Isahluko samashumi amabili

Uvuko

1 Kwathi ngolokuqala lweviki uMariya Magdalena wafika ethuneni ekuseni kusemnyama, wakhangela ilitshe elalisusiwe ethuneni.

2. Wasegijima, waya kuSimoni Petru nakomunye umfundi uJesu amthandayo, wathi kubo: Bayisusile iNkosi ethuneni, asazi lapho abayibeke khona.

3. UPetro wasephuma lomunye umfundi, bafika ethuneni.

4 Bagijima bobabili kanyekanye; omunye umfundi wagijima kakhulu kunoPetru, wafika kuqala ethuneni.

5. Ekhothama, ebuka amashidi abekiwe; nokho akangenanga.

6 Khona kwafika uSimoni Petru emlandela, wafika ethuneni, bheka, izindwangu zedlulwa;

7 Neduku elaliphezu kwekhanda lakhe, lingabekwanga nezindwangu, kodwa lilodwa, songwe ndaweninye.

8 Ngakho wangena laye omunye umfundi owayefike kuqala ethuneni, wabona, wakholwa.

9. Ngokuba babengakawazi umbhalo othi umelwe ukuvuka kwabafileyo.

10. Khona-ke abafundi babuyela kubo.

Ekupheleni kwesahluko esandulele, uJosefa wase-Arimatheya noNikhodemu bagcoba umzimba kaJesu ngamafutha amaningi nezinongo, bawusonga ngezindwangu zelineni, bawubeka ethuneni. Siphawulile ukuthi lesi senzo simelela isisa, nenhlonipho ngomqondo ongokoqobo weZwi. Nakuba singase singaqondi ngokugcwele incazelo yangaphakathi yesiqephu esithile, sisezwa ubungcwele baso. Ngakho-ke, sikubheka ngenhlonipho ejulile futhi sikubeka endaweni ekhethekile ezingqondweni zethu. Konke lokhu kuvezwa indlela uJosefa noNikhodemu abanakekela ngayo isidumbu sikaJesu.

Lapho uJosefa noNikhodemu befaka isidumbu sikaJesu ethuneni, kwakungoLwesihlanu kusihlwa ngaphambi nje kokuqala kweSabatha. Njengoba lesi siqephu esilandelayo siqala, manje sekuwusuku lwesithathu selokhu uJesu abethelwa esiphambanweni nokungcwatshwa kwakhe, nokuqala kwesonto elisha. Njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Ngosuku lokuqala lweviki uMariya Magdalena wafika ethuneni ekuseni kusemnyama.” Ubumnyama bubonisa ukuntula kukaMariya ukuqonda ngalokho okwenzekile kuJesu. Into yokuqala ayibonayo ukuthi “ilitshe lalisusiwe ethuneni” (Johane 20:1).

Ngokuvamile, ngemva kokuba isidumbu sibekwe ethuneni, kubekwa itshe elisindayo eduze kwembobo, livale ithuna ngokuphumelelayo. Kodwa lokhu kwehlukile. Itshe lisusiwe. Ebona lokhu, uMariya ucabanga ukuthi kukhona othathe isidumbu sikaJesu. Njengoba egijima ethuneni, wahlangana noPetru noJohane futhi wathi kubo: “Bayisusile iNkosi ethuneni, futhi asazi ukuthi bayibekephi.”Johane 20:2). Ngaphandle kokungabaza, uJohane noPetru bagijimela ethuneni ukuze babone okwenzekile. Njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Base begijima bobabili kanyekanye, nomunye umfundi [uJohane] wagijima wadlula uPetru, wafika kuqala ethuneni.”Johane 20:4).

EVangelini NgokukaJohane kuphela sifunda ukuthi uJohane noPetru bagijimela ndawonye ethuneni, nokuthi ekugcineni uJohane ugijima kunoPetru. Kuzo zonke izindaba zevangeli, sibonile ukuthi elithi “Petru” lifanekisela ukholo oluza ngokuqonda iqiniso, futhi elithi “Johane” libonisa uthando lokusebenzela abanye. Njengoba sifunda iqiniso futhi silifaka ekuphileni kwethu, siqala ukuthola intando entsha. Yilapho uthando lwenkonzo luhola kancane kancane. Asiqali nje ukubona ubuhle ngaphakathi kweqiniso, kodwa siqala ukuzwa lobo buhle futhi. ¹

Kusukela kuleli phuzu kuya phambili, ukuguqulwa kwenzeka. Sithoma ukuphila ngokuvumelana neqiniso, ingasi ngombana liyinto elungileko, kodwana ngombana simthanda kwamambala uZimu nokuthanda ukukhonza abanye. Ngaphezu kwalokho, sizizwa sijabule ngokuba usizo. Ngakho-ke, kulotshiwe ukuthi uJohane, obonisa uthando lwenkonzo, uyagijima kunoPetru futhi ungowokuqala ukufika ethuneni. ²

Nakuba uJohane efika kuqala, uPetru ungowokuqala ukungena. Njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Ekhothama [uJohane] elunguza, wabona izindwangu zelineni zikhona; nokho akangenanga. Kwasekufika uSimoni Petru emlandela, wangena ethuneni.Johane 20:5-6). Ekukhuleni kwethu ngokomoya, lokhu kubhekisela endimeni ebalulekile ukuqonda kweqiniso okuqhubeka kuyifeza ekuzalweni kabusha kwethu. Nakuba ukuguquka kwenzeka lapho uthando luhola, ukuqonda iqiniso akuyekwa. Nakuba lingasekho endaweni yokuqala, iqiniso lisasebenza ndawonye nothando lwenkonzo.

Kulokhu, uPetru, obonisa iqiniso ekuqondeni (okuwukholo), ungena kuqala. Njengoba engena, uhlolisisa imininingwane. Njengoba kulotshiwe: “[UPetru] wabona izindwangu zelineni zikhona, neduku elalisekhanda lakhe lingekho nezindwangu, kodwa lisongiwe wodwa.”Johane 20:6-7). Lezi zembozo zangaphandle, lapho zehlukaniswa nomzimba kaJesu, zifanekisela amaqiniso angaphandle eZwi ngaphandle kwencazelo yawo engokomoya. ³

Nakuba ukholo lungena kuqala, uthando luyalandela ngokushesha. Ngakho, ngemva kokuba uPetru engenile, uhambisana noJohane. Njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Khona-ke wangena nomunye umfundi ofike kuqala ethuneni; wabona futhi wakholwa” (Johane 20:8). Endabeni engokoqobo, bobabili uPetru noJohane bakholelwa, njengoba kwenza uMariya Magdalena, ukuthi kukhona osuse itshe wathatha isidumbu sikaJesu. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi, “babengakawazi umbhalo, ukuthi umelwe ukuvuka kwabafileyo” (Johane 20:9).

Okwamanje, futhi ikakhulukazi ngenxa yokuthi babengayiqondi imibhalo eyayiprofetha ngokuvuka kukaJesu, uMariya, uJohane, noPetru bazizwa belahlekile futhi bedidekile. Bazi kuphela ukuthi umfundisi wabo othandekayo ubethelwe esiphambanweni, futhi manje umzimba Wakhe usususiwe. Abazi ukuthi uJesu uvukile. Okuwukuphela kwento abayibonayo yizingubo zelineni ezazimboze isidumbu sikaJesu nendwangu egoqwe ekhanda lakhe.

Bedidekile futhi bedangele, abafundi bayasuka ethuneni. Njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Abafundi baphinde bamuka baya emakhaya.”Johane 20:10). Kumelwe kuphawulwe ukuthi inkulumo ethi “emizini yabo” iyinguqulo ehlanekezelwe yegama lesiGreki elithi pros hautous [πρὸς αὑτοὺς] elisho “kubo” noma “kubo ngokwabo.” Nakuba kunengqondo ukuthatha lokhu njengokusho ukuthi uJohane noPetru babuyela “ezindlini zabo,” isiGreki sangempela sifundisa ukuthi baphinde babuyela “kubo ngokwabo”—okungukuthi, ezimweni zabo zengqondo zakudala nasezinkambweni zabo zokuziphatha abazijwayele.

Nokho, uMariya akabuyeli emzini wakhe, noma aye ndawo. Kunalokho, uhlala ethuneni.

Isicelo esingokoqobo

Noma nini lapho sizwa izindaba ezicasulayo, sibhekana nezimo eziyinselele, noma sibhekana nokulahlekelwa okudumazayo, singase silingeke ukuba sibuyele ezindleleni zakudala zokucabanga, ukuzwa, nokwenza. Lezi yizikhathi lapho silingeka khona ukuba “sibuyele kithi”—okungukuthi, ukubuyela esimweni sethu esidala, ukuziphatha, kanye nezimpendulo. Lokhu kuthambekela kokubuyela emifanekisweni yakudala umelelwa uJohane noPetru ‘ababuyela kubo. Kuyisifundo esiyisixwayiso kithi sonke. Ngakho-ke, njengesenzo esiwusizo, qaphela ukuthambekela kokubuyela ezindleleni zangaphambili zokucabanga nokuziphatha. Esikhundleni sokubuyela emaphethini akho amadala, landela isibonelo sikaMariya. Hlala uqinile. Ngisho noma ithuna libonakala lingenalutho okwamanje, uJesu usekhona, ekukhuthaza ukuba uphakamele izimpendulo ezindala, wenze ngentando yakho entsha.

UMariya Ubona Izingelosi

11 Kodwa uMariya wema ethuneni ngaphandle ekhala. Kwathi esakhala, wakhothamela ethuneni.

12 wabona izingelosi ezimbili zembethe okumhlophe zihlezi, enye ngasekhanda nenye ngasezinyaweni, lapho isidumbu sikaJesu besilele khona.

13 Basebesithi kuye: Mama, ukhalelani? Wathi kubo: Ngoba bayithathile iNkosi yami, njalo kangazi lapho abayibeke khona.

14. Eseshilo lokho waphenduka, wabona uJesu emi, kepha wayengazi ukuthi nguJesu.

15 UJesu wathi kuye: Mama, ukhalelani? Ufuna bani? Yena ecabanga ukuthi ngumphathi wensimu, wathi kuye: Nkosi, uma umsusile, ngitshele lapho ombeke khona, ngiyakumsusa.

16 UJesu wathi kuye: Mariya. Yena waphenduka, wathi kuye: Rabhoni, okungukuthi, Mfundisi.

17. UJesu wathi kuye: Ungangithinti, ngokuba angikenyukeli kuBaba; kodwa hamba uye kubafowethu, uthi kubo: Ngenyukela kuBaba wami noYihlo, kuNkulunkulu wami noNkulunkulu wenu.

18. UMariya Magdalena wafika, wabikela abafundi ukuthi uyibonile iNkosi, nokuthi itshilo lokho kuye.

UMariya Magdalena akasuki endaweni noma abuyele emzini wakhe. Kunalokho, uhlala ethuneni. Yilapho isiqephu esilandelayo siqala khona. Njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Kepha uMariya wema ngaphandle ngasethuneni ekhala, ekhala, wakhothama, walunguza ethuneni.”Johane 20:11). Ngenxa yothando lwakhe ngoJesu, uMariya uyakwazi ukubona izinto zomoya uJohane noPetru ababengazibona. Eqinisweni, kulotshiwe ukuthi uMariya “wabona izingelosi ezimbili zembethe okumhlophe zihlezi, enye ngasekhanda nenye ngasezinyaweni, lapho isidumbu sikaJesu besilele khona”Johane 20:12).

Lapho uJohane noPetru belunguza, babona ilineni elingaphili nendwangu esongiwe kuphela. Kodwa lapho uMariya Magdalena ebheka phakathi, ngosizi lwakhe nezinyembezi zakhe, ubona izidalwa eziphilayo—empeleni, ubona izingelosi ezimbili. Ngokufanayo, kunezikhathi lapho sibheka eZwini futhi singaboni lutho ngaphandle kwamazwi angaphili angasishukumisi noma angakhulumi kithi. Nokho, kuhluke ngokuphelele lapho sibheka eZwini futhi sibona izingelosi zikhuluma nathi, zisimema ukuba sizindle ngezimo zethu zangaphakathi. Ngakho-ke, lezi zingelosi zibuza uMariya, ngokufaneleka kakhulu, “Mame, ukhalelani na?” (Johane 20:13).

Impendulo kaMary ilula futhi iqondile. Uthi, “Ngokuba bayithathile iNkosi yami futhi angazi ukuthi bayibekephi” (Johane 20:13). Kulokhu, uMariya ukhulumela ngamunye wethu. NjengoMariya, nathi, sibhekana nezikhathi lapho iNkosi ibonakala ingekho, futhi asazi ukuthi singayitholaphi. Okwamanje, ubuhle neqiniso kubonakala kungekho ekuphileni kwethu. Yilokhu okuqukethwe, ngaphakathi kakhulu, esililo sikaMariya, “Bayithathile iNkosi yami.” ⁴

Nokho, iqiniso liwukuthi iNkosi ayilokothi “isuswe,” futhi ayikaze isilahle. Ukuthi nje kunezikhathi lapho singakwazi ukuzwa ubukhona Bakhe. Ngisho nangalezo zikhathi lapho uNkulunkulu ebonakala engekho, empeleni, useseduze kakhulu. Njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Eseshilo lokho waphenduka, wabona uJesu emi lapho, kepha wayengazi ukuthi nguJesu.”Johane 20:14). Ephinda umbuzo ofanayo owabuzwa izingelosi, uJesu uthi, “Sifazane, ukhalelani na? Khona-ke uJesu unezela lamazwi: “Nifuna bani na?” (Johane 20:15). ⁵

Nakuba uMariya emthanda uJesu, akakaqondi isimo Sakhe sangempela. Yingakho engakwazi ukumazi, njengoba nje emi phambi kwakhe. Siyafunda, “Yena, ethi ungumlimi wensimu, wathi kuye: ‘Nkosi, uma umthathile, ngitshele lapho ombeke khona, ngiyakumsusa’” ( Joh.Johane 20:15). Ekujuleni kosizi lwakhe, uMariya akaqapheli ukuthi Lowo okushonelwe okulusizi kangaka umi phambi kwakhe. Egajwe usizi lwakhe, uMariya ubona kuYe kuphela umuntu ongamsiza athole isidumbu sikaJesu. Kungalesi sikhathi lapho uJesu ethi kuye, “Mariya” (Johane 20:26).

Kuze kube yilapho uJesu embiza ngegama lapho uMariya eba nesikhashana sokuqashelwa. Lokhu kusikhumbuza amazwi kaJesu ngaphambili kuleli vangeli lapho ethi uMalusi Omuhle “ubiza ezakhe izimvu ngamagama … nezimvu ziyamlandela, ngokuba ziyalazi izwi lakhe” Johane 10:3-4). Lapho ebiza uMariya ngegama, uJesu uthinta okuthile ekujuleni kwakhe, avuse umoya wakhe. Kungaleso sikhathi lapho uMariya ebona khona uJesu futhi amemeze, “Rabboni!” (Johane 20:16).

Ukukhetha kukaMariya isiqu esithi “rabboni” kunesithi “Nkosi” kubalulekile. Igama elithi “rabboni” limane lisho “uthisha.” Lona umsuka wegama elithi “rabi”—isiqu esinikezwa umfundisi wenkolo ongumJuda noma umholi ongokomoya. Kulokhu, kunomehluko ocacile phakathi kokubona uJesu njengomholi wakhe ongokomoya nokubona uJesu njengeNkosi yakhe. UMariya, ngalo lonke uthando nokuzinikela kwakhe, usambiza—okungenani ngalesi sikhathi—“Rabboni.” Ngenxa yalokhu, impendulo kaJesu icacile. Wathi kuye: “Ungangithinti, ngokuba angikenyukeli kuBaba.”Johane 20:17). ⁶

Nakuba kuyiqiniso ukuthi uMariya uzinikele kuJesu, ukuqonda kwakhe kuye kwakhula kwaze kwaba seqophelweni lapho amqaphela khona njengomfundisi wakhe othandekayo. Kungalesi sizathu uJesu athi, ekhuluma ngokuvumelana nesimo sikaMariya sokuqonda, ukuthi angamthinti—ngoba akakabi—engqondweni yakhe—ukhuphukele kuBaba. Ukungacaci okuqhubekayo engqondweni kaMariya kusikiselwa umongo. UMariya wayefike ethuneni ekuseni ngalolo suku kusemnyama. Nakuba kancane kancane ayeqala ukuvela ekukhanyeni okukhulu, ukusa kokwazi ngokugcwele kwakungakafiki. Kafushane, uMariya usabheka uJesu njengomfundisi wakhe, kodwa akakamboni enkazimulweni Yakhe evukile. ⁷

UJesu wabe esenezela, “Kodwa hamba uye kubafowethu, uthi kubo, ‘Ngenyukela kuBaba noYihlo, kuNkulunkulu wami noNkulunkulu wenu’” ( Joh.Johane 20:17). Nakuba inqubo yokukhazinyuliswa kwase isiqediwe ngokugcwele esiphambanweni, lokhu akukakabi ngokoqobo kuMariya noma kubafundi. Eqinisweni, ezingqondweni zabo, okuwukuphela kwento abayaziyo ukuthi uJesu wafa esiphambanweni, nokuthi umzimba Wakhe usususiwe.

Kungakho uJesu manje ethumela uMariya kubafundi bakhe nomyalezo ofana nalowo abatshela wona enkulumweni yakhe yokuvalelisa. Ngaleso sikhathi wathi kubo: “Kusezakuba yisikhashana ningabe nisangibona; kubuye kube yisikhashana ningibone, ngokuba ngiya kuBaba” Johane 16:16). Kulokhu uMariya uzobatshela ukuthi uJesu “ukhuphukela kuYise.”

Nakuba lokhu kungekona ukuvezwa okuphelele kwalokho okwenzeka esiphambanweni, kuyincazelo abafundi abangayiqonda ngalesi sikhathi. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, uJesu uzoqhubeka ephakama ekuqondeni kwabo aze akhuphuke ngokugcwele emiqondweni yabo futhi abonakale njengeNkosi evukile nekhazinyulisiwe. Kungaleso sikhathi lapho beyokwazi khona ukuqonda incazelo yangempela yovuko.

Ithuna elingenalutho

Ukunyamalala okungaqondakali kwesidumbu sikaJesu kuye kwabathusa futhi kubadida abalandeli bakaJesu. Bengazi iziprofetho zeBhayibheli ezibikezela ukuthi uMesiya wayeyovuka ngosuku lwesithathu, uMariya, uJohane, noPetru bonke bacabanga ukuthi isidumbu sikaJesu ngandlela-thile sisusiwe. Nokho, eminyakeni engamakhulu ayisikhombisa ngaphambili, uvuko lwaluprofethiwe emibhalweni yesiHeberu. Umprofethi uJona wakhuluma ‘ngokuvuswa ngosuku lwesithathu’ (Jona 2:10), uHoseya wathi: “Ngosuku lwesithathu uyakusivusa.”Hoseya 6:2).

Khona-ke, ngokombhalo, uJesu “wavuswa”—okungukuthi, wavuswa—ngosuku lwesithathu. Kodwa kanjani? Kwenzekeni ethuneni? Kungani bathola imichilo yelineni yomzimba kaJesu kuphela kanye nendwangu egoqiwe yekhanda Lakhe? Wayekuphi uJesu? Futhi kwenzekani emzimbeni waKhe na? Ukuze siphendule le mibuzo, kubalulekile ukuqonda ukuthi ukubethelwa kwakuyisinyathelo sokugcina uJesu akhazimulisa ngaso ubuntu Bakhe ngokugcwele. Ngokwenza kanjalo, wasusa insalela yokugcina yobuntu Bakhe obubuthakathaka futhi waba nobunkulunkulu ngokugcwele.

Ukuze zisisize siqonde lo mqondo, izazi zeBhayibheli ziye zaqhathanisa le nqubo nokuqala ngokukhipha intambo yoboya engutsheni bese ifaka intambo yegolide esikhundleni sayo. Njengoba izintambo zoboya zikhishwa futhi esikhundleni sazo kufakwe ezisagolide, yonke ingubo ekugcineni iba igolide elihlanzekile. Ngokufanayo, kodwa ngendlela enkulu kakhulu, kancane kancane uJesu washintsha yonke into eyayingaphelele futhi inomkhawulo kuYe wafaka lokho Okuphelele nokungapheli. Lokhu wakwenza ngezimpi zezilingo ezilandelanayo lapho Aqeda khona ngokuphelele konke ukuthambekela kobubi namanga. Ekugcineni, akukho lutho olwasala ngaphandle kobuNkulunkulu uqobo—okungukuthi, uMzimba Waphezulu wothando olumsulwa nokuhlakanipha okumsulwa. ⁸

Nokho, konke lokhu kwakuyinqubo kancane kancane. Ngesikhathi uJesu esaphila emhlabeni, wayelokhu ematasa ehlanganisa iqiniso laphezulu ayezolifundisa ngothando lwaphezulu olwaluwumphefumulo Wakhe. Kwakukhona izikhathi lapho lokhu kuhlangana kwakubonakala sengathi kuphelele, isibonelo, lapho ethi, “Mina noBaba wami simunye” Johane 10:30). Kodwa lezi zikhathi zaziyingxenye yenqubekelaphambili eqhubekayo eya ekukhazinyulisweni okuphelele. Le nqubo yaphela kuphela ngesikhathi sokuvuka nokwenyuka. Kungaleso sikhathi kuphela, lapho yonke into ayeyizuze kunina isichithiwe, lapho “umzimba wokuvuka” omusha wembathiswa khona. Kungaleso sikhathi kuphela lapho Ayengathi ngempela, “Kufeziwe” Johane 19:30)—Amazwi akhe okugcina esiphambanweni. ⁹

Umqondo wokuthi umzimba weNkosi wenyama wachithwa, kungashiyi lutho ngemuva, ungafaniswa nendlela intukuthelo enqamuka ngayo lapho kutholakala ukuqonda, noma indlela ukucasuka okunyamalala ngayo lapho kuthethelelwa, noma indlela inzondo ephela ngayo lapho kuphakama uthando. Lezi zimfanelo ezingezinhle “aziyi” ndawo. Bamane baphele phambi kokuqonda, ukuthethelelwa, nothando. Ngokufanayo, konke ukuvela kweqiniso ngomqondo ongokoqobo weZwi, ngokwesibonelo ukuthi iNkosi ithukuthele, inempindiselo, futhi iyajezisa, kuyashabalala njengoba singena sijula ngokwengeziwe emqondweni ongokomoya weZwi.” ¹⁰

Enye indlela yokuqonda inqubo yokukhazimuliswa kweNkosi ukuyiqhathanisa nomshado. Ekuqaleni, indoda nomkayo bathembisana ukuthandana. Befunga ukuthi bazolahla ukuthambekela kwefa lokungabi namusa nobugovu, baphendukela eNkosini ukuze benze kanjalo. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, njengoba bephila ngokuvumelana nemithetho kaNkulunkulu, injabulo yabo yokuhlala ndawonye iyanda. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, izithembiso nezithembiso ezenziwa ngesikhathi somshado naseminyakeni yokuqala yomshado zibonakala “ziyashabalala.” Kunalokho, indoda nomkayo manje bayathandana, hhayi ngoba bethembise ukwenza kanjalo, kodwa ngenxa yokuthi, ngokusuka ezinhliziyweni zabo, sekuyindlela yabo yokuphila. Ngenxa yokuthi imimoya yabo iye yaba munye, ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso, ‘banyamanye. ¹¹

Inqubo efanayo yenzeka ezingeni lomuntu ngamunye. Ekuqaleni, iqiniso libonakala lingaphandle kwethu. Yinto esiyifundayo. Ekugcineni, njengoba siphila ngobuqotho eqinisweni, ikakhulukazi ezikhathini ezinzima, izinqumo zamabomu ziba izenzo ezizenzakalelayo. Lokho okwake kwenzeka njengokuziphoqa ukuba uphile ngeqiniso ekugcineni kuba umkhuba wasezulwini. Kancane kancane, iqiniso nobuhle kuye kungabonakali emcabangweni, ngezwi, nangesenzo. Ngale ndlela, njengoba sihlakulela imvelo entsha noma “yesibili,” iqiniso lihlanganiswa nothando kangangokuthi iqiniso libonakala selinyamalele. Ngendlela efanayo, kodwa ngezinga elikhulu kakhulu, uJesu waphuma ethuneni engashiyanga lutho ngaphandle kwezindwangu zelineni ezazimboze umzimba Wakhe. Ukuhlakanipha kwaphezulu kwase kumunye ngothando lwaphezulu. ¹²

Yebo, uMariya wayengakwazi noma yikuphi kwalokhu, ngoba kwase kuveziwe. Kuleli qophelo, konke uMariya angakwenza ukumangala ngokuvela kukaJesu kungazelelwe futhi alandele imiyalelo Yakhe. Ngakho-ke, njengoba lesi senzakalo siphela, uMariya uyasuka ethuneni ahambe ayotshela abafundi lokho uJesu amtshele ukuba abatshele khona—ukuthi ukhuphukela kuYise nakuYise wabo, kuNkulunkulu waKhe nakuNkulunkulu wabo. Lapho efika, wabatshela ukuthi uyibonile iNkosi, nokuthi “ikhulume lezi zinto kuye” (Johane 20:18).

Umlayezo uMariya awulethela abafundi uyavumelana nokuqonda kwabo. Nakuba uJesu evukile ngempela futhi wahlanganiswa ngokugcwele nomphefumulo Wakhe wobuNkulunkulu awubiza ngokuthi “uBaba,” lokhu kusengaphezu kokuqonda kwabafundi Bakhe. Kubo, ngalesi sikhathi, kwanele ukwazi ukuthi uJesu usalokhu enyukela kuYise. Lokhu kuyinto eyenzekayo nasemqondweni wethu ngamunye. Kuhamba isikhathi lapho uJesu “enyuka” ngokuqonda kwethu size sifinyelele ekuqondeni ukuthi ngempela “munye” noBaba—ukuthi Kuye ukuhlakanipha okuphelele nothando oluphelele akuhlukaniseki.

Isicelo esingokoqobo

Ukuzalwa kabusha kuqala ngokufunda iqiniso nokulwela ukuphila ngokuvumelana nalo. Ekugcineni, lokho okuqala njengesinqumo sangamabomu nomzamo onzima kuba lula njengoba siba “nemisipha engokomoya.” Yebo, ukuthuthuka ngokomoya akunakwenzeka ngaphandle kukaNkulunkulu osiphakamisela kanzima ngasese, kodwa kumelwe sikwenze lokhu kuphakamisa noma kunjalo, njengokungathi sizenzela thina. Nakuba umzabalazo wethu ungekho ongaqhathaniswa nokulwa kukaJesu nesihogo sonke, sonke sinokubethelwa esiphambanweni nokuvuka kwethu. Ngakho-ke, njengesicelo esingokoqobo, cabangela ithuba lokuthi noma isiphi isikhathi singaba okuhlangenwe nakho kovuko kuwe. Isibonelo, lapho ubona umcabango ongemuhle noma umuzwa ungena, mhlawumbe ngemva kokuhlehla, ukulahlekelwa, noma ukudumazeka, kuvume lokho, thandaza kuJehova ucele usizo, khumbula iqiniso, bese uvumela iNkosi ukuba iphakame kuwe, ikunikeze. wena wonke amandla owadingayo. Ngisho nanjengoba abunqobe ngokuphelele ububi namanga kuYena, Angabunqoba ububi namanga kuwe. Ngale ndlela, ukuvuka kweNkosi nokwenyukela kwakhe okulandelayo kungaba amaqiniso aphilayo empilweni yakho. Akukhona nje kuphela ukuthi kukhona ukuvuka kwabafileyo okuqhubekayo, kodwa futhi kukhona ukwenyukela okuqhubekayo ezimeni eziphakeme zothando nokuhlakanipha. Ngaphandle kokwazi kwakho, uJesu uyavuka futhi enyuka kuwe. Njengoba Etshela uMariya ukuthi atshele abafundi kwesinye isitatimende NGIKHO, “NGIYAkhuphuka.” ¹³

UJesu Unika Umoya Ongcwele

19 Kwathi sekuhlwile ngalolosuku, ngolokuqala lweviki, iminyango ivaliwe lapho abafundi babebuthene khona ngokwesaba abaJuda, uJesu wafika wema phakathi kwabo, wathi kubo: Ukuthula kakube. ] kuwe.

20 Esekushilo lokho wababonisa izandla nohlangothi lwakhe; khona abafundi bathokoza bebona iNkosi.

21 UJesu wasephinda wathi kubo: Ukuthula kakube kini; njengalokhu uBaba engithumile Mina, nami ngiyanithuma.

22 Esetshilo lokhu, wabaphefumulela, wathi kubo: Yamukelani uMoya oNgcwele.

23 Enibathethelela izono zabo, bathethelelwe; enibabambayo, bayagcinwa.

Njengoba isiqephu esilandelayo siqala, kusewusuku lovuko, kodwa manje sekuhlwile, futhi abafundi babuthana ndawonye ngemva kweminyango evaliwe “ngenxa yokwesaba abaJuda” ( NW )Johane 20:19). Nakuba namuhla sazi ukuthi ukuvuka kweNkosi kwaletha insindiso esintwini, abafundi basekude nokuqonda lokhu. Bahlala, ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso, “ebumnyameni” futhi besaba.

Ukwesaba kwabo kuyaqondakala. Abaholi benkolo, ikakhulukazi labo ababebophe uzungu lokubulala uJesu, kungenzeka manje bafuna ukubabulala nabo, ikakhulukazi njengoba kusabalala inzwabethi yokuthi isidumbu sikaJesu sisusiwe. Singacabanga ukuthi kungenzeka ukuthi abafundi bakhuluma ngokunyamalala okungaqondakali kwesidumbu sikaJesu ethuneni, nokuthi yini engase yenzeke kubo njengoba uJesu engasekho. Kungenzeka futhi ukuthi bayazibuza ngomyalezo uJesu abanikeza wona ngoMariya, othi, “Ngenyukela kuBaba noYihlo, kuNkulunkulu wami noNkulunkulu wenu.”

Ukubuthwa kwabafundi ngemva kweminyango evaliwe kumele lezo zikhathi lapho ukukhathazeka, usizi, noma ukwesaba kubonakala kuvala ukuba khona kweNkosi. Nokho, isigijimi sikaMariya esiphathelene nokwenyuka kukaJesu kumelwe ukuba sabajabulisa ngethemba futhi savula indlela yokuba uJesu abonakale kubo ezingqondweni zabo naphakathi kwabo. Njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “UJesu weza wema phakathi kwabo, wathi kubo: “Ukuthula makube kinina” (Johane 20:19). ¹⁴

Khona-ke, ukuze abaqinisekise ngokwengeziwe, futhi avumelane nezinga labo lokuqonda, uJesu ubabonisa amanxeba asezandleni Zakhe naseceleni Kwakhe. Lesi sikhathi sokuqashelwa siletha kokubili induduzo nenjabulo kubafundi. Njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Khona-ke abafundi bajabula lapho beyibona iNkosi.”Johane 20:20).

Amandla kaMoya oNgcwele

Ngemva kokubonisa abafundi Bakhe izandla nohlangothi Lwakhe, uJesu uyabaqinisekisa futhi abathulise okwesibili, ethi, “Ukuthula makube kinina.” UJesu wabe esenezela, “Njengoba uBaba engithumile Mina, nami ngiyanithuma” (Johane 20:21). UJesu, owaphuma othandweni, manje uthuma abafundi Bakhe ngothando. Yilokhu okushiwo amazwi athi, “Njengoba uBaba engithumile, nami ngiyanithuma.”

Lokhu, nokho, ngeke kwenzeke ngaphandle kukaMoya oNgcwele—okungukuthi, ukuhlala kukaJesu nabo. YiloMoya ozokwenza ukuthi bahambe ngothando; kuyobenza bakwazi ukushumayela, ukufundisa, nokubhapathiza; kuyobanika amandla okuthethelela izono njengoba uJesu abathethelela, futhi kuyobakhuthaza ukuba bathande abanye njengoba uJesu abathandile. Kungakho uJesu ebaphefumulela ethi, “Yamukelani uMoya oNgcwele. Uma nithethelela izono zanoma ngubani, zithethelelwe. Futhi uma nigcina izono zanoma yibaphi, ziyagcinwa” (Johane 20:22-23).

Lesi sikhathi, esilotshwe kuphela eVangelini NgokukaJohane, singesinye sezinkomba ezicacile zobunkulunkulu bukaJesu. Kusikhumbuza amazwi akhulunywa uNkulunkulu lapho eqala ukudala ukuphila komuntu. Njengoba kulotshiwe emiBhalweni yesiHebheru ukuthi: “UJehova uNkulunkulu wambumba umuntu ngomhlabathi, waphefumulela emakhaleni akhe umoya wokuphila; umuntu waba umphefumulo ophilayo.”Genesise 2:7). ¹⁵

Le ndima evela emibhalweni yesiHeberu ibonakala ikhuluma ngokudalwa kokuphila kwenyama. Kodwa lapho uJesu ephefumulela abafundi Bakhe futhi ethi, “Yamukelani uMoya oNgcwele,” ukhuluma ngokudalwa kokuphila kukamoya. Nakuba ukuzalwa empilweni yemvelo akudingi umzamo obonakalayo kithi, ukuzalwa empilweni kamoya kudinga kokubili isinqumo esihlakaniphile kanye nomzamo ongapheli wokuzivumelanisa nentando kaNkulunkulu. Kungaleso sikhathi kuphela lapho siqala khona ukwamukela uthando nokuhlakanipha okuhlala kugeleza kuvela kuNkulunkulu. Lokhu ukuzalwa kwethu kwesibili—ukuzalwa okwenzeka ngaphakathi kithi lapho umoya kaNkulunkulu ungena ekuphileni kwethu. Yilokhu okushiwo “ukwamukela uMoya oNgcwele.”

UMoya oNgcwele-ke, akayena umuntu waphezulu ohlukene kaziqu-zintathu. Ngolimi lwemibhalo engcwele, uMoya oNgcwele ngempela nguJesu uqobo Lwakhe, iqiniso elingcwele elihlanganiswe ngokugcwele nothando lwaphezulu oluphuma ezimpilweni zethu njengamandla angcwele okusebenza okuwusizo. Lawa amandla asenza singagcini nje ngokubona iqiniso othandweni, kodwa namandla okusebenzisa lelo qiniso ezimpilweni zethu. Ngezinye izikhathi okubizwa ngokuthi “ukuphefumula kukaMoya oNgcwele,” kubaluleke kakhulu emoyeni wethu wangaphakathi njengoba ukuphefumula kusemqoka emizimbeni yethu yenyama. ¹⁶

Khona-ke, uZiqu-zintathu Ongcwele akabona abantu abathathu abahlukene. Kunalokho, kuyizici ezintathu zikaNkulunkulu Oyedwa—uthando lwaphezulu, ukuhlakanipha kwaphezulu, namandla kaNkulunkulu enkonzo ewusizo. Lezi zimfanelo zaphezulu, ezikhona eNkosini kuphela, ziphumela kubo bonke abantu, futhi zamukelwa yilabo abavumelana nentando kaNkulunkulu. ¹⁷

Ukuthethelelwa kwezono

Njengoba sekushiwo, lapho uJesu ephefumulela phezu kwabafundi Bakhe, Wathi, “Yamukelani uMoya oNgcwele. Uma nithethelela izono zanoma ubani zithethelelwe.” Ngokusobala, kukhona ukuxhumana okubalulekile phakathi kokwamukela uMoya oNgcwele, okuza kuqala, namandla alandelayo okuthethelela izono.

EsiGrekini sokuqala, igama elihunyushwa ngokuthi “thethelela” lithi aphēte [ἀφῆτε], elisho “ukuxosha.” Lo mbono, wokuthi izono kufanele “zisuswe” waziwa ngokuthi “ukuthethelelwa kwezono.” Emibhalweni yesiHeberu, lapho izono zabantu zibekwa enhloko yembuzi, imbuzi yayiyiswa ehlane, ngokomfanekiso “isusa” izono zabantu (bheka Levitikusi 16:21). Nakuba imbuzi ingenakukwazi ngempela ukususa isono somuntu, lesi siko liyakhuluma ngesidingo sokususa ububi kuye siqu futhi buyiswe kude “ehlane.” Kuwo wonke ubuKristu, le nqubo yaziwa ngokuthi “ukuthethelelwa kwezono.” ¹⁸

Umqondo wokuthi ukuthethelelwa kuhlobene nokuthethelelwa kwezono ubalulekile. Ukuthethelela izono kungukuzixosha. Nokho, izono zingathethelelwa kuphela—okungukuthi, zisuswe futhi zikhishwe ezimpilweni zethu—ngamandla kaMoya oNgcwele. Yilokhu okungenzeka ngaphakathi kwethu noma nini lapho siphendula esimweni samanje ngokuqonda okusha kanye nentando entsha. Lapho sisebenza kuleli zinga eliphezulu, sikhuphuka ngaphezu kwezifunda zangaphambili, imikhuba yangaphambili, nezimo zengqondo zangaphambili, izono zethu zithethelelwe. Okusho ukuthi, lapho siseduze noNkulunkulu, izono zethu ziyasuswa kithi. ¹⁹

Lapho uMoya oNgcwele weNkosi wamukelwe njengeqiniso eligcwele uthando Lwakhe, asibe sisaba nemicabango nemizwa ephansi, futhi asiphindi ukuziphatha kwangaphambili. Basemuva kwethu. Lokho kungenxa yokuthi manje siphila ezingeni elisha lapho izono zangaphambili zingaseyona ingxenye yalokho esiyikho. Nakuba singase sibe nokushelela ngezikhathi ezithile, manje sesisebenza ngokuzithoba sisuka ezifundeni ezigxile kuNkulunkulu esikhundleni sokuzicabangela thina. Sinemvelo entsha. Yilokhu okwenzekayo lapho ukuphenduka kwethu kungokoqobo. Akukhona nje ukuphenduka kwezindebe, kodwa ukuphenduka kwempilo. ²⁰

Nakuba ukuxoshwa kokuthambekela esonweni kufezwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi nangezindlela ezingenakubalwa, ingxenye yethu kuleyonqubo ifinyezwa eMithethweni Eyishumi. Njengoba silwela ukuzigcina, asigcini nje ngokuvumela uNkulunkulu ukuba asuse ububi, kodwa futhi sivumela uthando lukaNkulunkulu lugeleze futhi lusebenze ngathi. Noma nini lokhu kwenzeka, kungashiwo ukuthi uMoya oNgcwele usebenza kithi futhi ngathi, wenza futhi ufeza zonke izinto ezinhle, eziyiqiniso, neziwusizo. ²¹

Ukugcinwa kwezono

Nokho, akufanele kukhohlwe ukuthi uJesu akagcini nje ngokukhuluma ngokuthethelelwa kwezono. Ubuye akhulume ngokugcinwa kwezono. Njengoba ekubeka, “Uma nibamba izono zanoma yibaphi, zibanjiwe.” Lokhu angeke kusho ukuthi sinamandla okukhulula abantu esonweni noma ukubagcina esonweni. Nokho, kusho ukuthi uma sithethelela izono zanoma ubani, siyozizwela kithi ngokwethu ukuthethelelwa. Ngokuphambene, uma sigcina izono zanoma ubani, siyogcina intukuthelo, intukuthelo, nokungathetheleli kithi.

Ngenxa yokuthi sonke sizalwa sithambekele ebubini balo lonke uhlobo, akunakugwenywa ukuthi imicabango yokuzicabangela, engathetheleli iyogeleza ezingqondweni zethu ngezikhathi ezithile, ngisho noma singayimemanga. Le micabango ngeke isilimaze inqobo nje uma singayivumeli ukuba ihlale. Ngakho-ke, kungcono ukuwathumela ngokushesha ngangokunokwenzeka. Nokho, uma sikhetha ukunamathela kuzo—okungukuthi ukuzigcina—zingaba nethonya elilimazayo ebuntwini bethu. Ukugula okungalashwa kungasakazekela ezingxenyeni ezihlukahlukene zomzimba wethu, okuholela esimweni esibi kakhulu, futhi ekugcineni sife. Kungashiwo okufanayo ngemicabango engemihle evunyelwe ukuba iqhubeke. ²²

Khona-ke, uJesu unikeza abafundi Bakhe isifundo esinamandla kakhulu ngokubaluleka kokuthethelela, kanye nemiphumela yokungathetheleli. Beqala ngokwabo, bangacela amandla kaMoya oNgcwele ukuba asuse wonke amathonya amabi ukuze bagcwaliswe umoya kaNkulunkulu wokuthethelela. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, bayaxwayiswa ngengozi yokufukamela imicabango ebabayo, ecasulayo nenenzondo.

Lokhu kuhlanganisa nokuthambekela kokuvalela abantu ezithombeni ezingezinhle kanye nokucwasa okungenzeka sibe nakho ngokusekelwe ekuhlangenwe nakho kwangaphambilini nabo noma amahlebezi ngabo. Akekho ofuna ukubonwa mayelana nokungaziphathi kahle kwakhe kwangaphambilini noma ngamaphutha adlule. Lapho abantu bephenduka, beshintsha, futhi bekhula, kudingeka babonakale ngezimfanelo zabo ezinhle kakhulu—okungukuthi, izimfanelo zeNkosi kubo. Uma nje ‘sizibamba’ izono zabo, siyehluleka ukuveza okuhle kakhulu kuzo. Ngokufanayo, uma silondoloza imicabango yethu engemihle ngabanye, senqaba ukuyeka leyo micabango, size siyithethelele, kungaba ingxenye yemvelo yethu ebalulekile. Kungakho uJesu ethi, “Uma nithethelela izono zanoma ubani, zithethelelwe, futhi uma nibamba izono zanoma ubani, zibanjiwe. ²³

Isicelo esingokoqobo

Uma ukuphenduka kwethu kuqotho, izono zangaphambili ziyasuswa futhi azisahlangene nathi. Sesiqalile futhi manje siphila impilo entsha. Ngoba iNkosi isithethelele, siyakwazi ukuzithethelela. Njengoba nje singeke sifune ukuchazwa izono zesikhathi esidlule, singacabangela abanye ngendlela efanayo. Njengomsebenzi osebenzayo-ke, lapho ubona abantu belwela ukushintsha nokukhula, basekele futhi ubakhuthaze emizamweni yabo. Uma kuphakama imicabango emibi nokucwasa okusekelwe esikhathini esidlule sothile, thumela leyo micabango nezithombe ngokushesha ngangokunokwenzeka. Ungabavumeli bahlale. Uma wenzela abanye lokhu, kukhulula ukuba ucabange imicabango ephakeme ngabo futhi ubeke incazelo engcono kakhulu ezenzweni zabo. Njengoba uJesu asho, “Uma nithethelela izono zanoma ubani, zithethelelwe. Uma nibamba izono zanoma yibaphi, ziyagcinwa.” ²⁴

“Nkosi yami noNkulunkulu wami!”

24 Kodwa uTomase, omunye wabayishumi nambili, othiwa uDidimu, wayengekho kubo mhla uJesu efika.

25 Ngakho abanye abafundi bathi kuye: Siyibonile iNkosi. Kodwa wathi kubo: Ngaphandle kokuthi ngibone ezandleni zayo inxeba lezipikili, futhi ngifake umunwe wami enxebeni lezipikili, futhi ngifake isandla sami ohlangothini lwakhe, ngeke ngikholwe.

26 Emva kwezinsuku eziyisishiyagalombili futhi abafundi bakhe babengaphakathi, noTomase enabo. UJesu wafika, iminyango ivaliwe, wema phakathi, wathi: Ukuthula makube kinina.

27 Wayesethi kuTomase: “Letha lapha umunwe wakho, ubone izandla zami, ulethe isandla sakho, usifake ohlangothini lwami; futhi ungabi ngongakholwayo, kodwa okholwayo.

28. UTomase waphendula, wathi kuye: Nkosi yami, Nkulunkulu wami.

29. UJesu wathi kuye: “Ngokuba ungibonile, Tomasi, ukholiwe; babusisiwe abakholwanga bangabonanga.

30 Ngakho-ke uJesu wazenza nezinye izibonakaliso eziningi phambi kwabafundi bakhe ezingalotshiwe kule ncwadi.

31 Kodwa lezi zilotshiwe, ukuze nikholwe ukuthi uJesu unguKristu, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu, nokuthi ngokukholwa nibe nokuphila egameni lakhe.

Lapho uJesu ephefumulela abafundi Bakhe futhi ethi kubo, “Yamukelani uMoya oNgcwele,” uTomase wayengekho. Ngakho, lapho uTomase ebuya, bathi kuye: “Siyibonile iNkosi” (Johane 20:25). Kodwa uThomas akazange abe nalokhu okuhlangenwe nakho. Ngakho uthi: “Ngaphandle kokuba ngibone ezandleni zayo inxeba lezipikili, futhi ngifake umunwe wami enxebeni lezipikili, futhi ngifake isandla sami ohlangothini lwakhe, ngeke ngikholwe.”Johane 20:25).

UTomase akafuni ukukholwa ngenxa nje yokuthi abafundi bathi, “Siyibonile iNkosi.” Ufuna ukuzibonela. Phela, uTomase wayengekho lapho uJesu efika ngokuzumayo endlini, ebingelela ukuthula, futhi ethi kubo, “Yamukelani uMoya oNgcwele.” Nakuba lokhu kumelwe ukuba kwaba okuhlangenwe nakho okujulile kubafundi, abakwazanga ukudlulisela lokhu okuhlangenwe nakho okungokomoya kuTomase. ²⁵

Ukukholelwa lokho abanye abakushoyo ngaphandle kokukuqonda noma ukuzibonela ngokwakho kubizwa ngokuthi “ukholo oluyimpumputhe.” Lolu hlobo lokukholwa akufanele luthathe indawo yokuqonda okuhluzekile. Lapho amehlo ethu omoya evuliwe, singazibonela iNkosi futhi sizwe izwi Lakhe eZwini Lakhe. Lokhu ukuqonda okuhambisana nokholo lweqiniso. Njengoba kulotshiwe emibhalweni yesiHeberu ukuthi: “Vula amehlo ami, ukuze ngibone izimangaliso emthethweni wakho.” (AmaHubo 119:18). Futhi, “Ekukhanyeni kwakho sibona ukukhanya” (AmaHubo 36:9).

Ezinsukwini eziyisishiyagalombili kamuva, lapho uJesu ephinda ezibonakalisa kubafundi, uTomase usegunjini. Uyaphinda futhi, uJesu ubonakala phakathi kwabo kuyilapho iminyango ivaliwe. Futhi futhi, uJesu uqala ngokuthi, “Ukuthula makube kini” (Johane 20:26). Khona-ke uJesu uphendukela kuTomase futhi athi kuye, “Letha lapha umunwe wakho, futhi ubheke izandla zaMi; bese uletha isandla sakho lapha usifake ohlangothini lwaMi. Ungabi ngongakholwayo, kodwa okholwayo” (Johane 20:27). Manje njengoba amehlo kaTomase angokomoya esevulekile, futhi uzibonela ngokwakhe ukuba khona kukaJesu ngokomoya, uthinteka ngokujulile. Nakuba ayefuna ukuthinta uJesu ngokwenyama, uJesu uye wamthinta ngokomoya. Ngakho, uTomase uyababaza, “Nkosi Yami, Nkulunkulu Wami!” (Johane 20:28).

Isibabazo sikaTomase, mhlawumbe ngaphezu kwanoma yimaphi amanye amazwi emavangelini, sisondela kakhulu ekuchazeni isimo sikaJesu sangempela. UTomase ubona, uyaqonda, futhi uyakholelwa ukuthi uJesu uyiNkosi yakhe noNkulunkulu wakhe. Kulesi sikhathi esiyivelakancane nesibusisiwe, uTomase uyazibonela ukuthi uJesu akayena nje uMesiya, noma iNdodana yomuntu, noma iNdodana kaNkulunkulu. UnguNkulunkulu Uqobo Lwakhe—egcwalisa amazwi akhulunywe ekuqaleni kwaleli Vangeli: “Ekuqaleni wayekhona uLizwi, uLizwi wayenoNkulunkulu, futhi uLizwi wayenguNkulunkulu…. ULizwi waba yinyama, wakha phakathi kwethu” Johane 1:1;14).

Babusisiwe abakholwa kodwa bengabonanga

Njengoba lesi siqephu sisondela ekupheleni, uJesu uthi kuTomase, “Ngenxa yokuthi ungibonile, ukholiwe. Babusisiwe abakholwa, bengabonanga. (Johane 20:29). Lapha uJesu ufundisa ukuthi ukukholwa kukamoya akuncikile ebufakazini obuphathekayo. Inkolelo engokomoya ngempela ivela lapho amehlo ethu okomoya evuleka, futhi sibona iqiniso ekukhanyeni kokuqonda okuphezulu. Njengoba nje iso lenyama libona izinto emhlabeni wemvelo, namehlo kamoya asinika ikhono lokuqonda okungokoqobo kukamoya. Lapho siqonda okuthile kungazelelwe, singase sithambekele ekutheni, “Ngiyabona,” okusho ukuthi siyaqonda. ²⁶

Ukubona kwangaphandle kusekelwe ebufakazini bemizwa yangaphandle. Lisitshela ukuthi ilanga liyaphuma futhi lishone, ukuthi umhlaba uyisicaba, nokuthi izinkanyezi zincane kakhulu. Liphinde lisitshele ukuthi alikho izulu, asikho isihogo, akukho Nkulunkulu, futhi akukho ukuphila ngemva kokufa. Phela, alikwazi “ukubona” noma iyiphi yalezi zinto. Ngezinye izikhathi siphuphuthekiswa yinyama kangangokuthi asikwazi ukubona okungokomoya ngempela. ²⁷

Kodwa ukubona kwangaphakathi kuhluke kakhulu. Kungakho uJesu evame ukuvula amehlo ezimpumputhe (bheka Johane 9:1-41; 10:21; 11:37). Lokhu kuphulukiswa kwenyama kumelela ukuphulukiswa okujulile okungenzeka phakathi kwethu ngamunye lapho iNkosi ivula amehlo ethu omoya. Kulapho kuphela lapho singabona khona ngeqiniso ukuthi ukhona uNkulunkulu, ukuthi ukufa kuwukuqhubekela phambili kokuphila, nokuthi konke ukuphila kuvela eNkosini kuphela. Lezi yizinto ezibalulekile ezingabonakali ngeso lenyama, kodwa ezibonakala emehlweni ethu omoya. Yilokhu-ke uJesu akushoyo lapho ethi, “Babusisiwe abangabonanga, kodwa bakholwa.”

Izimpawu ezijulile

Njengoba lesi sahluko siphetha, umlandisi usitshela ukuthi “uJesu wenza ezinye izibonakaliso eziningi phambi kwabafundi bakhe, ezingalotshiwe kule ncwadi” (Johane 20:30). Ngomusa Wakhe omangalisayo, uNkulunkulu uyasivumela ngezikhathi ezithile ukuba sibe nezikhathi lapho sizwa ubukhona Bakhe busebenza ezimpilweni zethu. ²⁸

Kwabanye bethu, lezi zikhathi eziyisimangaliso zingase zihlanganise into engavamile, umhlangano onzima, noma isimanga esingalindelekile esiphenduka isibusiso esikhulu. Kungahlanganisa nokubona izingelosi, ukuba nephupho eliyisiprofetho, ukubona umbono, noma ukuthola umlayezo ovela kothandekayo ongasekho. Nakuba kufanele, vele, sizibonge lezi zibonakaliso nezimangaliso, akufanele zibe isizinda noma isisekelo senkolelo yethu.

Kunalokho, singabavumela ukuba baqinisekise lokho esesikukholelwa kakade—ukuthi uNkulunkulu usithanda ngothando esingaluqondi kahle, ukuthi ukuhlakanipha Kwakhe kuyisiqondiso esingenaphutha esiholela enjabulweni, nokuthi usihola ngezindlela ezimangalisayo ezingaqondakali ezingqondweni zethu ezilinganiselwe.

Izimangaliso eziningi zokuhola kukaNkulunkulu okungabonakali zikhona zonke, ngisho nalezo esingenakuziqaphela. Lezi izimangaliso ezingalotshwanga kule ncwadi (Johane 20:30). Kodwa noma kunjalo, zikhona, zigijima buthule ngaphansi kwezimpilo zethu, ziqhubeka ngokunemba nokuhleleka ngaso sonke isikhathi. Lokhu kungukuphatha kweNkosi okungcwele, okusiholayo ngasese ngaso sonke isikhathi. Nakuba singenakukubona konke, uNkulunkulu uyasinikeza ukuthi sibone okwanele—okwanele nje ukuba sazi futhi sikholwe “ukuthi uJesu unguKristu, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu, nokuthi ngokukholwa sibe nokuphila egameni Lakhe” ( Joh.Johane 20:31). ²⁹

Lezi izimpawu ezijulile ezibonisa indlela iNkosi esebenza ngayo ngasese ngaphakathi kwethu. Lapho “sinokuphila egameni laKhe,” sisuke senziwa kabusha. Njengoba kwenzeka izinguquko emoyeni wethu wangaphakathi, sikhuphuka ngokuqhubekayo. Ngale ndlela, ubukhona bethu buba uchungechunge lokuvuka okuzinzile, okuqhubekayo, kanye nezimangaliso ekuphileni okusha. ³⁰

Isicelo esingokoqobo

“Ukukholwa egameni laKhe,” nokuba “nokuphila egameni laKhe,” kusho ukuphila ngokuvumelana nezimfanelo uNkulunkulu asinika zona—ikakhulukazi izimfanelo ezibonakala ekuphileni nasezimfundisweni zikaJesu Kristu. Ngokwenza njalo, sizothola izimpawu zobukhona Bakhe endleleni. Ngakho-ke, njengendlela engokoqobo, qaphela lezo “zibonakaliso” ezibonisa ukuthi uphila “egameni laKhe” ngempela. Ezinye zalezi zimpawu zingase zihlanganise ukuzimisela okukhulayo kokuvuma iphutha nokucela intethelelo, ukwanda kwekhono lokubona okuhle kwabanye, ukuthambekela okwandayo kokusabela esimweni sakho esiphakeme, ukuqaphela okukhulu nokwazisa ngezibusiso empilweni yakho, kanye ukholo olukhulayo nokuthembela kuNkulunkulu. Vumela lezi zimpawu zokukhula ngokomoya zisebenze ukuqinisa umoya wakho futhi zijulise ukholo lwakho. ³¹

Imibhalo yaphansi:

962. The second account:

Since the Lord has granted me to see marvels that exist in the heavens and beneath the heavens, I am obliged by command to relate something I saw:

I saw a magnificent palace and at its center a large chapel. In the middle of the chapel there was a table of gold on which lay the Word, with two angels standing beside it.

Placed around the table were three rows of chairs. The chairs in the first row were covered with a purple-colored silk cloth, the chairs in the second row with a blue-colored silk cloth, and the chairs in the third row with a white cloth.

Hanging high up over the table from the ceiling I saw a canopy glistening with precious stones, whose radiance shone like that of a rainbow when the sky grows calm after a rain.

Suddenly then I saw, sitting on the chairs, as many of the clergy as there were seats, all attired in the vestments of their priestly office.

On one side there was a vestry where an angel custodian stood, and in it lay a beautiful array of shining vestments.

[2] It was a council convened by the Lord, and I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Deliberate!"

However, they said, "About what?"

They were told, "About the Lord and the Holy Spirit."

But when they began to consider these, they found themselves without enlightenment and therefore prayed for it. And light then shone down from heaven, which illumined first the backs of their heads, next their temples, and finally their faces. With that they began, and as they were commanded, they considered first the Lord.

The first question proposed and discussed was who assumed the humanity in the virgin Mary.

One of the angels standing beside the table on which lay the Word read to them the following verses in Luke:

(The angel said to Mary,) "Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest?." Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" And the angel answered and said..., "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore... that Holy One who is to be born (from you) will be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:31-32, 34-35)

The angel also read the verses found in Matthew 1:20-25, and with emphasis what is said there in verse 25. ¹

He read in addition more verses from the Gospels, where in respect to His humanity the Lord is called the Son of God, and where from the perspective of His humanity He calls Jehovah His Father. And from the Prophets as well, where it is foretold that Jehovah Himself would come into the world, including among others the following two passages in Isaiah:

It will be said in that day: "Behold, this is our God... This is Jehovah; we have waited for Him; we will exult and rejoice in His salvation." (Isaiah 25:9)

The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of Jehovah; make straight in the desert a highway for our God... (For) the glory of Jehovah shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together... Behold, the Lord Jehovih shall come with might... He will feed His flock like a shepherd. (Isaiah 40:3, 5, 10-11)

[3] The angel said moreover, "Since Jehovah Himself came into the world and assumed human form and by it saved and redeemed men, therefore in the Prophets He is called a Savior and Redeemer." And He read to them then the following passages:

Surely God is in you, and there is no other (God).... Truly You are God, who hide Yourself, O God of Israel, the Savior! (Isaiah 45:14-15)

Am I not Jehovah? And there is no other God besides Me. There is no just God and Savior besides Me. (Isaiah 45:21-22)

...I am Jehovah, and besides Me there is no savior. (Isaiah 43:11)

I am Jehovah your God..., and you shall acknowledge no God but Me; there is also no Savior besides Me. (Hosea 13:4)

...that all flesh may know that I, Jehovah, am your Savior and your Redeemer... (Isaiah 49:26, cf. 60:16)

As for our Redeemer, Jehovah Zebaoth is His name... (Isaiah 47:4)

Their Redeemer is strong; Jehovah Zebaoth is His name. (Jeremiah 50:34)

...O Jehovah, my rock and my Redeemer. (Psalms 19:14)

Thus said Jehovah, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am Jehovah your God...." (Isaiah 48:17, cf. 43:14; 49:7; 54:8)

You, Jehovah, are our Father; our Redeemer from Eternity is Your name. (Isaiah 63:16)

Thus said Jehovah, your Redeemer...: "I am Jehovah, who makes all things, ...all alone, ...by Myself." (Isaiah 44:24)

Thus said Jehovah, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, Jehovah Zebaoth: "I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God." (Isaiah 44:6)

Jehovah Zebaoth is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He shall be called God of the whole earth. (Isaiah 54:5)

Behold, the days are coming... when I will raise to David a righteous Branch, who shall reign a King... And this is His name...: JEHOVAH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Jeremiah 23:5-6, cf. 33:15-16)

In that day... Jehovah shall become King over all the earth. In that day there shall be one Jehovah and His name one. (Zechariah 14:8-9)

[4] Having been convinced by all these passages, the clergymen sitting on the chairs unanimously said that Jehovah Himself assumed human form in order to save and redeem men.

But at that a voice was heard from a group of Roman Catholics who had hidden themselves in a corner of the chapel, saying, "How can Jehovah, the Father, become a man? Is He not the Creator of the universe?"

Then one of the clergymen sitting on the chairs in the second row turned and said, "Who assumed human form then?"

And from the corner the Roman Catholic responded, "The Son from eternity."

But he received the reply, "Is not the Son from eternity, according to your belief, also the Creator of the universe? And what is a Son or God born from eternity? How can the Divine essence, which is a single entity and indivisible, be divided, and one part of it descend and take on human form, and not at the same time the whole of it?"

[5] A second discussion regarding the Lord considered whether God the Father and the Lord were not thus one, as soul and body are one. The clergymen said that it followed as a consequence, because the father is the origin of the soul. And then one of those who were sitting on the chairs in the third row recited the following from the statement of faith called the Athanasian Creed:

But although (our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God) is God and man, nevertheless there are not two Christs but one...; indeed, being completely one... by the unity of His person. For as the soul and the body are one person, so God and man are one Christ.

The clergyman reciting this said that this is the accepted faith throughout the Christian world, accepted also by Roman Catholics. And they all said then, "What need is there of more? God the Father and the Lord are one, as soul and body are one."

Then they said, "This being the case, we see that the Lord's humanity is Divine, because it is Jehovah's humanity. And we see that one must turn to the Lord in His Divine humanity, this being the only way that one can approach the Divine called the Father."

[6] The angel confirmed this conclusion of theirs with still more passages from the Word, which included the following in Isaiah:

...unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given... whose name (is) Wonderful, Counselor, God, Hero, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

Also in Isaiah:

...You are our Father; ...Abraham was ignorant of us, and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, Jehovah, are our Father; Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name. (Isaiah 63:16)

And in John:

Jesus... said, "He who believes in Me, believes... in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me." (John 12:44-45)

Philip said to (Jesus), ."..show us the Father...." Jesus says to him, ."..He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how then can you say, 'Show us the Father'... Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? ...Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me...." (John 14:8-11)

And finally the following:

Jesus said..., "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)

When they heard these passages, the clergymen all said with one heart and mouth that the Lord's humanity is Divine, and that one must turn to Him in order to go to the Father, since Jehovah God, who is the Lord from eternity, by means of that humanity introduced Himself into the world and made Himself visible to the eyes of men and accessible. In like manner He made Himself visible and so accessible in human form to people in ancient times, but did so then by means of an angel.

[7] Following this they next took up a deliberation regarding the Holy Spirit. And they began by determining the idea many of them had of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, namely of God the Father sitting on high, so to speak, having the Son at His right hand, and the two sending out the Holy Spirit to enlighten and instruct mankind.

But then a voice was heard from heaven, saying, "We cannot abide that mental image! Who does not know that Jehovah God is omnipresent? Anyone who knows and acknowledges this must also acknowledge that it is He who enlightens and instructs, and that there is no intermediate God, distinct from Him, and still less distinct from two others, as one person is from another. Rid yourselves, therefore, of your earlier idea, which is an idle one, and accept this one, which is the right one, and you will see the matter clearly."

[8] However, a voice was again heard then from the group of Roman Catholics who had hidden themselves in a corner of the chapel, saying, "What then is the Holy Spirit, which is mentioned in the Word by the Gospels and Paul, by which so many of the learned in the clergy say they are led, especially in our clergy? Who today in the Christian world denies the reality of the Holy Spirit and its operation?"

At that one of the clergymen sitting on the chairs in the second row turned and said, "The Holy Spirit is the Divinity emanating from the Lord Jehovah. You say that the Holy Spirit is a distinct person and a distinct God, yet what is a person that originates and emanates from a person but an operation that originates and emanates? One person cannot originate or emanate from another one by means of another, but an operation can. Or what is a God that originates and emanates from God but a Divinity that originates and emanates? One God cannot originate and emanate from another one by means of another, but a Divinity can. Is not the Divine essence one and indivisible? And because the Divine essence or Divine being is God, is not God one and indivisible?"

[9] Hearing this, the clergymen sitting on the chairs unanimously concluded that the Holy Spirit is not a distinct person or a distinct God, but that it is the holy Divinity originating and emanating from the one and only omnipresent God, who is the Lord.

At that the angels standing beside the golden table on which lay the Word said, "Good! You do not read anywhere in the Old Testament that the prophets were inspired by the Holy Spirit to speak the Word, but that they were inspired by the Lord Jehovah. And where the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the New Testament, it means the emanating Divinity, which is the Divinity that enlightens, instructs, vivifies, reforms and regenerates."

[10] After this the clergymen took up a second discussion of the Holy Spirit, asking from whom the Divinity called the Holy Spirit emanated, whether it did so from the Divine called the Father, or from the Divine human called the Son. And as they were discussing this, a light shone from heaven which enabled them to see that the holy Divinity meant by the Holy Spirit emanates from the Divinity in the Lord by means of His glorified humanity, which is His Divine humanity, comparatively as every activity in the case of a person emanates from the soul by means of the body.

This conclusion one of the angels standing beside the table confirmed from the Word by the following verses:

...He whom (the Father) has sent speaks the words of God, ...God does not give (Him) the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. (John 3:34-35)

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse... The Spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might... (Isaiah 11:1-2)

Also verses saying that Jehovah put His spirit upon Him, and that the spirit of Jehovah was in Him (Isaiah 42:1; 59:19-20; 61:1, Luke 4:18).

When the (Holy Spirit) comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father... (John 15:26)

He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. (John 16:14-15)

...if I depart, I will send (the Counselor) to you. (John 16:7)

The Counselor is the Holy Spirit (John 14:26).

...the Holy Spirit was not yet, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:39)

After His glorification Jesus breathed on His disciples and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20:22).

[11] Since the Lord's Divine operation and His Divine omnipresence are meant by the Holy Spirit, therefore when He spoke to His disciples about the Holy Spirit whom God the Father would send, He also said:

I will not leave you orphans... I am going away and coming back to you. (John 14:18, 28)

And:

At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. (John 14:20)

And just before He departed from the world He said:

Lo, I am with you always, even to the culmination of the age. (Matthew 28:20)

After he read these verses to them, the angel said, "From these and many other passages in the Word, it is apparent that the Divinity called the Holy Spirit emanates from the Divinity in the Lord by means of His Divine humanity."

At that the clergymen sitting on the chairs said, "It is the Divine truth."

[12] Lastly the clergymen formed this declaration, that "from the

deliberations in this council we have clearly seen and so acknowledge as a sacred truth that there is a trinity in our Lord Jesus Christ, namely, an originating Divine called the Father, a Divine humanity that is the Son, and an emanating Divinity that is the Holy Spirit. Thus there is in the church but one God."

[13] After these proceedings in that grand council were concluded, the clergymen stood up, and the angel custodian came from the vestry, bringing for each of those sitting on the chairs shining vestments, which were interwoven here and there with gold threads. And the angel said, "Take these wedding garments."

Then the clergymen were conveyed gloriously into the New Christian Heaven, the heaven with which the Lord's church on earth, the New Jerusalem, will be conjoined.

Revelation 22:21

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Amen.

Imibhalo yaphansi: