74—EGetsemane

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kuMat. 26:36-56; Marko 14:32-50; Luka 22:39-53; Yohane 18:1-12.]

Ehamba kunye nabafundi baKhe, uMsindisi wathi chu kancinane esiya esitiyeni saseGetsemane. Inyanga yexesha lePasika yayinkulu izele, yayikhanya kwisibhakabhaka esingenamafu. Iintente zabahambi besixeko zazithe cwaka, kuzolile. ULw 685.1

UYesu wayezike nzulu nabafundi baKhe encokweni, ebafundisa; kodwa wathi xa besondela eGetsemane, wasuka wathula ngendlela engaqhelekanga. Wayeqhelile ukuza kule ndawo ukuza kucamngca, athandaze; kodwa akaze waba nentliziyo ezele yintlungu njengobu busuku bentlungu yaKhe yokugqibela. Kubo bonke ubomi baKhe emhlabeni, wayehamba ekukhanyeni kobukho bukaThixo. Kwakusithi xa engaboni ngasonye nabantu ababenempembelelo yomoya kaSathana ngqo, akwazi ukuthi, “Lowo wandithumayo unam; uBawo akandishiyanga ndedwa; ngokuba mna ndihleli ndizenza izinto ezikholekileyo kuye.” Yohane 8:29. Ngoku ke kodwa ubonakala engathi ungaphandle kokukhanya kobukho bukaThixo obuxhasayo. Ngoku wayebalelwa kubagqithi-mthetho. Ityala loluntu olwawa esonweni kufuneka elithwele. Phezu kwaLowo wayengazani nasono, kufuneka kubekwe ubugwenxa bethu sonke. Sibonakala sisoyikeka kakhulu isono kuYe, bukhulu kakhulu ubunzima betyala ekufuneka ebuthwele, kangangokuba ulingeka ukuba oyike hleze bumvalele ngaphandle kothando lukaYise ngonaphakade. Esiva ukuba injani ingqumbo kaThixo ngasekugqithweni komthetho, ukhala, athi, “Umphefumlo wam ubuhlungu kakhulu, ngokokude ube sekufeni.” ULw 685.2

Bathi xa besondela esitiyeni, abafundi baba bephawula inguquko eNkosini yabo. Abazange ngaphambili bakha bayibona injalo ukuba lusizi, ithe cwaka. Yathi xa ibheka phambili, lwaya lusanda olu sizi lungaqhelekanga; kodwa abazange bakwazi ukuyibuza unobangela. Umzimba waKhe wagxadazela ngokungathi uza kuwa. Bathe bakufika esitiyeni, abafundi baye bengxamele ukuba babone indawo yaKhe yokuphumla yesiqhelo, ukuze iNkosi yabo iphumle. Inyathelo ngalinye awayelithabatha ngoku, lalingumgudu. Wancwina kakhulu, wanga ubulaleka phantsi kobunzima bomthwalo onzima kakhulu. Kwaba kabini abahlobo baKhe bemxhasa, kungenjalo ngewawa phantsi emhlabeni.ULw 686.1

Kufuphi nesango lesitiya, uYesu wabashiya bonke abafundi ngaphandle kwabathathu, ebayalela ukuba bathandazele iziqu zabo kunye naYe. Aba bafundi bathathu ngawona maqabane awayesondele kuKristu.. Babebubonile ubuqaqawuli baKhe entabeni yokumila kumbi; babebabonile ooMoses noEliya bethetha naYe; babelivile ilizwi elaliphuma ezulwini; ngoku, kwidabi laKhe elikhulu, uKristu wanqwenela ukuba babe kufuphi kuYe. Babekholisa ukubudlulisa ubusuku kunye naYe kule ndawo yokuphumla. Kwiziganeko ezilolu hlobo, emva kwexesha lokulinda nokuthandaza, babeye balale bangaphazanyiswa nto, bethe qelele kancinane kwiNkosi yabo, ade abavuse kusasa ukuba baye behlaziyekile emsebenzini. Ngeli ixesha, waya wanqwenela ukubuchitha nabo ubusuku ekuthandazeni. Kanti ke, wayengathandi ukuba nabo bayive intlungu awayeza kuyinyamezela.ULw 686.2

“Hlalani apha,” watsho, “nilinde nam.” ULw 686.3

Wasuka umganyana kubo—kungekude ukuba bangamboni bamve—wawa wangqengqa emhlabeni. Waziva ahlulwe noYise sisono. Umsantsa wawubanzi, umnyama, unzulu kakhulu, kangangokuba umoya waKhe wangcangcazela phambi kwawo. Akufuneki ukuba asebenzise amandla aKhe obuThixo ukuba asinde kule ntlungu. Njengomntu, kufuneka athwale iziphumo zesono somntu. Njengomntu kufuneka anyamezele ingqumbo kaThixo ngokugqithwa komthetho.ULw 686.4

UKristu ngoku wayemi kwimeko eyahlukileyo kuleyo wakha wema kuyo ngaphambili. Ukubulaleka kwaKhe kungachazwa kakuhle ngamazwi omprofeti, “Krele, vuka usukele phezulu kumalusi wam, kumfo ongummelwane, utsho uYehova wemikhosi.” Zek. 13:7. Njengebambela nesibambiso somntu onesono, uKristu wayebulaleka ngaphantsi kobulungisa bezulu. Wakubona okuthethwa bubulungisa. Ukuza kuthi gaa ngoku, wayefana nomthetheleli wabanye; ngoku wayenga anganaye umthetheleli Yena ngokwaKhe.ULw 686.5

Xa uKristu wayebuva ubunye noYise buqhawuka, woyika hleze indalo yaKhe yomntu ayingekwazi ukunyamezela idabi elalisiza namagunya obumnyama. Kwisihendo sasentlango, isiphelo sohlanga loluntu sasisesichengeni.Ngelo xesha uKristuwabangumoyisi.Ngoku, umlingi wayeze ukuba alwe idabi eloyikekayo lokugqibela. Oku wayekulungiselele kwiminyaka emithathu yokulungiselela kukaKristu. Yonke into yayisemngciphekweni kuye. Ukuba angoyiswa apha, ithemba lakhe lokoyisa laliya kulahleka; izikumkani zehlabathi ekugqibeleni zaziya kuba zezikaKristu; yena ubuqu, wayeya koyiswa alahlelwe ngaphandle. Sekunjalo, ukuba nje uKristu angoyiswa, umhlaba wawuya kuba bubukumkani bukaSathana, luze uhlanga loluntu lube segunyeni lakhe ngonaphakade. Njengokuba imiba yedabi iphambi kwaKhe, umphefumlo kaKristu wazaliswa luloyiko lokwahlukana noThixo. USathana wamxelela ukuba, ukuba uthe waba sisibambiso sehlabathi elizaliswe sisono, ukwahlukana kuya kuba kokwaphakade. Wayeza kubalelwa kubukumkani bukaSathana, angaze abuye abe mnye noThixo. ULw 687.1

Yintoni eyayiza kuzuzwa ngalo mbingelelo? Indlela ekwabonakala ngayo ukuba netyala nokungabi nambulelo kwabantu! Ngezona mpawu zinzima, uSathana wayinyanzela imeko phezu koMhlanguli: Abantu abathi bangaphezu kwako konke okuhle kwasemhlabeni nokwasemoyeni bakwalile. Bafuna ukukutshabalalisa—isiseko, umbindi, netywina lamadinga awenziwayo kubo njengabantu abayinqobo. Omnye wabafundi baKho, oye wayiphulaphula imfundiso yaKho, abe wayephakathi kwabona baphambili emisebenzini yebandla, uza kukungcatsha. Omnye wabazalwana bakho abona banenzondelelo uza kukukhanyela. Bonke baza kukushiya. UKristu ephelele nje ewonke wayicekisa le ngcinga. Into yokuba abo wayezinekele ukuba abasindise, abo wayebathande kakhulu kangaka, babeza kumanyana kumacebo kaSathana, le nto yawuhlaba umphefumlo waKhe. Idabi lalisoyikeka. Umlinganiselo walo wawulityala lesizwe, wabamangaleli baKhe kunye nomngcatshi waKhe, ityala lehlabathi elalingqengqe enkohlakalweni. Izono zabantu zazinzima phezu kukaKristu, kwathi ukucinga ngengqumbo kaThixo ngenxa yesono kwabutyumza ubomi baKhe.ULw 687.2

Mboneni ecamngca ngexabiso lokuhlawulela umphefumlo womntu. Kwintlungu yaKhe, utshele kumhlaba obandayo, ngokungathi uzisindisa ekutsalelweni kude kuThixo. Umbethe obandayo wobusuku uwa phezu komzimba waKhe oguqileyo, kodwa akawuhoyi. Emilebeni yaKhe exwebileyo kuphuma isikhalo esikrakra, “Bawo, ukuba kunokwenzeka, mayidlule kum le ndebe.” Kanti ke nangoku uye wongeza, wathi, “makungabi njengokuthanda kwam, makube njengokuthanda kwakho.” ULw 687.3

Intliziyo yomntu ilangazelela uvelwano entlungwini. Olu langazelelo uKristu waluva lwafikelela kwinzulu yobuntu baKhe. Ekweyona ntlungu iphezulu yomphefumlo waKhe, weza kubafundi baKhe enomnqweno onenzondelelo wokuva amanye amazwi entuthuzelo aphuma kwabo wayehlala ebasikelela ebathuthuzela, begutyungelwe yintlungu noxinzelelo. Lowo wayesoloko enawo amazwi ovelwano kubo ngoku wayebulawayintlungu engapha komntu, waye elangazelela ukwazi ukuba baya mthandazela, Yena kunye nabo. Athi ukubonakala imnyama inkohlakalo yesono! Sasisoyikeka isilingo sokuluyeka uhlanga loluntu ukuba luthwale iziphumo zetyala lalo, lo gama Yena esima emsulwa phambi kukaThixo. Ukuba nje ebenokwazi ukuba abafundi bayakuqonda oku, wayengomelela.ULw 687.4

Ephakama ngomgudu obuhlungu, wagxadazela waya kwindawo apho wayewashiye khona amaqabane aKhe. “Wabafumana belele.” Ukuba wayebafumene bethandaza, ngewakhululeka. Ukuba babefuna indawo yokuphephela kuThixo, ukuze izenzeleli ezikhohlakeleyo zingaboyisi, wayeya konwatyiswa lukholo lwabo oluzinzileyo. Bona, abazange basithobele isilumkiso awayesiphinde kaninzi, “Lindani nithandaze.” Ekuqaleni, babekhathazeke kakhulu ukubona iNkosi yabo, eqhele ukuzola inesidima, isilwa nentlungu eyayingaphaya kokuqonda. Babethandazile bakuva izingqala ezikhulu zosentlungwini. Abazange babe nengqondo yokuyishiya iNkosi yabo, kodwa babonakala bephelelwe ngamandla kukuqobeka ababeya kukuvuthulula ukuba babehleli bembongoza uThixo. Abazanga bakuqonda ukufuneka kokulinda nokunyaniseka emthandazweni ukuze kube nokumelwana nesilingo. ULw 688.1

Kanye phambi kokuba awajike amanyathelo aKhe ajonge esitiyeni, uYesu wayethe kubafundi, “Nonke niya kukhubeka kum ngobu busuku.” Baya bamnika isiqinisekiso esiqinileyo sokuba baya kuya naYe entolongweni nasekufeni. Usizi, olunokuzithemba, uPetros wadawongeza,wathi,“Nokubabaya kukhubekabonke, mna nakanye.” Marko 14:27, 29. Inkathazo, abafundi bazithemba bona. Abazange bakhangele kuMncedi onamandla njengoko uKristu wayebacebisile ukuba benze. Ngalo ndlela, xa uMsindisi waye kwesona sidingo sikhulu sovelwano nemithandazo yabo, bafunyanwa belele. NoPetros wayelele.ULw 688.2

UYohane, umfundi othandekayo owayengqengqa esifubeni sikaYesu, wayelele. Ngokuqinisekileyo, uthando lukaYohane ngakwiNkosi yakhe lwalumele ukuba lumgcine ehleli. Imithandazo yakhe yayifanele ukuxubana naleyo yoMsindisi wakhe amthandayo ngexesha lentlungu yaKhe enkulu kakhulu. UMhlanguli wayechithe ubusuku bonke ethandazela abafundi baKhe, ukuze ukholo lwabo lungasileli. Ukuba uYesu ngoku angabuza kuYakobi nakuYohane umbuzo awayekhe wababuza ngaphambili, “Ninako na ukuyisela indebe endiza kuyisela mna, nibhaptizwe ngobhaptizo endibhaptizwa ngalo mna?” ngebabengazanga baphendule bathi, “Sinako.” Mat. 20:22.ULw 689.1

Abafundi bavuswa lilizwi likaYesu, kodwa kwakunzima kubo nokumazi, ubuso baKhe babuguqulwe kakhulu yintlungu. Ebhekisa kuPetros, uYesu wathi, “Simon, ulele na? Ubungenakulinda noko lilinye na ilixa? Lindani nithandaze, ukuze ningangeni ekuhendweni; umoya okunene unentumekelelo, ke yona inyama ithambile.” Ubuthakathaka babafundi baKhe bavuselela uvelwano kuYesu. Woyika ukuba babengayi kukwazi ukunyamezela uvavanyo olwaluza kufika phezu kwabo ekungcatshweni nasekufeni kwaKhe. Akazange abangxolise, kodwa wathi, “Lindani nithandaze, ukuze ningangeni ekuhendweni.” Nakwintlungu yaKhe enkulu, wayesafuna ukubuxolela ubuthakathaka babo. “Umoya okunene unentumekelelo,” watsho, “ke yona inyama ithambile.”ULw 689.2

Waphinda uNyana kaThixo wathiwa hlasi yintlungu engaphaya kweyomntu, wathi ephelelwe ngamandla eyoba, wagxadazela wabuyela kwindawo yokulwa kwangaphambili. Intlungu yaKhe yaba nkulu kunakuqala. Yathi xa intlungu yomphefumlo ifika phezu kwaKhe, “ukubila kwakhe kwanga kungamathontsi egazi, esiwa emhlabeni.” Imithi yomholem [umthi ofana nomoki] nomnquma yayingamangqina athuleyo entlungu yaKhe. Kumasebe ayo anamagqabi amaninzi kwakusiwa amathontsi amakhulu phezu komzimba waKhe oqobekileyo, ngokungathi indalo ililela iMbangi yayo elwa yodwa namagunya obumnyama.ULw 689.3

Kwixeshana nje ngaphambi koko, uYesu wayemi njengomsedare onamandla, omelana noqhwithelo lwenkcaso olwaliyikhuphela kuYe ingqumbo yalo. Iingqondo ezineenkani, neentliziyo ezizaliswe lulunya nokucinga kancinane, zazizame zancama ukumphazamisa nokumoyisa. Wema waqina ngobuhandiba bezulu njengoNyana kaThixo. Ngoku wayefana nengcongolo ebethiweyo negotywe sisaqhwithi esinomsindo. Wayefike ekuwuqosheliseni umsebenzi waKhe njengomoyisi, ethekwinyathelo ngalinye wazuza uloyiso phezu kwamagunya obumnyama. Njengalowo wayesele ezukisiwe, wayekubangile ukuba mnye noThixo. Ngezandi ezingenantandabuzo, wayethulule iingoma zaKhe zokudumisa. Wayethethile kubafundi baKhe ngamazwi enkuthazo nothando. Ngoku, lalifikile ilixa lamandla obumnyama. Ngoku ilizwi laKhe lavakala kumoya othe cwaka wobusuku, kungengazandi zoloyiso, kodwa lizele yintlungu yomntu. Amazwi oMsindisi aya kufika ezindlebeni zabafundi abozelayo. “Bawo, ukuba ayinako le ndebe ukudlula kum ndingathanga ndiyisele, makwenzeke ukuthanda kwakho.” ULw 689.4

Into eyafika kuqala kubafundi yeyokuba baye kuYe; kodwa wayebayalele ukuba bahlale apho, balinde bethandaza. Xa efika kubo uYesu, wabafumana besalele. Waphinda wakuva ukulangazelela ukuba nabalingane, namazwi asuka kubafundi baKhe awayenokuzisa ukukhululeka, aqobe amandla obumnyama awayesondele ukubeni amoyise. Amehlo abo ayenzima bubuthongo, “baye bengazi into abangamphendula yona.” Ubukho baKhe kwabavusa. Babubona ubuso baKhe buphawulwe kukubila kwegazi, baza bazaliswa luloyiko. Intlungu yaKhe yengqondo babengakwazi ukuyiqonda. “Ibinje ukonakala imbonakalo yakhe, ukuda ingabi yeyomntu, nesithomo sakhe ukuda singabi sesoonyana baka-Adam.” Isa. 52:14.ULw 690.1

Esuka kubo, uYesu wabuyela kwakhona endaweni yaKhe, wathi tywa, esoyiswa lisikizi lobumnyama obukhulu. Ubuntu boNyana kaThixo bangcangcazela ngelo lixa linzima. Akathandazelanga ngoku ukuba ukholo lwabafundi baKhe lungasileli, kodwa owaKhe umphefumlo ohendwayo nobonakalisa intlungu. Umzuzu owoyikekayo ubufikile—umzuzu owawuza kwenza isigqibo ngesiphelo sehlabathi. Isiphelo soluntu sasimi emngciphekweni. UKristu wayenako ngoku ukwala ukuyisela indebe eyayabelwe umntu onetyala. Kwakungekabi semva kakhulu. Wayengasula ukubila kwegazi ebunzini laKhe, amshiye umntu ukuba atshabalale ebugwenxeni bakhe. Wayenokuthi, Umgqithi womthetho makazuze isohlwayo sesono sakhe, mna ndiya kubuyela kuBawo. Angaba uNyana kaThixo uza kusela indebe ekrakra yokuthotyelwa phantsi nentlungu? Angaba omsulwa uza kuthwala iziphumo zesiqalekiso sesono, ukusindisa onetyala? Amazwi aphuma engcangcazela kwimilebe exwebileyo kaYesu, “Bawo, ukuba ayinako le ndebe ukudlula kum ndingathanga ndiyisele, makwenzeke ukuthanda kwakho.” Kwaba kathathu esitsho loo mthandazo. ULw 690.2

Kwaba kathathu ubuntu bukoyika ukuzincama okuyinto yokugqibela nephezulu. Ngoku imbali yohlanga loluntu iye yathi tha phambi koMhlanguli wehlabathi. Ubona abagqithi bomthetho, ukuba bayekiwe ukuba bazibonele, kufuneka betshabalele. Ubona ukungabi nakuzinceda komntu. Ubona amandlaesono.Izikhalo nezililo zehlabathi elitshabalalayo zinyuka phambi kwaKhe. Ubona isiphelo salo [ihlabathi] esililindeleyo,waza wenza isigqibo saKhe. Uza kumsindisa umntu nokuba likhulu kangakanani ixabiso aza kulihlawula Yena, Kristu. Uyakwamkela ukubhaptizwa ngegazi, ukuze ngaYe iinginginya ezitshabalalayo zizuze ubomi obungunaphakade. Ushiye iinkundla zasezulwini, apho konke kububunyulu, kululonwabo, nobuqaqawuli, ukuze asindise imvu enye elahlekileyo, ilizwe elinye eliye lawa ngokreqo. Ngoko ke, akazi kujika koko azele kona. Uza kuba lucamagushelo lohlanga oluthande ukona. Umthandazo waKhe ngoku uxela ukuzinikela kuphela: “Bawo, ukuba ayinako le ndebe ukudlula kum ndingathanga ndiyisele, makwenzeke ukuthanda kwakho.” ULw 690.3

Akuba esenzile isigqibo, wawa esifa emhlabeni awayephakame kancinane kuwo. Babephi ngoku abafundi baKhe, ukuba babeke izandla zabo ngothando ngaphantsi kwentloko yeNkosi yabo ephelelwa ngamandla, bahlambe elo bunzi, lalingcolisiwe ngokwenene ngaphezu koonyana babantu? UMsindisi waye eyedwa esixovulelweni sewayini, kungekho mntu unaYe [ukumncedisa]. ULw 693.1

Noko kunjalo, uThixo wabulaleka noNyana waKhe. Iingelosi zayibukela intlungu yoMsindisi. Zayibona iNkosi yazo ingqongwe yimfumba yemikhosi ekhohlakeleyo, indalo yaKhe yayisindwa luloyiko olungcangcazelisayo nolungaqhelekanga. Kwakuthe cwaka ezulwini. Kwakungachukunyiswanga nohadi. Ukuba nje abantu babenokuwubona umkhosi weengelosi okhwankqisiweyo njengaxa kuzolwe kufiwe zibukele uBawo esusa imitha yokukhanya kwaKhe, uthando, nobuqaqawuli kuNyana waKhe oyintanda, babeya kuwuqonda ngcono umonakalo owenziwa sisono emehlweni aKhe. ULw 693.2

Amazwe angazanga awe kunye nezithunywa zezulu zazibukele ngomdla omkhulu xa ungquzulwano olukhulu lwalusondela ekupheleni. USathana nomkhosi wakhe wobubi, imikhosi yokreqo, bawubukela benenjongo yokuwuphanzisa lo msebenzi wokuhlangula. Amagunya okulungileyo nokubi ayelindele ukubona ukuba yayiza kuthini impendulo eyayiza kuza kuKristu kumthandazo awuphinde kathathu. Iingelosi zazilangazelela ukuza nenkululeko kobulalekayo ongcwele, kodwa oko kwakungakwazi ukwenzeka. Akuzanga kufumaneke ndlela anokusinda ngayo uNyana kaThixo. Kweli xesha lobunzima loyikekayo, xa yonke into yayisecicini, xa indebe yemfihlelo yayingcangcazela esandleni sobulalekayo, amazulu avuleka, ukukhanya kwabengezela kugqobhoza phakathi kobumnyama bale yure yobunzima, yathi ingelosi enamandla yema phambi kukaThixo, eyathabatha indawo awawa kuyo uSathana, yeza ecaleni kukaKristu. Ingelosi yayingazelanga ukuba iyithabathe indebe esandleni sikaKristu, kodwa yayize ukuba imomeleze ukuba ayisele, inesiqinisekiso sothando lukaYise. Yeza ukuba inike amandla kumbongozi onguThixo-mntu. Yamalathisa kumazulu avuliweyo, imxelela ngemiphefumlo eya kusindiswa ngenxa yeentlungu zaKhe. Yamqinisekisa ukuba uYise mkhulu kwaye unamandla kakhulu kunoSathana, nokuba ukufa kwaKhe kuya kuba nesiphumo sokuxakekiswangokupheleleyokukaSathana,nokubaubukumkani beli hlabathi buyakunikwa abangcwele nOsenyangweni. Yamxelela ukuba uya kubona ukubulaleka nomphefumlo waKhe, aneliswe, kuba uya kubona izihlwele zohlanga loluntu olisindisiweyo, zisindiswe ngonaphakade.ULw 693.3

Intlungu kaKristu ayizange iphele, kodwa uxinzelelo nokutyhafa kwaphela. Umoya ovuthuzayo wona wawungathothanga, kodwa Lowo wawujonge kuYe wanikwa amandla okuqubisana nengqumbo yawo. Wavela ezolile eseluxolweni. Uxolo lwezulu lwalubonakala kubuso baKhe obunamabala egazi. Wayethwele oko kungekho mntu unako ukukuthwala; kuba wayengcamle kwiintlungu zokufela bonke abantu. ULw 694.1

Abafundi ababelele bavuswa ngokukhawuleza kukukhanya okwakuzungeze uMsindisi. Bayibona ingelosi ithobile phezu kweNkosi eyayilele ngobuso. Bayibona iyiphakamisa intloko yoMsindisi iyibeka esifubeni sayo, isalatha ezulwini. Baliva izwi layo, linjengomculo omnandi, lithetha amazwi entuthuzelo nethemba. Abafundi bakhumbula imiboniso yaphezu kwentaba yokumila kumbi. Bakhumbula ubuqaqawuli obabuzungeze uYesu etempileni, nelizwi likaThixo elathetha liphuma efini. Ngoku, kwabona obo buqaqawuli baphinda babonakala, ababisaphinda bayoyikele iNkosi yabo. Yayiphantsi kwenkathalelo kaThixo; ingelosi enamandla yayithunyelwe ukuba iyikhusele. Baphinda abafundi, ekudinweni kwabo, baziyekela ekuweni okungaqhelekanga ukuba kuboyise. Waphinda uYesu wabafumana belele. ULw 694.2

Ebakhangele kalusizi, uYesu wathi, “Lalani ngoku niphumle; kwanele; lifikile ilixa; yabonani, uNyana woMntu uyanikelwa ezandleni zaboni.” ULw 694.3

Wathi esawathetha la mazwi, zavakala izingqi zesihlwele esasifuna Yena, waza wathi, “Vukani sihambe; yabonani, lowo undinikelayo usondele.” ULw 694.4

Kwakungekho nto ibonisa intlungu yaKhe akuyo ngexesha uYesu wasondelayo ukuba ahlangane nomngcatshi waKhe. Emi ngaphambili kubafundi baKhe, wathi, “Nifuna bani na?” Baphendula bathi, “UYesu umNazarete.” Waphendula uYesu, “Ndinguye.” Ngeli xesha kuthethwa la mazwi, ingelosi eyayisanda ukulungiselela kuYesu yangena phakathi kwaKhe nesihlwele. Ukukhanya kwezulu kwabukhanyisa ubuso boMsindisi, kwathi ukukhanya okumile okwehobe kwamgubungela. Phambi koku kukhanya kobuThixo, isihlwele esasinenjongo yokubulala asizange sikwazi ukuma nomzuzu. Sagxadazela sabuya umva. Ababingeleli, amadoda amakhulu, amasoldati, namaYuda ngokwawo, bonke bawa emhlabeni ngokwamadoda afileyo. ULw 694.5

Ingelosi yabuya umva, kwaphela ukukhanya. UYesu wayenethuba lokubaleka, kodwa wema, ezolile ezibumbile. Njengowayezukisiwe, wema phakathi kwelo qela liqaqadekileyo, ngoku selithe tywa phantsi ezinyaweni zaKhe, lingenakuzinceda. Abafundi babukela, bethe cwaka kukukhwankqiswa naluloyiko. ULw 694.6

Kuthe ngokukhawuleza waguquka umboniso. Isihlwele sathi khwaphululu. Amasoldati amaRoma, ababingeleli, noYuda Iskariyoti, bamjikeleza uKristu. Babebonakala ngokungathi baneentloni ngobuthakathaka babo, besoyika nokuba angasuka alahleke. Waphindwa kwakhona umbuzo nguMhlanguli, “Nifuna bani na?” Babenabo ubungqina bokuba Lowo wayemi phambi kwabo yayinguYe uNyana kaThixo, kodwa abazange bafune koyisakala. Kumbuzo othi, “Nifuna bani na?” baphinda baphendula, “UYesu umNazarete.” UMsindisi wabuya wathi, “Ndinixelele ukuba ndinguye; ukuba ngoko nifuna mna, bayekeni aba bemke”—esalatha kubafundi baKhe. Wabazi ubuthakathaka bokholo lwabo, waza wazama ukubakhusela kwisihendo nesilingo. Ngenxa yabo, wayekulungele ukuzincama Yena ngokwaKhe. ULw 695.1

UYuda umngcatshi akazange ayilibale indawo awayeza kuyidlala. Ngexesha isihlwele sasingena esitiyeni, wayeyikhokele indlela, elandelwa kufutshane ngumbingeleli omkhulu. Kubasukeli bakaYesu, wayenike umqondiso, othi, “Endithe ndamanga, nguye lowo; mbambeni.”Mat. 26:48.Ngoku, wenza ngokungathi akananto yakwenza nabo. Esondela kuYesu, wambamba ngesandla njengomhlobo aqhelene naYe. Enamazwi athi, Aa, Rabhi!” wamanga kaninzi, ezililisa ngokungathi uyavelana naYe kwingozi akuyo. ULw 695.2

UYesu wathi kuye, “Wethu, Ukho ngani na?” Izwi laKhe langcangcazela yintlungu xa wayesongeza esithi, “Yuda, umngcatsha uNyana woMntu ngokumanga na?” Esi sibheno sasimele ukuba sisivusile isazela somngcatshi, side siyichukumise intliziyo yakhe eneenkani; kodwa, imbeko, ukuthembeka, nobubele bobuntu konke kwakumshiyile. Wema ngesibindi nokudelela, engabonisi kuba nakuzisola. Wayeziyekele kuSathana, kwaye engenawo amandla okumelana naye. UYesu akazange akwale ukwanga komngcatshi. ULw 696.1

Isihlwele saya siqina xa simbona uYuda echukumisa isiqu saLowo wayesanda kuzukiswa phambi kwamehlo abo. Baya bambamba uYesu, baqhubeka bambopha ezo zandla zahlala zisetyenziselwa ekwenzeni okulungileyo. ULw 696.2

Abafundi babecinge ukuba iNkosi yabo yayingayi kuziyekela ekubeni ithatyathwe. Kaloku la mandla enza ukuba isihlwele siwe ngokwabantu abafileyo ayenako ukubenza bangabi namandla, ade uYesu namaqabene aKhe babaleke. Badana banomsindo xa babebona iintambo ziziswa ukuba zibophe izandla zaLowo babemthanda. UPetros, esemsindweni, ngokungxama, warhola ikrele wazama ukukhusela iNkosi yakhe, kodwa wakwazi nje ukususa indlebe yesicaka sombingeleli omkhulu. Wathi uYesu akubona oko kwenzekileyo, wazikhulula izandla zaKhe, nangona zazibanjwe nkqi ngamasoldati amaRoma, wathi, “Yekani, kwanele,” wayichukumisa indlebe elimeleyo, yaphiliswa kwangoko. Wabuya wathi kuPetros, “Libuyisele endaweni yalo ikrele lakho; kuba bonke abathabatha ikrele baya kutshabalala likrele. Uba andinako na ngoku ukumbongoza uBawo, andikhuphele imikhosi yezithunywa zezulu engaphezu kweshumi elinamibini?”—umkhosi endaweni yomfundi ngamnye. Owu, kutheni, bacinga abafundi, engazisindisi nje Yena kunye nathi? Ukuphendula umbuzo wabo abangawuvakalisanga, wongeza, “Bezingathini na ke oko ukuzaliseka izibhalo ezithi, kumele ukuba kube nje?” “Indebe andinikileyo uBawo andisayi kuyisela na?” ULw 696.3

Isidima samagosa eenkokeli zamaYuda asizange sizinqande ekuhlanganeni nokusukelwa kukaYesu. Ukubanjwa kwaKhe kwakungumcimbi obaluleke kakhulu ukuba uyekelwe kubantu abangasezantsi; ababingeleli namadoda amakhulu anesibindi bahlangana namadindala etempile kunye nomxube wabantu ekulandeleni uYuda Iskariyoti ukuya eGetsemane. Iqela elingako lezikhakhamela ukuba lizimanye nomxukuxela owawuthanda ukuthabatheka, nowawuxhobe ngazo zonke iintlobo zezixhobo, ngokungathi kusukelwa isilwanyana sasendle! ULw 696.4

Ejika, ekhangela kubabingeleli namadoda amakhulu, uKristu wawamilisela kubo amehlo aKhe aphengulula intliziyo. Amazwi awawathethayo babengasayikuze bawalibale lonke ixesha lokuphila kwabo. Ayefana neentolo ezibukhali zikaSomandla. Ngesithozela, wathi: “Niphumele ukuza kubamba mna na, ninamakrele neentonga nje, ngathi niphumele isihange? Bendihleli nani imihla ngemihla, ndifundisa etempileni, anandibamba.” “Eli lilixa lenu, negunya lobumnyama.” ULw 697.1

Abafundi boyika xa babembona uYesu evuma ukuba athatyathwe abotshwe. Bakhubeka kuba ekuvumile oku kuthotyelwa phantsi kwaKhe kunye nabo. Abazange bakwazi ukuyiqonda indlela yokuziphatha kwaKhe, baza bamsola ngokuziyekela kwisihlwele. Kwingqumbo yabo noloyiko lwabo, uPetros wacebisa ukuba bazisindise. Ukulandela eli cebiso, “bamshiya bonke, babaleka.” UKristu wayekuxele kwangaphambili oku kumshiya, xa wathi, “Yabonani,” wayetshilo, “kuza ilixa, nakaloku lifikile, lokuba nichithwe, elowo aye kowabo, nindishiye ndedwa; ukanti andindedwa, ngokuba uBawo unam.” Yohane 16:32.ULw 697.2