17—UNikodemo

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kuYohane 3:1-17.]

UNikodemo wayebambe isikhundla esiphezulu esihloniphekileyo kwisizwe sakwaYuda. Wayefunde kakhulu, eneetalente ezingaqhelekanga, kwaye wayelilungu elihloniphekileyo lequmrhu lesizwe. Ekunye nabanye, wayechukunyisiwe yimfundiso kaYesu. Nangona wayesisityebi, efundile, ehlonitshwa, watsaleka ngendlela engaqhelekanga kumNazarete othobekileyo. Izifundo ezaziphuma emilebeni yoMsindisi zazimchukumise kakhulu, waza walangazelela ukufunda ngakumbi ngezi nyaniso zimangalisayo.ULw 167.1

Ukusebenzisa kukaKristu igunya ekuhlambululeni itempile kwakuvuse intiyo ezimiseleyo kubabingeleli nabaphathi. Bawoyika amandla alo ungaziwayo. Isibindi esibonakaliswa ngulo waseGalili ungacacanga yinto eyayingenako ukunyamezelwa. Babezimisele ekuwupheliseni umsebenzi waKhe. Phofu asingabo bonke abavumelana nale njongo. Babekho abanye ababesoyika ukuchasa Lowo ekwakucacile ukuba uhamba ngokoMoya kaThixo. Bakhumbula indlela abaprofeti ababulawa ngayo kuba bekhalimela izono zeenkokheli zakwaIsrayeli. Babesazi ukuba ubukhoboka bamaYuda kwisizwe sobuhedeni babusisiphumo seenkani ngokwala ukuthethiswa okuvela kuThixo. Babesoyika ukuba, ekucebeni ukuchasa uYesu kwababingeleli nabaphathi kwakulandela emanyathelweni ooyise, kwaye kuya kuzisa iintlekele ezintsha phezukwesizwe.NoNikodemo waye enayo le ngqondo. Kwintlanganiso yeSanhedrin (iqumrhu elilawulayo),xa kwakuphononongwa ikhondo ekwakufuneka lithatyathiwe ngakuYesu, uNikodemo wacebisa ukuba kuchulwe ukunyathela. Wakhuthaza ngelithi, ukuba uYesu ngokwenene wayenegunya elivela kuThixo, kwakuza kuba yingozi ukuzala izilumkiso zaKhe. Ababingeleli abazange babe nesibindi sokulichasa eli cebiso, baza okwexeshana abathabatha manyathelo okuchasa uMsindisi.ULw 167.2

Kususela ekuveni kwakhe uYesu, uNikodemo wazifunda ngomdla omkhulu iziprofeto ezingoMesiya; kwaza kwathi kwakuba kungona ezifunda, kwaba kukona iqina ngamandla inkolo yokuba lo nguLowo wayeza kuza. Yena, kunye nabanye abaninzi kwaIsrayeli, babekhathazeke kakhulu kukungcoliswa kwetempile. Wayebonile xa uYesu wayegxotha abathengayo nabathengisayo; wakubona ukubonakalaliswa kwamandla obuThixo amangalisayo; wambona uMsindisi esamkela abahluphekileyo ephilisa abagulayo; wakubona ukumkhangela kwabo ngovuyo, waweva amazwi abo okudumisa; akaba nako ukuthandabuza ukuba uYesu waseNazarete wayengOthunyelwe nguThixo.ULw 168.1

Walangazelela kakhulu ukuba nodliwano-ndlebe noYesu, kodwa woyika ukuhlangana naYe esidlangalaleni. Kwakuya kuba kukumthoba kakhulu, njengomlawuli wamaYuda ukuzazisa ukuba novelwano netitshala engaziwa nakakhulu kangako. Enye into, ukuba oku kundwendwela kuthe kwaziwa liqumrhu elilawulayo iSanhedrin, kuya kumenza ukuba abe sesichengeni sokugxekwa nokusingelwa phantsi. Wagqiba ekubeni lube luthethwano olusemfihlakalweni, ekuthethelela oku ngokuthi, ukuba kuye kwasekuhleni, abanye banokusuka balandele umzekelo wakhe. Ngokwenza uphando olusecaleni, wayazi indawo apho uMsindisi aye aphumle kuyo eNtabeni yeMinquma, waza walinda ukuba umzi [isixeko] uthi cwaka ulale, aze ayokumkhangela uYesu.ULw 168.2

Phambi kukaKristu, uNikodemo waziva enobuphakuphaku obungaqhelekanga, nawaya wazama ukubufihla phantsi komoya wokuzibumba nesidima. “Rabhi,” wathi, “siyazi ukuba ungumfundisi ovela kuThixo, kuba akukho namnye unako ukuyenza le miqondiso uyenzayo wena, ukuba uThixo akanaye.” Ngokuthetha ngezipho ezinqabileyo zikaKristu njengetitshala, nangamandla waKhe amangalisayo ekwenzeni imimangaliso, wayethembe ukuvula indlela yomhlangano wakhe. Amazwi akhe ayelungiselelwe ukubeka nokuqweba isibindi; kodwa wona abonisa ukungakholwa. Akazange avume ukuba uYesu unguMesiya, kodwa kuphela uyititshala ethunyelwe nguThixo.ULw 168.3

Endaweni yokukwamkela oku kubuliswa, uYesu wakhangela kulo uthethayo, waba ngathi uyawufunda kanye umphefumlo wakhe. Ngobulumko baKhe obungenamda wabona phambi kwaKhe umntu ofuna inyaniso. Wayazi injongo yolu tyelelo, wathi ngolangazelelo lokuyenza nzulu imbono eyayisele ikho engqondweni yalowo uphulaphuleyo, weza ngqo emxholweni, esithi, ngelindilisekileyo, kodwa linobubele, “Inene, inene, ndithi kuwe, Ukuba akathangaumntu azalwe ngokutsha, akanakububona ubukumkani bukaThixo.” Yohane 3:3. ULw 168.4

UNikodemo wayeze eNkosini ecinga ukuba uza kuba nengxoxo naYo, kodwa uYesu wasenza sacaca isiseko semigaqo-siseko yenyaniso. Waya wathi kuNikodemo, Asilolwazi nje lwasengqondweni oludingayo ngaphezu kokuba ikukuzalwa ngokutsha kwasemoyeni. Akudingi ukuba kwaneliswe ukufuna kwakho ukwazi, kodwa udinga intliziyo entsha. Kufuneka ufumane ubomi obutsha obuvela ngasentla [ezulwini] ngaphambi kokuba uzithande izinto zasezulwini. Ingekade yenzeke le nguquko, izenze ntsha zonke izinto, akuyi kuba nasiphumo silungileyo ukuxoxa naM ngegunya laM nomsebenzi waM. ULw 171.1

UNikodemo wayekuvile ukushumayela kukaYohane umBhaptizi ngenguquko nobhaptizo, nokwalathisa abantu kuLowo wayeza kubhaptiza ngoMoya Oyingcwele. Yena ngokwakhe wasiva ukuba kukho ukusilela ngokwasemoyeni kumaYuda, nokuba, ubukhulu becala babelawulwa ziinkani nokuthanda udumo lwehlabathi. Wayethembe ukuba izinto ziya kubangcono kwakufika uMesiya. Sekunjalo, isigidimi somBhaptizi esasiphengulula intliziyo asizange sikwazi ukumenza ngaphakathi kwakhe ukuba asoyise isono. WayengumFarisi ongqongqo, ezidla ngemisebenzi yakhe elungileyo. Wayehlonitshwa kakhulu ngesisa nangobubele ekuxhaseni inkonzo yetempile, waza waziva ekhuselekile ekuthandweni nguThixo. Waya wothuswa kukucinga ngobukumkani obunyulu kangangokuba angabi nakububona yena xa ekule meko akuyo.ULw 171.2

Umfanekiso wokuzalwa ngokutsha, awawusebenzisayo uYesu, yayingento ingaqhelekanga kakhulu kuNikodemo. Abantu ababeguquka besuka ebuhedenini bengena enkolweni kaIsrayeli babeye bathelekiswe nabantwana abasanda kuzalwa. Ngoko ke, wayengamele ukuba amazwi kaKristu uwathabathe ngohlobo oluthe ngqo olungengomzekelo. Kwathi kodwa, ngenxa yokuba yena wazalwa engumIsrayeli, wazithabatha njengoyifaneleyo ngokuqinisekileyo indawo ebukumkanini bukaThixo. Waziva engadingi nguquko. Yiyo le nto wamangaliswa ngamazwi oMsindisi. Waphazanyiswa kakhulu kukusondela kwawo esiqwini sakhe. Ikratshi lobuFarisi lalisilwa nolangazelelo olunenzondelelo lalo ufuna inyaniso. Wamangala ukuba uKristu athethe naye ngohlobo awathetha ngalo, engasihloniphi isikhundla sakhe njengomphathi kwaIsrayeli.ULw 171.3

Emangalisiwe ngokuzithemba kwakhe, wamphendula uKristu ngamazwi azele yimpoxo, “Angathini na umntu ukuzalwa emdala?” Njengabanye abaninzi, xa inyaniso esikayo iziswa kanye esazeleni, wabonakalalisa umntu wemveli akazamkeli izinto zikaMoya kaThixo. Akukho nto kuye isabelayo kwizinto zikamoya; kuba izinto zikamoya ziqondwa ngokomoya.ULw 171.4

UMsindisi Yena akazange ahlangabezane nengxoxo ngengxoxo. Ephakamisa isandla saKhe ngondiliseko, nesidima esizolileyo, wayibethelela inyaniso ngesikhulu sona isiqinisekiso, “Inene, inene, ndithi kuwe, ukuba umntu akathanga azalwe ngamanzi nanguMoya, akanakungena ebukumkanini bukaThixo.” UNikodemo wazi ukuba uKristu ubhekisa kubhaptizo ngamanzi kunye nokwenziwa ngokutsha kwentliziyo nguMoya kaThixo. Waqonda ngokupheleleyo ukuba uphambi kwaLowo uYohane umBhaptizi wathetha ngaYe kwangaphambili.ULw 172.1

UYesu waqhubeka: “Okuzelwe yinyama kuyinyama, nokuzelwe nguMoya kungumoya.” Ngendalo yayo intliziyo imbi, kwaye “ngaba ukhona na ongakhupha into ehlambulukileyo kwengahlambulukanga? Unotshe, akakho namnye!” Yobhi 14:4 [IBHAYIBHILE]. Ayikho imveliso yomntu engaba nalo ichiza lomphefumlo owonayo. “Ngokokuba ukunyameka kwenyama kububutshaba kuThixo; kuba umthetho kaThixo kungawululameli, kuba kungenako nokuba nako ukwenjenjalo.” “Kuba kuyo intliziyo kuphuma izicamango ezingendawo, ookubulala, ookungqina ubuxoki, ookunyelisa.” Roma 8:7; Mat. 15:19. Umthombo wentliziyo kufuneka uhlambuluke phambi kokuba imisinga ihlambuluke. Lowo uzama ukufikelela ezulwini ngeyakhe imisebenzi ngokugcina umthetho uzama into engekhe yenzeke. Akukho nkuseleko kulowo unenkolo nje yomthetho, ukumila kokuhlonela uThixo. Ubomi bomKristu abukokulungiswa nje okanye ukuhlaziywa kobudala, kodwa kukwenziwa kutsha kwendalo. Kukho ukufa ku-mna nakwisono, kubekho ubomi obutsha ngokupheleleyo. Le nguquko inokubakho kuphela ngokusebenza ngempumelelo kukaMoya Oyingcwele.ULw 172.2

UNikodemo wayesadidekile, waza uYesu wasebenzisa umoya ukubonisa intsingiselo yaKhe: “Umoya uphepheza apho uthanda khona, uze usive isandi sawo, kodwa ungawazi apho uvela khona, nalapho usinga khona: bakwanjalo bonke abazelwe nguMoya.”ULw 172.3

Umoya uyavakala phakathi kwamasebe emithi, ushukumisa amagqabi neentyatyambo; kanti ke awubonakali, kwaye akukho mntu waziyo apho uvela khona okanye apho uya khona. Kunjalo ke ngomsebenzi kaMoya Oyingcwele entliziyweni. Awunakuchazwa ngaphezu koko kwanjengokuba kungenakuchazwa iintshukumo zomoya. Umntu esenokungabi nako ukuxela elona xesha okanye indawo, okanye alande zonke iimeko kwindlela yokuguquka; kodwa le nto ayithethi ukuba akaguqukanga. Ngesenzeleli esingabonwayo njengomoya, uKristu uthe rhoqo esebenza entliziyweni. Kancinane, kancinane, mhlawumbi ngokungaqondakaliyo kulowo ufumanayo, imbono ziyenziwa ezithi zithande ukuwutsala umphefumlo uze kuKristu. Ezi zinokwamkelwa ngokuthi ubani acamngce ngaYe, uKristu, [okanye] ngokufunda iziBhalo, okanye ngokuva ilizwi kumshumayeli ophilileyo. Ngequbuliso, ngexesha uMoya esiza ngesibheno esithe ngqo, umphefumlo uthi uzinikele kuYesu ngovuyo. Abaninzi bathi, le yinguquko equphileyo; kodwa isisiphumo sexesha elide lokucenga kukaMoya kaThixo,--inkqubo ende nenomonde. ULw 172.4

Nangona umoya ngokwawo ungabonakali, uveza iziphuma ezibonakalayo neziphathekayo. Ngokunjalo, umsebenzi kaMoya emphefumlweni uya kuzibonakalalisa kuzo zonke izenzo zalowo uthe wawava amandla aKhe asindisayo. Xa uMoya kaThixo uthabatha igunya entliziyweni, uyabuguqula ubomi. Iingcinga zesono ziyasuswa, izenzo ezingendawo zibekwa nxamnye; uthando, ukuzithoba, kunye noxolo kuthi kuthabathe indawo yomsindo, umnqweno, nokulwa. Uvuyo luthabatha indawo yosizi, imbonakalo ityhile ukukhanya kwezulu. Akukho mntu usibonayo isandla esisusa umthwalo, okanye okubonayo ukukhanya kusihla kuvela kwiinkundla zaphezulu. Intsikelelo ibakho ngokholo xa uthe umphefumlo wazinikela kuThixo. Asuka amandla angenakubonwa liliso lenyama adale umntu omtsha ngokomfanekiso kaThixo.ULw 173.1

Akwenzeki ukuba ingqondo eziphela esithubeni ziwuqonde umsebenzi wokuhlangulwa. Imfihlakalo yawo idlule ngaphaya kokuqonda komntu; ukanti lowo udlule ekufeni wangena ebomini uyabuqonda ukuba obo bubunyaniso bezulu. Isiqalo sokuhlangulwa singasazi apha ngamava wethu. Iziphumo zawo [umsebenzi wokuhlangulwa] zifikelela emaphakadeni.ULw 173.2

Lo gama uYesu wayethetha, kwabakho imitha yenyaniso engenayo engqondweni yomphathi. Impembelelo ethambisayo, neyoyisayo kaMoya Oyingcwele yaba phezu kwentliziyo yakhe. Noko kunjalo, akazange awaqonde ngokupheleleyo amazwi oMsindisi. Akazange athabatheke kangako kukuba kufuneka ukuzalwa ngokutsha ngaphezu kwendlela okunokwenzeka ngayo. Emangalisiwe, wathi, “Zingathini na ezi zinto ukuba nokubakho?” ULw 173.3

“Wena, ungumfindisi nje wakwaIsrayeli, akuzazi na ezi zinto?” uYesu wabuza. Ngokuqinisekileyo, umntu onikwe uxanduva lokufundisa abantu ngezenkolo akamele kungazazi iinyaniso ezibaluleke kangako. Amazwi aKhe agqithisa isifundo sokuba, endaweni yokuziva onakele ngamazwi acacileyo enyaniso, uNikodemo umele ukuba abe nengcinga ethobekileyo ngaye, ngenxa yokungazi kwakhe okwasemoyeni. Sekunjalo, uKristu wathetha ngondiliseko lwesidima olukhulu, kwathi kokubini, ukujonga nelizwi zabonisa uthando olukhulu, kangangokuba uNikodemo akazange akhubeke akuyiqonda imeko yakhe ephoxayo. ULw 173.4

Wathi xa uYesu ewuchaza umsebenzi awuzeleyo emhlabeni ukuba kukumisela ubukumkani basemoyeni endaweni yobasemhlabeni bexeshana, wakhathazeka umphulaphuli waKhe. Wathi akukubona oku, uYesu wongeza wathi, “Ukuba ndinixelele izinto ezisemhlabeni, naza anakholwa, nothini na ukukholwa, ukuba ndithe ndanixelela izinto ezisemazulwini?” Ukuba uNikodemo wayengenako ukuyamkela imfundiso kaKristu, emzobela umsebenzi wobabalo entliziyweni yakhe, wayengayiqonda njani imo yobukumkani baKhe bobuqaqawuli basezulwini? Kuba engayiqondi imo yomsebenzi kaKristu emhlabeni, wayengenako ukuwuqonda umsebenzi waKhe ezulwini.ULw 173.5

AmaYuda awayegxothwe nguYesu etempileni ayesithi angabantwana baka-Abraham, kodwa abaleka phambi koMsindisi kuba ayengenako ukumelana nobuqaqawuli bukaThixo obabonakalaliswa kuYe. Ngaloo ndlela anika ubungqina bokuba ayengakufanelanga, ngobabalo, lukaThixo ukuba nenxaxheba kwiinkonzo ezingcwele zetempile. Ayenenzondelelo yokugcina imbonakalo yobungcwele, kodwa ebutyeshele ubungcwele bentliziyo. Nangona ayezondelele ukugcinwa ngokungqongqo komthetho, ayethe rhoqo ngokugqitha emoyeni wawo. Eyona ntswelo yawo enkulu yayiyile nguquko kanye uKristu wayeyichaza kuNikodemo,--ukuzalwa ngokutsha kokulungileyo, ukuhlanjululwa esonweni, nokuhlaziywa kolwazi nobungcwele.ULw 174.1

Sasingekho isizathu sobumfama kuIsrayeli ngokubhekiselele kumsebenzi wokuzalwa ngokutsha. Phantsi kwempefumlelo kaMoya Oyingcwele, uIsaya wabhala, wathi, “Ke sisuke saba njengoyinqambi sonke siphela, yanjengengubo enomzi yonke imisebenzi yethu yobulungisa.” UDavide wathandaza, wathi, “Dala phakathi kwam, Thixo, intliziyo ehlambulukileyo, uhlaziye umoya oqinisekileyo phakathi kwam.” Kanti ke, ngoHezekile, isithembiso sanikwa, “Ndoninika intliziyo entsha, ndininike umoya omtsha ngaphakathi kwenu; ndiyisuse intliziyo elilitye enyameni yenu, ndininike intliziyo eyinyama. Ndofaka uMoya wam ngaphakathi kwenu, ndinenze nihambe ngemimiselo yam.” Isa. 64:6; Nd. 51:10; Hez. 36:26, 27.ULw 174.2

UNikodemo wayezifundile ezi ziBhalo ngengqondo enenkungu; kodwa ngoku waqala ukuyiqonda into eziyithethayo. Wabona ukuba okona kuthobela kungqongqo umthetho obhaliweyo njengoko ubhekisa kubomi obuphilwa ngaphandle akungekhe kumnike umntu imvume yokungena ebukumkanini bamazulu. Ekuqikeleleni kwabantu, ubomi bakhe babulungile buhloniphekile; kodwa phambi kukaKristu waziva ngokungathi intliziyo yakhe ayihlambulukanga, nobomi bakhe bungekho nyulu. ULw 174.3

UNikodemo wayetsalekela kuKristu. Wathi xa uMsindisi emchazela ngokuzalwa ngokutsha, walangazelela ukuba olu tshintsho lwenzeke kuye. Yeyiphi indlela olunokwenzeka ngayo? UYesu wawuphendula lo mbuzo ungabuzwanga: “Njengokuba ke uMoses wayiphakamisayo inyoka entlango, umelwe kukuphakanyiswa ngokunjalo uNyana woMntu; ukuze bonke abakholwayo kuye bangatshabalali, koko babe nobomi obungunaphakade.”ULw 174.4

Lo yayingumhlaba aqhelene nawo uNikodemo. Umfuziselo wenyoka eyaphakanyiswayo wawenza wacaca kuye umsebenzi othunywe uMsindisi. Xa abantu bakwaIsrayeli babesifa kukulunywa ziinyoka ezibumlilo, uThixo wayalela uMoses ukuba enze inyoka yobhedu, ayixhome phezulu phakathi kwebandla. Laza ilizwi lavakaliswa kuyo yonke indawo ebabehleli kuyo ukuba, bonke abathe bakhangela kuyo inyoka baya kuphila. Abantu babesazi kakuhle ukuba kuyo yona ngokwayo inyoka ayengekho amandlaokubanceda. Yayingumfuziselo kaKristu.Ukwenziwa,kengoko, komfanekiselo weenyokaezitshabalalisayo waza waphakanyiswa ukuze baphile, ngokunjalo, Lowo uthe wenziwa “[wa]fana nenyama elawulwa sisono,” wayeza kuba nguMhlawuleli wabo. Roma 8:3. Abaninzi kumaIsrayeli babeyithabatha inkonzo yemibingelelo ukuba inokuhle kuyo okunokubakhulula esonweni. UThixo walangazelela ukubafundisa ukuba yayingenalo ixabiso elingadlula elo yayinalo inyoka yobhedu. Yayiyeyokukhokelela iingqondo zabo kuMsindisi. Nokuba kwakukokokuphilisa kwamanxeba abo okanye ukuxolelwa kwezono zabo, akukho nto babenokuzenzela yona ngokwabo ngaphandle nje kokuba babonise ukholo lwabo kwiSipho sikaThixo. Kwakufuneka bakhangele ukuze baphile.ULw 174.5

Abo babetyiwe ziinyoka babenako ukulibazisa ukukhangela. Babenokuba nemibuzo wokuba kungakho njani ukuncedakala kuloo mfuziselo ubengezelayo wobhedu. Babenako nokufuna inkcazelo yobungqina obuchubekileyo [besayensi]. Akuzange kodwa kubekho ngcaciso inikwayo. Kufuneka bamkele ilizwi likaThixo eliza kubo ngoMoses. Ukulandula ukukhangela yayikukufa. ULw 175.1

Umphefumlo awukhanyiselwa ngampikiswano nangengxoxo. Kufuneka sikhangele size siphile. UNikodemo wasamkela isifundo, wasoloko ehamba naso. Waziphengulula iziBhalo ngendlela entsha, engenzeli ulwazi lokuxoxa, kodwa ukuze afumane ubomi bomphefumlo. Waqala ukububona ubukumkani bamazulu akuzinikela ekukhokelweni nguMoya Oyingcwele. ULw 175.2

Kukho amawaka namhlanje adinga ukuba afunde isifundo esinye senyaniso eyafundiswa uNikodemo ngenyoka eyaphakanyiswayo. Baxhomekeke ekuthobeleni umthetho kaThixo ukuba ubenze bafanele uthando lwaKhe. Xa beyalelwa ukuba bakhangele kuYesu, bakholwe ukuba uyabasindisa ngobabalo lwaKhe, bayakhuza, bathi, “Zingathini na ezi zinto ukuba nokubakho?”ULw 175.3

NjengoNikodemo, kufuneka sibe nentumekelelo ukungena ebomini ngendlela efanayo yomoni omkhulu. Ngaphandle kukaKristu, “akukho gama limbi phantsi kwezulu, linikiweyo phakathi kwabantu, esimele ukusindiswa ngalo.” IZenzo 4:12. Ngokholo samkela ubabalo lukaThixo; kodwa ukholo alunguye uMsindisi wethu. Aluzuzi nto. Lusisandla esibambelela ngaso kuKristu, sibange okuhle kwaKhe, ichiza lesono. Enye into, asingeke siqale kwaukuqala ukuguquka ngaphandle koncedo lukaMoya kaThixo. IsiBhalo sithi ngoKristu, Yena lowo uThixo amphakamisa ngesandla sakhe sokunene, wanguMthetheli noMsindisi, ukuze amnike uIsrayeli inguquko noxolelo lwezono.” IZenzo 5:31. Inguquko ivela kuKristu kanye njengokuxolelwa.ULw 175.4

Singasindiswa njani na, ke ngoko? “Njengokuba ke uMoses wayiphakamisayo inyoka entlango,” uphakanyiswe ngokunjalo uNyana woMntu, kwaye wonke othe wakhohliswa walunywa yinyoka umele ULw 176.1

ukukhangela aze aphile. “Nantso iMvana kaThixo, ethwala isuse isono sehlabathi.” Yohane 1:29. Ukukhanya okubengezela kusuka emnqamlezweni kutyhila uthando lukaThixo. Uthando lwaKhe lusitsalela kuYe. Ukuba asikwali oku kutsalwa, siya kukhokelelwa elunyaweni lomnqamlezo siguquka kwizono esimbethelele ngazo uMsindisi. Uya kuthi ke uMoya kaThixo ngokholo aveze ubomi obutsha emphefumlweni. Iingcinga neminqweno ithi iziswe ekuyithobeleni intando kaKristu. Intliziyo, ingqondo, zidalwa ngokutsha ngokomfanekiselo waKhe osebenza ngaphakathi kwethu ukubeka ngaphantsi kwaKhe zonke izinto. Uthi ke ngoko umthetho kaThixo ubhalwe engqondweni nasentliziyweni, size sikwazi ukuthi, kunye noKristu, “Ukwenza okulikholo kuwe, Thixo wam, ndikunanzile.” Ndumiso. 40:8.ULw 176.2

Kumhlangano waKhe noNikodemo, uYesu walityhila icebo losindiso, nomsebenzi azele wona emhlabeni. Akukho nakweyodwa kwiingxoxo zaKhe ezalandela apho wakha wacacisa ngokupheleleyo kangako, inyathelo ngenyathelo, umsebenzi ekufuneka wenziwe ezintliziyweni zabo bonke abanga bangabudla ilifa ubukumkani bamazulu. Kwasekuqalekeni nje komsebenzi wokulungiselela kwaKhe, wayivula inyaniso kwilungu leSanhedrin, kwingqondo eyayikulungele kakhulu ukwamkela, nakumfundisi [ititshala] wabantu onyuliweyo. Phofu iinkokheli zikaIsrayeli azizange zikwamkele ukukhanya. UNikodemo wayifihla entliziyweni yakhe inyaniso, kwada kwaba yiminyaka emithathu ekwathi kwabonakala isiqhamo esincinane. ULw 176.3

UYesu Yena wayeqhelene nomhlaba awaphosa kuwo imbewu. Amazwi awathethwa ebusuku kumphulaphuli omnye kwintaba eyodwa ayengalahlekanga. Kwaba lithuba uNikodemo engamvumi esidlangalaleni uKristu kodwa wabubukela ubomi baKhe, ecamngca ngeemfundiso zaKhe. Kwiqumrhu leSanhedrin wathi rhoqo ewaphanzisa amacebo ababingeleli okumtshabalalisa, uKristu. Kwathi ekugqibeleni akuphakanyiswa uYesu emnqamlezweni, uNikodemo wayikhumbula imfundiso yeNtaba yeMinquma: “Njengokuba ke uMoses wayiphakamisayo inyoka entlango, umelwekukuphakanyiswa ngokunjalo uNyana woMntu; ukuze bonke abakholwayo kuye bangatshabalali, koko babe nobomi obungunaphakade.” Ukukhanya kwalo ndibano yasemfihlakalweni kwawukhanyisa umnqamlezo phezu kweKalvari, waza uNikodemo wambona uYesu enguMhlanguli wehlabathi. ULw 176.4

Emva kokunyuka kweNkosi, xa abafundi besasazwe yintshutshiso, uNikodemo weza ngaphambili ngesibindi. Wasebenzisa ubutyebi bakhe ekuxhaseni ibandla eliselula amaYuda awayethembe ukuba liya kuphela ekufeni kukaKristu. Ngexesha lentlekele, lowo wayecondoba enemibuzo waya waqina ngokweliwa, ekhuthaza ukholo kubafundi, ekhupha kwindyebo yakhe ukuhambisela phambili umsebenzi weendaba ezilungileyo. Wagculelwa watshutshiswa ngabo babemnika imbeko ngeminye imihla. Waba lihlwempu ngokwezinto zasemhlabeni; ukanti akazange aphazame elukholweni olusiqalo salo sasikuloo mhlangano wobusuku noYesu. ULw 177.1

UNikodemo walibalisa kuYohane ibali laloo mhlangano, wathi ngosiba lwakhe uYohane walibhalela ukufundiswa kwezigidi ngezigidi. Iinyaniso ezafundiswa apho zibaluleke namhlanje njengoko zazinjalo ngobo busuku bunendili nobabumfiliba, xa umphathi wamaYuda weza ukuba afunde indlela yobomi kuMfundisi othobekileyo waseGalili.ULw 177.2