14—“Simfumene UMesiya”

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kuYohane 1:19-51.]

UYohane umBhaptizi ngoku wayeshumayela ebhaptiza eBhatabhara, ngaphesheya kweYordan. Kwakungekho kule ndawo apho uThixo wamisa khona umlambo ekubalekeni kwawo wada uIsrayeli wawuwela. Kungekude kakhulu ukusuka kule ndawo, umzi onqabileyo waseYeriko woyiswa yimikhosi yasezulwini. Inkumbulo yezi ziganeko zahlaziywa ngeli xesha, zanika umdla othathekisa kakhulu kwisigidimi somBhaptizi. Ingaba lo owenza okukhulu okumangalisayo kwizizukulwana zangaphambili akangephindi abonakalalise amandla aKhe ngokukhulula uIsrayeli? Yayinjalo ingcamango eyayishukumisa iintliziyo zabantu yonke imihla bebuthelana kwiindonga zeYordan.ULw 132.1

Ukushumayela kukaYohane kwangena nzulu kakhulu esizweni kangangokuba sada satsala ingqalelo yamagunya enkolo. Ingozi yovukelo yayisenza ukuba wonke umhlangano owenza umdla ube nokukrokrelwa ngamaRoma, kuthi nokuba yintoni eyalatha ngasekuvukeleni kwabantu ivuse uloyiko kubaphathi bamaYuda. UYohane wayengalihloniphanga igunya leQumrhu elilawulayo lababingeleli [iSanhedrin] ngokufuna imvumekuloyomsebenzi wakhe; kwaye wabonisa ukuba, abalawuli nabantu, abaFarisi nabaSadusi, bonke bayafana. Abantu bona bamlandela ngenkuthalo. Umdla emsebenzini wakhe wabonakala ukhula ngalo lonke ixesha. Nangona wayengazange wabathobela, iSanhedrin yabanga ukuba, njengetitshala yabantu esidlangalaleni, wayephantsi kolawulo lwabo [ababingeleli].ULw 132.2

Eli qumrhu lalibunjwe ngamalungu anyuliweyo kubabingeleli, nakubaphathi abaziintloko kunye neetitshala zesizwe. Umbingeleli omkhulu wayekholisa ukuba ngumongameli. Onke amalungu alo ayengamadoda aphambili ngeminyaka, nangona engaguganga; amadoda afundileyo, kungekuphela kulwazi lwenkolo kunye nembali yobuYuda, kodwa naselwazini jikelele. Kwakufuneka abe ngamadoda angenasiphako emzimbeni, abe ngamadoda atshatileyo, abazali, kuthi ngaphezu kwamanye, abe nobuntu nemfesane. Indawo awayehlanganela kuyo yayiligumbi elalihlangene netempile yaseYerusalem. Ngemihla yokuzilawula kwamaYuda, iSanhedrin yayiyinkundla ephakamileyo yesizwe, inegunya lasemhlabeni kunye nelasezulwini. Nangona ngoku laliphantsi kweerhuluneli zaseRoma, lalisenempembelelo enkulu kwimicimbi yasekuhlaleni neyenkolo.ULw 133.1

ISanhedrin yayingakwazi ukumisela kakuhle uphando emsebenzini kaYohane. Kwabakho abakhumbula intyilelo eyenzeka kuZekariya etempileni, namadoda amakhulu esiprofeto, awalatha kumntwana wakhe njengowazisa uMesiya. Kwiziphithiphithi neenguqulelo zamashumi amathathu eminyaka, ezi zinto, kakhulukazi, zaya zalibaleka. Zaya zafika ngoku engqondweni kukuthabatheka okwabangwa ngumsebenzi kaYohane.ULw 133.2

Kwaye kukudala kakhulu ukugqibela kukaIsrayeli ukuba nomprofeti, kukudala ukugqibela ukuba kubekho imvuselelo enje ngale ikhoyo. Imfuneko yokuba kuvunywe isono yayikhangeleka iyinto entsha neyothusayo. Abaninzi phakathi kweenkokheli abazange baye ukuba beve ukubhena nokugxeka kukaYohane, hleze kwenzeke ukuba batyhile iimfihlelo zobomi babo. Kanti ke, ukushumayela kwakhe yayikukwazisa okutsolileyo ngoMesiya. Kwakusazeka kakuhle ukuba, iiveki ezimashumi asixhenxe esiprofeto sikaDaniyeli, esiquka ukufika kukaMesiya, zazise ziza kuphela; kwaye bonke babelangazelela ukubakho ngelo xesha lokuzukiswa kwesizwe okwakulindelwe ngoko. Yayinjalo inzondelelo eyabonakala kuninzi, kangangokuba kwakuza kunyanzeleka ukuba iQumrhu lababingeleli, iSanhedrin, likhawulezise ukuwuvuma okanye ukuwala umsebenzi kaYohane. Igunya labo ebantwini lalise lisiya liphela. Kwakusiya kusiba nzima ukusigcina isikhundla sabo. Ngethemba lokufikelela kwisigqibo esithile, bathumela eYordan abathunywa bababingeleli nabaLevi ukuba bayokuthetha nale titshala intsha.ULw 133.3

Isihlwele sasibuthelene, siphulaphule amazwi akhe, ngexesha kufikaabathunywa. Bathibenomoya wegunyawokutsalaamehlo abantu nokufuna ukuhlonitshwa ngumprofeti, bafika oorabhi beziphakamisile. Ngentshukumo yentlonipho, kukwakho nokoyika, isihlwele sabavulela ukuba badlule. Amadoda amakhulu, ekwizambatho zawo zexabiso, enokuziphakamisa ngenxa yezikhundla namagunya, ema phambi komprofeti wasentlango.ULw 134.1

“Wena ungubani na?” bafuna ukuqonda.ULw 134.2

Esazi ukuba yintoni esezingqondweni zabo, uYohane waphendula, wathi, “Andinguye mna uKristu.”ULw 134.3

“Untoni na ke? UnguEliya na?ULw 134.4

“Andinguye.”ULw 134.5

“Unguye na umprofeti lowo?”ULw 134.6

“Hayi.”ULw 134.7

“Ungubani na ke? Ukuze sibaphendule abo basithumileyo. Uthini na wena ngawe ngokwakho?”ULw 134.8

“Mna ndililizwi lodandulukayo entlango, lisithi, Yityenenezeni indlela yeNkosi, njengoko watshoyo uIsaya umprofeti.”ULw 134.9

Isibhalo awayebhekisa kuso uYohane seso siprofeto sihle sikaIsaya: .ULw 134.10

“Thuthuzelani,bathuthuzeleniabantubam,utsho uThixowenu.ULw 134.11

Thethani kakuhle neYerusalem, nimemeze kuyo, nithi kuzalisekile ukuphuma kwayo umkhosi; nithi, buhlawulelwe ubugwenxa bayo. . . . Yivani omemezayo, esithi, Yigeceni entlango indlela kaYehova; tyenenezelani uThixo wethu umendo enkqantosini. Yonke imifula mayinyuswe, zonke iintaba neenduli zigungxulwe, iindawo ezimagqagala zibe zithabazi, nemixewuka ibe ziintili; butyhileke ubuqaqawuli bukaYehova, ibubone inyama yonke kunye.” Isa. 40:1-5.ULw 135.1

Kudala, xa ukumkani wayehamba kwiindawo ezazingatyelelwa rhoqo zobukumkani bakhe, iqela lamadoda lalithunyelwa phambi kweenqwelo zasebukhosini ukuba lilungise iindawo ezimqengqelezi, lidibe izigingqi ezindleleni, ukuze ukumkani ahambe kwinkuseleko engenasiphazamiso. Eli siko lisetyenziswa ngumprofeti ukubonisa umsebenzi weendaba ezilungileyo. “Yonke imifula mayinyuswe, zonke iintaba neenduli zigungxulwe; iindawo ezimagqagala zibe zithabazi, [nemixawuka ibe ziintili].” Xa uMoya kaThixo, ngamandla aKhe avusa ngokumangalisayo, ethe wawuchukumisa umphefumlo, uyalithoba ikratshi lomntu. Iziyolo nezikhundla kunye negunya lehlabathi zisuka zibe yinto engenaxabiso. “Amabhongo, nayo yonke into ephakamileyo, eziphakamisayo ngokuchasa ukwazi uThixo zizinto eziya kuwiswa; yonke ingcamango iziswe “ekumlulameleni uKristu.” 2 Kor. 10:5. Kuthi ke ngoko, ukuthobeka nothando lokuzincama, izinto ezixatyiswe kancinane kakhulu phakathi kwabantu, ziphakanyiswe njengekuphela kwazo ezinexabiso. Lo ngumsebenzi weendaba ezilungileyo, ezaziyinxalenye yazo isigidimi sikaYohane.ULw 135.2

Oorabhi baqhubeka nokubuza kwabo: “Ubhaptizelani na phofu, ukuba wena akunguye uKristu, noEliya, nomprofeti lowo?” Amazwi athi “nomprofeti lowo” ayebhekisa kuMoses. AmaYuda ayethambekele ekukholelweni ukuba uMoses wayeza kuvuswa kwabafileyo, asiwe ezulwini. Ayengazi ukuba wayesele evusiwe. Ukuqala kukaMbhaptizi umsebenzi wakhe, abaninzi bacinga ukuba unokuba ungumprofeti uMoses ovukileyo kwabafileyo, kuba wayebonakala enalo ulwazi lweziprofeto nolwembali kaIsrayeli.ULw 135.3

Kwakukwakholelwa ukuba, phambi kokuba afike uMesiya, uEliya wayeza kubonakala yena buqu. Oku kulindela uYohane wahlangana nako ekulanduleni kwakhe; kodwa amazwi wakhe ayenentsingiselo enzulu kunoko. Kamva, uYesu wathi, ebhekisa kuYohane, “Ukuba niyavuma ukukwamkela oko, yena nguEliya, lo bekuthiwa uza kufika.” Mat. 11:14. UYohane weza esemoyeni nasemandleni kaEliya, ukuze enze umsebenzi ofana nowenziwa nguEliya. Ukuba amaYuda ayemamkele, ngewayewenzelwe [umsebenzi lowo] wagqitywa. Awazange kodwa asamkele isigidimi sakhe. Kuwo wayengenguye uEliya. Wayengeke akwazi ukwenza ukuba kuzaliseke oko wayekuthunyiwe kubo ngokwenjongo yokuza kwakhe.ULw 135.4

Abaninzi kwabo babebuthelene eYordan babekho ekubhaptizweni kukaYesu; kodwa umqondiso owanikwayo ngoko wawubonakalaliswe kwabambalwa. Ngeenyanga ezingaphambili zokusebenza komBhaptizi, abaninzi babalile ukusabela kubizo lokuguquka. Ngaloo ndlela bazenza lukhuni iintliziyo zabo bayenza mnyama ingqiqo yabo. Lathi iZulu lakunika ubungqina ngoYesu ekubhaptizweni kwaKhe, ababuqonda. Amehlo awayengazange asiwe ngokholo kuLowo ungabonwayo, awazange ayibone intyilelo yobuqaqawuli bukaThixo; iindlebe ezingazange ziliphulaphule ilizwi azizange ziwave amazwi obungqina. Kunjalo nangoku. Kuyakholisa ukuba, ubukho bukaKristu nobeengelosi ezilungiselelayo bubonakalaliswe kwiintlanganiso zabantu, ukanti baninzi abaye bangakwazi oko. Ababoni nto ingaqhelekanga. Kwabanye ke kodwa, ubukho boMsindisi buyatyhileka. Uxolo novuyo luye luphile ezintliziyweni zabo. Bayathuthuzeleka, bakhuthazeke, basikeleleke.ULw 136.1

Abathunywa ababevela eYerusalem bambuza uYohane, besithi, “Ubhaptizelani na phofu?” baye belindele impendulo. Kwangoko, iliso laKhe lathi tshazi phezu kwesihlwele, amehlo akhanyiselwa, ubuso bakhe badlamka, umzimba wonke wachukunyiswa livuso elikhulu. Izandla ezolule, wadanduluka, “Mna ndibhaptiza ngamanzi; ke phakathi kwenu kumi eningamaziyo nina, Yena ngothe, esiza emva kwam nje, wesuka waba phambi kwam, endingafanelekileyo mna ukuba ndinyobulule umtya wembadada yakhe.” Yohane 1:26, 27.ULw 136.2

Isigidimi sasivakala saye sicacile, ukuba iSanhedrin ijike naso. Amazwi kaYohane ayengenako ukuthetha ngomnye ingenguYe Owayekade elindelwe. UMesiya wayephakathi kwabo! Bemangalisiwe, ababingeleli nabaphathi balaqaza, benethemba lokumfumana Lowo uYohane wayethetha ngaYe. Wayengahlukanga nganto phakathi kwesihlwele.ULw 136.3

Ekubhaptizweni kukaYesu, xa uYohane wayesalatha kuYe njengeMvana kaThixo, kwabakho ukukhanya okutsha ngomsebenzi kaMesiya. Ingqondo yomprofeti yakhokelelwa kumazwi kaIsaya, “[U]njengemvana esiwa ekuxhelweni.” Isa. 53:7. Ngeeveki ezalandelayo, uYohane wathi, ngomdla omtsha, wafunda iziprofeto nemfundiso engenkonzo yamadini. Akazange ahlule kakuhle phakathikwezigaba ezibini zomsebenzi kaKristu, --njengomnikelo onentlungu nokumkani owoyisayo,--kodwa wabona ukuba ukuza kwaKhe kwakunokubaluleka okunzulu kakhulu kunokuba kuqondwa ngababingeleli okanye abantu. Wathi akumbona uYesu phakathi kwesihlwele ekubuyeni kwaKhe entlango, walindela ngokuthemba ukuba uya kubanika abantu umqondiso othile ngokuba ungubani ngokwenene. Waphantsa waphelelwa ngumonde elindele ukuva uMsindisi evakalisa umsebenzi waKhe awuzeleyo; kodwa akuzange kuphume lizwi, akwanikwa mqondiso. UYesu akazange aphendule ekwazisweni kwaKhe ngumBhaptizi, kodwa wazihlanganisa nabafundi bakaYohane, enganiki mbonakalo yangaphandle yomsebenzi waKhe owodwa, engenzi nazinzame zokuzenza ukuba aqatshelwe.ULw 136.4

Ngemini elandelayo uYohane umbona uYesu esiza. Ngokukhanya kobuqaqawuli bukaThixo buhleli phezu kwakhe, umprofeti wolula izandla zakhe, edanduluka, “Nantso iMvana kaThixo, ethwala isuse isono sehlabathi. Nguye lo ndathi ngaye mna, Emva kwam kuza indoda, esuke yaba phambi kwam. . . . Bendingamazi nam; le nto ndeza mna, ndibhaptiza ngamanzi, kukuze ibonakalaliswe kuIsrayeli. . . . Ndimbonile uMoya, esihla njengehobe, ephuma ezulwini, wahlala phezu kwakhe. Bendingamazi nam; owandithumayo ukubhaptiza ngamanzi, nguye owathi kum, Othe wambona uMoya esihla ahlale phezu kwakhe, nguye lowo ubhaptiza ngoMoya Oyingcwele. Nam ndibonile, ndingqinile, ukuba lo nguye uNyana kaThixo.” Yohane 1:29-34.ULw 137.1

Ingaba lo unguye uKristu? Ngokukhwankqiswa nokumangala abantu bamkhangela Lowo wayesanda kubabazwa ukuba unguNyana kaThixo. Babechukunyiswe kakhulu ngamazwi kaYohane. Wayethethe kubo egameni likaThixo. Babemphulaphule umhlanezoloxawayebangxolisa ngenxa yezono zabo, kwathi yonke imihla yaya isomelela ingqondo yokuba wayethunywe liZulu. Ngubani ke ngoku Lo umkhulu kunoYohane umBhaptizi? Kwisambatho saKhe kwakungekho kubonakala kwakuphakama kwasikhundla. Wayebonakala engoqhelekileyo, enxibe njengabo iingubo zabahluphekileyo.ULw 137.2

Babekho abanye abathi, ekubhaptizweni kukaKristu, babona ubuqaqawuli bezulu, baliva nelizwi likaThixo. Phofu, ukususela ngelo xesha, imbonakalo yoMsindisi yayitshintshe kakhulu. Ekubhaptizweni, babeyibone imbonakalo yaKhe yenziwe kumila kumbi ngokukhanya kwasezulwini; ngoku, emfiliba, ephelile, ebhityile, waba nokuqondwa kuphela ngumprofeti uYohane.ULw 137.3

Bathi abantu bakumkhangela [uYesu] babona ubuso apho imfesane yezulu yayihlanganiswe namandla asengqondweni. Konke ukukhangela kweliso, lonke uphawu lwembonakalo, lwaluphawulwe ngokuthobeka,nothando olungathethekiyo. Wabonakala ejikelezwe ngumoya wempembelelo kaMoya. Nangona ukuziphatha kwaKhe kwakuzolile kululamile, wabenza abantu babona amandla awayefihlakele, ukanti ayengafihlakalanga kwaphela. Ingaba Lo nguLowo uIsrayeli wayesoloko elindele Yena?ULw 137.4

UYesu weza enobuhlwempu nokuthotyelwa phantsi, ukuze abe ngumzekelo wethu kwanoMhlanguli wethu. Ukuba wayeze enobuqheleqhele bobukumkani, sasiya kukufunda njani ukuthobeka? Sasiya kuzinika njani iinyaniso ezihlabayo njengeNtshumayelo yaseNtabeni? Laliya kuba phi ithemba labathobekileyo ebomini ukuba uYesu wafika wahlala ngokukakumkani phakathi kwabantu?ULw 138.1

Sekunjalo, kwinginginya, kwabonakala kunganako ukwenzeka ukuba Lowo wayesalathwa nguYohane wayengahlanganiswa nokulindela kwabo okuphakamileyo. Ngoko ke, baba nodano olukhulu, babhideka kakhulu.ULw 138.2

Amazwi ababingeleli noorabhi ababelangazelela kakhulu ukuwava, athi uYesu ngoku uza kubuyisela ubukumkani kwaIsrayeli, awazange athethwe. Babelindele bekhangele ukumkani onjalo; ngukumkani onjalo ababelungele ukumamkela. Owayeza kuzama ukumisela ezintliziyweni zabo ubukumkani bobulungisa noxolo, babengazi kumamkela.ULw 138.3

Ngemini elandelayo, ngexesha abafundi ababini babemi kufuphi, uYohane waphinda wambona uYesu phakathi kwabantu. Kwakhona ubuso bomprofeti babengezela bubuqaqawuli obusuka kOngabonwayo, waza wadanduluka, “Nantso iMvana kaThixo!” La mazwi azizalisa ngovuyo iintliziyo zabafundi. Phofu abazange bawaqonde ngokupheleleyo. Lalisithini eli gama uYohane wayemnika lona,--“iMvana kaThixo”? NoYohane ngokwakhe akazange alichaze.ULw 138.4

Bemshiya uYohane, baya kufuna uYesu. Omnye kwabo babini yayinguAndreya, umzalwana kaSimon; omnye inguYohane umvangeli. Aba baba ngabafundi bakaKristu bokuqala. Beqhutywa yintshiseko engathintelekiyo, bamlandela uYesu,--bengxamele ukuthetha naYe, phofu bemangalisiwe bethe cwaka, bonganyelwa kukubaluleka kwengcinga ethi, “Ingaba lo unguMesiya?”ULw 138.5

UYesu wazi ukuba abafundi bayamlandela. Babe sisiqhamo sokuqala somsebenzi waKhe, kwabakho uvuyo entliziyweni lweTitshala yasezulwini xa le miphefumlo isabela kubabalo lwaYo. Sekunjalo, wajika wabuza nje kuphela, “Nifuna ntoni na?” Wayeza kubayeka bajike okanye batsho abakulangazelelayo.ULw 138.6

Bona babesazi injongo enye kuphela. Yayinye kuphela into eyayikho engqondweni yabo, “Rabhi, . . . uhlala phi na?” Kudliwano-ndlebe nje olufutshane ngasendleleni, babengayi kuyifumana into ababeyinqwenela. Balangazelela ukuba babe secaleni bebodwanoYesu, bahlale ezinyaweni zaKhe beve amazwi aKhe.ULw 138.7

“Athi kubo, Yizani nibone. Beza, babona ke apho ahlala khona; bahlala naye loo mini.”ULw 139.1

Ukuba uYohane noAndreya babenomoya wokungakholwa wababingeleli nabaphathi, ngebabengazange babe ngabafundi ezinyaweni zikaYesu. Ngebabeze kuYe njengabagxeki, ukuba bagwebe amazwi aKhe. Baninzi abaye bathi ngaloo ndlela baluvale ucango lwawona mathuba abalulekileyo. Akuzange kube njalo ke kwaba bafundi bokuqala. Babesabele kubizo lukaMoya Oyingcwele ekushumayeleni kukaYohane umBhaptizi. Ngoku bave ilizwi leTitshala yasezulwini. Kubo, amazwi kaYesu ayezele kukuhlaziyeka nenyaniso kwanobuhle. Ukukhanya kwezulu kwathululwa phezu kwemfundiso yeziBhalo zeTestamente eNdala. Imixholo yenyaniso emacala maninzi yavela inokukhanya okutsha.ULw 139.2

Bubuhlungu ngenxa yesono, ukholo kunye nothando izinto ezenza ukuba umphefumlo ubamkele ubulumko obuvela ezulwini. Ukholo olusebenza ngothando lusisitshixo solwazi, kwaye bonke abathandayo “bayamazi uThixo.” 1 Yohane 4:7.ULw 139.3

Umfundi uYohane wayeyindoda enothando olunyanisekileyo nolunzulu, nenzondelelo, kodwa eyetyisayo ukucinga. Wayesele eqalile ukubuqonda ubuqaqawuli bukaKristu,--ingebubo ubuqheleqhele behlabathi awayefundiswe ukuba abulindele, kodwa “ubuqaqawuli kanye bowokuphela kwamzeleyo uYise, ezele lubabalo nenyaniso. Yohane 1:14. Waya watshona kakhulu ekucingeni ngalo mxholo omangalisayo.ULw 139.4

UAndreya wafuna ukwabelana ngovuyo olwaluzalise intliziyo yakhe. Waya kufuna umntakwabo uSimon, wakhwaza wathi, “Simfumene uMesiya.” USimon akazange alindele ukubizwa okwesibini. Naye wayekuvile ukushumayela kukaYohane umBhaptizi, waza wakhawuleza ukuya kuMsindisi. Iliso likaKristu lahlala kuye, efunda isimilo sakhe nembali yobomi bakhe. Indalo yakhe engxamayo, intliziyo yakhe enothando novelwano, amabhongo nokuzithemba kwakhe, imbali yokuwa kwakhe, ukuguquka kwakhe, ukusebenza nzima kwakhe, nokufela inkolo kwakhe,--uMsindisi wakufunda konke, waza wathi kuye, “Wena unguSimon, unyana kaYona; kuya kuthiwa unguKefas (oko kukuthi ngentetho evakalayo, unguPetros [ilitye]).”ULw 139.5

Ngengomso uYesu wafuna ukuphuma aye kwelaseGalili, ufumana uFilipu, athi kuye, Ndilandele.” UFilipu wawuthobela umyalelo, wathi kwangoko naye waba ngumsebenzi kaKristu.ULw 140.1

UFilipu wabiza uNataniyeli. UNataniyeli wayephakathi kwesihlwele ngexesha umBhaptizi esalatha kuYesu njengeMvana kaThixo. Wathi uNataniyeli akumjonga uYesu, waba nodano. Ingaba lo mntu, oneempawu zokusebenza nzima nokuhlupheka, anganguMesiya? Kanti ke uNathaniyeli akazange akwazi ukugqiba kwelokuba amale uYesu, kuba isigidimi sikaYohane sazisa ukoyisakala entliziyweni yakhe. ULw 140.2

Ngexesha uFilipu wayembiza, uNataniyeli wayebuyele kwisigcume esizolileyo ukuba etyise isaziso sikaYohane neziprofeto ezingoMesiya. Wathandaza ukuba, ukuba lowo uvakaliswe ngokuthi ungumhlanguli, kufuneka oko akwaziswe, waza uMoya Oyingcwele wahlala phezu kwakhe enesiqinisekiso sokuba uThixo ubatyelele abantu baKhe wabavusela uphondo losindiso. UFilipu wazi ukuba lo mhlobo wayeziphengulula iziprofeto, kwathi ngexesha uNataniyeli wayethandaza phantsi komthi womkhiwane, uFilipu wayifumana indawo aphole kuyo. Babekholisa ukuthandaza kunye kule ndawo isecaleni efihlwe ngamagqabi.ULw 140.3

Isigidimi esithi, “Lowo uMoses wabhala ngaye emthethweni, kwanabaprofeti, simfumene,” sabonakala siyimpendulo engqalileyo kumthandazo kaNataniyeli. UFilipu yena wayesenokholo olungcangcazelayo. Ngelithandabuzayo, wongeza wathi, “uYesu unyana kaYosefu, lowo waseNazarete. Kwakhona ikratshi laphinda lavuka entliziyweni kaNataniyeli. Wakhuza, “Inako na into elungileyo ukuphuma eNazarete?”ULw 140.4

UFilipu akazange angene kwimpikiswano. Wathi, “Yiza ubone. UYesu wambona uNataniyeli esiza kuye, athi ngaye, Nanko umIsrayeli inyaniso, ekungekho nkohliso kuye!” Emangalisiwe, wadanduluka, wathi, “Undazi ngani na? Waphendula uYesu wathi kuye, Phambi kokuba uFilipu akubone, uphantsi komkhiwane, ndandikubona.”ULw 140.5

Kwanela. Umoya wezulu owazisa ubungqina kuNataniyeli kumthandazo wakhe eyedwa phantsi komkhiwane ngoku wathetha naye ngamazwi kaYesu. Nangona wayethandabuza, eziyekela kwikratshi, uNataniyeli weza kuKristu enolangazelelo lwenene lwenyaniso, lwaza ngoku olo langazelelo lwahlangatyezwa. Ukholo lwakhe lwadlula ngaphaya lwalowo wayeziswe nguye kuYesu. Waphendula wathi, “Rabhi, wena unguye uNyana kaThixo, wena unguye uKumkani kaIsrayeli.”ULw 140.6

Ukuba uNataniyeli wayethembele kwinkokhelo yoorabhi, ngewayengazange amfumane uYesu. Kwakungokubona nokuzigqibela ngokwakhe ukuze abe ngumfundi. Ngokunjalo, kwimeko yabaninzi namhlanje abo lithi ikratshi libavimbe okulungileyo. Besiya kuba njani ukwahluka isiphumo ukuba bebeya “kuza babone”!ULw 141.1

Lo gama besathembele kwinkokhelo yegunya lomntu, akakho oya kufika ekuyazini inyaniso. NjengoNataniyeli, sidinga ukuzifundela ilizwi likaThixo ngokwethu, sithandazele inkanyiso kaMoya Oyingcwele. Lowo wambona uNataniyeli phantsi komkhiwane uya kusibona kwindawo efihlakeleyo yokuthandaza. Iingelosi eziphuma kwilizwe lokukhanya zikufuphi kwabo bathi ngokuzithoba bafunde inkokhelo yezulu.ULw 141.2

Ngokubizwa kukaYohane noAndreya noSimon, nokukaFilipu noNataniyeli, kwaqalwa isiseko sebandla lobuKristu. UYohane wakhokelela abafundi bakhe ababini kuKristu. Kwathi emva koko, omnye wabo, uAndreya, wafumana umntakwabo, wambizela kuMsindisi. UFilipu kamva wabizwa, yena waya kufuna uNataniyeli. Le mizekelo kufuneka isifundise ukubaluleka komzamo womntu, ukwenza ubizo olutsolileyo kwesizalana nabo, abahlobo, kunye nabamelwane. Bakho abo ekuphileni kwabo bathi baqhelene noKristu, kanti abazange benza mzamo wokuzisa nokuba ube mnye umphefumlo kuMsindisi. Bawuyekela wonke umsebenzi kumfundisi. Use nokuba uqeqesheke ngokwaneleyo kubizo lwakhe, kodwa akanako ukwenza oko uThixo akuyekele kumalungu ebandla.ULw 141.3

Baninzi abadinga ulungiselelo lwentliziyo enothando yomKristu. Baninzi abaye kwantshabalalo ababeya kusindiswa ukuba abamelwane babo, amadoda nabafazi abaqhelekileyo, babenze umzamo ngenxa yabo. Baninzi abalindele ukuba kuthethwe nabo buqu. Elusatsheni, ebumelwaneni, edolophini, apho sihlala khona, ukho umsebenzi esinokuwenza njengabavangeli bakaKristu. Ukuba singamaKristu, lo msebenzi uya kusonwabisa. Ngako nje ukuba omnye aguquke, kubakho kuye ngaphakathi ulangazelelo lokwazisa abanye ngomhlobo oxabisekileyo amfumeneyo kuYesu. Inyaniso esindisayo nengcwalisayo ayikwazi ukuvalelwa entliziyweni yakhe.ULw 141.4

Bonke abazinikele kuThixo baya kuba ngamajelo okukhanya. UThixo ubenza abathunywa baKhe bokugqithisela kwabanye ubutyebi bobabalo lwaKhe. Isithembiso saKhe sithi, “Ndowenza wona, kwaneendawo ezingeenxa zonke endulini yam, ube yintsikelelo; ndihlise imvula ngexesha elililo; iya kuba yimvula yentsikelelo.” Hez. 34:26.ULw 141.5

UFilipu wathi kuNataniyeli, “Yiza ubone.” Akazange amcele ukuba amkele obunye ubungqina, kodwa ukuba azibonele uKristu ngokwakhe. Ngoku njengokuba uYesu sele enyukele ezulwini, abafundi baKhe bangabameli baKhe phakathikwabantu,kwayeeyona ndlela inempumelelo yokuzuzela kuYe imiphefumloisekulinganiseni isimilo saKhe ebomini bethu bemihla ngemihla. Impembelelo yethu kwabanye ayixhomekekanga kakhulu kwinto esiyithethayo, ngaphezu kwento esiyiyo. Abantu bangalwa bakudele ukuzathuza kwethu, basenokukwala ukubhena kwethu; kodwa ubomi bothando olungenamkhethe buyingxoxo engenako ukuphikiswa. Ubomi obuzingisileyo, obunophawu lobulali bukaKristu, bungamandla ehlabathini.ULw 141.6

Imfundiso kaKristu yayikukubonakalalisa ukoyiseka namava angaphakathi, kwaye, abo bafunda kuYe baba ziititshala ngokwemfano yezulu. Ilizwi likaThixo, elithethwe ngulowo othe yena ngokwakhe waba ungcwalisiwe lilo, linamandla anika ubomi alenza libe nomtsalane kwabalivayo, libaqinisekise ukuba liyinyaniso ephilileyo. Xa ethe ubani wayamkela inyaniso ngokuyithanda, uya kukwenza oku kubonakale kwindlela enomdla yokuziphatha kwakhe kunye nokuvakala kwelizwi lakhe. Wenza kwaziwe oko yena athe wakuva, wakubona, wakuphatha kwelizwi lobomi, ukuze abanye babe nolwalamano kunye naye ngokumazi uKristu. Ubungqina bakhe, obuphuma kwimilebe echukunyiswe lilahle elisuka esibingelelweni, liyinyaniso kwintliziyo eyamkelayo, lisebenze ukungcwaliswa esimilweni.ULw 142.1

Lowo ke ufuna ukunika abanye ukukhanya naye uya kusikeleleka. “Iya kuba yimvula yentsikelelo.” “Oseza ahluthise abanye, uyasezwa ahluthe naye.” IMiz. 11:25. UThixo wayenako ukuyifikelela injongo yaKhe yokusindisa aboni ngaphandle koncedo lwethu; kodwa ukuze nathi sibe nesimilo esifana nesikaKristu, kufuneka sibe nenxaxheba emsebenzini waKhe. Ukuze singene kuvuyo lwaKhe,--uvuyo lokubona imiphefumlo ihlangulwa ngumbingelelo waKhe,--kufuneka sibe nenxaxheba ekusebenzeleni kwaKhe ukuhlangulwa kwayo.ULw 142.2

Ukuqala kukaNataniyeli ukuvakalisa ukholo lwakhe, luphelele, lunenzondelelo, lunyanisekile, kwaba njengokomculo ezindlebeni zikaYesu. “Waphendula . . . wathi kuye, Ngokuba ndithe kuwe, Ndandikubona uphantsi komkhiwane, uyakholwa na? Uya kubona izinto ezingaphezulu kwezo.” UMsindisi wakhangela phambili ngovuyo emsebenzini waKhe wokushunyayelwa kweendaba ezilungileyo kwabanobulali, kubotshwa abantliziyo zaphukileyo, kuvakaliswa umnyaka wenkululeko kwabathinjwe nguSathana. Ekucingeni ngeentsikelelo ezinexabiso awayezizise ebantwini, uYesu wongeza wathi, “Inene, inene, ndithi kuni, Emveni koku niya kulibona izulu livulekile, nezithunywa zikaThixo zinyuka zisihla phezu koNyana woMntu.”ULw 142.3

Eyona nto ayithethayo apha uYesu ithi, Phezu kwendonga zeYordan, amazulu avuleka, waza wehla uMoya njengehobe phezu kwam. Loo mbono wawungumqondiso nje wokuba ndinguNyana kaThixo. Ukuba niyakholwa kum, ke ngoko, ukholo lwenu luya kuvuswa. Niya kuwabona amazulu evuleka, angaze abuye avalwe. Ndinivulele wona. Iingelosi zikaThixo zinyuka, zisisa imithandazo yabasweleyo nabaxinzelekileyo kuBawo ezulwini, zisihla, zizisa intsikelelo nethemba, isibindi, uncedo, nobomi, ebantwaneni babantu.ULw 142.4

Iingelosi zikaThixo zihlala zisihla zisuka emhlabeni zisiya ezulwini, zisuke ezulwini zize emhlabeni. Imimangaliso kaKristu kwababandezelweyo nabaphatheke kakubi yayisenziwa ngamandla kaThixo ngokulungiselela kweengelosi. KungoKristu, ngokusebenza kwabathunywa basezulwini, ethi yonke intsikelelo iphume kuThixo ize kuthi. Ekuthabatheleni phezu kwaKhe ubuntu, uMsindisi wethu uhlanganisa akuthandayo noko kuthandwa ngoonyana neentombi, abantwana baka-Adam, lo gama ubuThixo baKhe bubambe itrone kaThixo. Ngaloo ndlela uKristu ulijelo lonxibelelwano phakathi kwabantu noThixo, noluphakathi kukaThixo nabantu.ULw 143.1