22—Ukuvalelwa Nokubulawa KukaYohane

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kuMat. 11:1-11; 14:1-11; Marko 6:17-28; Luka 7:19-28.]

UYohane wayengowokuqala ukuvakalisa ubukumkani bukaKristu, waba ngowokuqala nokuphatheka kakubi. Ukusuka kumoya okhululekileyo wasentlango, nezihlwele ezikhulu ezazibambelele emazwini akhe, ngoku wayevalelwe ziindonga zesisele sentolongo engaphantsi komhlaba. Waba libanjwa kwinqaba kaHerode Antipasi. Kummandla wempuma yeYordan, eyayiphantsi kombuso ka-Antipasi, ubukhulu bolungiselelo lukaYohane lwenziwa apho. UHerode ngokwakhe wayekumamele ukushumayela komBhaptizi. Ukumkani ongcolileyo wangcangcazela akubizelwa enguqukweni. “UHerode wayemoyika uYohane, emazi ukuba uyindoda elilungisa, engcwele; . . . wayesithi ke akumva, enze indawo ezininzi, amve kamnandi.” UYohane wahlala kunye naye ngokuthembeka, ekukhalimela ukunxulumana kwakhe okunentlondi noHerodiya, umfazi womntakwabo. Okwexesha elithile, uHerode wazama ukuliqhawula ityathanga lenkanuko elalimqamangele; kodwa uHerodiya wamqinisa ngokuqinileyo ngakumbi emisebenzini yakhe, waza wafumana impindezelo ngakuYohane ngokulukuhla uHerode ukuba amphose entolongweni.ULw 214.1

Ubomi bukaYohane babubobokusebenza, lwaza usizi nokungenzi nto kobomi bakhe basentolongweni kwaba nzima kakhulu phezu kwakhe. Njengoko iiveki zaziqengqeleka enye emva kwenye, zingazisi lutshintsho, ukuphelelwa lithemba nokuthandabuza kwafika phezu kwakhe. Abafundi bakhe abazange bamshiye. Bavunyelwa ukuba bangene entolongweni, baza bamphathela iindaba ngomsebenzi kaYesu,baxelanangendlelaabantu ababayimiqodiukuya kuYe. Baba nombuzo wokuba kutheni, ukuba le titshala intsha yayinguMesiya, ingenzi nto nje ukuze akhululwe. Ingathini ukuvumela ukuba umazisi waYo othembekileyo avinjwe inkululeko mhlawumbi nobomi? ULw 214.2

Le mibuzo ayizange ingabi nagalelo. Iintandabuzo, mhlawumbi ezazingayi kuze zibekho, zangeniswa kuYohane. USathana wavuya akuva amazwi aba bafundi, nokubona ukuba bayawutyumza umphefumlo womthunywa weNkosi. Kuba kangaphi abo bacinga ukuba bangabahlobo bomntu olungileyo, nabanomnqweno wokubonisa ukunyaniseka kwabo kuye, basuke babonise ukuba bazezona ntshaba zakhe ziyingozi! Kuba kangaphi, endaweni yokulomeleza ukholo lwakhe, asuke amazwi abo axinzelele atyhafise!ULw 215.1

Njengabafundi boMsindisi, uYohane umBhaptizi akazange ayiqonde imo yobukumkani bukaKristu. Wayelindele ukuba uKristu athabathe itrone kaDavide; kwathi ngokudlula kwexesha, uMsindisi engalenzi ibango legunya lobukumkani, uYohane wadideka, wakhathazeka. Wayevakalise ebantwini ukuba, ukuze indlela ilungiseke phambi kweNkosi, kufunekaisiprofetosikaIsaya sizaliseke; iintaba neenduli kufuneka ziwe, iindlela ezigoso zolulwe, neendawo ezimagqagala zigudiswe.Wayelindeleiindawo ziphezulu zekratshi namandla omntu ukuba zikhahlelwe phantsi. Walatha kuMesiya njengaLowo umnyazi wokwela wawusesandleni saKhe, nowayeza kusicoca ngokucokisekileyo isanda, owayeza kuyibuthela kuvimba waKhe ingqolowa, awutshise umququ ngomlilo ongenakucinywa. Njengomprofeti uEliya, nomoya wakhe namandla akhe aweza ngawo kuIsrayeli, walindela ukuba iNkosi izityhile njengoThixo ophendula ngomlilo. ULw 215.2

Emsebenzini awayewuthunyiwe, uYohane wema engoyiki engumkhalimeli wobugwenxa, kweziphezulu nakweziphantsi iindawo. Waba nesibindi sokujongana nokumkani uHerode ekhalimela isono ngokuphandle. Akazange abubone bubaluleke kakhulu ubomi bakhe ukuba abugcine kuye, kuba kufuneka efezekise umsebenzi awubekelweyo. Wathi nangoku esesiseleni esingaphantsi, walindela ukuba iNgonyama yakwaYuda ilikhahlele phanti ikratshi lomcinezeli, abahlangule abahluphekileyo, kwakunye naye, ababekhala. Kwabonakala ngokungathi uYesu wanelisekile ngabafundi ababemjikelezile, Yena Yesu, nokuphilisa nokufundisa abantu. Wayesitya ezitafileni zababuthi berhafu, lo gama yonke imihla idyokhwe yamaRoma yayithe zinzi phezu kukaIsrayeli, ngeli xesha uKumkani Herode nekrexekazi lakhe elingcolileyo besenza intando yabo, zaye zona izikhalo zabahluphekileyo nababulalekayo zinyuka zisiya ezulwini. ULw 215.3

Kumprofeti wasentlango, kwabonakala kuyimfihlakalo engaphaya kobunzulu anokubufikelela. Kwakukho amaxesha apho ukusebeza kweedemon kwakuwuthuthumbisa umoya wakhe, size isithunzi soloyiko olukhulu simgubungele. Ingaba uMhlanguli owayekade elindelwe akakabonakali? Kanti sasithetha ntoni isigidimi awayenyanzelekile ukuba yena ngokwakhe asithwale? UYohane wayedaniswe kakhulu sisiphumo somsebenzi awayewuthunyiwe. Wayelindele ukuba isigidimi esivela kuThixo sasiya kuba negalelo elifanayo naxa kwakufundwa umthetho ngemihla kaYosiya nekaEzra (2 IziKronike 34; Nehemiya 8, 9); nokuba kuya kulandela inguquko enzulu kakhulu nokubuyela kuYehova. Ukuze uphumelele lo msebenzi awuthunyiweyo, uye wabuncama bonke ubomi bakhe. Ingaba oko kwakulilize? ULw 216.1

UYohane wakhathazeka kukubona ukuba, ngenxa yothando lwabo ngakuye, abafundi bakhe babenokungakholelwa kuYesu. Ingaba ukubasebenzela kwakhe kwakungenazo iziqhamo? Ingaba wayengathembekanga emsebenzini wakhe, nokuba ngoku unqanyulwe ekusebenzeni nzima? Ukuba uMhlanguli owayethenjisiwe wayefikile, abe uYohane ufunyaniswe ukuba wayenyanisekile kubizo lwakhe, ingaba ngoku uYesu wayengayi kuwabhukuqa amandla omcinezeli, amkhulule lo wayevakalisa ngaYe? ULw 216.2

Noko kunjalo, umBhaptizi akazange alulahle ukholo lwakhe kuKristu. Inkumbulo yelizwi elaliphuma ezulwini kunye nehobe elehlayo, ubunyulu obungenabala bukaYesu, amandla kaMoya Oyingcwele awahlala phezu kukaYohane xa wayehlangana noMsindisi, nobungqina bemibhalo yobuprofeti,--konke kwangqina ukuba uYesu waseNazarete wayengOwaThenjiswayo. ULw 216.3

UYohane wayengafuni ukuxoxa iintandabuzo namaxhala wakhe namaqabane wakhe. Wazimisela ukuthumela isigidimi sophando kuYesu. Oku wakunikela kwababini kubafundi bakhe, enethemba lokuba udliwano-ndlebe noMsindisi kuya kuluqinisekisa ukholo lwabo, luzise isiqinisekiso kubazalwana babo. Naye wayelangazelela ukufumana ilizwi elivela kuKristu elilelakhe eliza kuye ngqo. ULw 216.4

Abafundi beza kuYesu nesigidimi sabo, “Wena ungulowo uzayo na, silinde omnye, sini na?” ULw 216.5

Lalilifutshane kakhulu ixesha kususela ukuba umBhaptizi walatha kuYesu, edanduluka, esithi, “Nantso iMvana kaThixo, ethwala isuse isono sehlabathi.” “Yena ngothe, esiza emva kwam nje, wesuka waba phambi kwam.” Yohane 1:29, 27. Ngoku kukho umbuzo othi, “Wena ungulowo uzayo na?” Lalikrakra ngendlela enzulu likwadanisa kwindalo yomntu. Ukuba uYohane, umanduleli othembekileyo, wasilela ukuwuqonda umsebenzi azele wona uKristu, kwakungalindelwa ntoni kwisihlwele esifuna okwaso? ULw 216.6

UMsindisi akazange awuphendule kwangoko umbuzo wabafundi. Bathi besamile bemangalisiwe kukuthula kwaKhe, abagulayo nabathuthunjelwayobayebesizakuYe ukubabaphiliswe.Iimfana zaziphuthaphutha indlelayazophakathi kwesihlwele; abanezifo zazo zonke iintlobo babekho, abanye benyanzelisa indlela yabo, abanye bethwele abahlobo, benyanzelisa ngenzondelelo ukuya phambi kukaYesu. Ilizwi loMphilisi onamandla laligqobhoza indlebe yesithulu. Ilizwi, inkcukumiso yesandla saKhe, zavula amehlo angaboniyo ukuba abone ukukhanya kwemini, imiboniso yendalo, ubuso babahlobo nobuso boMkhululi. UYesu wakhalimela isifo wagxotha, umkhuhlane. Ilizwi laKhe lafikelela kwiindlebe ezifayo, zabuyela empilweni nasemandleni. Abanobulwelwe beedemon balithobela ilizwi laKhe, impambano yabashiya, bamnqula. Ngexesha ephilisa izifo zabo, wayebafundisa abantu. Abahlali basemakhaya abahluphekileyo nabasebenzi nzima, ababe phetshwa ngoorabhi njengabantu abangahlambulukanga, babuthelana kufuphi bemngqongile, wathetha nabo amazwi obomi obungunaphakade. ULw 217.1

Yaphela ngaloo ndlela imini, abafundi bakaYohane bekubona, bekuva konke. Ekugqibeleni uYesu wababizela kuYe, wabathuma ukuba baye baxelele uYohane izinto abazibonileyo, esongeza, “Unoyolo othe akakhutyekiswa ndim.” Luka 7:23. Ubungqina bobuThixo baKhe babubonwa ekulungisweni kwezidingo zoluntu olusentlungwini. Uzuko lwaKhe lwabonakaliswa ekuhleni kwaKhe eze kumgangatho wezinga lethu eliphantsi. ULw 217.2

Abafundi basithwala isigidimi, saye sasanele. UYohane wakhumbula isiprofeto esingoMesiya, “UYehova endithambisele kuba ndishumayeze abalulamileyo iindaba ezilungileyo. Undithume ukubopha abantliziyo zaphukileyo, ukumemeza inkululeko kwabathinjiweyo, ukuvulwa kwamehlo kwabakhonkxiweyo; ukumemeza umnyaka wetarhu likaYehova.” Isa. 61:1, 2. Imisebenzi kaKristu ayanelanga nje ukuvakalisa ukuba unguMesiya, kodwa yabonisa nendlela ubukumkani baKhe obabuza kumiselwa ngayo. KuYohane kwavuleka inyaniso efanayo naleyo yafika kuEliya entlango, xa “umoya omkhulu onamandla uzikrazula iintaba, uziqhekeza iingxondorha phambi koYehova, engekho uYehova emoyeni lowo. Emveni komoya kwakho inyikima, akabakho uYehova enyikimeni. Emveni kwenyikima kwabakho umlilo. Akabakho uYehova emlilweni;” emveni komlilo, uThixo wathetha nomprofeti “ngolwandile lokuphephezela okuhle.” 1 Kumkani 19:11, 12. Ngoko ke, uYesu wayeza kwenza umsebenzi waKhe, engasebenzisi kuqubisana ngezigalo nokubhukuqa iitrone nezikumkani, kodwa ngokuthetha ezintliziyweni zabantu ngobomi benceba nokuzibingelela.ULw 217.3

Umthetho-siseko wobomi bomBhaptizi bokuzincama waye ungowobukumkani bukaMesiya. UYohane wayekwazi kakuhle ukungaqheleki kwako konke oku kwimithetho-siseko namathemba eenkokheli kwaIsrayeli. Oko kuye kwaye kububungqina oboyisayo bobuThixo bukaKristu, kwakungasayi kuba bubungqina kuzo. Zazilindele uMesiya owayengenguye owesithembiso. UYohane wabona ukuba umsebenzi woMsindisi ungazuza kuzo kuphela intiyo nokugxekwa. Yena, owayesandulela, wayesela endebeni uKristu ngokwaKhe awayeza kuyiqongqoloza kuse entlengeni yayo. ULw 218.1

Amazwi oMsindisi, “Unoyolo othe akakhutyekiswa ndim” ayekukuthethisa ngobubele uYohane. Wayengenzanga nto kuye, [oko kukuthi, wayengoniwanga nguYesu]. Wathi akuyiqonda ngoku ngokucace kakhulu imo yomsebenzi ozelwe nguKristu, waziyekela kuThixo ukuba aphile okanye afe, ukuba nje kuya kulungela kakhulu ukuphumelela komsebenzi awayewuthanda. ULw 218.2

Emva kokuba abathunywa bemkile, uYesu wathetha nabantu ngoYohane. Intliziyo yoMsindisi yaphuphuma uvelwano ngenxa yobungqina obuthembekileyo, ngoku obabugqunywe esiseleni sikaHerode. Wayengakwazi ukubashiya abantu becinga ukuba uThixo umshiyile uYohane, okanye besithi ukholo lwakhe luye lwawa phantsi ngomhla wokuvavanywa. “Naye niphume naya kubona ntoni na entlango? Watsho. “Yaye iyingcongolo na, izanyazanyiswa ngumoya?” ULw 218.3

Iingcongolo ezazinde ezazikhula ngaseYordan, zigotywa yiyo yonke impepho, zazingumzekelo ofaneleyo woorabhi ababesima njengabagxeki nabagwebi bomsebenzi womBhaptizi. Babewexulwa ngapha nangapha yimimoya yokufuna ukuthandwa. Babengenako ukuzithoba bamkele isigidimi somBhaptizi esiphengulula intliziyo, kodwa, ngenxa yokoyika abantu, abazange babe naso isibindi sokuwuchasa ekuhleni umsebenzi wakhe. Phofu yena umthunywa kaThixo wayengenawo umoya wobugwala. Inginginya eyangungelana kuKristu yayiwubonile umsebenzi kaYohane. Ayekuvile ukukhalimela kwakhe isono ngesibindi. KubaFarisi abazibona benobulungisa, kubaSadusi abanobubingeleli, kukumkani uHerode nesigqeba sakhe, kubathetheli namasoldati, kubabuthi berhafu nabahlali, uYohane wayethethe kubo ngokucacileyo ngokufanayo. Wayengeyiyo ingcongolo engcangcazelayo, ejikwajikwa yimimoya yokunconywa okanye yokugxekwa ngabantu. Entolongweni, wayekwanguye ekunyanisekeni kuThixo nangenzondelelo yakhe yobulungisa njengexesha wayeshumayela isigidimi sikaThixo entlango. Ekuthembekeni kwakhe kumthetho-siseko, wayemi ezinzile ngokweliwa.ULw 218.4

UYesu waqhubeka, “Naye niphume naya kubona ntoni na kodwa? Yaye ingumntu ovethe iingubo ezitofotofo na? Yabonani, abo banxiba iingubo eziqaqambileyo, badle ubuncwane, ngabasezindlwini zookumkani.” UYohane wayebizelwe ukuba akhalimele izono nezinyeizigqitho, yaye impahla zakheezingentlanga nezokuzilandula ebomini zazihambelana nesimilo somsebenzi awayewuthunyiwe. Iimpahla zexabiso elikhulu nobumnandi bobu bomi asizizinto zabantu abangabakhonzi bakaThixo, kodwa zezabo bahlala “ezindlwini zookumkani,” abaphathi beli hlabathi, angawabo amandla kunye nobutyebi. UYesu wanga angayitsalela ingqondo kumahluko phakathi kwempahla kaYohane naleyo yayinxitywa ngababingeleli nabaphathi. La magosa ayezambathise iingubo nezihombo zexabiso elikhulu. Ayethanda amehlo, enethemba lokubaphandla abantu, ukuze ngaloo ndlela enze ukuba bawaphawule bawahloniphe kakhulu. Ayelangazelela kakhulu ukuzuza ukuthandwa ngabantu kunokuba abe nobunyulu bentliziyo okwakuya kuzuza ukwamkelwa nguThixo. Ngoko ke bakutyhila ukuba ukuthembela kwabo kwakungaveli kuThixo, kodwa kubukumkani beli hlabathi. ULw 218.5

“Naye,” wathi uYesu, “niphume naya kubona ntoni na kodwa? Yaye ingumprofeti na? Ewe, ndithi kuni, node wagqithisa kumprofeti. Lo ngulowo kubhaliweyo ngaye kwathiwa, ULw 219.1

“Niyabona, mna ndiyamthuma umthunywa wam
ngaphambi kobuso bakho,
Oya kuyilungisa indlela yakho phambi kwakho.” ULw 219.2

“Inene ndithi kuni, Phakathi kwabo bazelweyo ngabafazi, akuvelanga mkhulu kunoYohane umbhaptizi.” Ekuvakaliseni kuZekariya ngaphambi kokuba azalwe uYohane, ingelosi yathi, “Uya kuba mkhulu emehlweni eNkosi.” Luka 1:15. Ngokokuqikelela kweZulu, yintoni eyenza ubukhulu? Ingeyiyo le ihlabathi liyibalela ekuthini bubukhulu; asibubo ubutyebi, okanye isikhundla, okanye ukuzalwa kakuhle, izipho zobuchopho, ezo zinto azijongwa. Ukuba ubukhulu bobuchopho, ngaphandle kokuqatshelwa kwangasentla, kufanelwe ukuzukiswa, imbeko yethu ngoko ifanelwe ukunikwa uSathana, omandla wakhe obuchopho angazange alingana nawomntu. Xa ke sigqwethelwe ekuzisebenzeleni, okona sisikhulu isipho, okona sisikhulu isiqalekiso esithi sibe siso. Luhlobo lokulunga ekuziphatheni alixabisayo uThixo. Uthando nobunyulu ziimpawu azixabisa kakhulu ukudlula konke okunye. UYohane wayemkhulu emehlweni eNkosi, xa, phambi kwabathunywa ababevela kwiSanhedrin, phambi kwabantu, naphambi kwabafundi bakhe, wakuphepha ukuzifunela uzuko, kodwa walubhekisa lonke kuYesu njengOwayethenjisiwe. Uvuyo lwakhe olungajonge nzuzo ngomsebenzi kaKristu, lubonisa uhlobo oluphezulu kakhulu lobunene obakha babonakalaliswa ngumntu. ULw 219.3

Ubungqina obunikwayo ngaye emva kokufa kwakhe, ngabo babuvayo ubungqina bakhe ngoYesu, babusithi, “UYohane okunene akenzanga namnye umqondiso; kodwa ke zonke izinto, awazithethayo uYohane ngaye lo, zaziyinene.” Yohane 10:41. UYohane wayengakunikwanga ukubaathobeumlilo uvelaezulwini,okanyeukuvusa abafileyo, njengoko kwaba njalo kuEliya, okanye ukuphakamisa intonga kaMoses yamandla egameni likaThixo. Wathunywa ukuba avakalise ukufika koMsindisi, nokubiza abantu ukuba balungiselele ukufika kwaKhe. Wawenza ngokunyaniseka okukhulu umsebenzi awuthunyiweyo, kangangokuba abantu bakukhumbula oko wayebafundise kona ngoYesu, bakwazi ukuthi, “Zonke izinto, awazithethayo uYohane ngaye lo, zaziyinene.” Ubungqina obunjalo ngoKristu, wonke umfundi weNkosi ubizelwe ukuba abe nabo.ULw 219.4

Njengowayevakalisa ukuza kukaMesiya, uYohane wayede “wagqithisa kumprofeti.” Kaloku, njengoko abaprofeti bakubonela kude ukufika kukaKristu, uYohane wanikwa ukuba ambone, abuve ubungqina obuvela ezulwini bungobuMesiya baKhe, nokumnikela kuIsrayeli njengOthunywe nguThixo. Kanti ke uYesu wathi, “Kanti ke nomncinanana kwabanye ebukumkanini bukaThixo, mkhulu kunaye.” ULw 220.1

Umprofeti wayelikhonkco elihlanganisayo phakathi kwamaxesha amabini. Njengommeli kaThixo, waphuma ukuba abonise ulwalamano lomthetho nabaprofeti kunye nexesha lobuKristu. Waye ekukukhanya okuncinane, okwakuza kulandelwa kokukhulu. Ingqondo kaYohane yayikhanyiselwe nguMoya Oyingcwele, ukuze anike ukukhanya ebantwini; kwakungekho kodwa okunye ukukhanya okwakha kwakhanya okanye okwakuya kuze kukhanye ngokucaca kangako phezu koluntu oluwileyo njengoko kwakuphuma kwimfundiso nomzekelo kaYesu. UKristu nomsebenzi waKhe wawuqondakele ngokumfiliba njengoko wawufuziselwa kwimibingelelo eyayisisithunzi. NoYohane wayengazange aliqonde ngokupheleleyo ikamva, ubomi obungenasiphelo obufunyanwa ngoMsindisi.ULw 220.2

Ngaphandle kovuyo uYohane awalufumana emsebenzini awayewuthunyiwe, ubomi bakhe babubobentlungu. Ilizwi lakhe lalingakholisi ukuvakala ngaphandle kwasentlango. Wayengumntu olilolo. Kwaye wayengavunyelwanga ukuba asibone isiphumo sokubulaleka kwakhe. Yayingelilo ilungelo lakhe ukuba abe noKristu akubone ukubonakalaliswa kwamandla ezulu awayehamba nokukhanya okukhulu. Kwakungekuko okwakhe ukubona iimfama zibuyiselwa ekuboneni, abagulayo bephiliswa, nabafileyo bevuselwa ebomini. Akazange akubone ukukhanya okwakubengezela kulo lonke ilizwi likaKristu, linika ubuqaqawuli kwizithembiso zesiprofeto. Oyena mncinane umfundi owayibonayo imisebenzi emikhulu kaKristu waweva amazwi aKhe, ngale ndlela, wayengoyena unelungelo elikhulu kunoYohane umBhaptizi, kuze ke ngoko kuthiwe ube mkhulu kunaye. ULw 220.3

Ngezihlwele ezikhulu ezazikuphulaphule ukushumayela kukaYohane, udumo lwakhe lwasasazeka kulo lonke ilizwe. Ukukhathazeka okukhulu kwabakho ngenxa yokuvalelwa kwakhe entolongweni. Kanti ke, ubomi bakhe obungasoleki nganto, nemvakalelo enkulu yoluntu ngakuye, yakhokelela kwinkolo ethi, akukho manyathelo akhohlakeleyo anokuthatyathwa ngakuye. ULw 220.4

UHerode wayekholwa ukuba uYohane ungumprofeti kaThixo, waza wazimisela ngokupheleleyo ukuba amkhulule. Noko kunjalo, yaya yalibaziseka injongo yakhe ngenxa yokoyika uHerodiya. ULw 221.1

UHerodiya wayesazi ukuba ngamanyathelo angqalileyo wayengekhe amenze uHerode ukuba avumele ukufa kukaYohane, waza wabhenela ekuyifezeni injongo yakhe ngecebo. Ngomhla wokuzalwa kukakumkani, kwakuza kwenziwa isiyunguma sokonwabisa amagosa esizwe namadoda amakhulu asebhotwe. Kwakuza kubakho ukudla nokunxila. UHerode wayeza kwenziwa angaqapheli nto, aze ngelo xesha aphenjelelwe ngokwentando yakhe, Herodiya. ULw 221.2

Yathi yakufika imini enkulu, ukumkani kunye nezikhakhamela zakhe bedlile benxilile, uHerodiya wayithuma intombi yakhe ukuba ingene kule holo yesidlo idanise ukonwabisa abamenywa. USalome wayefikisile, ethe futhu ebufazini, bathi ubuhle bakhe obanelisa inkanuko bazithimba izivo zabahlekazi abanxilileyo. Kwakungelilo isiko ukuba amanenekazi asebhotwe avele kwiziyunguma ezinjalo, waza umbulelo okhohlisayo wawunikwa uHerode xa le ntwazana yababingeleli nabaphathi bakwaIsrayeli nekwayinkosazana idanisela ukonwabisa abamenywa bakhe. ULw 221.3

Ukumkani wayeyotywe yiwayini. Inkanuko yamlawula, ingqondo yasuka esihlalweni. Wabona kuphela iholo yolonwabo, inabamenywa abanxilayo, itafile yesidlo, iwayini ehlwahlwazayo nezibane ezidanyazayo, kunye nentwazana edanisa phambi kwakhe. Kubundlavini baloo mzuzu, walangazelela ukwenza umboniso owawuza kumphakamisa phambi kwabantu bommandla wakhe. Ngesifungo, wathembisa ukuyinika intombi kaHerodiya nokuba yintoni enokuthi iyicele, kude kuse kwisiqingatha sobukumkani bakhe. ULw 221.4

USalome wakhawuleza waya kunina, ukuya kubuza ukuba angacela ntoni. Impendulo yayisele ilungile,--intloko kaYohane umBhaptizi. USalome wayengazi nto ngokunxanelwa ukuziphindezela kwentliziyo kamama wakhe, waza woyika ukusibeka isicelo; kodwa ukunyanzelisa kukaHerodiya koyisa. Intwazana yabuya inesicelo esibi, “Ndithanda ukuba undinike kalokunje ngesitya intloko kaYohane umbhaptizi.” Marko 6:25.ULw 221.5

UHerode wothuka wadideka. Ingxolo yehlombe yathi cwaka, kwathi nzwanga ngendlela eyoyikisayo apho ekuzonwabiseni. Ukumkani wabethwa luloyiko akucinga ngokubulala uYohane. Kwathi kuba ilizwi lakhe lalisisibhambathiso, akakuthanda ukubonakala engumntu oguquguqukayo owenza izinto ngobutyhuthutyhuthu. Isifungo besenziwe ukunika imbeko kubamenywa bakhe, kwaye ukuba omnye nje kubo wayethethe izwi ukuchasa ukwenzeka kwesithembiso sakhe, ngewakuvuyela ukumsindisa umprofeti. Wabanika ithuba lokuba bathethe egameni lombanjwa. Babehambe imigama emide ukuza kuphulaphula ukushumayela kukaYohane, baye bemazi eyindoda engawaphuliyoumthetho,engumkhonzikaThixo.Kwathi nangona bothukile kokufunwa yintombazana, nabo babeyotywe kakhulu ukuba bangathetha ngokuchasa. Akukho lizwi laphakanyiswayo ukusindisa umthunywa weZulu. La madoda ayekwizikhundla eziphezulu esizweni, kwaye kulele kuwo imithwalo emikhulu; kodwa ayeziyekele ekudleni nasekunxileni zada izivo zawo zaqobeka. Iintloko zawo zajikwa ngumbono owenza isizunguzane womculo nomdaniso, saza isazela asasebenza. Ngokuthula kwawo, avakalisa isigwebo sokufa kumprofeti kaThixo ukwaneza impindezelo yomfazi oncanyiweyo. ULw 221.6

UHerode walindela ngelize ukuba akhululwe kwisibhambathiso sakhe; waza wathi, emadol’ anzima, wayalela ukuba abulawe umprofeti. Kwangoko intloko kaYohane yaziswa phambi kokumkani nabamenywa bakhe. Yayitywinwe ngonaphakade loo milebe yayilumkise uHerode ngokuthembeka ukuba abuye kubomi bakhe besono. Lalingasayi kuze liphinde liviwe ilizwi elalibizela abantu enguqukweni. Iziyolo zobusuku obunye zathabatha ubomi bomnye wabona baprofeti bakhulu.ULw 222.1

Kazi kukangaphi ubomi obumsulwa buchithwa ngokuzibhokoxa kwabo bebefanele ukuba ngabagcini bobulungisa! Lowo ubeka indebe enxilisayo emilebeni yakhe uzithwalisa uxanduva lwako konke ukuswela ubulungisa athi akwenze phantsi kwamandla ako okuhenyuzisayo. Ngokudodobalisa izivo wenza ukuba angakwazi ukuba nayo ingqondo yokucinga ngokuzola okanye abe nembono ecacileyo yokulungileyo nokungalunganga. Uvula indlela ukuba uSathana asebenze ngaye ekucinezeleni nasekubulaleni abamsulwa. “Ingumgxeki iwayini, singumxokozeli isiselo esinxilisayo; bonke abayotywe yiyo abalumkile.” Miz. 20:1. Ngokunjalo “nobulungisa bumele qelele, . . . oshiy’ ububi uzibhaqa elixhoba.” Isa. 59:14, 15, [IBHAYIBHILE]. Abo banolawulo phezu kobomi babazalwana babo kufuneka babe nobutyala bokwaphula umthetho xa beziyekela ekungakwazini ukuba nokuzibamba [bangabi nabungcathu]. Bonke abenza imithetho kufuneka babe ngabagcini bomthetho. Bamelwe ukuba babe ngabantu abakwaziyo ukuzilawula. Kufuneka babe nolawulo olupheleleyo kumandla wabo omzimba, engqondo nokuziphatha okuhle, ukuze bakwazi ukuba namandla obuchopho, novo oluphezulu lobulungisa. ULw 222.2

Intloko kaYohane umBhaptizi yasiwa kuHerodiya, nowayemkela ngokwaneliseka kobutshaba. Waba novuyo ngempindezelo yakhe, waziqhatha ngelithi, isazela sikaHerode asisayi kuphinda sikhathazeke. Sekunjalo, alukho ulonwabo olwabakho ngenxa yesono sakhe. Igama lakhe laba ngundaba mlonyeni, lacatshukelwa, lo gama uHerode wayengcungcutheka kukuzisola kunokuba wayenjalo ngeziyalo zomprofeti. Impembelelo yeemfundiso zikaYohane yayingathulanga; yayiza kunabela kuzo zonke izizukulwana kude kuse ekupheleni kwexesha. ULw 222.3

Isono sikaHerode sahlala siphambi kwakhe. Wayesoloko ezingela ukukhululwa kwizimangalo zesazela sakhe esinetyala. Ukumthemba kwakhe uYohane kwakungagungqi. Ube esithi akukhumbula ubomi bakhe bokuzilandula, izibheno zakhe ezinendili nezinyanisekileyo, igalelo lakhe elivakalayo ekucebiseni, aze akhumbule indlela afikelele ngayo ekufeni kwakhe, asuke uHerode angafumani kuphumla. Naxa esebenza imicimbi yesizwe, esamkela amawonga avela ebantwini, wayesiba nobuso obuncumayo nembonakalo ematshekileyo, lo gama efihle intliziyo ekhathazekileyo, ehlala icinezelekile kukoyika ukuba isiqalekiso sasiphezu kwakhe. ULw 223.1

UHerode wayechukumiseke kakhulu ngamazwi kaYohane, okuba akukho nto inokufihlwa kuThixo. Wayoyisakele ukuba uThixo wayekho kuyo yonke indawo, ukuba wayewubona umnxilo wasegumbini lesidlo, nokuba wamva, uThixo, xa eyalela ukuba kunqunyulwe intloko kaYohane, wakubona ukuvuya kukaHerodiya, nesinyeliso awasenzayo kwintloko enqunyulweyo yalowo wayemkhalimela. Zininzi izinto uHerode awazivayo kwimilebe yomprofeti ngoku zithethwa kwisazela sakhe ngokucace kakhulu kunangexesha zazishunyayelwa entlango. ULw 223.2

Wathi uHerode akuva ngemisebenzi kaKristu, wakhathazeka ngeyona ndlela inkulu. Wayecinga ukuba uThixo umvusile uYohane kwabafileyo, wamthuma enamandla amakhulu kakhulu ukuba agwebe isono. Wayehleli esekoyikeni ukuba uYohane angaphindezela ukufa kwakhe ngokumgweba yena nendlu yakhe. UHerode wayevuna oko uThixo wayekuvakalisile ukuba kuya kuba sisiphumo sekhondo lesono,--“ukugungqa kwentliziyo, nokuphela kwamehlo, noku[bandezeleka] komphefumlo. Ubomi bakho bojinga ngomsonto phambi kwakho, unkwantye ubusuku nemini, ungakholwa bubomi bakho; kusasa wothi, Akwaba bekungokuhlwa! Ngokuhlwa wothi, Akwaba bekukusasa! ngenxa yokunkwantya kwentliziyo yakho oya kunkwantya ngako nangenxa yokubona aya kukubona amehlo akho.” Dut. 28:65-67. Iingcamango zomoni zingummangaleli wakhe; kwaye akukho ukungcungcuthekiswa okunenzondelelo ukudlula ukutyiwa sisazela esinobutyala, esingamnikiyo umniniso ukuphumla imini nobusuku. ULw 223.3

Kwiingqondo ezininzi ibonakala inzulu imfihlakalo ejikeleze isiphelo sikaYohane umBhaptizi. Ziya buza ukuba kungaba kutheni ukuze ayekwe ukuba abhadle esiseleni aze afele khona. Imfihlakalo yoku kubonelela kukaThixo kumnyama, eyethu imbono yobuntu ayingeke ifikelele ekuyazini; kodwa ayisokuze ikushukumise ukumthembakwethu uThixo xa sinokukhumbula ukuba, uYohane wayesabelana ngeentlungu noKristu. Bonke abalandela uKristu baya kuthwala isithsaba sombingelelo. Ngokuqinisekileyo abayi kuqondwa kakuhle ngabantu abazithandayo baze nenziwe amaxhoba ohlaselo olukhohlakeleyo lukaSathana. Ngulo mthetho-siseko wokuzincama ubukumkani bakhe, uSathana, obumiselwe ukuba buwutshabalalise, kwaye uya kulwa nawo naphina na apho uzibonakalalisa khona. ULw 223.4

Ukususela ebuntwaneni, ebutsheni, kuse ebudodeni, ubomi bukaYohane babunempawu zokuqina namandla okulunga ekuziphatheni. Ukuvakala kwelizwi lakhe entlango lisithi, “Yilungiseni indlela yeNkosi, wutyenenezeni umendo wayo” (Mat. 3:3), uSathana waba noloyiko ngenkuseleko yobukumkani bakhe. Ububi besono batyhilwa ngendlela eyenza ukuba abantu bangcangcazele. Igunya likaSathana phezu kwabaninzi ababe ngaphantsi kolawulo lwakhe lophulwa. Wayengadinwa kumalinge akhe okutsalela umBhaptizi kude kubomi bokuzinikela ngokupheleleyo kuThixo; kodwa wawa phantsi. Waya woyisakala ukumoyisa uYesu. Kwisilingo sasentlango, uSathana woyiswa, yaza yankulu ingqumbo yakhe. Ngoku wazimisela ukuzisa intlungu kuKristu ngokuhlasela uYohane. Lowo wayengenako ukumhenda ukuba one, wayeza kumenza ukuba ave kabuhlungu. ULw 224.1

UYesu akazange angenelele ukusindisa umkhonzi waKhe. Wazi ukuba uYohane uya kulunyamezela uvavanyo. Ngewayeze ngovuyo uMsindisi kuYohane, ukuba ebukhanyise ubumnyama basesiseleni ngobukho baKhe. Wayengayi kuzibeka ezandleni zentshaba, Yena nomsebenzi waKhe awuzeleyo. Wayenakho ukumhlangula ngovuyo umkhonzi waKhe othembekileyo. Kwathi kodwa, ngenxa yamawaka awayeza kuthi kwiminyaka elandelayo kufuneke adlule entolongweni asinge ekufeni, kwafuneka ukuba uYohane ayisele indebe yobufela-nkolo. Njengoko abalandeli bakaYesu beya kuvalelwa bankolonkoloze eziseleni, okanye babulawe ngekrele, ngokubekwa phezu kwamanqwanqwa, okanye benziwe iinyanda zamaziko, babengathi bashiyiwe nguThixo nangabantu, iya kuba lixhadi elinjani ezintliziyweni zabo inkumbulo yokuba, uYohane umBhaptizi, awangqina ngokuthembeka kwakhe uYesu ngokwaKhe, naye wathubeleza wadlula kumava afanayo!ULw 224.2

USathana wavunyelwa ukuba abenze bufutshane ubomi basemhlabeni bomthunywa kaThixo; kodwa obo bomi “bufihlakele ndawonye noKristu kuye uThixo,” umtshabalalisi wayengenakho ukufika kubo. Kol. 3:3. Wavuya kakhulu (uSathana) kuba wazisa intlungu phezu kukaKristu, kodwa wasilela ukumoyisa uYohane. Ukufa kona kwambeka uYohane ngonaphakade ngaphaya kwamandla okulingwa. Kweli idabi, uSathana wayeveza esakhe isimilo. Phambi kwendalo yonke ibona, wabubonakalalisa ubutshaba bakhe ngakuThixo kunye nomntu. ULw 224.3

Nangona kungazange kwenziwe mmangaliso wokumkhulula uYohane, wayengashiywanga. Wayesoloko ekulwalamano neengelosi zezulu, nezamtyhilela iziprofeto ezingoKristu, kwakunye nezithembiso ezixabisekileyo zesiBhalo. Ezi zithembiso zaba lixhadi lakhe, njengoko zaziya kuba lixhadi kubantu bakaThixo ukuphumela kwizizukulwana ezizayo. KuYohane umBhaptizi, njengakwabo beza emva kwakhe, kwanikwa isiqinisekiso esithi, “Niyabona, mna ndinani yonke imihla, kude kube sekuphelisweni kwephakade eli.” Mat. 28:20.ULw 224.4

UThixo akaze abakhokele abantwana baKhe ngenye indlela kunaleyobebeyakuyikhetha, ukuba bebenokubonaisiphelo kwasekuqaleni, baze babuqonde ubuhle benjongo abayizalisekisayo njengabasebenzi kunye naYe. UEnoki ngokwakhe, owenziwa kumila kumbi wasiwa ezulwini, noEliya, owenyuka ngenqwelo yomlilo, abazange babebakhulu ngaphezulu okanye baphakanyiswe ngaphezu kukaYohane umBhaptizi, owafa eyedwa kwintolongo engaphantsi komhlaba. “Ngokuba nababalwa ukuthi,, ngenxa kaKristu, ninganeli kukholwa kuye; nababalwa nokuva ubunzima ngenxa yakhe.” Filipi 1:29. Kanti ke, kuzo zonke izipho iZulu elizinika abantu, ulwalamano noKristu ekubulalekeni kwaKhe sesona sipho sinexabiso neyona mbeko iphezulu. ULw 225.1

“Kuba isonka sikaThixo
sesi sehlayo ezulwini,
Silinike ubomi ihlabathi.”
Yohane 6:33