80—Engcwabeni LikaYosefu
Ekugqibeleni uYesu waphumla. Imini ende yosizi nentlungu yayiphelile. Ekugqibeleni imitha yelanga elitshonayo yamkela iSabatha, uNyana kaThixo ulele ezolile engcwabeni likaYosefu. Umsebenzi waKhe ugqityiwe, izandla zaKhe zisongiwe enoxolo, uphumle ngeeyure ezingcwele zemini yeSabatha. ULw 769.1
Ekuqalekeni, uBawo kunye noNyana baphumla ngeSabatha emva komsebenzi waBo wokudala. Akuba “amazulu nehlabathi (egqityiwe), nawo wonke umkhosi wezo zinto,” (Gen. 2:1), uMdali nazo zonke izidalwa zasezulwini wavuya akuwukhangela umboniso wobuqaqawuli. “Ekumemeleleni kunye kwamakhwezi okusa, beduma bonke oonyana bakaThixo.” Yobhi 38:7. Ngoku uYesu uphumle emsebenzini wokuhlangula; kodwa, nangona kwakukho intlungu kwabo babemthanda emhlabeni, kwakukho uvuyo ezulwini. Sasiqaqambile kwizidalwa zasezulwini isithembiso sekamva. Indalo ebuyiselweyo, uhlanga oluhlangulweyo, oluya kuthi ngokoyisa isono lungabuye luwe,--oku, isiphumo esasiza kuphuma emsebenzini kaKristu ogqityiweyo, uThixo neengelosi bakubona. Imini athe waphumla ngayo uYesu, ihlangene nalo mbono ngonaphakade. “Ngokuba zonke iindlela zakhe zisesikweni;” “yonke into aya kuyenza uThixo, yiyo eya kuba ngonaphakade.” Dut. 32:4; Intsh. 3:14. Ngexesha “[lo]kubuyiswa kweento zonke, awathethayo uThixo ngomlomo wabo bonke abaprofeti abangcwele, kususela kunaphakade (IZenzo 3:21), iSabatha yendalo, imini athe uYesu waphumla ngayo engcwabeni likaYosefu, iya kuhlala iyimini yophumlo novuyo. Izulu nomhlaba aya kumanyana ekudumiseni, “kuphikelane neesabatha zonke” (Isa. 66:23) izizwe zabasindisiweyo ziya kuthoba zinqula uThixo neMvana ngovuyo. ULw 769.2
Kwiziganeko zokugqibela zemini yokubethelelwa emnqamlezwni, kwanikwa ubungqina obutsha bokuzaliseka kwesiprofeto, kwanikwa nobungqina obutsha ngobuThixo bukaKristu. Bathi ubumnyama bakususwa emnqamlezweni, kwakuba kuvakele ukukhala kokufa koMsindisi, kwangoko kwavakala elinye ilizwi, lisithi, “Inyaniso, lo ebenguNyana kaThixo.” Mat. 27:54.ULw 770.1
La mazwi athethwa kungasetyezwa. Amehlo onke ajika ukuba abone apho aphuma khona. Ngubani owayethetha? Yayingumthetheli-khulu, isoldati lamaRoma. Unyamezelo olungcwele loMsindisi, nokufa kwaKhe ngokukhawuleza, isikhalo soloyiso sisemilebeni yaKhe, konke kwawutsala umdla wale ntlanga. Emzimbeni ongxwelerhiweyo, owaphukileyo ojinga emnqamlezweni, umthetheli-khulu wabona umzimba woNyana kaThixo. Akazange abe nokuzibamba ekuluvumeni ukholo lwakhe. Ngolo hlobo baphinda banikwa ubungqina bokuba uMhlanguli wethu wayeza kubona ukubulaleka komphefumlo waKhe. Ngale mini kanye yokufa kwaKhe, abantu abathathu, bohlukene kakhulu omnye komnye, bavakalisa ukholo lwabo,--lowo wayekhokela ibutho lamaRoma, lowo wathwala umnqamlezo woMsindisi, nalowo wafa emnqamlezweni ecaleni kwaKhe. ULw 770.2
Njengoko ukuhlwa kwakusondela, kwathi zinzi inzolo engaqhelekanga eKalvari. Isihlwele sasichitheka, abaninzi bebuyela eYerusalem beguquke kakhulu emoyeni kwinto ababeyiyo ngentsasa. Abaninzi babeye ngokugxalathelana ekubethelelweni emnqamlezweni ngokufuna ukubona okwenzekayo, kungangakuba babemthiyile uKristu. Phofu, babesazikholelwa izityholo zababingeleli, baza bambona uYesu njengomenzi wobubi. Bephethwe kukuthabatheka okukhulu okungaqhelekanga, bazimanya nesixuku ekumgculeleni uYesu. Wathi kodwa wakwambathiswa ngobumnyama umhlaba, bema bemangalelwa zizazela zabo, baziva benetyala elikhulu lokungalunganga. Kwakungekho kuqhula okanye intsini yokugculela eyayivakala phakathi kobumnyama oboyikekayo; kwathi bakususwa, bahamba babuyela emakhaya ngenzolo enkulu. Boyisakala ukuba izityholo zababingeleli zazibubuxoki, nokuba uYesu wayengengumntu ozenzisayo; kwathi kwiiveki ezimbalwa emva koko, xa uPetros wayeshumayela ngemini yePentekoste, baba phakathi kwamawaka awaguqukela kuKristu.ULw 770.3
Zona iinkokeli zamaYuda azizange ziguqulwe ziziganeko ezazibonayo. Intiyo yazo ngakuYesu yayingathothanga. Ubumnyama obabugqume umhlaba ekubethelelweni emnqamlezweni babungengqingqwa ukudlula obo babusazigubungele iingqondo zababingeleli nabaphathi. Ukuzalwa kwaKhe, inkwenkwezi yayimazile uKristu, yazikhokelela izazi emkhumbini apho wayelele khona. Imikhosi yasezulwini yayimazile, yacula indumiso phezu kwamathafa aseBhetelehem. Ulwandle lwalulazile ilizwi laKhe, lwawuthobela umyalelo waKhe. Isifo nokufa kwakulamkele igunya laKhe, lwaliyekela kuYe ixhoba lako. Ilanga lalimazile, lathi lakubona intlungu yokufa kwaKhe labufihla ubuso bokukhanya kwalo. Amawa ayemazile, angcangcazela acandeka akukhala. Indalo engenabomi yayimazile uKristu, yabungqina ubuThixo baKhe. Bona ababingeleli nabaphathi bakwaIsrayeli, abazange bamazi uNyana kaThixo. ULw 770.4
Kanti ke, ababingeleli nabaphathi babengaphumlanga. Babeyenzile injongo yabo yokubulala uKristu; kodwa abazange bazive boyisile njengoko babelindele. Nangexesha kanye ekubonakala ngathi boyisile, babethwaxwa kukungazi ukuba yintoni eza kulandela. Babesivile isikhalo, esithi, “Kugqityiwe.” “Bawo, ndiyawunikela ezandleni zaKho umoya wam.” Yohane 19:30; Luka 23:46. Babewabonile amawa ekrazuka, babe beyivile inyikima enkulu, ababi nakuphumla nakonwaba. ULw 771.1
Babenomona ngempembelelo kaKristu ebantwini esaphila; banomona ngaYe nasekufeni. Babemoyika uKristu ofileyo kakhulu, kakhulu ngaphezu kokuba babeke boyika uKristu ophilayo. Boyika, hleze ingqondo yabantu ikhokelelwe ngaphaya kweziganeko ezijikeleze ukubethelelwa kwaKhe emnqamlezweni. Boyika iziphumo zaloo mini. Babengakwazi, nangasiphi isizathu, ukuwuyeka umzimba waKhe ukuba uhlale emnqamlezweni ngeSabatha. ISabatha ngoku yayisondele, kwaye kwakuya kuba kukwaphula ubungcwele bayo ukujinga kwemizimba emnqamlezweni. Ngoko ke, esebenzisa esi sizathu, amaYuda akhokeleyo acela uPilato ukuba ukufa kwamaxhoba kukhawuleziswe, ize imizimba yawo isuswe lingekatshoni ilanga. ULw 771.2
UPilato wayengathandi, kwanje ngabo, ukuba umzimba kaYesu ujinge emnqamlezweni. Kwathi kwakuba kufunyenwe imvume yakhe, imilenze yamasela amabini yaphulwa ukukhawulezisa ukufa kwawo; kodwa uYesu Yena wafunyanwa sele efile. Amasoldati akhohlakeleyo nawathotyozwa yinto awayiva ayibona ngoKristu, akazange akwazi ukuwaphula amalungu aKhe. Ngoko ke, ekunikelweni kweMvana kaThixo kwazaliseka umthetho wePasika, “Bangasalisi nto kuyo kude kuse, bangaphuli thambo layo. Boyenza ngokommiselo wonke wePasika.” Num. 9:12.ULw 771.3
Ababingeleli nabaphathi bamangaliswa ukufumana ukuba uKristuufile. Ukufa ngomnqamlezo kwakuyinkqubo ethabatha ixesha, kwaye kwakunzima ukuqikelela ukuba buphele nini ubomi. Yinto engazange yaviwa eyokuba umntu afe kwisithuba seeyure ezintandathu zokubethelelwa. Ababingeleli bafuna ukuqiniseka ngokufa kukaYesu, kwathi ngokucebisa kwabo, isoldati lafaka umkhonto ecaleni loMsindisi. Enxebeni elenziwayo, kwaphuma imithombo emikhulu eyahlukeneyo, omnye ungowegazi, omnye ungowamanzi. Oku kwaqatshelwa ngabo bonke abakhangeleyo, abe uYohane esixela ngokuqinisekileyo esi siganeko. Uthi, “Lesuka elinye isoldati lamhlaba ngomkhonto ecaleni; kwaoko kwaphuma igazi namanzi. Nalowo ubonileyo ungqinile, nobungqina bakhe buyinyaniso; naye yena uyazi ukuba uthetha inyaniso, ukuze nani nikholwe. Kuba zenzeka ezi zinto, ukuze isibhalo sizaliseke esithi, Akuyi kutyunyuzwa thambo lakhe. Kanjalo nesinye isibhalo sithi, Baya kukhangela kulowo bamhlabileyo.” Yohane 19:34-37.ULw 772.1
Emva kokuvuka, ababingeleli nabaphathi bajikelezisa ingxelo yokuba uKristu akazange afe emnqamlezweni, koko wafa isiqaqa, emva koko wabuya wavuka. Enye ingxelo yaqinisekisa ukuba yayingenguwo umzimba wenene wenyama namathambo, kodwa yayiyimfano nomzimba, eyabekwa engcwabeni. Isenzo samasoldati amaRoma siyabuphikisa obu buxoki. Awazange ayaphule imilenze yaKhe kuba wayesele efile. Ukwanelisa ababingeleli, bamhlaba ecaleni. Ukuba ubomi babungase buphelile, eli nxeba laliya kubanga ukufa kwangoko. ULw 772.2
Phofu ke, yayingengumkhonto owahlatywayo, yayingeyiyo intlungu yomnqamlezo, eyabanga ukufa kukaYesu. Eso sikhalo, esatshiwo “ngezwi elikhulu” (Mat. 27:50; Luka 23:46), ngomzuzu wokufa, umthombo wegazi namanzi elaphuma ecaleni laKhe, zizinto ezixela ukuba wafa ngentliziyo eyaphukileyo. Intliziyo yaKhe yayaphulwe yintlungu yengqondo. Wabulawa sisono sehlabathi. ULw 772.3
Ekufeni kukaKristu, amathemba abafundi atshabalala. Bakhangela iinkophe zaKhe ezivaliweyo, nentloko ewileyo, iinwele zibophene ligazi, izandla neenyawo zaKhe zinamanxeba, intlungu yabo ayaba nakuchazeka. Kwada kwaba sekugqibeleni bengakholwa ukuba wayeza kufa; kwaba nzima ukuba bakholwe ukuba ufile ngenene. Ngokonganyelwa lusizi, abazange bawakhumbule amazwi awayexela kwantlandlolo kanye lo mboniso. Bekungekho nto wayeyithethile ebathuthuzelayo ngoku. Babona kuphela umnqamlezo kunye neXhoba lawo elophayo. Ikamva labonakala limnyama kukuswela ithemba. Ukholo lwabo kuYesu lwalufile; kodwa abakaze bayithanda iNkosi yabo njengangoku. Abakaze ngaphambili bakuva ukuxabiseka kwaYo, nokudinga kwabo ubukho baYo. ULw 772.4
Nasekufeni, umzimba kaYesu wawuxabiseke kakhulu kubafundi baKhe. Balangazelelaukumngcwaba ngesidima, kodwa abazi ukuba bangakwenza njani oku. Uvukelo olukhulu kumbuso wamaRoma yayilulwaphulo-mthetho awagwetyelwa lona uYesu, kwaye abantu ababulewe ngenxa yoku kona babe bekelwe ukungcwatywa kumhlaba owawulungiselele ukungcwaba abaphuli-mthetho abanjalo. Umfundi uYohane nabafazi ababevela eGalili, babesele emnqamlezweni. Babengenakuwushiya umzimba weNkosi yabo ukuba uphathwe ngamasoldati angenaluvelwano, uze ungcwatywe kwingcwaba elingahlonitshwanga. Kanti ke, babengenako ukuyinqanda loo nto. Babengenakuzuza mfesane kumagunya amaYuda, baye bengenayo nempembelelo kuPilato. ULw 773.1
Kule ngxaki ikhawulezileyo, uYosefu waseArimatiya noNikodemo, beza kubanceda abafundi. Omabini la madoda ayengamalungu eQumrhu lababingeleli elilawulayo (iSanhedrin), kwaye ayeqhelene noPilato. Omabini ayenobutyebi nempembelelo. Aye azimisela ukuba, umzimba kaYesu uya kungcwatywa ngesidima.ULw 773.2
UYosefu waya ngesibindi kuPilato, wawucela kuye umzimba kaYesu. Kwakukokokuqala uPilato esiva ukuba uYesu ufile ngokwenene. Iingxelo ezibethanayo zazifikile kuye ngeziganeko ezijikeleze ukubethelelwa, kodwa ulwazi ngokufa kukaKristu lwalufihlwe ngabom kuye. UPilato wayelunyukisiwe ngababingeleli nabaphathi ekulahlekisweni ngabafundi bakaKristu ngokubhekiselele kumzimba waKhe. Wathi akuva isicelo sikaYosefu, wathi ngoko wathumela ukuba kubizwe umthetheli-khulu owayongamele umnqamlezo, waza weva ngokuqinisekileyo ngokufa kukaYesu. Waya wasabela kuye ingxelo ngokwakwenzekile eKhalvari, eqinisekisa ubungqina bukaYosefu. ULw 773.3
Isicelo sikaYosefu samkeleka. Njengokuba uYohane wayekhathazekile ngokungcwatywa kweNkosi yakhe, uYosefu yena wabuya nomyalelo kaPilato womzimba kaKristu; waza uNikodemo ephethe umxube onexabiso wemore nehaloti, owawukwisithuba sekhulu leeponti ubunzima, ukuze aqholwe. Abona bantu babehlonitshiwe eYerusalem babengazange baboniswe imbeko engako ekufeni. Abafundi bamangaliswa kukubona aba balawuli bazizityebi benomdla kwanjengabo ekungcwatyweni kweNkosi yabo.ULw 773.4
Akakho phakathi kukaYosefu noNikodemo owamamkela ekuhleni uMsindisi esaphila. Babesazi ukuba inyathelo elinjalo lingabakhupha kwiQumrhu lababingeleli elilawulayo, baza bathemba ukumkhusela ngempembelelo yabo ezintlanganisweni zalo. Kwaba lixesha, bengathi baya phumelela; kodwa ababingeleli abanenkani, bebona ukumthanda kwabo uKristu, bawachitha amacebo abo. Bathe bengekho, uYesu wagwetywa wanikelwa ukuba abethelelwe emnqamlezweni.ULw 773.5
Ngoku, akuba efile, abasakufihli ukuhlobana kwabo naYe. Lo gama abafundibesoyika ukuzivezaelubalaukubabangabalandeli baKhe, uYosefu noNikodemo beza ngesibindi ukuba babancede. Uncedo lwala madoda azizityebi nahloniphekileyo lwaludingeka kakhulu ngeli xesha. Bakwazi ukwenzela iNkosi yabo efileyo oko kwakunzima kubafundi abahluphekileyo ukuba bakwenze; baza ubutyebi babo nempembelelo yabo yabakhusela (abafundi), ngokukhulu, kwinkohlakalo yababingeleli nabaphathi. ULw 774.1
Ngobunono nangentlonipho, bawususa ngezabo izandla umzimba kaYesu emnqamlezweni. Iinyembezi zabo zovelwano zawa ngamandla xa babe khangele umzimba olinyaziweyo nonamanxeba. UYosefu wayenengcwaba elitsha, lixholwe elityeni. Eli ngcwaba wayeligcinele isiqu sakhe; kodwa lalikufuphi eKalvari, waza ngoku walilungisela uYesu. Umzimba, kunye neziqholo ezazize noNikodemo, wasongelwa ngononophelo ngelinen, waza uMhlanguli wathwalelwa engcwabeni. Apho, abafundi abathathu bawolula amalungu alimeleyo, bazisonga izandla ezenzakeleyo phezu kwesifuba esingasashukumiyo. Abafazi baseGalili beza ukuba babone ukuba konke kwenziwe ebekufanele ukwenziwa kumzimba ongenabomi weTitshala yabo eyintanda. Emva koko balibona ilitye elinzima liqengqelwa emlonyeni wengcwaba, waza washiywa uMsindisi ukuba aphumle. Abafazi babe ngabokugqibela emnqamlezweni, bengabokugqibela engcwabeni likaKristu. Athi xa amathunzi okuhlwa ehlanganisana, uMariya waseMagadala, nabanye ooMariya, bazulazula ngakule ndawo yokuphumla kweNkosi yabo, bephalaza iinyembezi zosizi ngenxa yesiphelo saLowo babemthanda. “Babuya ke, . . . baphumla ngokomthetho.” Luka 23:56.ULw 774.2
Leyo yayiyiSabatha engasokuze yalityalwa kubafundi ababenosizi, nakubabingeleli, abaphathi, ababhali, kunye nabantu. Ekutshoneni kwelanga ngorhatya lwemini yokulungiselela, avakala amaxilongo, exela ukuba iSabatha yayiqalile. IPasika yayigcinwe njengoko kwakusenziwa kwiinkulungwane, lo gama Lowo yayisalatha kuYe wayebulewe ngezandla ezikhohlakeleyo, walaliswa engcwabeni likaYosefu. NgeSabatha iinkundla zetempile zazizele ngabanquli. Umbingeleli omkhulu owayesuka eGolgotha waye lapho, enxibe mbetshembetshe izambatho zakhe zobungcwele. Ababingeleli ababethwele unkontsho olumhlophe, babephithizela besenza imisebenzi yabo. Phofu, abanye ababekhona babengonwabanga ngeli xesha kunikelwa igazi leenkunzi neebhokhwe ngenxa yesono. Babengaqondi ukuba umfuziselo uthe wahlangana noqobo, nokuba umbingelelo ongenasiphelo uye wenziwa ngenxa yezono zehlabathi. Babesazi ukuba lalingekho elinye ixabiso ekwenziweni kwenkonzo yesiqhelo. Akuzange phofu ngaphambili kwenzeke ukuba loo nkonzo yenziwe izimvo ziphixene kangako. Amaxilongo nezixhobo zomculo kunye namazwi eemvumi konke kutsho ngengxolo ecacileyo yesiqhelo. Phofu uluvo olungaqhelekanga lwalukho kuyo yonke into.ULw 774.3
Omnye emva komnye babuzana ngesiganeko esingaqhelekanga esasenzekile. Ukuza kuthi ga ngoku, ingcwele kangcwele yayisoloko yaluswe ngobungcwele ukuba ingangenwa nje. Ngoku, yayivuleke genge ibonwa ngamehlo onke. Ikhuselo elinzima elalukiweyo, lenziwe ngelinen ecikizekileyo, lahonjiswa kakuhle ngegolide, linombala omfusa, nelimsi, lalikrazuke ukusuka phezulu laya kufika phantsi. Indawo apho uYehova wayehlangana khona nombingeleli omkhulu, ukuba adlulisele kuye ubuqaqawuli baKhe, indawo eyayiligumbi elingcwele likaThixo lokuphulaphula, lalivuleke kuwo onke amehlo,--indawo awayekayo ukuyixabisa uYehova. Ngeminikelo engacacanga, ababingeleli balungiselela phambi kwesibingelelo. Ukutyhileka kwemfihlakalo engcwele yeNgcwele kaNgcwele kwabazalisa ngokoyika intlekele eyayisiza. ULw 775.1
Iingqondo ezininzi zazixakekile ziingcinga ezaqalwa yimiboniso yaseKalvari. Ukususela ekubethelelweni emnqamlezweni ukuya ekuvukeni, amehlo amaninzi awayengasalali aye zingisa ekuphengululeni iziprofeto, amanye efunda intsingiselo epheleleyo yesidlo ababesenza ngoko, amanye efuna ukufumana ubungqina bokuba uYesu wayengeyiyo le nto wayesithi uyiyo; kanti amanye eneentliziyo ezinosizi ayephanda ubungqina bokuba wayenguMesiya oyinyaniso. Nangona kwakuphandwa ngeenjongo ezahlukeneyo, onke awoyisakele yinyaniso enye,--eyokuba isiprofeto sasizalisekile kwiziganeko zeentsuku ezazisanda kudlula, nokuba Lowo wabethelelwayo wayenguMhlanguli wehlabathi. Abaninzi abathi ngelo xesha bamanyana enkonzweni, abazange babe bathabathe nxaxheba kwiinkonzo zePasika. Abaninzi nakubabingeleli baba nokusiqonda isimo esisiso sikaYesu. Ukuphengulula kwabo iziprofeto akuzange kube lilize, kwathi emva kokuvuka kwaKhe, bamvuma ukuba unguNyana kaThixo.ULw 775.2
UNikodemo, wathi akumbona uYesu ephakanyiswe emnqamlezweni wawakhumbula amazwi aKhe awawathetha ngobusuku kwiNtaba yeMinquma: “Njengokuba ke uMoses wayiphakamisayo inyoka entlango, umelwe kukuphakanyiswa ngokunjalo uNyana woMntu. Ukuze bonke abakholwayo kuye bangatshabalali, koko babe nobomi obungunaphakade.” Yohane 3:14, 15. Ngaloo Sabatha, ngexesha uYesu wayelele engcwabeni, uNikodemo waba nethuba lokucingisisa. Ukukhanya okucace kakhulu ngoku kwayikhanyisela ingqondo yakhe, athi amazwi awayethethwe nguYesu kuye awaba saba yimfihlelo. Waziva elahlekwe kokuninzi ngokungazihlanganisi noMsindisi esaphila. Ngoku wakhumbula iziganeko zaseKalvari. Ukuthandazela kukaYesu ababulali baKhe nempendulo yaKhe ekubongozeni kwesela elalisifa, konke kwathetha entliziyweni yomphathi ofundileyo. Waphinda wamkhangela uMsindisi osentlungwini; waphinda wasiva isikhalo sokugqibela, “Kugqityiwe,” sithethwa ngokwamazwi owoyisileyo. Kwakhona wabona umhlaba unyikima, amazulu emnyama, ikhuselo likrazuka,amawaengcangcazela,lwazaukhololwakhe lwazinza ngonaphakade. Esi siganeko kanye satshabalalisa amathemba abafundi, yaba siso esoyisa uYosefu noNikodemo ngobuThixo bukaYesu. Uloyiko lwabo loyiswa sisibindi sokholo oluqinileyo nolungahexiyo.ULw 775.3
UKristu akazange waka watsala iingqondo zesihlwele esingako njengoko wayelele engcwabeni. Ngokwesithethe sabo, abantu bazisa abagulayo nabafayo babo ezinntendelezweni zetempile, bebuza, Ngubani onokusixelela ngoYesu waseNazarete? Abaninzi babesuka kude befuna Lowo wayephilisa ekwavusa abafileyo. Kwindawo yonke kwakuvakala isikhalo, Sifuna uKristu uMphilisi! Kule meko, bonke ababebonisa ukuba neempawu zokuba neqhenqa, babehlolwa ngababingeleli. Abaninzi babenyanzeleka ukuba beve kuxelelwa abayeni babo, abafazi, okanye abantwana babo kusithiwa baneqhenqa, bagwetyelwe ukuba bashiye inkuseleko yamakhaya abo nokukhathalelwa ngabahlobo babo, balumkise abasemzini ngesikhalo sofelweyo, “Ndingcolile, ndingcolile!” Izandla ezinobubele zikaYesu waseNazarete, ezingazange zala ukuchukumisa ngokuphilisa oneqhenqa othiyekileyo, zazisongwe esifubeni saKhe. Imilebe eyayiphendula izibongozo zakhe ngamazwi entuthuzelo, “Ndiyathanda, hlambuluka” (Mat. 8:3), ngoku, yayithule. Abaninzi babhenela kubabingeleli abakhulu, nakubaphathi befuna uvelwano nokukhululwa, kodwa ngelize. Kuyabonakala ukuba, babezimisele ukuba noYesu ophilileyo phakathi kwabo kwakhona. Ngokunyaniseka okuzingileyo, bamfuna. Babengakwazi ukuhamba. Baya bagxothwa kwintendelezo yetempile, kwamiswa amasoldati emasangweni ukuba asisuse isihlwele esasize nabagulayo nabafayo, sifuna ukungena. ULw 776.1
Abafayo ababeze kufuna unyango kuMsindisi, bathi woxo kukudana. Izitrato zazizaliswe sisikhalo. Abagulayo babesifa kukufuna inkcukumiso ephilisayo kaYesu. Ukuya koogqirha kwaba lilize; kwakungeko buchule bufana nobaLowo ulele engcwabeni likaYosefu. ULw 776.2
Izikhalo zokufelwa zabagulayo zazisa ezingqondweni zamawaka isiqinisekiso sokuba ukukhanya okukhulu kumkile ehlabathini. Ngaphandle kukaKristu, umhlaba wawumnyama, uyintsunguzi. Abaninzi abamazwi abo ayenyusa isikhalo esithi, “Mbethelele, mbethelele,” ngoku babeyiqonda intlekele eyabafikelayo, kwaye bebenga babekhale bathi, Sinike uYesu! ukuba ebesaphila.ULw 776.3
Bathi abantu bakuva ukuba uYesu ubulewe ngababingeleli, babuza ngokufa kwaKhe. Ubuceducedu betyala laKhe babugcinwe bufihlakele kangangoko; kodwa kwenzeka ukuba ngexesha esengcwabeni igama laKhe libe kumawaka emilebe, zaye iingxelo zokuxoxwa okungekuko kwetyala laKhe, nenkohlakalo yababingeleli nabaphathi, zahamba yonke indawo. Abantu abachubekileyo, aba babingeleli nabalawuli babecelwa ukuba bachaze iziprofeto zeTestamente eNdala ezingoMesiya, baze bathi bakuzama ukumisa ubuxoki ekuphenduleni kwabo, bafane nabantu abaphambeneyo. Iziprofeto ezazisalatha kwintlungu nokufa kukaKristu, abazange bakwazi ukuzichaza, baza abaninzi baqiniseka ukuba iziBhalo zizalisekile. ULw 777.1
Impindezelo ababecinga ababingeleli ukuba iya kubamnandi kakhulu yayiqalile ukubakrakra kubo. Bazi ukuba babequbisene nokugxekwa okukhulu ngabantu; bazi ukuba abantu aba babebakhuthaze ukuba bachase uYesu, ngoku, babothusiwe ngumsebenzi wabo olihlazo. Aba babingeleli babezamile ukukholwa ukuba uYesu ngumkhohlisi; kodwa abakwazi. Abanye babo babemi ngasengcwabeni likaLazaro, bambona ofileyo ebuyela ebomini. Bangcangcazela kukoyika ukuba uKristu ngokwaKhe angavuka kwabafileyo, aphinde abonakale phambi kwabo. Babemvile esithi unegunya lokubeka ubomi baKhe phantsi abuye abuthabathe kwakhona. Bakhumbula ukuba wayethe, “Yichitheni le tempile, mna ke ndiya kuyivusa ngeentsuku ezintathu.” Yohane 2:19. UYuda (Iskariyoti) wayebaxelele amazwi awayethethwe nguYesu kubafundi ngexesha bekuhambo lokugqibela ukuya eYerusalem: “Niyabona, siyenyuka siya eYerusalem, waye uNyana woMntu eya kunikelwa kubo ababingeleli abakhulu nababhali. Baya kumgweba ukuba afe, bamnikele kuzo iintlanga ukuba zidlale ngaye, zimtyakatye, zimbethelele emnqamlezweni, athi ngomhla wesithathu abuye avuke.” Mat. 20:18, 19. Baya bathi ukuva kwabo la mazwi bagculela bahlekisa. Ngoku, bayakhumbula ukuba, izinto uKristu awazixela kwangaphambili, ukuza kuthi ga ngoku, zenzekile. Wayethe uya kuvuka ngosuku lwesithathu, ngubani onokuthi leyo into ayisokuze yenzeke? Balangazelela ukuzikhupha ezingqondweni ezi ngcinga, kodwa babengakwazi. Njengoyise wabo, umtyholi, bakholwa bangcangcazela. ULw 777.2
Ngoku ke, njengokuba iphelile impambano yokuthabatheka, umfanekiselo kaKristu ungena utyhudisa ezingqondweni zabo. Bambona emi ezolile engakhalazi phambi kweentshaba zaKhe, enentlungu kodwa engasoli, kukuhlekisa nokumphatha kakubi kwabo. Zonke iziganeko nokuxoxwa kwetyala laKhe nokubethelelwa emnqamlezweni, zibuyela kubo ngesiqinisekiso esinamandla angaphaya sokuba wayenguNyana kaThixo. Baya banemvakalelo yokuba nangaliphi na ixesha, uya kuma phambi kwabo, omangalelweyo inguye omangalayo, ogwetyiweyo inguye umgwebi, obuleweyo afune ubulungisa ngokufa kwababulali baKhe.ULw 777.3
Bakwazi ukuphumla kancinane ngeSabatha. Nangona babengakwazi ukudlula ngaphaya komda owawumiselwe abeeNtlanga ngokoyika ukungcola, kodwa baba nentlanganiso engomzimba kaKristu. Ukufa nengcwaba kufuneka kumbambe Lowo babembethelele emnqamlezweni. “Bahlanganisana ababingeleli abakhulu nabaFarisi kuPilato, besithi, Nkosi, sikhumbule ukuba umlahlekisi lowa wathi esahleli, Emveni kweentsuku ezintathu, ndiya kuvuka. Yitsho ngoko linqatyiswe ingcwaba, kude kube lusuku lwesithathu, hleze abafundi bakhe beze ebusuku, bambe, bathi ke ebantwini, Uvukile kwabafileyo; luze olokugqibela ulahlekiso lube lubi kunolokuqala. Wathi ke uPilato kubo, Ninabo abalindi; hambani niye kunqabisa ngoko nazi ngako.” Mat. 27:62-65.ULw 778.1
Ababingeleli banika imiyalelo yokuliqinisa ingcwaba. Ilitye elikhulu lalibekiwe phambi komnyango. Ukunqumla kweli litye, babeka iintambo, ziqinise eziphelo zelitye elizinzileyo, baza bazibeka itywina laseRoma. Ilitye lalingenako ukususwa kungaqhawulwanga itywina. Ibutho elilindileyo lekhulu lamasoldati laya lamiswa ngeenxa zonke zengcwaba ukuthintela ukuba lingazanyazanywa. Ababingeleli bakwenza konke abanako ukuwugcina umzimba kaKristu apho wawubekwe khona. Watywinelwa ngokuqinileyo engcwabeni laKhe ngokungathi wayeza kuhlala apho lonke ixesha. ULw 778.2
Ngaloo ndlela amadoda angenamandla aluleka, acebisa. Abazange aba babulali bakuqonde ukungabi nto kwamalinge abo. Phofu ngesenzo sabo uThixo wazukiswa. Kwawona amalinge awenziwayo ukuthintela uKristu ekuvukeni, ngawona kanye abonisa ubungqina bako [ukuvuka]. Okona lilikhulu inani lamasoldati elabekwa ukujikeleza ingcwaba, okona babuya kuba namandla ubungqina bokuba uvukile. Kumakhulu eminyaka ngaphambi kokufa kukaKristu, uMoya Oyingcwele wayevakalisile ngomdumisi, wathi, “Yini na ukuba iintlanga zenze imbuthumbuthu, izizwe zicamange into engeyanto? Ookumkani behlabathi bazimisile, izidwangube zabhunga ngoYehova nangoMthanjiswa wakhe. . . . Ohleli emazulwini uyahleka, iNkosi iyabagculela.” Ndumiso 2:1-4. Abalindi bamaRoma nezixhobo zamaRoma azizange zikwazi ukuyigcina iNkosi yobomi engcwabeni. Iyure yokukhululwa kwaYo yayikufuphi.ULw 778.3