10—Ilizwi Entlango

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kuLuka 1:5-23, 57-80; 3:1-18; Mat.3:1-12; Marko 1:1-8.]

Phakathi kwabathembekileyo kwaIsrayeli, ekwakukudala belindele ukufika kukaMesiya, kwaphuma ohamba phambi kukaKristu. Umbingeleli osele ekhulile, uZekariya, nenkosikazi yakhe uElizabhete, “bebengamalungisa ke bobabini emehlweni kaThixo;” kwathi, ebomini babo obuzolileyo nobungcwele, ukukhanya kokholo kwakhanya njengenkwenkwezi phakathi kobumnyama bemihla emibi. Kwesi sibini soyika uThixo, kwakunikwe isithembiso sonyana, owayeza “kuhamba phambi kobuso beNkosi, [a]lungise iindlela zayo.”ULw 97.1

UZekariya wayehlala kulo “lonke eleentaba lakwaYuda,” kodwa wayenyuke waya eYerusalem ukuya kulungiselela etempileni iveki yonke, inkonzo eyayifuneka kabini ngomnyaka, kubabingeleli ngexesha ngalinye. “Kwathi ke kaloku, ekubuphatheni ububingeleli bakhe ngexesha leqela lakhe phambi koThixo, ngokwesiko lobubingeleli, kwaba liqashiso lakhe ukuba aqhumise ubulawu, akuba engene endaweni engcwele yeNkosi.”ULw 97.2

Wayemi ngakwisibingelelo segolide endaweni engcwele yengcwele. Umsi wesiqhumiso onemithandazo kaIsrayeli wawunyuka phambi kukaThixo. Ngequbuliso waphawula ukuba kukho ubungcwele obukhoyo. Isithunywa seNkosi “simi ngasekunene kwesibingelelo.” Indawo eyayimikuyoingelosi yayibonisa imfesane, kodwa uZekariya akazange akuqaphele oku. Kwakuyiminyaka emininzi ethandazela ukufika koMhlanguli; ngoku izulu lalithumele umthunywa walo ukuba avakalise ukuba le mithandazo yayise iza kuphendulwa; kodwa inceba kaThixo yabonakala inkulu kakhulu kuye ukuba ayamkele. Wazaliswa kukoyika nokuzigweba.ULw 97.3

Waya wahlangatyezwa ngengqinisekiso enovuyo: “Musa ukoyika, Zekariya, ngokokuba isikhungo sakho siviwe; wothi ke umfazi wakho uElizabhete akuzalele unyana, umthiye igama elinguYohane. Uya kuba nokuvuya nokugcoba, bathi nabaninzi bakuvuyele ukuzalwa kwakhe. Kuba uya kuba mkhulu emehlweni eNkosi, angakhe asele wayini nasiselo sinxilisayo; uya kuzaliswa nguMoya Oyingcwele. . . . Nento eninzi ke yoonyana bakaIsrayeli uya kuyibuyisela eNkosini uThixo wabo. Yena uya kuhamba phambi kobuso bayo, enomoya enamandla kaEliya, ukuba azibuyisele iintliziyo zooyise kubantwana, nabangevayo kuko ukuqonda kwamalungisa, alungisele iNkosi abantu abalungisiweyo. Wathi uZekariya kuso isithunywa, Ndiya kukwazi ngani na oko? Kuba ndimdala, waye nomfazi wam selekhulile.”ULw 98.1

UZekariya wayeyazi kakuhle indlela uAbraham, ebudaleni bakhe, awanikwa ngayo umntwana kuba wakholwa ukuba uthembekile Lowo wayethembisile. Okomzuzwana kodwa, umbingeleli osele ekhulile uzibuyisela iingcinga zakhe kubuthakathaka bobuntu. Uyalibala ukuba, into uThixo ayithembisileyo, uyakwazi ukuyenza. Umahluko ongako phakathi koku kungakholwa nokholo oluhle nolufana nolomntwana lukaMariya, intwazana yaseNazarete, empendulo yayo kokumangalisayo okuvakaliswe yingelosi yathi, “Nanko umkhonzazana weNkosi; makwenzeke kum ngokwelizwi lakho”! Luka 1:38.ULw 98.2

Ukuzalelwa unyana kukaZekariya, njengokuzalwa komntwana ka-Abraham, nalowo kaMariya, kwakuza kuba nenyaniso enkulu okuyifundisayo, inyaniso esihamba kade ukuyifunda nesilungele ukuyilibala. Thina ngokwethu asikwazi ukwenza nantoni elungileyo; kodwa, oko singakwaziyo ukukwenza, kuya kwenziwa ngamandla kaThixo kuwo wonke umphefumlo ovumayo nokholwayo. Kwaba ngokholo awathi wanikwa umntwana owayethenjisiwe. Kungokholo obuthi ubomi basemoyeni bufunyanwe, size senziwe sikwazi ukwenza imisebenzi yobulungisa.ULw 98.3

Ukuphendula umbuzo kaZekariya, ingelosi yathi, “Mna ndinguGabriyeli, omaphambi koThixo. Ndithunyiwe ukuba ndithethe kuwe, ndikushumayeze ezi ndaba zilungileyo.” Kumakhulu amahlanu eminyaka eyadlulayo, uGabriyeli wamazisa uDaniyeli umprofeti ixesha elaliza kunabela ekufikeni kukaKristu. Ulwazi lokuba isiphelo seli xesha sasikufuphi lwamenza uZekariya athandazele ukufika kukaMesiya. Ngoku,yenalo mthunywa esasinikwe ngaye isiprofeto, weza kuvakalisa ukuzaliseka kwaso.ULw 98.4

Amazwi engelosi, athi, “Mna ndinguGabriyeli, omaphambi koThixo,” abonisa ukuba inesikhundla esiphezulu kwiinkundla zasezulwini. Ukuza kwayo nesigidimi kuDaniyeli, yathi, “Akukho namnye womelezana nam ngakwabo, ngaphandle kukaMikayeli [uKristu], umthetheli wenu.” Dan. 10:21. NgoGabriyeli, uMsindisi uthetha kwisiTyhilelo, esithi “waqondisa wathumela ngaso isithunywa sakhe sasezulwini kumkhonzi wakhe uYohane.” IsiTy. 1:1. Kanti ke, kuYohane, ingelosi yathi, Ndingumkhonzi kunye nawe, nabazalwana bakho abaprofeti.” IsiTy. 22:9. Ingcamango emangalisayo—eyokuba ingelosi elandela uNyana kaThixo ngokunikwa imbeko yiyo le ikhethiweyo ukuba ityhile iinjongo zikaThixo kubantu abangaboni.ULw 99.1

UZekariya wabonakalisa ukuwathandabuza amazwi engelosi. Wayengasayi kubuya athethe ade azaliseke. “Uyabona, uya kuba sisidenge, . . . kude kube yimini eziya kuthi zenzeke ngayo ezi zinto, ngenxa enokuba ungakholwanga ngamazwi am; aya kuzalisekiswa wona ngexesha lawo.” Yayingumsebenzi kambingeleli kule nkonzo ukuthandazela uxolelo lwezono zasekuhleni nezesizwe, kunye nokufika kukaMesiya; kodwa, wathi uZekariya akuzama ukukwenza oku, akakwazi kuthetha nezwi.ULw 99.2

Wathi akuphuma ukuba asikelele abantu, “[wamana] enqwala kubo, wahlala engathethi.” Babelindele ixesha elide, baqala ukoyika, hleze kuthi kanti unqanyulwe sisigwebo sikaThixo. Wathi kodwa ukuphuma kwakhe kwindawo engcwele, ubuso bakhe babengezela bubuqaqawuli bukaThixo, “baqonda ukuba ubone umbono endaweni engcwele apho.” UZekariya wabaxelela oko akubonileyo nakuvileyo; “kwathi yakuzaliseka imihla yombuso wakhe, wemka waya endlwini yakhe.”ULw 99.3

Kwangoko emva kokuzalwa komntwana ekwakuthenjiswe ngaye, ulwimi lwakhe lwakhululeka, “wamana ethetha, ebonga uThixo. Kwehla ukoyika phezu kwalo lonke umelwane lwabo; kwaye kulo lonkeeleentaba lakwaYuda kuxoxwa ngazozonkeezizinto. Bathi bonke abazivayo, bazibeka entliziyweni yabo, besithi, Azi uya kuba yintoni na lo mntwana!” Konke oku kwaba nento yokuzisa ingqondo ekufikeni kukaMesiya, awayeza kulungisa indlela yaKhe uYohane.ULw 99.4

UMoya Oyingcwele wahlala phezu kukaZekariya, waza wathi, ngala mazwi mahle, waprofeta ngomsebenzi wonyana wakhe:ULw 100.1

“Nawe, mntwana, uya kubizwa ngokuba ungumprofeti
wOsenyangweni,
Kuba uya kuhamba phambi kobuso beNkosi, ulungise
iindlela zayo,
Ukuze ubanike abantu bayo ukwaziwa kosindiso
Ngoxolelo lwezono zabo,
Ngenxa yenceba nemfesane yoThixo wethu,
Othe ngaye wasivelela umso wasenyangweni,
Ukuba ukhanye kwabo bahleliyo emnyameni,
nasethunzini lokufa,
Ukuba uzingenise iinyawo zethu endleleni yoxolo.”ULw 100.2

“Wakhula umntwana, waya esomelela ngomoya; waye esentlango, kwada kwayimini yokubonakalaliswa kwakhe kuIsrayeli.” Ngaphambi kokuzalwa kukaYohane, isithunywa sasithe, “Uya kuba mkhulu emehlweni eNkosi, angakhe asele wayini nasiselo sinxilisayo; uya kuzaliswa nguMoya Oyingcwele.” UThixo wayembizele emsebenzini omkhulu unyana kaZekariya, kowona wakha wamkhulu kweyakha yanikwa abantu. Ukuze awufezekise lo msebenzi, kwakuza kufuneka abe neNkosi ukuba isebenze kunye naye. UMoya kaThixo wawuza kuba naye xa ethe wawuthobela umyalelo wesithunywa.ULw 100.3

UYohane wayeza kuphuma njengomthunywa kaYehova, ukuze azise ebantwini ukukhanya kukaThixo. Kufuneka anike indlela entsha kwiingcamango zabo. Kufuneka azise kuzo ubungcwele bokufunwa nguThixo, nokudingeka kobulungisa baKhe obugqibeleleyo. Umthunywa onjalo kufuneka ukuba abe ngcwele. Kufuneka abe yitempile yokuhlala kukaMoya kaThixo. Ukuze akuzalisekise oko akuthunyiweyo, kufuneka abe nokwakheka okuphilileyo emzimbeni, namandla engqondo nawasemoyeni. Ngoko ke, kwakunyanzelekile ukuba akulawule ukuthanda kwakhe ukutya kwaneemvakalelo zakhe. Kufuneka akwazi ukulawula onke amandla akhe ukuze akwazi ukuma phakathi kwabantu engagungqiswa ziimeko ezimjikelezileyo abe njengamawa neentaba zasentlango.ULw 100.4

Ngexesha likaYohane umBhaptizi, ukubawela ubutyebi, nokuthanda ukonwaba nobuqheleqhele, kwakuthe saa yonke indawo. Iziyolo ezivusa izimvo, ukudla nokusela, zazibangela isifo nokuhla kokuziphatha, kudodobalisa ingqondo yasemoyeni, nokucutha ukuqatshelwa kobubi besono. UYohane wayeza kuma njengomhlaziyi. Ngobomi bobungcathu nokunxiba ngendlela elula wayeza kuthethisa ukubaxwa kwezinto kwexesha lakhe. Kungoko imiyalelo yanikwa kubazali bakaYohane,--isifundo sobungcathu eseza nengelosi evela etroneni yasezulwini.ULw 100.5

Ebuntwaneni nasebutsheni, isimilo sichukumiseka kakhulu. Amandla okuzilawula kufuneka azuzwe ngelo xesha. Ecaleni kweziko, naxa kutyiwa lusapho, iimpembelelo ziyafakwa eziziphumo zazo ziya kuhlala ngonaphakade. Nangaphezu kwaso nasiphi isipho sendalo, imikhwa emiliselwe kwiminyaka yokuqala, igqiba ukuba umntu uya koyisa okanye oyiswe edabini lobomi. Ubutsha lixesha lokuhlwayela. Bugqiba ngobume besivuno, kobu bomi nakubomi obuzayo.ULw 101.1

Njengomprofeti, uYohane wayeza “[kubuyisela] iintliziyo zooyise kubantwana, nabangevayo kuko ukuqonda kwamalungisa, alungisele iNkosi abantu abalungisiweyo.” Ekulungiseleleni kwakhe indlela ukufika kokuqala kukaKristu, wayengummeli wabo baza kulungiselela abantu ukubuya kwesibini kweNkosi yethu. Ilizwe lizinikele ekuzibhodlozeni. Iimposiso neetshomi zininzi. Izabatha zikaSathana zokutshabalalisa imiphefumlo zandile. Bonke abanga bangagqibelela ekoyikeni uThixo kufuneka bafunde izifundo zobungcathu nokuzilawula. Ukuthanda ukutya nemizwa kufuneka zibekwe phantsi kolawulo lwamandla aphezulu engqondo. Ukukwazi ukuzilawula kuyafuneka kumandla engqondo nembono yomoya eya kusenza ukuba siqonde senze iinyaniso ezingcwele zelizwi likaThixo. Ngenxa yesi sizathu, ubungcathu bufumana indawo emsebenzini wokulungiselela ukubuya kwesibini kukaKristu.ULw 101.2

Ngokuma kwezinto endalweni, unyana kaZekariya ngewayemelwe ukufundiselwa ububingeleli. Phofu ke, imfundo eyayifumaneka ezikolweni zoorabhi yayingayi kumenza awulungele umsebenzi wakhe. UThixo akazange amthumele kwabafundisa ngoThixo, nokuba afunde indlela yokuchaza iziBhalo. Wambizela entlango, ukuze afunde ngendalo nangoThixo wendalo.ULw 101.3

Kwaba kummandla osecaleni apho wazenzela khona ikhaya laKhe, phakathi kweenduli ezize, imiwonyo engumqwebedu, nemiqolomba emaweni. Phofu yayikukuzikhethela kwakhe ukuncama iziyolo nolonwabo lobomi ukuze azilawule qatha entlango. Apha, okumjikelezileyo kwakumlungele ekuziphatheni ngokulula nokuzithiba. Engaphazanyiswa yingxolo yehlabathi, wayekwazi ukufunda izifundo zendalo, zentyilelo, nokubonelela kukaThixo. Amazwi engelosi kuZekariya ayephindwa rhoqo kuYohane ngabazali bakhe ababemoyika uThixo. Kwasebuntwaneni, umsebenzi wakhe wawugcinwe phambi kwakhe, wakwamkela okungcwele akunikiweyo. Kuye, ukuba yedwa entlango yaba kukuphepha abantu awakwamkelayo, apho ukukrokra, ukungakholwa,nokungabinyulu kwakuphantseukugquba khona. Wayengathembanga nawakhe amandla okumelana nesilingo, wakuphepha ukuhlangana nesono, hleze alahlekwe yingqondo yobubi baso obukhulu.ULw 101.4

Ezinikele kuThixo njengomNazarete kwasekuzalweni, wasenza sasesakhe isibhambathiso ebomini bonke bokuzinikela. Impahla yakhe yayiyeyabaprofeti bakudala, ingubo yoboya benkamela, ebhinqe ngomtya wofele. Wayesitya “iinkumbi nobusi basendle” izinto awayezifumana entlango, esela amanzi acocekileyo aphuma ezintabeni.ULw 102.1

Ubomi bukaYohane ke, babungachithwa ngokungenzi nto, ukubandezeleka bubungcathu, okanye ukuzihlalela kwasemoneni. Amaxesha ngamaxesha wayephuma ahlangane nabantu; kwaye wayesoloko ebukela ngomdla okwakusenzeka elizweni. Kule ndawo isecaleni wayehlala kuyo, wayebukele ukutyhileka kweziganeko. Enombono okhanyiselwe nguMoya wezulu, wafunda izimilo zabantu, ukuze ayiqonde indlela yokufikelela kwiintliziyo zabo ngesigidimi sezulu. Umthwalo wakuthunyiweyo wawuphezu kwakhe. Eyedwa, ngokucamngca nokuthandaza, wafuna ukuwulungiselela umphefumlo wakhe, umsebenzi wobomi bakhe bonke owawuphambi kwakhe.ULw 102.2

Nangona esentlango, wayengasindanga ekulingweni. Kangangoko anako, wazivala zonke iinyoba anokungena ngazo uSathana, kodwa kunjalo, wakwazi ukuhlaselwa ngumlingi. Phofu iimbono zakhe zikamoya zazicacile; wayekhulile emandleni nakwisigqibo sesimilo, kwathi ngoncedo lukaMoya Oyingcwele, wakwazi ukukuqaphela ukuza kukaSathana, nokumelana namandla akhe.ULw 102.3

UYohane wazenzela entlango isikolo sakhe nendawo yakhe engcwele. NjengoMoses phakathi kweentaba zakwaMidiyan, wavalelwa apho bubukho bukaThixo, ejikelezwe bubungqina bamandla aKhe. Kwakungekokwakhe ukuhlala, njengenkokheli enkulu kaIsrayeli, phakathi kobungangamsha obunendili beentaba ezizimeleyo; kodwa phambi kwakhe kwakukho iindawo eziphakamileyo zakwaMowabhi, ngaphesheya kweYordan, ezazithetha ngoThixo owazinzisa iintaba, wazibhinqisa ngamandla. Icala elimnyama nelibi lendalo kwikhaya lakhe lasentlango, laliyizoba ngokucacileyo imeko kaIsrayeli. Isidiliya esinesiqhamo sikaYehova sajika saba ngumqwebedu. Sekunjalo, ngaphezu kwentlango, amazulu ayebonakala ekhanya emahle. Amafu awayeqokelelene, emnyama sisaqhwithi, ayehonjiswe ngumnyama wesithembiso. Ngenxa yoko, ngaphaya kokuthobeka kukaIsrayeli, kwakubengezela ubuqaqawuli besithembiso sobukumkani bukaMesiya. Amafu engqumbo ayerhaselwe ngumnyama womnqophiso wenceba yaKhe.ULw 102.4

Eyedwa kubusuku obuthe cwaka, wafunda isithembiso sikaThixo kuAbraham esingembewu engenakubalwa ngokweenkwenkwezi. Ukukhanyakokusa, kuhombise iintabazakwaMowabhi,kwakuxela ngaLowo wayezakuba “njengokukhanyakwentsasa, lakuphuma ilanga, njengentsasa engenamafu.” 2 Sam. 23:4. Ekuqaqambeni kwemini enkulu, wabona ubuhle bokubonakala kwaKhe, xa buya kuthi “butyhileke ubuqaqawuli bukaYehova, ibubone inyama yonke kunye.” Isa. 40:5.ULw 103.1

Ngomoya onoloyiko, kodwa ovuyayo, waphengulula ezincwadini ezisongwayo zesiprofeto izityhilelo ezingokuza kukaMesiya,--imbewu ekwathenjiswa ngayo eyayiza kutyumza intloko yenyoka; uShilo, “umthetheli woxolo,” owayeza kuvela phambi kokuba ukumkani ayeke ukulawula etroneni kaDavide. Ngoku ixesha lalifikile. Umlawuli waseRoma wayehleli kwibhotwe eliphezu kweNtaba yeZiyon. Ngokwelizwi eliqinisekileyo likaYehova, wayesele ezelwe uKristu.ULw 103.2

Imizobo enomdla kaIsaya kaMesiya, wayeyifunda imini nobusuku,-- iGatya esiphunzini sikaYese; uKumkani oza kulawula ngobulungisa,ogweba “ityala lezisweli ngobulungisa;” “[indawo] yokusithela esiphangweni; . . . [u]mthunzi wengxondorha enkulu ezweni elibharhileyo;” kungabi sathiwa ngoIsrayeli, “Sishiywa,” okanye kumhlaba wakhe “Kusenkangala,” kodwa abizwe ngoYehova, “Ndimnanzileyo,” izwe lakhe ngu“Nokwenda.” Isa. 11:4; 32:2; 62:4. Intliziyo yowayeyedwa elubhacweni, yazaliswa ngumbono onozuko.ULw 103.3

Wakhangela iKumkani enobuhle baYo, walibala konke ngesakhe isiqu. Wabubona ubungangamsha bobungcwele waziva engento engafanelekanga. Wayekulungele ukuhamba njengomthunywa weZulu, engoyikiswa ngumntu, kuba wayekhangele koNgcwele. Wayenokuma bhunxe engoyiki phambi kweekumkani zasemhlabeni, kuba wayethobe phantsi phambi koKumkani wookumkani.ULw 103.4

UYohane akazange ayiqonde ngokupheleleyo indalo yobukumkani bukaMesiya. Wayelindele ukuba uIsrayeli uya kuhlangulwa kwiintshaba zakhe zesizwe; kodwa ukufika kukaKumkani ngobulungisa, nokumiswa kukaIsrayeli njengesizwe esingcwele, yayiyeyona njongo inkulu yethemba lakhe. Ngolo hlobo, wakholelwa ukuba siya kwenzeka isiprofeto esanikwayo ekuzalweni kwakhe:ULw 103.5

“Nokukhumbula umnqophiso wayo ongcwele, . . .
Sihlangulwe esandleni seentshaba zethu,
Siyikhonze singenakoyika,
Ngobungcwele nangobulungisa emehlweni ayo,
Yonke imihla yobomi bethu.”ULw 103.6

Wababona abantu bakhe bekhohlisiwe, banelisekile, belele ezonweni zabo. Walangazelela ukubavusela ebomini obungcwele kunobo. Isigidimi awamnika sona uThixo ukuba asithwale sasilungiselelwe ukubavusa ekutyhafeni kwabo, nokubenza ukuba boyike ngenxa yenkohlakalo yabo enkulu. Phambi kokuba imbewu yegospile ifumane indawo yokuhlala, umhlaba wentliziyo kufuneka uphethulwe. Phambi kokuba bafune ukuphiliswa kuYesu, kufuneka baboniswe ingozi abakuyo ngamanxeba esono.ULw 104.1

UThixo akabathumeli abathunywa ukuba bakhohlise umoni. Akasikhuphi isigidimi ukuba silalise abangahlambulukanga kwinkuseleko ebulalayo. Ubeka imithwalo enzima phezu kwesazela sowenza okungalunganga, ahlabe umphefumlo ngeentolo zengqondo. Iingelosi ezilungiselelayo zimxelela izigwebo zikaThixo ezoyikekayo ukuze kuzinze ingqondo yentswelo, ikhuthaze isikhalo, esithi, “Ndimelwe kukuthini ukuze ndisindiswe?” Sithi ke isandla esazithoba eluthulini, simphakamise oguqukayo. Ilizwi elakhalimela isono, lathoba ikratshi nebhongo, libuze ngovelwano olunobubele obukhulu, “Uthanda ukuba ndikwenzele ntoni na?”ULw 104.2

Ngexesha lokuqala komsebenzi kaYohane, isizwe sasiphantsi kwemvuseleleko nokunganeliseki okukhulu okwakusele kusondele ekuvukeleni. Ekususweni kuka-Arkelawo, uYuda wabekwa ngqo ngaphantsi kolawulo lweRoma. Ukubandezela nokuphanga kweerhuluneli zamaRoma, namalinge azo okungenisa imifuziselo kunye namasiko obuhedeni, kwaphembelela uvukelo, olwalucinywe ngegazi lamawaka lamaIsrayeli awayekhaliphe kakhulu. Konke oku kwayiqinisa intiyo ngakwiRoma, kwakukhulisa ukulangazelela ukukhululeka kwigunya layo.ULw 104.3

Phakathi kwesiphithiphithi nokulwa, lavakala ilizwi liphuma entlango, ilizwi elothusayo likwaqinile, kodwa lizele lithemba: “Guqukani kuba ubukumkani bamazulu busondele.” Ngamandla amatsha angaqhelekanga, sabachukumisa abantu. Abaprofeti babekuxele kwangaphambili ukufika kukaKristu njengesiganeko sexesha elikude elizayo; kodwa ngoku nasi isigidimi sisithi busondele. Ukubonakala kukaYohane okungaqhelekanga kwazithabatha iingqondo zabaphulaphuleyo zababuyisela emva kwiimboni zakudala. Ngemo nesinxibo sakhe, wayefana nomprofeti uEliya. Ngomoya namandla kaEliya wayikhalimela inkohlakalo yesizwe, wakhalimela izono ezigqubayo. Amazwi wakhe ayecacile, ebukhali, esoyisa. Abaninzi bakholelwa kuye ngelithi ungomnye wabaprofeti abavuke ekufeni. Isizwe sonke sashukuma. Inkitha yaquqela entlango.ULw 104.4

UYohane wavakalisa ngoMesiya ozayo, wabizela abantu enguqukweni. Njengomfuziselo wokuhlanjululwa kwesono, wababhaptiza emanzini eYordan. Ngoko ke, ngesifundo esingumzekeliso, wabaxelela abo babesithi bangabantu abanyuliweyo bakaThixo ukuba bangcolisiwe sisono, nokuba, ngaphandle kokuhlanjululwa kwentliziyo nobomi [ababuphilayo], abasokuze babe nenxaxheba ebukumkanini bukaMesiya. ULw 104.5

Abathetheli noorabhi, amasoldati, ababuthi berhafu, nabalimi bomhlaba, bonke beza kumphulaphula umprofeti. Okwethuba elithile, isilumkiso esinendili esiphuma kuYehova sabothusa. Abaninzi baziswa enguqukweni, bamkela ukubhaptizwa. Abantu bawo wonke amabakala bawululamela umqathango owawubekwa ngumBhaptizi, ukuze babe nenxaxheba ebukumkanini awayebuvakalisa.ULw 105.1

Abaninzi kubabhali nabaFarisi beza bezivuma izono zabo, becela ukubhaptizwa. Babeziphakamise ngaphezu kwabanye abantu, babenza ukuba abantu babacingele phezulu ngobungcwele; ngoku iimfihlakalo ezinobutyala zobomi babo zaziveziwe. UYohane waxelelwa nguMoya Oyingcwele ukuba abaninzi kwaba bantu abasiqondi ngokwenene isono. Babezinikela nje ngenxa yemeko. [Nabanye bezinikela.] Njengabahlobo bomprofeti, babethembe ukuba baya kuthandwa yiNkosi ezayo. Ngokwamkela ubhaptizo kwizandla zetitshala eyaziwayo neselula, bacinga ngokuqinisa impembelelo yabo ebantwini.ULw 105.2

UYohane wabaphendula ngombuzo orhabaxa, “Nzalandini yamarhamba, ngubani na owanibonisayo, ukuba niyibaleke ingqumbo ezayo? Velisani ngoko iziqhamo eziyifaneleyoinguquko; ize ningaqali nithi ngaphakathi kwenu, Thina sinobawo uAbraham: kuba ndithi kuni, unako uThixo kuwo la matye ukumvelisela abantwana uAbraham.”ULw 105.3

AmaYuda ayesibeke ngenye indlela isithembiso semfesane engunaphakade eyenzelwa uIsrayeli: “Utsho uYehova, uMniki welanga, ukuba libe sisikhanyiso emini; uMniki wemimiselo yenyanga neenkwenkwezi, ukuba zibe sisikhanyiso ebusuku; uMlatyuzisi wolwandle, ukuba agqume amaza alo; ugama lakhe linguYehova wemikhosi: ukuthi, Ukuba ithe yasuka loo mimiselo phambi kwam, utsho uYehova, yophela nayo ke imbewu kaIsrayeli, ingabi luhlanga phambi kwam ngamaxa onke. Utsho uYehova ukuthi, Ukuba lingaba nokulinganiswa izulu phezulu, zibe nokugocwagocwa iziseko zehlabathi phantsi, nam ke ndoba ndiya kuyicekisa yonke imbewu kaIsrayeli, ngenxa yento yonke, abayenzileyo; utsho uYehova.” Yer. 31:35-37. AmaYuda akuthabatha ukuba yinzala kaAbraham ngokwemveli njengokubanika ibango kwesi sithembiso. Basilela ukuziqwalasela iimeko ezazibekwe nguThixo. Phambi kokuba abanike isithembiso, wayethe, “Ndiya kuwubeka umyalelo wam embilinini yabo, ndiwubhale ezintliziyweni zabo, ndibe nguThixo wabo, babe ngabantu bam. . . . ngokuba ndiya kubuxolela ubugwenxa babo, ndingabi sasikhumbula isono sabo.” Yer. 31:33, 34.ULw 106.1

Kubantu ekubhalwe ezintliziyweni umthetho waKhe, uthando lukaThixo luqinisekisiwe. Banye kunye naYe. AmaYuda kodwa ayezahlule kuThixo. Ngenxa yezono zawo, ayebulaleka phantsi kwezohlwayo zaKhe. Yaba ngunobangela lo wokuthinjwa kwabo sisizwe sobuhedeni. Iingqondo zabo zazimfamekiswe kukwaphula umthetho, kwathi kuba kumaxesha angaphambili uThixo wawenzela imfesane enkulu, azithethelela izono zawo. Azikhohlisa ngelithi angcono kunabanye abantu, anebango kwiintsikelelo zaKhe.ULw 106.2

Ezi zinto “zabhalelwa ke ukululeka thina aba, bafikelweyo ziziphelo zawo amaphakade.” 1 Kor. 10:11. Kukangakanani sizigqwetha iintsikelelo zikaThixo, sizikhohlisa ngelithi singabathandiweyo ngenxa yokulungileyo okungaphakathi kwethu! UThixo akakwazi ukusenzela oko afuna ukusenzela kona. Izipho zakhe zisetyenziselwa ukwandisa ukuzanelisa, nokwenza lukhuni iintliziyo zethu ngokungakholwa kunye nesono.ULw 106.3

UYohane wabaxelela abafundisayo kwaIsrayeli ukuba ikratshi labo, umona, nenkohlakalo yabo zibonisa ukuba bayinzala yamarhamba, isiqalekiso esibi ebantwini, kunokuba babe ngabantwana baka-Abraham owayelilungisa nothobelayo. Xa kukhangelwa ukukhanya abakufumanayo kuThixo, babebabi kuneentlanga, ababecinga ukuba bangcono kunazo.Balilibalailiwaababexhonxwekulo,nomhadi Apho bombiwa khona. UThixo wayengaxhomekekanga kubo ukuzalisekisa injongo yaKhe. Njengoko wabiza uAbraham ukuba aphume kubahedeni bakubo, uya kubabiza abanye beze emsebenzini waKhe. Iintliziyo zabo zingabonakala zingenabomi ngokwamatye asentlango, kodwa uMoya waKhe unako ukubavusa ukuba benze intando yaKhe, bamkele ukuzalisekiswa kwesithembiso saKhe.ULw 106.4

“Kananjalo,” watsho umprofeti, “izembe selibekiwe engcanjini yemithi; ngoko yonke imithi engavelisi siqhamo sihle, iyagawulwa iphoswe emlilweni.” Akungagama lawo, kodwa ngesiqhamo sawo, ekubonwa ngaso ixabiso lomthi. Ukuba isiqhamo asinaxabiso, igama alinako ukuwusindisa umthi ekugawulweni. UYohane wawaxelela amaYuda ukuba imeko yawo phambi kukaThixo iya kugqitywa ngesimilo nobomi bawo. Ukuzibiza nje kwakungelutho. Ukuba ubomi nesimilo sasingavumelani nomthetho kaThixo, ayengengabo abantu baKhe. ULw 107.1

Kumazwi akhe aphengulula intliziyo, abamameleyo babambeka. Beza kuye benombuzo, “Masenze ntoni na ke?” Wayephendula, “Lowo uneengubo zangaphantsi ezimbini, makabele ongenayo: nalowo unokudla, makenjenjalo.” Wabalumkisa ababuthi berhafu ngokuswela ubulungisa, namasoldati ngenkohlakalo.ULw 107.2

Bonke ababa ngaphantsi kolawulo lobukumkani bukaKristu, wathi, baya kubonisa ukholo nenguquko. Ububele, ukunyaniseka nokuthembeka kuya kubonakala ebomini babo. Baya kulungiselela kwabasweleyo, bazise iminikelo yabo kuThixo. Baya kukhusela abangenakuzikhusela, babe ngumzekelo wokuhle novelwano. Ngokunjalo, abalandeli bakaKristu baya kunika ubungqina bamandla aguqulayo kaMoya Oyingcwele. Ebomini bemihla ngemihla, ubulungisa, inceba nothando lukaThixo ziya kubonakala. Kungenjalo, bafana nomququ ophoswa emlilweni.ULw 107.3

“Mna okunene ndinibhaptizela enguqukweni ngamanzi,” watsho uYohane; “kodwa lowo uzayo emva kwam unamandla kunam, ozimbadada ndingakulingeneyo ukuziphatha; yena uya kunibhaptiza ngoMoya Oyingcwele nangomlilo.” Mat. 3:11. Umprofeti uIsaya wavakalisa ukuba uYehova uya kubahlambulula abantu baKhe kubugwenxa babo “ngomoya ogwebayo, ngangomoya olulophu.” Ilizwi likaYehova kuIsaya lalisithi, “Ndobuyisela phezu kwakho isandla sam, ndikunyibilikise ngokufezekileyo njengegolide, likhutshwe igwebu lakho.” Isa. 4:4; 1:25. Esonweni, nokuba siphi, “uThixo wethu ungumlilo odlayo.” Heb. 12:29. Kubo bonke abazinikela kwigunya laKhe, uMoya kaThixo uya kusigqiba isono. Abo bantu babambelela esonweni, baye bafane naso. Buthi ke, ubuqaqawuli bukaThixo obutshabalalisa isono, kubatshabalalise. UYakobi, emva kobusuku bakhebokubambananeNgelosi,wathi,“Ndibonene noThixo, wahlangulwa umphefumlo wam.” Gen. 32: 30. ULw 107.4

UYakobi wayenetyala lesono esikhulu ngokuziphatha kwakhe ngakuEsawu; kodwa waguquka. Ubugwenxa bakhe babuxolelwe, isono sakhe sahlanjwa; ngoko ke wayenokumelana nokutyhilwa kobukho bukaThixo. Naphina apho abantu beza phambi kukaThixo besathanda isono, babebulawa. Ekufikeni kwesibini kukaKristu, abakhohlakeleyo baya kutshiswa “ngomoya womlomo wayo,” ibabhangise “ngokubonakala kokufika kwayo.” 2 Tesalonika 2:8. Ukukhanya kobuqaqawuli bukaThixo, okunika ubomi kumalungisa, kuya kubabulala abakhohlakeleyo.ULw 108.1

Ngexesha likaYohane umBhaptizi, uKristu wayesele eza kubonakala engumvezi wesimilo sikaThixo. Ubukho baKhe nje babuza kwenza sibonakale ebantwini isono sabo. Kwakuza kuba kuphela xa bekufuna ukuhlanjululwa esonweni apho babeya kungena kulwalamano naYe. Kuphela, ngabanyulu entliziyweni abanokuhlala phambi kobuso baKhe.ULw 108.2

Ngoko ke, umBhaptizi wasivakalisa isigidimi sikaThixo kuIsrayeli. Abaninzi bawuphulaphula umyalelo wakhe. Abaninzi bancama konke ukuze bathobele. Izihlwele zayilandela le titshala intsha ukuya kwindawo ngendawo, baye bengekho mbalwa abanethemba elithi unokuba unguMesiya. Wayesithi xa uYohane ebabona abantu bebuyela kuye, azame lonke ithuba lokujikela ukholo lwabo kuLowo wayeza kuza.ULw 108.3