77—Enkundleni Yamatyala KaPilato

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kuMat. 27:2 , 11-31; Marko 15:1-20; Luka 23:1-25; Yohane 18:28-40; 19:1-16.]

Enkundleni kaPilato yamatyala, irhuluneli yaseRoma, uKristu umi ebotshiwe njengebanjwa. Urhangqwe libutho lamasoldati, laye igumbi likhawuleza ukuzaliswa ngababukeli. Kanye apha ngaphandle ekungeneni, kukho abagwebi beSanhedrin, ababingeleli, abaphathi, amadoda amakhulu, kunye nesihlwele.ULw 723.1

Emva kokumfumana enetyala uYesu, iqumrhu leSanhedrin lalize kuPilato ukuze kuqinisekiswe isigwebo aze abulawe. Ezi nkokeli zamaYuda zazingenako ukungena egumbini lokugweba lamaRoma. Ngokomthetho wazo wemibingelelo kwakuya kuzingcolisa ukwenza oko, kuze kuzithintele ekubeni nenxaxheba kwisidlo sePasika. Ekumfamekiseni kwazo, zazingayiboni intiyo yazo ebulalayo ukuba sele izingcolisile iintliziyo zazo. Azizange zibone ukuba uKristu wayeyiMvana yoqobo yePasika, nokuba, njengoko zimalile, eso sidlo sikhulu sasilahlekiwe yintsingiselo kuzo.ULw 723.2

Wathi uMsindisi akungeniswa kwiholo yokugweba, uPilato wamkhangela ngamehlo angenabubele. Irhuluneli yaseRoma yayibizwe ngokukhawuleza egumbini layo lokulala, yaza yazimisela ukuba iza kuwenza ngokukhawuleza kangangoko umsebenzi wayo. Wayelungele ukuba uya kumphatha lo mbanjwa ngobugadalala basemthethweni. Evathe imbonakalo yobungqwabalala, wajika ukuba abone ukuba ngumntu oluhlobo luni lo wayeza kumhlola, ngokokude asuswe ekuphumleni kwakhe kwasekuseni kangako. Wayesazi ukuba inokuba ngumntu amagunya amaYuda awayezondelele ukuba avavanywe, ohlwaywe ngokukhawuleza.ULw 723.3

UPilato wawakhangela la madoda amangalele uYesu, laza iliso lakhe laqwalasela linombuzo kuYesu. Wayesebenze kakhulu neendidi ngendidi zabophuli bomthetho; kodwa ayizange ithi indoda eneempawu zokulunga nesidima ezinjengezale iziswe phambi kwakhe. Ebusweni baKhe [uYesu] akazange abonakale enophawu lobutyala, kungekho mbonakalo yakoyika, kungekho nkani okanye ukudelela. Wabona indoda ezolileyo nenesidima, embonakalo yayo yayingenazo iimpawu zesaphuli-mthetho, kodwa uphawu lwezulu. ULw 724.1

Inkangeleko kaYesu yamnika umfanekiso omhle uPilato. Icala elihle lendalo yakhe lavuselelwa. Wayevile ngoYesu nemisebenzi yaKhe. Umfazi wakhe wayemxelele ngezenzo ezimangalisayo ezenziwa ngumprofeti waseGalili, owaphilisa abagulayo wavusa abafileyo. Ngoku oku kwavuselelwa ngephupha engqondweni kaPilato. Wakhumbula amarhe awaweva kwiinkalo ezininzi. Wagqiba ukuba afune kumaYuda izimangalo zawo ngakumbanjwa.ULw 724.2

Ngubani lo Mntu, kwaye nimzisele ntoni? Watsho. Sityholo sini enimbeka sona? AmaYuda ayengavani. Esazi ukuba awanako ukuzixhasa izimangalo zawo ngakuKristu, awazange athande ukuba avavanywe ekuhleni. Aphendula athi, ungumlahlekisi ogama linguYesu waseNazarete.ULw 724.3

Waphinda uPilato wabuza, “Sithini isityholo enisibeka ngakulo Mntu?” ababingeleli abazange bamphendule; kodwa ngamazwi abonisa ukucaphuka kwabo bathi, “Ukuba ebengenguye umenzi wobubi yena, singe singamnikelanga kuwe.” Xa abo babengamalungu eSanhedrin, bathe bamzisa kuwe, ingaba kusekho isidingo sokubuza nesityholo ngakuye? Bathemba ukuba baya kumenza uPilato ukuba ahloniphe ukubaluleka kwabo aze amnyanzele ukuba asivume isicelo sabo engangenanga kwimininingwana emininzi. Babezondelele ukuba kuvunyelwane nesigwebo sabo; kuba babesazi ukuba abantu ababe bone imisebenzi kaKristu emangalisayo banganika ibali elahluke kakhulu kweli bona balenzayo baza baba bayaliphindaphinda ngoku. ULw 724.4

Ababingeleli bacinga ukuba ngoPilato ongenamandla nozizilizayo babenokuwaphumeza amacebo abo ngaphandle kwenkathazo. Ngaphambi koku, wayenze intsayino yokubulawa ngokungxama, ukugwetywa amadodaekwakusaziwaukubaayengafanelanga kufa. Ekuqikeleleni kwakhe, ubomi bombanjwa babungenalo ixabiso; nokuba wayemsulwa okanye enetyala yayingabalulekanga loo nto. Ababingeleli bathemba ukuba uPilato uya kusiwisa isigwebo sokufa phezu kukaYesu engakhange alivavanye ityala laKhe. Oku bakuzama njengesisa ngenxa yomnyhadala wabo omkhulu wesizwe.ULw 724.5

Noko kunjalo, kwakukho into apha kumbanjwa eyamthintelayo uPilato ekwenzeni oku. Wayengasayi kuyenza. Wayifunda injongo yababingeleli. Wakhumbula indlela ekwathi ngayo, kungekudala ngaphambi koku, uYesu wavusa uLazaro, indoda eyayifile iintsuku ezine; waza wazimisela ukwazi, ngaphambi kokuba asayine isigwebo sokubulala, ukuba zithini izityholo ngakuYe, kwanokuba zinakho na ukuqinisekiswa. ULw 725.1

Ukuba isigwebo senu sifanelekile, watsho, kungani ukuba nimzise kum lo mbanjwa? “Mthabatheni nina, nimgwebe ngesiko lenu.” Bakuba benyanzeleke ngolo hlobo, ababingeleli bamxelela [uPilato] ukuba sele besiwisile isigwebo phezu kwaKhe [uYesu] kodwa kufuneka ukuba yena uPilato avume ukuba sifanelekile. Sithini isigwebo senu? Wabuza uPilato. Sisigwebo sokufa, bamphendula; kodwa akuvumelekile ukuba thina sibulale mntu. Bamcela uPilato ukuba alamkele ilizwi labo ngokuba netyala kukaKristu, aze anyanzelise isigwebo sabo. Babeza kusithwala ngokwabo isiphumo. ULw 725.2

UPilato wayengenguye umgwebi olilungisa okanye onenkathalo; kodwa ebuthakathaka enjalo ngakokulungileyo, wakwala ukusamkela isicelo sabo. Wayengayi kumgweba uYesu kude kubekwe isityholo ngakuYe. ULw 725.3

Ababingeleli babasengxakini. Babona ukuba kufuneka bayigqume inkohliso yabo ngokuyifihla kakhulu. Kufuneka bangakhe bavume ukuba uYesu abe ubanjelwe iindawo ezingenkolo. Ukuba oku kwakunokunikwa njengesizathu, inkqubo yabo yayingekhe ibe namandla. Kufuneka abe uYesu wayesebenza ngokuchasene nomthetho oqhelekileyo; aze abe nakho ukugwetywa njengomaphuli womthetho wolawulo. Ingxokozelo nokuvukela ngakuburhulumente baseRoma kwakukholisa ukuvuka phakathi kwamaYuda. Olu vukelo, amaRoma ayelulwa ngamandla, kwaye ayesoloko ekuphaphamele ukuba acinezele nantoni enokukhokelela kuqhushululu. ULw 725.4

Kwiintsuku nje ezimbalwa ngaphambi koku, abaFarisi babezame ukumbhabhisa uYesu ngombuzo, othi, “Kuvumelekile na ukuba simnike irhafu uKesare?” Kulapho uYesu wabutyhila khona ubuhanahanisi babo. AmaRoma awayekho akubona ukusilela kwabacebi beqhinga, nokudideka kwabo yimpendulo yaKhe, “Nikelani kaloku izinto zikaKesare kuKesare.” Luka 20:22-25.ULw 725.5

Ngoku ababingeleli bacinga ukuba benze ngokungathi kwesi siganeko ukuba uMoya wafundisa le nto bona babethembe ukuba uya kuyifundisa. Ngokuxakwa kwabo okukhulu, babiza amangqina obuxoki ukuba abasize, “baqala ke ukummangalela besithi, Simfumene lo elulahlekisa uhlanga, engavumi ukuba kunikelwe irhafu kuKesare, esithi, unguKristu uKumkani yena ngokwakhe.” Izityholo ezithathu, iseso singenaso isiseko. Ababingeleli babekwazi oku, kodwa babekulungele ukuzinikela kwisifungo sobuxoki ukuba nje bangafezekisa injongo yabo.ULw 726.1

UPilato wabona ngaphaya kwenjongo yabo. Akazange akholwe ukuba umbanjwa wayecebe ukuwisa ulawulo [lwaseRoma]. Ubulali nokuthobeka kwembonakalo yaKhe, zizinto ezazingahambelani konke nesityholo abekwa sona. UPilato woyisakala ukuthi, umhadi omkhulu wawombiwe ukuba utshabalalise le ndoda imsulwa eyayimi endleleni yezikhakhamela zamaYuda. Ejika ekhangela kuYesu, wabuza, wathi, “Unguye na uKumkani wamaYuda?” UMsindisi waphendula, wathi, “Nawe utsho.” Wathi xa athethayo, imbonakalo yaKhe yakhanya ngokungathi umtha welanga ukhanye phezu kwaKhe. ULw 726.2

Bathi bakuyiva impendulo yaKhe, uKayafa kunye nabo waye kunye nabo, bathi kuPilato, makamve uYesu ukuba ungumaphuli-mthetho owayebekwa ityala nawayemangalelwa ngalo. Ngokukhala okukhulu, ababingeleli, ababhali, nabaphathi banyanzelisa ukuba agwetyelwe ukufa. Izikhalo zangenelelwa sisihlwele, saye isikhalo eso sigqabhuza iindlebe. UPilato wathi kuYe, “Akuphenduli nento na? Khangela ukuba zininzi kwazo iindawo abazingqina ngawe. Noko ke uYesu akabanga saphendula nto yena.” ULw 726.3

Emi emva kukaPilato, ebona bonke ababesenkundleni, uKristu wakuva ukuphathwa kakubi; kodwa, kuko konke ukumtyhola awayetyabekwa ngako, akazange aphendule nelimdaka. Imo yomzimba waKhe uwonke yayinika ubumsulwa basengqondweni. Wema engagungqi ngenxa yengqumbo yamaza awayebetha macaleni onke kuYe. Kwabonakala ngokungathi, ukunyuka kwamaza amakhulu engqumbo, kunyuka ngokunyuka, ngokwamaza olwandle olulwayo, kwathi vumbululu kumacala onke abantu abanezityholo ngakuYe. Wema ethe zole, kodwa ukuthula kwaKhe kwaba bubuciko. Yayikukukhanya okubengezela kuphuma kumntu ongaphakathi kuse kumntu wangaphandle. ULw 726.4

UPilato wakhwankqiswa bubume baKhe. Ingaba lo Mntu akayikhathalele le nto iqhubekayo kuba engakukhathalele ukusindisa ubomi baKhe? Wathi akumkhangela uYesu, enyamezele ukugculelwa nokuhlekwa, kodwa engaphindisi, waba nento ethi akanako ukungabi lilungisa nokungabi nabo ubulungisa njengoko babenjalo ababingeleli ababenemikhwazo. Ekwathembe ukuzuza inyaniso kuYe nokuphepha ingxokozelo yesihlwele, uPilato wambizela ecaleni uYesu, waphinda wambuza, “Unguye na uKumkani wamaYuda?” ULw 726.5

UYesu akazange awuphendule ngokuthe ngqo lo mbuzo. Wayesazi ukuba uMoya Oyingcwele wayesedabini entliziyweni kaPilato, waza wamnika ithuba lokuba avakalise ezaKhe izimvo. “Uyithetha le nto iphuma kuwe, wayixelelwa ngabanye ngam, sini na?” Oko kukuthi, ingaba yayisisityholo sababingeleli, okanye lulangazelelo lokufumana ukukhanya kuKristu, okwenza ukuba uPilato awubuze lo mbuzo? UPilato wayeyiqonda intsingiselo kaKristu; kodwa ikratshi lavuka entliziyweni yakhe. Akazange avume ukuba ukoyisakala kumfikele. “Kanene, mna ndingumYuda na?” watsho. “Luhlanga lwakowenu nababingeleli abakhulu abakunikeleyo kum; wenze ntoni na?”ULw 727.1

Ithuba elihle kakhulu awayelifumene uPilato lalidlule. Noko kunjalo, uYesu akazange amshiye engenako okunye ukukhanya. Nangona wayengawuphendulanga ngokuthe ngqo [uYesu] umbuzo kaPilato, wawubeka ngokucacileyo owaKhe umsebenzi awayewuzele. Wamnika uPilato ukuba aqonde ukuba wayengafuni trone yasemhlabeni.ULw 727.2

“Ubukumkani bam asibubo obeli hlabathi;” watsho, “ukuba bebububo obeli hlabathi ubukumkani bam, amakhonza am ange ezama, ukuze ndinganikelwa kumaYuda; ngoku ke ubukumkani bam asibobalapha. Wathi ke uPilato kuye, Hina ke, ungukumkani na wena? Waphendula uYesu, wathi, Nawe uthi ndingukumkani. Mna ndizalelwe oku; ndizele oku ehlabathini, ukuze ndiyingqinele inyaniso. Bonke abangabenyaniso bayaliva ilizwi lam.”ULw 727.3

UKristu waqinisekisa ukuba ilizwi laKhe lona ngokwalo lisisitshixo sokuvula iimfihlakalo kwabo bakulungeleyo ukuzamkela. Lalinamandla okuzithethela ngokwalo, kwaye le yayiyimfihlelo yokusasaza ubukumkani benyaniso. Walangazelela ukuba uPilato aqonde ukuba kuphela ngokuyamkela nokuyisebenzisa inyaniso okunokuthi indalo yakhe eyonakeleyo iphinde yakheke. ULw 727.4

UPilato wayenawo umnqweno wokuyazi inyaniso. Ingqondo yakhe yayididekile. Wawabamba ngenzondelelo amazwi oMsindisi, yaza intliziyo yakhe yachukumiseka lulangazelelo olukhulu lokwazi ukuba iyintoni ngenene, nokuba angayifumana njani. “Yintoni na yona inyaniso?” wabuza. Akazange kodwa ayilindele impendulo. Isiphithiphithi esasiphandle sambizela kumdla wexesha elo; kuba ababingeleli babengxola befuna kubekho into eyenziwayo ngelo xesha. Waya waphuma waya kuhlangana namaYuda, wavakalisa ngamandla, esithi, “Mna andifumani nalinye ityala kuye.” ULw 727.5

La mazwi awayephuma kumgwebi ongumhedeni, ayekukungxolisa okulukhuni kubuxoki nokungabi nanyaniso kwabalawuli bakwaIsrayeli ababemtyhola uMsindisi. Xa ababingeleli namadoda amakhulu babesiva oku kuphuma kuPilato, udano lwabo nengqumbo yabo yatsiba imida. Kwaye kukudala beceba, belilindile eli thuba. Bathi xa bebona ingathi angakhululwa uYesu,babonakalabelungele ukwenzaukubaaze akhalinyelwe buburhulumente baseRoma. Bamtyhola ngokwala ukumgweba uYesu, ngokwakubo, baqinisekisa ukuba wazimisa ukuba achase uKesare. ULw 727.6

Amazwi anomsindo ngoku avakala, esithi, impembelelo elahlekisayo kaYesu yayisaziwa kuyo yonke indawo. Ababingeleli bathi, “Uxhokonxa abantu, efundisa kulo lonke elakwaYuda, eqalele kwelaseGalili, wada wezisa apha.” ULw 728.1

Ngeli xesha uPilato wayengacingi ngokumgweba uYesu. Wayesazi ukuba amaYuda amtyhola ngenxa yentiyo nokugweba engavanga. Wayewazi umsebenzi wakhe. Ubulungisa babufuna ukuba uYesu akhululwe kwangoko. UPilato wawoyika umoya ombi wabantu. Ukuba angala ukumnikela uYesu ezandleni zabo, isaqunge sasiya kukhula, waye esoyika ukumelana naso. Wathi akuva ukuba uYesu wayephuma eGalili, wagqiba kwelokuba amthumele kuHerode, umlawuli wommandla, nowayeseYerusalem ngelo xesha. Ngale ndlela, uPilato wacinga ukulususa uxanduva kuye alubeke phezu kukaHerode. Waya wacinga nokuba lithuba elihle eli lokungciba ingxabano endala phakathi kwakhe noHerode. Kwaba njalo. Aba bagwebi babini baba ngabahlobo ngenxa yetyala loMsindisi. ULw 728.2

UPilato waphinda wamsa uYesu kumadindala, kwaza kwathi, phakathi kokugculelwa nokuthukwa zizihlwele, wakhawuleziswa wasiwa kwiholo yokugweba kaHerode. “Ke kaloku uHerode, akumbona uYesu, wavuya kunene.” Wayengazange wahlangana noMsindisi ngaphambili, kodwa “bekumzuzu ethanda ukumbona, ngenxa yokuba ebeve kuthethwa izinto ezininzi ngaye; kanjalo wayethembe ukubona umqondiso usenziwa nguye.” Lo Herode ngulowo ozandla zakhe zazingcoliswe ligazi likaYohane umBhaptizi. Wathi ukuqala kwakhe uHerode ukuva ngoYesu, wanoloyikoolukhulu,wathi, “LonguYohane, lowa ndamnqamla intloko mna; uvukile kwabafileyo,” “ngenxa yoko le misebenzi yamandla iyasebenza kuye.” Marko 6:16; Mat. 14:2. Noko kunjalo, uHerode wayenga angambona uYesu. Ngoku lalikho ithuba lokusindisa ubomi bomprofeti, waza ukumkani wathemba ukuba uya kuyisusa ngonaphakade engqondweni yakhe ingcinga yaloo ntloko yayizele ligazi yathi yaziswa kuye ngesitya esikhulu. Wayekwanqwenela ukwanelisa ukufuna kwakhe ulwazi, wacinga ukuthi, ukuba uKristu uthe wanikwa ithuba lokuba akhululwe, angenza nantoni acelwe ukuba ayenze. ULw 728.3

Iqela elikhulu lababingeleli namadoda amakhulu lahamba noKristu ukuya kuHerode. Wathi akungeniswa uMsindisi, ezi zikhakhamela, zonke zithethe ngomoya oshushu, zazinyanzela izityholo ngakuYe. UHerode akazange azikhathalele kakhulu izimangalo zabo. Wayalela ukuba kuzolwe, elangazelela ithuba lokumbuza uKristu. Wayalela ukuba amatyathanga kaKristu akhululwe, kwangelo xesha linye ekwazimangalela iintshaba zaKhe ngokumphatha gadalala. Ebukhangele ngemfesane ubuso obuzolileyo boMkhululi wehlabathi, wafunda kubo kuphela ubulumko nobunyulu. Yena kunye noPilato baneliseka kukuba uKristu wamangalelwa ngenkohlakalo nomona. ULw 729.1

UHerode wambuza amazwi amaninzi uKristu, kodwa ngalo lonke elo xesha uMsindisi waba nokuthula okuxakileyo. Ngomyalelo kakumkani, abaxhwalekileyo nabazizilima babizwa ukuba bangene, waza uKristu wayelelwa ukuba abonise oko athi ukuko ngokwenza ummangaliso. Abantu bathi unako ukuphilisa abagulayo, watsho uHerode. Ndinomdla wokubona ukuba udumo lwaKho oluthe saa alububo na ubuxoki. UYesu akazange aphendule, waza waqhubeka uHerode ukuthetha: Ukuba unokwenza imimangaliso kwabanye, ngoku yenzele okwakho ukulungelwa, iya kufezela wena injongo elungileyo. Waphinda wathi, Sibonise umqondiso wokuba unawo la mandla ulwimi luthi unawo. Wasuka uKristu wanjengongevayo nongaboniyo. UNyana kaThixo wayethabathele kuYe indalo yomntu. Umele ukuba enze njengoko umntu efanele ukuba enze kwiimeko ezinje. Ngoko ke, wayengazi kwenza ummangaliso ukuze azisindise kwintlungu nokuhlaziswa ekufuneka kunyamezelwe ngumntu xa ebekwe kwimeko ekumila kunje. ULw 729.2

UHerode wathembisa ngelithi, ukuba uKristu angenza ummangaliso phambi kwakhe, angakhululwa. Abamangaleli bakaKristu babezibonele ngawabo amehlo imisebenzi emikhulu awayenzayo ngamandla aKhe. Babemvile eyalela ingcwaba ukuba likhuphe ofileyo okulo. Babembonile ofileyo ephuma ngokuthobela ilizwi laKhe. Bathiwa hlasi luloyiko ngelithi hleze ngoku enze ummangaliso. Kuzo zonke izinto, eyona babeyoyika kukubonakalaliswa kwamandlaaKhe.Ukubonakalalisa okunjalo kwakuyakubakukuwabhuqaapheleamaceboabo, ize mhlawumbi loo nto ikhokelele ekuphulukaneni kwabo nobomi babo. Baphinda ababingeleli babaphathi, besexhaleni elikhulu, banyanzelisa ngezityholo zabo ngakuYe. Bedanduluka ngakumbi, bathi, ungumngcatshi, umnyelisi. Wenza imimangaliso ngamandla awanikwa nguBhelezabhubhe, inkosi yeedemon. Iholo yaba ngumbono wombodamo, abanye bekhwaza le, abanye bekhwaza leya.ULw 729.3

Isazela sikaHerode ngoku sasiqine kakhulu kunokuya wathi wangcangcazela kukoyika akucelwa intloko kaYohane umBhaptizi nguHerodiya. Kwakulithuba esiva ukukhathazeka okuhlabaniselayo kwentlungu yesenzo sakhe esibi; kodwa iimbono zakhe zokulungileyo zathobeka ngakumbi nangakumbi ngenxa yobomi bakhe bokuthanda ukurheletya. Ngoku intliziyo yakhe yayiqaqadeke kangangokuba wayede aqhayise ngokohlwaya awakwenzayo kuYohane ngokuba nesibindi sokumngxolisa. Ngoku watyityimbisela uYesu umnwe, emana ukuphinda ukuvakalisa ukuba unalo igunya lokumkhulula okanye ukumgweba. Sekunjalo, akuzange kubekho mqondiso ovela kuYesu obonisa ukuba kukho nelilodwa ilizwi alivayo.ULw 730.1

UHerode wacaphuka kakhulu koku kuthula. Kwakungathi kubonisa ukungalikhathaleli ngokupheleleyo igunya lakhe. Kukumkani ozingcayo noziqhayisayo, ukungxoliswa okuphandle ngekwakucaphukisa nganeno kunokungahoywa ngolo hlobo. Waphinda ngomsindo wamtyityimbisela umnwe uYesu, nowaqhubeka nokuthi cwaka wazithulela. ULw 730.2

Into awayeyizele uKristu kulo mhlaba yayingekuko ukwanelisa ukufuna ukwazi okungenamsebenzi. Weza ukuze aphilise abantliziyo zaphukileyo. Ukuba wayenokuthetha ilizwi nokuba linye elinokuphilisa ukwaphulwa sisono—imiphefumlo egulayo, ngewaye engazange wathula. Wayengenawo amazwi afanele abo babeza kusuka inyaniso bayinyhashe ngaphantsi kweenyawo zabo ezingahlambulukanga. ULw 730.3

UKristu ngewayelithethile ilizwi kuHerode elaliya kuhlabanisela iindlebe zekumkani eqaqadekileyo. Wayenako nokumbetha ngoloyiko nokungcangcazela ngokubeka phambi kwaKhe bonke ubugwenxa bobomi bakhe, nokoyikeka kwentshabalalo eyayimzela. Phofu ukuthula kukaYesu kwaba kokona kuthethisa awayenokukwenza. UHerode wala inyaniso eyayithethwa kuye ngoyena mprofeti mkhulu, kwaye singekho esinye isiprofeto awayeza kuphinda asifumane. Indlebe eyayihlala ihleli ilungele ukuva usizi lwabantu, yayingenayo indawo yemiyalelo kaHerode. Loo mehlo ayesoloko ehleli kumoni oguqukayo enothando olunovelwano, noluxolelayo ayengenako ukukhangela anokukwenza kuHerode. Loo milebe yayithethe eyona nyaniso inamandla, ngezandi ezazizezona zicengayo, neyacengana nabona bantu babengaboni nabaphantsi, yayivaliwe ngakukumkani ozidlayo owayengaziva emfuna uMsindisi.ULw 730.4

UbusobukaHerode bayabubamnyamakukuvuthangumsindo. Wajika wakhangela esihlweleni, waya wathi, elugcwabevu ngumsindo, wamsingela phantsi uYesu njengomntu olixoki. Wabuya wathi kuKristu, Ukuba akuzi kunika nto ibonakalalisa oku ukuthethayo ngaWe, ndiya kukunikela kumasoldati nasebantwini. Bona baza kukwenza uthethe. Ukuba ulixoki, ukufa okusezandleni zabo kuphela kwento oyifaneleyo; ukuba unguNyana kaThixo, zisindise ngokwenza ummangaliso.ULw 731.1

Athe esesemlonyeni la mazwi, kwashiyiswana ukuya kuKristu. Ngokwamarhamncwa asendle, isihlwele sagxalathelana ukutsibela ixhoba laso. UYesu bamrhuqa bemsa ngapha nangapha, uHerode ehlangene nesixuku ekufuneni ukumgculela uNyana kaThixo. Ukuba ayengangenelelanga amasoldati amaRoma, asijikisa ngamandla isihlwele esiphambeneyo, uMsindisi ngewaqhawulwa waziziqwenga. ULw 731.2

“UHerode ke, kwanempi yakhe, wamenza into engento, wadlala ngaye, wamthi wambu ngengubo eqaqambileyo.” Amasoldati amaRoma angenelela ekuphatheni kakubi. Yonke into ekhohlakeleyo awayenokuyenza la masoldati, encedwa nguHerode nezikhakhamela zamaYuda ukuyikhuthaza, yafunjwa phezu koMsindisi. Sekunjalo, unyamezelo lwaKhe lwezulu aluzange luphele.ULw 731.3

Abatshutshisi bakaKristu bazama ukuthelekisa isimilo saKhe kunye nesabo; babemmise njengomntu ombi njengabo. Ngaphaya kwako konke okwakubonakala ngelo xesha, omnye umboniso waziveza,--umboniso abaya kuwubona ngenye imini usebuqaqawulini babo bonke. Kwakukho abanye ababengcangcazela phambi kukaKristu. Ngeli xesha isihlwele esikrwada sithoba ngokugculela phambi kwaKhe, abanye abeza phambili kwangaloo njongo babuya umva, besoyika, bathula. UHerode woyisakala. Imitha yokugqibela yeyokukhanya kwenceba yayikhanya phezu kwentliziyo yakhe eqiniswe sisono. Wabona ukuba lo asimntu nje uqhelekileyo; kuba ubuThixo bathi tshazi babonakala ebuntwini. Ngeli xesha kanye uYesu erhangqwe ngabagculeli, abakrexezi, nababulali, uHerode weva ngokungathi ubona uThixo ehleli etroneni.ULw 731.4

Eqaqadekile enjalo, uHerode akazange akwazi ukuvumelana nesigwebo anikwe sona uKristu. Wanqwenela ukuba azikhulule kuxanduva olubi, waza wamthumela uYesu emva kwiholo yokugweba yamaRoma.ULw 731.5

UPilato wadana akaxola kakhulu. Athi amaYuda akubuya nombanjwa wawo, wabuza, ephelelwe ngumonde, ukuba bafuna enze ntoni. Wabakhumbuza ukuba ebesele emhlolile uYesu, nokuba akafumananga tyala kuye; wabaxelela ukuba babezise izikhalazo ngakuYe, kodwa abazange bakwazi ukuphuhlisa nasinye isimangalo. Wayemthumele uYesu kuHerode, umthetheli-khulu waseGalili, nomnye wohlanga lwabo, kodwa naye akafumananga nto kuYe ifanele ukufa. “Ndothi ke ngoko, ndakumbetha,” watsho uPilato, “ndimkhulule.”ULw 731.6

Apha uPilato wabonakalalisa ubuthakathaka bakhe. Wayethe uYesu umsulwa, kodwa wayesalungele ukuvuma ukuba abethwe ukuxolisa abamangaleli baKhe. Wayeza kuncama ubulungisa nomthetho-siseko ukuze avumelane nesihlwele. Esi senzo sambeka emhlabeni ombi. Isihlwele sakuqaphela ukuthandabuza kwakhe, sakhala ngakumbi sifuna abulawe umbanjwa waso. Ukuba kwasekuqaleni, uPilato wayeme waqina, wala ukumgweba umntu amfumene engenatyala, ngewaliqhawula ityathanga elibulalayo elaliza kumqamangela ngobuhlungu nobutyala lonke ixesha lokudla kwakhe ubomi. Ukuba wayenze ngokokubona kwakhe kulungile, amaYuda ayengeke amgagamele emxelela amakakwenze. UKristu ngewayebulewe, kodwa ityala lalingayi kuba phezu kukaPilato. Yena uPilato wathabatha inyathelo emva kwenyathelo ekonakaliseni isazela sakhe. Wazikhulula ekugwebeni ngobulungisa nangokusesikweni, waza ngoku wazifumana engenaluncedo ezandleni zababingeleli nabaphathi. Ukungazinzi kwakhe nokuhlozinga kwaba yintshabalalo yakhe. ULw 732.1

Nangeli xesha, uPilato wayengenzi nto ngokungaqondi. Isigidimi esivela kuThixo samlumkisa kwesi senzo wayeza kusenza. Ukuphendula umthandazo kaKristu, umfazi kaPilato wayehanjelwe sisithunywa esivela ezulwini, kwathi ephupheni wambona uMsindisi wancokola naYe. Inkosikazi kaPilato yayingenguye umYuda, kodwa, wathi xa emkhangele uYesu ephupheni ngoku esephupheni, akathandabuza ngesimilo saKhe okanye oko akuzeleyo. Wazi ukuba unguMthetheli kaThixo. Wambona exoxiswa esenkundleni yamatyala. Wazibona izandla zaKhe ziqanyangelwe ngokwezandla zesihange. Wambona uHerode namasoldati wakhe besenza umsebenzi wabo owoyikekayo. Wabeva ababingeleli nabaphathi, bezaliswe ngumona kunye nenkohlakalo, bemtyhola ngokwamageza. Waweva amazwi athi, “Thina sinomthetho; ngomthetho wethu ke ufanele ukufa.” Wambona uPilato emtyabula ngokumbetha uYesu, emva kokuba [kwayena] wayethe, “Andifumani nalinye ityala kuye.” Wasiva isigwebo sivakaliswa nguPilato, waza wambona emnikela uKristu kubabulali baKhe. Wawubona umnqamlezo uphakanyiswa eKalvari. Wawubona umhlaba ugutyungelwa bubumnyama, wasiva isikhalo esingummangaliso, “Kugqityiwe.” Kwaphinda kwakho omnye umbono owafikayo kuye. Wambona uKristu ehleli phezu kwelifu elikhulu elimhlophe, ngexesha umhlaba utalasa esithubeni, ababulali bakhe bebaleka phambi kobuqaqawuli baKhe. Wathi ekhala ngokoyika wavuka, kwangoko wabhalela uPilato amazwi okumlumkisa. ULw 732.2

Lo gama uPilato esathingaza engazi ukuba makathini, wagaleleka umthunywa watyhudisa phakathi kwesihlwele wamnika ileta evela enkosikazini yakhe, eyayisithi: ULw 732.3

“Uze ungabi nakuthini kuloo mntu ulilungisa, kuba namhlanje ndive izinto ezininzi ezinzima ephupheni, ngenxa yakhe.” ULw 732.4

Ubuso bukaPilato baba luthuthu. Wayedidekile ngenxa yezimvo zakhe ezibethabethanayo. Wathi kodwa ngeli xesha elibazisa ukwenza, bona ababingeleli nabaphathi baqhubeka nokuziphembelela iingqondo zabantu. UPilato wanyanzeleka ukuba enze into. Waya wazikhumbuza ngesiko elalinganceda ukukhulula uKristu. Kwakulisiko ukuba kwesi sidlo kukhulwe ibanjwa elalinokukhethwa ngabantu. Eli siko lalivela kubahedeni; kwaye kwakungekho nesuntswana lobulungisa kulo, kodwa lalixatyiswe kakhulu ngamaYuda. Amagunya amaRoma ngeli xesha ayegcine umbanjwa ogama linguBharnabhas, owaye ephantsikwesigwebo sokufa. Le ndoda yayisithi inguMesiya. Yayibanga igunya lokumisa izinto ngendlela eyahlukileyo, ukuze alungise ilizwe. Phantsi kokulahlekiswa yinkohlakalo embi kakhulu, yayisithi, nokuba yintoni na eyifumene ngobusela nangokuqhatha yayiyeyayo. Yayenze izinto ezimangalisayo ngezenzeleli zenkohlakalo, yaza yazuza ukulandelwa okukhulu ngabantu. Kanti ke yada yavusa noqhushululu ukuchasa uburhulumente baseRoma. Phantsi komkhusane wobushushu benkolo, yayilibhedengu eliqaqadekileyo nelinesibindi, elijonge kuphela ukwenza uvukelo nenkohlakalo. Ngokwenza ukuba abantu bakhethe phakathi kwale ndoda noMsindisi omsulwa, uPilato wacinga ukuba uya kuvusa kubo ingqondo yobulungisa. Wayethembe ukuba uya kuzuza kubo uvelwano ngakuYesu ngokuchasene nababingeleli nabaphathi. Ngoko ke, wakhangela esihlweleni, ngokuzimisela okukhulu, wathi, “Nithanda ukuba ndinikhululele wuphi na, uBharabhas, uYesu ekuthiwa nguKristu, kusini na?”ULw 733.1

Yaba njengeyezilo ezibhongayo impendulo eyaphuma kwisihlwele, ukubhonga kwezilo zasendle, “Sikhululele uBharabhas!” Waya uduma ngokuduma umkhwazo, UBharabhas, uBharabhas! Wathi ecinga ukuba abantu abawuqondanga umbuzo wakhe, uPilato wabuza, “Ninga ke ndinganikhululela uKumkani wamaYuda na?” Baphinda bakwaza kwakhona, “Msuse lo, usikhululele uBharabhas!” Ndimenzeni na ke uYesu ekuthiwa nguKristu?” wabuza uPilato. Saphinda isihlwele sanyuka ngokweedemon. Iidemon ngokwazo, zikwimo yabantu, zaziphakathi kwesihlwele. Yintoni ke ngoko eyayinokulindelwa ngaphandle kwempendulo, ethi, “Makabethelelwe emnqamlezweni”?ULw 733.2

UPilato wakhathazeka. Akazange acinge ukuba iya kuphuma kuleyo. Wakoyika ukumnikela umntu omsulwa ekufeni okubi kangako nokukhohlakeleyo ukuba ahlungiswe. Emva kokugxwala kwamazwi, wabuyela ebantwini, esithi, “Kuba enze bubi buni na?” Ityala lona lalise lihambe kakhulu ukuba lingaxoxwa. Babengasafuni bungqina bokuba msulwa kukaKristu ngoku, babefuna ukugwetywa kwaKhe. ULw 733.3

UPilatowayesazamaukumsindisa. “Utheke yenaokwesithathu kubo, Kuba enze bubi buni lo? Andifumananga tyala lakufa kuye; Ndothi ke ngoko, ndakumbetha, ndimkhulule.” Kwaukukhankanya nje ukukhululwa kwaKhe kwabaxhokonxa abantu bafikelela kwimpambano ephindwe kalishumi. “Mbethelele, mbethelele,” bakhwaza. Saya sinyuka kakhulu kakhulu isaqhwithi esabangwa kukungakwazi ukwenza isigqibo kukaPilato. ULw 734.1

UYesu wathatyathwa, etyhafile kukudinwa ezaliswe ngamanxeba, etyakatyiwe phambi kwesihlwele. “Athi amasoldati amrholele ngaphakathi kwentendelezo, oko kukuthi endlwini yerhuluneli; alibizele ndawonye ibutho lawo liphela; amambathise ngebomvu; aluke isithsaba sameva, amthi jize ngaso, aqale ukubulisa, athi, Aa! Kumkani wamaYuda! Aye . . . amtshicela; ayeguqa ngamadolo, aqubuda kuye.” Kwakusithi rhoqo ngamaxesha athile isandla sihluthe ingcongolo eyayibekwe esandleni saKhe, kubethwe isithsaba esisebunzini laKhe, oko kutshonise ngakumbi ameva ezintlafunweni zaKhe, lize lihle lithontsiza igazi ebusweni nasezindevini zaKhe.ULw 734.2

Mangaliswani, mazulu! udane, mhlaba! Mbone umcinezeli nocinezelweyo. Isixuku esiphambeneyo singqonge uMsindisi wehlabathi. Ukuhlekisa nokugculela kuxutywe nezithuko ezirhabaxa zonyeliso. Ukuzalwa kwaKhe okuphantsi nobomi obuphantsi zizinto ekuthethwa zona zizixuku ezingenaluvelwano. Ibango laKhe lokuba unguNyana kaThixo kuhlekiswa ngalo, neziqhulo ezikrwada kunye nokunyevula okusisithuko kuphuma kwimilebe ngemilebe. ULw 734.3

USathana ulikhokele igqiza ekuphatheni dlakadlaka uMsindisi. Yayiyinjongo yakhe ukumchukusha ukuba ade aphindise ukuba unako, okanye amqhubele ekubeni enze ummangaliso ukuzikhulula, abe ngoko waphula icebo losindiso. Ibala nje elinye ebomini baKhe bobuntu, kuba ukusilela nje kube kanye ebuntwini baKhe ukunyamezela uvavanyo olubi, iMvana kaThixo ibiya kuba ingumnikelo ongagqibelelanga, kuze ukuhlangulwa komntu kusilele. Lowo ke owayenokuthi nje ngelizwi athobe umkhosi wezulu ukuba umncede—Lowo wayenokugxotha isihlwele sisoyika phambi kwaKhe ngokuphuma kokukhanya kobungangamsha bezulu—waziyekela ngokuzola okugqibeleleyo kwezona zithuko nengqumbo erhabaxa. ULw 734.4

Iintshaba zikaKristu zazifune ummangaliso njengobungqina bobuThixo baKhe. Babenabo ubungqina obukhulu kakhulu kunabo nabuphi ababebufuna. Njengokuba inkohlakalo yabo yabathoba abathuthumbisi baKhe ubabeka kumgangatho ongaphantsi kowobuntu ukuba ube nemfano nokaSathana, benjenjalo ubulali nomonde waKhe ukumphakamisa uYesu ngaphezu koluntu, nokubonakalalisa ulwalamano lwaKhe noThixo. Ukuthotyelwa phantsi kwaKhe kwaba sisibhambathiso sokuphakanyiswa kwaKhe. Amathontsi egazi lentlungu elalisihla liphuma ezintlafunweni zaKhe nasebusweni baKhe ayesisibhambathiso sokuthanjiswa kwaKhe “ngeoli yomgcobo” (Heb. 1:9.) njengombingeleli wethu omkhulu.ULw 734.5

Ingqumbo kaSathana yabankulu xa ebona ukuba konke ukumphatha dlakadlaka uMsindisi akwenzanga ukuba kuphume ukukhalaza emlonyeni waKhe. Nangona wayethabathele kuYe imveli yomntu, wayexhaswe kukuqina okufana nokukaThixo, akasuka nangaluphi uhlobo kwintando kaYise. ULw 735.1

Xa uPilato wayemnikela uYesu ukuba atyakatywe agculelwe, wayecinga ukuba uya kuvusa uvelwano kwisihlwele. Nenkohlakalo yababingeleli, ngokucinga kwakhe, ngoku yayiza kwaneliseka. Ngokuqaphelisisa ngenzondelelo, amaYuda abubona ubuyatha bokohlwaya umntu ebekuthiwe umsulwa. Baya bazi ukuba uPilato ebezama nje ukusindisa ubomi bebanjwa, baza bazimisela ukuba uYesu kufuneka angakhululwa. Ukusanelisa nokusixolisa, uPilato umtyakatyile, bacinga njalo, kodwa ukuba siyaqhubeka nalo mcimbi ude ufike ekugqibeleni, ngokuqinisekileyo siya kuyifumana into esiyifunayo. ULw 735.2

UPilato ngoku wathumela ukuba kuziwe noBharabhas enkundleni. Waya wawamisa kunye amabanjwa elinye ecaleni kwelinye, waza, esalatha kuMsindisi ngelizwi lokucenga elindilisekileyo, wathi, “Nanko uMntu!” “Ndimzisa phandle kuni, ukuze nazi ukuba andifumani nalinye ityala kuye.” ULw 735.3

Wayemi apho uNyana kaThixo, enxibe ingubo yokuhlekisa nesithsaba sameva. Ehlutyiwe ukuya kufika esinqeni, umqolo waKhe ubonisa imivumbo emide yenkohlakalo, ekwakuphuma kuyo igazi linkcenkceza. Ubuso baKhe babudyojwe ligazi, buthwele iimpawu zokudinwa nentlungu; kodwa akazange abonakale emhle kakhulu ukudlula eli xesha. Ubuso boMsindisi abuzange bonakaliswe phambi kwentshaba zaKhe. Lonke uphawu lwalubonakalisa ubunene nokuzola nolona luvelwano lunothando kwiitshaba zaKhe ezikhohlakeleyo. Kwindlela ayiyo kwakungekho kuphelelwa ngamandla obugwala, kodwa amandla nesidima sokunyamezela. Lalikwimeko eyahluke kakhulu ibanjwa elalisecaleni kwaKhe. Wonke umgca wembonakalo yalo wawumxela ukuba uyindlavini eqaqadekileyo. Umahluko wawunento oyithethayo kuye wonke obonayo. Abanye ababukeli babelila. Ngoku, bemi bekhangele kuYesu, iintliziyo zabo zazaliswa luvelwano Nababingeleli nabaphathi baya baqonda ukuba [uYesu] wayeyiyo yonke into awayesithi uyiyo. ULw 735.4

Amasoldati amaRoma awayejikeleze uKristu ayengengabo abantu abaqaqadeke bonke, amanye ayekhangele ngokunyanisekileyo ebusweni baKhe ukuba abone ubungqina bokuba ungumaphuli womthetho na okanye unesimilo esiyingozi. Amaxesha ngamaxesha ayebuya ajonge ngendelelo uBharnabhas. Kwakungadingi mbono inzulu ukumfunda ugqobhozele ngaphaya. Ayephinda ajike aye kulo uxoxayo. Amqwalasela obulalekayo wezulu ngeemvakalelo zovelwano olunzulu. Ukuzinikela okuzolileyo kukaKristu kwabethelela ezingqondweni zawo isiqinisekiso sombono, owawungasayi kuze ucinywe ade mhlawumbi amvume ukuba nguKristu, okanye athi, ngokumala, enze isigqibo nesiphelo sawo.ULw 735.5

UPilato waba nokumangaliswa ngokunyamezela okungenako ukukhalaza koMsindisi. Akazange athandabuze ukuba, ukumbona loMntu, xa ethelekiswa noBharabha, kuya kuvusa uvelwano kumaYuda. Akazanga waqonda ukuba intiyo ebaxiweyo yababingeleli ngakuYe, lo, uthe eluKhanyiselo lwehlabathi, waya watyhila ubumnyama nemposiso yabo. Basikhuthazela kumsindo wempambano isihlwele, baza baphinda ababingeleli, abaphathi, kunye nabantu benza esiya sikhalo soyikekayo, “Mbethelele emnqamlezweni! Mbethelele emnqamlezweni!” Ekugqibeleni, akuba elahlekelwe nguwo wonke umonde ngenxa yenkohlakalo yabo engaqiqiyo, uPilato wakhwaza ephelelwe lithemba, wathi, “Mthabatheni nina, nimbethelele emnqamlezweni; kuba mna andifumani tyala kuye.” ULw 736.1

Irhuluneli yamaRoma, nangona yayiqhelene nemibono yenkohlakalo, yachukunyiswa yaba nemfesane ngebanjwa eliphethwe kakubi, elathi, ligwetyiwe latyakatywa, ligxiza igazi ebunzi, likwanomhlana okrazukileyo yimivumbo, kodwa laba lineempawu zokumkani ohleli phezu kwetrone. Sekunjalo, ababingeleli bathi, “Thina sinomthetho; ngomthetho wethu ke ufanele ukufa, ngokuba ezenze uNyana kaThixo.” ULw 736.2

UPilato wothuka. Wayengenayo ingcinga elungileyo ngoKristu nomsebenzi waKhe; kodwa wayenalo ukholo olungacacanga kakuhle kuThixo nakwizidalwa ezingaphezulu koluntu. Ingcamango eyakha yadlula engqondweni yakhe ngaphambili, ngoku yaya icaca kakuhle kakhulu. Waba nawo umbuzo wokuba, kazi asingumntu ongcwele na lo omi phambi kwakhe, enxibe ingubo emfusa yokugculelwa, enesithsaba sameva.ULw 736.3

Waphinda wabuyela egumbini lamatyala, wathi kuYesu, “Ungowaphi na wena?” UYesu akamphendula. UMsindisi wayethethe ngokukhululekileyo kuPilato, echaza umsebenzi waKhe wokuba lingqina lenyaniso. UPilato akazange akukhathalele ukukhanya. Wasebenzisa kakubi isikhundla sakhe esiphakamileyo sokugweba ngokuyekela imigaqo-siseko yakhe kunye negunya lakhe esixukwini sabantu. UYesu wayengasenako okunye ukukhanya anokumnika. Ecatshukiswa kukuthula kwaKhe, uPilato, ethetha ngomoya wokuziphakamisa, wathi: ULw 736.4

“Akuthethi na kum? Akwazi na ukuba ndinegunya lokukubethelela emnqamlezweni, nokuba ndinegunya lokukukhulula?” ULw 736.5

UYesu waphendula, wathi, “Unge ungenagunya nakanye kum, ukuba ubungalinikwanga livela phezulu; ngenxa yoko, ondinikeleyo kuwe unesono esikhulu ngakumbi.” ULw 736.6

Ngaloo ndlela, uMsindisi onovelwano, phakathi kokubulaleka okukhulu nentlungu, wasixolela kangangoko kunokwenzeka isenzo serhuluneli yaseRoma eyamnikela ukuba abethelelwe emnqamlezweni. Umboniso onjalo ukuwunika ihlabathi kulo lonke ixesha! Ukukhanya okungako elikuwisela phezu kwesimilo saLowo unguMgwebi wawo wonke umhlaba!ULw 736.7

“Ondinikeleyo kuwe” wathi uYesu, “unesono esikhulu ngakumbi.” Ngale ntetho uKristu wayethetha ngoKayafa, owathi, njengombingeleli omkhulu, wamela isizwe samaYuda. Ayeyazi imithetho-siseko eyayilawula amagunya aseRoma. Ayekufumene ukukhanya kwiziprofeto ezazingqina ngoKristu, nakwiimfundiso zaKhe nemimangaliso yaKhe. Abagwebi bamaYuda babefumene ubungqina obungenakuphazanywa bubuThixo baKhe Lowo bamgwebela ukufa. Phofu ke, ngokokukhanya kwabo, nabo baya kugwetywa.ULw 737.1

Elona tyala likhulu nolona xanduva lukhulu lwalulolwabo babemi kwezona ndawo ziphezulu esizweni, abagcini bamagugu angcwele ababewangcatsha ngendlela ephantsi. UPilato, uHerode namasoldati amaRoma bonke babengazi nto kangako ngoYesu. Babecinga ngokukholisa ababingeleli nabaphathi ngokumphatha dlakadlaka uYesu. Babengenako ukukhanya esasikufumene kwakuninzi isizwe samaYuda. Ukuba ukukhanya kwakunikwe amasoldati, ngewayengazanga amphatha uKristu ngenkohlakalo awamphatha ngayo. ULw 737.2

Waphinda uPilato wacebisa ukuba akhululwe uMsindisi. “Kodwa amaYuda ayenkqangaza esithi, Ukuba uthe wamkhulula lo, akusihlobo sikaKesare.” Aba bahanahanisi benza ngokungathi banekhwele ngegunya likaKesare. Kubo bonke abachasi bolawulo lweRoma, amaYuda ayengawona anobukrakra. Xa kwakukhuselekile ukwenza oko, yayingawona anobundlongondlongo ekunyanzeliseni okufunwa sesawo isizwe nenkolo; kodwa xa ayenqwenela ukufeza injongo ethile yenkohlakalo, ayephakamisa igunya likaKesare. Ukufeza intshabalalo kaKristu, ayebabaza intembeko kulawulo lwasemzini ababeluthiyile. ULw 737.3

“Bonke abazenza ukumkani,” batsho abantu, “bachasa uKesare.” Le yona into yamchana uPilato apho abuthakathaka khona. Wayephantsi kokungathenjwa ngurhulumente wamaRoma, kwaye esazi ukuba ingxelo enjalo ingaba yintshabalalo kuye. Wayesazi nokuba, ukuba amaYuda athe oyiswa, ingqumbo yawo ingajikelwa kuye. Ayengayi kushiya nanye into engenziwanga ukufeza impindezelo yawo. Phambi kwakhe wayenomzekelo wokuzingisa awayefuna ngako ubomi baLowo ayemthiye ngaphandle kwesizathu. ULw 737.4

UPilato wathabatha indawo yakhe esihlalweni sokugweba, waphinda wamnikela ebantwini uYesu, esithi, “Nanko uKumkani wenu!” Saphinda savakala isikhalo sempambano, “Susa, susa, mbethelele emnqamelezweni!” Ngelizwi elavakala kude nakufuphi, uPilato wabuza, “Ndimbethelele emnqamlezweni na uKumkani wenu?” Setshilo, kwimilebe engcolileyo, enyelisayo kwaphuma amazwi, athi, “Thina asinakumkani ungenguye uKesare.”ULw 737.5

Ngoko ke, ngokukhetha umlawuli ongumhedeni, isizwe samaYuda sazirhoxisa kulawulo lukaThixo. Babemalile uThixo njengokumkani wabo. Ukususela ngoko babengenaye umhlanguli. Babengenaye ukumkani ngaphandle kukaKesare. Ababingeleli nabafundisi babakhokelela kule meko abantu. Ngenxa yoku, babenobutyala beziphumo ezoyikekayo ezathi zalandela. Isono sesizwe nentshabalalo yesizwe zabakho ngenxa yeenkokeli zenkolo.ULw 738.1

“Uthe ke uPilato, akubona ukuba akancedi lutho, ebona ukuba sisuke sangakumbi isiphithiphithi, wathabatha amanzi, wahlamba izandla phambi kwezihlwele, esithi, Andinatyala egazini lalo mntu ulilungisa; ziboneleni nina.” Ngokoyika nokuzohlwaya, uPilato wamkhangela uMsindisi. Phakathi kwentlaninge yobuso obukhangeleyo, bobaKhe kuphela obabunoxolo. Kwakungathi kukho ukukhanya okuthe zinzi ngokuzolileyo entlokweni yaKhe. UPilato wathi entliziyweni yakhe, Lo nguThixo. Ejika ekhangela kwisihlwele, wathi, Ndimsulwa ngegazi laKhe. Mthabatheni nina ngokwenu, nimbethelele emnqamlezweni. Qaphelani ke kodwa, nina babingeleli nabaphathi ukuba, mna ndivakalisa ukuba uyindoda elungileyo. Wanga Lowo athi nguYise anganigweba angagwebi mna ngomsebenzi wale mini. Emva koko wakhangela kuYesu, wathi, Ndixolele ngesi senzo; andikwazi ukukusindisa. Wathi akuba ephinde wambetha, wamnikela ukuba abethelelwe emnqamlezweni. ULw 738.2

UPilato waye nqwenela ukumkhulula uYesu. Waya wabona kodwa ukuba akanakho ukukwenza oku aze ngaxeshanye asigcine isikhundla sakhe kunye nembeko ayinikwayo. Endaweni yokulahlekwa ligunya lasemhlabeni, wakhetha ukuncama ubomi obumsulwa. Bangaphi abathi, ngokuphepha ilahleko okanye ukuphatheka kakubi, benze kanye ngolo hlobo ukunikezela ngomgangatho ongumthetho-siseko. Isazela nomthwalo zalatha enye indlela, kuthi ukuthanda kuka-mna kwalathe enye. Umsinga uhamba ngamandla usiya kwicala elingelilo, aze athi lowo uvumelana nobubi akhukhuliswe ayokutshona kubumnyama obungqingqwa bokuba netyala. ULw 738.3

UPilato wakuvumela okwakufunwa sisihlwele. Endaweni yokubeka isikhundla sakhe esichengeni, wamnikela uYesu ukuba abethelelwe emnqamlezweni. Kwathi nangona ewathathe onke amanyathelo okuthintela okubi, le nto kanye wayeyoyika, emva koko yehla kuye. Amagunya esikhundla awaye nawo asuswa kuye, wathotywa kweso sikhundla, waza wathi ehlatywe kukuzisola nokulimala kwekratshi, kungekudala emva kokubethelelwa emnqamlezweni, wazibulala. Ngokunjalo ke, kubo bonke abavumelana nesono bathi bazuze kuphela ubuhlungu nentshabalalo. Kukho indlela ethe tye phambi komntu, ukanti ukuphela kwayo ziindlela zokufa.” Mizekeliso 14:12.ULw 738.4

Wathi uPilato akuvakalisa ukuba umsulwa kwigazi likaKristu, uKayafa waphendula ngendelelo, wathi, “Igazi lakhe malibe phezu kwethu, naphezu kwabantwana bethu.” Amazwi awoyikekayo athatyathwa ngababingeleli nabaphathi, aza avakaliswa sisihlwele ngendanduluko engenabuntu, sisithi, “Igazi lakhe malibe phezu kwethu, naphezu kwabantwana bethu.”ULw 738.5

Abantu bakwaIsrayeli babezikhethele. Besalatha kuYesu bathi, “Mayingabi ngulo, mayibe nguBharabhas.” UBharabhas, isela nombulali, wayengummeli kaSathana. UKristu wayengummeli kaThixo. UKristu waliwa; uBharabhas wayekhethiwe. UBharabhas bebeza kuba naye. Ekwenzeni oku kukhetha, bamamkela lowo wathi, kususela ekuqalekeni walixoki nombulali. USathana wayeyinkokheli yabo. Njengesizwe, babeza kwenza ngokokuyalela kwakhe. Imisebenzi yakhe babeza kwenza yona. Ulawulo lwakhe kufuneka balunyamezele. Abantu abakhetha uBharabhas endaweni kaKristu babeza kuyiva inkohlakalo kaBharabhas lisekhona ixesha. ULw 739.1

Ekhangele kwiMvana kaThixo ebethwayo, amaYuda akhwaza athi, “Igazi lakhe malibe phezu kwethu, naphezu kwabantwana bethu.” Eso sikhalo soyikekayo senyuka saya kufikelela etroneni kaThixo. Eso sigwebo, basivakalise phezu kwabo, sabhalwa ezulwini. Umthandazo waviwa. Igazi loNyana kaThixo laba phezu kwabantwana babo nabantwana babantwana babo, isiqalekiso esingunaphakade. ULw 739.2

Kwaba kubi xa sisenzeka ekutshatyalalisweni kweYerusalem. Kwaba kubi xa sibonakalaliswa kwimeko yesizwe samaYuda kwishumi elinesibhozo lamawaka yeminyaka,--isebe elixhuzulwe emdiliyeni, elifileyo nelingenaso isiqhamo, ukuba liqokelelwe litshiswe. Ukusuka kumazwe ngamazwe kuwo wonke umhlaba, ukusuka kwinkulungwane ukuya kwenye, sifile, sifile ezikreqweni nasezonweni!ULw 739.3

Kuya kuba kubi xa loo mthandazo uzaliseka ngemini enkulu yomgwebo. Xa uKristu eya kuza emhlabeni, engasengombanjwa orhangqwe sisihlwele sabantu bazokumbona. Baya kumbona ngoko enguKumkani wezulu. UKristu uya kuza esebuqaqawulini baKhe, esebuqaqawulini bukaYise, nasebuqaqawulini bezithunywa ezingcwele. Amawaka alishumi aphindwe ngamawaka alishumi, namawaka amawaka eengelosi, oonyana abahle naboyisileyo bakaThixo, benobuhle bugqitha nobuqaqawuli, baya kumkhapha endleleni yaKhe. Uya kuthi ahlale etroneni yozuko lwaKhe, zibuthelane phambi kwaKhe zonke iintlanga. Ngelo xesha amehlo onke aya kumbona, kwanabo bamhlabayo. Endaweni yesithsaba sameva, uya kuthwala isithsaba sozuko,--isithsaba phakathi kwesithsaba. Endaweni yaloonguboindalaemfusayokumkani,ULw 739.4

uya kwambatha eyona imhlophe ingubo, “ekungekho mchazi wangubo emhlabeni apha unako ukuzenza mhlophe kangako.” Marko 9:3. Ecaleni laKhe nasethangeni laKhe kuya kuba kubhalwe igama, “UKUMKANI KAKUMKANI, UNKOSI KANKOSI.” IsiTy. 19:16. Abo babemgculela bembetha baya kuba belapho. Ababingeleli nabaphathi baya kubona kwakhona umboniso waseholweni yamatyala. Yonke imeko iya kuvela phambi kwabo, injengokungathi ibhalwe ngamagama omlilo. Baya kuthi abo babethandaze, bathi, “Igazi lakhe malibe phezu kwethu, naphezu kwabantwana bethu.” Bayakuyifumanaimpendulo emthandazweni wabo. Ngelo xesha liya kwazi lonke ihlabathi lize liqonde. Baya kuqonda ukuba ngubani nokuba yintoni abathi bona, belusizi, bengenamandla, nezidalwa ezifayo, balwa ukuba bayichase. Ngentlungu eyoyikekayo, kunye nokoyika, baya kukhala ezintabeni nasemaweni, “Siweleni, nisifihle ebusweni balowo uhleli phezu kwetrone, nasengqumbeni yeMvana. Ngokuba ufikile umhla omkhulu wengqumbo yayo, ngubani na ke onako ukuma?” IsiTy. 6:16, 17.ULw 740.1