6—“Sibone Inkwenkwezi YaKhe”

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kuMateyu 2.]

“Kuthe ke, akubon’ ukuba uYesu uzelwe eBhetelehem yelakwaYuda, emihleni kaHerode ukumkani, kwabonakala kufika eYerusalem izazi zivela empumalanga, zisithi, Uphi na lo uzelweyo, ukumkani wamaYuda? Kuba sibone inkwenkwezi yakhe empumalanga; size kumnqula.”ULw 59.1

Izilumko zaseMpuma zazizingqondi. Zaziyinxalenye yodidi olukhulu nolunempembelelo elaliquka amadoda egazi, anobutyebi nemfundo kwisizwe sawo. Phakathi kwawo ayemaninzi awayethenjiwe ngabantu. Amanye ayengamadoda athe tye ezifundile izibonakaliso zokubonelela kukaThixo endalweni, nawayehlonitshiwe ngenxa yokunyaniseka nobulumko bawo. Ayenesi similo amadoda azizilumko aweza kuYesu.ULw 59.2

Ukukhanya kukaThixo kuhleli kukhanya phakathi kobumnyama bobuhedeni. Njengokuba izazi zazifunda amazulu aneenkwenkwezi, zifuna ukuhla nzulu kwiimfihlakalo ezifihliweyo kwiindlela zazo eziqaqambileyo, zabubona ubuqaqawuli boMdali. Ngokufuna ulwazi olucace kakhulu, zabhenela kwiziBhalo zamaHebhere. Elizweni lawo kwakukho indyebo yemibhalo yesiprofeto eyayixela ngokuza kwetitshala yezulu. UBhileham wayengoweqela labhanobugqi, nangona ngaxa limbi wayengumprofeti kaThixo; eqhutywa nguMoya Oyingcwele, wakuxela kwangaphambili ukuphumelela kukaIsrayelinokuvela kukaMesiya; zaye iziprofeto zakhe zadluliselwa kwabalandelayo sisithethe ukusuka kwisizukulwana kuye kwesinye. Phofu ke, kwiTestamente eNdala, ukufika koMsindisi kwakutyhilwe ngokucace ngakumbi. Izazi zakufunda ngovuyo ukuba ukufika kwaKhe kukufuphi, nokuba ihlabathi lonke laliza kuzaliswa lulwazi lobuqaqawuli bukaYehova.ULw 59.3

Izilumko zazibone ukukhanya okungaqhelekanga emazulwini ngobo busuku obathi ubuqaqawuli bukaThixo bazalisa iinduli zaseBhetelehem. Kwathi xa ukukhanya kuya kuphela, kwavela inkwenkwezi eqaqambe kakhulu, yajikeleza esibhakabhakeni. Yayingemanga ndawonye ingelilo nelizwe, waza lo mbono wavusa umdla omkhulu. Loo nkwenkwezi yayiliqela elikude leengelosi ezibengezelayo, kodwa ezi zazi zazingakwazi oko. Noko kunjalo, zaba nengqondo yokuba inkwenkwezi leyo yayibaluleke ngendlela eyodwa kuzo. Zaya kubuza kubabingeleli nakwiingqondi, zaphengulula iincwadi ezisongiweyo zeengxelo zakudala. Isiprofeto sikaBhileham sasithe, “Inkwenkwezi iphuma kwaYakobi; intonga ivela kwaIsrayeli.” Num. 24:17. Ingaba le nkwenkwezi ingaqhelekanga yayithunywe ukuba ixele ngokuza kwaLowo wesithembiso? Izazi zazikwamkele ukukhanya kwenyaniso eyayithunyelwe lizulu; ngoku kwakuthululwe phezu kwazo ngemitha ekhanya kakhulu. Emaphupheni, zaziyalelwe ukuba ziyokuzingela iNkosi eyayisanda kuzalwa.ULw 60.1

Njengokuba uAbraham wahamba ngokholo akubizwa nguThixo, “engazi kakuhle nalapho aya khona” (Heb. 11:8); kwangalo ukholo uIsrayeli walandela intsika yelifu ukuya eZweni leDinga, zenza njalo ezi Ntlanga ukubheka phambili ukuze zifumane uMsindisi wesithembiso. Ilizwe laseMpuma lalizele zizinto ezinexabiso, zaza izazi azahamba zingaphethe nto. Yayilisiko ukunikela izipho njengesenzo sokunika imbeko kwiinkosi okanye abantu bezikhundla eziphezulu, zaza ezona zipho zityebileyo ezazinokufumaneka elizweni, zathwalwa zingumnikelo kuLowo kuYe zonke iintsapho zomhlaba zaziza kusikeleleka. Kwakufanelekile ukuba kuhanjwe ngobusuku ukuze ihlale ibonakala inkwenkwezi; kodwa izazi ezingabahambi zazenza mnandi iiyure zohambo ngokuphindaphinda ubuciko besithethe neentetho zesiprofeto ezingaLowo zazimfuna. Kuyo yonke indawo ekumiwe kuyo ukuba kuphunyulwe, zaphengulula iziprofeto; kwaza kwaya kusiba nzulu ukoyiseka kwinto yokuba zikhokelwa lizulu. Njengokuba zazinenkwenkwezi phambi kwazo, zazinaso nangaphakathi isiqinisekiso sikaMoya Oyingcwele, owayethetha neentliziyo zazo, ezikhuthaza ngethemba. Uhambo, nangona lulude, lwalumnandi kuzo.ULw 60.2

Zifikile emhlabeni kaIsrayeli, zihla intaba yeMinquma, iYerusalem iyabonakala, zaza zothuswa yinto yokuba inkwenkwezi ebizikhokela yonke indlela isuke yahlala phezu kwetempile, kwathi emva komzuzu yathi shwaka azayibona. Ngokungxama zanyathelela phambili,ziqinisekileekulindeleniukubaukuzalwakukaMesiya Kusisiganeko sovuyo ekuthethwa ngaso lulwimingalunye.Noko kunjalo, ukubuzisa kwazo akuphumanga nanto. Ekungeneni kwazo kumzi ongcwele, zaya kuma etempileni. Okwazimangalisayo, kukufumana kungekho mntu ubonakala enolwazi ngokumkani osanda kuzalwa. Imibuzo yazo ayizange yenze kubekho mbonakalo yovuyo, kodwa ukumangala nokoyika, kukwaxutywe nokujongela phantsi.ULw 60.3

Ababingeleli baqhuba izithethe. Baphakamisa inkolo yabo nobabo ubungcwele, logama besingela phantsi amaGrike namaRoma njengabahedeni, naboni abadlula abanye. Izazi azingabo abanquli bezithixo, kwaye emehlweni kaThixo babekwiqondo elingaphezu kwabanye aba, abangabanquli abazibiza ngaYe; kanti ke babonwa ngamaYuda njengabahedeni. Kude kuthi naphakathi kwabanyulelwe ukugcina imiyalelo engcwele, imibuzo yazo yayingenzi nkcukumiso yovelwano. ULw 61.1

Ukufika kwezazi kwavakaliswa ngokukhawuleza kuyo yonke iYerusalem. Uhambo lwabo olungaqhelekanga lwavusa umdla ebantwini, nowaya kufikelela kwibhotwe likakumkani uHerode. UmEdom onamaqhinga wothuswa kukukhankanywa konokuba lutshaba. Ukubulala okungenakubalwa kwakuyingcolisile indlela yakhe eya etroneni. Njengowegazi lowasemzini, wayethiyiwe ngabantu awayebalawula. Inkuseleko yakhe yayikukuthandwa yiRoma. Le Nkosi intsha yona yayinebango elingaphezulu. Yayizalelwe ebukumkanini.ULw 61.2

UHerode wabasola ababingeleli ngokucebisana nabangaziwayo ukuba kuvuswe ingxwabangxwaba ethandwayo yokumsusa etroneni. Noko kunjalo, wakufihla ukungathembi kwakhe, ezimisele ukuwathintela amacebo abo ngobuqhophololo obungaphezulu. Ebizele kuye ababingeleli abakhulunababhali,wababuza ngemfundiso yeencwadi ezingcwele ngokubhekiselele kwindawo engokuzalwa kukaMesiya.ULw 61.3

Oku kubuza komphangi wetrone, nokwenziwa nokucelwa ngabasemzini, kwalihlabanisela ikratshi leetitshala zamaYuda. Ukungakhathali ezabuyela ngako kwiincwadi ezisongiweyo zesiprofeto kwamenza umsindo umphathi ongqwabalala onomona. Wacinga ukuba bazama ukulufihla ulwazi lwabo kulo mcimbi. Wathi, ngegunya ababengenako ukulikhathalela, wabayalela ukuba benze uphando olunzulu, baxele indawo yokuzalelwa koKumkani owayelindelekile. “Bathe ke kuye, eBhetelehem yelakwaYuda; kuba kubhaliwe ngomprofeti, kwathiwa,ULw 62.1

“Nawe Bhetelehem, mhlaba wakwaYuda,
Akunguye nakanye omncinanana
phakathi kwabalawuli bakwaYuda:
Kuba kuwe apha kuya kuphuma uMlawuli,
Onguyena uya kubalusa abantu bam amaIsrayeli.”ULw 62.2

UHerode waya wabizela izazi kudliwano-ndlebe lwabucala. Isaqhwithi somsindo noloyiko sasivuthuza entliziyweni yakhe, kodwa wanika imbonakalo yangaphandle ezolileyo, waza wabamkela ngembeko abasemzini. Wabuza ukuba kwakungaliphi ixesha ukubonakala kwenkwenkwezi, wathi ukwamkele ngovuyo ukuxelwa kokuzalwa kukaKristu. Wabayalela abahambi, esithi, “Hambani niye nicokise ukubuzisa ngomntwana lowo; xa ke nithe namfumana, ze nindibikele, ukuze nam ndiye kumnqula.” Akuba etshilo, wabandulula endleleni yabo esinga eBhetelehem.ULw 62.3

Ababingeleli namadoda amakhulu aseYesuralem ayenganqatyelwanga lulwazingokuzalwakukaKristunjengoko benza ngokungathi abazi. Ingxelo yotyelelo lweengelosi kubelusi yayizisiwe eYerusalem kodwa oorabhi bayiphatha njengengabalulekanga ukuba bangade bayihoye. Bona ngokwabo babe nokumfumana uYesu, kwaye benokulungela ukuzikhokela izazi ukuya apho azalelwe khona; kodwa, endaweni yoko, izazi zeza ukuba zitsalele ingqondo yabo ekuzalweni kukaMesiya. “Uphina lo uzelweyo, ukumkani wamaYuda?” zatsho” “Kuba sibone inkwenkwezi yakhe empumalanga; size kumnqula.”ULw 62.4

Ngoku, ikratshi nomona zakuvalela ngaphandle ukukhanya. Ukuba iingxelo ezaziswa ngabelusi nazizazi zazamkelwe, zaziya kubabeka ababingeleli nabaphathi kwindawo enganqwenelekiyo kakhulu, ilikhanyele ibango labo lokuba ngabachazi benyaniso kaThixo. Ezi titshala zifunde kakhulu zazingasayi kuthoba ukuba zifundiswe ngabozazibabiza ngokuba ngabahedeni. Kwakungenako ukwenzeka, zatsho, ukuba uThixo azidlule, aze aqhagamshelane nabelusi abangazi nto okanye neeNtlanga ezingalukileyo. Bazimisela ukuba babonise ukuzijongela phantsi kwabo iingxelo ezazivuselela kuHerode nakuyo yonke iYerusalem. Abazange baye nokuya eYerusalem ukuba babone ukuba ingaba zinjalo na ezi zinto. Babenza abantu ukuba bawuthabathe umdla kuYesu njengemvuselelo yokubaxwa kwezinto. Kulapha apho kwaqala khona ukwaliwa kukaKristu ngababingeleli noorabhi. Ukususela kule ndawo, ikratshi labo kunye neenkani zabo zakhula zafikelela kwintiyo emileyo ngakuMsindisi. Lo gama uThixo wayevula ucango kwiiNtlanga, iinkokheli zamaYuda zaziluvala ucango ngakwelawo icala.ULw 62.5

Izazi zahamba zodwa ukusuka eYerusalem. Amathunzi obumnyama ayesiwa ngexesha beshiya amasango, kodwa, okwazivuyisa kakhulu, zaphinda zayibona inkwenkwezi, zaza zakhokelelwa eBhetelehem. Zazingazange zikufumane ukuxelelwa ngomgangatho othobekileyo kaYesu njengoko wawuxeliwe kubelusi. Emva kohambo olude, zamangaliswa kukungakhathali kweenkokheli zamaYuda, zaza zayishiya iYerusalem zinokutyhafa kunoko zazingene zinjalo esixekweni. EBhetelehem, azizange zifumane mlindi wasebukhosini omiyo ukuba akhusele uKumkani osanda kuzalwa. Nakumadoda embeko ehlabathi yayingekho eyayikho. UYesu wayegcinwe emkhombeni. Abazali bakhe, abemi abangafundanga, yayingabo kuphela abalindi baKhe. Ingaba nguYe lo ekwakubhalwe ngaye, ukuba uya “kumisa izizwe zakwaYakobi,” “[a]buyise abalondolozwa bakaIsrayeli;” ukuze abe “[si]sikhanyiso seentlanga,” no“sindiso . . . ude uze eziphelweni zehlabathi?” Isa. 49:6.ULw 63.1

“Zingenile endlwini, zambona umntwana enoMariya unina, zawa phantsi, zaqubuda kuye.” Ngaphantsi kwembonakalo yokubanguYesu, zabona ubukho bukaThixo. Zanikela ngeentliziyo zazo kuYe njengoMsindisi, zaza zathulula izipho,--“igolide, nentlaka emhlophe, nemore.” Ukholo olunjalo lwabo! ULw 63.2

Kwakunokuthiwa ngezazi zaseMpuma, njengoko kwatshiwo ngomthetheli-khulu womRoma, “Andifumananga lukholo lungaka nakwaIsrayeli.” Mat. 8:10.ULw 64.1

Izazi zazingazange zikuqaphele nzulu ukuceba kukaHerode ngakuYesu. Kwakuba oko zazikuhambele kwakufeziwe, zalungiselela ukubuyela eYerusalem, zizimisele ukumazisa ngempumelelo yazo. Kwathi kodwa, ephupheni, zafumana isigidimi sokuba zingabuye zibe noqhagamshelano naye. Ukuphepha iYerusalem, zabuyela elizweni lazo ngandlela yimbi.ULw 64.2

Ngokukwanjalo, uYosefu wafumana isilumkiso sokuba abalekele eYiputa noMariya kunye nomntwana. Yaza yathi ingelosi, “uze ube khona apho ndide ndikuxelele; kuba uHerode uhlalele ukumfuna umntwana lowo, ukuba amtshabalalise.” UYosefu wathobela ngaphandle kokulibazisa, waphuma ngobusuku ukuze abe nenkuseleko enkulu.ULw 64.3

Ngokusebenzisa izazi, uThixo watsalela ingqondo yesizwe samaYuda ekuzalweni koNyana waKhe. Ukubuzisa kwazo eYerusalem umdla owawuthandwa wavuswa, waza umona kaHerode, owanyanzelisa ukuhoya kwababingeleli noorabhi, wazikhokelela iingqondo eziprofetweni ezingoMesiya, nakwisiganeko esikhulu esasisanda kwenzeka. ULw 64.4

USathana wayezimisele ukukuvalela ngaphandle kwehlabathi ukukhanya kwezulu, waza wasebenzisa obona buqhinga bakhe bukhulu ukutshabalalisa uMsindisi. Lowo Yena ungozeliyo engalali wayemalusile uNyana waKhe amthandayo. Lowo wanisela uIsrayeli imana emazulwini, wondla uEliya ngexesha lendlala, walungiselela ezweni lobuhedeni indawo yokubalekela kukaMariya nomntwana uYesu. Kwathi ngezipho zezazi ezazivela ezweni lobuhedeni, uYehova wenza kwabakho izinto zokuxhasa uhambo oluya eYiputa kunye nokuhlala emhlabeni wabasemzini.ULw 65.1

Izazi zaba phakathi kwabokuqala ukwamkela uMkhululi, isipho sazo sasisesokuqala esabekwa ezinyaweni zaKhe. Kwathi ngeso sipho, laba njani ukuba likhulu ilungelo lokulungiselela ezaba nalo! Umnikelo ophuma kwintliziyo enothando, uThixo uyathanda ukuyizukisa, ayinike eyona mpumelelo inkulu ekumsebenzeleni kwaKhe. Igolide nesilivere yethu, ezona zinto zixabisekileyo esinazo emhlabeni, ezona zipho ziphezulu zengqondo nezikamoya esinazo, ziya kunikelwa ngokukhululekileyo kuLowo wasithandayo, wazinikela ngenxa yethu.ULw 65.2

UHerode eYerusalem waphelelwa ngumonde elindele ukubuya kwezazi. Ngokuhamba kwexesha, zaye zingaveli, ukukrokra kwakhe kwakhula. Ukungabi nantumekelelo koorabhi ukwalatha indawo yokuzalelwa kukaMesiya kwabonakala kubonisa ukuba babona nzulu kwicebo lakhe, nokuba izazi zamphepha ngabom. Kwamphambanisa ukucinga oko. Iqhinga lawa phantsi, kodwa kwakusasele ukubhenela emandleni. Wayeza kwenza umzekelo ngalo mntwana ungukumkani. Loo maYuda aziphakamisileyo kwakuza kufuneka abone ukuba angalindela ntoni kwimizamo yawo yokubeka ukumkani etroneni.ULw 65.3

Kwakhawuleza kwathunyelwa amajoni eBhetelehem, enomyalelo wokuba abulale bonke abantwana abaminyaka mibini nangaphantsi. Amakhaya awayezolile omzi kaDavide abona loo mibono yobubi obathi, kumakhulu amathandathu eminyaka eyadlulayo, atyhilwa kumprofeti. “Kwavakala izwi eRama, isimema nesililo nesijwili esikhulu, uRakeli elilela abantwana bakhe, engavumi ukuthuthuzeleka, ngokuba bengasekho.”ULw 65.4

Le ntlekele, azizisela ngokwawo amaYuda. Ukuba ayehamba ngokunyaniseka nokuzithoba phambi kukaThixo, ngewathi, ngendlela ebonakalayo, wayenza ukuba ingqumbo kakumkani ingabi nabungozi kuwo. Wona ke, ayezahlule kuThixo ngezono zawo, amala uMoya Oyingcwele, owaye kuphela kwesikhuselo sawo. Ayengazifundanga iziBhalo enolangazelelo lokuhambisana nentando kaThixo. Ayephengulule iziprofeto ezazinokuchazwa ngendlela yokuba ziphakamise wona, nokuba abonise indlela uThixo azijongele phantsi ngayo ezinye izizwe. Yayiyintoyokuqhayisa kwawo okunekratshi eyokuba uMesiya wayeza kuzaengukumkani, esoyisa iintshaba zaKhe, enyathelela phantsi abahedeni ngengqumbo yaKhe. Ngaloo ndlela ayivuselela intiyo yabaphathi bawo. Ngokuwuveza ngendlela engeyiyo umsebenzi azele wona uKristu, uSathana wayenenjongo yokufikelela ekumtshabalaliseni uMsindisi; kodwa endaweni yoku, yasuka yabuyela phezu kweentloko zawo.ULw 65.5

Esi senzo senkohlakalo yaba siso esalwenza lwamnyama ulawulo lukaHerode. Kungekudala emva kokubulawa kwabantwana abangenatyala, wanyanzeleka ukuba naye afumane eso siphelo ekungekho unokusiphepha. Wafa ukufa okoyikekayo.ULw 66.1

UYosefu, owayeseseYiputa, wayalelwa yingelosi kaThixo ukuba abuyele ezweni lakwaIsrayeli. Emthabatha uYesu njengendlalifa yetrone kaDavide, uYosefu walangazelela ukuyenza ikhaya lakhe iBhetelehem; kodwa wathi akuva ukuba uArkelawo walawula kwaYuda endaweni kayise, wanoloyiko lokuba hleze amacebo kayise ngakuKristu enziwe ngunyana wakhe. Kubo bonke oonyana bakaHerode, uArkelawo wayengoyena ufana naye ngesimilo. Kakade ukulandela kwakhe ekulawuleni kwakusele kuneempawu zoqhushululu eYerusalem kwanokubulawa kwamawaka amaYuda ngabalindi bamaRoma. ULw 66.2

Kwakhona uYosefu wayalelwa ukuba aye kwindawo ekhuselekileyo. Wabuyela eNazarete, ikhaya lakhe lokuqala, kwaye kulapho, phantse amashumi amathathu eminyaka, uYesu wahlala khona, “ukuze kuzaliseke okwathethwayo ngabaprofeti, okokuba wobizwa ngokuthi ungowaseNazarete.” IGalili yayiphantsikolawulo lonyana kaHerode, kodwa yayinomxube omkhuluwabemi bangaphandle kunakwaYuda Ngoko ke, wawumncinane umdla kwimicimbi ejongene ngokukhethekileyo namaYuda, kwaye amabango kaYesu ayengalindelekanga ukuba angavusa umona kwabo basegunyeni.ULw 66.3

Kwaba njalo ukwamkeleka koMsindisi emhlabeni. Kwabonakala ingekho indawo yokuphumla nenkuseleko yosana olunguMkhululi. UThixo wayengenako ukuyekela uNyana waKhe amthandayo ebantwini, naxa eqhubeka nomsebenzi waKhe wokubasindisa. Wayalela iingelosi ukuba zimjonge zimkhusele uYesu ade awufeze umsebenzi waKhe emhlabeni, afe ezandleni zabo wayeze kubasindisa.ULw 67.1