuthi lokhu kusho ukuthini, ngizoba nesihawu, futhi hhayi umhlatshelo, ngabe ningabalahlanga laba abangenacala. Ngokuba iNdodana yomuntu iyiNkosi ngisho yosuku lwesabatha” (UMathewu 12:6-8). Ingabe “ithempeli” lichazani la? Ukukubeka ngendlela elula, “ithempeli” isakhiwo esimangalisayo, eside, futhi eNkathini Yomthetho, ithempeli kwakuyindawo yabapristi yokukhonza uNkulunkulu. Ngesikhathi iNkosi uJesu ithi “lapha kukhona omkhulu kunethempeli,” ingabe kwakumele bani ukuthi “kukhona”? Ngokucacile, ukuthi “kukhona” kumele iNkosi uJesu enyameni, ngoba uYena kuphela owabe emkhulu kunethempeli. Lawo mazwi ayebatshelani abantu? Ayetshela abantu ukuba baphume ethempelini—uNkulunkulu wayesephumile futhi engasasebenzi kulo, ngakho kumele abantu bafune izinyathelo zikaNkulunkulu ngaphandle kwethempeli bese belandela izinyathelo Zakhe emsebenzini Wakhe omusha. Isendlalelo seNkosi uJesu lapho isho lokhu, ukuthi ngaphansi komthetho, abantu kwasekufike lapho babebona ithempeli njengento enkulu kunoNkulunkulu uqobo Lwakhe. Okungukuthi, abantu babekhonza ithempeli ngaphezu kukaNkulunkulu, ngakho iNkosi uJesu yabexwayisa ngokuthi akumele bakhonze izithixo, kodwa kufanele bakhonze uNkulunkulu ngokuba Yena uphakeme kunakho konke. Yingakho, Yena wathi: “Ngizoba nesihawu, futhi hhayi umhlatshelo.” Kusobala ukuthi emehlweni eNkosi uJesu, abantu abaningi ngaphansi komthetho babengasamkhonzi uJehova, kodwa babenza inqubo yomhlatshelo, futhi iNkosi uJesu yanquma ukuthi le nqubo yayi wukukhonza izithixo. Laba bakhonzi bezithixo babebona ithempeli kuyinto enkulu, futhi ephakeme kunoNkulunkulu. Ezinhliziyweni zabo kwakukhona ithempeli kuphela, hhayi uNkulunkulu, futhi uma belahlekelwe ithempeli, balahlekelwe indawo yokuhlala. Ngaphandle kwethempeli babengenayo indawo yokukhonza futhi bengakwazi nokwenza imihlatshelo yabo. Le ndawo yabo ebizwa ngokuthi indawo yokuhlala lapho abasebenzela khona egameni lokuthi bakhazimulisa uJehova uNkulunkulu, yayibavumela ukuba bahlale ethempelini kodwa bezenzela izinto zabo. Nalokhu okubizwa ngokuthi ukwenza imihlatshelo kwabo, kwakuwukwenza izinto zabo zehlazo ngaphansi kwesisithezo sokwenza inkonzo yabo ethempelini. Lesi kwakuyisizathu sokuba abantu ngaleso sikhathi babone ithempeli lilikhulu kunoNkulunkulu. Ngokuba babesebenzisa ithempeli njengesimbozo, nomhlatshelo njengesi sithezo sokukhohlisa abantu kanye nokukhohlisa uNkulunkulu, iNkosi uJesu yakusho lokhu ukwexwayisa abantu. Uma nisebenzisa la mazwi esikhathini samanje, avumelekile ngokulingana futhi afanelekile ngokulingana. Noma-ke abantu namhlanje sebebone imisebenzi eyahlukene kaNkulunkulu kuneyabonwa abantu beNkathi Yomthetho, isimo semvelo yabo siyafana. Engqikithini yomsebenzi wanamuhla, abantu bayoqhubeka nokwenza izinto ezifanayo nalezi ngoba “ithempeli likhulu kunoNkulunkulu.” Isibonelo, abantu babona ukufeza izimfanelo zabo njengomsebenzi wabo; babona ukufakazela uNkulunkulu nokulwa nodrako obomvu njengenhlangano yezepolitiki ivikela amalungelo abantu, intando yeningi kanye nenkululeko; baphendula izimfanelo zabo ukuze basebenzise amakhono abo abe njengemisebenzi yabo, kodwa ukwesaba uNkulunkulu noma ukuyeka okubi bakwenza ize, kodwa bakwenza ingxenyana yesifundiso senkolo okumele sigcinwe; kanye nokunye. Lokhu abantu abakuvezayo akuve kungokufanayo njengalokhu “ithempeli likhulu kunoNkulunkulu”? Ngaphandle ngokuthi eminyakeni eyizinkulungwane ezimbili eyedlule, abantu babenza izinto eziqondene nabo ethempelini eliphathekayo, kodwa namhlanje, abantu benza imisebenzi yabo ethempelini elingaphatheki. Labo bantu abayithatha njengegugu imigomo, babona imigomo imikhulu kunoNkulunkulu, labo bantu abathanda ukugqama babona ukugqama kukukhulu kunoNkulunkulu, labo abathanda imisebenzi yabo bayibona imikhulu ngaphezu kukaNkulunkulu, njalo njalo—konke lokhu abakuvezayo Mina kungiholela ekutheni ngithi: “Abantu badumisa uNkulunkulu njengomkhulu kakhulu ngamazwi abo, kodwa ngokwamehlo abo konke kukhulu kunoNkulunkulu.” Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi abantu bazitholela amathuba abo endleleni yabo yokulandela uNkulunkulu ukuveza amakhono abo, noma ukwenza amabhizinisi abo noma imisebenzi yabo yokuziphilisa, bayaziqhelelanisa noNkulunkulu bese bezinikela emisebenzini yokuziphilisa abayithandayo. Kepha lokhu uNkulunkulu abanike khona ngokubathembe, nentando Yakhe, lezo zinto kade zalahlwa. Kulesi sithombe, yini ehlukile ngalaba bantu kunalabo abazenzela imisebenzi yabo ethempelini eminyakeni eyizinkulungwane ezimbili eyedlule?

Okulandelayo, ake sibheke umusho wokugcina kulesi siqephu sombhalo: “Ngokuba iNdodana yomuntu iyiNkosi ngisho yosuku lwesabatha.” Ingabe lukhona yini uhlangothi olungokoqobo kulo musho? Ingabe niyalubona uhlangothi olungokoqobo kulokhu? Yonke into uNkulunkulu ayishoyo ivela enhliziyweni Yakhe, ngakho kungani washo lokhu? Niyiqonda kanjani le nto? Seningayiqonda incazelo yalo musho manje, kodwa ngaleso sikhathi abantu abaningi abaqondanga ngenxa yokuthi isintu sasisanda kuphuma eNkathini Yomthetho. Kubona, ukuphuma eSabatheni kwakuyinto enzima kakhulu ukuyenza, angisakhulumi ngokuqonda ukuthi liyini iSabatha leqiniso.

Umusho othi “iNdodana yomuntu iyiNkosi ngisho yosuku lwesabatha.” utshela abantu ukuthi zonke izinto zikaNkulunkulu aziphatheki, futhi-ke noma uNkulunkulu angafeza izidingo zakho eziphathekayo, emva kokuba zonke izidingo zakho eziphathekayo sezifeziwe, ukwaneliseka kwakho ngalezi zinto kungayithatha yini indawo yokufuna iqiniso? Lokhu ngokucacileyo akunakwenzeka! Isimo sikaNkulunkulu kanye nalokhu ayikho nayikho esesixoxe ngakho, kokubili kuyiqiniso. Ngeke kwalinganiswa nenani elisindayo lezinto eziphathekayo noma isigqi sakho sikalwe ngemali, ngoba akusiyona into ephathekayo, futhi kufeza izidingo zenhliziyo yomuntu ngamunye. Kuwona wonke umuntu, inani leqiniso elingaphatheki kumele libe likhulu kunenani lanoma yiziphi izinto ocabanga ukuthi zinhle, zilungile. La mazwi ayinto okumele nihlale kuyo. Iphuzu elisemqoka kulokhu engikushilo ukuthi ilokhu uNkulunkulu anakho nayikho kanye nakho konke OkukaNkulunkulu kuyizinto ezibaluleke kakhulu kuwona wonke umuntu futhi azikwazi ukumelwa yinoma iyiphi into ephathekayo. Ngizokunika isibonelo: Uma ulambile, udinga ukudla. Lokhu kudla kungaba nempilo noma kube kweswele impilo, kodwa inqobo nje uma usuthile, lowo muzwa ongemnandi wokulamba angeke usaba khona—usuhambile. Ungahlala lapho ngokuthula, nomzimba wakho uyophumula. Ukulamba kwabantu kungaxazululeka ngokudla, kodwa uma ulandela uNkulunkulu futhi uzwa ukuthi awunakho ukumqonda, ungakuxazulula kanjani ukulamba enhliziyweni yakho? Kungaxazululeka ngokudla na? Noma uma ulandela uNkulunkulu futhi ungayiqondi intando Yakhe, ungasebenzisani ukuze uvale lokhu kulamba enhliziyweni yakho? Ekuqhubekeni kohambo lwakho lwensindiso noNkulunkulu, ngesikhathi ufuna uguquko esimweni sakho, uma ungayiqondi intando Yakhe noma ungazi ukuthi liyini iqiniso, uma ungasiqondi isimo sikaNkulunkulu, akukwenzi yini uzizwe ungakhululekile? Awuzizwa yini usulambile futhi womile kakhulu enhliziyweni yakho? Akwenzeki yini ukuthi le mizwa ikuvimbele ekutheni uzwe uphumule enhliziyweni yakho? Ngalokho, yini ongayenza ukuvala lokhu kulamba okusenhliziyweni yakho—ingabe ikhona indlela yokukuxazulula? Abanye abantu baya ezitolo, abanye bathola abangani babo ukuba bavule isifuba sabo kubo, balala besuthi, abanye bafunda kakhulu amazwi kaNkulunkulu, noma basebenze kanzima futhi bazikhandla ukugcwalisa izimfanelo zabo. Ingabe lezi zinto zingaxazulula izingqinamba zakho zangempela? Nonke niziqonda ngokugcwele izinhlobo zale mikhuba. Uma uzizwa ungenamandla, uma uzwa ukulangazelela okunamandla kokuba uzuze ukukhanyiselwa nguNkulunkulu ukuba akuvumele ukuba wazi iqiniso uqobo kanye nentando Yakhe, ingabe yini oyidinga kakhulu? Okudingayo akusikhona ukudla okugcwele, futhi akusiwo amazwi ambalwa. Ngaphezu kwalokho, akusikho ukunethezeka okwadlulayo kanye nokwaneliseka kwenyama—okudingayo ukuthi uNkulunkulu akutshele wena ngqo, ngokucacile ukuthi kumele wenzeni futhi ukwenze kanjani, futhi akutshele ngokucacile ukuthi liyini iqiniso. Emva kokuqonda lokhu, noma ngabe into encane kakhulu, awuzizweli yini wanelisekile enhliziyweni yakho kunokuba ubuzidlele ukudla? Uma inhliziyo yakho yanelisekile, akwenzeki yini ukuba inhliziyo yakho, ubuwena bonke, buzuze ukuphumula kwangempela? Ngalesi sifaniso kanye nokuhlaziya, ingabe niyaqonda manje ukuthi kungani bengifuna ukwabelana nani lo musho, “iNdodana yomuntu iyiNkosi ngisho yosuku lwesabatha”? Incazelo yawo ukuthi lokho okuvela kuNkulunkulu, lokhu anakho nayikho, nakho konke Okwakhe kukhulu kunezinto zonke, kubandakanya nento, noma umuntu owake wakholwa ukuthi uyigugu kakhulu kuwe. Lokho kusho ukuthi, uma umuntu engenakho ukuba namazwi avela emlonyeni kaNkulunkulu noma engaqondi intando Yakhe, ngeke azuze ukuphumula. Kulokhu enisazodlula kukho, niyoqonda ukuthi kungani bengifuna ukuba nibone lesi siqephu namuhla—lokhu kubaluleke kakhulu. Yonke into uNkulunkulu ayenzayo iyiqiniso nokuphila. Iqiniso le sintu kuyinto abangeke bayiswele ezimpilweni zabo, ngeke baphile ngaphandle kwayo; ungasho futhi ukuthi iyonanto enkulu kakhulu. Noma ungeke wakwazi ukuyibona, noma ukuyithinta, ukubaluleka kwayo kuwe ngeke ukuzibe; iyonanto kuphela engaletha ukuphumula enhliziyweni yakho.

Ingabe ukuqonda kwenu iqiniso kuyahambisana nezimo zenu? Empilweni yangempela, kumele kuqala ucabange ukuthi iliphi iqiniso elihambisana nabantu, izinto nje, kanye nezinto ezibonakalayo ohlangabezane nazo; kuphakathi kwala maqiniso lapho ongakwazi khona ukuthola intando kaNkulunkulu bese uyaxhumana nentando Yakhe. Uma ungazi ukuthi iziphi izingxenye zeqiniso ezihambisana nezinto ohlangabezane nazo, kodwa uqonde ekufuneni intando kaNkulunkulu, le ndlela inobumpumputhe futhi angeke ilethe imiphumela. Uma ufuna ukuthola intando kaNkulunkulu, kumele kuqala ubheke uhlobo lwe zinto ezizile kuwe, iziphi izingxenye zeqiniso ezihambisana nazo, futhi bese ubheka iqiniso ezwini likaNkulunkulu elihambisana nezinto ohlangabezane nazo. Bese ubheka indlela yokwenza okuhle okukulelo qiniso; ngale ndlela ungazuza intando kaNkulunkulu ngokuqonda okungekho sobala. Ukufuna kanye nokwenza iqiniso akusikho ukwenza isifundiso ngomshini noma ukulandela ifomula. Iqiniso alina ndlela, noma umthetho wokulenza. Alifile—liwukuphila, liyinto ephilayo, futhi kuwumgomo ukuthi isidalwa kumele sililandele futhi umgomo abantu okumele babe nawo empilweni yabo. Lokhu yinto okumele uyiqonde kakhulu ngokwenzekile. Noma ngabe ufike kuliphi izinga ngokwesipiliyoni sakho, awuhlukaniseki nezwi likaNkulunkulu noma iqiniso, futhi nalokhu ukuqonda ngesimo sikaNkulunkulu kanye nalokhu okwaziyo ngalokho uNkulunkulu anakho nayikho, konke kubonakala emazwini kaNkulunkulu; kuxhumene ngendlela engenakuhlukaniswa neqiniso. Isimo sikaNkulunkulu kanye nalokho anakho nayikho, ngokwakho kuyiqiniso; iqiniso liwukubonakaliswa kwesimo sikaNkulunkulu kanye nalokhu anakho nayikho. Lenza lokhu uNkulunkulu anakho nayikho kuqine futhi ukusho ngokugcizelela; likutshela ngqo ukuthi uNkulunkulu uthandani, yini angayithandi, yini Afuna ukuba uyenze futhi yini angayivumeli ukuba uyenze, ibaphi abantu abenyanyayo futhi ibaphi abantu athokoza ngabo. Emva kweqiniso uNkulunkulu alishoyo, abantu bangabona ukwenama, intukuthelo, usizi, nentokozo, kanye nengqikithi Yakhe—lokhu ukwambulwa kwesimo Sakhe. Ngaphandle nje kokwazi lokho uNkulunkulu anakho nayikho, nokuqonda isimo Sakhe ezwini Lakhe, okubaluleke kakhulu isidingo sokufinyelela kulokhu ukuqonda ngokuzwa okuphathekayo. Uma abantu beziqhelelanisa nokuphila kweqiniso ukuze bamazi uNkulunkulu, angeke bakwazi ukuphumelela kulokho. Noma ngabe abantu bengakwazi ukuzuza ukuqonda ezwini likaNkulunkulu, kuzoba nesilinganiso salokhu okubhalwe phansi kanye namazwi, futhi kukhona ukungafani nalokhu uNkulunkulu afana nakho ngempela.

Lokhu esikhuluma ngakho manje konke kungaphakathi kwezindaba ezibhalwe eBhayibhelini. Ngalezi zindaba, kanye nokuhlaziya lezi zinto esezenzakele, abantu bangaqonda isimo Sakhe kanye nalokhu anakho nayikho, Akukhulumile, ebavumela ukuba bazi zonke izingxenye zikaNkulunkulu kabanzi kakhulu, ngokujulile kakhulu, ngokuqondakalayo kakhulu, nangokuphelele kakhulu. Ngakho, ingabe iyona yodwa yini le ndlela yalezi zindaba yokwazi ingqikithi kaNkulunkulu? Qha, akunjalo! Ngokuba lokhu uNkulunkulu akushoyo kanye nomsebenzi awenzile Yena ngeNkathi yoMbuso kungasiza abantu bazi isimo Sakhe kangcono, futhi basazi ngokugcwele. Nokho-ke, ngicabanga ukuthi kulula ukwazi isimo sikaNkulunkulu kanye nokuqonda lokho anakho nayikho futhi ngezibonelo noma izindaba ezibhalwe eBhayibhelini futhi abantu abazijwayele. Kubiza amazwi okwahlulelwa kanye nawokuqondisa kanye neqiniso leli uNkulunkulu akhuluma ngalo namuhla ukuze umazi izwi ngezwi, uzozwa sengathi kuwubulima futhi kuyisicefe, futhi abanye abantu bangezwa nokuthi amazwi kaNkulunkulu ayifomula. Kodwa uma ngithatha lezi zindaba zeBhayibheli njengezibonelo zokusiza abantu ukuba bazi isimo sikaNkulunkulu, ngeke bakuthole kuyisidina. Ungasho ukuthi ngesikhathi kusachazwa lezi zibonelo, imininingwane yalokhu okwakusenhliziyweni kaNkulunkulu ngaleso sikhathi—umuzwa nesihawu Sakhe, noma imicabango nemibono Yakhe—kwashiwo kubantu, ngolimi lwabantu, futhi injongo yakho konke lokhu kwabe kuwukubavumela ukuba batuse, futhi bezwe ukuthi lokhu uNkulunkulu anakho nayikho akusiyona umthetho wokwenza. Akusiyo inganekwane, noma into abantu abangeke bayibone noma bayithinte. Into ekhona ngempela abantu abangakwazi ukuyithinta, futhi bayituse. Lena iyona njongo enkulu. Ungasho ukuthi abantu abaphila kule nkathi babusisekile. Bangathatha ezindabeni zeBhayibheli ukuze bathole ukuqonda okubanzi komsebenzi odlule kaNkulunkulu; bangabona isimo Sakhe emsebenzini asewenzile Yena. Futhi bangaqonda intando kaNkulunkulu ngesintu ngalezi zimo azibonakalisile, baqonde nokwambulwa okuqinileyo kobungcwele Bakhe kanye nokunakekela Kwakhe abantu ukuze bafinyelele ekwazini isimo sikaNkulunkulu ngendlela eyenabile futhi ejulile. Ngiyakholwa ukuthi nonke niyakuzwa lokhu!

Ngaphakathi komkhawulo womsebenzi owaphethwa iNkosi uJesu ngeNkathi Yomusa, ungabona enye ingxenye yalokhu uNkulunkulu anakho nayikho. Kwabonakaliswa ngenyama Yakhe, futhi kwenziwa ukuba kwenzeke ukuze abantu babone futhi batuse ngobuntu bakhe. ENdodaneni yomuntu, abantu babone indlela uNkulunkulu osenyameni aphile ngayo ubuntu Bakhe, base bebona ubunkulunkulu bukaNkulunkulu bubonakalisiwe enyameni. Lezi zibonakaliso ezimbili zavumela abantu ukuba babone uNkulunkulu wangempela weqiniso, futhi zabavumela ukuba bazibumbele umfanekiso ohlukile kaNkulunkulu. Nokho, ngenkathi yesikhathi esiphakathi kokudalwa komhlaba kanye nokuphela kweNkathi Yomthetho, okusho ukuthi, ngaphambi kweNkathi Yomusa, lokho okwabonwa, abakuzwa, futhi nabadlule kukho abantu kwakuyingxenye yobunkulunkulu bukaNkulunkulu kuphela. Kwakuyilokho uNkulunkulu akwenzile nakushilo embusweni ongaphatheki ngezandla, nezinto azivezayo ebuntwini Bakhe wangempela ezingeke zabonakala noma zathintwa. Ngokuvamile, lezi zinto zenza ukuba abantu bezwe ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayemkhulu, futhi babengeke bakwazi ukusondela Kuye. Isithombe uNkulunkulu avamise ukusinika kubantu ukuthi wayekhazimula njalo njalo, abantu baze bacabanga ukuthi yonke imicabango kanye nemibono Yakhe ngayinye yayiyimfihlakalo futhi iyindida ngale ndlela yokuthi yayingekho indlela yokufinyelela kuyo, ayisaphathwa eyokuzama ukuyiqonda kanye nokuyitusa. Kubantu, yonke into ngoNkulunkulu yayiqhelile—iqhele ngale ndlela yokuthi abantu abakwazanga ukuyibona, abakwazanga ukuyithinta. Kwakusengathi uphezulu esibhakabhakeni, futhi kwakungathi akekho nhlobo. Ngakho kubantu, ukuqonda inhliziyo nomqondo kaNkulunkulu noma yini ayicabangayo yayingenakwenzeka, futhi ingafinyeleleki. Noma ngabe uNkulunkulu wenza eminye imisebenzi eqinile ngeNkathi Yomthetho, wakhipha namazwi athile futhi wabonakalisa izimo ezithile ukuze avumele abantu ukuba batuse futhi babone ulwazi lweqiniso Ngaye, kodwa ekugcineni, lokho kwabe kuwukuziveza kukaNkulunkulu kulokhu anakho nayikho. Isintu asiwutholanga umqondo onzulu kulokhu kuziveza ngokuthi lokho anakho nayikho, futhi ukucabanga kwabo ngoNkulunkulu kwakusabambeke phakathi kwendawo yokuthi “uMoya okunzima ukuba seduze nawo, lona ofiyoza njalo” Ngokuba uNkulunkulu akasebenzisanga into ethile noma isithombe sendawo ephathekayo ukuze abonakale kubantu, baqhubeka nokwehluleka ukumchaza ngolimi lwabantu. Ezinhliziyweni nasezingqondweni zabantu, babehlala befuna ukusebenzisa ulimi lwabo ukumisa izinga likaNkulunkulu, ukumenza aphatheke futhi abe umuntu, njengokuthi mude kangakanani, mkhulu kangakanani, ubukeka kanjani, uthandani futhi ungumuntu onjani. Eqinisweni, enhliziyweni Yakhe uNkulunkulu wabe azi ukuthi abantu babecabanga ngale ndlela. Wayeziqonda kahle izidingo zabantu, kanjalo, Yena wabe azi ukuthi kumele enzeni, ngakho Yena Wawenza umsebenzi Wakhe ngendlela ehlukile ngeNkathi Yomusa. Le ndlela yayinobunkulunkulu kanye nobuntu. Ngesikhathi iNkosi uJesu isebenza, abantu babona ukuthi uNkulunkulu uziveza ngezimo zabantu abahlukene. Isibonelo, Yena wayekwazi ukudansa, eya emishadweni, ehlanganyela nabantu, ekhuluma nabo, exoxisana ngezinto nabo. Nangaphezu kwalokho, iNkosi uJesu yafeza umsebenzi omningi owawumele ubunkulunkulu Bakhe, futhi kunjalo, wonke lo msebenzi wawuyisiboniso futhi wambula isimo sikaNkulunkulu. Ngalesi sikhathi, lapho ubunkulunkulu bukaNkulunkulu babonakala enyameni eyejwayelekile, abantu abebengayibona futhi bayithinte, ababuyanga besezwa ukuthi uyakhazimula ngaphakathi nangaphandle, babengakwazi ukusondela Kuye. Kunalokho, babezama ukuqonda intando kaNkulunkulu noma umsebenzi weNdodana yomuntu. Indodana yomuntu esesimweni somuntu yaveza ubunkulunkulu bukaNkulunkulu ngokobuntu Bakhe futhi yadlulisa intando kaNkulunkulu esintwini. Futhi ngokubonakaliswa kwentando kanye nesimo sikaNkulunkulu, Yena waphinda waveza kubantu uNkulunkulu ongabonakali noma ongathinteki emhlabeni wakwamoya. Lokhu okwabonwa ngabantu kwakunguNkulunkulu uqolo Lwakhe, ethinteka futhi enenyama namathambo. Ngakho iNdodana yomuntu esesimweni somuntu yenza izinto ezifana nobuyena Bakhe, ukuma Kwakhe, isithombe Sakhe, isimo Sakhe kanye nalokho Yena anakho nayikho, yaqina futhi yenziwa isimo somuntu. Noma ngabe ukubonakala kwengaphandle kweNdodana yomuntu kwaba nemikhawulo mayelana nomfanekiso kaNkulunkulu, ingqikithi Yakhe kanye nalokhu anakho nayikho kwakwazi ngokupheleleyo ukumela ubunjalo nokuma—kwakunokwahlukana ngokwesimo sokubonakaliswa. Noma ngabe ubuntu beNdodana yomuntu noma ubunkulunkulu Bayo, ngeke siphike ukuthi Yona yamela ubunjalo nokuma kukaNkulunkulu. Ngalesi sikhathi, nokho, uNkulunkulu wasebenza ngenyama, wakhuluma njengokwenyama, futhi wama phambi kwesintu ngobunjalo nangokuma kweNdodana yomuntu, futhi lokhu kwanika abantu ithuba lokuhlangana nokuzizwela amazwi eqiniso kaNkulunkulu phakathi kwesintu. Yaphinda yavumela abantu ukuba babe nokuqonda ubunkulunkulu Bakhe kanye nobukhulu Bakhe phakathi kokuzithoba, kanye nokuzuza ukuqonda kwangaphambili kanye nencazelo yangaphambili yeqiniso kanye noqobo lukaNkulunkulu. Nakuba umsebenzi owafezwa iNkosi uJesu, izindlela Zakhe zokusebenza, nange ndlela ayekhuluma ngayo eyabe yahlukile kuleyo yomuntu woqobo kaNkulunkulu emhlabeni wakwamoya, yonke into Ngaye yamela uNkulunkulu uqobo ngokweqiniso abantu ababengakaze bayibone ngaphambili—lokhu ngeke kuphikwe! Okusho ukuthi, noma ngabe uNkulunkulu uvela ngasiphi isimo, noma ukhuluma ngayiphi indlela Yena akhuluma ngayo, noma ngamuphi umfanekiso abhekana ngawo nesintu, uNkulunkulu akameli lutho kodwa Yena uqobo Lwakhe. Yena angeke amele umuntu—angeke amele noma imuphi umuntu okhohlakele. UNkulunkulu unguNkulunkulu uqobo Lwakhe, futhi lokhu akusoze kwaphikwa.

Okulandelayo, sizobheka umfanekiso owashiwo iNkosi uJesu ngeNkathi Yomusa.

3. Umfanekiso Wemvu Elahlekile

UMathewu 18:12-14 Nicabangani? uma umuntu enezimvu eziyikhulu, bese eyodwa ilahleka, akazishiyi ezingamashumi ayisishiyagalolunye nesishiyagalolunye, futhi aye ezintabeni, ayofuna elahlekile na? Bese uma eyithola, ngiqinisile ngithi kini, uthokoza ngayo kakhulu kunalezi zimvu, ezingamashumi ayisishiyagalolunye nesishiyagalolunye ezingalahlekanga. Kanjalo akusiyo intando kaYihlo osezulwini, ukuba kubhubhe noyedwa kulaba abancane.

Lesi siqephu siwumzekeliso—sibanika luphi uhlobo lomuzwa abantu? Indlela yokubeka—umzekeliso—esetshenziswe lapha, iyisimo sokukhuluma olimini lo muntu, futhi kanjalo isesilinganisweni solwazi lomuntu. Uma uNkulunkulu wayesho into efanayo ngeNkathi Yomthetho, abantu babebona ukuthi lokhu uNkulunkulu ayikho kuyaguquka, kodwa ngesikhathi iNdodana yomuntu yethula lesi siqephu ngeNkathi Yomusa yezwakala inenduduzo, ifudumele, futhi iseduze nabantu. Ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu ethatha isimo senyama, ngesikhathi evela ngesimo somuntu, wasebenzisa umfanekiso ofanele kakhulu ukuveza iphimbo lenhliziyo Yakhe ebuntwini. Leli phimbo lalimele elikaNkulunkulu uqobo kanye nomsebenzi ayefuna ukuwenza ngaleyo nkathi. Futhi lalimele isimo sengqondo kaNkulunkulu ngabantu ngeNkathi Yomusa. Uma sibheka indlela yesimo sengqondo kaNkulunkulu ngabantu, Yena uqhathanisa umuntu ngamunye njengemvu. Uma imvu ilahlekile, uyokwenza konke okusemandleni akhe ukuyithola. Lokhu kumele isimiso somsebenzi kaNkulunkulu phakathi kwesintu kulesi sikhathi esenyameni. UNkulunkulu wasebenzisa lo mfanekiso ukuchaza isisombululo kanye nesimo sengqondo Yakhe kulowo msebenzi Wakhe. Lokhu kwakuyinzuzo kaNkulunkulu ngokuthatha isimo senyama: Wayengathatha ithuba lo lwazi lwesintu bese esebenzisa ulimi lo buntu ukuze akhulume kubantu, ukuveza intando Yakhe. Wachaza noma “wahumusha” kubantu injula Yakhe, ulimi lo bunkulunkulu abantu ababehluleka ukuluqonda ngokolimi lwabantu, ngendlela yobuntu. Lokhu kwasiza abantu ukuba baqonde intando Yakhe futhi bazi ukuthi wayefunani. Yena wayeba nezinkulumo nabantu ngendlela yobuntu, esebenzisa ulimi lo buntu, futhi ekhuluma nabantu ngendlela ababeqonda ngayo. Wayekwazi nokukhuluma futhi asebenze, asebenzisa ulimi nolwazi lo buntu ukuze abantu bezwe umusa nokusondela kukaNkulunkulu, ukuze babone inhliziyo Yakhe. Ingabe nibonani kulokhu? Ukuthi azikho izithiyo emazwini nasekwenzeni kukaNkulunkulu. Indlela abantu ababona ngayo, ayikho indlela yokuthi uNkulunkulu wayengasebenzisa ulwazi, nolimi lwabantu, noma izindlela zokukhuluma ukuze akhulume ngalokho uNkulunkulu uqobo Lwakhe ayefuna ukukusho, umsebenzi ayefuna ukuwenza, noma ukuveza intando Yakhe; lokhu ukucabanga okuyiphutha. UNkulunkulu wasebenzisa lolu hlobo lomfanekiso ukuze abantu bezwe ubukhona nobuqotho bukaNkulunkulu, futhi babone isimo sengqondo Yakhe kubantu ngesikhathi saleyonkathi. Lo mfanekiso wavusa abantu ephusheni ababekade bephila phansi komthetho isikhathi eside, futhi wagqugquzela isizukulwane ngesizukulwane esasiphila phansi kweNkathi Yomusa. Ngokufunda isiqephu salo mfanekiso, abantu bayazi ngobuqotho bukaNkulunkulu ekusindiseni isintu kanye nokuqonda ukubaluleka kwesintu enhliziyweni Yakhe.

Ake sibheke futhi umusho wokugcina kulesi siqephu: “Kanjalo akusiyo intando kaYihlo osezulwini, ukuba kubhubhe noyedwa kulaba abancane.” Ingabe lawa kwakungamazwi eNkosi uJesu uqobo, noma amazwi kaYise osezulwini? Ngokukha phezulu, kusengathi yiNkosi uJesu ekhulumayo, kodwa intando Yakhe imele intando kaNkulunkulu oqobo Lwakhe, yingakho Wathi: “Kanjalo akusiyo intando kaYihlo osezulwini, ukuba kubhubhe noyedwa kulaba abancane.” Abantu ngaleso sikhathi babazisa uBaba osezulwini njengoNkulunkulu, kanti lo muntu abambona phambi kwamehlo abo wayethunyelwe Nguye, futhi akakwazanga ukumela uBaba osezulwini. Ingakho iNkosi uJesu kwakumele akusho Naye lokho futhi, ukuze bazizwele intando kaNkulunkulu ngesintu, futhi bezwe iqiniso kanye nokuqonda ngqo kwalokho akushilo. Noma lokhu kwakuyinto elula ukuyisho, yayino kunakekela futhi yaveza ukuzithoba nokuzifihla kweNkosi uJesu. Noma ngabe uNkulunkulu waphenduka inyama noma Yena wasebenza emhlabeni womoya, wayazi kahle inhliziyo yomuntu, futhi wayeqonda kahle ukuthi abantu badingani, wabe azi kahle ukuthi abantu bakhathazeke ngani, futhi yini ebadidayo, ngakho wafaka lo musho. Lo musho waveza inkinga efihlakele esintwini: abantu babenokungabaza ngalokhu ekushilo iNdodana yomuntu, okusho ukuthi, ngesikhathi iNkosi uJesu ikhuluma kwakumele igcwalisele: “Kanjalo akusiyo intando kaYihlo osezulwini, ukuba kubhubhe noyedwa kulaba abancane.” Ingale ndlela kuphela lapho amazwi Akhe ayengathela khona izithelo, enze abantu bakholwe ukuqonda kwawo ngqo kanye nokuwenza akholeke kangcono. Lokhu kukhombisa ukuthi ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu ephenduka iNdodana yomuntu ejwayelekile, uNkulunkulu nesintu baba nobuhlobo obunzima kakhulu, kanye nokuthi isimo seNdodana yomuntu sasithela ngamahloni kabi. Siyabonisa nokuthi isimo seNkosi uJesu sasideleleke kanjani phakathi kwabantu ngaleso sikhathi. Ngesikhathi esho lokhu, kwakuyindlela yokutshela abantu: Ningaba nesiqiniseko—lokhu akumele lokho okusenhliziyweni Yami, kodwa kuyintando kaNkulunkulu osezinhliziyweni zenu. Esintwini, lokhu kwakungeyona into ehlekisayo? Noma ngabe uNkulunkulu esebenza enyameni wabe enokusizayo okuningi abe engenakho esiqwini sobuyena, kwadingeka ukuba amelane nokungabaza kwabo nokudelwa yibo kanye nokuba ndikindiki nokuba buthuntu kwabo. Kungashiwo ukuthi inqubo yomsebenzi weNdodana yomuntu yayiyinqubo yokuzizwela ukudelwa isintu, kanye nenqubo yokuzizwela isintu siqhudelana Naye. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kwakuyinqubo yokusebenza ukuze azuze ukwethenjwa isintu ngokungaphezi, nokunqoba isintu ngalokhu anakho nayikho, nangobunjalo Bakhe. Kwakungesikho ukuthi uNkulunkulu esemzimbeni wenyama wayephake impi emhlabeni ebhekene noSathane; kwakungukuthi uNkulunkulu waphenduka umuntu ojwayelekile futhi waqala umzabalazo nalabo Ababemlandela, futhi kulo mzabalazo iNdodana yomuntu yafeza umsebenzi Wayo ngokuthobeka Kwayo, ngalokho anakho nayikho, ngothando nangokuhlakanipha Kwakhe. Wathola abantu ayekade ebafuna, wazuza ubunjalo kanye nesikhundla esimfanele, wabe esebuyela esihlalweni Sakhe sobukhosi.

Okulandelayo, ake sibheke lezi ziqephu ezimbili zombhalo.

4. Thethelela Kamashumi Ayisikhombisa Aphindwe Kasikhombisa

UMathewu 18:21-22 Khona-ke kwasondela uPetru Kuye, wayesethi, Nkosi, umfowethu angone kangaki, futhi ngimthethelela na? kuze kube kasikhombisa na? UJesu wathi kuye, angisho kuwe, Kuze kube kasikhombisa: kodwa, Kuze kube kamashumi ayisikhombisa aphindwe kasikhombisa.

5. Uthando LweNkosi

UMathewu 22:37-39 UJesu wathi kuye, Wothanda iNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, nangomphefumulo wakho wonke, nangengqondo yakho yonke. Lo umyalelo wokuqala futhi omkhulu. Nowesibili uyafana nawo, Wothanda umakhelwane wakho njengoba uzithanda wena ngokwakho.

Kulezi ziqephu ezimbili, enye ikhuluma ngokuthethelela kanti enye ikhuluma ngothando. Lezi zihloko ezimbili zicacisa ngomsebenzi weNkosi uJesu ayefuna ukuwenza ngeNkathi Yomusa.

Ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu ethatha isimo senyama, Wasilethela lokho kanye nesigaba somsebenzi Wakhe—waletha umsebenzi othile wale nkathi kanye nesimo ayefuna ukusiveza kule nkathi. Ngaleyo nkathi, konke okwenziwa yiNdodana yomuntu kwakuzungeza emsebenzini uNkulunkulu ayefuna ukuwenza ngalenkathi. Wayengeke enze okuningi noma okuncane. Yonke into ayisho kanye nalo lonke uhlobo lo msebenzi awenza, kwakumayelana nalenkathi. akukhathaleki ukuthi wakuveza ngendlela yobuntu nangolimi lo buntu noma ngolimi lo bunkulunkulu—noma ngayiphi indlela, noma ngakuliphi uhlangothi—injongo Yakhe kwakuwukusiza abantu ukuze baqonde ukuthi wayefuna ukwenzani, kwakuyini intando Yakhe, yini imibandela ayeyidinga kubantu. Wayengasebenzisa izindlela ezahlukene, ekubukeni ngezindlela ezahlukeni ukuze asize abantu ukuba baqonde futhi bayazi intando Yakhe, baqonde umsebenzi Wakhe wokuhlenga isintu. Ngakho ngeNkathi Yomusa sibona iNkosi uJesu isebenzisa ulimi lomuntu izikhathi eziningi ukuze iveze lokho eyayifuna ukukukhuluma nesintu. Nangaphezulu, simbona ngasohlangothini lo mqondisi ojwayelekile ekhuluma nabantu, efeza izidingo zabo, ebasiza ngalokho abakucelile. Le ndlela yokusebenza ayibonakalanga ngeNkathi Yomthetho eyayikhona ngampambi kweNkathi Yomusa. Wasondela kakhulu futhi waba nesihe esintwini, kanye nokukwazi ukuthola imiphumela ebonakalayo kukho kokubili, isimo nendlela yokwenza. Isingathekiso esimayelana nokuthethelela abantu izikhathi ezingamashumi ayisikhombisa silicacisa kahle leli phuzu. Injongo ezuzwe yinombolo kulesi singathekiso ukuthi ivumele abantu baqonde inhloso yeNkosi uJesu ngesikhathi ekusho lokhu. Injongo Yakhe kwakungukuthi abantu kumele baxolele abanye—hhayi kanye noma kabili, futhi hhayi ngokuphindwe kasikhombisa, kodwa amashumi ayisikhombisa aphindwe kasikhombisa. Uhlobo luni lombono lolu “amashumi ayisikhombisa aphindwe kasikhombisa”? Olokuthi abantu benze ukuthethelela kube umthwalo wabo, into okumele bayifunde, futhi kube indlela okumele bayigcine, noma ngabe lokhu bekuyisingathekiso nje, kusebenze njengephuzu elibalulekile. Sasiza ukuba abantu bakuzwe ngokujulile ayeqonde ukukusho nokuthi bathole izindlela zokwenza kanye nezimiso nemigomo efanele yokwenza. Lesi singathekiso sasiza abantu ukuba baqonde ngokucacile futhi sabanika umqondo ofanele—ukuthi kufanele bafunde intethelelo futhi bathethelele noma kangaki ngaphandle kwemibandela, kodwa ngokwesimo sengqondo yokubekezelelana kanye nokuqonda abanye. Ngesikhathi iNkosi uJesu ikusho lokhu, yini eyabe isenhliziyweni Yakhe? Ingabe wayecabanga ngempela okungamashumi ayisikhombisa aphindwe kasikhombisa? Wayengacabangi ngalokho. Ingabe ikhona yini inombolo uNkulunkulu anayo yokuthethelela umuntu? Baningi abantu abafuna ukusazi “isibalo sezikhathi” ezishiwo, abafuna ukuqonda ngempela umsuka kanye nencazelo yalesi sibalo. Bafuna ukuqonda ukuthi kungani kwaphuma le nombolo emlonyeni weNkosi uJesu; bayakholwa ukuthi kukhona umthelela ojulile ngale nombolo. Empeleni, lokhu kwakungukukhuluma kukaNkulunkulu ebuntwini. Noma imuphi umthelela noma incazelo kumele ithathwe kanye nalokho iNkosi uJesu ekudingayo esintwini. Ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu engakathathi isimo senyama, abantu babengaqondi okuningi kwalokho ayekusho ngoba kwaphuma ebunkulunkulwini obuphelele. Indlela yokubuka kanye nengqikithi yalokho Akusho, kwakungabonakali futhi kungafinyeleleki esintwini; kwakhulunywa kususelwa emhlabeni wakwamoya abantu ababengawuboni. Ngokuba abantu ababephila enyameni, babengakwazi ukudlulela emhlabeni wakwamoya. Kodwa emva kokuba uNkulunkulu ethathe isimo senyama, wakhuluma nesintu ngendlela yobuntu futhi waphuma futhi wedlula ububanzi bomhlaba womoya. Wayengakhuluma ngesimo Sakhe sobunkulunkulu, intando Yakhe, kanye nesimo sengqondo Yakhe ngezinto abantu ababengazicabanga kanye nezinto abazibonayo futhi abahlangabezana nazo ezimpilweni zabo. Futhi wayesebenzisa izindlela abantu ababekwazi ukuzamukela, ngolimi abaluqondayo, nolwazi ababekwazi ukulubamba, ukuvumela isintu ukuba siqonde futhi simazi uNkulunkulu, ukuqonda inhloso Yakhe kanye nezinga alidingayo ngaphakathi kobubanzi bomthamo wabo, kuze kufike ezingeni lapho bekwazi khona. Lena kwakuyindlela kanye nesimiso somsebenzi kaNkulunkulu ebuntwini. Noma-ke izindlela zikaNkulunkulu kanye nezimiso Zakhe zokusebenza enyameni zaphumelela ngokusebenza ngobuntu, zathola imiphumela ayayingeke itholakale ngokusebenza ngobunkulunkulu ngqo. Ukusebenza kukaNkulunkulu ebuntwini kwakubambeka, kuneqiniso, futhi kunenhloso, izindlela zazikhululekile, futhi zedlula iNkathi Yomthetho ngokwesimo.

Ngezansi, ake sikhulume ngokuthanda iNkosi kanye nokuthanda umakhelwane wakho njengalokhu uzithanda wena. Ingabe lokhu kukhulunywe ebunkulunkulwini ngqo? Akunjalo, Lezi izinto iNdodana yomuntu eyazisho isesimweni sobuntu; abantu kuphela abangasho into efana nokuthi “Wothanda umakhelwane wakho njengoba uzithanda wena. Ukuthanda abanye kuyafana nokwazisa impilo yakho,” futhi abantu kuphela ababengakhuluma ngale ndlela. UNkulunkulu akakaze akhulume ngale ndlela. Okungenani, uNkulunkulu akanalo lolu hlobo lo limi ebunkulunkulwini Bakhe ngoba akanalo lolu hlobo lwemfundiso, “Wothanda umakhelwane wakho njengoba uzithanda wena.” ukuze alawule uthando Lwakhe ngesintu, ngokuba uthando lukaNkulunkulu lwesintu luveza ngokwemvelo lokhu Yena anakho nayikho. Nake nezwa nini ukuthi uNkulunkulu washo into efana nalokhu “Ngiyasithanda isintu njengalokhu ngizithanda Mina”? Ngokuba uthando lusebunjalweni bukaNkulunkulu, kanye nalokhu Yena ayikho nayikho. Uthando lukaNkulunkulu lwesintu kanye nendlela Yena aphatha ngayo abantu kanye nesimo sengqondo Yakhe kuyinkulumo yemvelo futhi eveza isimo Sakhe. Akadingi ukukwenza lokhu ngendlela ethile ayihlosile, noma ahlose ukulandela indlela ethile noma indlela ethile yokuphatha ukuze azuze ukuthanda umakhelwane Wakhe njengalokhu ezithanda Yena—Yena usenalo lolu hlobo lobunjalo. Ubonani kulokhu? Ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu esebenza ebuntwini, izindlela Zakhe eziningi, amazwi Akhe kanye neqiniso Lakhe konke kwakhulunywa ngendlela yabantu. Kodwa ngesikhathi esifanayo isimo sikaNkulunkulu, lokho anakho nayikho, kanye nentando Yakhe kwakhulunywa ukuze abantu bakwazi futhi bakuqonde. Lokhu ababekwazi nababekuqonda kwakuyingqikithi Yakhe ngqo kanye nalokhu anakho nayikho, okumele ubunjalo bemvelo kanye nokuma kukaNkulunkulu uqobo Lwakhe. Lokhu kusho ukuthi, iNdodana yomuntu enyameni yakhuluma ngesimo semvelo kanye nengqikithi kaNkulunkulu ngezinga elikhulu kakhulu elalingenzeka kanye ngokunemba okukhulu okungenzeka. Akukhona kuphela ukuthi ubuntu beNdodana yomuntu baba isikhubekiso noma isithiyo ekuxoxeni komuntu kanye nokuxhumana noNkulunkulu osezulwini, kodwa kwakuyiyona yodwa indlela kanye nebhuloho lokuxhumana neNkosi yendalo. Kuleli phuzu, aniboni yini sengathi kuningi ukufana phakathi kwemvelo kanye nezindlela zomsebenzi owenziwa iNkosi uJesu ngeNkathi Yomusa kanye nesigaba samanje somsebenzi? Lesi sigaba samanje somsebenzi sisebenzisa kakhulu ulimi lwabantu ukukhuluma ngesimo sikaNkulunkulu, futhi sisebenzisa kakhulu ulimi kanye nezindlela zokuphila kwesintu nsuku zonke kanye nolwazi lwabantu ukukhuluma ngentando kaNkulunkulu. Ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu ethatha eba yinyama, noma ngabe ukhuluma ohlangothini lwabantu noma lobunkulunkulu, ubuningi bolimi Lwakhe, kanye nezindlela zokukhuluma, zonke zenzeka ngolimi kanye nohlangothi lwabantu. Okungukuthi, uma uNkulunkulu ebe yinyama, kuyithuba lakho elihle kakhulu lokuba ubone ubuninimandla onke bukaNkulunkulu nokuhlakanipha Kwakhe, futhi nokwazi zonke izingxenye zangempela zikaNkulunkulu. Ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu ethatha isimo senyama, ngesikhathi ekhula, Wafika ukuze aqonde, afunde, abambe ulwazi oluthile lwesintu, umqondo ophusile, ulimi, kanye nezindlela zokukhuluma esebuntwini. Isimo sesintu sikaNkulunkulu sinalezi zinto ezivela kubantu abadalile. Zaphenduka izinsiza zikaNkulunkulu enyameni ukuze zibonakalise isimo Sakhe kanye nobunkulunkulu Bakhe, futhi zamvumela ukuba enze umsebenzi Wakhe ngokufaneleka okukhulu, ubuqiniso obukhulu, ukucophelela okukhulu ngesikhathi Esebenza phakathi kwesintu, ngokubuka ngendlela yabantu futhi esebenzisa ulimi lwabantu. Kwenza ukuba kufinyeleleke futhi nabantu baqonde kalula, ngalokho kwazuzeka imiphumela eyayifunwa uNkulunkulu. Ingabe akusilona yini usizo olukhulu ukuthi uNkulunkulu asebenze enyameni ngalolu hlobo? Ingabe akusikho yini ukuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu? Ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu ethatha isimo senyama, ngesikhathi inyama kaNkulunkulu ikwazi ukuthatha umsebenzi ayefuna ukuwenza, kungesikhathi lapho ebonakalisa isimo Sakhe kanye nomsebenzi Wakhe phansi, futhi leso kwakuyisikhathi lapho aqala khona inkonzo Yakhe ngokusemthethweni njengeNdodana yomuntu. Lokhu kwakusho ukuthi lalingasekho “igebe lesizukulwane” phakathi kukaNkulunkulu nomuntu, lokho kwakusho ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayezowuyeka umsebenzi Wakhe wokukhuluma ngezithunywa, kanye nokuthi uNkulunkulu uqobo Lwakhe wayezokhuluma onke amazwi kanye nomsebenzi enyameni, ayefuna ukuwenza. Futhi kwakusho ukuthi uNkulunkulu abasindisayo babesondelene Naye, futhi umsebenzi Wakhe wokuphatha wawusungene esigabeni esisha, kanye nokuthi sonke isintu sasizobhekana nenkathi entsha.

Wonke umuntu oke wafunda iBhayibheli uyazi ukuthi izinto eziningi zenzeka ngesikhathi kuzalwa iNkosi uJesu. Okukhulu kakhulu phakathi kwazo ukuthi wazingelwa ngamakhosi nodeveli, kwaze kwafika eqophelweni lapho bonke abantwana abaneminyaka emibili kuya phansi kuleyo ndawo babulawa. Kuyabonakala ukuthi uNkulunkulu wazifaka engozini enkulu ngokuthatha isimo senyama phakathi kwabantu; inani elikhulu Alikhokha ukufeza ukuphatha Kwakhe ukusindisa isintu, nakho kuyabonakala. Amathemba amakhulu uNkulunkulu ayenawo ngomsebenzi Wakhe phakathi kwesintu, nawo ayabonakala. Lapho inyama kaNkulunkulu yabe ikwazi ukwenza umsebenzi phakathi kwesintu, wayezizwa enjani? Abantu kumele baqonde lokho kancane, akunjalo? Okungenani, uNkulunkulu wayethokozile ngoba wayezoqala ukuthuthukisa umsebenzi Wakhe omusha phakathi kwesintu. Ngesikhathi iNkosi uJesu ibhabhadiswa futhi iqala umsebenzi Wayo ngokusemthethweni ukuze igcwalise inkonzo Yayo, inhliziyo kaNkulunkulu yayigcwele injabulo ngoba emva kweminyaka eminingi yokulinda nokulungisa, ekugcineni wayesezogqoka inyama yomuntukazana futhi aqala umsebenzi Wakhe omusha esesimweni somuntu wenyama negazi abantu ababezokwazi ukumbona futhi bamthinte. Ekugcineni, wayezokwazi kkukhuluma ubuso nobuso futhi inhliziyo nenhliziyo nabantu ngomfanekiso womuntu. Ekugcineni, uNkulunkulu wayezokwazi ukubhekana ubuso nobuso nesintu ngolimi lwabantu, ngendlela yabantu; wayezohlinzekela isintu, asikhanyisele futhi asisize esebenzisa ulimi lwabantu; wayezokwazi ukudla etafuleni elifanayo futhi aphile endaweni efanayo nabo. Futhi wayezobona abantu, abone izinto, aphinde abone yonke into njengoba abantu babenza futhi ngisho nangamehlo abo. NgokukaNkulunkulu, lokhu kwakungukunqoba Kwakhe kokuqala komsebenzi Wakhe esenyameni. Kungashiwo futhi ukuthi kwakuwukufezwa komsebenzi omkhulu—Lokhu impela, kwabe kuyikho uNkulunkulu ayekuthokozela kakhulu. Kusukela lapho kwakungokokuqala lapho uNkulunkulu wezwa induduzo ngomsebenzini Wakhe phakathi kwesintu. Zonke lezi zigameko zaziphatheka futhi ziyimvelo, induduzo ayizwa uNkulunkulu kwakungeyeqiniso. Esintwini, ngaso sonke isikhathi kufezeka isigaba esisha somsebenzi kaNkulunkulu, ngaso sonke isikhathi uNkulunkulu ezizwa enelisekile, kungesikhathi lapho isintu singasondela eduze noNkulunkulu, futhi ngesikhathi abantu bengasondela ensindisweni. KuNkulunkulu, lokhu ukwethulwa komsebenzi Wakhe omusha, ngesikhathi icebo Lakhe lokuphatha liqhubekela esigabeni esilandelayo, futhi, ikakhulukazi, lapho intando Yakhe ifinyelele ekuphothulweni. Esintwini, ukufika kwethuba elinjengaleli kuwukuhlomula, futhi kuhle kakhulu; kubo bonke abalinde insindiso kaNkulunkulu, kuyindaba eziyinqophamlando nethokozisayo. Lapho uNkulunkulu ephezu kokwenza isigaba esisha somsebenzi, Unesiqalo esisha, futhi uma lo msebenzi omusha nesiqalo esisha sethulwa futhi simemezelwa esintwini, kulapho imiphumela yaleso sigaba somsebenzi seyihleliwe futhi seyifezekile futhi uNkulunkulu esebonile imiphumela kanye nezithelo zaso zokugcina. Lokhu futhi kungesikhathi lapho imiphumela yenza ukuba uNkulunkulu aneliseke, futhi inhliziyo Yakhe, ijabule impela. Ngoba, emehlweni kaNkulunkulu, Usebonile futhi wanquma abantu abafunayo, futhi uselitholile leli qembu, iqembu elikwazi ukwenza umsebenzi Wakhe ngendlela enempumelelo futhi Limlethele ukweneliseka, uNkulunkulu uzizwa enesiqiniseko, Ukubeka eceleni ukukhathazeka, bese ezizwa ethokozile. Ngamanye amazwi, ngesikhathi inyama kaNkulunkulu Iqala umsebenzi omusha phakathi kwabantu, futhi eqala ukwenza umsebenzi okumele awenze ngaphandle kwesithikamezo, futhi uma ezwa ukuthi konke kufezekile, usuka esesibonile isiphetho. Futhi ngenxa yalesi siphetho, uyeneliseka, futhi Abe nenhliziyo ethokozile. Ingabe intokozo kaNkulunkulu ivezwa kanjani? Ningacabanga ukuthi ingathini impendulo? Angakhala yini uNkulunkulu? Uyakwazi ukukhala uNkulunkulu? Uyakwazi ukushaya izandla Zakhe uNkulunkulu? Uyakwazi ukusina uNkulunkulu? Uyakwazi ukucula uNkulunkulu? Iliphi iculo angalicula? Nembala, uNkulunkulu angacula iculo elimnandi, elinesigqi, iculo elingabonakalisa injabulo nentokozo enhliziyweni Yakhe. Yena angaculela isintu, futhi aziculele Yena, futhi angaculela izinto zonke. Intokozo kaNkulunkulu ingabonakaliswa noma ngayiphi indlela—konke lokhu kujwayelekile ngoba uNkulunkulu unezinto ezimjabulisayo nezimenzela usizi, kanye nemizwa Yakhe eyahlukene ingavezwa ngezindlela ezahlukene. Leli ilungelo Lakhe futhi ayikho into ejwayelekile nefaneleke ukwedlula lokhu. Abantu akumele bacabange okunye ngayo. Akumele nizame ukusebenzisa “isibekelo sokuqinisa ibhande”^[a] kuNkulunkulu, nimtshele ukuthi akumele enze lokhu noma lokhuya, akumele enze ngale ndlela noma ngaleya ndlela, ukukhawula intokozo Yakhe noma imuphi umuzwa anawo. Ezinhliziyweni zabantu uNkulunkulu akakwazi ukujabula, Yena akakhali, akabi nesibibithwane—Yena akakwazi ukubonakalisa imizwa Yakhe. Kulokhu esesikhulume ngakho izikhathi ezimbili, ngiyakholwa ukuthi ngeke nisambuka uNkulunkulu ngale ndlela, kodwa niyomvumela uNkulunkulu ukuba abe nenkululeko kanye nokudedelwa. Lena yinto enhle kakhulu. Esikhathini esizayo, uma ningezwa ngeqiniso usizi lukaNkulunkulu uma nizwa ukuthi unosizi, futhi uma nikwazi ukuzwa injabulo Yakhe ngokweqiniso uma nizwa ukuthi ujabulile—nokho, niyakwazi ngokucacile ukwazi nokuqonda lokho okwenza uNkulunkulu ajabule kanye nalokho okumenza abe nosizi—uma ukwazi ukuzwa usizi ngoba uNkulunkulu enosizi, kanye nokuzwa ukujabula uma uNkulunkulu ejabulile, kuyoba ngenxa yokuthi useyizuzile inhliziyo yakho ngokugcwele futhi ngeke kusaba khona imingcele Kuye. Angeke usazama ukumcindezela uNkulunkulu ngemicabango, imibono, kanye nolwazi lwabantu. Ngaleso sikhathi, uNkulunkulu uyophila futhi abaluleke enhliziyweni yakho. Uyoba uNkulunkulu wokuphila kwakho kanye neNkosi yakho konke okwakho. Ninalo yini lolu hlobo lwesifiso? Ninalo yini iqholo lokuthi ningakufeza lokhu?

Okulandelayo, ake sifunde iziqephu ezilandelayo.

6. Intshumayelo Yasentabeni

Ukubusiseka (UMathewu 5:3-12)

Usawoti Nokukhanya (UMathewu 5:13-16)

Umthetho (UMathewu 5:17-20)

Intukuthelo (UMathewu 5:21-26)

Ukuphinga (UMathewu 5: 27-30)

Isehlukaniso (UMathewu 5:31-32)

Izifungo (UMathewu 5: 33-37)

Iso Ngeso (UMathewu 5:38-42)

Thanda Izitha Zakho (UMathewu 5:43-48)

Isifundiso Ngokunikela (UMathewu 6:1-4)

Umkhuleko (UMathewu 6:5-8)

7. Imifanekiso YeNkosi Ujesu

Umfanekiso Womlimi (UMathewu 13:1-9)

Umfanekiso Wokhula (UMathewu 13:24-30)

Umfanekiso Wenhlamvu Yesinaphi (UMathewu 13:31-32)

Umfanekiso Wemvubelo (UMathewu 13:33)

Umfanekiso Wokhula Uyachazwa (UMathewu 13:36-43)

Umfanekiso Wengcebo (UMathewu 13:44)

Umfanekiso Wamaparele (UMathewu 13:45-46)

Umfanekiso Wamanethi (UMathewu 13:47-50)

8. Imiyalelo

UMathewu 22:37-39 UJesu wathi kuye, Wothanda iNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, nangomphefumulo wakho wonke, nangengqondo yakho yonke. Lo umyalelo wokuqala futhi omkhulu. Nowesibili uyafana nawo, Wothanda umakhelwane wakho njengoba uzithanda wena ngokwakho.

Ake sibheke ingxenye ngayinye “yeNtshumayelo yaseNtabeni” Ingabe konke lokhu kumayelana nani? Kungashiwo ngesiqiniseko ukuthi konke lokhu kuphakeme, kuliqiniso, futhi kusondelene nezimpilo zabantu uma uqhathanisa nemibandela yeNkathi Yomthetho. Uma sikhuluma ngolimi lwamanje, kuyahambisana nendlela abantu abaphila ngayo.

Ake sifunde okuqukethwe yilokhu okulandelayo: Kumele ukuqonde kanjani ukubusiseka? Yini okumele uyazi ngomthetho? Kumele ichazwe kanjani intukuthelo? Kumele senzenjani mayelana nokuphinga? Kuthiwani, futhi imithetho enjani ehambisana nesahlukaniso, ubani ongahlukanisa? Kuthiwani ngezifungo, iso ngeso, thanda izitha zakho, isifundiso ngokunikela? Kanye nokunye. Zonke lezi zinto zihambisana nayo yonke ingxenye yemikhuba yenkolelo yesintu kuNkulunkulu, kanye nokulandela kwabo uNkulunkulu. Eminye yale mikhuba isenziwa nanamuhla, ayimihle futhi ayisona isidingo kubantu. Kungamaqiniso abantu abahlangabezana nawo ngenkolelo yabo kuNkulunkulu. Kusukela ngesikhathi iNkosi uJesu iqala ukusebenza, Yayisiqalile ukusebenza ngesimo sempilo yabantu, kodwa yayisuselwa esisekelweni semithetho. Ingabe izimiso kanye nokushiwo kulezi zihloko zazihambisana yini neqiniso? Impela kunjalo! Yonke le migomo, izimiso ezidlule, kanye nentshumayelo yeNkathi Yomusa, ingabe kwakuhambisana yini nesimo sikaNkulunkulu kanye nalokhu anakho nayikho, kanjalo neqiniso futhi. Noma ngabe iyiphi into uNkulunkulu ayishoyo, noma ngabe uyisho kanjani, noma ngabe usebenzisa yiphi inhlobo yolimi, isesekelo sayo, umsuka wayo, kanye nalapho iqala khona, konke kususelwa emigomeni yesimo sikaNkulunkulu kanye nalokho anakho nayikho. Lokhu akunalo iphutha. Noma ngabe lezi zinto zibonakala zingenayo injula, kodwa ngeke uthi azinalo iqiniso, ngokuba kwakuyizinto ezazisemqoka kubantu ngeNkathi Yomusa ukuze kufezwe intando kaNkulunkulu kanye nokuzuza uguquko esimweni sempilo yabo. Ungasho yini uthi ezinye izinto entshumayelweni azihambisani neqiniso? Ngeke! Konke ngakunye kuyiqiniso ngoba konke kwakuyilokhu uNkulunkulu ayekudinga esintwini; konke kwakuyimigomo kanye nesilinganiso esasinikezwe nguNkulunkulu sokuthi kumele umuntu aziphathe kanjani, futhi zimele isimo sikaNkulunkulu. Nokho, kwakuncike ezingeni lokukhula kwabo ngaleso sikhathi, babekwazi ukuzamukela nokuqonda kuphela lezi zinto. Ngokuba isono sesintu sasingakaxazululeki, iNkosi uJesu yayikwazi ukusho la mazwi kuphela, futhi wayengasebenzisa kuphela lezi zifundiso ezilula ngaphakathi kwesilinganiso sokutshela abantu bangaleso sikhathi ukuba kumele baziphathe kanjani, kumele benzeni, nokuthi kumele bakholwe kanjani kuNkulunkulu futhi bahlangabezane nezidingo Zakhe. Konke lokhu kwakunqunyiwe kususelwa esiqwini sesintu ngaleso sikhathi. Kwakungelula kubantu ababephila ngaphansi komthetho ukuba bamukele lezimfundiso, ngakho iNkosi uJesu kwakumele ifundise ngaphakathi kwaleso silinganiso.

Okulandelayo, ake sibheke ukuthi kukhonani esihlokweni esithi “Imifanekiso yeNkosi uJesu.”

Owokuqala ngumfanekiso womlimi. Lo mfanekiso uyathokozisa; ukutshala imbewu kuyinto ejwayelekile ezimpilweni zabantu. Owesibili umfanekiso wokhula. Ngokuthi luyini ukhula, noma ubani owake watshala izitshalo kanye nabantu abadala bazokwazi. Owesithathu umfanekiso wenhlamvu yesinapi. Nonke niyazi ukuthi yini isinapi, akunjalo? Uma ningazi, ningabheka eBhayibhelini. Owesine, umfanekiso wemvubelo, abantu abaningi bayazi ukuthi imvubelo isetshenziselwa ukuvubela; kuyinto abantu abayisebenzisa njalo ezimpilweni zabo. Yonke le mifanekiso engezansi, ibandakanya neyesithupha, umfanekiso wengcebo, owesikhombisa, umfanekiso wamaparele, owesishiyagalombili, umfanekiso wamanethi, yonke ithathwe ezimpilweni zabantu, yonke ibuya ezimpilweni zabantu zangempela. Kungabe uhlobo luni lwesithombe esakhiwa yile mifanekiso? Lesi isithombe sikaNkulunkulu ethathe isimo somuntu ojwayelekile futhi ephila kanye nesintu, esebenzisa ulimi lwempilo olujwayelekile, esebenzisa ulimi lwabantu ukukhulumisana nabantu kanye nokuhlinzekela lokhu abakudingayo. Ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu ethatha isimo senyama futhi ephila phakathi kwabantu isikhathi eside, emuva kokuba esezibonile futhi wazifakazela izindlela zokuphila ezahlukene zabantu, lezi zinto azibonile zaphenduka incwadi Yakhe yokuguqula ulimi Lwakhe lobunkulunkulu lube ulimi lwabantu. Kunjalo, lezi zinto azibonile nazizwile empilweni zanothisa iNdodana yomuntu ngokuzwa kobuntu. Uma efuna abantu baqonde amanye amaqiniso, ukubenza baqonde intando kaNkulunkulu, wayengasebenzisa imifanekiso efana nalena engaphezulu ukutshela abantu ngentando kaNkulunkulu kanye nalokho akudingayo esintwini. Le mifanekiso yayihlobene nalokhu okwenzekayo ezimpilweni zabantu; akukho nowodwa owawungazithinti izimpilo zabantu. Ngesikhathi iNkosi uJesu iphila nesintu, wabona abalimi behlakula amasimu abo, wabe azi ukuthi lwaluyini ukhula futhi yayiyini imvubelo; wayeqonda ukuthi abantu bayayithanda ingcebo, ngakho wasebenzisa izingathekiso zakho kokubili ingcebo namaparele; Yena wayejwayele ukubona abadobi bephonsa amanethi, kanye nokunye. INkosi uJesu yabona le misebenzi ezimpilweni zesintu, Nayo futhi yadlula kulolu hlobo lwempilo. Yayifana nawo wonke umuntu ojwayelekile, Yadlula nasekudleni izidlo zabantu ezintathu ngosuku kanye nezinjwayelo zansuku zonke. Yena uqobo wadlula empilweni yomuntu osemdibini, futhi wabona izimpilo zabanye. Ngesikhathi ebona futhi Yena uqobo edlula kukho konke lokhu, akucabanga akubanga ukuthi wayengaba kanjani nempilo enhle, noma wayengaphila kanjani ngokukhululeka okukhulu nangokunethezeka. Ngesikhathi ebhekene nokuphila impilo yomuntu yeqiniso, iNkosi uJesu yabona ubunzima ezimpilweni zabantu, yabona ubunzima, nosizi, kanye nokudabuka kwabantu ngaphansi kwenkohlakalo kaSathane, bephila ngaphansi kombuso kaSathane, futhi bephila phansi kwesono. Ngesikhathi Yena uqobo edlula empilweni yomuntu, waphinda wabona ukuthi babeswele usizo kangakanani labo ababephila ngaphansi kwenkohlakalo, futhi wabona futhi wadlula ezimweni eziwusizi zabantu ababephila ngaphansi kwesono, ababelahlekile behlukunyezwa uSathane, ngobubi. Ngesikhathi iNkosi uJesu ibona lezi zinto, kungabe yazibona ngobunkulunkulu Bayo noma ngobuntu Bayo? Ubuntu Bayo babukhona ngempela—babuphila ngempela—wayengadlula kukho futhi akubone konke lokhu, futhi nembala naye wabubona engqikithini Yakhe, ebunkulunkulwini Bakhe. Okungukuthi, uKristu uqobo Lwakhe, iNkosi uJesu umuntu yakubona lokhu, futhi yonke into ayibona yenza ukuba Abone ukubaluleka kanye nesidingo somsebenzi ayewuqalile enyameni ngaleso sikhathi. Nakuba Yena uqobo Lwakhe wabe azi umthwalo okwakumele Awuthathe enyameni wabe umkhulu kakhulu, futhi nokuthi babunesihluku esikhulu kangakanani ubuhlungu ayezobhekana nabo, ngesikhathi Ibona isintu siswele usizo esonweni, ngesikhathi Ibona usizi ezimpilweni zabo kanye nomizabalazo yabo ebuthakathaka ngaphansi komthetho, Yezwa Inokudabuka okukhulu, yaqhubeka yakhathazeka kakhulu ngokusindisa isintu ezonweni. Kwakungakhathalekile ukuthi uhlobo luni lobunzima ayezobhekana nabo noma uhlobo luni lobuhlungu eyayizobuzwa, yakhetha kakhulu ukuhlenga isintu esasiphila esonweni. Ngesikhathi kwenzeka lokhu, wawungasho ukuthi iNkosi uJesu yaqala ukuqonda kakhulu nakakhulu ngokucacileyo umsebenzi okwakumele Iwenze kanye nalokho eyayithenjwe ngakho. Yaba magange ngokukhulayo ukuqeda umsebenzi eyayizowenza—ukuthatha zonke izono zesintu, ukuba ihlawulele abantu ukuze bangabe besaphila esonweni futhi uNkulunkulu wayezokwazi ukukhohlwa izono zomuntu ngenxa yomnikelo wesono, okwakuzomvumela ukuba aqhubeke nomsebenzi Wakhe wokusindisa isintu. Kungashiwo ukuthi enhliziyweni yeNkosi uJesu, Yayifisa ukuzinikela Yona uqobo ngenxa yesintu, ukuzinikela Yona. Yayizimisele futhi ukuba umnikelo wesono, ukuba ibethelwe esiphambanweni, futhi yayimagange ukuwufeza lo msebenzi. Ngesikhathi ibona izimo sosizi ezimpilweni zabantu, yafuna kakhulu ukugcwalisa umsebenzi Wayo ngokushesha okukhulu, ngaphandle kokulibazisa umzuzu noma umzuzwana. Ngesikhathi inomuzwa wokuphuthuma, yayingacabangi ngobukhulu bobuhlungu Bayo futhi ayibange isacabanga ngobukhulu behlazo eyayizolibekezelela—yabamba isiqiniseko esisodwa enhliziyweni Yayo: Inqobo nje uma izinikelile, inqobo nje uma ibethelwe esiphambanweni njengomnikelo wesono, intando kaNkulunkulu iyokwenziwa futhi Yena uyokwazi ukuqala umsebenzi omusha. Isintu siphila esonweni, isimo sabo sokuphila esonweni sasiyoguquka ngokupheleleyo. Isiqiniseko Sayo kanye nalokhu eyayikunqumile ukukwenza kwakuphathelene nokusindisa umuntu, futhi yayinenjongo eyodwa: ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu, ukuze akwazi ukuqala isigaba esilandelayo emsebenzini Wakhe ngempumelelo. Yilokhu okwakusemqondweni weNkosi uJesu ngaleso sikhathi.

Ephila enyameni, uNkulunkulu osesimweni somuntu, wayenobuntu obujwayelekile; Yena wayenemizwa kanye nokucabanga komuntu ojwayelekile, wayazi ukuthi iyini intokozo, buyini ubuhlungu, kodwa ngesikhathi ebona isintu sikulolu hlobo lwempilo, wezwa ngokujulile ukuthi ukumane enika abantu izifundiso, ukubanikeza utho noma ukubafundisa okuthile, kwakungeke kubaholele ekutheni baphume esonweni. Nokuthi balalele imiyalelo kwakungeke kubahlenge esonweni nakho—kungesikhathi lapho ebhekana khona nesono sesintu kuphela futhi ethatha umfanekiso wenyama enesono lapho wayengasishintshanisa nenkululeko yesintu. Ngakho emva kokuba iNkosi uJesu isibonile futhi yakufakazela ukuphila kwabantu esonweni, kwaba khona ukulangazelela okukhulu okwabonakaliswa enhliziyweni Yayo—ukuvumela abantu balahle ngokwabo izimpilo zabo zokuzabalaza esonweni. Lokhu kulangazelela kwayenza ukuba izwe kakhulu ukuthi kumele iye esiphambanweni futhi ithathe izono zesintu ngokuphuthuma. Lena kwakuyimicabango yeNkosi uJesu ngaleso sikhathi, emva kokuba isiphilile nabantu futhi ibonile, izwile, futhi izwile usizi lwezimpilo zabo esonweni. Ukuthi uNkulunkulu osemzimbeni wayenalolu hlobo lokulangazelela ngesintu, ukuthi wayengaveza lolu hlobo lwesimo—ngabe lokhu yinto umuntu ojwayelekile angaba nayo? Wayengabonani umuntu ojwayelekile kulesi simo? Wayezocabangani? Uma umuntu ojwayelekile wayengabhekana nakho konke lokhu, ingabe wayezobuka izinkinga ngendlela ephezulu? Akunjalo! Nakuba uNkulunkulu osemzimbeni uyafana ncamashi nabantu, wafunda ulwazi lwabantu futhi wakhuluma ulimi lwabantu, futhi kwesinye isikhathi uveza imibono Yakhe ngezindlela zesintu nangemisho, ngendlela abona ngayo abantu, ingqikithi yezinto, nange ndlela abantu abakhohlakele ababona ngayo isintu kanye nobunjalo bezinto akufani. Indlela abuka ngayo kanye nokuphakama kwalapho emi khona kuyinto angenakufinyelela kuyo umuntu okhohlakele. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi uNkulunkulu uyiqiniso, inyama ayigqokile inobunjalo bukaNkulunkulu, futhi imicabango Yakhe kanye nalokho okuvezwa ubuntu Bakhe, nakho kuyiqiniso. Kubantu abakhohlakele, lokhu akukhuluma esenyameni kuwukuhlinzekwa kweqiniso kanye nokuphila. Lokhu kuhlinzekwa akusikhona okomuntu oyedwa, kodwa okwesintu sonke. Ngokuba noma imuphi umuntu okhohlakele, enhliziyweni yakhe kukhona kuphela labo bantu abambalwa abahambisana naye. Yilabo bantu kuphela abakhathalelayo, akhathazekile ngabo. Uma kuvela inhlekelele ucabanga kuqala ngezingane zakhe, lowo ashade naye, noma abazali kanti umuntu othanda ukusiza, angacabanga ngesihlobo noma umngani olungile; uyacabanga ngabanye? Ngeke! Ngoba abantu, emva kwakho konke, bangabantu, futhi bangakwazi ukubheka izinto zonke kuphela ngasohlangothini nokuphakama komuntu. Nokho, uNkulunkulu osemzimbeni uhluke kakhulu kumuntu okhohlakele. Noma ngabe ujwayeleke kangakanani, noma uvame kangakanani, noma uphansi kangakanani uNkulunkulu osemzimbeni, ngisho noma bambukela phansi kangakanani abantu, imicabango Yakhe, nesimo sengqondo Yakhe ngesintu, kuyizinto umuntu angeke aze abe nazo, futhi akekho umuntu ongakulingisa. Uyohlala njalo ebheka isintu ngobukhona kanye nomqondo kaNkulunkulu, akasoze abona umuntu ngokubuka kwezinga lomuntu ojwayelekile nje, futhi nange ndlela yomuntu okhohlakele. Uma abantu bebheka isintu, babuka ngokubona kwabantu, futhi basebenzisa izinto ezifana nolwazi lwabantu kanye nemigomo yabantu kanye nabakufundile njengesilinganiso. Lokhu kungaphakathi kwesilinganiso salokho abantu abangakubona ngamehlo abo; kungaphakathi kwesilinganiso esingafezwa umuntu okhohlakeleyo. Uma uNkulunkulu ebheka isintu, ubuka ngokubona kobunkulunkulu, futhi usebenzisa ingqikithi yakhe kanye nalokhu anakho nayikho njengesilinganiso. Lesi silinganiso simbandakanya izinto ezingabonwa ngabantu, yilapho uNkulunkulu osemzimbeni kanye nabantu abakhohlakele bephambana kakhulu. Lo mehluko wenziwa ubunjalo babantu nobunjalo bukaNkulunkulu, yilobu bunjalo obenza ukubona kwabo nokuma kwabo kanye nangendlela nokuphakama ababona ngakho izinto. Ingabe niyakubona ukukhuluma nokubonakaliswa kukaNkulunkulu uqobo lwakhe eNkosini uJesu? Ningasho nithi lokho okwenziwa nokwashiwo iNkosi uJesu kwakuhlobene nenkonzo Yakhe kanye nomsebenzi nokuphatha kukaNkulunkulu, yilokho ukubonakaliswa nokwembulwa kobunjalo bukaNkulunkulu. Noma wayenakho ukubonakaliswa komuntu, ingqikithi yobunkulunkulu Bakhe kanye nokwembulwa kobunkulunkulu Bakhe angeke kuphikwe. Ingabe lokhu kubonakaliswa komuntu kwakuwukubonakaliswa kobuntu? Ukubonakaliswa kobuntu Bakhe, ngobunjalo Bakhe, kwakuhlukile kakhulu ekubonakalisweni komuntu okhohlakele. INkosi uJesu yayingubuntu bukaNkulunkulu, futhi uma engaba omunye wabajwayelekile, abantu abakhohlakele, yayingazibona yini izimpilo zesintu zisezonweni ngendlela yobunkulunkulu? Akunjalo! Lona ngumehluko phakathi kweNdodana yomuntu kanye nabantu abajwayelekile. Bonke abantu abakhohlakele baphila esonweni, kanti noma ubani uma ebona isono, abanawo umuzwa othile ngaso; bonke bayafana, njengengulube ehlala odakeni engazizwa ingakhululekile, noma ingcolile—idla kahle, ilale kamnandi. Uma umuntu engahlanza isibaya sezingulube, ingulube ngeke isanethezeka, futhi ngeke ihlale ihlanzekile. Kungakapheli isikhathi, iyophindela futhi iyozigingqa odakeni, inethezeke ngokupheleleyo, ngokuba iyisidalwa esingcolile. Uma abantu bebona izingulube, babona ukuthi zingcolile, uma uyigeza, ingulube ayizizwa ingcono—yingakho engekho umuntu ogcina ingulube endlini yakhe. Indlela abantu ababona ngayo izingulube iyohlala njalo ihlukile kune ndlela izingulube ezizibona ngayo, ngoba abantu nezingulube abasibo abohlobo olufanayo. Futhi ngenxa yokuthi ubuntu beNdodana yomuntu abufani nobabantu abakhohlakele, ubuntu bukaNkulunkulu kuphela obungamela ukubona ngendlela kaNkulunkulu, futhi kume endaweni yokuphakama kukaNkulunkulu ukubona isintu, ukubona zonke izinto.

Lapho uNkulunkulu eba yinyama futhi ehlala phakathi kwesintu, yikuphi lokhu kuhlupheka akuzwayo enyameni? Ingabe ukhona oqonda ngempela? Abanye abantu bathi uNkulunkulu uhlupheka kakhulu, noma enguNkulunkulu uqobo Lwakhe, abantu abaqondi ingqikithi Yakhe futhi bamthathisa okomuntu njalo, lokhu okumezwa azizwe ecasukile futhi oniwe—bathi ukuhlupheka kukaNkulunkulu kukhulu. Abanye abantu bathi uNkulunkulu umsulwa futhi akanasono, kodwa Yena uhlupheka ngokufana kanye nesintu futhi uhlupheka ngokukhashelwa, ukuhletshwa, ukujivazwa kanye nesintu; bathi futhi wabekezelela ukungaqondwa kanye nokungalalelwa abalandeli Bakhe—ukuhlupheka kukaNkulunkulu kungelinganiswe. Kubonakala sengathi animqondi ngempela uNkulunkulu. Eqinisweni, lokhu kuhlupheka enikhuluma ngakho akukubali ukuhlupheka kwangempela kukaNkulunkulu, ngokuba kukhona ukuhlupheka okudlula lokhu. Pho-ke, ikuphi ukuhlupheka kweqiniso kukaNkulunkulu? Ikuphi ukuhlupheka ngokweqiniso kobuntu bukaNkulunkulu enyameni? KuNkulunkulu, ukungamqondi kwesintu nokungamboni njengoNkulunkulu akakubali njengenhlupheko. Nokho, abantu bajwayele ukuzwa sengathi kungenzeka uNkulunkulu wahlupheka ukungabi nobulungiswa obukhulu, ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu esenyameni angeke abonise ubuyena Bakhe esintwini futhi ngeke ababonise ubukhulu Bakhe, futhi uNkulunkulu usitheza ngokuthobekileyo inyama engabalulekile, lokho kwakuhlukumeza kuYena. Abantu bakuthathela enhliziyweni lokhu abakuqondayo nalokho abakubonayo okokuhlupheka kukaNkulunkulu, bese bephoqelela zonke izinhlobo zokudabuka kuNkulunkulu futhi isikhathi esiningi baze balethe nendumiso encanyana yakho. Eqinisweni, ukhona umehluko, kukhona igebe phakathi kwalokhu abantu abakuqonda njengokuhlupheka kukaNkulunkulu kanye nalokhu akuzwa ngempela. Nginitshela iqiniso—kuNkulunkulu, noma ngabe uMoya kaNkulunkulu noma ubuntu bukaNkulunkulu enyameni, lokho kuhlupheka akusikho ukuhlupheka kweqiniso. Kanti yini lena uNkulunkulu ayihlupheka ngempela? Ake sikhulume ngokuhlupheka kukaNkulunkulu kuphela sikususela ekubukeni ngendlela kaNkulunkulu osesimweni somuntu.

Lapho uNkulunkulu eba yinyama, ephenduka umuntu ophakathi nendawo, ojwayelekile, ohlala nabantu phakathi kwesintu, akaziboni futhi akazizwa yini izindlela zabantu, imithetho kanye nefilosofi yokuphila? Ingabe Yena uzizwa kanjani ngalezi zindlela nemithetho yokuphila? Ingabe uyenyanya enhliziyweni Yakhe? Iziphi izindlela nemithetho yesintu yokuphila? Iziphi izimiso abagxile kuzo? Imuphi umsuka wazo? Izindlela, imithetho kanye nokunye kwesintu kokuphila—konke lokhu kwenziwe kususelwa emqondweni, olwazini kanye nomgomo wokuphila kaSathane. Abantu abaphila ngaphansi kwalezi zinhlobo zemithetho abanabo ubuntu, abanalo iqiniso—bonke behlula iqiniso, futhi banobutha kuNkulunkulu. Uma sibheka ingqikithi kaNkulunkulu kuphambene nalokhu okungukucabanga, ulwazi kanye nomgomo wokuphila kaSathane. Ingqikithi Yakhe igcwele ukulunga, iqiniso, ubungcwele, kanye nobukhona bezinto ezinhle. UNkulunkulu, enale ngqikithi futhi ephila phakathi kwesintu—ingabe uzwani enhliziyweni Yakhe? Ingabe akugcwele yini ubuhlungu? Inhliziyo Yakhe isebuhlungwini, futhi lokhu ubuhlungu obungeke baqondwa noma babonwa ngumuntu. Ngoba yonke into abhekana, ahlangabezane, ayizwayo, ayibonayo kanye nadlula kuyo Yena, inkohlakalo yomuntu kuphela, ububi, kanye nokuhlubuka kwabo abamelene neqiniso. Konke lokhu okuvela kubantu kungumsuka wokuhlupheka Kwakhe. Lokho kusho ukuthi, ngokuba ingqikithi Yakhe ayifani neyabantu abakhohlakele, ukukhohlakala kwabantu kuba umsuka wokuhlupheka Kwakhe okukhulu. Uma uNkulunkulu ethatha isimo senyama, ingabe Yena uyakwazi yini ukuthola umuntu onolimi olufana noLwakhe? Lokhu angeke kutholakale phakathi kwesintu. Akekho ongatholakala ongakhuluma, ongaxoxisana noNkulunkulu—ungathi uhlobo luni lo muzwa uNkulunkulu analo? Izinto abantu abakhuluma ngazo, ukuthi bayazithanda, abazifunayo, nabazilangazelelayo, kuyisono, nokujwayela ububi. Uma uNkulunkulu ebhekana nakho konke lokhu, akufani yini nomsebenzi enhliziyweni Yakhe? Ebhekene nazo zonke lezi zinto, angaba nayo yini injabulo enhliziyweni Yakhe? Angakuthola yini ukududuzeka? Labo abaphila Naye ngabantu abagcwele ukuhlubuka kanye nobubi—kungenzeka kanjani ukuthi inhliziyo Yakhe ingahlupheki? Ingabe kungakanani lokhu kuhlupheka, futhi ubani onendaba nakho? Ubani oqaphelayo? Ubani ongakubonga? Abantu abangenandlela yokuqonda inhliziyo kaNkulunkulu. Ukuhlupheka Kwakhe into abantu abangakwazi ukuyazisa, futhi ukubanda nokungabi namizwa kwabantu kwenza ukuhlupheka Kwakhe kujule kakhulu.

Kukhona abanye abantu abangazwelana nosizi lukaKristu ngoba kukhona ivesi eBhayibhelini elithi: “Izimpungushe zinemigodi, nezinyoni zinezidleke; kodwa iNdodana yomuntu ayinayo indawo yokubeka ikhanda Layo.” Ngesikhathi abantu bekuzwa lokhu, bakufaka ezinhliziyweni zabo futhi base beyakholwa ukuthi lokhu ukuhlupheka okukhulu uNkulunkulu akubekezelela, futhi ukuhlupheka okukhulu uKristu akubekezelela. Manje, uma sikubheka ngokwamaqiniso, ileso simo yini? UNkulunkulu akakholwa ukuthi lobu bunzima ukuhlupheka. Yena akakaze akhale ngokungabikho bokulungiswa ngenxa yobunzima benyama, Yena akakaze enze ukuba abantu bamkhokhele noma bamvuze noma ngani. Nokho, ngesikhathi ebona zonke izinto zesintu, izimpilo ezikhohlakele kanye nobubi babantu abakhohlakele, uma ebona ukuthi isintu sibanjwe uSathane futhi saboshwa uSathane futhi angeke siphunyuke, ukuthi abantu abaphila esonweni abazi ukuthi liyini iqiniso—Yena akakwazi ukumela zonke lezi zono. Ukwenyanya Kwakhe abantu kwenyukela usuku ngosuku, kodwa kwakumele akubekezelele konke lokhu. Lokhu ukuhlupheka kukaNkulunkulu okukhulu. UNkulunkulu akakwazi ukubonisa ngisho izwi lenhliziyo Yakhe noma imizwa Yakhe phakathi kwabalandeli Bakhe, futhi akekho phakathi kwabalandeli Bakhe ongaqonda ngeqiniso ukuhlupheka Kwakhe. Akekho nozamayo ukuqonda noma ukududuza inhliziyo Yakhe—inhliziyo Yakhe ibekezelela lobu buhlungu nsuku zonke, minyaka yonke, ngezikhathi zonke. Nibonani kukho konke lokhu? UNkulunkulu akadingi lutho kubantu ukushintshanisa nalokhu akunikelile, kodwa kungenxa yobunjalo Bakhe, angeke akwazi ukumela ububi besintu, inkohlakalo, kanye nesono, kodwa uzwa ukunyanya nenzondo enkulu, okuholela inhliziyo nenyama kaNkulunkulu ekubekezeleleni ukuhlupheka okungapheli. Niyakubona konke lokhu na? Kungenzeka, akukho namunye wenu ongabona lokhu, ngokuba akukho namunye wenu ongaqonda uNkulunkulu. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi ningazizwela khona nina kancane kancane.

Okulandelayo, ake sibheke lezi ziqephu zombhalo.

9. UJesu Wenza Izimangaliso

1) UJesu Usuthisa Izinkulungwane Eziyisihlanu

UJohane 6:8-13 Omunye wabafundi Bakhe, u-Andreya, umfowabo kaSimoni Petru, wathi Kuye, Kukhona insizwa lapha, enezinkwa zebhali eziyisihlanu, kanye nezinhlanzi ezincane ezimbili: kodwa ziyini lezi kwabaningi kangaka na? UJesu waye sethi, Bahlaliseni phansi abantu. Manje kwakunotshani obuningi kuleyo ndawo. Ngakho abantu bahlala phansi, ngokwenani cishe izinkulungwaneni eziyisihlanu. UJesu wase ethatha izinkwa; esebongile, wazabela abafundi bakhe, nabafundi bazabela labo ababehlezi phansi; kanjalo futhi nezinhlanzi njengokufisa kwabo. Kuthe ngenkathi sebesuthi, wathi kubafundi Bakhe, Buthani imvuthuluka esele, kuze kungachitheki lutho. Ngakho bazibuthela ndawonye, futhi zagcwala obhasikidi abayishumi nambili ngemvuthuluka yezinkwa eziyisihlanu zebhali, eyayisele phezu kwalokho ababekudlile.

2) Ukuvuka KukaLazaru Kukhazimulisa UNkulunkulu

UJohane 11:43-44 Futhi lapho esekhulumile, wamemeza ngelizwi elikhulu, Lazaru, phuma. Futhi loyo owayefile waphuma, eboshwe izandla nezinyawo ngezindwangu zasethuneni: futhi ubuso bakhe buboshwe ngendwangu. UJesu wathi kubo, Mthukululeni, bese nimyeka ahambe.

Phakathi kwezimangaliso ezenziwa iNkosi uJesu, sikhethe kuphela lezi ezimbili ngokuba zanele ukubonisa lokhu engifisa ukukhuluma ngakho lapha. Lezi zimangaliso ezimbili ziyashaqisa kakhulu, futhi zimele izimangaliso zeNkosi uJesu ngeNkathi Yomusa.

Okokuqala, ake sibheke isiqephu sokuqala: UJesu Usuthisa Izinkulungwane Eziyisihlanu.

Inhloboni yomcabango othi “izinkwa eziyisihlanu nezinhlanzi ezimbili”? Bangaki abantu abangasuthiswa izinkwa eziyisihlanu nezinhlanzi ezimbili? Uma nilinganisa ngokulangazelela ukudla komuntu oyedwa ngokujwayelekile, kungalingana abantu ababili. Nokho, kulotshiwe kulesi siqephu ukuthi izinkwa eziyisihlanu nezinhlanzi ezimbili zasuthisa abantu abangaki? Kulotshiwe kulo mbhalo ngale ndlela: “Manje kwakunotshani obuningi kuleyo ndawo. Ngakho abantu bahlala phansi, ngokwenani cishe elisezinkulungwaneni eziyisihlanu.” Uma kuqhathaniswa nezinkwa eziyisihlanu nezinhlanzi ezimbili, ingabe izinkulungwane eziyisihlanu ziyisibalo esikhulu? Ngokomcabango womuntu, ukwahlukanisa izinkwa eziyisihlanu nezinhlanzi ezimbili phakathi kwabantu abayizinkulungwane eziyisihlanu akunakwenzeka, ngoba umehluko phakathi kwakho mukhulu kakhulu. Noma bekungathiwa wonke umuntu wayeluma kanye kancane, kwakungeke kwabanela abantu abayizinkulungwane eziyisihlanu. Kodwa lapha, iNkosi uJesu yenza isimangaliso—Yona ayibavumelanga kuphela abantu abayizinkulungwane eziyisihlanu ukuba badle basuthe, kodwa kwaba nangaphezulu. Umbhalo uthi: “Kuthe ngenkathi sebesuthi, wathi kubafundi Bakhe, Buthani imvuthuluka esele, kuze kungachitheki lutho. Ngakho bayibuthela ndawonye, futhi yagcwala obhasikidi abayishumi nambili ngemvuthuluka yezinkwa eziyisihlanu zebhali, eyayisele phezu kwalokho abebakudlile.” Lesi simangaliso savumela abantu ukuba babone ubunjalo kanye nezinga leNkosi uJesu, sabavumela futhi ukuba babone ukuthi akukho okungenzeki kuNkulunkulu—babona iqiniso nokuba namandla onke kukaNkulunkulu. Izinkwa eziyisihlanu nezinhlanzi ezimbili zanela ukusuthisa izinkulungwane eziyisihlanu. Kodwa uma kwakungekho kudla ngabe uNkulunkulu wayezokwazi yini ukusuthisa izinkulungwane eziyisihlanu? Kunjalo, Yena wayezokwazi! Lesi kwakuyisimangaliso, ngakho ngokungagwemeki, abantu bezwa ukuthi lokhu akuqondisiseki futhi bezwa ukuthi akukholakali futhi kuyimfihlakalo, kodwa kuNkulunkulu, ukwenza lokhu kwakuyinto engelutho. Njengoba lokhu kwakuyinto ejwayelekile kuNkulunkulu, kungani lokhu kutonyuliwe ngenxa yokuhumusha? Ngoba lokhu okufihleke ngemuva kwalesi simangaliso kuqukethe intando yeNkosi uJesu, engakaze itholwe isintu.

Okokuqala, ake sizame ukuqonda ukuthi uhlobo luni lwabantu laba abayizinkulungwane eziyisihlanu. Ingabe babengabalandeli beNkosi uJesu? Emibhalweni, siyazi ukuthi kwakungesibo abalandeli Bayo. Ingabe babazi ukuthi iNkosi uJesu ingubani? Babengazi ngempela! Okungenani, babengazi ukuthi umuntu omi phambi kwabo kwakunguKristu, noma kungenzeka ukuthi abanye abantu bebazi igama Lakhe kuphela, futhi ukwazi into noma babezwile ngezinto owayezenzile. Babenelukuluku nje ngeNkosi uJesu ngenxa yezindaba, kodwa wawungeke uthi babemlandela, ingasaphathwa eyokumqonda. Ngesikhathi iNkosi uJesu ibona laba bantu abayizinkulungwane eziyisihlanu, babelambile, becabanga kuphela ukuba basuthiswe, ngakho kwakuyile ngqikithi eyenza ukuba iNkosi uJesu yanelise ukufisa kwabo. Ngesikhathi yenelisa izifiso zabo, kwakunani enhliziyweni Yayo? Yona yayibabheka kanjani laba bantu ababefuna ukusuthiswa kuphela? Ngalesi sikhathi imicabango yeNkosi uJesu kanye nendlela eyayibabheka ngayo yayihamabisana nesimo kanye nobunjalo Bayo. Ibhekane nalaba bantu abayizinkulungwane eziyisihlanu abalambile futhi abafuna kuphela ukusuthiswa, Yona ibhekene nalaba bantu abanelukuluku kanye nethemba Ngayo, iNkosi uJesu yacabanga ukusebenzisa lesi simangaliso ukunikeza umusa phezu kwabo. Nokho, ayibanga namathemba aphezulu okuthi bazophenduka abalandeli Bayo, ngoba yayazi ukuthi babezifunela ukungena ebumnandini nokuthi badle basuthe, ngakho yenza okwedlulele ngalokho eyayinakho lapho, yasebenzisa izinkwa eziyisihlanu nezinhlanzi ezimbili ukusuthisa abantu abayizinkulungwane eziyisihlanu. Yavula amehlo alaba bantu ababejabulela ubumnandi, ababefuna ukubona izimangaliso, futhi bazibonela ngamehlo abo izinto ezazingafezwa ubuntu bukaNkulunkulu. Noma-ke iNkosi uJesu yasebenzisa into ephathekayo ukwanelisa ilukuluku labo, yabe yazi enhliziyweni Yayo ukuthi laba bantu abayizinkulungwane eziyisihlanu babezifunela ukuba nesidlo esimnandi, ngakho ayishongo lutho futhi ayibashumayezanga—yavele yabavumela ukuba babone isimangaliso senzeka. Yayingeke ikwazi neze ukubaphatha ngendlela efanayo nalena eyayiphatha ngayo abafundi Bayo ababemlandela ngeqiniso, kodwa enhliziyweni kaNkulunkulu, zonke izidalwa zazingaphansi kokubusa Kwakhe, futhi Yayizovumela zonke izidalwa ezisemehlweni Ayo ukuba zithokozele umusa kaNkulunkulu uma kunesidingo. Noma-ke laba bantu babengamazi ukuthi Ungubani noma Bayiqonde noma babe nendlela Abayibuka ngayo, noma babe nokubonga Kuyo emva kokudla izinkwa nezinhlanzi, lokhu akusiyo into uNkulunkulu owayengayenza udaba—Wanikeza laba bantu ithuba elimangalisayo ukuba bathokozele umusa kaNkulunkulu. Abanye bathi uNkulunkulu unezimiso kulokhu akwenzayo, Yena akabi umlindi noma avikele abangakholwa, futhi Yena akabavumeli ukuba bathokozele umusa Wakhe. Ingabe kunjalo ngempela? Emehlweni kaNkulunkulu, inqobo nje beyizidalwa eziphilayo ezidalwe Nguye; uzobelapha, abahlelele, futhi ababuse ngezindlela ezahlukene. Lena yimicabango kanye nendlela uNkulunkulu abuka ngayo izinto zonke.

Nakuba abantu abayizinkulungwane eziyisihlanu abadla izinkwa nezinhlanzi abahlelanga ukulandela iNkosi uJesu, akaqinisanga isandla kubo; emva kokuba sebedle basutha, ingabe niyazi ukuthi yenzani iNkosi uJesu? Ingabe yabashumayeza? Yaya kuphi emva kokwenza lokhu? Umbhalo awukubhalanga ukuthi iNkosi uJesu kukhona eyakusho kubo; emva kokuba isiqedile isimangaliso Sayo, Yahamba ngokunyomuka. Ingabe kukhona yini akudinga kulaba bantu? Ingabe yaba khona yini inzondo? Kwakungekho lutho kwalokhu—Ayibange isafuna ukucabanga ngalaba bantu abangayilandelanga, futhi ngalesi sikhathi inhliziyo Yayo yayisebuhlungwini. Ngokuba Yayisibonile ukonakala kwesintu futhi yayisikuzwile ukudelwa ngabantu, futhi ngesikhathi ibabona laba bantu noma yayinabo, ukungaboni kwabantu kanye nokungazi kwenza yaba nosizi kakhulu futhi kwashiya inhliziyo Yakhe isezinhlungwini, ngakho Yafuna ukubashiya laba bantu masinyane. Inkosi ayibanga nalutho eludinga kubo enhliziyweni Yayo, ayifunanga ukucabanga ngabo, ayifunanga ukusebenzisa amandla Ayo ngabo, futhi yabe yazi ukuthi ngeke bayilandele—ngaphezu kwakho konke lokhu, indlela Yona eyayibabuka ngayo yayicacile. Yayifuna ukubaphatha kahle, ukubahlinzekela, ukubondla. Ngalesi sizathu sokuthi iNkosi uJesu yayingubuntu bukaNkulunkulu, Yena waveza ngokwemvelo ingqikithi kaNkulunkulu futhi yabaphatha ngomusa laba bantu. Yabaphatha ngomusa ngenhliziyo enesihawu nokubekezelelana. Noma ngabe laba bantu bayibona kanjani iNkosi uJesu, noma ngabe uhlobo luni lwemiphumela olwaluzoba khona, Yavele yaphatha zonke izidalwa ngokwesimo Sayo njengeNkosi yendalo yonke. Lokhu eyakwembula kwakungenakho okwahlukile, isimo sikaNkulunkulu, kanye nalokhu anakho nayikho. Ngakho iNkosi uJesu yenza into ngokuthula, emva kwalokhu yahamba ngokuthula—iyiphi ingxenye yesimo sikaNkulunkulu lena? Ningasho yini ukuthi lona umusa nothando kaNkulunkulu? Ningasho yini ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzifunela okwakhe? Ingabe umuntu ojwayelekile angakwenza lokhu? Angeke ngempela! Empeleni, kwakungobani laba bantu abayizinkulungwane eziyisihlanu abasuthiswa iNkosi uJesu ngezinkwa eziyisihlanu nezinhlanzi ezimbili? Ningasho yini ukuthi laba bantu babehambisana Naye? Ningasho yini ukuthi bonke babenobutha kuNkulunkulu? Kungashiwo ngesiqiniseko ukuthi babengenabutha neNkosi, kodwa ingqikithi yabo yayinobutha noNkulunkulu. Kodwa wabaphatha kanjani uNkulunkulu laba bantu? Yena wasebenzisa indlela ukuze adambise ubutha babantu kuNkulunkulu—le ndlela ibizwa ngokuthi “umusa.” Okungukuthi, noma ngabe iNkosi yababona njengezoni, nokho emehlweni kaNkulunkulu bayindalo, ngakho yaziphatha ngomusa lezi zoni. Lokhu kungukubekezelela kukaNkulunkulu, futhi lokhu kubekezelela kunqunywa ubunguye nobunjalo bukaNkulunkulu. Ngakho, lokhu into engeke yenziwe umuntu odalwe nguNkulunkulu—uNkulunkulu kuphela ongenza lokhu.

Uma usukwazi ngempela ukwazisa imicabango kaNkulunkulu kanye nendlela uNkulunkulu abheka ngayo isintu, uma ungaqonda ngempela imizwa nokukhathalela kukaNkulunkulu isidalwa ngasinye, uyokwazi ukuqonda ukuzinikela kanye nothando aluchitha ngomunntu ngamunye wabantu abadalwe uMdali. Uma lokhu kwenzeka, uzosebenzisa amagama amabili ukuchaza uthando lukaNkulunkulu—imaphi lawomagama? Abanye bathi “ongenabugovu,” abanye abantu bathi “unobuntu.” Kulamagama amabili, “unobuntu” igama elingafanele ukuchaza uthando lukaNkulunkulu. Leli igama elisetshenziswa ngabantu ukuchaza umuntu onemicabango nemizwa evulelekile. Ngiyalinyanya leli gama, ngoba libhekise ekukhipheni incazelo ngokungahleleki, ngokubandlulula, ngokunganaki izimiso. Kuyinkulumo eqhutshwa imizwa yabantu abayiziwula futhi abadidekile. Uma leli gama lisetshenziswa ukuchaza uthando lukaNkulunkulu, ngokungegwemeke kukhona umqondo onokuhlambalaza. Nginamagama amabili achaza uthando lukaNkulunkulu ngeqiniso—imaphi lamagama? Elokuqala elithi “mkhulukazi.” Kungabe leli gama liyakhumbuzana kakhulu? Elesibili elithi “ubanzi.” Kukhona incazelo yangempela kulamagama amabili engiwasebenzisayo ukuchaza uthando lukaNkulunkulu. Athathwe ngokoqobo, “mkhulukazi” lichaza umthamo noma amandla okuqukethe into, kodwa akusho lutho ukuthi into ingakanani—into abantu abangakwazi ukuyithinta nokuyibona. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi ikhona, akusiyona into esuselwayo, futhi inika abantu umuzwa wokuthi icophelele futhi iyaphatheka. Akusho lutho ukuthi uyibuka ngasohlangothini oluyisicaba noma olunxantathu; awudingi ukucabanga ngobukhona bayo, ngokuba kuyinto ekhona ngempela. Noma-ke usebenzisa “umkhulukazi” ukuchaza uthando lukaNkulunkulu uyezwa ukuthi linikeza uthando Lwakhe inani, nokho, linikeza umuzwa wokungalinganiseki futhi. Ngithi uthando lukaNkulunkulu lunganikwa inani ngoba uthando Lwakhe akusilo uhlobo olungenanhlangano, futhi aluphethuki kunoma iyiphi into yakudala. Okunalokho, luyinto okuhlephulelwana ngayo ezintweni zonke ezibuswa nguNkulunkulu, futhi luyinto ethokozelwa indalo yonke ngokwamazinga ahlukene kanye nangezindlela ezahlukene. Noma-ke abantu bengaluboni noma baluthinte, lolu thando luletha ukugcinwa kanye nempilo ezintweni zonke njengokuba lwembulwa kancane kancane ezimpilweni zabo, futhi babala futhi bafakazele uthando lukaNkulunkulu abaluthokozela yonke imizuzu. Ngithi uthando lukaNkulunkulu alulinganiseki ngoba imfihlakalo kaNkulunkulu ihlinzeka futhi yondla zonke izinto, lokho kunzima kubantu ukuba bakuqonde, kanjalo nemicabango kaNkulunkulu yezinto zonke, ikakhulukazi lezo zesintu. Lokhu kusho ukuthi, akekho owazi igazi nezinyembezi zoMdali azichithele isintu. Akekho ongabamba, akekho ongaqonda ukujula noma ukuphakama kothando loMdali analo ngesintu, esidalwe izandla Zakhe. Ukuchaza uthando lukaNkulunkulu njengolukhulukazi ukusiza abantu ukuba bazise futhi baqonde ububanzi neqiniso lobukhona Bakhe. Ukuze futhi abantu baqonde ngokujulile incazelo yeqiniso yegama elithi “Mdali,” futhi ukuze abantu bazuze ukuqonda okujulile kwencazelo yeqiniso yesidlaliso esithi “indalo.” Lichaza ukuthini igama elithi “ububanzi”? Lisetshenziselwa ulwandle noma umkhathi, njengokuthi umkhathi obanzi, noma ulwandle olubanzi. Ububanzi kanye nokujula kakhulu komkhathi kungaphezu kokuqonda komuntu, futhi into ethumba imicabango yomuntu, ngendlela yokuthi igcwale ukuncoma. Imfihlakalo nenjula yalo kuyabonakala kodwa akuthinteki. Uma ucabanga ngolwandle, ucabanga ngobubanzi balo—lubonakala lungenamkhawulo, futhi uyayizwa imfihlakalo yalo kanye nokusingatha kwalo. Yingakho ngisebenzise igama “ububanzi” ukuchaza uthando lukaNkulunkulu. Ukusiza abantu ukuba bezwe ukuthi kuyigugu kangakanani, ukuzwa injula yobuhle bothando Lwakhe, kanye nokuthi amandla othando Lwakhe awanamkhawulo futhi lunzulu. Ukubasiza bezwe ubungcwele bothando Lwakhe, kanye nesithunzi nokungakhubekisani kukaNkulunkulu okuvezwa ngothando Lwakhe. Manje niyacabanga ukuthi “ububanzi” buyigama elifanele ukuchaza uthando lukaNkulunkulu? Ingabe uthando lukaNkulunkulu lungavumelana nala magama amabili, “ubukhulukazi” kanye “nobubanzi”? Nakanjani! Ngokolimi lwabantu, yila magama amabili kuphela afanele, futhi asondelene nokuchaza uthando lukaNkulunkulu. Anicabangi kanjalo? Uma bengingathi chazani uthando lukaNkulunkulu, ningawasebenzisa la magama amabili? Cishe angeke, ngoba ukuqonda nokwazisa kwenu uthando lukaNkulunkulu kunomkhawulo ngendlela yokubuka eyisicaba, futhi alukanyukeli ebudeni bendawo enhlangothi—ntathu. Ngakho uma bengingathi chazani uthando lukaNkulunkulu, benizozwa ukuthi neswele amazwi; futhi nize nehleke ukukhuluma. Amagama amabili engikhulume ngawo namuhla angabanzima kini ukuba niwaqonde, noma nje nivele ningavumi, lokhu kungasho ukuthi ukwazisa nokuqonda kwenu uthando lukaNkulunkulu kunokuzenzisa futhi kuphakathi komngcingo. Ngishilo ngaphambili ukuthi uNkulunkulu akanamhobholo—uyalikhumbula igama ukungabi namhobholo. Kungashiwo yini ukuthi uthando lukaNkulunkulu lungachazwa kuphela ngokungabi namhobholo? Lokhu akumngcingo kakhulu? Kumele nicabange ngalolu daba kakhulu kube khona enikuzuzayo kulo.

Okungenhla yilokhu esikubonile ngesimo nangobunjalo bukaNkulunkulu esimangalisweni sokuqala. Noma-ke kuyindaba abantu abayifundile eminyakeni eyizinkulungwane eziningana, kuyisakhiwondaba esilula, futhi esivumela abantu ukuba babone umkhuba olula, nokho kulesi sakhiwo sendaba esilula singabona into ewusizo, okuyisimo sikaNkulunkulu kanye nalokhu anakho nayikho Yena. Lezi izinto anazo nayizo Yena zimele uNkulunkulu uqobo Lwakhe, futhi ziyisibonakaliso semicabango kaNkulunkulu. Uma uNkulunkulu ekhuluma imicabango Yakhe, kuwukuvezwa kwephimbo lenhliziyo Yakhe. Unethemba lokuthi kuyakubakhona abantu abayokwazi ukumqonda, abayomazi futhi abayokwazi ukuzwa iphimbo lenhliziyo Yakhe futhi bakwazi ukubamba iqhaza ukuze banelise intando Yakhe. Futhi lezi izinto iNkosi uJesu eyazenza ziwukuveza uNkulunkulu ngokuthule.

Okulandelayo, ake sibheke lesi siqephu: Ukuvuswa KukaLazaru Kukhazimulisa UNkulunkulu.

Nicabangani emva kokufunda lesi siqephu? Ukubaluleka kwalesi simangaliso esenziwa iNkosi uJesu kwabe kukukhulu kakhulu kunaleso esidlule ngoba asikho isimanga esimangazayo ngaphezu kokubuyisa indoda efile ethuneni. Ukwenza kweNkosi uJesu into enje kwakubalulekile kakhulu ngaleyo nkathi. Ngokuba uNkulunkulu wayesephenduke inyama, abantu babengaboni kuphela ukuvela kwakhe enyameni, uhlangothi Lwakhe oluphathekayo, kanye nohlangothi Lwakhe olunganakiwe. Noma abantu babona baqonda ubunjalo Bakhe noma amandla eyayibonakala inawo Yona, akekho owabe azi ukuthi iNkosi uJesu ivelaphi, kwakungubani ingqikithi Yayo yeqiniso, nokuthi yikuphi futhi okunye eyayingakwenza. Konke lokhu kwakungaziwa isintu. Abantu abaningi bafuna ubufakazi balokhu, nokwazi iqiniso. Kukhona yini uNkulunkulu owayengakwenza ukuveza ubufakazi ngobuyena Bakhe? KuNkulunkulu, lokhu kwakungumoya ohelezayo—kwakuwubala. Yena wayengenza into noma kuphi, noma ngasiphi isikhathi ukufakaza ngobuyena nangobunjalo Bakhe, kodwa uNkulunkulu wakwenza konke lokhu ngohlelo, futhi ngokulandelana. Akazenzanga izinto ngokokucwasa; wabheka isikhathi esifanele, kanye nethuba elilungile ukwenza into ebalulekile ukuba ibonwe isintu. Lokhu kufakazela igunya Lakhe kanye nobunjalo Bakhe. Ngakho-ke, ingabe ukuvuka kukaLazaru kufakazela ubunjalo beNkosi uJesu? Ake sibheke lesi siqephu sombhalo: “Futhi lapho esekhulumile, wamemeza ngelizwi elikhulu, Lazaru, phuma. Futhi lowo owayefile waphuma.” Ngesikhathi iNkosi uJesu ikwenza lokhu, Yona yasho into eyodwa: “Lazaru, phuma.” ULazaru wabe esephuma ethuneni lakhe—lokhu kwafezeka ngenxa yomusho owodwa owashiwo iNkosi. Ngalesi sikhathi, iNkosi ayibekanga i-altare, futhi ayenzanga ezinye izenzo, Yona yavele yasho into eyodwa. Lokhu kungabizwa ngesimangaliso noma ngomyalelo? Noma kwakuwuhlobo lo buthakathi? Uma ukukha ngaphezulu, kubukeka sengathi kumele kubizwe ngesimangaliso, futhi uma ukubheka ngendlela ephucuzekile, kunjalo, ungakubiza ngesimangaliso. Nokho, angeke ngempela kubizwe ngomlingo wokubuyisa umphefumulo kwabafileyo, futhi angeke ngempela ukubize ngobuthakathi. Kulungile ukusho ukuthi, lokhu kwakuyisimangaliso segunya loMdali. Leli igunya, kanye nekhono likaNkulunkulu. UNkulunkulu unegunya lokuthi umuntu afe, umphefumulo wakhe ushiye umzimba wakhe bese ubuyela eHayidesi, noma kuphi lapho okumele uye khona. Uma umuntu efa, nalapho abaya khona emva kokufa—lokhu kunqunywa nguNkulunkulu. Angakwenza lokhu noma ngasiphi isikhathi noma kuphi. Yena akacindezelwa ngabantu, izehlakalo, izinto, isikhala, noma indawo. Uma Yena efuna ukukwenza, uzokwenza, ngoba zonke izinto nokuphilayo kungaphansi kokubusa Kwakhe, futhi zonke izinto ziyanda, ziphile futhi zife ngezwi Lakhe negunya Lakhe. Angavusa umuntu ofile—lokhu futhi yinto angayenza noma nini, noma kuphi. Lokhu yigunya okunguMdali kuphela analo.

Uma iNkosi uJesu kukhona ekwenzayo okufana nokubuyisa uLazaru ekufeni, injongo Yayo kwabe kuwukunika ubufakazi kubantu nakuSathane ukuze babone, futhi yenze abantu noSathane bazi ukuthi izinto zonke zesintu, ukuphila nokufa kwesintu kunqunywa nguNkulunkulu, nokuthi noma yayikade ithathe isimo senyama, njengokwemihla, ihlala ibusa izwe lenyama elibonakalayo kanye nezwe lakwamoya abantu abangeke balibone. Lokhu kwabe kungokokubonisa abantu noSathane ukuthi izinto zonke zesintu azikho phansi kombuso kaSathane. Lokhu kwakungukwembulwa nokubonakaliswa kwegunya likaNkulunkulu, futhi kwakuyindlela kaNkulunkulu yokuthumela umyalezo kuzo zonke izinto ukuthi ukufa nokuphila kusezandleni zikaNkulunkulu. Ukuvusa kweNkosi uJesu uLazaru—le ndlela yokwenza izinto kwakungenye yendlela yoMdali yokufundisa nokuqondisa isintu. Kwakuyisenzo esiqinile asebenzisa ngayo ikhono kanye negunya Lakhe ukuqondisa isintu, kanye nokuhlinzeka abantu. Kwakuyindlela ngaphandle kwamazwi ukuba uMdali avumele isintu sibone iqiniso Lakhe libusa ezintweni zonke. Kwakuyindlela Yakhe yokutshela isintu ngezenzo eziphathekayo, ukuthi ayikho insindiso ngaphandle Kwakhe. Lolu hlobo lokuthula lusho ukuthi ukuqondisa Kwakhe isintu kumi kuze kube phakade—akunakusuka, futhi kwaletha enhliziyweni yomuntu ukwethuka kanye nokukhanyiseleka okungayikuphela. Ukuvuka kukaLazaru kwakhazimulisa uNkulunkulu—lokhu kunomthelela ojulile kubo bonke abangabalandeli bakaNkulunkulu. Igxilisa wonke umuntu oqonda ngokujulile lesi sehlakako ukuqonda, umbono othi nguNkulunkulu kuphela ongayala ukuphila nokufa. Noma uNkulunkulu enalolu hlobo lwegunya, futhi noma wathumela umlayezo ngobukhosi Bakhe phezu kokuphila nokufa kwesintu ngokuvuka kukaLazaru, lokhu kwakungesiwo umsebenzi Wakhe oyiwona wona. UNkulunkulu akayenzi into engenancazelo. Yonke into ayenzayo ibaluleke kakhulu futhi iyitshe eliyigugu elihle ngokwedlulele enqolobaneni yamagugu. Wayengeke enze “ukuphuma komuntu ethuneni” kube yinhloso ephambili noma umgomo noma into okuyiyona yodwa yomsebenzi Wakhe. UNkulunkulu akukho akwenzayo ngaphandle kwencazelo. Okukodwa ukuvuka kukaLazaru kwanele ukubonisa igunya likaNkulunkulu. Kwanele ukufakaza ngobunjalo kweNkosi uJesu. Yingakho iNkosi uJesu ingaluphindanga lolu hlobo lwesimangaliso. UNkulunkulu wenza izinto ngokwezimiso Zakhe. Ngokolimi lwabantu, bekuzothiwa uNkulunkulu uyawuqikelela ngomsebenzi Wakhe obalulekile. Okungukuthi, uma uNkulunkulu enza izinto akaduki enjongweni Yakhe. Yena uyazi ukuthi imuphi umsebenzi afuna ukuwenza kulesi isigaba, lokho afuna ukukufeza, futhi uzosebenza angaphambuki ecebeni Lakhe. Uma umuntu okhohlakele ebe nalolu hlobo lwekhono, ebezocabanga ngezindlela zokuveza ikhono lakhe ukuze abanye bazi ukuthi yena uyingozi kangakanani, ngakho bebezomkhothamela, ukuze abalawule futhi abashwabadele. Lobu ububi obuvela kuSathane—lokhu kubizwa ngenkohlakalo. UNkulunkulu akanaso isimo esinje, futhi akanayo ingqikithi enje. Injongo Yakhe ngokwenza izinto akusikho ukuthi abukwe Yena, kodwa ukuhlinzeka isintu ngesambulo esikhulu kanye nesiqondiso, ngakho abantu babona izibonelo ezimbalwa eBhayibhelini ezifana nalezi. Lokhu akusho ukuthi amakhono eNkosi uJesu ayenomkhawulo, noma akakwazanga ukwenza lolu hlobo lwento. Kusho ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayengafuni ukukwenza, ngoba ukuvuswa kukaLazaru iNkosi uJesu kwaba nomthelela ophathekayo, futhi ngenxa yokuthi umsebenzi obalulekile kaNkulunkulu ethathe isimo senyama kwakungesikho ukwenza izimangaliso, kwakungesikho ukuvusa abantu abafileyo, kodwa kwakungumsebenzi wokuhlengwa kwesintu. Ngakho, umsebenzi omningi owafezwa iNkosi uJesu kwakuwukufundisa abantu, ukubahlinzeka, ukubasiza, kanye nezinto ezinjengokuvusa uLazaru ezingezincane enkonzweni eyenziwa iNkosi uJesu. Nangaphezulu, naningasho ukuthi “ukubukisa” akusiyo ingxenye yobunjalo bukaNkulunkulu, ngakho ukungabonakalisi izimangaliso eziningi kwakungekhona ukuvimbeka ngenhloso, noma kwakungeyiso isizathu semikhawulo yendawo, futhi kwakungesikho ukwesweleka kwekhono.

Ngesikhathi iNkosi uJesu ibuyisa uLazaru kwabafileyo, yasebenzisa umusho owodwa: “Lazaru, phuma.” Ayishongo lutho ngaphandle kwalokhu—kungabe amele ini la mazwi? Amele ukuthi uNkulunkulu angafeza noma yini ngokukhuluma, lokhu kubandakanya nokuvusa umuntu ofile. Ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu edala izinto zonke, ngesikhathi Yena edala izwe, wakwenza ngamazwi—amazwi akhulunywayo, amazwi anegunya, futhi kanjalo zonke izinto zadalwa. Kwafezwa kanjalo. Lo musho owodwa owakhulunywa iNkosi uJesu wawufana namazwi akhulunywa nguNkulunkulu ngesikhathi edala izulu nomhlaba kanye nazo zonke izinto; uphethe igunya likaNkulunkulu ngokulingana, ikhono lo Mdali. Zonke izinto zabunjwa futhi zama ngenxa yamazwi omlomo kaNkulunkulu, futhi ngokufanayo, uLazaru waphuma ethuneni ngenxa yamazwi aphuma emlonyeni weNkosi uJesu. Lokhu kwakuyigunya likaNkulunkulu, libonakalisiwe futhi labonwa ebunkulunkulwini Bakhe basenyameni. Lolu hlobo lwegunya nekhono olukaMdali, neNdodaneni yomuntu okuyiyona eyabonakalisa uMdali. Lokhu ukuqonda okufundiswe isintu nguNkulunkulu ngokuvusa uLazaru kwabafileyo. Yilokhu konke ngaphansi kwalesi isihloko. Okulandelayo, ake sifunde umbhalo.

10. Ukwahlulela KwabaFarisi UJesu

UMarku 3:21-22 Futhi lapho abangani Bakhe bezwa ngakho, baphumela ngaphandle ukuba bambambe: ngokuba bathi, uyahlanya. Nababhali abehla bevela eJerusalema bathi, unoBelzebule, futhi ukhipha amadimoni ngenkosana yodeveli.

11. Ukukhuza KukaJesu AbaFarisi

UMathewu 12:31-32 Ngalokho ngithi kini, abantu bayakuthethelelwa zonke izono nokuhlambalaza: kodwa ukuhlambalaza uMoya oNgcwele akuyikuthethelelwa. Futhi yiloyo nalowo okhuluma izwi elimelene neNdodana yomuntu, uyakuthethelelwa, kepha loyo okhuluma izwi elimelene noMoya oNgcwele, akayikuthethelelwa, kuleli zwe, ngisho nakwelizayo.

UMathewu 23:13-15 Kodwa maye kinina, babhali nabaFarisi, bazenzisi! ngokuba nivalela abantu umbuso wezulu: ngokuba aningeni nina, nabangenayo niyabahlupha. Maye kinina, babhali nabaFarisi, bazenzisi! ngokuba nidla izindlu zabafelokazi, nangokuzenzisa nenza imikhuleko emide: Ngalokho niyakwamukeliswa ukulahlwa okukhulu. Maye kinina, babhali nabaFarisi, bazenzisi! Ngokuba nihamba ulwandle nomhlaba ukuba nenze iphroselithe elilodwa, futhi lapho senimenzile nimenza abee umntwana wesihogo ngokuphindwe kabili kunani ngokwenu.

Lezi yiziqephu ezimbili ezahlukene ezingaphezulu—ake sibheke eyokuqala: Ukwahlulela KwabaFarisi UJesu.

EBhayibhelini, ukuhlolwa kukaJesu uqobo Lwakhe kanye nemisebenzi Yakhe ngabaFarisi kwakunje: “Bathi, uyahlanya. … UnoBelzebule, futhi ukhipha amadimoni ngenkosana yodeveli wamadimoni” (UMarku 3:21-22). Ukwahlulelwa kweNkosi uJesu ngaBabhali nabaFarisi kwakungesikho ukulingisa noma ukususela emoyeni—kwakuwukuphetha kwabo ngeNkosi uJesu ngalokho abakuzwa nabakubona ngezenzo Zakhe. Noma isiphetho sabo sasibukeka njengeqiniso, esenziwa egameni lobulungiswa futhi savela kubantu njengento ehlolisisiwe, ukuzikhukhumeza abahlulela ngakho iNkosi uJesu kwakunzima nakubo ukuba bakugcine. Umdlandla wokuhlanya kwenzondo yabo ngeNkosi uJesu kwaveza izifiso zabo ezinobudlwembe kanye nobuso babo obubi obunobusathane, kanye nemvelo yabo yokwenqaba uNkulunkulu, enenzondo. Lezi izinto abazisho ekwahluleleni kwabo iNkosi uJesu zaziqhutshwa izifiso zabo ezinobudlwembe, umona, kanye nemvelo yabo yobutha, embi futhi enenzondo ngeqiniso likaNkulunkulu. Abacwaninganga ngomsuka wezenzo zeNkosi uJesu, futhi abacwaninganga ngobunjalo balokhu akushoyo noma akwenza. Kodwa ngobumpumputhe, ukungabekezeli, ukuhlanya kanye nobubi benhloso bamhlasela futhi bajivaza nalokhu Yena owayesekwenzile. Lokhu kwafika ezingeni lapho baze bajivaza uMoya Wakhe ngokungakhethi, okunguMoya Ongcwele, uMoya kaNkulunkulu. Yilokhu ababekusho uma bethi “uyahlanya,” “unoBelzebhule” nokuthi “inkosana yodeveli”. Lokhu kusho ukuthi, bathi uMoya kaNkulunkulu unguBelzebhule kanye nenkosi yodeveli, bachaza umsebenzi wenyama ngokuthi uMoya kaNkulunkulu ogqoke okomsangano. Abahlambalazanga kuphela uMoya kaNkulunkulu njengoBelzebhule kanye nenkosi yamademoni, kodwa bahlulela umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu. Bahlulela futhi bahlambalaza iNkosi uJesu Kristu. Ingqikithi yokunqaba kwabo kanye nokuhlambalaza uNkulunkulu kwawufana ncamashi nobunjalo bukaSathane kanye nenkani kaSathane nokuhlambalaza uNkulunkulu. Abamelanga inkohlakalo kuphela, kodwa nangaphezulu baba umzimba kaSathane. Baba umgudu kaSathane phakathi kwesintu, babehambisana futhi beyizinceku zikaSathane. Ingqikithi yokuhlambalaza kwabo kanye nokululaza iNkosi uJesu Kristu kwakungumzabalazo wabo noNkulunkulu benzela ukuma kwabo, ukuqhudelana kwabo noNkulunkulu, nokulinga kwabo uNkulunkulu okungapheli. Ingqikithi yokumelana kwabo noNkulunkulu kanye nendlela yobutha kuYe, kanye namazwi abo kanye nemicabango yabo ehlambalaza futhi ithukuthelise uMoya kaNkulunkulu. Ngaleyo ndlela, uNkulunkulu wanquma isigwebo esifanele salokhu abakushilo nabakwenzile, futhi wanquma ukuthi izenzo zabo ziyisono sokuhlambalaza kuMoya Ongcwele. Lesi sono asithethelelwa kulo mhlaba nasemhlabeni ozayo, njengalokhu lesi siqephu sombhalo sisho: “Ukuhlambalaza uMoya oNgcwele akuyikuthethelelwa” nokuthi “Lowo okhuluma izwi elimelene noMoya oNgcwele, akayikuthethelelwa, kulo mhlaba nasemhlabeni ozayo.” Namuhla, ake sikhulume ngencazelo yeqiniso ngalamagama avela kuNkulunkulu “akayikuthethelelwa, kulo mhlaba nasemhlabeni ozayo.” Lokhu kusho ukuthi, masikhanyise ngendlela uNkulunkulu afeza ngayo amazwi athi “akayikuthethelelwa, kulo mhlaba nasemhlabeni ozayo.”

Konke esikhulume ngako kuhambisana nesimo sikaNkulunkulu, indlela Yena abheka ngayo abantu, izindaba, kanye nezinto. Ngokwemvelo, iziqephu ezimbili ezingenhla azihlukile. Kukhona yini enikubonile kulezi ziqephu zombhalo? Abanye abantu bathi babona intukuthelo kaNkulunkulu. Abanye abantu bathi babona icala lesi simo sikaNkulunkulu elingakubekezeleli ukona kwesintu kanye nokuthi uma abantu benza into ehlambalazayo kuNkulunkulu, angeke bazuze intethelelo Yakhe. Ngaphandle nje kokuthi abantu babona intukuthelo nokungabekezelelani kukaNkulunkulu iziphambeko zabantu kulezi ziqephu ezimbili, abakayiqondi indlela abuka ngayo isintu. Lezi iziqephu ezimbili ziqukethe inkomba yomqondo kaNkulunkulu weqiniso kanye nendlela enza ngayo kulabo abamhlambalaza futhi abamthukuthelisayo Yena. Lesi siqephu emiBhalweni siphethe incazelo yangempela yomqondo nendlela Yakhe: “Lowo okhuluma izwi elimelene noMoya oNgcwele, akayikuthethelelwa, kulo mhlaba nasemhlabeni ozayo.” Lapho abantu behlambalaza uNkulunkulu, lapho bemthukuthelisa, ukhipha isinqumo, futhi lesi sinqumo siwumphumela okhishwa Nguye. Sichazwa kanje eBhayibhelini: “Ngalokho ngithi kini, abantu bayakuthethelelwa zonke izono nokuhlambalaza: kodwa abantu abahlambalaza uMoya oNgcwele abayikuthethelelwa” (UMathewu 12:31), nokuthi “Kodwa maye kinina, babhali nabaFarisi, bazenzisi!” (UMathewu 23:13). Nokho, kungabe kubhaliwe yini eBhayibhelini ukuthi imiphi imiphumela kuBabhali nabaFarisi, kanye nalabo bantu abathi uyahlanya emva kokuba iNkosi uJesu isho lezi zinto? Kubhaliwe yini ukuthi sikhona isijeziso abasithola? Kunesiqiniseko sokuthi asibanga bikho. Ukuthi lapha “sasingekho” akusho ukuthi asibhalwanga, kodwa empeleni kwakungekho mphumela owawungabonakala ngamehlo enyama. Lokhu “sasingekho” kuchaza udaba oluthile, okungukuthi, isimo sengqondo nezimiso zikaNkulunkulu ekwenzeni izinto ezithile. Impatho kaNkulunkulu kubantu abamhlambalazayo noma abamphikisayo, noma nalabo abakhuluma kabi ngaye—abantu abamhlasela ngenhloso, abamhlebayo, kanye nabamqalekisayo Yena—Yena akabazibi noma angabalaleli. Unomqondo ocacile ngabo. Uyabenyanya laba bantu, futhi uyabehlulela enhliziyweni Yakhe. Uphinde amemezele isiphetho sabo, ukuze abantu bazi ukuthi unesimo sengqondo esicacile ngalabo abamhlambalazayo, ukuze bazi ukuthi uzonqumani ngesiphetho sabo. Nokho, emva kokuba uNkulunkulu esesho lezi zinto, abantu abalibonanga iqiniso lokuthi uNkulunkulu engabhekana kanjani nalabo bantu, futhi abaqondanga izimiso ezihambisana nemiphumela kaNkulunkulu, isinqumo Sakhe ngabo. Lokho kusho ukuthi, abantu angeke babone umqondo othile kanye nezindlela zikaNkulunkulu zokubhekana nabo. Lokhu kumayelana nezimiso zikaNkulunkulu zokwenza izinto, uNkulunkulu usebenzisa amaqiniso abonakalayo ukuze abhekane nokuziphatha kabi kwabanye abantu. Okungukuthi akasimemezeli isono sabo futhi anqume ngomphumela wabo, kodwa usebenzisa amaqiniso abonakalayo ukubavumela ukuba bajeziswe, ukuze bathole isijeziso sabo esibafaneleyo, uma la maqiniso enzeka, inyama yabantu ezwa ubuhlungu besijeziso; kuyikho konke abantu abangakwazi ukukubona ngamehlo abo enyama. Uma kubhekanwa nokuziphatha okubi kwabanye abantu, uNkulunkulu uvele abaqalekise ngamazwi, kodwa futhi ngesikhathi esifanayo, intukuthelo kaNkulunkulu yehlela phezu kwabo, futhi isijeziso abasitholayo kungaba into abantu abangayiboni, kodwa lolu hlobo lo mphumela ungabanzima kakhulu kunomphumela abantu abangawubona wokuthi bajeziswe noma babulawe. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi esimweni lapho uNkulunkulu unquma ukungalusindisi lolu hlobo lo muntu, ukungabi nesihawu noma ukubabekezelela, ukungabahlinzekeli ngamathuba, umqondo awuthathayo yena ngabo ukubabuyisela eceleni. Kusho ukuthini uku “beka eceleni”? Incazelo yaleli gama ngokwalo ukubeka into kwelinye icala, ukungayinaki. Lapha, uma uNkulunkulu “ebeka umuntu eceleni,” kukhona izincazelo ezimbili ezahlukene: Incazelo yokuqala ukuthi unikezile kulowo muntu ukuphila, lowo muntu yonke into ngaphezu kukaSathane ukubhekana naye. UNkulunkulu akasezukuba nomthwalo futhi ngeke esayiphatha. Noma ngabe lowo muntu uyahlanya, noma uyisilima, futhi noma ngabe usekuphileni noma ekufeni, noma behlela esihogweni ngenxa yokujeziswa kwabo, akunanto okunokuyenza noNkulunkulu. Lokho kuyobe kusho ukuthi isidalwa angeke sibe nobudlelwano noMdali. Incazelo yesibili ukuthi uNkulunkulu unqumile ukuthi Yena qobo Lwakhe ufuna ukwenza okuthile ngalo muntu, ngezandla Zakhe, kungenzeka ukuba uzowusebenzisa umsebenzi walolu hlobo lomuntu, noma uzolusebenzisa lolu hlobo lomuntu njengesiqhathaniso. Kungenzeka ukuba uzoba nendlela ekhethekile ukubhekana nalolu hlobo lomuntu, indlela ekhethekile yokubaphatha—njengoPawuli. Lokhu kuyisimiso kanye nomqondo enhliziyweni kaNkulunkulu ukuthi unquma kanjani ukubhekana nalolu hlobo lo muntu. Ngakho uma abantu benqaba uNkulunkulu, bemhleba futhi bemhlambalaza Yena, futhi bebhebhethekisa ngesimo Sakhe, noma befika emgqeni wokugcina ophansi, imiphumela ayicabangeki. Umphumela onzima ukuthi uNkulunkulu unikela izimpilo zabo kanye nakho konke okwabo kuSathane, kube kanye. Angeke bethethelelwe ingunaphakade. Lokhu kusho ukuthi lo muntu usephenduke ukudla emlonyeni kaSathane, ithoyizi esandleni sakhe, kusukela lapho uNkulunkulu akasenandaba nabo. Ningacabanga nje ukuthi kwakuluhlobo luni losizi ngesikhathi uSathane elinga uJobe? Ngaphansi kwesimo sokuthi uSathane wayengavumelekile ukuthinta impilo kaJobe, uJobe waqhubeka wahlupheka kakhulu. Futhi akunzima kakhulu yini ukucabanga ngokuphanga kukaSathane, umuntu uyakuba ngaphansi kwalowo anikelwe kuye uSathane, ongaphakathi kokubanjwa nguSathane, oselahlekelwe ukunakekelwa nesihawu sikaNkulunkulu, ongasekho ngaphansi kokubuswa uNkulunkulu, osephuciwe ilungelo lokumkhazimulisa Yena, kanye nelungelo lokuba isidalwa ngaphansi kokubusa kukaNkulunkulu, obudlelwano bakhe neNkosi sebunqanyuliwe ngokupheleleyo? Ukuzingelwa kukaJobe nguSathane kwakuyinto eyayingabonwa ngamehlo, kodwa uma uNkulunkulu enikela impilo yomuntu kuSathane, umphumela wakho kuyoba into engeke yacatshangwa muntu. Kufana nomuntu osezaliwe futhi waba njengenkomo, noma imbongolo, noma abanye bethathwa, bangenwe ukungcola, imimoya emibi kanye nokunye. Lokhu kungumphumela, isiphetho sabanye abantu abanikelwe nguNkulunkulu kuSathane. Uma ubuka ngaphandle, kungathi laba bantu abahleka, bahleba, bahlulela, futhi bahlambalaza iNkosi uJesu ababanga nemiphumela ebuhlungu. Nokho, iqiniso ukuthi wayenomqondo wokubhekana nayo yonke into. Angase angalusebenzisi ulimi olucacile ukutshela abantu umphumela wokuthi Yena ubhekana kanjani nalo lonke uhlobo lo muntu. Kwesinye isikhathi akakhulumi kuqonde, kodwa izinto Yena uzenza ngqo. Ukuthi akakhulumi ngakho akusho ukuthi akunamphumela—kungenzeka ukuthi umphumela unzima kakhulu. Ngokubuka, kusengathi uNkulunkulu akakhulumi kubantu abathile ukwambula umqondo Wakhe, eqinisweni, uNkulunkulu akafunanga ukubanaka isikhathi eside. Akasafuni ukuphinda ababone. Ngenxa yezinto abazenzile, inkambo yabo, ngenxa yemvelo yabo nobunjalo babo, uNkulunkulu ufuna banyamalale phambi kwamehlo Akhe, Yena ufuna ukubanikela ngqo kuSathane, ukunikela umoya, umphefumulo kanye nomzimba wabo kuSathane, ukuvumela uSathane ukwenza noma yini ayifunayo. Kuyacaca ukuthi uNkulunkulu ubazonda kangakanani, ubanyanya kangakanani. Uma umuntu ethukuthelisa uNkulunkulu kuze kufike ephuzwini lapho uNkulunkulu engasafuni ukuphinda ababone futhi, ukuthi uyakubadela ngokupheleleyo, kuze kufike ephuzwini lapho uNkulunkulu engasafuni ukubhekana nabo Yena ngqo—uma kufika kulelo phuzu Yena uyakubanikela kuSathane ukuze enze ngokufisa kwakhe, ukuvumela uSathane alawule, aqede, abaphathe noma ngayiphi indlela—lo muntu usephelile ngokupheleleyo. Ilungelo labo lokuba abantu selihoxisiwe unomphela, nelungelo labo njengesidalwa selifike ekugcineni. Akusona yini isijeziso esinzima kakhulu lesi?

Konke lokhu okungenhla kuyincazelo epheleleyo yala mazwi: “akayikuthethelelwa, kulo mhlaba, ngisho nasemhlabeni ozayo,” futhi kuwukuphawula okulula ngalezi ziqephu zombhalo. Ngiyethemba seniyakuqonda manje!

Manje ake sifunde iziqephu zombhalo ezingezansi.

12. Amazwi kaJesu Kubafundi Bakhe Emva Kokuvuka Kwakhe

UJohane 20:26-29 Futhi emva futhi kwezinsuku eziyisishiyagalombili, abafundi Bakhe babesendlini, noTomase enabo: uJesu wayesefika, iminyango ivaliwe, futhi wema phakathi kwabo, wabe esethi, Ukuthula makube kini. Khona-ke wathi kuTomase, Letha lapha umunwe wakho, futhi ubone izandla Zami; futhi letha isandla sakho, bese usifaka ohlangothini Lwami: ungabi ongenalo ukholo, kodwa onokholo. UTomase wabe esephendula wathi kuye, NKOSI Yami noNkulunkulu Wami. UJesu wathi kuye, Tomase, ngenxa yokuthi usungibonile, usuyakholwa: Babusisiwe abakholwayo, kodwa bengabonanga.

UJohane 21:16-17 Wabuye wathi kuyena ngokwesibili, Simoni, ndodana kaJona, uyangithanda? Wathi Kuye, Yebo, Nkosi; uyazi ukuthi ngiyakuthana. Wathi kuye, Yondla izimvu Zami. Wathi kuye ngokwesithathu, Simoni, ndodana kaJona, uyangithanda na? UPetru wadabuka ngokuba wayesembuza okwesithathu ukuthi, Uyangithanda na? Futhi wathi Kuye, Nkosi, wazi konke Wena; uyazi ukuthi ngiyakuthanda. uJesu wathi kuye, Yondla izimvu Zami.

Lokhu lezi ziqephu ezikhuluma ngakho ezinye zezinto ezenziwa iNkosi uJesu futhi wazisho kubafundi Bakhe emva kokuvuka. Okokuqala, ake sibheke umehluko phakathi kweNkosi uJesu ngaphambi nangemuva kokuvuka. Ingabe wayesewuJesu ofanayo wezinsuku ezidlule? Umbhalo uqukethe lo musho olandelayo ochaza ngeNkosi uJesu emva kokuvuka “Khona-ke uJesu wayesefika, iminyango ivaliwe, futhi wema phakathi kwabo, wabe esethi, Ukuthula makube kini.” Kuyacaca ukuthi iNkosi uJesu ngaleso sikhathi wayengasekho enyameni, kodwa emzimbeni womoya. Lokhu kwakungenxa yokuthi wayesedlulile emkhawulweni wenyama, ngesikhathi umnyango uvuliwe Yena wabe esakwazi ukufika phakathi kwabo futhi abavumele bembone Yena. Lona ngumehluko omkhulu phakathi kweNkosi uJesu emva kokuvuka kanye neNkosi uJesu ngaphambi kokuvuka. Noma ngabe wawungekho umehluko ngengaphandle lo mzimba womoya wangaleso sikhathi kanye nengaphandle leNkosi uJesu ngaphambili, uJesu ngaleso sikhathi wayesephenduke uJesu owayefana nesihambi kubantu, ngokuba wayesephenduke umzimba womoya emva kokuvuswa kwabafileyo, uma kuqhathaniswa nenyama Yakhe yangaphambili, lo mzimba womoya wawuletha imibuzo futhi udida abantu. Futhi wavula igebe phakathi kukaJesu nabantu, abantu bezwa ezinhliziyweni zabo ukuthi iNkosi uJesu ngaleso sikhathi yayisiphenduke imfihlakalo kakhulu. Lokhu ukuqonda kanye nemizwa ngasohlangothini lwabantu, ngokungazelelwe kwababuyisela emuva enkathini yokukholwa kuNkulunkulu owayengabonakali futhi engathinteki. Ngakho, into yokuqala iNkosi uJesu eyayenza emva kokuvuka Kwayo kwaba ukuvumela wonke umuntu ukuba Bayibone, ukuqinisekisa ukuthi Yona ikhona, nokuqinisekisa ukuvuka Kwayo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kwabuyisela ubudlelwano nabantu, ubudlelwano ayenabo ngesikhathi esebenza enyameni, futhi wayenguKristu ababengambona futhi bengamthinta. Ngale ndlela, umphumela owodwa ukuthi abantu ababanga nokungabaza ukuthi iNkosi uJesu yayivusiwe ekufeni emva kokubethelwa esiphambanweni, futhi kwakungekho ukungabaza ngomsebenzi weNkosi wokuhlenga isintu. Omunye umphumela ukuthi iqiniso lokuvela kweNkosi uJesu kubantu emva kokuvuka Kwakhe futhi ukuvumela abantu bambone futhi bamthinte kwaqinisekisa isintu ngeNkathi Yomusa. Kusukela ngalesi sikhathi, abantu ababuyelanga enkathini edlule, iNkathi Yomthetho, ngenxa “yokunyamalala” noma “ukuhlubuka,” kodwa baqhubekela phambili, belandela izimfundiso nomsebenzi owenziwa iNkosi uJesu. Ngakho, isigaba esisha emsebenzini ngeNkathi Yomusa yayisivuliwe ngokusemthethweni, abantu ababengaphansi komthetho baphuma emthethweni ngokomthetho kusukela ngaleso sikhathi kuqhubeke, base bengena enkathini entsha, ngokuqala okusha. Kunezincazelo eziphindiwe ngokubonakala kweNkosi uJesu esintwini emva kokuvuka.

Njengoba wayesewumzimba womoya, kwakungenzeka kanjani ukuthi abantu bayithinte Yona futhi bayibone Yona? Lokhu kumayelana nokubaluleka kokubonakala kweNkosi uJesu esintwini. Kukhona yini enikuqaphele kulezi ziqephu zombhalo? Ngokujwayelekile, imizimba womoya ayikwazi ukubonakala noma ukuthinteka, futhi emva kokuvuka umsebenzi iNkosi uJesu eyayikade iwenza, wawuvele usufeziwe. Ngakho, ngokucabanga nje, sasingekho isidingo sokuthi Yona ibuyele phakathi kwabantu ngokwesithombe Sayo semvelo ukuzohlangana nabo, kodwa ukubonakala komzimba womoya weNkosi uJesu kubantu abafana noTomase, kwenza ukubaluleka kwawo kube nesigqi kakhulu, futhi kwangena kwagxila ezinhliziyweni zabantu. Uma efika kuTomase, Yena wavumela uTomase ongabazayo ukuba athinte izandla Zakhe, wayesemtshela: “Letha isandla sakho, bese usifaka ohlangothini Lwami: ungabi ongenalo ukholo, kodwa onokholo.” La mazwi, lokhu kwenza kwakungesizo izinto iNkosi uJesu eyayifuna ukuzenza emva kokuba esevulile kodwa kwakuyizinto owayefuna ukuzenza ngaphambi kokuba abethelwe esiphambanweni. Kunobufakazi bokuthi iNkosi uJesu eyayingakabethelwa esiphambanweni, kakade yayisinokuqonda abantu abanjengo Tomase. Ngakho, singabonani kulokhu? WayeseyiNkosi uJesu efanayo emva kokuvuka Kwakhe. Ingqikithi Yakhe yayingaguqukanga. Ukungabaza kuka Tomase kwakungeve kuqala nje kodwa kwakukade kukuye ngesikhathi sonke ebelandela ngaso iNkosi uJesu, kodwa wabe eyiNkosi uJesu eyayivusiwe ekufeni futhi wayebuye ezweni laka moya nesiqu sakhe sasekuqaleni, nesimo Sakhe sasekuqaleni, Kanye nokuqonda Kwakhe isintu kusukela ngesikhathi Sakhe esenyameni, ngakho Wahamba ukuyofuna uTomase kuqala, ukuze ivumele uTomase ukuba ayithinte ubambo Lwayo, ukumvumela ukuthi angaboni kuphela umzimba Wayo womoya emva kokuvuka, kodwa ukumvumela ukuba athinte futhi ezwe ubukhona bomzimba Wayo womoya, futhi ahlukane phansi nokungabaza kwakhe. Ngaphambi kokuba iNkosi uJesu ibethelwe esiphambanweni, uTomase wayehlala engabaza ukuthi unguKristu, futhi wayengakukholwa lokhu. Ukukholwa kwakhe kuNkulunkulu kwakumiswe yilokhu akwazi ukukubona ngamehlo akhe, lokho ayekwazi ukukuthinta ngezandla zakhe. INkosi uJesu yayinokuqonda okuhle ngokukholwa kwalolu hlobo lomuntu. Babekholwa kuphela uNkulunkulu osezulwini, futhi babengakholwa nhlobo, futhi babengeke bamamukele Oyedwa othunyelwe uNkulunkulu noma uKristu enyameni. Ukuze imenze ukuba ayazise futhi akholwe ubukhona beNkosi uJesu nokuthi ngempela wayenguNkulunkulu enyameni, wavumela uTomase ukuba elule isandla sakhe bese ethinta ubambo Lwayo. Ingabe ukungabaza kukaTomase kwakuhlukene phakathi kwengaphambili nengemuva lokuvuka kweNkosi uJesu? Ebehlala engabaza, ngaphandle kokuthi umzimba womoya weNkosi uJesu uvele kuye mathupha, futhi uvumela uTomase ukuba athinte omaka bezipikili emzimbeni Wayo, akekho owayengaguqula ukungabaza kwakhe, futhi akekho owayengamenza akudedele. Ngakho kusukela ngesikhathi iNkosi uJesu imvumela ukuba athinte ubambo Lwayo ukuze ezwe ubukhona bezimpawu zezipikili, ukungabaza kukaTomase kwanyamalala, wayesazi ukuthi iNkosi uJesu ivukile futhi wavuma, wakholwa ukuthi iNkosi uJesu inguKristu, ukuthi wayenguNkulunkulu enyameni. Noma ngaleso sikhathi uTomase wayengasangabazi, walahlekelwa ithuba lokuhlangana noKristu, ukumlandela, kanye nokumazi ingunaphakade. Walahlekelwa ithuba lokuthi uKristu amphelelise. Ukubonakala kweNkosi uJesu kanye namazwi Ayo kwaletha isiphetho, kanye nobufakazi bokukholwa kwalabo ababegcwele ukungabaza, Yona yasebenzisa amagama Ayo angempela ukutshela labo ababekholwa kuphela kuNkulunkulu osezulwini kodwa bengakholwa kuKristu: uNkulunkulu akakuncomanga ukukholwa kwabo, kanye nokulandela kwabo okwakugcwele ukungabaza. Usuku abakholwa ngalo kuNkulunkulu noKristu ngokugcwele kungaba ilona suku lapho uNkulunkulu aqeda umsebenzi Wakhe omkhulu. Impela, lolo suku kwaku lusuku futhi lapho ukungabaza kwabo kwathola isinqumo. Isimo sengqondo yabo ngoNkulunkulu sanquma isiphetho sabo, nokungabaza kwabo okunenkani kwasho ukuthi ukukholwa kwabo akubanikanga miphumela, futhi ubulukhuni babo kwasho ukuthi amathemba abo ayeyize. Ngenxa yokuthi ukukholwa kwabo kuNkulunkulu osezulwini, kwakondliwe ngenkohliso, futhi ukungabaza kwabo uKristu kwakuyisimo sengqondo sabo sangempela ngoNkulunkulu, noma bathinta omaka bezipikili emzimbeni weNkosi uJesu, ukukholwa kwabo kwakungenamsebenzi futhi umphumela wabo wawungachazwa ngokuthi ukukha amanzi ngesitsha soqalo—konke kuyize. Lokhu iNkosi uJesu eyakusho kuTomase kwakucacile kakhulu kuwona wonke umuntu. INkosi uJesu evukile yiNkosi uJesu ekuqaleni eyachitha iminyaka engamashumi aMathathu nantathu nesigamu isebenza phakathi kwesintu. Noma wayebethelwe esiphambanweni futhi wabhekana nesigodini sethunzi lokufa, futhi wabhekana nokuvuka, ubuyena Bayo bonke abuguqukanga. Noma-ke manje inophawu lwezipikili emzimbeni Wayo, noma-ke ivusiwe futhi yaphuma ethuneni, isimo Sayo, ukuqonda Kwayo isintu, injongo Yayo ngesintu akuguqukanga nakancane. Okunye, Yona yabatshela abantu ukuthi yehla esiphambanweni, futhi yanqoba phezu kwesono, yanqoba phezu kobunzima, futhi yanqoba phezu kokufa. Izimpawu zesipikili kwakungubufakazi wokuba umnikelo wesono ukuze kuhlengwe isintu ngempumelelo. Yona yayitshela abantu ukuthi Yayisizithathile izono zesintu futhi Yayisiqedile umsebenzi Wayo wokuhlenga. Ngesikhathi ibuyela ukuyoba nabafundi Bayo, yabatshela ngokubonakala Kwayo: “Mina ngiyaphila, ngisekhona; namuhla Mina ngimile phambi kwenu ukuze ningibone futhi ningithinte. Ngiyohlala nginani.” INkosi uJesu yayifuna ukusebenzisa indaba kaTomase njengesixwayiso kubantu abalandelayo: Nakuba ukholwa iNkosi uJesu, angeke uyibone noma uyithinte, nokho ungabusiseka ngokholo lwakho lwangempela, futhi ungayibona iNkosi uJesu ngokholo lwakho lweangempela; lolu hlobo lo muntu lubusisekile.

La mazwi alotshiwe eBhayibhelini ukuthi iNkosi uJesu yakhuluma kuTomase awusizo olukhulu kubantu beNkathi Yomusa. Ukubonakala Kwayo namazwi Ayo kuTomase kwaba nomthelela obalulekile esizukulwaneni esizayo, futhi anokubaluleka okuphakade. UTomase umele uhlobo lo muntu okholwa kuNkulunkulu futhi ebe emngabaza uNkulunkulu. Banemvelo esolayo, banezinhliziyo ezimbi, bayakhohlisa, futhi abakholwa ezintweni uNkulunkulu angazifeza. Abakholwa ekubeni namandla once kukaNkulunkulu, kanye nokubusa Kwakhe, futhi abakholwa ekubeni sesimweni somuntu kukaNkulunkulu. Nokho, ukuvuka kweNkosi uJesu kwaba ukushaywa ngempama ebusweni kubo, kwaba nika ithuba lokuba bathole ukungabaza kwabo, babone ukungabaza kwabo, bavume inkohliso yabo, ukuze bakholwe ebukhoneni nasekuvukeni kweNkosi uJesu. Lokhu okwenzeka ngoTomase kwakuyisexwayiso nesiyalo sezizukulwane ukuze abantu abaningi bazibheke ukuze bangangabazi njengoTomase, futhi uma kungukuthi bebengabaza, bayoshona ebumyameni. Uma ulandela uNkulunkulu, kodwa njengoTomase, uhlale ufuna ukuthinta ubambo lweNkosi futhi uthinte nezimpawu zesipikili ukuqinisekisa, ukufakazela, ukucabangela ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona noma akekho, UNkulunkulu uzokudela. Ngakho, iNkosi uJesu ifuna abantu ukuthi bangabi njengoTomase, bekholwa kuphela yilokhu abakubonayo ngamehlo abo, kodwa ukuthi ube ngumuntu omsulwa, othembekile, ongagcini ukungabaza maqondana noNkulunkulu, kodwa ukholwe Kuye futhi umlandele kuphela Yena. Lolu hlobo lo muntu lubusisekile. Lokhu iNkosi uJesu ekufuna kubantu kuncane kakhulu, futhi kuyisixwayisa kubalandeli Bayo.

Lona umqondo weNkosi uJesu enawo ngalabo abagcwele ukungabaza. Ngakho, Yathini iNkosi uJesu, futhi Yenzani kulabo abakwazi ukukholwa ngeqiniso futhi bayilandele? Yilokhu esizokubheka ngokulandelayo, mayelana nento eyashiwo iNkosi uJesu kuPetru.

Kule nkulumo, iNkosi uJesu yabuza uPetru ngokuphindelela into eyodwa: “Simoni, ndodana kaJona, uyangithanda na?” Leli izinga eliphezulu iNkosi uJesu elidingayo kubantu abafana noPetru emva kokuvuka Kwayo, abakholwa kuKristu ngeqiniso futhi abalwela ukuthanda iNkosi. Lo mbuzo wawufana nophenyo, kungathi ukuhlonywa ngemibuzo, okungaphezulu, kwakuyisidingo kanye nokulindelwe kubantu abafana noPetru. Yena wasebenzisa le ndlela ukuze abantu bazindle futhi bazibheke: Udingani uNkulunkulu kubantu? Ngiyayithanda yini iNkosi? Ngingamthanda kanjani uNkulunkulu? Nakuba iNkosi uJesu yabuza lo mbuzo kuPetru kuphela, iqiniso ukuthi enhliziyweni Yayo, Yona yayifuna ukusebenzisa leli thuba lokubuza uPetru lolu hlobo lo mbuzo wabantu abaningi abafuna ukuthanda uNkulunkulu. Ukuthi nje uPetru wayebusisekile ukusetshenziswa njengomele lolu hlobo lo muntu, ukuthola ukubuzwa okuvela emlonyeni weNkosi uJesu.

Uma uqhathanisa ukuthi “letha isandla sakho, bese usifaka ohlangothini Lwami: ungabi ongenalo ukholo, kodwa onokholo,” okwashiwo iNkosi uJesu kuTomase emva kokuvuka Kwayo, nombuzo Wayo ophindwe kathathu wokubuza uPetru: “Simoni, ndodana kaJona, uyangithanda na?” uvumela abantu ukuba bezwe ubunzima be simo sengqondo yeNkosi uJesu, kanye nokuphuthuma eyayikuzwa ngesikhathi imbuza. UTomase ongabazayo yena nemvelo yakhe enenkohliso, iNkosi uJesu yamvumela ukuba elule isandla sakhe, wathinta izimpawu zesipikili, okwamenza wakholwa ukuthi iNkosi uJesu iyiNdodana yomuntu evukile futhi wabazisa ubunjalo beNkosi uJesu njengoKrisu. Nakuba iNkosi uJesu ingamkhuzanga ngesankahlu uTomase, noma futhi ingavezanga ngamazwi ukumehlulela okucacile, Yamazisa ukuthi yabe imqonda ngezenzo zoqobo, kulapho yabe ikhombisa futhi isimo sengqondo kanye nokuqonda Kwakhe loluya hlobo lo muntu. Okudingwayo futhi okulindelwe yiNkosi uJesu kulolu hlobo lo muntu angeke kubonakale kulokhu eyakusho Yona. Ngokuba abantu abafana noTomase abanayo nentanjana nje okukholwa kweqiniso. Okudingwa yiNkosi uJesu kubona kukulokhu kuphela, kodwa isimo sengqondo eyasiveza kubantu abafana noPetru sihlukile kakhulu. Ayidinganga ukuba uPetru alule isandla sakhe athinte izimpawu zesipikili, futhi ayishongo ukuthi kuPetru: “Ungabi ongenalo ukholo, kodwa onokholo.” Kunalokho, yabuza uPetru ngokuphindaphinda umbuzo ofanayo. Lona kwakuwumbuzo owawuphonsa inselelo unenjongo nakanjani eyenza ukuthi bonke abalandeli bakaKristu bezwe benokuzisola, nokwesaba, kodwa futhi bezwe umuzwa oshisekile onosizi weNkosi uJesu. Futhi lapho besezihlungwini nasekuhluphekeni okukhulu, bangakwazi kakhulu ukuqonda ukukhathazeka kweNkosi uJesu ngokunakekela Kwayo; bayazibona izimfundiso Zayo eziqotho kanye nemibandela Yayo yabantu abamsulwa abathembekile. Umbuzo weNkosi uJesu uvumela abantu ukuba bezwe okulindelwe iNkosi uJesu kubantu okuboniswa, kula mazwi alula akusikho ukumane ukholwe Kuyo futhi uyilandele kuphela, kodwa ukuphumelela ukuba nothando, ukuthanda iNkosi yakho, ukuthanda uNkulunkulu wakho. Lolu hlobo lo thando luyanakekela futhi luyalalela. Lungabantu bephilela uNkulunkulu, befela uNkulunkulu, benikela konke kuNkulunkulu, besebenzisa futhi benika konke kuNkulunkulu. Lolu hlobo lo thando lunika uNkulunkulu induduzo, lumvumela ukuba athokozele ubufakazi, futhi lumvumela ukuba aphumule. Luyinkokhelo yesintu kuNkulunkulu, umthwalo wabo, ukuzibophezela kanye nomsebenzi wabo, futhi kuyindlela okumele abantu bayilandela izimpilo zabo zonke. Le mibuzo emithathu yayiyisidingo kanye nenkuthazo iNkosi uJesu eyayenzela uPetru nabo bonke abantu ababeyopheleliswa. Kwakuyile mibuzo emithathu eyahola futhi yakhuthaza uPetru ukufeza indlela yakhe empilweni, futhi kwakuyimibuzo lapho iNkosi uJesu isihamba eyaholela uPetru ukuqala indlela yakhe yokupheleliswa, eyamhola, ngenxa yothando lwakhe lweNkosi, ukunakekela inhliziyo yeNkosi, ukulalela iNkosi, ukunika induduzo eNkosini, kanye nokunikela impilo yakhe yonke kanye nobuyena bonke ngenxa yalolu thando.

Ngesikhathi seNkathi Yomusa, umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu okokuqala wabe ungowezinhlobo ezimbili zabantu. Olokuqala kwakuwuhlobo lo muntu owayekholwa Kuye futhi emlandele Yena, owayekwazi ukugcina imiyalelo Yakhe, owayekwazi ukuthwala isiphambano futhi abambelele endleleni yeNkathi Yomusa. Lolu hlobo lo muntu lwaluzothola isibusiso sikaNkulunkulu futhi athokozele umusa kaNkulunkulu. Uhlobo lwesibili lomuntu lwalufana noPetru, umuntu owayengapheleliswa. Ngakho, emva kokuba iNkosi uJesu ivusiwe, Yona yenza lezi zinto ezimbili zokuqala ezibaluleke kakhulu. Eyokuqala yayikuTomase, enye yayikuPetru. Ingabe zimeleni lezi zinto ezimbili? Ingabe zimele izinjongo zikaNkulunkulu zeqiniso zokusindisa isintu? Ingabe zimele ukubaqotho kukaNkulunkulu kubantu? Umsebenzi eyawenza noTomase, kwabe kuwukwexwayisa abantu ukuba bangangabazi, kodwa bakholwe nje. Umsebenzi Eyawenza noPetru kwakuwukuqinisa ukukholwa kwabantu abafana noPetru, kanye nokusho kucace lokho akudingayo kulolu hlobo lo muntu, ukubonisa ukuthi iziphi izinjongo okumele bazifune.

Emva kokuba iNkosi uJesu isivukile, Yona yaziveza kubantu eyayicabanga ukuthi babalulekile, yakhuluma nabo, yasho eyayikudinga kubona, yabashiya nezinjongo Zayo, kanye nalokho ekulindele kubantu. Okungukuthi, njengoNkulunkulu othathe isimo sesintu, akusho lutho ukuthi kwakungesikhathi Sayo enyameni, noma emzimbeni womoya emva kokubethelwa esiphambanweni kanye nokuvuswa—Ukukhathalela Kwayo isintu kanye nalokho ekudingayo kubantu akuguqukanga, Yona yayikhathazekile ngalaba bafundi Bayo ngaphambi kokuba ibe phezulu esiphambanweni; enhliziyweni Yayo, yayicacelwe ngesimo somuntu ngamunye, Yayiqonda ngokushodayo kumuntu ngamunye, futhi ngempela, ukuqonda Kwayo wonke umuntu emva kokufa, ukuvuswa, kanye nokuba umzimba womoya kwakufana njengoba kwakunjalo ngesikhathi isenyameni. Yona yabe yazi ukuthi abantu babengenasiqiniseko ngobunjalo Bayo njengoKristu, kodwa ngesikhathi Sayo enyameni ayenzanga izimfuno ezinzima kubantu. Kodwa emva kokuba isivusiwe, yaya kubo, yabenza baba nesiqiniseko sokuthi iNkosi uJesu yayivele kuNkulunkulu, ukuthi yabe inguNkulunkulu osesimweni somuntu, futhi yasebenzisa ukubonakala Kwayo nokuvuka Kwayo njengombono omkhulu kanye nenkuthazo ekufuneni kwempilo yonke yesintu. Ukuvuka Kwayo ekufeni akuqinisanga kuphela labo abayilandelayo, kodwa yabeka umsebenzi Wayo weNkathi Yomusa ngokupheleleyo ukuze usebenze phakathi kwesintu, kungakho ivangeli lensindiso yeNkosi uJesu ngeNkathi Yomusa lisabalale kuso sonke isintu, kancane kancane. Ungasho yini ukuthi ukubonakala kweNkosi uJesu kwakubalulekile? Uma ubunguTomase noma uPetru ngalesiya sikhathi, futhi uhlangabezane nalento eyodwa empilweni yakho eyayibalulekile kakhulu, ingabe yayingaba namuphi umthelela kuwe? Wawungakubona lokhu njengombono omuhle futhi omkhulu kakhulu empilweni yakho yokukholwa kuNkulunkulu? Wawungakubona lokhu njengesikhuthazo sokulandela kwakho uNkulunkulu, sokulwela kwakho ukumenelisa Yena, kanye nokufuna uthando lukaNkulunkulu empilweni yakho? Wawunganikela umzamo wempilo yakho yonke ukusabalalisa lo mbono omkhulukazi? Ubungenza ukusabalalisa insindiso yeNkosi uJesu kube umyalo owamukelayo kuNkulunkulu? Nakuba ningakahlangabezani nalokhu, udaba lukaTomase nolukaPetru lwanele kubantu bamanje ukuba babenokuqonda okucacile ngentando kaNkulunkulu kanye noNkulunkulu. Kungashiwo ukuthi emva kokuba uNkulunkulu ethathe isimo senyama, emva kokuba Yena uqobo ebhekane nempilo phakathi kwesintu kanye nempilo yobuntu, emva kokubona ukonakala kwesintu kanye nesimo sempilo yabantu, uNkulunkulu enyameni wakuzwa ngokujulile ukuthi isintu asinamandla, silusizi futhi sidabukisa kangakanani. UNkulunkulu waba nesihawu kakhulu ngesimo sesintu ngenxa yobuntu Bakhe ngesikhathi Yena ephila enyameni, ngenxa yesazela Sakhe enyameni. Lokhu kwamholela ekubeni nokukhathalela okukhulu abalandeli Bakhe. Lezi izinto cishe ongeke niziqonde, kodwa ngingachaza ukukhathalela nokunakekela kukaNkulunkulu enyameni ngabalandeli Bakhe ngamunye ngalesi sisho: ukukhathalela okunzulu. Nakuba leli gama livela olimini lwabantu, futhi nakuba kuyisisho sabantu, sikhombisa futhi sichaza imizwa kaNkulunkulu ngabalandeli Bakhe. Ngokukhathazeka okukhulu kukaNkulunkulu ngabantu, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi sokubhekana nalezi zinto, niyokuzwa lokhu futhi nikunambithe kancane kancane. Nokho, lokhu kungazuzwa ngokuqonda isimo sikaNkulunkulu kancane kancane ngokufuna uguquko ezimweni zenu. Ukubonakala kweNkosi uJesu kwakhombisa ukukhathalela Kwakhe okukhulu abalandeli Bakhe kubantu futhi kwakudlulisela emzimbeni Wakhe womoya, noma ningathi ubunkulunkulu Bakhe. Ukubonakala Kwakhe kwenza ukuba abantu babone okunye futhi babe nomuzwa wokukhathalela nokunakekela kukaNkulunkulu ngesikhathi futhi ibonisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyena ovula inkathi, othuthukisa inkathi, uYena futhi ovala inkathi. Ngokubonakala Kwakhe waqinisa ukukholwa kwabantu bonke, futhi ngokubonakala Kwakhe wafakazela umhlaba ngokuthi unguNkulunkulu uqobo Lwakhe. Lokhu kwanika abalandeli Bakhe isiqinisekiso esiphakade, futhi ngokubanakekela Kwakhe wavula isigaba somsebenzi Wakhe ngenkathi entsha.

13. UJesu Udla Isinkwa Futhi Uchaza Imibhalo Emva Kokuvuka Kwakhe

ULuka 24:30-32 Futhi kwathi ehleli nabo esidlweni, wathatha isinkwa, wathandaza wasibonga, wase esihlephula, wabanika. Futhi amehlo abo avuleka, base bemazi; wayesenyamalala kubona. Base bethi omunye komunye, Izinhliziyo zethu bezingavuthi yini phakathi kwethu, ngenkathi ekhuluma kithi endleleni, nalapho esicacisela imibhalo na?

14. Abafundi Banika UJesu Inhlanzi Eyosiwe Ukuba Adle

ULuka 24:36-43 Futhi besakhuluma lokho, uJesu uqobo Lwakhe wema phakathi kwabo, wathi kubo, Ukuthula makube kini. Kepha bashaywa uvalo futhi besaba, bethi babona isipoki. Wayesethi kubo, Kungani nikhathazeka na? futhi kungani kuvela imicabango ezinhliziyweni zenu na? Bhekani izandla nezinyawo Zami, ukuthi Yimina uqobo: ngithinteni, nibone, ngokuba isipoki asinayo inyama namathambo, njengoba ningibona Mina nginakho. Futhi lapho esekushilo lokho, wababonisa izandla kanye nezinyawo Zakhe. Futhi bengakakholwa ngenxa yentokozo, kanye nokumangala, wathi kubo, Ninakho okudliwayo lapha na? Bamnika iqatha lenhlanzi ethosiwe nekhekheba lezinyosi. Wakuthatha, futhi wakudla phambi kwabo.

Okulandelayo, sizobheka eziqeshini zombhalo ezingenhla. Isiqephu sokuqala sikhuluma ngeNkosi uJesu idla isinkwa futhi ichaza imibhalo emva ngokuvuka Kwayo, bese isiqephu sesibili sikhuluma ngeNkosi uJesu idla inhlanzi eyosiwe. Ziletha luphi usizo ngokwazi ngesimo sikaNkulunkulu lezi ziqephu ezimbili? Ningacabanga ngohlobo lwesithombe enisitholayo kulezi zincazelo zeNkosi uJesu idla isinkwa kanye nenhlanzi eyosiwe? Ningacabanga, uma iNkosi uJesu emi phambi kwenu idla isinkwa, ningazizwa kanjani? Noma uma ingadla nani etafuleni elilodwa, idla inhlanzi nesinkwa nabantu, wawuzoba nomuzwa onjani ngaleso sikhathi? Uma uzwa ukuthi ubuzoba seduze kakhulu neNkosi, ukuthi isondelene kakhulu nawe, ngakho lo muzwa uyiqiniso. Lokhu kuwumphumela kanye iNkosi uJesu eyayifuna ukuwuletha ngokudla isinkwa nenhlanzi phambi kwabantu ababuthene emva kokuvuka Kwakhe. Ukuba iNkosi uJesu yayikhulume nabantu kuphela emva kokuvuka Kwayo, uma bebengeke bayithinte inyama naMathambo Ayo, kodwa bezwe ukuthi inguMoya ongafinyeleleki, babezozizwa kanjani? Bebezojabha? Ngesikhathi abantu bejabhile, bebezozizwa belahliwe? Bebengeke yini bezwe igebe neNkosi uJesu Kristu? Yiluphi uhlobo lomthelela omubi obuzodalwa igebe phakathi kobudlelwano babantu noNkulunkulu? Abantu bebezozizwa benokwesaba, bebengeke basondele Kuye, bebezoba nomqondo wokumgcina ebangeni elihloniphekile. Kusukela lapho, bebezozonda ubudlelwano babo obusondelene neNkosi uJesu Kristu, bese bebuyela ebudlelwanweni phakathi kwesintu noNkulunkulu osezulwini, njengoba kwakunjalo ngaphambi kweNkathi Yomusa. Umzimba womoya abantu ababengeke bawuthinte noma bawuzwe uholela ekuqedeni ukusondelana noNkulunkulu—owasimamiswa ngesikhathi senkathi yeNkosi uJesu esenyameni, igebe lingekho phakathi Kwakhe nabantu—lime ukuba khona. Imizwa yabantu mayelana nomzimba womoya kuwukwesaba kuphela, ukugwema, kanye nokugqolozela okungenamazwi. Abacabangi ukusondela eduze, ukuzoxoxisa Naye, ukumethemba, noma ukuba nethemba Kuye. UNkulunkulu wayengabaza ukubona lolu hlobo lo muzwa ababenawo abantu Ngaye. Wayengathandi ukubona abantu bemziba noma bezisusa Kuye, Yena wayefuna abantu bamqonde, basondele Kuye futhi babe umndeni Wakhe. Uma umndeni wakho, abantwana bakho bekubona kodwa bengakukhumbuli, futhi bengezi eduze kwakho kodwa behlala bekuziba, uma ungazuzanga ukuqonda kwabo ngazo zonke izinto obenzele zona, lokhu kungakwenza uzizwe kanjani? Ngeke yini kube buhlungu? Angeke yini wephuke inhliziyo? Ilokhu impela uNkulunkulu akuzwayo uma abantu bemziba. Ngakho, emva kokuvuka Kwayo, iNkosi uJesu yabonakala kubantu eyisimo senyama negazi, wadla futhi waphuza nabo. UNkulunkulu ubona abantu njengomndeni futhi ufuna isintu simbone ngale ndlela, kukule ndlela kuphela lapho uNkulunkulu engathola khona abantu, futhi lapho abantu bengakwazi ukuthanda nokukhonza uNkulunkulu ngeqiniso. Manje usuyaqonda yini injongo yami ngokunyomula lezi ziqephu ezimbili zombhalo lapho iNkosi uJesu idla isinkwa futhi ichaza imibhalo emva kokuvuka Kwakhe, futhi abafundi bayinika inhlanzi eyosiwe necwecwe lezinyosi ukuba idle?

Kungashiwo ukuthi lezi zinto eziluchungechunge ezashiwo futhi zenziwa yiNkosi uJesu emva kokuvuka Kwayo zazinomqondo, futhi zazenziwe ngezinjongo ezinomusa. Babegcwele umusa nothando uNkulunkulu ayenalo ngabantu, futhi babegcwele ukuthanda nokunakekela okunokucophelela eyayinakho ngobudlelwano obusondele eyayibumisile nesintu ngesikhathi Sayo isenyameni. Ikakhulukazi, babegcwele inkumbulo ngokwasekudlule kanye nokulangazelela eyayikuzwa ngempilo Yayo yokudla nokuphila ndawonye nabalandeli Bayo ngesikhathi Sayo isenyameni. Ngakho, uNkulunkulu wayengafuni abantu bezwe igebe phakathi kukaNkulunkulu nabantu, futhi wayengafuni isintu siziqhelelanise noNkulunkulu. Ikakhulukazi, wayengafuni isintu sizwe ukuthi iNkosi uJesu emva kokuvuka yayingaseyona iNkosi esondelene kakhulu nabantu, ukuthi yayingasekho kanye nesintu ngoba yabuyela emhlabeni wakwamoya, Yabuyela kuBaba owayengabonwa futhi engafinyelelwa ngabantu. Yayingafuni abantu bezwe ukuthi kwakunomehluko ngokwezikhundla phakathi Kwayo nesintu. Uma uNkulunkulu ebona abantu abafuna ukuyilandela kodwa bayigcine kude ngenxa yenhlonipho, inhliziyo Yakhe iba nobuhlungu ngoba kusho ukuthi izinhliziyo zabo zikude kakhulu Nayo, kusho ukuthi kuyoba nzima kakhulu Kuyo ukuzuza izinhliziyo zabo. Ngakho uma ibibonakale kubantu ngomzimba womoya abangawuboni futhi abangawuthinti, nalokhu futhi kwakuzomqhelelanisa umuntu noNkulunkulu, futhi kwakuzoholela isintu ukubona uKristu ngephutha emva kokuvuka Kwakhe ngokuthi wayesephenduke waba nempakamo, yohlobo oluhlukile kunabantu, futhi umuntu owayengeke esakwazi ukuhlala etafuleni adle nomuntu ngoba abantu bagcwele izono, bangcolile, futhi abasoze bakwazi ukusondelana noNkulunkulu. Ukuze kususwe lokhu kungaqondisisi kwesintu, INkosi uJesu yenza izinto eziningi eyayivamise ukuzenza enyameni, njengoba kulotshiwe eBhayibhelini, “wathatha isinkwa, wathandaza wasibonga, wase esihlephula, wabanika.” Yachaza futhi imibhalo kubo, njengoba yayikade ijwayele ukwenza. Konke lokhu iNkosi uJesu eyakwenza, kwenza ukuba wonke umuntu owayibona ezwe ukuthi iNkosi uJesu ayikaguquki, ukuthi iseyiNkosi uJesu efanayo. Nakuba yayikade ibethelwe esiphambanweni futhi yayidlulile ekufeni, Yona yayivusiwe, futhi yayingakasishiyi isintu. Yayibuyile ukuba phakathi kwabantu, futhi konke okwayo kwakungakaguquki. INdodana yomuntu emi phambi kwabantu yayiseyiNkosi uJesu efanayo. Ukuziphatha Kwayo nokukhuluma Kwayo nabantu kwezwakala kufana. Yayisagcwele uthando, umusa, kanye nokubekezela—Yena wayeseyileyo Nkosi uJesu ethanda abanye njengalokhu izithanda Yona, ingathethelela isintu kamashumi ayisikhombisa aphindwe kasikhombisa. Njengemihla, yadla nabantu, Yaxoxisana nabo ngemibhalo, okubalukekile, ngendlela efana neyasekuqaleni, Yayenziwe ngenyama negazi, ithinteka futhi ibonakala. INdodana yomuntu ngale ndlela yavumela abantu ukuba bazizwele besondelene Nayo, bakhululeke, bezwe intokozo yokuzuza okuthile obekulahlekile, bezwa futhi kulula ukuba bangancika ngesibindi nangokuze themba futhi babheke eNdodaneni yomuntu eyayingathethelela izono zesintu. Baqala futhi ukukhuleka egameni leNkosi uJesu ngaphandle kokungabaza, bakhulekela ukuthola umusa, izibusiso Zayo, ukuthola ukuthula nenjabulo evela Kuyo, ukuzuza ukunakekelwa nokuvikelwa Yiyo, futhi baqala ukuphilisa nokuxosha amademoni egameni leNkosi uJesu.

Ngesikhathi iNkosi uJesu isebenza isenyameni, abalandeli Bayo abaningi babengakwazi ukufakazela ubunjalo Bayo kanye nezinto izishilo. Ngesikhathi inyukela esiphambanweni, umqondo wabalandeli Bayo wawulindele okunye; ngesikhathi ibethelwa esiphambanweni indlela yonke kuze kufike lapho ingena ethuneni, umqondo wabantu Ngayo wawuphoxekile. Ngesikhathi iNdodana yomuntu isebenza isenyameni, ngalesi sikhathi abantu base beqalile ezinhliziyweni zabo ukusuka ekungabazeni baya ekuphikeni izinto ezishiwo iNkosi uJesu ngesikhathi Sayo isenyameni. Ngesikhathi iphuma ethuneni, futhi ibonakala kubantu ngabanye ngabanye, iningi labantu Ababeyibonile ngamehlo abo noma bezwa izindaba zokuvuka Kwayo, baqala futhi kancane ukusuka ekuyiphikeni baya ekungabazeni. Ngalesi sikhathi iNkosi uJesu ithi kuTomase makafake isandla sakhe ohlangothini, ngesikhathi iNkosi uJesu ihlephula isinkwa idla phambi kwesixuku emva kokuvuka Kwayo, futhi emva kwalokho yadla inhlanzi eyosiwe necwecwe lezinyosi phambi kwabo, kungalesi sikhathi kuphela lapho baqala ukwamukela ukuthi iNkosi uJesu inguKristu enyameni. Ningasho nithi kwakungathi lo mzimba womoya onenyama negazi omi phambi kwalabo bantu, wawuvusa ngamunye wabo ephusheni: INdodana yomuntu emi phambi kwabo kwakuyileyo eyayikade ikhona kusukela ngesikhathi sakudala. Yona yayinesimo, inenyama negazi, futhi yayisiphilile futhi idlile kanye nesintu isikhathi eside…. Ngalesi sikhathi, abantu bazizwela ukuthi ubukhona Bayo babungobempela, bumangalisa kakhulu; futhi babe nentokozo kanye nenjabulo, ngesikhathi esifanayo, futhi begcwele uzwelo. Ukubonakala Kwayo futhi kwenza ukuba abantu babone ngokweqiniso ukuthobeka Kwayo, bezwe ukuba seduze Kwayo, nokulangazelela Kwayo, ukunamathela Kwayo esintwini. Lokhu kuhlangana futhi okufushane kwenza abantu ababona iNkosi uJesu bezwe sengathi isikhathi sonke sokuphila sasidlulile. Ukulahleka, ukudideka, ukwesaba, ukukhathazeka, ukulangazelela kanye nezinhliziyo ezingasenamuzwa zathola induduzo. Babengasangabazi noma babengasa dumele ngoba bezwa ukuthi manje kwase kunethemba kanye nento ababengathembela kuyo. INdodana yomuntu emi phambi kwabo, izohlala ima nabo ingunaphakade, uzoba umbhoshongo wabo onamandla, umpheme wabo wempilo yabo yonke.

Nakuba iNkosi uJesu yavuswa, inhliziyo nomsebenzi Wayo awusukanga esintwini. Yona yatshela abantu ngokubonakala Kwayo ukuthi noma ngabe isiphi isimo ekuso, izohlala nabantu, ihambe nabo, futhi ibe nabo ngaso sonke isikhathi futhi kuzo zonke izindawo. Futhi ngezikhathi zonke nasezindaweni zonke, Yona izohlinzeka isintu futhi ibeluse, ibavumele ukuba bayibone futhi bayithinte, futhi Yona yenze isiqiniseko sokuthi ngeke baphinde bazizwe bengenakuzisiza. INkosi uJesu yafuna ukuba abantu bakwazi lokhu: Izimpilo zabo kulo mhlaba azizodwa. Isintu sinokunakekela kukaNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu unabo; abantu bangancika kuNkulunkulu njalo; Yona ingumndeni wawo wonke umuntu kubalandeli Bayo. Uma unoNkulunkulu ongancika Kuye, isizwe ngeke siphinde sibe nomzwangedwa noma siswele usizo, futhi labo abamemukelayo njengomnikelo wezono zabo ngeke besabopheka ezonweni. Emehlweni abantu, lezi zingxenye zomsebenzi Wayo, iNkosi uJesu eyawenza emva kokuvuka Kwayo kwakuyizinto ezincane kakhulu, kodwa indlela engibona ngayo, yonke into ngayinye yayinenjongo, inenani elikhulu, futhi yonke yayibalulekile kakhulu futhi inesisindo.

Nakuba isikhathi seNkosi uJesu sokusebenza enyameni sasigcwele ubunzima nokuhlupheka, ngokubonakala Kwayo emzimbeni Wayo womoya wenyama negazi, ngokugcwele nangokuphelele, Yona yafeza umsebenzi Wayo wangaleso sikhathi enyameni ukuze ihlenge isintu. Yaqala inkonzo Yayo ngokuba senyameni, kodwa yabe isiphetha inkonzo Yayo ngokubonakala esintwini ngesimo Sayo senyama. Yamemezela iNkathi Yomusa, yaqala iNkathi Yomusa ngobunjalo Bayo njengoKristu. Ngobunjalo Bayo njengoKristu, yenza umsebenzi ngeNkathi Yomusa futhi yakhuthaza yaphinde yahola bonke abalandeli Bayo ngeNkathi Yomusa. Kungashiwo ngomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu ukuthi Yena uyakuqeda akuqalile. Kukhona izinyathelo nohlelo, futhi kugcwele inhlakanipho kaNkulunkulu, ukuba namandla onke Kwayo, kanye nezenzo Zayo ezimangalisayo. Igcwele uthando nomusa kaNkulunkulu. Impela, intambo enkulu egijima ngomsebenzi Wayo wonke kungukunakekela Kwayo isintu; umsebenzi Wayo ugcwalise ukukhathazeka Kwayo ngeke ikwazi ukukubeka eceleni. Kulezi ziqephu zeBhayibheli, kukho konke ngakunye okwenziwa iNkosi uJesu emva kokuvuka, lokho okwembulwa kwakungamathemba nokukhathazeka kukaNkulunkulu ngesintu, okungaguquki. Nokunakekela ngokucophelela nokwazisa kukaNkulunkulu abantu. Kuze kube manje, akukho kwalokhu osekuguqukile—ingabe niyakubona? Uma nikubona lokhu, ingabe izinhliziyo yenu aziveli yini zizixhumanele noNkulunkulu? Uma beniphila ngaleya nkathi bese iNkosi uJesu iyabonakala kini emva kokuvuka Kwayo, ngesimo esiphathekayo kini, futhi uma ibingahlala phambi kwenu, idle isinkwa nenhlanzi bese ichaza imibhalo kini, ikhulume nawe, benizozizwa kanjani? Benizozizwa nijabulile yini? Nithini ngokuba necala? Ukungaqondi okudlule kanye nokuziba uNkulunkulu, ukuxabana nokungabaza uNkulunkulu—bekungeke yini kunyamalale konke? Bebungeke yini ubudlelwano bukaNkulunkulu nomuntu bulunge?

Ngokuhumusha lezi zahluko ezimbalwa zeBhayibheli, kungabe akhona yini amaphutha eniwatholile esimweni sikaNkulunkulu? Kungabe kukhona yini ukudideka enikutholile othandweni lukaNkulunkulu. Ikhona yini inkohliso eniyibonile noma ububi enibubonile ekubeni namandla onke kukaNkulunkulu noma ekuhlakanipheni kukaNkulunkulu. Akunjalo! Ningasho yini manje ngesiqiniseko ukuthi uNkulunkulu ungcwele? Ningasho yini ngesiqiniseko ukuthi imizwa kaNkulunkulu yonke ingukwembulwa kwengqikithi Yakhe kanye nesimo Sakhe? Ngiyethemba ukuthi emva kokuba senifunde la mazwi, lokhu enikuqondile kuwo kuzonisiza futhi kunilethele inzuzo ekufuneni kwenu uguquko esimweni kanye nokwesaba uNkulunkulu. Ngiyethemba futhi ukuthi la mazwi azothela izithelo kini ezikhula ngosuku, ngalokho ekuqhubekeni kwalokhu kufuna ukuzisondeza eduze noNkulunkulu, kunisondeze ezingeni elidingwa nguNkulunkulu, ukuze ningabi nokukhathala ukufuna iqiniso futhi ningezwa ukuthi ukufuna iqiniso lokuguquka esimweni kuyinto eyinkathazo noma engadingeki. Okunalokho, ukubonakala kwesimo sikaNkulunkulu kanye nobunjalo bukaNkulunkulu obungcwele obukukhuthazayo ukuze nilangazelele ukukhanya, ukulangazelela ubulungiswa, kanye nokukhuthaza ukuthi nifune iqiniso, ukufuna intando kaNkulunkulu, ukuze nibe ngabantu bangempela.

Namuhla sikhulume ngezinye izinto uNkulunkulu azenza ngeNkathi Yomusa ngesikhathi lapho eguqulwa okokuqala. Kulezi zinto, sibonile isimo esibonakalisayo futhi sembule enyameni, kanye nengxenye yalokhu anakho nayikho Yena. Zonke lezi zingxenye zalokhu anakho nayikho Yena zibonakala ngendlela yabantu, kodwa iqiniso ukuthi lapho ingqikithi yakho konke lokhu akuveza futhi akubonakalisa esimweni Sakhe akwhlukaniseki nesimo Sakhe. Yonke indlela kanye nayo yonke ingxenye yobuntu bukaNkulunkulu bubonakalisa isimo Sakhe kubantu sixhumene nobunjalo Bakhe ngokungenasici. Ngakho, kubalulekile kakhulu ukuthi uNkulunkulu wafika esintwini ngendlela yokuthatha isimo sesintu kanye nomsebenzi awenza Yena enyameni nawo ubaluleke kakhulu. Futhi, isimo asambula kanye nentando Ayibonakalisa kubalulekile kuwo wonke umuntu ophila enyameni, kuso sonke isintu esiphila enkohlakalweni. Ingabe lokhu kuyinto eniyiqondayo? Emva kokuqonda isimo sikaNkulunkulu kanye nalokhu anakho nayikho, ingabe sikhona yini isiphetho esenisenzile mayelana nokuthi uzomphatha kanjani uNkulunkulu? Ukuphendula lombuzo, sengiphetha ngithanda ukukunika izeluleko ezintathu: Okokuqala, ungamlingi uNkulunkulu. Noma ngabe uqonda kangakanani ngoNkulunkulu, noma ngabe wazi kangakanani ngesimo Sakhe, uze ungamlingi. Okwesibili, ungaqhudelani noNkulunkulu ngenxa yesikhundla. Noma ngabe Yena ukubeka kuliphi izinga noma ngabe yimuphi umsebenzi akwethembe ngawo, noma ngabe uhlobo luni lomsebenzi akuphakamisa ukuba uwenze, noma ngabe uchithe noma unikele kuNkulunkulu kangakanani, ungalokothi uqhudelane ngezinga lesi sikhundla Naye. Okwesithathu, ungaqhudelani noNkulunkulu. Noma ngabe uyaqonda noma ungalalela lokho uNkulunkulu akwenzayo ngawe, lokhu akuhlelela khona Yena, nezinto aziletha kuwe, ungalinge uqhudelane noNkulunkulu. Uma ungagcina lezi zeluleko ezintathu, uyophepha nokho, futhi ngeke umcasule kalula uNkulunkulu. Yikho konke lokhu ebengizokwabelana ngakho namuhla.

23 Novemba, 2013

Imibhalo yaphansi:

a. “Isibekelo sokuqinisa ibhande” yiqhinga lomlingo elisetshenziswa umfundisi uTang Sanzang enovelini ethi Uhambo Oluya Entshonalanga. Usebenzisa lesi sibekelo ukulawula uSun Wukong ngokuqinisa ibhande lensimbi elizungeze ikhanda likaSun Wukong, emdalela ukuphathwa yikhanda elibuhlungu, ngalokho emlawula. Sesiphenduke isingathekiso sokuchaza into ebopha umuntu.