UJohane wasebenzela uJesu iminyaka eyisikhombisa, futhi wayevele eseyilungisile indlela lapho uJesu efika. Ngaphambi kwalokhu, ivangeli lombuso wezulu elalishunyayelwa nguJohane lalizwakala kulo lonke izwe, okwenza lisabalale eJudiya, futhi bonke babembiza ngomprofethi. Ngaleso sikhathi, iNkosi uHerodi wayefisa ukubulala uJohane, kodwa wayengeke alokothe, ngoba abantu abantu babemhlonipha uJohane, futhi uHerode wayesaba ukuthi uma ebulala uJohane abantu babezomphendukela. Umsebenzi owawenziwa nguJohane waba nezimpande phakathi kwabantu abejwayelekile, futhi wenza amaJuda aba ngamakholwa. Walungisela uJesu indlela iminyaka eyisikhombisa, kwaze kwafika isikhathi lapho uJesu aqala khona ukwenza inkonzo Yakhe. Ngakho-ke, uJohane wayengomkhulu kakhulu kubo bonke abaprofethi. UJesu waqala umsebenzi wakhe osemthethweni kuphela emva kokuboshwa kukaJohane. Ngaphambi kukaJohane, akubanga khona mprofethi owalungisela uNkulunkulu indlela, ngoba ngaphambi kukaJesu, uNkulunkulu wayengakaze abe yinyama. Ngakho-ke, kubo bonke abaprofethi kuze kufike kuJohane, nguye kuphela owaphendla indlela kaNkulunkulu osesimweni somuntu, futhi ngale ndlela uJohane waba ngumprofethi omkhulu kunabo bonke eTestamenteni Elidala naseTestamenteni Elisha. UJohane waqala ukusabalalisa ivangeli lombuso wezulu iminyaka eyisikhombisa ngaphambi kokubhabhathizwa kukaJesu. Kubantu, umsebenzi awenza ubonakala ungaphezu kwalowo owenziwa nguJesu, nokho, kwakungenjalo ngempela, wayemane nje engumprofethi kuphela. Akazange asebenze futhi akhulume ethempelini, kunalokho wayekwenza ngaphandle kwemizi nemizana ngaphandle kwalo. Impela yilokho akwenza, phakathi kwesizwe samaJuda, ikakhulu lawo ayempofu. Kwakungavamile ukuba uJohane axhumane nabantu abasezikhundleni eziphezulu emphakathini, esabalalisa ivangeli kubantu abavamile baseJudiya ukuze alungisele iNkosi uJesu abantu abalungile futhi ayilungisele izindawo ezifanele eyayizosebenza kuzo. Ngenxa yomprofethi ofana noJohane owalungisa indlela, iNkosi uJesu yakwazi ukuqala ngokuqondile indlela Yayo yesiphambano lapho ifika nje. Lapho uNkulunkulu eba yinyama ukuze enze umsebenzi Wakhe, akudingekanga ukuba enze umsebenzi wokukhetha abantu, futhi akudingekanga ukuba azifunele yena abantu noma indawo ayezosebenzela kuyo. Akenzanga umsebenzi onjalo lapho efika; umuntu ofanele wayesemlungisele ngaphambi kokuba afike. UJohane wayesevele ewuqedile umsebenzi wakhe ngaphambi kokuthi uJesu aqale umsebenzi Wakhe, ngoba lapho uNkulunkulu osesimweni somuntu efika ezokwenza umsebenzi Wakhe, waqonda ekusebenzeni kulabo ababekade bemlindele. UJesu wayengezele ukuzokwenza umsebenzi womuntu wokulungisa. Wayezele kuphela ukwenza inkonzo Yakhe okwakungokwakhe ukuyenza, futhi konke okunye kwakungahlobene Naye. Lapho uJohane efika, akenzanga lutho ngaphandle kokukhipha ethempelini nangaphakathi kwamaJuda iqembu lalabo abamukela ivangeli lombuso wezulu, ukuze babe ngabahloswe ngumsebenzi weNkosi uJesu. UJohane wasebenza iminyaka eyisikhombisa, okusho ukuthi wasakaza ivangeli iminyaka eyisikhombisa. Phakathi nomsebenzi wakhe, uJohane akazange enze izimangaliso eziningi, ngoba umsebenzi wakhe kwakuwukulungisa indlela, kwakuwumsebenzi wokulungiselela. Wonke omunye umsebenzi, umsebenzi uJesu ayezowenza wawungahlangene noJohane; uJohane wayecela kuphela umuntu ukuthi avume izono, aphenduke bese ebhabhathiza abantu, ukuze basindiswe. Nakuba ayenza umsebenzi omusha, futhi avula indlela umuntu ayengakaze ahambe kuyo esikhathini esiphambili, kodwa yena wayelungisela uJesu kuphela indlela. Wayengumprofethi nje owayenza umsebenzi wokulungiselela, futhi wayengakwazi ukwenza umsebenzi kaJesu. Nakuba uJesu kwakungeyena owokuqala ukushumayela ivangeli lombuso wezulu, futhi nakuba aqhubeka nendlela eyayilungiswe uJohane, wayengekho omunye owayengenza umsebenzi Wakhe futhi wawungaphezu komsebenzi kaJohane. UJesu wayengeke akwazi ukuzilungiselela indlela Yakhe; umsebenzi Wakhe wayewenzela uNkulunkulu ngokuqondile. Kungakhathaleki ukuthi mingaki iminyaka uJohane ayisebenza, wayesengumprofethi futhi wayeseyilowo owalungisa indlela. Umsebenzi kaJesu owathatha iminyaka emithathu wawumkhulu kunokaJohane owawuyiminyaka eyisikhombisa, ngoba ingqikithi yomsebenzi Wakhe yayehlukile. Lapho uJesu eqala ukwenza inkonzo Yakhe, okuyilapho futhi okwaphela khona umsebenzi kaJohane, uJohane wayeselungise abantu nezindawo ezanele zokusetshenziswa yiNkosi uJesu, futhi okwakwenele ukuthi iNkosi uJesu iqale umsebenzi Wayo weminyaka emithathu. Ngakho-ke, lapho nje kuphela umsebenzi kaJohane, iNkosi uJesu yaqala umsebenzi Wayo ngokusemthethweni, amazwi ayekhulunywe nguJohane ayesebekwa eceleni. Lokhu kungoba umsebenzi owenziwa nguJohane wawungowesikhathi sokuguquka kuphela, futhi amazwi akhe ayengewona amazwi okuphila ayeyoholela umuntu ekukhuleni okusha; ekugcineni, amazwi akhe ayengawokusetshenziswa isikhashana kuphela.

Umsebenzi owenziwa nguJesu wawungekho ngaphezu kwemvelo; kwakunenqubo kuwo, futhi wonke waqhubeka ngokwemithetho yezinto eyejwayelekile. Kwathi kufika ezinyangeni eziyisithupha zangasekugcineni kwempilo Yakhe, uJesu wayesazi ngokuqinisekile ukuthi wayeze ukuzokwenza lo msebenzi, futhi wayazi ukuthi wayezele ukuzobethelwa esiphambanweni. Ngaphambi kokubethelwa, uJesu wayehlala ethandaza kuNkulunkulu uBaba, njengoba athandaza kathathu eNsimini yaseGetsemane. Emva kokubhapathizwa, uJesu wenza inkonzo Yakhe iminyaka emithathu nengxenye, ngonyaka wokuqala, wamangalelwa uSathane, futhi waphazanyiswa umuntu, waphinde wafakwa ekulingweni komuntu. Wanqoba izilingo eziningi ngenkathi futhi enza umsebenzi Wakhe. Ezinyangeni zokugcina eziyisithupha, lapho sekusondele ukuthi uJesu abethelwe, emlonyeni kaPetru kwaphuma amazwi athi wayeyindodana kaNkulunkulu ophilayo, ukuthi wayenguKristu. Kwaqala lapho ukuba umsebenzi Wakhe waziwe kubantu bonke, futhi, kulapho kuphela okwavezwa khona ubuyena emphakathini. Emva kwalokho, uJesu watshela abafundi Bakhe ukuthi wayezobethelwa ngenxa yomuntu, nokuthi emva kwezinsuku ezintathu wayezovuka futhi; ukuthi wayezele ukuzokwenza umsebenzi wokuhlenga, futhi wayenguMsindisi. Wakuveza kuphela ezinyangeni eziyisithupha zokugcina ukuthi ungubani kanye nomsebenzi owayehlose ukuwenza. Lokhu futhi kwakuyisikhathi sikaNkulunkulu, futhi umsebenzi kufanele wenziwe kanjalo. Ngaleso sikhathi, ingxenye yomsebenzi kaJesu yayivumelana neTestamente Elidala, kanye nomthetho kaMose kanye namazwi kaJehova ngeNkathi Yomthetho. Zonke lezi zinto uJesu ayezenza zaziyingxenye yomsebenzi Wakhe. Washumayela kubantu ebafundisa nasemasinagogeni futhi wasebenzisa iziphrofetho zabaprofethi eTestamenteni Elidala ukuze alahle abaFarisi ababemzonda, futhi wasebenzisa nemiBhalo ukuze embule ukungalaleli kwabo bese ebalahla. Ngoba babengakuthandi lokho uJesu ayekwenzile; ikakhulu omningi umsebenzi owawenziwa uJesu wawungavumelani nemithetho esemiBhalweni futhi ngaphezu kwalokho, ayekufundisa kwakungaphezulu kakhulu kwamazwi abo, futhi kungaphezu ngisho nakakhulu kunalokho okwakubikezelwe ngabaprofethi emiBhalweni. Umsebenzi kaJesu wawumayelana nokuhlengwa komuntu kanye nokubethelwa Kwakhe kuphela. Ngakho, sasingekho isidingo sokuba asho amazwi amaningi ukuze anqobe umuntu. Okuningi kwalokho akufundisa umuntu kwakuthathwe emiBhalweni futhi ngisho nomsebenzi Wakhe awuzange udlulele ngale kwemiBhalo, kunalokho Wakwazi ukufeza umsebenzi wokubethelwa. Umsebenzi Wakhe wawungekho mayelana nezwe, noma ukunqoba isintu, kodwa wawumayelana nokuhlenga isintu. Waba njengomnikelo wesono wesintu, futhi akazange abe njengomthombo wezwi esintwini. Akazange enze umsebenzi wabeZizwe, okwakuwumsebenzi wokunqoba isintu, kunalokho wenza umsebenzi wokubethelwa, umsebenzi owawenziwa yilabo ababekholwa ukuthi kunoNkulunkulu. Nakuba umsebenzi Wakhe wenziwa ngaphezu kwesisekelo semiBhalo, wasebenzisa lokho okwakubikezelwe ngabaprofethi abadala ukuze alahle abaFarisi, lokhu kwakwanele ekuqedeni umsebenzi wokubethelwa. Ukuba umsebenzi wanamuhla ubusenziwa ususelwa kulokho okwabikezelwa ngabaprofethi bakudala emiBhalweni, bekuyoba yinto engenakwenzeka ukuninqoba, ngoba iTestamente Elidala alisho lutho ngokungalaleli kwenu nezono zenu maShayina, awukho umlando wezono zenu. Ngakho-ke, ukuba lo msebenzi usekhona eBhayibhelini, beningeke nehlele ngezansi. Kuncane iBhayibheli elisitshela khona ngama-Israyeli, lowo ongakwazi ukuhlukanisa phakathi kowenza okubi noma okuhle noma ukunahlulela. Ake nicabange ukube bekufanele nginahlulele ngokomlando wama-Israyeli—beniyoqhubeka ningilandele njengoba nenza namuhla? Ingabe niyazi ukuthi nilukhuni kangakanani? Uma engekho amazwi akhulunywa phakathi nalesi sigaba, kusho ukuthi umsebenzi wokunqoba ubungeke uphele. Ngenxa yokuthi angizelanga ukuzobethelwa esiphambanweni, kumele ngikhulume amazwi angahlangene neBhayibheli ukuze ninqotshwe. Umsebenzi owenziwa nguJesu wawumane uyisigaba esingaphezulu kweTestamente Elidala; wasetshenziselwa ukuqala inkathi, nokuhola leyo nkathi. Kungani athi, “Angizile ukuzochitha umthetho, kodwa ukuzowugcwalisa”? Nokho emsebenzini wakhe kuningi okwakwehlukile emithethweni eyayilandelwa ngama-Israyeli eTestamente Elidala, ngoba akezanga ukuzolalela umthetho, kodwa ukuwugcwalisa. Indlela yokuwugcwalisa yayihlanganisa izinto eziningi zangempela: Umsebenzi wakhe wawungokoqobo futhi ungowangempela, futhi, ngaphezu kwalokho, wawuphila ngokwengeziwe, futhi wawungekhona ukubambelela emithethweni ngobumpumputhe. Ngabe ama-Israyeli ayengaligcini iSabatha? Lapho uJesu efika akazange aligcine iSabatha, ngoba wathi iNdodana yomuntu yayiyiNkosi yeSabatha, futhi lapho iNkosi yeSabatha ifika, yayizokwenza njengokufisa Kwayo. Wayezele ukugcwalisa imithetho yeTestamente Elidala nokuguqula imithetho. Konke lokhu okwenziwa namuhla kusukela kulokho okungokwamanje, nokho kusesesisekelweni somsebenzi kaJehova ngeNkathi Yomthetho, futhi akweqi ngale kwalo mklamo. Ukuqapha ulimi lwakho nokungaphingi, ngokwesibonelo—ingabe lena akuyona imithetho yeTestamente Elidala? Namuhla, okulindeleke kuwe namuhla akupheleli nje eMiyalweni Eyishumi, kodwa kuqukethe imiyalo nemithetho ephakeme kakhulu kunaleyo eyafika ngaphambili, nokho lokho akusho ukuthi okwafika phambilini sekwachithwa, ngoba isigaba ngasinye somsebenzi kaNkulunkulu senziwa esisekelweni sesigaba esisandulelayo. Ngalokho uJehova akuletha kwa-Israyeli, efuna abantu banikele imihlatshelo, bahloniphe abazali babo, bangakhonzi izithixo, bangashayi noma bathuke abanye, bangaphingi, bangabhemi noma baphuze, bangadli izinto ezizifele noma baphuze igazi: ngabe lokhu akwakhi isisekelo sokwenza kwenu nanamuhla? Yisisekelo senkathi eyedlule esenze ukuba umsebenzi wenziwe kuze kwaba namuhla. Nakuba imithetho yenkathi endala ingasashiwo, nezimfuno ezintsha sezifuniwe kuwe, le mithetho ayiqediwe, futhi kunalokho, iphakanyiselwe esikhundleni esiphezulu ngokwengeziwe. Ukuthi isiqediwe kusho ukuthi inkathi edlule isiphelelwe yisikhathi, kanti kunemiyalelo okufanele uhlale uyihlonipha kuze kube phakade. Imiyalelo yenkathi edlule isivele yenziwe, ivele isiwukuphila komuntu, futhi akukho sidingo sokuphinda imiyalelo yokungabhemi, ukungaphuzi, njalo njalo. Phezu kwalesi sisekelo, imiyalelo emisha iyabekwa ngokuhambelana nezidingo namuhla, ngokuhambisana nesiqu sakho, nangokuhambisana nomsebenzi wanamuhla. Ukumemezela imiyalelo yenkathi entsha akusho ukuqeda imiyalelo yenkathi endala, kodwa ukuyiphakamisa phezu kwalesi sisekelo, ukwenza izenzo zomuntu ziphelele ngokwengeziwe, futhi zihambisane kakhudlwana nokungokoqobo. Uma, namuhla benivunyelwe ukuba nilandele kuphela imiyalelo futhi niphile ngemithetho yeTestamente Elidala, ngendlela efana neyama-Israyeli, futhi ukuba, ngaphezulu, bekumele nize nibambe ngekhanda imithetho eyabekwa nguJehova, bekungeke kwenzeke ukuba niguquke. Uma bekufanele niphile ngaleyo mithetho embalwa enemingcele noma nibambe ngekhanda imithetho engabaleki, imvelo yenu endala ibizohlala igxile ngokujulile, futhi ibingeke ibe khona indlela yokuyisiphula. Ngakho benizogcina senonakele ngokwengeziwe, futhi akekho noyedwa phakathi kwenu obeyolalela. Okusho ukuthi imiyalo elula embalwa noma imithetho engabaleki ngeke ikwazi ukunisiza ukuba nazi izenzo zikaJehova. Nina anifani nama-Israyeli: Ngokulandela imithetho nokubamba ngekhanda imiyalo akwazi ukubona izenzo zikaJehova, nokuzinikela Kuye yedwa, kodwa niyehluleka ukufinyelela kulokhu, futhi imiyalelo embalwa yenkathi yeTestamente Elidala ayigcini nje ngokunenza ningakwazi ukunikela ngenhliziyo yenu, noma ngokunivikela kodwa kunalokho izonenza ninganaki futhi inehlisele eHayidesi. Ngenxa yokuthi umsebenzi Wami ungumsebenzi wokunqoba, futhi ubhekiswe ekungalalelini nasemvelweni yenu endala. Amazwi anomusa kaJehova noJesu akude namazwi anzima okwahlulela namuhla. Ngaphandle kwamazwi aqine kanjalo, bekungeke kwenzeke ukuba kunqotshwe nina “bochwepheshe”, ababe ngabangalaleli iminyaka eyizinkulungwane. Imithetho yeTestamente Elidala kudala yaphelelwa ngamandla kinina futhi ukwahlulelwa kwanamuhla kuyidlula kude imithetho yakudala. Into enifanele kakhulu ukwahlulelwa hhayi imingcele engatheni yemithetho, ngoba nina anisona isintu sasekuqaleni, kodwa niyisintu esesonakele iminyaka eyizinkulungwane. Okumele umuntu afinyelele kukho manje kungokuhambisana nesimo sangempela somuntu namuhla, ngokuhambisana nezinga nesiqu sangempela somuntu wanamuhla futhi akudingi ukuba ulandele imfundiso. Lokhu kwenzelwa ukuthi kutholakale izinguquko emvelweni yakho endala, futhi ukuze ukwazi ukuyibeka eceleni imibono yakho. Ucabanga ukuthi imiyalelo iyimfundiso? Kungathiwa, iyizimfuno ezejwayelekile kumuntu. Ayiyona imfundiso okufanele uyilandele. Thatha ukwenqatshelwa kokubhema, njengesibonelo—kuyimfundiso? Akuyona imfundiso! Kudingwa ngubuntu obejwayelekile; akuyona imfundiso, kodwa ngumthetho wesintu sonke. Namuhla, imithetho eseshumini nambili emisiwe nayo ayiyona imfundiso, kodwa yilokho okufunekayo ukuze kutholakale ubuntu obejwayelekile. Abantu ababanga nazo noma abazazanga izinto ezinjalo esikhathini esedlule, ngakho kufanale bazifeze namuhla, okungethathwe njengemfundiso. Imithetho ayifani nemfundiso. Imfundiso engikhuluma ngayo ibhekise emicimbini, imicikilisho noma izenzo zomuntu eziphuma endleleni nezinamaphutha; kuyimithetho nezimiselo ezingenalusizo kumuntu, ezingamzuzisi ngalutho, futhi kuyindlela yokwenza engenakho ukubaluleka. Lokhu kuyisifinyezo semfundiso, futhi imfundiso enjalo kufanele ilahlwe, ngoba ayimzuzisi lutho umuntu. Yilokho okuzuzisa umuntu okufanele kwenziwe.