45—Ukuxelwa Kwangaphambili Komnqamlezo

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kuMat. 16:13-28;ULw 410.1

Marko 8:27-38; Luka 9:18-27.]

Umsebenzi kaKristu wawukhawuleza ukuya ekupheleni. Phambi kwaKhe, kwandlaleke ngokucacileyo, kwakukho imiboniso yecala ezazibheka kulo iinyawo zaKhe. Kwaphambi kokuba athabathele ubuntu phezu kwaKhe, wabubona bonke ubude bendlela awayeza kuyihamba ukuze asindise oko kulahlekileyo. Lonke ihlaba elalikrazula intliziyo yaKhe, sonke isithuko esasityabekwa phezu kwentloko yaKhe, yonke intswelo ekwakufuneka eyinyamezele, yayithe tyaba phambi kwamehlo aKhe kwaphambi kokuba abekele bucala isithsaba saKhe nengubo yobukhosi yaKhe, ahle etroneni, ambathise ubuThixo baKhe ngobuntu. Indlela esuka emkhumbini ukuya eKalvari yonke yayiphambi kwamehlo aKhe. Wayeyazi intlungu eyayiza kuza phezu kwaKhe. Wayesazi konke, kodwa wathi, “Yabona, Ndiyeza; encwadini esongwayo kubhalwe ngam. Ukwenza okulikholo kuwe, ndikunanzile; nomyalelo wakho usezibilinini zam ngaphakathi.” Nd. 40:7, 8.ULw 410.2

Lonke ixesha, phambi kwaKhe wayebona isiphumo somsebenzi awuzeleyo. Ubomi basemhlabeni, buzele kangako ukusebenza nzima nokuzincama, benziwa mnandi lithemba lokuba akayi kuba nayo yonke le nimba ngelize. Ngokunikela ubomi baKhe ngenxa yobomi babantu, wayeza kulizuzela kuYe kwakhona ihlabathi ekunyanisekeni kwalo kuThixo walo. Nangona kufuneka ezuze kuqala ubhaptizo lwegazi; nangona izono zehlabathi zaziza kuba nzima phezu komphefumlo waKhe omsulwa; nangona ithunzi losizi olungathethekiyo lwaluphezu kwaKhe; kanti ke, ngenxa yovuyo olwalubekwe phambi kwaKhe, wanyula ukunyamezela umnqamlezo, walidela ihlazo.ULw 410.3

Kumaqabane akhethiweyo omsebenzi waKhe, imiboniso eyayiphambi kwaKhe yayisafihliwe; kodwaixesha lalikufuphiukuba ayibone intlungu yaKhe. Kufuneka ambone Lowo wayemthanda emthembile, enikelwa ezandleni zentshaba zaKhe, exhonywa emnqamlezweni waseKalvari. Kungekudala, kuza kufuneka ewashiyile ukuba ajongane nehlabathi kungekho ukonwaba kubukho baKhe obubonakalayo. Wayesazi ukuba intiyo ekrakra nokungakholwa kuya kubatshutshisa, waza walangazelela ukubalungiselela izilingo zabo. ULw 411.1

UYesu nabafundi baKhe ngoku babefike kwenye yeedolophu ezingqonge iKesareya Filipi. Babengaphaya kwemida yeGalili, kummandla apho kwakugquba unqulo lwezithixo. Apha, abafundi babesusiwe kwimpembelelo elawulayo yobuYuda, basondezwa kufuphi kakhulu kunqulo lobuhedeni. Babengqongwe zintlobo zenkolo ezazikho kuzo zonke iindawo zehlabathi. UYesu walangazelela ukuba umbono wezi zinto ungabakhokelela ekubeni baluve uxanduva lwabo kubahedeni. Ngexesha lokuhlala kwaKhe kulo mmandla, wazama ukukuyeka ukufundisa abantu, ukuze azinikele kakhulu ngokupheleleyo kubafundi baKhe. ULw 411.2

Wayesele eza kubaxelela ngentlungu eyayimlindele. Waqala wazithi cebu eyedwa, wathandaza ukuba iintliziyo zabo zikulungele ukuwamkela amazwi aKhe. Wathi akubuya ahlangane nabo, akaqala kwangoko ukubaxelela oko wayefuna ukubaxelela kona. Phambi kokuba akwenze oku, wabanika ithuba lokuba bavume ukholo lwabo kuYe ukuze bakwazi ukomelezeka kwisilingo esizayo. Wabuza, “Bathi abantu ndingubani na mna, Nyana woMntu?” ULw 411.3

Bebuhlungu, banyanzeleka ukuba bavume ukuba uIsrayeli usilele ukumazi uMesiya wabo. Abanye ngokwenene, bathi bakuyibona imimangaliso yaKhe, batsho ukuthi unguNyana kaDavide. Isihlwele esatyiswa eBhetesayida sasilangazelele ukumenza ukumkani kaIsrayeli. Abaninzi babekulungele ukumamkela njengomprofeti; kodwa babengakholwa ukuba unguMesiya. ULw 411.4

UYesu ngoku wabeka umbuzo wesibini, oqonde ngqo kubafundi ngokwabo: “Ke nina nithi ndingubani na?” Waphendula uPetros, wathi, “Wena unguye uKristu, uNyana kaThixo ophilileyo.” ULw 411.5

Kwasekuqaleni, uPetros wayekholiwe ukuba uYesu unguMesiya. Uninzi lwabanye ababoyisakele kukushumayela kukaYohane umBhaptizi, baza bamkela uKristu, baqala ukuba nentandabuzo yomsebenzi kaYohane akubanjwa aze abulawe; baza nangoku bathandabuza ukuba uYesu unguMesiya, lowo babekade bemlindele. Abaninzi kubafundi ababelindele ngenzondelelo ukuba uYesuathabatheindawoyaKhe etroneni kaDavide,bamshiyabakubona ukuba wayengenayo injongoenjalo. Yena uPetros namaqabane akhe, abazange basuke kwisifungo sabo. Ikhondo elinentandabuzo labo bebedumisa izolo bagxeka namhlanje alizange lilubulale ukholo lwabalandeli benene boMsindisi. UPetros wayethe, “Wena unguye uKristu, uNyana kaThixo ophilileyo.” Wayengalindelanga zimbeko zokumkani ukuba zithweswe iNkosi yakhe, kodwa wayamkela isekuthotyweni injalo. ULw 411.6

UPetros wayethetha ngenkolo yeshumi elinambini. Kanti ke abafundi babese kude ekuwuqondeni umsebenzi uKristu awayezele wona. Inkcaso nokuvezwa gwenxa ngababingeleli nabaphathi, nangona yayingasayi kubasusa kuKristu, yayisababhidile kakhulu. Babengayiboni kakuhle indlela yabo. Impembelelo yengqeqesho yabo yasekuqaleni, imfundiso yabafundisi, amandla esithethe, zizinto ezazimana zinqumla phakathi kombono wenyaniso. Ngamaxesha athile imitha yokukhanya esuka kuYesu yayikhanya phezu kwabo, kanti ke babekhe bafane nabantu abampampatha ebumnyameni phakathi kwamathunzi. Ngale mini kodwa, phambi kokuba bajongane nokulingwa okukhulu kokholo lwabo, uMoya Oyingcwele wahlala phezu kwabo ngamandla. Okwexeshana elincinane, amehlo abo asuswa “[kwizinto ezibonwayo,” ukuba abone “ezingabonwayo.” 2 Kor. 4:18. Ngaphantsi kwemfihlakalo yobuntu, babubona ubuqaqawuli boNyana kaThixo. ULw 412.1

UYesu wamphendula uPetros, esithi, “Unoyolo, Simon kaYona, ngokuba akukutyhilelwanga oku yinyama negazi, ukutyhilelwe nguBawo osemazulwini.” ULw 412.2

Inyaniso eyavunywa ngoPetros isisiseko senkolo yamakholwa. Yiyo le athe uKristu ibubomi obungunaphakade. Phofu, ukuba nalo olu lwazi akungomhlaba wokuzizukisa. Akungabulumko okanye ukulunga kwakhe okwenza ukuba ityhilwe kuPetros. Alusokuze uluntu, ngokwalo, lufikelele kulwazi lwezulu. “Kuphakame ngokwamazulu; unokwenza ntoni na? Kunzulu kunelabafileyo; unokwazi ntoni na?” Yobhi 11:8. Kuphela ngumoya wokwamkelwa osityhilela izinto ezinzulu zikaThixo, “ezingabonwanga liso, nezingaviwanga ndlebe, nezingathanga qatha entliziyweni yomntu.” “UThixo wazityhila kuthi ngoMoya wakhe; kuba uMoya uphengulula zonke izinto, neenzulu zikaThixo 1 Kor. 2:9, 10. “”Ukucweya kukaYehova kunabamoyikayo;” kwainto yokuba uPetros abuqonde ubuqaqawuli bukaKristu yayibubungqina bokuba waye“fundiswe [ngu]Thixo.” Nd. 25:14; Yohane 6:45. Aha, ngokwenene, “unoyolo, Simon kaYona, ngokuba akukutyhilelwanga oku yinyama negazi.” ULw 412.3

UYesu waqhubeka: “Nam ke, ndithi kuwe, UnguPetros wena; ndiyakulakhela phezu kolu lwalwaibandla lam,namasango elabafileyo akayi kuloyisa.” Igama uPetros lithetha ilitye,--ilitye eliqengqelekayo. UPetros wayengelilo ilitye ekwakuza kwakhelwa kulo ibandla. Amasango esihogo amoyisa yena xa wayekhanyela iNkosi yakhe ngeziqalekiso nezithuko. Ibandla lakhelwa kuLowo amasango esihogo ayengenako ukumoyisa.ULw 413.1

Kuse ziinkulungwane phambi kokuba afike uMsindisi, uMoses walatha kwiLiwa losindiso lukaIsrayeli. Umdumisi wavuma “[nge]liwa lokunqaba kwam.” UIsaya wayebhale wathi, “Ngako oko itsho iNkosi uYehova ukuthi, Yabona, ndiseke eZiyon ilitye, ilitye locikido, ilitye elinqabileyo lembombo, loseko olusekiweyo.”Dut. 32:4; Nd. 62:7; Isa. 28:16. NoPetros ngokwakhe, ebhala ngokuphefumlelwa, usisebenzisa esi siprofeto kuYesu. Uthi, “Ukuba okunene nikuvile, ukuba iNkosi inobubele. Nisiza nje kuyo, ililitye eliphilileyo, licekisiwe okunene ngabantu, kodwa linyuliwe nguThixo, linqabile: nani ngokwenu, njengamatye aphilileyo, yakhekani nibe yindlu eyiyeyomoya.” 1 Petros 2:3-5.ULw 413.2

“Akukho namnye unako ukubeka litye limbi lesiseko, nxamnye nelo libekwe kade, linguYesu onguKristu.” 1 Kor. 3:11. “Phezu kolu lwalwa,” wathi uYesu, “ndiya kulakhela . . . ibandla lam.” Phambi kukaThixo, nazo zonke izidalwa zasemazulwini, phambi komkhosi ongabonwayo wesihogo, uKristu walakha ibandla laKhe phezu kwelitye eliphilileyo. Elo Liwa linguYe ngokwaKhe,--umzimba waKhe, waphulwa wanamanxeba ngenxa yethu. Ekuchaseni ibandla elakhelwe phezu kwesi siseko, amasango esihogo akasokuze oyise. ULw 413.3

Indlela elabonakalaliselwa amandla ngayo ibandla ngexesha uYesu wayethetha la mazwi! Kwakukho kuphela ibathwana elingangesandla lamakholwa, ekwakuza kujoliswa kuwo wonke amagunya eedemon nabantu abakhohlakeleyo; kanti ke abalandeli bakaKristu kwakungafuneki boyike. Bakhelwe phezu kweLiwa lenqaba yabo, babengasayi kuze boyiswe. ULw 413.4

Kwiminyaka engamawaka amathandathu, inkolo yakhelwe phezu kukaKristu. Iminyaka engamawaka amathandathu, izikhukhula nezaqhwithi zengqumbo yenkohlakalo zibethe phezu kweLiwa lokusindiswa kwethu; kodwa lema lingashukunyiswa. ULw 413.5

UPetros wayethetha inyaniso esisiseko senkolo yebandla, kwaye uYesu ngoku wamzukisa njengommeli wawo wonke umzimba wamakholwa. Wathi, “Ndiya kukunika izitshixo zobukumkani bamazulu; kuthi ke othe wakubopha emhlabeni, kubopheke emazulwini; kuthi othe wakukhulula emhlabeni, kukhululeke emazulwini.”ULw 413.6

“Izitshixo zobukumkani bamazulu” ngamazwi kaKristu. Onke amazwi eziBhaloeziNgcwelengawaKhe,kwayeaqukiwe apha.Lamazwi anegunya lokuvula nokuvala izulu. Axela iimeko zokwamkelwa okanye Zokwaliwa kwabantu. Ngoko ke, umsebenzi wabo bashumayela ilizwi likaThixo usisongo sobomi obusa ebomini okanye sokufa okusa ekufeni. Okwabo kukuthunywa okuthwele iziphumo ezingunaphakade.ULw 413.7

UMsindisi akazange awunikele umsebenzi weendaba ezilungileyo kuPetros yedwa. Kwixesha lamva, ephinda amazwi awayewathethe kuPetros, wawabhekisa ngqo ebandleni. Kwaloo nto inye ayeyiphethe yathethwa nakwishumi elinambini labameli bomzimba wamakholwa. Ukuba uYesu wayenike nokuba leliphi igunya elikhethekileyo komnye wabafundi ngaphezu kwabanye, besingasayi kubafumana bexabana rhoqo ngokuba ngubani oya kuba ngoyena mkhulu. Ngebawamkela umnqweno weNkosi yabo, banike imbeko lowo imkhethileyo. ULw 414.1

Endaweni yokubeka omnye ukuba abe yintloko yabo, uKristu wathi kubafundi baKhe, “Ke nina maningabizwa kuthiwe Rabhi;” “maningabizwa ngokuba ningabakhokeli; kuba mnye uMkhokeli wenu, uKristu.” Mat. 23:8, 10.ULw 414.2

“Intloko yomntu wonke oyindoda nguKristu.” UThixo, obeke zonke izinto phantsi kweenyawo zoMsindisi, “wammisa ukuba abe yintloko phezu kweento zonke kulo ibandla, lona lingumzimba wakhe, ukuzala ke oko kozizalisayo izinto zonke ngako konke.” 1 Kor. 11:3; Efese 1:22, 23. Ibandla lakhelwe phezu kukaKristu osisiseko salo; kufuneka limthobele uKristu njengentloko yalo. Akufuneki lixhomekeke emntwini, okanye lilawulwe ngumntu. Baninzi abathi isikhundla sokuthenjwa ebandleni sibanika igunya lokuyalela abanye amabakukholelwe noko kufuneka bekwenzile. Eli bango uThixo akalivumeli. Umsindisi uthi, “Nina ke nonke ningabazalwana.” Bonke bazizisulu zokulingwa, kwaye banako ukuba nempazamo. Akakho umntu esinokuxhomekeka kuye ukuba asikhokele. ILiwa lokholo bubukho obuphilileyo bukaKristu ebandleni. Phezu koku, noyena ungenamandla unako ukuxhomekeka, kwaye abo bazicingela ukuba bangabona banamandla, baya kubona ukuba bangabona bangenamandla, ngaphandle kokuba bamenze uKristu ukwaneliseka kwabo. “Iqalekisiwe indoda ekholose ngomntu, eyenza inyama ingalo yayo.” UYehova “nguLiwa; ugqibele umsebenzi wakhe.” “Hayi, uyolo lwabo bonke abazimela ngaye!” Yer. 17:5; Dut. 32:4; Nd. 2:12.ULw 414.3

Emva kokuba uPetros emvumile, uYesu wabayala abafundi ukuba bangaxeleli mntu ukuba unguKristu. Isiyalo sasinikwa ngenxa yenkcaso ezimiseleyo yababhali nabaFarisi. Ngaphezu koku, abantu, nabafundi ngokwabo, babenembono engeyiyo kangaka ngoMesiya kangangokuba ukumazisa kwakuza kubanika ingcinga engeyiyo ngokuba ungubani okanye ngomsebenzi waKhe. Phofu imihla ngemihla wayezityhila kubo ukuba unguMsindisi, ngaloo ndlela ke wayefuna ukubanika imbono enyanisekileyo ngaYe yokuba unguMesiya.ULw 414.4

Abafundi babesalindele ukuba uKristu alawule njengenkosi yasemhlabeni. Nangona wayelifihle ixesha elide icebo laKhe, babekholwa ukuba wayengasayi kusoloko ehleli entluphekweni nasemfihlakalweni; ixesha lalikufuphi xa aya kumisela ubukumkani baKhe. Eyokuba intiyo yababingeleli nabafundisi yayingasayi kuze yoyiswe, eyokuba uKristu wayeya kwaliwa kanye sisizwe saKhe, agwetywe njengomkhohlisi, abethelelwe njengesikrelemnqa,—ingcamango enjalo ayizange yabakho kubafundi.” Lona ilixa legunya lobumnyama lalisondele, ngoko kwakufuneka uYesu alityhile kubafundi baKhe idabi elaliphambi kwabo. Wayebuhlungu njengoko wayelindele ukusiwa ematyaleni. ULw 415.1

Kude kwalapha ekuphepha ukwazisa kubo nantoni esondele ekuphathekeni kwaKhe kakubi nasekufeni. “Kwincoko yaKhe noNikodemo, wayethe, “Njengoko uMoses wayiphakamisayo inyoka entlango, ngokunjalo umelwe kukuphakanyiswa ngokunjalo uNyana woMntu; ukuze bonke abakholwayo kuye bangatshabalali, koko babe nobomi obungunaphakade.” Yohane 3:14, 15. Noko ke, abafundi abazange bayive le nto, kanti nokuba babeyivile, ngebabengazange bayiqonde. Ngoku ke, babe noYesu, bephulaphule amazwi aKhe, bebona imisebenzi yaKhe, kwathi, ithobeke injalo indawo awaye kuyo, kukho nenkcaso yababingeleli nabantu, bakwazi ukuzimanya kubungqina bukaPetros, xa athi, “Wena unguye uKristu, unyana kaThixo ophilileyo.” Ngoku lalifikile ixesha lokuba umkhusane owawulifihlile ikamva ususwe. “Waqalela kwelo xa uYesu ukubabonisa abafundi bakhe, okokuba umelwe kukuba aye eYerusalem, eve ubunzima obukhulu kuwo amadoda amakhulu nababingeleli abakhulu, nababhali, abulawe, athi ngomhla wesithathu avuke.”ULw 415.2

Bengakwazi ukuthetha yintlungu nakukukhwankqiswa, abafundi baphulaphula. UKristu wayekwamkele ukuvunywa kwaKhe nguPetros ukuba unguNyana kaThixo; kwaza ngoku, emazwini aKhe, ukwalatha kwintlungu nokufa kwaKhe kwabonakala kungaqondakali. UPetros akazange akwazi ukuthi cwaka. Wayibamba iNkosi yakhe, ngokungathi uyayitsala ukuba ingayi kwintshabalalo esondeleyo, ekhala, esithi, “Makube camagu kuwe, Nkosi; oko akuyi kukha kubekho kuwe.”ULw 415.3

UPetros wayeyithanda iNkosi yakhe; kodwa uYesu akazange amkhalimele ngokubonakalalisa ukunqwenela ukumkhusela kwintlungu. Amazwi kaPetros yayingengawo anokuba luncedo nentuthuzelo ekulingweni okukhulu okwakuphambi kwaKhe, Ayengahambelani nenjongo kaThixo yobabalo ngakwihlabathi elilahlekileyo, kwakunye nesifundo sokuzincama uYesu aweza ukuba asifundise ngowaKhe umzekelo. UPetros wayenganqweneli kubona umnqamlezo emsebenzini kaKristu. Imbono eyayiza kwenziwa ngamazwi akhe yayichasene ngokupheleleyo naleyo uYesu wayenqwenela ukuyidala ezingqondweni zabalandeli baKhe, waza uMsindisi wachukumiseka ukuba enze okunye okwakha kwabukhali ukuba kuphume kwimilebe yaKhe: “Suka uye emva kwam, Sathana, usisikhubekiso kum; ngokuba ungazinyamekeli ezikaThixo izinto, unyamekela ezabantu.” ULw 415.4

USathana wayezama ukutyhafisa uYesu, aze amjike naYe kumsebenzi awuzeleyo; waza uPetros, ngothando olungaboniyo, walilizwi lokuvakalisa isihendo. Inkosi yobubi yayingumyili waloo ngcamango. Inkuthazo yayo yayiqhuba eso sicelo. Entlango, uSathana wamnika uKristu ubukumkani behlabathi ukuba nje angashiya indlela yokuthotyelwa phantsi nombingelelo. Ngoku wayebeka kwaeso sihendo sinye kumfundi kaKristu. Wayefuna ukumilisela amehlo kaPetros kuzuko lwasemhlabeni, ukuze angawuboni umnqamlezo uYesu awayelangazelela ukuba abhekise amehlo wakhe kuwo. Kanti ke, kwangoPetros, uSathana wayephinda ukunyanzela isihendo kuYesu. UMsindisi phofu akazange asithobele; ingcamango yaKhe yayikumfundi waKhe. USathana wangena phakathi kukaPetros neNkosi yakhe, ukuze intliziyo yomfundi ingachukunyiswa ngumbono wokuthotyelwa phantsi kukaKristu ngenxa yakhe, uPetros. Amazwi kaKristu ayengabhekiswa kuPetros, kodwa kulowo wayezama ukumahlula kuMhlanguli wakhe. “Suka uye emva kwam, Sathana.” Musa ukuba sangena phakathi kwaM nomkhonzi waM owonayo. Ndiyeke ndijongane ubuso ngobuso noPetros, ukuze ndimtyhilele imfihlelo yothando lwaM.ULw 416.1

KuPetros yaba sisifundo esikrakra, nawathabatha ithuba ukusifunda, ukuba indlela kaKristu emhlabeni yayiza kucanda kwintlungu nokuthotyelwa phantsi. Umfundi waboyika ubudlelane neNkosi yakhe kwintlungu. Kwakufuneka kodwa efunde intsikelelo yabo kubushushu beziko lomlilo. Sekulixesha elide emva koko, xa umzimba wakhe okhutheleyo wawusele ugobile ngumthwalo weminyaka emininzi, nobudala, nokusebenza, wabhala, wathi, “Zintanda, musani ukuwuthela nqa umlilo okhoyo phakathi kwenu wokunilinga, ngathi nihlelwa yinto yokuthelwa nqa. Yithini, njengoko ningamadlelane ngeentlungu zikaKristu, nivuye; ukuze, nasekutyhilekeni kobuqaqawuli bakhe, nivuye nigcoba.” 1 Petros 4:12, 13.ULw 416.2

UYesu ngoku wabachazela abafundi baKhe ukuba obaKhe ubomi bokuzincama babungumzekelo wento obabumele ukuba yiyo obabo. Ebizele kuYe, kunye nabafundi, abantu ababejikeleza apho kufuphi, wathi, “Ukuba ubani uthanda ukundilandela, makazincame awuthwale umnqamlezo wakhe imihla ngemihla, andilandele ke.” Umnqamlezo ngoku wawusayanyiswa kwigunya laseRoma. Wawusisixhobo sohlobo sokufa ngeyona ndlela ikhohlakele kakhulu nokuhlazisayo. Abona bophuli bomthetho baphantsi kwakufuneka bawuthwale umnqamlezo baye kwindawo yokubulawa; kuthi lonke ixesha xa uza kubekwa phezu kwamagxa abo, oko babekwala ngabobonke ubundlongondlongo bokugqibela abanako ukubenza, bade boyiswe size isixhobo sentuthumbiso sibotshelelwe phezu kwabo. UYesu kodwa wabayalela abalandeli baKhe ukuba bawuthabathe umnqamlezo bawuthwale balandele emva kwaKhe. Kubafundi, amazwi aKhe, nangona ayeqondakala mfiliba, ayesalatha ekuzinikeleni nakokona kukrakra ukuthotyelwa phantsi,--ukuzinikela kude kube sekufeni ngenxa kaKristu. Akukho okunye ukuzinikela okupheleleyo okwakunokuzotywa ngamazwi oMsindisi. Konke oku ke kodwa wayekwamkele ngenxa yabo. UYesu akazange alibale izulu njengendawo yokunqwenelwa lo gama sasisalahlekile. Wazishiya iinkundla zasezulwini wathabatha ubomi bokugculelwa nokuthukwa, kunye nokufa kwehlazo. Lowo wayesisityebi ngendyebo yasezulwini engenakuxatyiswa, waba lihlwempu, ukuze ngobuhlwempu baKhe sibe zizityebi. Simelwe kukulandela endleleni awayihambayo. ULw 416.3

Uthando lwemiphefumlo awayifelayo uKristu luthetha ukubethelela emnqamlezweni umna. Lowo ungumntwana kaThixo, kufuneka ukususela ngoku azibone elikhonkco kwityathanga elithotyiweyo ukuba lisindise ihlabathi, emnye kunye noKristu kwicebo laKhe lenceba, ebheka phambili kunye naYe ukufuna nokusindisa abalahlekileyo. UmKristu kufuneka asoloko eqonda ukuba uzinikele kuThixo, nokuba, ngesimilo ekufuneka emtyhilile uKristu ehlabathini. Ukuzibingelela, imfesane, uthando, olubonakala ebomini bukaKristu, zizinto ekufuneka zibuye zibonakale ebomini balowo usebenzela uThixo. ULw 417.1

“Othe wathanda ukuwusindisa mphefumlo wakhe, wolahlekwa nguwo; ke yena othe wawulahla umphefumlo wakhe ngenxa yam, nangenxa yeendaba ezilungileyo ezi, wowusindisa.” Ukuzithanda kukufa. Asikho isitho somzimba esinokuphila ukuba ukusebenza kwaso kujonge kuso ngokwaso. Intliziyo, esilelayo ukuthumela igazi lobomi esandleni nasentloko, iyakhawuleza ukuphelelwa ngamandla wayo. Njengoko kunjalo kwigazi lobomi bethu, lunjalo nothando lukaKristu ukutyhutyha yonke indawo yomzimba waKhe ofihlakeleyo. Singamalungu, omnye elelomnye, kwaye umphefumo owalayo ukudlulisela kwabanye uya kutshabalala. “Kuba komnceda ntoni na umntu,” watsho uYesu, ” ukuba uthe walizuza ihlabathi liphela, waza wonakalelwa ngumphefumlo wakhe? Okanye worhola ntoni na umntu, ibe sisananelo somphefumlo wakhe?”ULw 417.2

Ngaphaya kobuhlwempu nokusingelwa phantsi kweli xesha, wabakhombisa abafundi ekubuyeni esebuqaqawulini, engekho kubumbetshembetshe betrone yasemhlabeni, kodwa kubuqaqawuli bukaThixo nemikhosi yasezulwini. Waza wabuya wathi, “Andule ukubavuza bonke ngabanye ngokokwenza kwabo.” Ukuze abanike inkuthazo, uye wanika isithembiso, esithi, “Inene, ndithi kuni, Kwabemiyo apha kukho abangayi kukha beve kufa, bade bambone uNyana woMntu esiza, esebukumkanini bakhe.” Abafundi kodwa abazange bawaqonde amazwi aKhe. Ubuqaqawuli babubonakala buyinto ekude kakhulu. Amehlo abo ayemiliselwe kwimbonakalo ekufutshane, ubomi basemhlabeni bobuhlwempu, ukusingelwa phantsi, nentlungu. Ingaba amathemba abo ashushu obukumkani bukaMesiya kuza kufuneka alahlwe kude? Ingaba babengayikuyibona iNkosi yabo iphakanyiselwa etroneni kaDavide? Ingaba kunokwenzeka ukuba uKristu wayeza kuphila ubomi obuthobekileyo, bokuba ngumbhaduli ongenakhaya, adelelwe, aliwe, aze abulawe? Usizi lwazicinezela iintliziyo zabo, kuba babeyithanda iNkosi yabo. Intandabuzo nayo yazihlupha iingqondo zabo, kuba yayingaqondakali into yokuba uNyana kaThixo uza kuba phantsi kokusingelwa phantsi okukhohlakele kangako. Baba nombuzo wokuba, kungani ukuba aziyele ngokuzithandela eYerusalem ukuba ayokuhlangana nempatho awayebaxelela ukuba uza kuyizuza apho. Angathini ukugqiba ukuba azinikele kwisiphelo esinjalo, abashiye bona ebumnyameni obukhulu kunobo babe phuthaphutha kubo ngaphambi kokuba aziveze kubo? ULw 417.3

Kummandla waseKesareya Filipi, uKristu wayekude ekufunyanweni nguHerode noKayafa, bacinga njalo abafundi. Kwakungekho nto wayenokuyoyika kwintiyo yamaYuda okanye kwigunya lamaRoma. Kwakungani ke ukuba angasebenzi apho, kude kubaFarisi? Kwakungani ukuba azinikele ekufeni? Ukuba kwakufuneka efile, babuza kumiselwa njani ubukumkani bakhe kangangokuba amasango esihogo angabi nakuboyisa? Kubafundi, konke oku ngokwenene kwakuyimfihlelo. ULw 418.1

Ngoku babehamba ngakunxweme lolwandle lwaseGalili besinga kwisixeko apho onke amathemba abo ayeza kunyashwa. Abazange bamchase uKristu, kodwa babethetha bebodwa kunye ngamazwi aphantsi, anentlungu nokubhekiselele kwinto eliya kuba yiyo ikamva. Naphakathi kwembuzwano, babambelela kwingcamango ethi, imeko ethile engabonwayo ingayijika intshabalalo ebonakala ngokungathi ilindele iNkosi yabo. Njalo ke, baba buhlungu bethandabuza, bethemba besoyika, iintsuku ezintandathu ezinde, zobumnyama. ULw 418.2