62—Isidlo Endlwini KaSimon

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kuMat. 26:6-13; Marko 14:3-11; Luka 7:36-50; Yohane 11:55-57; 12:1-11.]

USimon waseBhetani wayebalwa ukuba ungumfundi kaYesu. Wayengomnye wabaFarisi abambalwa abazimanya ekuhleni nabalandeli bakaYesu. Wavuma ukuba uYesu uyititshala, waza wathemba ukuba unokuba unguMesiya, kodwa wayengamamkelanga njengoMsindisi. Isimilo sakhe asizange siguquke; imithetho-siseko yakhe ayatshintsha.ULw 557.1

USimon wayephiliswe iqhenqa, yaba yinto leyo emtsalela kuYesu. Wayenqwenela ukunga angabonisa umbulelo wakhe, waza wathi kutyelelo lukaKristu lokugqibela eBhetani, wenzela uMsindisi nabafundi baKhe isidlo. Esi sidlo sahlanganisa amaYuda amaninzi. Kwakukho ngeli xesha, ukuxokozela okukhulu eYerusalem. UKristu nomsebenzi waKhe wayetsale ingqwalaselo enkulu kunangaphambili. Abo bezayo esidlweni bazijongisisa kakuhle iintshukumo zaKhe, baye abanye babo bemjonge ngamehlo angenabubele. ULw 557.2

UMsindisi wayeneentsuku ezintandathu kuphela efikile eBhetani ngaphambi kwePasika, kwaye, ngokwesiko laKhe, kwakufuneka ephumle ekhayeni likaLazaro. Izixuku zabahambi ababedlula esixekweni bazisasaza iindaba zokuba wayesendleleni esinga eYerusalem, nokuba wayeza kuphumla ngeSabatha eBhetani. Phakathi kwabantu kwakukho ulangazelelo olukhulu. Bababaninzi ababuthelana eBhetani, abanye ngovelwano ngakuYesu, kanti abanye ngenxa yokufuna ukwazi ngokubona lowo wayevuswe kwabafileyo.ULw 557.3

Abaninzi babelindele ukuva kuLazaro ingxelo emangalisayo yemibonoyasemva kokufa. Bamangaliswa kuba engabalisi nto. Wayengenanto angayithetha ngalo mba. Impefumlelo ithi, “Abafileyo abazi lutho. . . . Seluphelile kade uthando lwabo, nentiyo yabo, nekhwele labo.” Intsh. 9:5, 6. Yena uLazaro wayenabo ubungqina awayengabuthetha ngomsebenzi omhle kaKristu. Wayevuswe ekufeni ngayo le njongo. Ngengqiniseko nangamandla, wavakalisa ukuba uYesu wayenguNyana kaThixo.ULw 558.1

Iingxelo ekwabuyelwa nazo eYerusalem ngabatyeleli ababeze eBhetani, zawukhulisa umdla. Abantu babelangazelela ukumbona, nokumva uYesu. Kwakukho imbuzwano ngokuba uLazaro angahamba na noYesu ukuya eYerusalem, nokuba angaba umprofeti uya kuthweswa isithsaba na ePasikeni. Ababingeleli nabaphathi babona ukuba isandla sabo asinawo amandla phezu kwabantu, yaza ingqumbo yabo ngakuYesu yathabatha unyawo ukuba mbi. Babengasakwazi nokulinda ukuba kufike ithuba lokumsusa endleleni yabo ngonaphakade. Ngokuhamba kwexesha, baba noloyiko hleze ngoku azifunde iinjongo zabo zokumchasa, aze ahlale angayi [eYerusalem]. Babengakwazi nokulifihla ixhala labo, baza bamana bebuzana, “Nithini na? akasayi kuza na emthendelekweni?” ULw 558.2

Iqumrhu lababingeleli nabaFarisi lahlanganiswa. Kususela ekuvusweni kukaLazaro uthando lwabantu lwalukuKristu ngokupheleleyo kangangokuba kwakuya kuba yingozi ukumbamba esidlangalaleni. Ngoko ke amagunya azimisela ukumbamba emfihlakalweni, aqhubeke netyala ngokuzole kangangoko. Babethembe ukuba, xa kuthe kwaziwa ukugwetywa kwaKhe, umsinga olozisayo wengcamango yesininzi iya kuba kwicala labo. ULw 558.3

Bacinga ngaloo ndlela ukumtshabalalisa uYesu. Lo gama uLazaro esaphila, ababingeleli noorabhi bazi ukuba babengakhuselekanga. Ubukho nje bendoda ebisengcwabeni iintsuku ezine, neyavuswa lilizwi eliphuma kuYesu, kungekudala kwakuza kwenza kubekho impindezelo. Abantu babeza kuphindezela kwiinkokeli zabo ngokubulala Lowo wenza imimangaliso enjalo. ISanhedrin, ke ngoko, yagqiba kwelokuba uLazaro naye kufuneka efile. Uhamba indlela engako umona nentiyo ukukhokela amakhoboka awo. Intiyo nokungakholwa kweenkokeli zamaYuda kwakhula kangangokuba babenokubulala lowo [uLazaro] amandla angenamda amhlangula engcwabeni. ULw 558.4

Lo gama oku kuceba kwakuqhubeka eYerusalem, uYesu nabahlobo baKhe bamenyelwa esidlweni sakwaSimon. Etafileni, uMsindisi wayehleli noSimon, awayemphilise isifo esithiyekileyo, bekwicala elinye, uLazaro, awayemvuse ekufeni ekwelinye. UMarta wayelungiselela etafileni, kodwa uMariyaehleli ephulaphulengomdlalonke ilizwi eliphuma kuYesu. Ngenceba yaKhe, uYesu wayezixolele izono zakhe, wayembizele umnakwabo oyintanda ukuba aphume engcwabeni, waza intliziyo kaMariya yazaliswa ngumbulelo. Wayemvile uYesu ethetha ngokufa kwaKhe okukufuphi, wathi, ngothando nentlungu yakhe enzulu wanga angamnika imbeko. Ngokuzibingelela okukhulu, wayethenge “ihlala lelabhastile linamafutha aqholiweyo” “enadusi engangxengelelweyo, exabiso likhulu,” awayeza kuthambisa umzimba waKhe ngawo. Ngoku, abaninzi babesithi uza kubekwa abe ngukumkani. Intlungu yakhe yajika yaba luvuyo, waza wanga angaba ngowokuqala ukuyizukisa iNkosi yakhe. Eqhekeza ibhokisi yesiqholo, wasigalela phezu kwentloko neenyawo zikaYesu; emva koko, waguqa elila, ezimanzisa ngeenyembezi, wazisula iinyawo zaKhe neenwele zakhe ezinde ezibe zijinga. ULw 558.5

Wayezama ukuphepha ukubonwa, kwaye ukugushuza kwakhe ngekungazange kubonwe, kodwa isiqholo salizalisa igumbi nevumba elimnandi, sasisasaza isenzo sakhe kubo bonke ababekho. UYuda wasibona esi senzo akaneliseka kakhulu. Endaweni yokulinda ukuba ave ukuba uKristu uza kuthini ngalo mba, waqala ukusebeza isikhalazo sakhe kwabo bakufutshane kuye, egxeka uKristu ngokuvuma inkcitho engako. Ngobuchule obukhulu, wazama ukucebisa ukuba eso senzo sasinokwenza ukungavani. ULw 559.1

UYuda wayengumgcini-mali wabafundi, kwaye, kuvimba wabo omncinane, wayezirholela emfihlakalweni, azisebenzisele, ngaloo ndlela emana eyicutha imali leyo ize isoloko incinane. Wayezondelele ukuba ifakwe engxoweni yonke into anokuyifumana. Indyebo esengxoweni yayisoloko iphungulwa ukunceda amahlwempu; kuthi xa kukho into ethengiweyo uYuda acinga ukuba ayibalulekanga, athi, Yeyani na le nkcitho? Kutheni ukuba le ndleko ingafakwa engxoweni endiyiphathayo ukuze incede amahlwempu? Ngoku, isenzo sikaMariya sabonakala sahluke kakhulu kumona wakhe kangangokuba wahlazeka; wathi, ngokwesiko lakhe, wafuna ukwayamisa injongo entle ekuchaseni kwakhe isipho sakhe, uMariya. Ejika ethetha nabafundi, wabuza, “Bekungani na ukuba la mafutha aqholiweyo angathengiswa ngeedenariyo ezimakhulu mathathu, kuphiwe amahlwempu? Watsho ke, kungengakuba ebekhathalele amahlwempu; watsho kuba ebelisela, inaye ingxowa, zithathwa nguye izinto ezifakwa kuyo.” UYuda wayengenayo intliziyo ngabantu abangamahlwempu. Ukuba amafutha kaMariya ayethengisiwe, yaza ingeniso yawela ezandleni zakhe, amahlwempu ayengayi kuzuza nto.ULw 559.2

UYuda wayezicingela phezulu ngokwesakhono sokukwazi ukulawula. Ngokuphatha imali, wayezicingela ukuba ungaphezulu kakhulu kunabo babengabafundi kunye naye, waza wabakhokelela ekubeni nabo bambone ngolo hlobo. Baya bamthemba, kwaye enempembelelo enkulu phezu kwabo. Ukubabaza kwakhe uvelwano ngamahlwempukwabakhohlisa, kwaza ukurhesha kwakhe oko ngobuchule kwabenza ukuba bakukhangele ngokungakuthembi ukuzinikela kukaMariya. Ukukrokra kwayijikeleza itafile. Kwakusithi, “Yeyani na le nkcitho? Kuba la mafutha ngekuthengiswe lukhulu ngawo, kwaza kwaphiwa amahlwempu.”ULw 559.3

UMariya wawava amazwi amgxekayo. Intliziyo yakhe yabetha kakhulu ngaphakathi. Woyika ngelithi, hleze udadewabo amngxolisele ukudlala ngemali. INkosi nayo, yayinako ukumcingela ukuba unenkcitho. Ngaphandle kokuxolisa okanye kwesizathu, wazimisela ukuba uza kuziba emke, ngelo xesha kwavakala ilizwi leNkosi lisithi, “Myekeni; nimaphulelani na?” Wabona ukuba uphoxekile, wanoxinzelelo. Wazi ukuba, kwesi senzo sokukhonza, wayebonise umbulelo ngenxa yokuxolelwa izono zakhe, waza wazisa impilo engqondweni yakhe. Ephakamisa izwi laKhe ngaphezu kokumbombozela kokukhalaza, wathi, “Usebenze umsebenzi omhle kum; kuba amahlwempu lawo nihleli ninawo, nize xa sukuba nithanda, nibe nako ukuwenzela okulungileyo; ; ke mna anihleli ninam. Yena ukwenzile abenako; uphange weza wawuthambisela ukungcwatywa umzimba wam.” ULw 560.1

Isipho esinevumba elimnandi uMariya awayesithengele ukuba asichithe kumzimba ofileyo woMsindisi, wasigalela kumzimba waKhe ophilileyo. Ekungcwatyweni, ubumnandi babuya kuvakala kuphela engcwabeni; ngoku liyivuyise intliziyo yaKhe ngesiqinisekiso sokholo nothando lwaKhe. UYosefu waseArimatiya noNikodemo abazanga basinikele isipho sabo sokholo nothando esaphila [uYesu]. Ngeenyembezi ezikrakra, bazisa iziqholo zabo zexabiso kumzimba waKhe obandayo, nongaqondi nto. Abafazi abeza neziqholo engcwabeni, bafumanisa ukuba, oko babekuhambela kwaba lilize, kuba wayevukile. Phofu kuMariya, ukuthulula kwakhe uthando lwakhe phezu koMsindisi lo gama wayesakuqonda ukuzinikela kwakhe, yayikukumthambisela ukungcwatywa kwaKhe. Wathi naxa esihla esiya kubumnyama bokuvavanywa okukhulu, wahamba enayo inkumbulo yeso senzo, ukunyaniseka kothando awayeza kuluzuza kwabaKhe abahlangulweyo kuse ephakadeni.ULw 560.2

Baninzi abazisela abafileyo izipho zabo zexabiso. Bathi xa bemi phezu kwemizimba ebandayo, ethuleyo, amazwi othando athethwe ngokukhululekileyo. Ububele, ukuncoma, ukuzinikela, konke kugalelwa phezu kongaboniyo nongevayo. Ukuba la mazwi ebethethwe ngexesha umoya odiniweyo ubuwadinga kakhulu, xa indlebe ibinokuva, nentliziyo isiva ukuchukunyiswa, hayi, ubumnandi bendlela ebeliya kuxabiseka ngayo ivumba lawo!ULw 560.3

UMariya wayengakwazi ukubaluleka okupheleleyo kwesenzo sakhe sothando. Wayengakwazi ukubaphendula abamangaleli bakhe. Wayengakwazi ukuchaza isizathu sokuba akhethe elo thuba ukuba amthambise uYesu. UMoya Oyingcwele waba necebo ngaye, waza wakuthobela ukuqhutywa nguYe. Impefumlelo ayithobi inike isizathu. Ubukho obungabonwayo, buthetha engqondweni nasemphefumlweni, uyichukumise intliziyo ukuba isebenze. Yiyo ezigwebelayo ngokwayo.ULw 560.4

Ukristu wamxelelauMariyaokuthethwasisenzosakhe,waza wathi koku, wamnika ngaphezu kokuba Yena wazuzayo. “Kuba la mafutha aqholiweyo, yena ewathululele emzimbeni wam nje,” watsho, “wenzele kungcwatywa kwam.” Lathi xa liqhekeka ihlala, lazalisa indlu yonke ngevumba lalo, ngokunjalo uKristu wayeza kufa, umzimba wakhe waphulwe; kodwa wayeza kuvuka engcwabeni, lize ivumba lobomi baKhe liwuzalise umhlaba. UKristu “wasithanda, wazinikela ngenxa yethu, ukuba abe ngumikelo nedini kuye uThixo, ukuba abe livumba elimnandi.”Efese 5:2.ULw 563.1

“Inene ndithi kuni,” watsho uKristu, “apho zithe zavakaliswa khona ezi ndaba zilungileyo kulo lonke ihlabathi, iya kuxelwa nayo le nto ayenzileyo yena, ibe sisikhumbuzo ngaye.” Ekhangele kwixesha elizayo, uMsindisi wathetha ngokuqinisekileyo ngokubhekiselele kwiindaba ezilungileyo zaKhe. Zaziza kushunyayelwa kulo lonke ihlabathi. Kwakuza kuthi kuyo yonke indawo eziye zanabela kuyo iindaba ezilungileyo, isipho sikaMariya sasiza kushiya ivumba elimnandi, zize iintliziyo zisikeleleke ngenxa yesenzo sakhe angazange asicebe. Izikumkani zaziya kuvuka ziphinde ziwe; amagama ookumkani nawaboyisi ayeya kulityalwa; kodwa isenzo senkosikazi sasiya kuhlala singaze siphele kumacwecwe embali engcwele. Koda kuphele ixesha, elahlala liqhekekileyo libalisa ibali ngothando oluninzi lukaThixo kuhlanga olwawayo. ULw 563.2

Isenzo sikaMariya sasingafani kakhulu neso sasiza kwenziwa nguYuda. Isifundo esikhulu kangako angewayesinikiwe nguKristu lo wahlwayela imbewu yokugxeka nokucinga inkohlakalo ezingqondweni zabafundi! Indlela yobulungisa angewayemangalelwe ngayo ummangaleli! Lowo uzifundayo iinjongo zentliziyo nganye, nosiqondayo isenzo ngasinye, ngewayevule phambi kwabo basesidlweni izahluko ezimnyama ebomini bukaYuda. Ukuzenzisa okungaphethe nto awayakhele phezu kwako amazwi akhe umngcatshi, ngekwakutyhiliwe; kuba, endaweni yokuvelana namahlwempu, wayewaqhatha kwimali eyayimiselwe ukuba iwancede. Ingqumbo yayiya kwenziwa ivuke ukulwa naye ngenxa yokucinezela umhlolokazi, inkedama, nomqeshwa. Phofu ke, ukuba uKristu wayemvezile uYuda, oku kwakuya kubekwa njengesizathu sokungcatsha kwakhe. Wayeya kuthi, nangona etyhilwa ngobusela, uYuda wayeya kusizelwa, naphakathi kwabafundi. UMsindisi akazange amngxolise, waba ngaloo ndlela ukuphephile ukumnika isizathu sokungathembeki kwakhe. ULw 563.3

Indlela uYesu awayemjonge ngayo uYuda, yamenza waqiniseka ukuba uMsindisi ungene nzulu kuhanahaniso lwakhe, wasifunda isimilo sakhe esiphantsi nesidelekileyo. Kanti ke, ekuncomeni kwaKhe isenzo sikaMariya, ebesigxekwa kakhulu, uKristu wayethethisa uYuda. Ngaphambi koku, uMsindisi wayengazanga wakha wamthethisa ngokuthe ngqo. Ngoku, ukumthethisa kwamtya ngaphakathientliziyweni. Wazimiselaukubauya kuziphindezela. Ukusuka apho esidlweni, waya ngqo kwibhotwe lombingeleli omkhulu, apho wafumana iqumrhu lihlangene, wanikela ukuba uza kumngcatsha uYesu [amnikele] ezandleni zabo.ULw 563.4

Ababingeleli bavuya kakhulu. Ezi nkokeli zakwaIsrayeli zazilinikiwe ithuba lokumamkela uKristu njengoMsindisi wazo, ngaphandle kwemali nangaphandle kwexabiso. Noko kunjalo zasala isipho esazinikwa ngowona moya onobubele nothando olunyanzelayo. Zala ukulwamkela usindiso olunexabiso elidlula igolide, zayithenga iNkosi yazo ngamaqhosha angamashumi amathathu esilivere. ULw 564.1

UYuda waziyekela ekubaweni kwada koyisa yonke into eluphawu olulungileyo lwesimilo sakhe. Wayizonda into yomnikelo onikelwe kuYesu. Intliziyo yakhe yavutha ngumona wokuba uMsindisi inguYe owamkele isipho esifanele ookumkani basemhlabeni. Ngexabiso elingaphantsi kakhulu kunelo lehlala lamafutha, wayingcatsha iNkosi yakhe.ULw 564.2

Abafundi babengafani noYuda. Babemthanda uMsindisi. Phofu babengayixabisanga ngendlela efanelekileyo imo yaKhe ephakamileyo. Ukuba babeyiqonda into abenzele yona, ngebengazanga bacinga ukuba, nantoni na ethe yanikelwa kuYe iyinkcitho. Izilumko zaseMpuma, ezazisazi kancinane ngoYesu, zazibonise ukuyixabisa kwenene okukhulu imbeko eyayifanele Yena. Zazisa izipho zexabiso kuMsindisi, zaguqa phambi kwaKhe zamnika imbeko eselusana, olulele emkhumbini.ULw 564.3

UKristu uyayixabisa imbeko ephuma entliziyweni. Xa athe wenzelwa inceba, wayemsikelela ngempucuko yasezulwini lowo wenza oko. Akazanga wala nentyatyambo nje encinane ekhiwe sisandla somntwana wayinikwa ngothando. Wayamkela iminikelo yabantwana, wabasikelela abo banikelayo, ebhala amagama abo encwadini yobomi. EziBhalweni, ukuthambisa kukaMariya uYesu kukhankanywe njengokumahlula kwabanye ooMariya. Izenzo zothando nentlonipho kuYesu zisisibonakalaliso sokukholelwa kuYe ukuba unguNyana kaThixo. Kanti ke uMoya Oyingcwele ukuxela njengezibonakalaliso zokunyaniseka kwale ntokazi kuKristu: “Ukuba uzihlambile iinyawo zabangcwele, ukuba ubasizile ababandezelweyo, ukuba usukelene nemisebenzi yonke elungileyo.” 1 Tim. 5:10.ULw 564.4

UKristu wonwatyiswa lulangazelelo lukaMariya lokwenza intando yeNkosi yakhe. Wabamkela ubutyebi bothando olunyulu abafundi baKhe abangazange, nababengayi kuluqonda. Umnqweno wokuba uMariya enzele iNkosi yakhe le nkonzo kuKristu, waba lixabiso elikhulu kunawo wonke amafutha anexabiso emhlabeni, kuba wawubonisa ukumxabisa kwakhe uMhlanguli wehlabathi. Yayiluthando lwakhe kuKristu olwamnyanzelayo. Umphefumlo wakhe wazaliswa sisimilo sikaKristu esibalasele ngokungenakulinganiswa. Loo mafutha ayengumfuziselo wentliziyo yalowo uphayo. Yayikukubonakalaliswa ngaphandle kothando olwalusondliwa yimisinga yasezulwini lwada lwaphuphuma.ULw 564.5

Umsebenzi kaMariya wawusesona sifundo esasidingwa ngabafundi ukubabonisa ukuba ukubonisa uthando lwabo kuYe kuyamkholisa uKristu. Wayeyinto yonke kubo, kodwa babengaqondi ukuba, kungekudala babeza kubuhluthwa ubukho baKhe, ukuba kungekudala babengasazi kukwazi ukumnika umqondiso wombulelo wabo ngothando lwaKhe olukhulu. Ubulolo bukaKristu, ukwahlukana neenkundla zasezulwini, ephila ubomi boluntu, akuzanga kwaqondwa okanye baxatyiswa ngabafundi njengoko kwakufanelekile. Wayesoloko eba sentlungwini kuba abafundi babengamniki oko wayefanele ukuba uya kuzuza kubo. Wayesazi ukuba, ukuba babephantsi kwempembelelo yeengelosi zasezulwini ezazihamba naYe, nabo babeya kucinga ukuba akukho mnikelo unexabiso elaneleyo ukuvakalisa uthando lwasemoyeni oluzalise intliziyo. ULw 565.1

Ukwazi kwabo sekusemva kwabanika ingqondo yezinto ezininzi angebabezenzele uYesu zibonisa uthando nombulelo weentliziyo zabo, ngexesha babesecaleni kwaKhe. Xa uYesu wayengasenabo, baye beziva ngokwenene njengezimvu ezingenaye umalusi, baqala ukuyibona indlela ababemele ukubonisa ngayo ukukhathala okwakuya kuzisa uchulumanco entliziyweni yaKhe. Babengasasoli uMariya, kodwa bezisola bona. Owu, ukuba bebengakubuyisa ukugxeka kwabo, ukuthetha ngamahlwempu ngokungathi ngawo awayefanelwe sisipho kunoKristu! Bakuva ngakumbi ukungxoliswa xa bethula emnqamlezweni umzimba weNkosi yabo onamanxeba. ULw 565.2

Kwayona loo mfuno inye iyabonakala emhlabeni wethu namhlanje. Bambalwa kodwa abayixabisileyo into uKristu ayiyo kubo. Ukuba bebeyixabisile, uthando olukhulu lukaMariya beluya kuboniswa, ukuthanjiswa kwenziwe ngokukhululekileyo. Amafutha anexabiso bekungayi kuthiwa yinkcitho. Akukho nto bekuya kucingwa ukuba ixabisa kakhulu ukuba inganikelwa ngenxa kaKristu, akukho kuzilandula okanye ukuzincama okunokuthiwa kukhulu kakhulu ukuba kunganyamezelwa ngenxa yaKhe. ULw 565.3

Amazwi awathethwa ngokucaphuka, athi, “Yeyani na le nkcitho?” awubonisa ngokucacileyo kuKristu owona mbingelelo mkhulu owakha wenziwa,--isipho esinguYe ukuba abe lucamagushelo lwehlabathi elilahlekileyo. INkosi yayiza kulwanela usapho loluntu kangangokuba kungabi nakuthiwa ngaYo ibinokwenza ngaphezulu. Kwisipho esinguYesu, uThixo wanikela izulu lonke. Ngokokubona komntu, umbingelelo onjalo wawuyinkcitho engenankathalo. Ngokwendlela acinga ngayo umntu, lilonke icebo losindiso liyinkcitho yeemfesane nobutyebi. Ukuzilandula nokuzincama ngentliziyo yonke kuhlangabezana nathi kuyo yonke indawo. Kungoko umkhosi wasezulwini ulukhangela umangaliswe luluntu olwalayo ukuphakanyiswa lwenziwe lube nobutyebi ngothando olungenamda oluziswe ngoKristu. Kungoko [lo mkhosi] unokukhuza, uthi, Yeyani na lenkcitho? ULw 565.4

Lona ucamagushelo lwelizwe elilahlekileyo kwakufuneka luphelele, lwanele, lugqibelele. Umnikelo kaKristu wawande ngokuncamisileyo ukuba ufikelele kuwo wonke umphefumlo awudalileyo uThixo. Wawungenako ukuthintelwa ukuba ungalidluli inani labo babeza kusamkela iSipho esikhulu. Abantu abasindiswanga bonke; kanti ke icebo lokuhlangulwa aliyiyo inkcitho kuba lingakufezi konke oko ububele balo bulungiselelwe kona. Kufuneka lanele lide lisale. ULw 566.1

USimon umnini-sidlo wayephenjelelwe kukugxeka kukaYuda isipho sikaMariya, waza wothuswa kukuziphatha kukaYesu. Ikratshi lakhe lobuFarisi lalimala. Wayesazi ukuba abaninzi kwabo abamemileyo babekhangele kuYesu ngokungamthembi nokunganeliseki. USimon wathi entliziyweni yakhe, “Lo mntu, ukuba ube engumprofeti, ange esazi ukuba ngumfazi ongubani na, oluhlobo luni na, lo umchukumisayo ngokuba ungumoni.” ULw 566.2

Ngokuphilisa uSimon kwiqhenqa, uKristu wamsindisa ekufeni okuphilileyo. Ngoku uSimon unengxaki ngokuba ngumprofeti koMsindisi. Ngenxa yokuba uKristu evumele le ntokazi ukuba ize kuYe, kuba engayigxothanga ngomsindo njengalowo ozono zakhe zikhulu kakhulu ukuba zingaxolelwa, ngenxa yokuba [uKristu] engabonisanga ukuba uyazi ukuba wawa, uSimon walingeka ukuba acinge ukuba wayengenguye umprofeti. Ngokucinga kwakhe, uYesu wayengazi nto ngale ntokazi yayisenza ezibukwayo ngokungakhathali, kungenjalo wayengayi kuyivumela ukuba imchukumise. ULw 566.3

Phofu ke, yayikukungazi kwakhe uSimon ngoThixo noKristu okwamkhokelela ukuba acinge ngohlobo awayecinga ngalo. Akazange aqonde ukuba uNyana kaThixo kufuneka esebenze ngendlela kaThixo, ngemfesane, ngothando nenceba. Indlela kaSimon yayiyeyokungasihoyi isenzo sokuzohlwaya sikaMariya. Isenzo sakhe sokwanga iinyawo zikaKristu nokuzithambisa ngamafutha sasicaphukisa kwintliziyo yakhe elukhuni. Wacinga ukuthi, ukuba uYesu wayengumprofeti, wayeya kubaqonda aboni, abakhalimele. ULw 566.4

Kule ngcinga ingathethwanga, uMsindisi waphendula, wathi: “Simon, ndinendawo yokuthetha kuwe. . . . Kwaye kukho mboleki-mali uthile, enabantu ababini abanamatyala kuye; omnye wayenetyala leedenariyo ezimakhulu mahlanu, omnye ke zimashumi mahlanu. Bakuba ke bengenanto yokuhlawula, usuke wabaxolela bobabini. Khawutsho ke, nguwuphi na kubo oya kumthanda ngokungaphezulu? Waphendula uSimon wathi, Ndiba ngulowo uxolelwe ngokungaphezulu. Wathi ke yena kuye, Wahlule walungisa.”ULw 566.5

Njengoko wenjenjalo uNathan kuDavide, uKristu wakufihla oko kuhlasela kwaKhe phantsi kwesigqubuthelo zomzekeliso. Wawuyekela kumninitheko umthwalo wokusivakalisa ngokwakhe isigwebo phezu kwakhe [umninitheko]. USimon yayinguye owayekhokelele esonweni le nkosikazi ayigxekayo ngoku. Yayoniwe kakhulu nguye. Ngomzekelo wabantu ababini abanamatyala, kwakumelwe uSimon nale nkosikazi. UYesu akazange acebe ukufundisa ukuba imigangatho eyahlukeneyo ULw 566.6

yobutyala kufuneka iviwe ngaba bantu babini, kuba elowo wayenetyala lombulelo elalingasokuze lihlawulwe. USimon yenawaziva elilungisa ngaphezu kukaMariya, waza uYesu wanga angabubona ubukhulu bokwenene betyala lakhe. Wanga angambonisa ukuba isono sakhe sasisikhulu ukudlula esakhe, [uMariya], nokuba likhulu kakhulu njengokuba ityala lamakhulu amahlanu leedenariyo lilidlula ityala leedenariyo ezingamashumi amahlanu.ULw 567.1

USimon waqala ngoku ukuzibona ngokukhanya okutsha. Wayibona indlela uMariya awayethatyathwa ngayo nguLowo wayengaphezu komprofeti. Wabona ukuba, ngeliso elinenzondelelo lobuprofeti, uKristu wayifunda intliziyo yakhe yothando nokuzinikela. Iintloni zamphatha, waza waqonda ukuba wayephambi kOngaphezulu kunaye.ULw 567.2

“Ndingene endlwini yakho,” waqhubeka uKristu, “akundinikanga manzi eenyawo zam;” kodwa ngeenyembezi zokuguquka, eziqhutywa luthando, uMariya uzihlambile iinyawo zam, wazisula ngeenwele zentloko yakhe. “Akundanganga wena; ke yena, kuseloko ndangenayo, akayekanga ukuzanga kakhulu iinyawo zam.” UKristu wabala amaxesha uSimon ekwakufuneka ebonise uthando kwiNkosi yakhe, nokuba nombulelo ngoko wayenzelwe kona. Ngokucacileyo, ngondiliseko olunobulali, uMsindisi wamqinisekisa umfundi waKhe ukuba intliziyo yaKhe iba buhlungu xa abantwana baKhe bekutyeshela ukubonisa umbulelo kuYe ngamazwi nangezenzo zothando. ULw 567.3

UMphengululi weNtliziyo wayifunda injongo eyakhokelela kwisenzo sikaMariya, wawubona nomoya owaqhuba amazwi kaSimon. “Uyambona na lo mfazi?” wathi kuye, Ungumoni. “Ndithi kuwe, Izono zakhe uzixolelwe, bezizininzi, ngokuba uthande kakhulu; ke yena oxolelwe kancinane, uthanda kancinane.” ULw 567.4

Ukubanda nokungakhathali kukaSimon ngakuMsindisi kwabonisa ubuncinane bendlela awayixabisa ngayo imfesane awayizuzayo. Wayecinga ukuba umenzele imbeko uYesu ngokummemela endlwini yakhe. Waya wazibona ngoku ukuba ungubani na kanye. Lo gama wayecinga ukuba uyamfunda umMenywa wakhe, umMenywa wakhe naYe wayefunda yena. Wabubona ubunyaniso bendlela uYesu ambona ngayo. Inkolo yakhe yaye iyingubo yobuFarisi. Wayeyijongele phantsi imfesane kaYesu. Akazange amamkele njengommeli kaThixo. Lo gama uMariya wayengumoni oxolelweyo, yena wayengumoni ongaxolelwanga. Umgaqo ongqongqo wobulungisa awayelangazelela ukuwunyanzela ngakuye [uMariya] wawugweba yena.ULw 567.5

USimon wachukunyiswa bububele bukaYesu nokungamkhalimeli ekuhleni phambi kwabanye abamenywa. Wayengaphethwe ngohlobo yena awayenqwenela ukuba uMariya aphathwe ngalo. Wabona ukuba uYesu wayengalangazeleli ukuveza ubutyala bakhe kwabanye, kodwa wayefuna ukuthi, ngokuyichaza imeko njengoko injalo, ayithimbe ingqondo yakhe, khon’ ukuze kuthi, ngobubele obunovelwano, ayoyise intliziyo yakhe. Ukumsingela phantsi kalukhuni ngekwamqaqadekisa uSimon ngasenguqukweni, kodwa ukumluleka ngomonde wamoyisela ukuba ayibone imposiso yakhe. Wabubona ubukhulu betyala awayenalo ngaseNkosini yakhe. Ikratshi lakhe lathotywa, waguquka, waza umFarisi onekratshi waba ngumfundi othobekileyo nozincamileyo.ULw 567.6

UMariya wayejongwe njengomoni omkhulu, kodwa uKristu wayezazi iimeko ezabumba ubomi bakhe. Wayenako ukucima yonke intlantsi yethemba emphefumlweni wakhe, kodwa akazange akwenze oko. YayinguYe owamnyulayo ekuphelelweni lithemba nakwintshabalalo. Kwakukasixhenxe [uMariya] emva [uKristu] ekhalimela iidemon ezazilawula ubomi bakhe nengqondo yakhe. Wayekuvile ukukhala okunzima kwaKhe kuYise ngenxa yakhe. Wayeyazi indlela esasithiyeke ngayo isono kubunyulu baKhe obungadyobhekanga, waza, ngamandla aKhe, woyisa. ULw 568.1

Ngeli xesha kwiliso lomntu, umcimbi wakhe wawunganiki themba, uKristu wabona kuMariya izakhono zokulungileyo. Icebo lokuhlangulwa lifake eluntwini ukuba nako ukwenzeka kwezinto okukhulu, kwaye, apha kuMariya, oku kwenzeka kwazo ezo zinto zinkulu, kwabonakala. Ngobabalo lwaKhe, waba nokuxhamla kwimvelo yobuThixo, engcwele. Lowo wayewile, ongqondo yakhe yayilikhaya leedemon, wasondezwa kakhulu kuMsindisi ngolwalamano nolungiselelo. YayinguMariya owayehleli ezinyaweni zaKhe efundiswa nguYe. YayinguMariya owagalela phezu kwentloko yaKhe ioli yokuthambisa yexabiso, wazihlamba iinyawo zaKhe ngeenyembezi zakhe. UMariya wama ecaleni komnqamlezo, wamlandela [uYesu] ukuya kufika engcwabeni. UMariya waba ngowokuqala engcwabeni emva kokuvuka kwaKhe. YayinguMariya owaba ngowokuqala ukuvakalisa ngoMsindisi ovukileyo. ULw 568.2

UYesu uzazi zonke iimeko zemiphefumlo yonke. Ungathi, Ndinezono, kakhulu, ngendlela egqithisileyo. Usenokuba njalo; kodwa, okona umbi kakhulu, kokona udinga uYesu. Akamgxothi emke kuYe olilayo, notyumkileyo. Akakuxeleli nabani oko anokukutyhila, kodwa usuka awuyalele wonke umphefumlo ongcangcazelayo ukuba uqine. Uya kubaxolela ngokukhululekileyo bonke abeza kuYe befuna uxolelo nokubuyiselwa nokwenziwa ngokutsha. ULw 568.3

UKristu wayenokuzithuma iingelosi zasezulwini ukuba zithulule iingqayi zomsindo waKhe emhlabeni wethu, ukuze zitshabalalise bonke abo bazaliswe yintiyo ngakuThixo. Wayenako ukulitshayela eli chaphaza limnyama [elililizwe lethu] kwiyunivesi yaKhe. Sekunjalo, akakwenzi oko. Namhla umi esibingelelweni sesiqhumiso, ebeka phambi kukaThixo imithandazo yabo balangazelela uncedo lwaKhe. ULw 568.4

Imiphefumlo ebuyela kuYe njengegwiba, uYesu uyiphakamisela ngaphezu kwezityholo nedabi leelwimi. Akukho ngelosi yomhlaba inokuyisusa esihlalweni le miphefumlo. UKristu uyihlanganisa neyaKhe imvelo yobuThixo nobuntu. Ima ecaleni koMthwali-sono omkhulu, ekukhanyeni okuphuma etroneni kaThixo. “Ngubani na oya kumangalela abanyulwa bakaThixo, inguThixo nje obagwebelayo? Ngubani na ogwebayo, inguKristu nje owafayo? Ngaphezu koko ke, wabuya wavuka; ongasekunene kukaThixo, osithethelelayo.” Roma 8:33, 34.ULw 568.5