32 – Ukufela Ukholo

Ngokuya kwesikhathi uKhayini waletha ezinye izithelo zomhlabathi ukuba ngumnikelo kuJehova. Kodwa u-Abela waletha izitho ezinonileyo zisuka kwamanye amazibulo omhlambi wakhe. UJehova wamthokozela u-Abela kanye lomnikelo wakhe, kodwa kamthokozelanga uKhayini lomnikelo wakhe. Yikho uKhayini wazonda kakhulu, lobuso bakhe bahloba. UJehova wasesithi kuKhayini, “Uzondeleni na? Kungani ubuso bakho buhlobile? Kambe ungaze wenze okulungileyo, kawuyikwamukelwa yini? Kodwa nxa ungenzi okulungileyo, isono sicwathile emnyango wakho; sitshisekela ukukuthumba, kodwa kumele usahlule.” Kwathi uKhayini wathi kumfowabo u-Abela, “Kake sihambe siye egangeni.” Kwathi bekhonale egangeni uKhayini wamhlasela umfowabo u-Abela wambulala. UJehova wasesithi kuKhayini, “Ungaphi umfowenu u-Abela na?” Waphendula wathi, “Angazi. Ngingumgcini wakhe umfowethu na?” UJehova wathi, “Usuwenzeni? Lalela! Igazi lomfowenu liyakhala kimi lisuka emhlabathini.

Ngesinye isikhathi ngemva kwalokho uNkulunkulu walinga u-Abhrahama. Wathi kuye, “Abhrahama!” Waphendula wathi, “Ngilapha.” UNkulunkulu wasesithi, “Thatha indodana yakho, indodana yakho eyiyo yodwa, u-Isaka, omthandayo, uye emmangweni waseMoriya. Khonapho menze umhlatshelo abe ngumnikelo wokutshiswa phezu kwenye yezintaba engizakutshela yona.” Ngakusasa ekuseni kakhulu u-Abhrahama wavuka wabopha ubabhemi wakhe. Wahamba lezinceku zakhe ezimbili kanye lendodana yakhe u-Isaka. Kwathi esegamule izinkuni ezaneleyo ezomnikelo wokutshiswa, waqhubeka waya kuleyondawo uNkulunkulu ayemtshele yona. Ngelanga lesithathu u-Abhrahama wakhangela, wayibona leyondawo kude le. Wathi ezincekwini zakhe, “Hlalani lapha lobabhemi, mina lomfana sisake siye laphayana. Sizakuthi singakhonza sibuye kini.” U-Abhrahama wathatha izinkuni zomnikelo wokutshiswa wazetshatha umntanakhe u-Isaka, yena ngokwakhe waphatha umlilo lengqamu. Kwathi belokhu beqhubeka bobabili, u-Isaka wakhuluma wambuza uyise u-Abhrahama wathi, “Baba?” “Yebo, ndodana yami?” kusabela u-Abhrahama. “Umlilo lenkuni nanku kukhona,” kusitsho u-Isaka, “kodwa kanti lingaphi izinyane lomnikelo wokutshiswa?” U-Abhrahama waphendula wathi, “Ndodana yami, uNkulunkulu ngokwakhe uzasipha izinyane lomnikelo wokutshiswa.” Baqhubeka bobabili bahamba. Sebefikile endaweni uNkulunkulu amtshela yona, u-Abhrahama wakha i-alithare khonapho walungisa izinkuni phezu kwalo. Wabopha indodana yakhe u-Isaka wayilalisa e-alithareni phezu kwezinkuni. Yikho waseselula isandla sakhe ethatha ingqamu ukuba abulale indodana yakhe. Kodwa ingilosi kaJehova yammemeza isezulwini yathi, “Abhrahama! Abhrahama!” Waphendula wathi, “Ngilapha.” Yathi, “Ungamthinti ngesandla sakho umfana. Ungenzi lutho kuye. Khathesi sengisazi ukuthi uyamesaba uNkulunkulu, ngokuba kawuyigodlanga indodana yakho eyiyo yodwa.” U-Abhrahama wathi uyakhangela wabona nansiya inqama esixukwini igaxele ngezimpondo zayo. Waya khona wayithatha inqama wayenza umhlatshelo womnikelo wokutshiswa esikhundleni sendodana yakhe.

Umele ukhethe amazinyane amaduna alomnyaka owodwa angelasici, njalo ungakhetha ezimvini loba ezimbuzini.

“Ungabulali.

Angikulayanga na? Qina ube lesibindi ungethuki njalo ungalahli ithemba, ngoba uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho uzakuba lawe loba kungaphi lapho oya khona”

Inkosi yasilaya abalindi ababephansi kwayo yathi, “Phendukani libulale abaphristi bakaJehova, ngoba labo basekele uDavida. Babekwazi ukuthi uyabaleka, kodwa kabangitshelanga.” Kodwa izikhulu zenkosi zazingafuni ukuphakamisa izandla ukuba zigalele abaphristi bakaJehova. Ngakho inkosi yalaya uDoyegi yathi, “Phenduka ugalele abaphristi!” UDoyegi um-Edomi waphenduka wabagongoda. Mhlalokho wabulala abantu abangamakhulu aficamibili lanhlanu ababegqoka izambatho zemahlombe ezelineni. Wabuye wahlasela iNobi ngenkemba, umuzi wabaphristi, lamadoda ayo kanye labesifazana, abantwana bayo lezinsane, lezinkomo zayo, obabhemi kanye lezimvu.

Lapho uJezebeli wayebulala abaphrofethi bakaJehova, u-Obhadiya wayethethe abalikhulu wayabafihla ezimbalwini ezimbili, bengamatshumi amahlanu ebhalwini lunye, wabathumela ukudla lamanzi.)

Yena waphendula wathi, “Bengikutshisekela kakhulu, wena Jehova, Nkulunkulu wamabandla, ngoba abantu bako-Israyeli basephule isivumelwano sakho, badiliza ama-alithare akho, babulala abaphrofethi bakho ngenkemba; yimi ngedwa esengisele, kodwa bayangizingela badinga ukungibulala.”

Funani uJehova lamandla akhe, limdinge yena njalonjalo.

Ngakho uMoya kaNkulunkulu wehlela kuZekhariya indodana yomphristi uJehoyada. Wema phambi kwabantu wathi, “Nanku okutshiwo nguNkulunkulu: ‘Kungani lingalaleli imilayo kaJehova? Aliyikuphumelela. Ngenxa yokumlahla uJehova elikwenzileyo, laye uselilahlile.’ ” Kodwa bamhlamukela, kwathi ngokuqondisa kwenkosi bamkhanda bambulala ngamatshe egumeni lethempeli likaJehova.

“Kodwa kabalalelanga bakuhlamukela; umthetho wakho bawubeka ngemuva kwabo. Babulala abaphrofethi bakho, ababebakhuza ukuze babuyele kuwe; bahlambaza ngendlela eyesabekayo.

Ekuzwa lokho uJobe wasukuma wadabula isambatho sakhe, waphuca ikhanda lakhe. Wazilahla phansi wakhonza wathi: “Ngaphuma ngize esiswini sikamama, njalo ngizasuka ngize. UJehova wapha njalo uJehova usethathile; kalidunyiswe ibizo likaJehova.”

Angaze angibulale kodwa ngizakwala ngithemba kuye; ngizazivikela izindlela zami phambi kwakhe.

Ngiyazi ukuthi uMhlengi wami uyaphila, lokuthi ekupheleni uzakuma emhlabeni. Kuzakuthi nxa isikhumba sami sesibhujisiwe, kodwa ngikuyo inyama yami ngizambona uNkulunkulu; mina ngokwami ngizambona ngawami amehlo  —  mina, hatshi omunye. Inhliziyo yami iyagubhazela ngokulangatha!

Kodwa uyayazi indlela engihamba ngayo; nxa esengilingile, ngizaphuma senginjengegolide. Izinyawo zami bezilokhu zilandelana lezinyathelo zakhe; ngalela endleleni yakhe angaze ngaphambuka.

Kungani izizwe zixokozela na, labantu besakha amasu ayize? Amakhosi omhlaba azimisele lababusi bahlangana ndawonye ukumelana loJehova njalo bamelane lalowo Ogcotshiweyo Wakhe. Bathi, “Kasiwaqamuleni amaketane abo, silahle izibopho zabo.” Yena osesihlalweni ezulwini uyahleka; uJehova ubahleka ulunya.

Kodwa akuthi bonke abaphephela kuwe bathokoze; mabahlabelele njalonjalo ngenjabulo. Basibekele ngovikelo lwakho, kuthi labo abalithandayo igama lakho bajabule ngawe.

Sengibeke uJehova phambi kwami kokuphela. Njengoba ekwesokunene sami, angiyikuzanyazanyiswa. Ngakho-ke inhliziyo yami iyathokoza lolimi lwami luyajabula; lomzimba wami uzaphumula uvikelekile, ngokuba kawuzukungidela ngize ngiye engcwabeni, njalo kawuyikuyekela Ongcwele wakho abone ukubola. Usungazisile indlela yempilo; uzangigcwalisa ngokuthaba phambi kwakho, ngenjabulo engapheliyo kwesokunene sakho.

Mina-ke ngenxa yokulunga ngizabubona ubuso bakho; ngizakuthi ekuvukeni kwami nganeliswe yikubona isimo sakho.

uvuselela umphefumulo wami. Uyangihola ezindleleni zokulunga ngenxa yebizo lakhe. Loba ngidabula esigodini sethunzi lokufa, angiyikwesaba okubi ngokuba wena ulami; intonga yakho lodondolo lwakho kuyangithokozisa.

ElikaDavida UJehova uyikukhanya kwami lensindiso yami  —  ngizakwesaba bani na? UJehova uyinqaba yokuphila kwami  —  ngubani engingamesaba na? Nxa ababi bengihlasela bezodlithiza inyama yami, lapho izitha zami labangizondayo bengihlasela, bazakhubeka bawe. Loba impi ingivimbezela, inhliziyo yami kayizukwesaba; loba ngivukelwa yimpi, loba kunjalo ngizakuma isibindi. Yinye into engiyicelayo kuJehova, yilokhu engikudingayo: ukuba ngihlale endlini kaJehova zonke izinsuku zokuphila kwami, ngibuke ubuhle bukaJehova, lokuthi ngimdinge ethempelini lakhe. Phela ngosuku lokuhlupheka uzangilondoloza emuzini wakhe, uzangifihla esiphephelweni sethabanikeli lakhe angimise phezulu esiqongweni sedwala.

Thokozani kuJehova, lithabe lina balungileyo; hlabelelani lonke lina eliqotho enhliziyweni!

Ababi baceba ukulimaza abalungileyo babagedlele amazinyo; kodwa uJehova uyabahleka ababi, ngokuba uyazi ukuthi usuku lwabo luyeza. Ababi bakhokha inkemba, banweba idandila ukulimaza abahluphekayo labaswelayo, ukubulala labo abandlela zabo ziqotho. Kodwa izinkemba zabo zizagwaza ezabo izinhliziyo, lamadandila abo azakwephulwa.

Ikanti ngenxa yakho wena sikhangelane lokufa ilanga lonke; sithathwa njengezimvu zokubulawa.

Kumqondisi wokuhlabela. ElamaDodana kaKhora. Ingoma. UNkulunkulu uyisiphephelo sethu lamandla ethu, usizo oluhlezi lukhona nxa kulohlupho. Ngakho kangiyikwesaba, umhlaba ungaze ubhidlike lezintaba ziwele ekujuleni kolwandle,

Ngokuba uNkulunkulu lo nguNkulunkulu wethu nini lanini; uzakuba ngumholi wethu lasekupheleni.

Yethula iziswelo zakho kuJehova yena uzakusekela; akazukuyekela abalungileyo bawe.

Kodwa wena, O Jehova, uyabahleka; uyazigqabhazela zonke lezozizwe. Hawu Mandla ami, ngiyakulindela; wena, O Nkulunkulu, uyinqaba yami, Nkulunkulu wami olothando. UNkulunkulu uzahamba phambi kwami angenze ngiklolode phezu kwalabo abangingcolisayo.

Ngisembhedeni wami ngiyakhumbula; ngiyakukhumbula lanxa ngisemlindweni wasebusuku. Ngokuba ulusizo lwami, ngiyahlabelela ngisemthunzini wamaphiko akho. Umphefumulo wami unamathele kuwe; isandla sakho sokunene siyangisekela. Labo abazingela impilo yami bazabhujiswa; bazakwehlela phansi ekujuleni komhlabathi.

Kodwa sekungathi abalungileyo bangajabula bathokoze phambi kukaNkulunkulu; sengathi bangathaba bathokoze. Hlabelelani kuNkulunkulu, hlabelelani indumiso ebizweni lakhe, mphakamiseni ohlezi phezu kwamayezi  —  ibizo lakhe nguJehova  —  njalo lithokoze phambi kwakhe.

Ikanti ngihlezi ngilawe; uyangibamba ngesandla sami sokunene. Uyangikhokhela ngokweluleka kwakho kuthi ngemuva kwalokho uzangithatha ungise ebukhosini. Ngilobani na ezulwini ngaphandle kwakho? Lomhlaba kawulakho engikufisayo ngaphandle kwakho. Inyama yami lenhliziyo yami kungehluleka kodwa uNkulunkulu ungamandla enhliziyo yami, uyisabelo sami laphakade.

Babusisiwe labo asebekufundile ukukubabaza, abahamba ekukhanyeni kobukhona bakho, O Jehova. Bayathokoza ngebizo lakho ilanga lonke; bayagubhazela ngokulunga kwakho.

Lowo ohlala ekusithekeni koPhezukonke uzaphumula emthunzini kaSomandla.

Kawuphakanyiswe, yebo Nkulunkulu, ngaphezu kwamazulu, akuthi inkazimulo yakho ibe khona emhlabeni wonke.

UJehova uvikela abalenhliziyo ethobekileyo; ngathi ngihluphekile kakhulu wangisindisa. Phumula njalo, we mphefumulo wami, ngoba uJehova ukwenzile ukulunga. Ngokuba wena, O Jehova, uwukhulule umphefumulo wami ekufeni, amehlo ami ezinyembezini, lezinyawo zami azaze zakhubeka, ukuze ngihambe phambi kukaJehova elizweni labaphilayo.

Kuligugu emehlweni kaJehova ukufa kwabangcwele bakhe.

Akuthi abangcwele bathokoze ngale inhlonipho, bahlabele ngentokozo besemibhedeni yabo.

Themba kuJehova ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungathembi okwakho ukuzwisisa;

Ibizo elihle lingcono kulamakha amnandi, lelanga lokufa lingcono kulelanga lokuzalwa.

uzakuginya kokuphela ukufa. UJehova Wobukhosi uzakwesula izinyembezi ebusweni babantu bonke; uzasusa ihlazo labantu bakhe emhlabeni wonke. UJehova usekhulumile.

Kodwa abafileyo bakho bazaphila, imizimba yabo izavuka. Lina elihlala othulini, vukani lihlabelele ngentokozo. Amazolo enu afana lamazolo ekuseni; umhlaba uzabaveza abafileyo bawo.

labahlengiweyo bakaJehova bazabuyela. Bazangena eZiyoni behlabela; intokozo engapheliyo izakuba ngumqhele emakhanda abo. Bazakuba lokuthula lenjabulo, usizi lokububula kuzaphela.

Hlabelelani ngentokozo lina mazulu; jabula lawe mhlaba; tshayani ingoma lina zintaba. Ngoba uJehova uyabaduduza abantu bakhe njalo uzakuba lesihawu kwabahluphekayo bakhe.

Nganikela umhlana wami kulabo ababengitshaya, lezihlathi zami kulabo abacutha izindevu zami; ubuso bami angibufihlanga ekugconweni lekukhafulelweni. Ngenxa yokuthi uJehova Wobukhosi uyangisiza angiyikuyangeka. Ngakho-ke sengiqinise ubuso bami babanjengelitshe lomlilo; njalo ngiyazi ukuthi angiyikuyangeka.

Abahlengiweyo bakaJehova bazabuya. Bazangena eZiyoni behlabela; ukuthokoza okungapheliyo kuzakuba ngumqhele emakhanda abo. Ukuthaba lokujabula kuzabehlela; usizi lokububula kuzaphela.

Weyiswa njalo waliwa ngabantu, umuntu wezinsizi, njalo ekujayele ukuhlupheka. Lowo abantu abangafuniyo ukukhangelana laye. Weyiswa, asimhloniphanga. Ngempela wathatha ubucubi bethu wathwala izinsizi zethu, kodwa thina sathi utshaywe nguNkulunkulu, ebethwe nguye, njalo uhlutshiwe. Kodwa wagwazwa ngenxa yeziphambeko zethu, wachobozwa ngenxa yokona kwethu, ukuhlutshwa kwakhe kwasilethela ukuthula, njalo sasiliswa ngamanxeba akhe. Thina sonke njengezimvu, silahlekile, lowo lalowo wethu uphambukele endleleni yakhe; njalo uJehova ubeke phezu kwakhe ukona kwethu sonke. Wacindezelwa wahlutshwa, kodwa kawuvulanga umlomo wakhe; wakhokhelwa ukuya bulawa njengewundlu, njalo njengemvu ithule phambi komgundi wayo, laye kawuvulanga umlomo wakhe. Ngokucindezelwa langokwahlulela wathathwa. Ngubani ongakhuluma ngesizukulwane sakhe na? Ngoba wasuswa elizweni labaphilayo; watshaywa ngenxa yeziphambeko zabantu bami. Wabelwa ingcwaba kanye lababi, kanye labanothileyo ekufeni kwakhe, lanxa kungeladlakela alwenzayo njalo kungekho inkohliso emlonyeni wakhe. Ikanti kwakuyintando kaJehova ukumchoboza lokumenza ahlupheke, njalo lanxa uJehova esenza ukuphila kwakhe umnikelo wecala, uzabona inzalo yakhe, andise izinsuku zokuphila kwakhe, lentando kaJehova izaphumelela ngaye. Emva kokuhlupheka komoya wakhe, uzabona ukukhanya kokuphila asuthiseke; ngokwazi kwayo inceku yami elungileyo izalungisa abanengi, ithwale izono zabo. Ngakho-ke ngizamnika isabelo phakathi kwabakhulu, njalo uzakwabelana impango labalamandla ngoba wanikela ukuphila kwakhe ekufeni, wabalwa ndawonye lezoni; ngoba wathwala izono zabanengi, wancengela izoni.

Lina lizaphuma ngokuthokoza likhokhelwe ngokuthula; izintaba lamaqaqa kuzasusa ingoma phambi kwenu, njalo zonke izihlahla zeganga zizaqakeza izandla zazo.

Abalungileyo bayabhubha, kodwa kakho ocabanga ngakho enhliziyweni yakhe. Abantu abazinikele ekukhonzeni bayasuswa, njalo kakho okuzwisisayo ukuthi abalungileyo basuswa ukuba baphetshiswe ebubini. Labo abahamba ngokulunga bayangena ekuthuleni; bathola ukuphumula belele ekufeni.

lokunakekela labo abadabukileyo eZiyoni  —  ukubapha umqhele wobuhle esikhundleni somlotha, amafutha okujabula esikhundleni sokulila, lengubo yokudumisa esikhundleni somoya wokulahla ithemba. Bazabizwa ngokuthi ngama-okhi okulunga, ahlanyelwe nguJehova ukuba abonakalise inkazimulo yakhe.

Ngiyathokoza kakhulu kuJehova; umphefumulo wami uyajabula ngoNkulunkulu wami. Ngoba ungigqokise izigqoko zokusindiswa, wangicecisa ngezambatho zokulunga, njengomyeni ececisa ikhanda lakhe njengomphristi, lanjengomlobokazi ezicecise ngamatshe akhe aligugu.

Kukho konke ukuhlupheka kwabo laye waba losizi; ukuba khona kwengilosi yakhe kwabasindisa. Ngothando lwakhe langesihawu sakhe wabahlenga; wabaphakamisela phezulu, wabathwala izinsuku zonke zakudala.

Kodwa bakhona abanye abaJuda obabeke ukuphatha ilizwe laseBhabhiloni  —  uShadreki, loMeshaki lo-Abhedineko  —  abangakhathali lutho ngawe, wena nkosi. Kababakhonzi onkulunkulu bakho njalo kabasikhonzi isithombe lesi osimisileyo.” Wazonda wabila uNebhukhadinezari, wasebiza oShadreki, loMeshaki lo-Abhediniko. Yikho amadoda la alethwa phambi kwenkosi, uNebhukhadinezari wathi kubo, “Kuliqiniso yini, Shadreki, loMeshaki lo-Abhediniko, ukuthi kalibakhonzi onkulunkulu bami njalo kalisikhonzi isifanekiso segolide engisimisileyo? Manje nxa lingezwa ukukhala kophondo, lomfece, lomhlanga, lomhubhe, lechacho, lezindweba layo yonke imihlobo yezikhaliswayo, uma selizimisele ukuthi mbo phansi lisikhonze isifanekiso engasenzayo, kulungile. Kodwa uma lingasikhonzi lizaphoselwa ngokuphangisa esithandweni somlilo olavuzayo. Pho nguwuphi unkulunkulu ozalilamulela esandleni sami na?”

OShadreki, loMeshaki lo-Abhediniko bayiphendula inkosi bathi, “Yebo Nebhukhadinezari, kakusweleki ukuthi sizivikele kuwe kule indaba. Singaphoselwa esithandweni somlilo olavuzayo, uNkulunkulu esimkhonzayo ulamandla okusisindisa kuwo, njalo uzasilamulela esandleni sakho, wena nkosi. Loba engasisindisi, sithanda ukuba ukwazi, wena nkosi, ukuthi sivele kasisoze sibakhonze onkulunkulu bakho kumbe sisidumise isifanekiso segolide leso osimisileyo.”

Lapho-ke uNebhukhadinezari waphuphuma ngolaka kuShadreki, loMeshaki lo-Abhediniko, wahle waguqula indlela aye esebaphatha ngayo. Walaya ukuthi isithando somlilo sibaselwe sitshise okuphindwe kakhombisa kulenjayelo waphinda walaya ukuthi abanye bamabutho angobambapheqe bempi yakhe bababophe oShadreki, loMeshaki lo-Abhediniko babaphosele esithandweni somlilo olavuzayo. Yikho amadoda la abotshwa elokhu egqokile amajazi awo, lamabhulugwe, leziqhiyo kanye lezinye izigqoko, aphoselwa esithandweni somlilo olavuzayo. Umlayo wenkosi wawuthukuthele kakhulu lesithando somlilo sitshisa okokuthi amalangabi omlilo awabulala amanxusa ayefuqela oShadreki, loMeshaki lo-Abhediniko, kwathi amadoda la womathathu ayebotshwe nko awela phakathi kwesithando somlilo olavuzayo.

Khonapho inkosi uNebhukhadinezari wathi lothu ngokumangala, wabuza abacebisi bakhe wathi, “Kanti angithi abemathathu amadoda esiwabophileyo sawaphosela emlilweni na?” Baphendula bathi, “Liqiniso lelo, O nkosi.” Wathi, “Khangelani! Ngibona amadoda amane ehambahamba phakathi komlilo, engabotshwanga njalo engalinyazwanga lutho, njalo owesine lowo ukhangeleka njengendodana yabonkulunkulu.” UNebhukhadinezari wasesondela emlonyeni wesithando somlilo olavuzayo wamemeza wathi, “Shadreki, loMeshaki lo-Abhediniko, zinceku zikaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, phumani! Wozani lapha!” Ngakho oShadreki, loMeshaki lo-Abhediniko baphuma emlilweni, kwathi ababusi bezigaba, labalisa, lababusi bemikhono yelizwe labeluleki besikhosini bababunganyela. Babona ukuthi umlilo wawungabalimazanga imizimba yabo, njalo kungahaqazekanga lalunye unwele lwamakhanda abo; izambatho zabo zingahangulekanga, njalo kunganuki mlilo kubo. UNebhukhadinezari wasesithi, “Kadunyiswe uNkulunkulu waboShadreki, loMeshaki lo-Abhediniko, othume ingilosi yakhe wasindisa izinceku zakhe! Bathemba kuye badelela umlayo wenkosi njalo bazimisela ukunikela izimpilo zabo kulokuthi bakhonze loba badumise omunye unkulunkulu ngaphandle kowabo uNkulunkulu.

Kwathi uDanyeli esezwile ukuthi umthetho wawusukhutshiwe, waya ekhaya endlini yakhe ephezulu esitezi eyayilamawindi avulwe akhangela eJerusalema. Kathathu ngelanga wayezilahla phansi ngamadolo akhuleke, ebonga uNkulunkulu wakhe, njengalokho ayevele ekwenza mandulo. Kwase kusithi amadoda la aqhubana elixuku afica uDanyeli ekhuleka ecela usizo kuNkulunkulu. Asesiya enkosini ayakhuluma layo ngomthetho owaphuma esigodlweni, athi: “Kawukhuphanga isimemezelo yini sokuthi ngezinsuku ezilandelayo ezingamatshumi amathathu noma ngubani othandaza komunye unkulunkulu noma umuntu ngaphandle kokuthandaza kuwe, O nkosi, uzaphoselwa emgodini wezilwane?” Inkosi yaphendula yathi, “Lowomthetho umi  —  njengemithetho yamaMede lamaPhesiya, engeke iguqulwe.” Asesithi enkosini, “UDanyeli, ongomunye wabathunjwa bakoJuda, kakunanzi, wena nkosi, kanye lomthetho owawubhala phansi. Ulokhu ekhuleka kathathu ngelanga.” Kwathi inkosi isikuzwile lokho yakhathazeka kakhulu; yayizimisele ukukhulula uDanyeli yenza yonke imizamo yokumsiza ilanga laze layatshona. Amadoda lawo asehamba elixuku aya enkosini athi kuyo, “Khumbula, O nkosi, ukuthi ngomthetho wamaMede lamaPhesiya kakulasimemezelo loba isimiso esikhutshwe yinkosi esingaguqulwa.”

Ngakho inkosi yasikhupha umlayo, basebemletha uDanyeli bamphosela emphandwini wezilwane. Inkosi yathi kuDanyeli, “Sengathi uNkulunkulu wakho omkhonzayo njalonjalo angakuhlenga!” Kwalethwa ilitshe lathiwa khinsi emnyango womgodi, inkosi yase ilinameka ngendandatho yayo yobukhosi langezindandatho zezikhulu zayo, ukuze umumo kaDanyeli ungaguqulwa. Yikho inkosi yase ibuyela esigodlweni sayo yazila ukudla lokunatha ubusuku bonke. Yehluleka ukulala. Kwathi kudabuka ukusa inkosi yathi khwatshu yahaluzela isiya emgodini wezilwane. Ithe isifikile emgodini, yamemeza uDanyeli ngelizwi losizi yathi, “Danyeli, nceku kaNkulunkulu ophilayo, uNkulunkulu wakho omkhonza njalonjalo ukuphephisile yini ezilwaneni?” UDanyeli waphendula wathi, “O nkosi, mana njalo! UNkulunkulu wami uthume ingilosi yakhe yayivala imilomo yezilwane. Kazingilimazanga ngokuba ngifunyanwe ngingelacala phambi kwakhe. Njalo kangikaze ngenze okubi kuwe, O nkosi.” Inkosi yathaba yafa yakhupha umlayo wokuba uDanyeli akhutshulwe emgodini lowo. UDanyeli esekhutshiwe emgodini, kakubonakalanga nxeba kuye, ngokuba wathemba kuNkulunkulu wakhe.

Izakhuluma okubi ngoPhezukonke icindezele abangcwele bakhe izame ukuguqula izikhathi ezimisiweyo kanye lemithetho. Abangcwele bazanikelwa kuyo okwesikhathi esithile, izikhathi ezilengxenye yesikhathi.

“Ngalesosikhathi uMikhayeli, umbusi omkhulu olinda abantu bakini, uzavela. Kuzakuba khona isikhathi sokuhlukumezeka okungazange kube khona kulokhu kwadabuka izizwe kuze kube yiso. Kodwa kulesosikhathi abantu bakini  —  bonke labo abalamabizo azafunyanwa elotshiwe encwadini  —  bazahlengwa. Izixuku lezixuku zabaleleyo othulini lomhlaba bazavuka; abanye baye ekuphileni okungapheliyo, abanye baye ehlazweni lokunengeka okungapheliyo. Labo abahlakaniphileyo bazakhazimula njengokubenyezela kwamazulu, lalabo abaholela abanengi ekulungeni, bazakhazimula njengezinkanyezi okwanini lanini.

UJehova ulungile, uyisiphephelo ezikhathini zokuhlupheka. Uyabakhathalela abathembele kuye,

kodwa ngizathokoza kuJehova, ngizajabula kuJehova uMsindisi wami.

Babusisiwe abahlukunyezwayo ngenxa yokulunga, ngoba umbuso wezulu ungowabo. “Libusisiwe lina nxa abantu belithuka, belihlukumeza njalo beligcona ngobubi bonke ngenxa yami. Thokozani lijabule ngokuba mkhulu umvuzo wenu ezulwini, ngoba bahlukunyezwa ngaleyondlela abaphrofethi ababephambi kwenu.

Kodwa mina ngilitshela ukuthi, Thandani izitha zenu, libathandazele labo abalihluphayo,

“Lingazibutheli inotho emhlabeni lapho okubhubhisa khona inondo lokuthomba, njalo lapho okugqekeza khona amasela ebe. Kodwa zibutheleni inotho ezulwini lapho kungabhujiswa khona yinondo lokuthomba, njalo lapho kungagqekezi khona amasela ebe.

“Libalimuke abantu; bazalimangalela ezinkundleni zamacala, balibhaxuze emasinagogeni abo. Ngenxa yami lizamiswa phambi kwababusi lamakhosi ukuze libe ngofakazi kubo lakwabezizwe. Kodwa nxa belibopha linganqineki ukuthi lizathini lokuthi likutsho kanjani. Ngalesosikhathi lizakwambulelwa okumele likutsho, ngokuba kuzakuba kungayisini elikhulumayo, kodwa kunguMoya kaYihlo ozabe ukhuluma ngani.

“Umuntu uzanikela umfowabo ukuthi abulawe, loyise anikele umntwana; abantwana bazahlamukela abazali bababulale. Bonke abantu bazalizonda ngenxa yami, kodwa lowo omayo aqine kuze kube sekupheleni uzasindiswa. Nxa lihlukuluzwa endaweni ethile, balekelani kwenye. Ngilitshela iqiniso ukuthi kaliyikuqeda ukuwahambela wonke amadolobho ako-Israyeli iNdodana yoMuntu ingakafiki.

Lingabesabi labo ababulala umzimba kodwa bengeke babulale umphefumulo. Kodwa yesabani lowo ongabhubhisa kokubili umphefumulo lomzimba esihogweni.

njalo lowo ongathathi isiphambano sakhe angilandele kangifanelanga. Loba ngubani ozuza impilo yakhe izamlahlekela, njalo lalowo olahlekelwa yimpilo yakhe ngenxa yami uzayizuza.

“Wozani kimi lina lonke elikhatheleyo lelisindwayo, ngizaliphumuza. Zithwaliseni ijogwe lami, lifunde kimi, ngokuba ngimnene ngithobekile enhliziyweni, njalo lizazuza ukuphumula kwemiphefumulo yenu. Ngokuba ijogwe lami lilula lomthwalo wami kawusindi.”

Kodwa abaFarisi basuka lapho bayakwakha icebo lokuthi bangambulala njani uJesu.

Lowo owemukela inhlanyelo eyawela ekhetheni ngumuntu olizwayo ilizwi aphange alamukele ngentokozo. Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi kalampande, uma okwesikhatshana kuphela. Nxa kufika uhlupho lokuhlukunyezwa ngenxa yelizwi uphanga akhubeke.

“Umbuso wezulu unjengegugu elifihliweyo esivandeni. Kwathi indoda isilitholile yalifihla njalo, kwathi ngoba iphakathi kokuthokoza yahamba yayathengisa konke eyayilakho yayathenga lesosivande. “Njalo, umbuso wezulu ufana lomthengi edinga amaphareli amahle. Kwathi esefumene elinye elalilentengo ephezulu wahamba wayathengisa konke ayelakho walithenga.

wasesithi ezincekwini zakhe, “Lo nguJohane uMbhaphathizi; usevukile kwabafileyo! Yikho lokhu imimangaliso isenziwa nguye.” UHerodi wayembophile uJohane wamfaka izinsimbi wamphosela entolongweni ngenxa kaHerodiyasi umkaFiliphu umfowabo, ngoba uJohane wayelokhu esithi kuye, “Kungaphandle komthetho ukuthi umthathe.” UHerodi wayefuna ukumbulala uJohane, kodwa wayesesaba abantu ngoba babesithi ungumphrofethi. Ngelanga lesikhumbuzo sokuzalwa kukaHerodi indodakazi kaHerodiyasi yabagidela yamjabulisa uHerodi kakhulu waze wathembisa ngesifungo ukuyipha loba yini eyayingayicela. Isicetshiswe ngunina yathi, “Ngipha lapha emganwini lo ikhanda likaJohane uMbhaphathizi.” Yasidideka inkosi, kodwa kwathi ngenxa yezifungo zayo langenxa yezethekeli zayo yalaya ukuba isicelo leso senziwe. Wathi uJohane kahle aqunywe ikhanda entolongweni. Ikhanda lakhe lalethwa lisemganwini laphiwa intombazana eyalithwalela kunina. Abafundi bakaJohane beza bathatha isidumbu bayasingcwaba. Basebehamba bayatshela uJesu.

Kusukela ngalesosikhathi uJesu waqalisa ukuchazela abafundi bakhe ukuthi wayemele aye eJerusalema ayehlupheka ngezinto ezinengi ezandleni zabadala, abaphristi abakhulu labafundisi bomthetho, njalo lokuthi wayemele abulawe kuthi ngelanga lesithathu avuswe aphile.

UJesu wasesithi kubafundi bakhe, “Nxa ekhona ofuna ukungilandela, kazidele athathe isiphambano sakhe angilandele. Ngokuba lowo ofuna ukusindisa ukuphila kwakhe kuzamlahlekela, kodwa lowo olahlekelwa yikuphila kwakhe ngenxa yami uzakuzuza.

UPhethro wamphendula wathi, “Sesitshiye konke ukuze sikulandele! Pho sizazuzani na?”

“Sesisiya eJerusalema lapho iNdodana yoMuntu ezanikelwa khona kubaphristi abakhulu labafundisi bomthetho. Bazayigwebela ukufa bayinikele kwabeZizwe ukuba iyangiswe, itshaywe njalo ibethelwe. Ngosuku lwesithathu izavuswa iphile!”

“Zwanini omunye umzekeliso: Kwakukhona umnini wesiqinti owahlanyela isivini. Wasihonqolozela ngomduli, wagebha isikhamelo sewayini phakathi wasesakha isilindo. Waseqatshisa isivini leso kubalimi wasuka wathatha uhambo. Kuthe sekufika isikhathi sokuvuna wathuma izisebenzi kulabobalimi ukuyathatha izithelo. “Abalimi bazibamba izisebenzi zakhe; basitshaya esinye, basibulala esinye kwathi esesithathu basikhanda ngamatshe. Wasethuma ezinye izisebenzi kubo, ezinengi kulezakuqala, njalo abalimi baziphatha ngendlela yinye. Ekucineni wasethumela indodana yakhe kubo. Wathi, “Bazayihlonipha indodana yami.” “Kodwa kwathi abalimi beyibona indodana batshelana bathi, ‘Lo yindlalifa. Wozani simbulale silithathe ilifa lakhe.’ Ngakho bamdumela bamphosela ngaphandle kwesivini bambulala.

Ngakho ngilithumela abaphrofethi lamadoda ahlakaniphileyo labafundisi. Abanye babo lizababulala libabethele; abanye lizababhaxula emasinagogeni enu lilandelelane labo kuleli laleliyana idolobho. Ngakho-ke lonke igazi elilungileyo elachithwayo emhlabeni kusukela egazini lika-Abela owayelungile kusiya egazini likaZekhariya indodana kaBherekhiya elambulala phakathi laphakathi kwethempeli lealithare lizakwehliselwa phezu kwenu.

“Lapho lizanikelwa ukuba lihlutshwe njalo libulawe, futhi lizazondwa yizizwe zonke ngenxa yami. Ngalesosikhathi abanengi bazadela ukukholwa banikelane njalo bazondane,

kodwa lowo oma aqine kuze kube sekupheleni uzasindiswa.

Ngoba ngalesosikhathi kuzakuba lokuhlupheka okukhulu, okungazange kube khona kulokhu kwadabuka umhlaba kuze kube manje  —  njalo kakusoze kube khona futhi. Uma lezosinsuku bezingaphungulwanga, kakho obezaphepha, kodwa ngenxa yabakhethiweyo lezozinsuku zizaphungulwa.

baceba ukubopha uJesu ngobuqili bambulale.

Kodwa uPhethro wala wagomela wathi, “Loba kungaze kube ngizakufa lawe, ngeke lanini ngikuphike.” Abanye abafundi bonke labo batsho khonokho.

Abaphristi abakhulu leSanihedrini yonke babedinga ubufakazi bamanga ngoJesu ukuze bambulale.

Basebemkhafulela emehlweni njalo bammuhluza ngenqindi. Abanye bammakala

Ekuseni ngovivi bonke abaphristi abakhulu labadala babantu benza isinqumo sokumbulala uJesu. Bambopha bamqhuba bamnikela kuPhilathu umbusi.

Wasebakhululela uBharaba. Wathi uJesu katshaywe, wasemnikeza ukuba abethelwe.

Bamkhafulela, bamthathela leyontonga bamtshaya baphindaphinda ekhanda. Sebemhozile, bamhlubula ijazi bamgqokisa ezakhe. Basebemqhuba besiya mbethela.

Kwathi sebembethele behlukaniselana izigqoko zakhe ngokwenza inkatho.

Abanye, njengenhlanyelo eyahlanyelwa ematsheni bayalizwa ilizwi bahle balamukele ngentokozo. Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi kabalampande bema okwesikhatshana kuphela. Kungafika uhlupho loba ukuchukuluzwa komhlaba baphanga bawe.

Inkosi uHerodi yezwa ngalokhu, ngoba ibizo likaJesu laselisaziwa kakhulu. Abanye babesithi, “UJohane uMbhaphathizi uvukile kwabafileyo, yikho amandla amangalisayo esebenza kuye.” Abanye bathi, “Ungu-Elija.” Kwabuye njalo abanye bathi, “Ungumphrofethi, njengomunye wabaphrofethi basendulo.” Kodwa kwathi uHerodi ekuzwa lokhu wathi, “UJohane, indoda engayiquma ikhanda usevukile kwabafileyo!” Ngoba uHerodi yena ngokwakhe wayekhuphe ilizwi lokuthi uJohane abanjwe, wathi kabotshwe aphoselwe entolongweni. Wakwenza lokho ngenxa kaHerodiya, umfazi womfowabo uFiliphi ayesemthethe. Ngoba uJohane wayelokhu esithi kuHerodi, “Kakulunganga ukuthi uthathele umfowenu umfazi.” Ngakho uHerodiya wahlala elesikhwili ngoJohane efuna ukumbulala. Kodwa waswela indlela yokumbulala, ngokuba uHerodi wayemesaba uJohane emvikela, ngokumazi ukuthi wayeyindoda elungileyo njalo engcwele. Nxa wayemuzwa uJohane, wayedideka kakhulu, kodwa ethanda ukumlalela. Ekucineni lafika elingaliyo. Mhla wesikhumbuzo selanga lakhe lokuzalwa uHerodi wenza idili lezikhulu zakhe labalawuli bempi kanye labakhokheli abaziwayo eGalile. Kuthe indodakazi kaHerodiya isifikile yagida kamnandi yathokozisa uHerodi lezethekeli zakhe edilini. Inkosi yasisithi entombazaneni, “Ngicela loba yini, ngizakupha.” Wamthembisa wafunga wathi, “Loba yini oyicelayo ngizakupha kungaze kube yingxenye yombuso wami.” Yaphuma intombazana yayakuthi kunina, “Kambe ngiceleni?” Waphendula wathi, “Ikhanda likaJohane.” Masinyane intombazana yatheleka enkosini isilesicelo leso, yathi: “Ngifuna ukuthi ungiphe khathesi nje ikhanda likaJohane lisemganwini.” Inkosi yakhathazeka kakhulu, kodwa ngenxa yezifungo zayo langenxa yezethekeli zayo kayithandanga ukusala isicelo. Ngakho yahle yathumela umbulali ukuba alethe ikhanda likaJohane. Yahamba indoda, yaliquma ikhanda likaJohane entolongweni, yaliletha ikhanda lisemganwini. Inkosi yalethula entombazaneni, yona yalipha unina. Bathi bekuzwa lokho abafundi bakaJohane beza bathatha isidumbu bayasingcwaba ethuneni.

Waqalisa ukubafundisa ngokuthi iNdodana yoMuntu imele ihlupheke kakhulu yaliwe ngabadala, labaphristi abakhulu labafundisi bomthetho lokuthi kwakumele ibulawe kuthi ngemva kwezinsuku ezintathu ivuke njalo.

Wasebiza ixuku labantu kanye labafundi bakhe wathi, “Aluba umuntu efuna ukungilandela, kumele azidele athathe isiphambano sakhe angilandele. Ngoba yilowo ofuna ukulondoloza impilo yakhe izamlahlekela, kodwa olahlekelwa yimpilo yakhe ngenxa yami kanye levangeli uzayilondoloza.

ngokuba wayefundisa abafundi bakhe. Wathi kubo, “INdodana yoMuntu izanikelwa ezandleni zabantu. Bazayibulala, kuthi ngemuva kwezinsuku ezintantu izavuka.”

Wathi, “Siya eJerusalema, iNdodana yoMuntu izanikelwa kubaphristi abakhulu labafundisi bomthetho. Bazayigwebela ukufa bayinikele kwabeZizwe, abazayiyangisa bayikhafulele, bayitshaye njalo bayibulale. Ngemuva kwezinsuku ezintathu izavuka.”

Wasekhuluma kubo ngemizekeliso: “Indoda yahlanyela isivini. Yakha umduli yasihonqolozela, yemba igodi lesihluzo yasisakha umphotshongo wesilindo. Yasiqatshisa isivini kubalimi abathile yona yasuka yathatha uhambo. Ngesikhathi sokuvuna yathuma isisebenzi kubaqatshi besivini ukuthi siyothatha ingxenye yezithelo zesivuno. Kodwa basidumela basitshaya basixotsha singaphathanga lutho. Yathuma esinye isisebenzi kubo; leyondoda bayitshaya ekhanda bayiphatha kubi. Yaphinde yathuma esinye njalo isisebenzi, leso bahle basigongoda basibulala. Yathuma ezinye ezinengi; ezinye zazo bazitshaya, ezinye bazibulala. “Kwasekusele oyedwa wokuthuma, indodana, ayeyithanda. Wayithuma ekucineni kwabo bonke esithi, ‘Bazayihlonipha indodana yami.’ “Kodwa abaqatshi besivini batshelana bathi, ‘Lo uyindlalifa. Wozani, kasimbulale, ilifa libe ngelethu.’ Ngakho bamthatha bambulala bamphosela ngaphandle kwesivini.

“Libohlala liqaphele. Lizanikelwa kubaphathi bezindawo litshaywe emasinagogweni. Ngenxa yami lizamiswa phambi kwababusi lamakhosi libe yibufakazi kubo. Njalo ivangeli kufanele liqale litshunyayelwe ezizweni zonke. Loba lingaze libotshwe lilethwe emthethwandabeni lingaze lazihlupha mandulo ukuthi lizakhuluma lithini. Khulumani ingqe yilokho elizakuphiwa ngalesosikhathi, ngoba kakusini elikhulumayo, kodwa nguMoya oNgcwele. “Umfowabo uzanikela umfowabo ekufeni, loyise anikele umntanakhe. Abantwana bazahlamukela abazali babo bababulalise. Bonke abantu bazalizonda ngenxa yami, kodwa lowo omayo aqine kuze kube sekupheleni uzasindiswa.

Kwasekusele izinsuku ezimbili kuphela ukuba ufike umkhosi wePhasika leDili leSinkwa Esingelamvubelo. Abaphristi abakhulu labafundisi bomthetho babedinga indlela ecatshileyo yokubopha uJesu ukuze bambulale.

Kodwa uPhethro waphika wagomela wathi, “Loba kungabe ngifanele ngife lawe, kangisoze ngikuphike.” Bonke abanye labo batsho khona lokho.

Abaphristi abakhulu leSanihedirini yonke babedinga ubufakazi obumlahlayo uJesu ukuze bambulale kodwa babuswela.

Selikuzwile ukuhlambaza. Lithini manje?” Bonke bamlahla bathi ufanele ukufa. Abanye basebeqalisa ukumkhafulela; bamvala amehlo ngokumbopha, bamdutshuza ngenqindi bathi, “Phrofetha!” Abalindi basebemthatha bayamtshaya.

Bamemeza bathi, “Mbethele!” UPhilathu wabuza wathi, “Yindaba? Wenze cala bani kanti?” Kodwa bamemeza ngamandla bathi, “Mbethele!” UPhilathu wasebakhululela uBharaba ngokuba wayefuna ukusuthisa ixuku labantu. Wathi uJesu katshaywe, ngemva kwalokho wasebapha ukuba bambethele.

Sebemhozile, bamhlubula ijazi eliyibubende bamgqokisa ezakhe izigqoko. Basebephuma laye bamqhuba ukuba bayombethela.

Base bembethela. Bahlukanisa izigqoko zakhe base besenza inkatho ukuze babone ukuthi ngulowo athathe kuphi. Kwakulihora lesithathu isikhathi abambethela ngaso.

UJesu wahlaba umkhosi, wasuphuma kuye umphefumulo.

lomoya wami uyathokoza kuNkulunkulu uMsindisi wami,

Libusisiwe lina nxa abantu belizonda, nxa belibandlulula njalo belichothoza bephika ibizo lenu besithi lingcolile, ngenxa yeNdodana yoMuntu. “Thokozani ngalolosuku liqolotshe ngokuthokoza ngokuba mkhulu umvuzo wenu ezulwini. Ngokuba yiyo indlela oyise abaphatha ngayo abaphrofethi.

“Kodwa ngiyalitshela lina elingizwayo, ngithi: Thandani izitha zenu, yenzani okuhle kwabalizondayo, babusiseni labo abalithukayo, libathandazele labo abalichukuluzayo.

Kodwa thandani izitha zenu, lizenzele okuhle, njalo lizeboleke lingalindeli lutho kuzo. Lapho-ke umvuzo wenu uzakuba mkhulu, njalo lizakuba ngamadodana akhe oPhezukonke, ngokuba ulomusa kwabangabongiyo labayizigangi.

Ngalesosikhathi uHerodi umbusi wakuzwa konke lokho okwakusenzakala. Wakhathazeka kakhulu ngokuba abanye babesithi uJohane wayesevusiwe kwabafileyo, abanye labo bathi u-Elija wayebonakele, kanti abanye njalo bathi omunye wabaphrofethi bekadeni wayesevukile waphila. Kodwa uHerodi wathi, “UJohane ngamquma ikhanda. Pho ungubani-ke lo engizwa izinto ezinje ngaye?” Wazama ukuthi ambone.

Wasesithi, “INdodana yoMuntu izangena phakathi kokuhlupheka okukhulu yaliwe ngabadala, langabaphristi abakhulu kanye labafundisi bomthetho, besekumela ukuthi ibulawe kodwa ngelanga lesithathu ivuswe kwabafileyo.”

Wasesithi kubo bonke: “Nxa ekhona ofisa ukungilandela kufanele azidele athwale isiphambano sakhe izinsuku zonke angilandele. Ngoba lowo ofisa ukuphephisa impilo yakhe izamlahlekela, kodwa lowo olahlekelwa yimpilo yakhe ngenxa yami uzayiphephisa.

“Maye kini, ngokuba lakha amangcwaba abaphrofethi, bona ababulawa ngokhokho benu. Ngakho lifakaza ukuthi liyakuvuma lokho okhokho benu abakwenzayo; bababulala abaphrofethi, lina-ke selisakha amangcwaba abo. Ngenxa yalokhu, uNkulunkulu wathi, ngokuhlakanipha kwakhe, ‘Ngizabathumela abaphrofethi labaphostoli, abanye bazababulala abanye bazabaphatha ngochuku.’ Ngakho lesisizukulwana yiso esizathwala umlandu wegazi labaphrofethi bonke elachithwayo, kulokhu kwadabuka umhlaba, kusukela egazini lika-Abela kusiya egazini likaZekhariya, owabulawa phakathi laphakathi kwe-alithare lendlini engcwele. Yebo, ngiyalitshela, isizukulwana lesi sizakwetheswa umlandu wakho konke.

“Ngiyalitshela, bazalwane, lingabesabi labo ababulala umzimba kungabikhona okunye abangakwenza ngemuva kwalokho. Kodwa ngizalitshengisa lowo okumele limesabe: Mesabeni lowo, othi esebulele umzimba, abe lamandla okuphosela esihogweni. Yebo, ngiyalitshela, mesabeni.

“Lingesabi, mhlambi omncane, ngoba uYihlo uthandile ukulipha umbuso. Thengisani izimpahla zenu liphe abampofu. Zidingeleni izikhwama ezingagugiyo, inotho ezulwini engayikuphela, lapho okungasondeli khona isela lalapho impehlane ingabhubhisi khona.

“Nxa umuntu esiza kimi kodwa angaze azonda uyise lonina, umkakhe labantwana, abafowabo labodadewabo  —  yebo, kanye lempilo yakhe  —  ngeke abe ngumfundi wami. Lowo ongathwali isiphambano sakhe angilandele ngeke abe ngumfundi wami.

Ngaleyondlela, loba ngubani phakathi kwenu ongadeli konke alakho ngeke abe ngumfundi wami.

Lowo ozama ukulondoloza impilo yakhe izamlahlekela, lalowo olahlekelwa yimpilo yakhe uzayilondoloza.

Izanikelwa kwabeZizwe. Bazayihoza, bayithuke, bayikhafulele, bayibhule njalo bayibulale. Ngosuku lwesithathu izavuka.”

Waseqhubeka ngokutshela abantu umzekeliso lo: “Indoda yahlanyela isivini, yasiqatshisa abaye abalimi, yasihamba okwesikhathi eside. Ngesikhathi sokuvuna yathuma inceku yayo kubaqatshi besivini ukuze bamuphe ingxenye yezithelo zesivini. Kodwa abalimi bayitshaya bayixotsha ingelalutho. Yathuma enye inceku, kodwa laleyo bayitshaya bayiphatha kabuhlungu, bayixotsha ingaphathanga lutho. Wajinge wathuma eyesithathu, bayilimaza bayiphosela ngaphandle. “Umnini wesivini wasesithi, ‘Ngenzeni? Ngizathuma indodana engiyithandayo; mhlawumbe bazayihlonipha.’ “Kodwa kwathi abaqatshi besivini beyibona bahlanganisa amakhanda ngaleyondaba. Bathi, ‘Lo yindlalifa. Kasiyibulale, ilifa libe ngelethu.’ Base beyisusela ngaphandle kwesivini bayibulala. “Kambe umninisivini uzabathini?

Kodwa labo abazabe befanele ukuba lengxenye kulesosikhathi lasekuvukeni kwabafileyo kabazukuthatha loba bendiswe, njalo kabasayikufa; ngoba sebenjengezingilosi. Bangabantwana bakaNkulunkulu, ngokuba bengabantwana bokuvuka kwabafileyo.

Kodwa mandulo kwakho konke lokhu bazalibeka isandla, balihlukuluze. Bazalinikela emasinagogeni lasezintolongweni, kungenxa yebizo lami. Lokhu kuzalenza libe ngofakazi kubo. Kodwa bekani phansi amaphaphu linganqinekeli ukuthi lizazivikela lithini. Ngokuba ngizalinika amazwi lokuhlakanipha ukuze angabi khona ezitheni zenu ozalehlula loba aliphikise. Lizanikelwa ngabazali, ngabafowenu layizihlobo labangane njalo abanye benu bazalibulala. Bonke abantu bazalizonda ngenxa yami.

Uma lisima liqine lizazisindisa.

njalo abaphristi abakhulu labafundisi bomthetho babedinga enye indlela yokumsusa uJesu, ngokuba babesesaba abantu.

Liyilabo abame lami ebunzimeni bami.

Kodwa waphendula wathi, “Nkosi, ngizimisele ukuhamba lawe entolongweni lasekufeni.”

Amadoda ayelinde uJesu aqalisa ukumhoza lokumtshaya. Bamvala amehlo bathi kuye, “Phrofitha! Ngubani okutshayileyo na?”

Kodwa baqhubeka bememeza besithi, “Mbethele! Mbethele!” Waphinda wakhuluma labo okwesithathu wathi, “Ngani na? Umuntu lo wenze cala bani? Angiboni lutho kuye olungafanela isigwebo sokubulawa. Ngakho-ke ngizakuthi kajeziswe ngibese ngimkhulula.” Kodwa baklabalala beqinisa ukuba kabethelwe, lakanye ukugcizelela kwabo kwaphumelela.

Bathi sebefike endaweni ethiwa luKhakhayi bambethela esiphambanweni kanye lezigebengu lezo  —  omunye ngakwesokunene kwakhe, omunye ngasekhohlo. UJesu wathi, “Baba, baxolele, ngokuba kabakwazi abakwenzayo.” Njalo base besabelana izigqoko zakhe ngokwenza inkatho.

UJesu wamphendula wathi, “Ngiyakutshela iqiniso ngithi, lamuhla uzakuba lami epharadisi.”

UJesu wamemeza ngelizwi elikhulu wathi, “Baba, nginikela umoya wami ezandleni zakho.” Esetshilo lokhu waphela.

Abaphristi abakhulu lababusi bethu bamnikela ukuba agwetshelwe ukufa, yikho bambethela;

“Ngiqinisile ngithi lowo owezwayo amazwi ami amkholwe lowo ongithumileyo ulokuphila okungapheliyo njalo kazukulahlwa; usechaphile wasuka ekufeni waya ekuphileni. Ngiqinisile ngithi, isikhathi siyeza njalo sivele sesifikile lapho abafileyo bezalizwa ilizwi leNdodana kaNkulunkulu, kuthi bonke abezwayo baphile.

“Kakungalimangalisi lokhu ngokuba siyeza isikhathi lapho kuzakuthi bonke abasemathuneni abo bezalizwa ilizwi layo baphume  —  labo abenze okuhle bazavuka baphile, lalabo abenze ububi bazavuka balahlwe.

Kodwa nansi isinkwa esehlayo sivela ezulwini, umuntu angasidla angabe esafa. Ngiyisinkwa esiphilayo esehlela phansi sivela ezulwini. Nxa umuntu angasidla lesisinkwa, uzaphila laphakade. Lesosinkwa siyinyama yami engizayinikela ukuphila komhlaba.”

UMosi kalinikanga yini umthetho? Kodwa kakho lamunye kini owugcinayo umthetho. Kungani lifuna ukungibulala na?”

Ngiyaqinisa ngithi, nxa umuntu egcina ilizwi lami kasoze akubone ukufa lanini.”

“Ngingumalusi olungileyo. Umalusi olungileyo unikela ukuphila kwakhe izimvu zakhe.

njengoba uBaba engazi mina lami ngiyamazi uBaba  —  nginikela ukuphila kwami ezimvini zami. Ngilazo ezinye izimvu ezingasizo zalo umhlambi. Lazo ngimele ngizilethe. Lazo futhi zizalilalela ilizwi lami, ukuze kube lomhlambi owodwa lomalusi oyedwa. Isizatho sokuba uBaba angithande yikuthi ngiyayinikela impilo yami  —  ngizaphinde ngiyithathe. Kakho ongithathela yona kodwa ngiyinikela ngokufisa kwami. Ngilalo ilungelo lokuyinikela lelungelo lokuphinde ngiyithathe. Umlayo lo ngawamukela uvela kuBaba.”

UJesu wathi kuye, “Mina ngiyikuvuka kwabafileyo lokuphila. Lowo okholwa kimi uzaphila, loba ezakufa; njalo lowo ophilayo njalo ekholwa kimi kasoze afa lanini. Uyakukholwa lokhu na?”

Yikho kusukela ngalesosikhathi bakha amacebo okumbulala.

Ngakho abaphristi abakhulu benza amacebo okuba bambulale laye uLazaro,

Ngilitshela iqiniso ukuthi ngaphandle kokuthi uhlamvu lwengqoloyi luwele emhlabathini lufe, lusala lulokhu luluhlamvu olulodwa. Kodwa lungaze lufe luthela izinhlamvu ezinengi. Umuntu othanda impilo yakhe izamlahlekela, ikanti umuntu ozonda impilo yakhe kulo umhlaba uzayilondolozela ingunaphakade. Lowo ongikhonzayo kumele angilandele; lalapho engikhona lesikhonzi sami sikhona. UBaba uzamdumisa lowo ongikhonzayo.

Wabuza uPhethro wathi, “Nkosi, kungani ngingahle ngikulandele khathesi? Ngizanikela ukuphila kwami kuwe.”

Kakho olothando olukhulu kulaye onikela ukuphila kwakhe kubangane bakhe.

“Nxa umhlaba ulizonda, khumbulani ukuthi wangizonda mina kuqala. Ngabe belingabawo umhlaba ubuzalithanda njengabawo. Ikanti kalisibo abomhlaba, kodwa ngilikhethe lisemhlabeni. Yikho umhlaba ulizonda. Khumbulani amazwi engawakhuluma kini ngathi: ‘Kakulanceku enkulu kulenkosi yayo.’ Nxa bangichukuluza mina, lani bazalichukuluza. Aluba balalela imfundiso yami, bazayilalela leyenu. Bazaliphatha ngaleyondlela ngenxa yebizo lami, ngokuba kabamazi lowo ongithumileyo.

Bazalixotsha esinagogeni; ngempela siyeza isikhathi lapho lowo obulala omunye wenu uzakholwa ukuthi wenzele uNkulunkulu into enhle. Bazakwenza izinto ezinjalo ngokuba kabamazanga uBaba loba mina. Lokhu ngilitshela ukuthi nxa sesifika isikhathi lizakhumbula ukuthi ngilixwayisile. Kangilitshelanga lokhu ekuqaleni ngokuba ngangilani.

Kunjalo lakini: Manje yisikhathi senu sosizi, kodwa ngizaphinda ngilibone beselithokoza, njalo kakho ozaphinda alemuke intokozo yenu.

“Ngilitshelile izinto lezi ukuze kuthi kimi libe lokuthula. Kulo umhlaba lizakuba lokuhlupheka. Kodwa yimani isibindi! Sengiwunqobile umhlaba.”

Ngibaphile ilizwi lakho ngakho umhlaba usubazondile, ngoba bengaseyibo bomhlaba njengoba lami ngingasuye womhlaba.

UPhilathu wasemthatha uJesu wathi katshaywe ngesaswebhu. Amabutho eluka umqhele wameva awubeka ekhanda lakhe. Bamgqokisa isigqoko esiyibubende baya kuye baphindaphinda bememeza besithi, “Bayethe, O Nkosi yabaJuda!”

Abaphristi abakhulu lezikhulu zabo bonela ukumbona bamemeza bathi, “Mbethele! Mbethele!” Kodwa uPhilathu waphendula wathi, “Mthatheni limbethele lina. Mina, kangifumani sizatho sokumethesa icala.”

UJesu waphendula wathi, “Kawulawo amandla phezu kwami ongawaphiwanga evela phezulu. Ngakho-ke lowo onginikele kuwe ulecala lesono esikhulu okudlulayo.”

Kodwa bamemeza bathi, “Msuse! Msuse! Mbethele!” UPhilathu wabuza wathi, “Ngibethele inkosi yenu na?” Abaphristi abakhulu bamphendula bathi, “Kasilankosi ngaphandle kukaKhesari.” Ekucineni uPhilathu wamnikela kubo ukuba abethelwe. Lapho-ke amabutho asemthatha uJesu. Wathwala isiphambano wasuka waya eNdaweni yoKhakhayi (okuthiwa ngesiHebheru yiGoligotha). Bambethela khona lapho kanye labanye ababili  —  ngapha langapha kwakhe, uJesu waba phakathi.

Esenathile wathi, “Sekuphelile.” Esetsho lokho wagobisa ikhanda lakhe wafa.

Ngikutshela iqiniso ngithi usesemutsha wawuzigqokisa ubophe ibhanti lakho, uziyele lapho othanda khona; kodwa uzakuthi nxa usuluphele uzakwelula izandla zakho, ugqokiswe ngomunye, akuhole akuse lapho ungathandi ukuya khona.” UJesu wakutsho lokhu ukubonisa indlela uPhethro ayezakhazimulisa uNkulunkulu ngayo. Wasesithi kuye, “Ngilandela!”

UJesu waphendula wathi, “Aluba ngifuna ukuthi asale ephila ngize ngibuye kulani lawe lokho? Wena kumele ungilandele.” Ngenxa yalokhu, kwahungazwa phakathi kwabazalwane ukuthi umfundi lo wayengezukufa. Kodwa uJesu katshongo ukuthi wayengezukufa; wathi nje kuphela, “Uma ngifuna ukuthi asale ephila ngize ngibuye, kulani lawe lokho na?”

Umuntu lo wanikelwa kini ngecebo likaNkulunkulu ayelimisile langolwazi lokuzayo; njalo lina, lincediswa ngabantu ababi, lambulala ngokumbethela esiphambanweni. Kodwa uNkulunkulu wamvusa kwabafileyo, wamephula ebuhlungwini bokufa, ngokuba kwakungenzeki ukuthi ukufa kumcindezele.

Bababopha abaphostoli babaphosela entolongweni yomuntu wonke.

Bathi bekuzwa lokhu bathukuthela babila, bafuna ukuthi babulawe.

Inkulumo yakhe bayamukela. Bababiza abaphostoli bangeniswa kwathiwa kabatshaywe. Basebeqonqoselwa ukuthi bangaqali ukukhuluma ngebizo likaJesu, basebekhululwa. Abaphostoli basuka eSanihedrini bethokoza ngokuba basebebonakalisile ukuthi babengalimela ihlazo lokulihluphekela iBizo.

“Lina ziqholo zabantu, abanhliziyo zingasokanga lezindlebe zingakleklanga! Lifuze oyihlo: Lihlezi lijamelene loMoya oNgcwele! Kambe kwake kwabakhona umphrofethi oyihlo abangazange bamchukuluze na? Baze bababulala labo abafanisa ngokuza koLungileyo. Khathesi selimnikele lambulala  — lina eseliwemukele umthetho ngezingilosi kodwa kaliwulahlanga.” Sebekuzwile lokhu bazonda bafuthelana bamgedlela amazinyo. Kodwa uStefane egcwele uMoya oNgcwele wakhangela ezulwini wabona inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu loJesu emi esandleni sokunene sikaNkulunkulu. wathi, “Khangelani, ngibona izulu livuliwe leNdodana yoMuntu imi esandleni sokunene sikaNkulunkulu.”

Besizwa lokhu bagcika izindlebe zabo, baklabalala, bamdumela bamhudulela phandle kwedolobho bamkhanda ngamatshe. Ofakazi babeka izigqoko zabo phambi kwejaha elalithiwa nguSawuli. Kwathi belokhu bemkhanda uStefane wakhuleka wathi, “Nkosi Jesu, yamukela umoya wami.” Wathi khubembe ngamadolo phansi wamemeza wathi, “Nkosi, ungababekeli umlandu ngalesisono.” Kuthe esetsho lokho walala.

LoSawuli wayekhona ekuvumela ukubulawa kwakhe. Ngalelolanga kwaqalisa isiphithiphithi esibi sokuhlukuluza ibandla eJerusalema, kwathi bonke ngaphandle kwabaphostoli bahlakazeka kulolonke iJudiya leSamariya. Abantu abakholwa kuNkulunkulu bamngcwaba uStefane bamlilela kabuhlungu. Kodwa uSawuli waqalisa ukulichitha ibandla. Wahamba engena izindlu ngezindlu ephuthuma amadoda labafazi esiyabaphosela entolongweni.

Indoda engumthenwa yayibala indima yombhalo ethi: “Waqhutshwa njengemvu isiwa esilaheni, njengezinyane lemvu elithula zwi phambi komgundi, kanjalo kazange awuvule umlomo wakhe. Ekugconweni kwakhe wancitshwa ukwahlulelwa okuqondileyo. Ngubani ongakhuluma ngezizukulwane zakhe na? Ngokuba ukuphila kwakhe kwasuswa emhlabeni.”

Kusenjalo, uSawuli wayelokhu ekhihliza izisongo zokubulala abafundi beNkosi. Waya kuMphristi ophezulu wayacela izincwadi eziya emasinagogeni aseDamaseko, ukuze kuthi nxa engafumana khonale labo aba ngabeNdlela, abesilisa loba abesifazana, abalethe eJerusalema sebe yizibotshwa. Wathi esebanga eDamaseko ohanjeni lwakhe, masinyane kwaphazima ukukhanya inxa zonke kuye. Wawela phansi wezwa ilizwi lisithi kuye, “Sawuli, Sawuli, ungihlukumezelani na?” USawuli wabuza wathi, “Ungubani, Nkosi?” Ilizwi lathi, “NginguJesu omhlukumezayo.

Sekudlule izinsuku ezinengi amaJuda akha icebo lokumbulala, kodwa uSawuli walizwa icebo labo. Emini lebusuku bamlindela emasinagogeni edolobho ukuze bambulale.

Wakhuluma njalo waphikisana labaJuda besiGiriki, kodwa bazama ukumbulala.

Kungathi kwakuyisonalesi isikhathi lapho iNkosi uHerodi yabopha abanye ababe ngabebandla eqonde ukubahlukumeza. Wabulalisa uJakhobe umfowabo kaJohane ngenkemba. Wathi ngokubona ukuthi lokho kwakuthabisa abaJuda wabopha njalo loPhethro. Lokho kwenzakala ngezinsuku zoMkhosi weSinkwa Esingelamvubelo. Esembophile wamphosela entolongweni, wamnikela ukuba alindwe ngamaqula amane amabutho ngalinye lilamabutho amane. UHerodi wayefuna ukuthi ngemuva kwePhasika amkhuphele obala athonisiswe phambi kwabantu.

Abezizwe labaJuda ndawonye labakhokheli babo bakha icebo lokubahlukumeza lokubakhanda ngamatshe. Kodwa balizwa icebo lelo basebebalekela emadolobheni aseLikhawoniya, eListra leDebhe lasemimangweni yakhona,

beqinisa abafundi njalo bebakhuthaza ukuthi babambelele ekukholweni. Bathi, “Kufanele sedlule ezinhlungwini ezinengi ukuze singene embusweni kaNkulunkulu.”

amadoda adele izimpilo zawo ngenxa yebizo leNkosi yethu uJesu Khristu.

Ixuku layingenela indaba yokuhlasela uPhawuli loSila, yikho omantshi bathi kabakhululwe izigqoko batshaywe. Sebebabhansule kabuhlungu babaphosela entolongweni kwathiwa umlindijele kabakhangele aqinisise. Esezwe lowomlayo wabafuqela endlini yentolongo ephakathi wababopha izinyawo wazibophela ezinsikeni.

Ngomuntu oyedwa wenza zonke izizwe zabantu, ukuthi zakhe emhlabeni wonke; njalo wamisa izikhathi abazilungiselweyo lazo kanye izindawo abamele bahlale kuzo. UNkulunkulu wakwenza lokhu ukuze abantu bamdinge lokuthi mhlawumbe bamfinyelele bamfumane, loba nje uvele engakhatshana komunye lomunye wethu. ‘Ngokuba siphila kuye, sihambe silalame.’ Njengokutsho kwezinye izimbongi zakini ukuthi, ‘Singabantwabakhe.’

“Okwamanje ngiqhutshwa nguMoya ukuthi ngiye eJerusalema, loba ngingazi ukuthi kuzakwenzakalani kimi khonale. Ngazi kuphela ukuthi kuwo wonke amadolobho uMoya oNgcwele ungixwayisa ukuthi ngizulelwa yintolongo lobunzima. Kungenani, eyami impilo ngiyibona ingasulutho kimi, uba kodwa lokhu ngingaliqeda ibanga ngiwufeze lomsebenzi iNkosi uJesu engiphe wona  —  umsebenzi wokufakaza ivangeli lomusa kaNkulunkulu.

UPhawuli wasephendula wathi, “Likhalelani lingidabula inhliziyo yami na? Kangilungelanga ukubotshwa kuphela, kodwa lokufa eJerusalema ngifela ibizo leNkosi uJesu.” Kwathi ngoba engancengeki sadela sathi, “Mayenzeke intando yeNkosi.”

Bathi besazama ukumbulala, umbiko wafika kumlawuli wamabutho amaRoma ukuthi idolobho lonke lase Jerusalema laseliyaluzela.

Ngabahlukuluza abalandeli bale iNdlela baze bafa, ngibopha abesilisa labesifazana ngibaphosela entolongweni, into engafakazwa ngumphristi omkhulu kanye lenkundla. Ngaze ngathola izincwadi kubo zisiya kubazalwane babo eDamaseko, ngaya khona ngifuna ukubaletha labobantu beyizibotshwa eJerusalema ukuthi bazojeziswa.

“Ngaphendula ngathi, ‘Nkosi, lababantu bayakwazi ukuthi nganginquma lamasinagogi ngibabopha njalo ngibatshaya labo abakholwa kuwe. Lalapho kwakuchithwa igazi lomufi wakho uStefane ngangimi khonapho ngivumelana labo njalo ngilinde izigqoko zalabo ababembulala.’

Ngokusa okulandelayo abaJuda bakha icebo bazibopha ngesifungo ukuthi kabazukudla kumbe banathe bengakambulali uPhawuli. Kwakungamadoda eqa amatshumi amane ayephathelene lalelocebo. Baya kubaphristi abakhulu labadala bathi, “Sesifunge ijoyi ukuthi kasiyikudla lutho size siqale sibulale uPhawuli. Yikho-ke lina leSanihedrini khalazani kumlawuli webutho ukuthi amlethe kini ngegwegwe lokuthi lifuna incazelo eqondileyo ngecala lakhe. Thina sesilungisile ukumbulala engakafiki lapha.”

“Lami ngokwami ngangizimisele ukuthi ngenze yonke imizamo ukudiliza ibizo likaJesu waseNazaretha. Lakanye yikho lokho engakwenzayo eJerusalema. Ngaphiwa amandla ngabaphristi abakhulu ngaphosela abanengi abangcwele entolongweni, kwathi ekubulaweni kwabo lami ngasekela ukubalahla. Izikhathi ezinengi ngangihamba nginquma lamasinagogi ngisithi kabajeziswe, ngazama njalo ukubabamba ngamandla ukuthi bahlambaze uJesu. Ngathi ngihlanyiswa yikubazonda ngaya lakwamanye amadolobho asezizweni ukuyabahlukuluza khona.

Kungalesosizatho okwenza abaJuda bangibambe ngisemagumeni ethempeli bazama ukungibulala.

Kulabo abadinga inkazimulo, lodumo kanye lokungabhubhi, ngokuphikelela ekwenzeni okuhle, uzabanika ukuphila okulaphakade.

Akunjalo kuphela, kodwa siyathokoza njalo ezinhluphekweni zethu, ngoba siyakwazi ukuthi ukuhlupheka kudala ukuqinisela;

Liyabona, ngesikhathi esifaneleyo, lapho sasisesebuthakathaka, uKhristu wafela abangakholwa kuNkulunkulu. Akuvamanga ukuthi umuntu afele umuntu olungileyo, lanxa kungaba lolesibindi sokufela umuntu olungileyo. Kodwa uNkulunkulu ubonakalisa uthando lwakhe kithi ngalokhu: Siseseyizoni, uKhristu wasifela. Njengoba khathesi sesilungiswe ligazi lakhe, pho sizasindiswa kakhulu kangakanani elakeni lukaNkulunkulu ngaye! Ngoba uma lapho sasiyizitha zikaNkulunkulu sabuyiselwa kuye ngokufa kweNdodana yakhe, kuzakuba kukhulu kangakanani, sesibuyiselwe, ukuhlengwa kwethu ngokuphila kwakhe!

Kumbe njalo kalazi yini ukuthi sonke thina esabhaphathizelwa kuKhristu uJesu sabhaphathizelwa ekufeni kwakhe na? Ngakho sangcwatshwa laye ngokubhaphathizelwa ekufeni, ukuze kuthi njengoba uKhristu wavuswa kwabafileyo ngobukhosi bukaYise, lathi singaphila ukuphila okutsha. Uma sihlanganiswe laye kanje ekufeni kwakhe, ngempela sizahlanganiswa laye futhi ekuvukeni kwakhe. Ngoba siyakwazi ukuthi ubuntu bethu obudala babethelwa laye ukuze umzimba wesono ulahlwe, ukuze singabi yizigqili zesono futhi  — ngoba lowo osefile usekhululwe esonweni.

Uma safa loKhristu, siyakholwa ukuthi sizaphila laye. Ngoba siyazi ukuthi njengoba uKhristu wavuswa kwabafileyo, angeke afe futhi; ukufa akuselawo amandla phezu kwakhe. Ukufa akufayo wakufela bonke kanye ngenxa yesono; kodwa ukuphila akuphilayo, ukuphilela uNkulunkulu. Ngokufanayo, zibaleni lingabafileyo esonweni kodwa abaphilayo kuNkulunkulu ngoKhristu uJesu.

Ngoba uma liphila ngokwemvelo yesono, lizakufa; kodwa uma kunguMoya libulala izenzo ezimbi zomzimba, lizaphila, ngoba labo abakhokhelwa nguMoya kaNkulunkulu bangamadodana kaNkulunkulu.

Ngakho, uma singabantwana, siyizindlalifa  —  izindlalifa zikaNkulunkulu lezindlalifa kanye loKhristu, uma sihlanganyela laye impela ezinhluphekweni zakhe ukuze sihlanganyele laye njalo enkazimulweni yakhe. Ngikholwa ukuthi izinhlupheko zethu zakhathesi kazifanelanga ukulinganiswa lenkazimulo ezabonakaliswa kithi.

Siyakwazi ukuthi indalo yonke ibubula njengaye osebuhlungwini bokuhelelwa kuze kube khathesi. Akunjalo kuphela, kodwa lathi uqobo esilezithelo zakuqala zikaMoya, siyabubula ngaphakathi silindile ngokutshiseka ukwamukelwa njengamadodana, ukuhlengwa kwemizimba yethu.

Njalo siyakwazi ukuthi ezintweni zonke uNkulunkulu usebenzela okuhle kwalabo abamthandayo, ababizwe ngokwenjongo yakhe. Ngoba labo uNkulunkulu abazi ngaphambili wabamisela ukuba babe lesimo esifana leseNdodana yakhe, ukuze ibe lizibulo phakathi kwabazalwane abanengi. Labo abamiselayo, wababiza; labo ababizayo, wabenza balunga; labo abenza balunga, wabanika inkazimulo.

Pho sizakuthini ngalokhu na? Uma uNkulunkulu elathi ngubani ongamelana lathi na? Yena ongayigodlanga iNdodana yakhe, kodwa wayinikelela thina sonke  —  angayekela kanjani ukusipha ngesihle izinto zonke kanye layo na?

Ngubani ozasehlukanisa lothando lukaKhristu na? Yikuhlupheka kumbe ukudubeka loba ukuhlukuluzwa kumbe indlala loba ukuhamba ze loba ingozi kumbe inkemba na? Njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Ngenxa yakho sikhangelane lokufa ilanga lonke; sibalwa njengezimvu ezizahlatshwa.” Hatshi, kuzo zonke lezizinto singaphezu kokuba ngabanqobi ngaye owasithandayo. Ngoba ngiyakholwa ukuthi loba yikufa kumbe ukuphila, loba yizingilosi kumbe amadimoni, loba likhathesi kumbe isikhathi esizayo, loba kungamandla bani, loba kuyikuphakama kumbe ukutshona, loba olunye ulutho kukho konke okudaliweyo, akuyikusehlukanisa lothando lukaNkulunkulu olukuKhristu uJesu iNkosi yethu.

“Nkosi, bababulele abaphrofethi bakho badiliza lama-alithare akho; yimi ngedwa engiseleyo, njalo bafuna ukungibulala?” Impendulo kaNkulunkulu kuye yathini na? Yathi, “Ngizigodlele mina ngokwami abayizinkulungwane eziyisikhombisa abangamguqelanga ngamadolo uBhali.” Ngakho futhi, ngalesisikhathi kulensalela ezakhethwa ngomusa.

Ngakho-ke, ngiyalincenga bazalwane, ngenxa yomusa kaNkulunkulu, ukuba linikele imizimba yenu njengemihlatshelo ephilayo, engcwele lemthokozisayo uNkulunkulu  —  okuyikukhonza kwenu ngomoya. Lingavumi futhi ukulingisa umhlaba lo, kodwa liguqulwe ngokwenziwa kwengqondo yenu isibantsha. Lapho-ke lizakwenelisa ukuhlola lokwamukela lokho okuyintando kaNkulunkulu  —  intando yakhe elungileyo, ethokozisayo lepheleleyo.

Thokozani ekwethembeni, libekezele ekuhlukuluzweni, libambelele ekukhulekeni. Bapheni abantu bakaNkulunkulu abaswelayo. Zejwayezeni ukuphana. Babusiseni labo abalihluphayo; busisani lingaqalekisi.

Uma kusenzakala, kusiya mayelana lokubona kwenu, hlalani ngokuthula labantu bonke. Lingaphindiseli, bangane bami, kodwa litshiyele ulaka lukaNkulunkulu ithuba, ngoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Ukuphindisela ngokwami; ngizaphindisela,” kutsho iNkosi. Esikhundleni salokho: “Uma isitha senu silambile, sipheni ukudla; uma somile, sinikeni okunathwayo. Ngokwenza lokhu, lokhela amalahle avuthayo ekhanda laso.”

Umuntu wonke kumele azithobe kulabo ababusayo, ngoba akukho mbuso ngaphandle kwalowo obekwe nguNkulunkulu. Imibuso ekhona ibekwe nguNkulunkulu. Ngakho, lowo ovukela umbuso uvukela okumiswe nguNkulunkulu, njalo labo abenza njalo bazilethela ukwahlulelwa. Ngoba ababusi kabesabeki kulabo abenza okulungileyo, kodwa kulabo abenza okubi. Liyafuna ukukhululeka ekwesabeni lowo obusayo na? Ngakho yenzani okulungileyo yena uzalincoma. Ngoba yena uyinceku kaNkulunkulu yokulenzela okuhle. Kodwa uma lisenza okubi, yesabani, ngoba inkemba kayiphatheli ize. Uyinceku kaNkulunkulu, ummeli wentukuthelo ukuba ehlisele isijeziso kowenza okubi.

Uma siphila, siphilela iNkosi; njalo uma sisifa, sifela eNkosini. Ngakho, loba siphila kumbe sisifa, singabeNkosi. Ngenxa yasonalesi isizatho, uKhristu wafa, wabuya waphila ukuze abe yiNkosi yabafileyo labaphilayo.

Hatshi, sikhuluma ngokuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu okufihlakeleyo, ukuhlakanipha obekukade uNkulunkulu akumisela inkazimulo yethu isikhathi singakaqalisi. Kakho kubabusi balesi isikhathi owakuzwisisayo, ngoba aluba kwakube njalo, babengayikuyibethela iNkosi yenkazimulo. Kodwa kunjengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Akulalihlo eselibonile, akulandlebe esizwile akulangqondo esicabangile ngalokho uNkulunkulu akulungisele labo abamthandayo,”  —

Kanti kalazi yini ukuthi lina ngokwenu lilithempeli likaNkulunkulu kanye lokuthi uMoya kaNkulunkulu uhlala phakathi kwenu?

Ngoba kini kukhanya angathi thina abaphostoli uNkulunkulu usibeke embukisweni ekucineni kodwende, njengabantu abagwetshelwe ukufa enkundleni. Senziwe umbukiso emhlabeni wonke, ezingilosini kanye lasebantwini.

Kuze kube yilesisikhathi, siyalamba njalo some, simanikiniki, siyahlukuluzwa ngolunya, kasilamakhaya. Sisebenza nzima ngezandla zethu. Nxa sithukwa, thina siyabusisa; lapho sihlukuluzwa, thina siyaqinisela; lapho sinyeywa, siphendula kuhle. Kuze kube yilesisikhathi sesibe ngamanyala omhlaba, izibi zomhlaba.

Kalazi yini ukuthi umzimba wenu ulithempeli likaMoya oNgcwele, ophakathi kwenu, elamamukela kuNkulunkulu na? Kalisibo benu, lathengwa ngentengo. Ngakho-ke dumisani uNkulunkulu ngemizimba yenu.

Ngoba lapho lisidla isinkwa lesi linatha lenkomitshi le, litshumayela ukufa kweNkosi ize ibuye.

Loba nginganika abayanga konke engilakho nginikele lomzimba wami emalangabini, kodwa ngingelalo uthando, kangizuzi lutho. Uthando luyabekezela, uthando lulomusa. Kalulamona, kaluzincomi, kaluzigqaji. Kalusisosiqholo, kaluzifuneli okwalo, kaluphangisi ukuthukuthela, kalubambeli zikhwili. Uthando kaluthokozeli okubi kodwa luthokozela iqiniso. Luhlezi luvikela, luhlezi lukholwa, luhlezi luthemba, luhlezi lubekezela.

Kodwa uKhristu wavuswa impela kwabafileyo, izithelo zakuqala zalabo asebelele.

Isitha sokucina esizachithwa, yikufa.

Mina ngifa nsuku zonke  —  ngitsho khonokho bazalwane  —  ngeqiniso engiziqhenya ngalo ngani kuKhristu uJesu iNkosi yethu.

Yeka ubuwula! Elikuhlanyelayo akuphili ngaphandle kokuba kufe.

Kuzakuba njalo-ke ngokuvuka kwabafileyo. Umzimba ohlanyelwayo uyabola, uvuswa ungasaboli; uhlanyelwa useyiswa, uvuswe ngenkazimulo; uhlanyelwa ubuthakathaka, uvuswe usungumzimba womoya. Nxa kulomzimba wemvelo, ukhona njalo lomzimba womoya.

Ngoba okubolayo kumele kuzigqokise ngokungaboliyo, lokufayo ngokungafiyo. Nxa okubolayo sekugqokiswe okungaboliyo, lokufayo ngokungafiyo, kuzagcwaliseka isitsho esilotshiweyo esithi: “Ukufa kuginyiwe ekunqobeni.” “Kungaphi ukunqoba kwakho, wena kufa? Lungaphi udonsi lwakho, wena kufa?”

Kabongwe uNkulunkulu uYise weNkosi yethu uJesu Khristu, uYise wesihawu loNkulunkulu wendunduzo yonke, osiduduzayo kuzo zonke izinhlupheko zethu, ukuze lathi siduduze abasekuhluphekeni ngenduduzo esiduduzwe ngayo nguNkulunkulu. Ngoba njengoba izinhlupheko zikaKhristu zigelezela ekuphileni kwethu, ngakho ngokunjalo futhi ngoKhristu induduzo yethu iyaphuphuma. Uma sidabukile, kungenxa yenduduzo yenu lensindiso; uma siduduzekile, kungenxa yokududuzwa kwenu, okulenza liqinisele ekubekezeleleni zona lezo zinhlupheko ezisihluphayo. Ithemba lethu ngani liqinile, ngoba siyakwazi ukuthi njengoba lahlanganyela ekuhluphekeni kwethu, ngokunjalo liyahlanganyela ekududuzweni kwethu.

Kasithandi, bazalwane, ukuba libe ngabangaziyo ngobunzima esabuzwayo esifundeni sase-Asiya. Sasilokucindezeleka okukhulu, okungaphezu kwamandla ethu okokubhensela, saze saphelelwa lalithemba lokuphila. Impela isigwebo sokufa sasizwa ezinhliziyweni zethu. Kodwa lokhu kwenzakala ukuze singazithembi thina ngokwethu kodwa uNkulunkulu, ovusa abafileyo. Wasihlenga engozini ebulalayo, njalo uzasikhulula. Ithemba lethu silibeke kuye ukuba uzaqhubeka ngokusihlenga,

Kodwa inotho le silayo ezimbizeni zebumba ukubonakalisa ukuthi amandla la amakhulukazi avela kuNkulunkulu hatshi kithi. Sicindezelwe kalukhuni emaceleni wonke, kodwa kasichobozwanga; sididekile, kodwa kasilahlanga ithemba; siyahlukuluzwa, kodwa kasidelwanga; sitshayelwa phansi, kodwa kasibhujiswanga. Sikuthwele njalo nje emizimbeni yethu ukufa kukaJesu, ukuze ukuphila kukaJesu lakho kwambulwe emizimbeni yethu. Ngoba thina abaphilayo sihlezi sinikelwa ekufeni ngenxa kaJesu, ukuze ukuphila kwakhe kwambulwe emizimbeni yethu efayo. Ngakho ukufa kuyasebenza kithi, kodwa ukuphila kuyasebenza kini.

Ngakho kasilahli themba. Lanxa ngaphandle sicikizeka, kodwa ngaphakathi senziwa sibe batsha izinsuku zonke. Ngoba ukukhanya kwethu lezinhlupheko zethu ezincane ezesikhatshana zisizuzela inkazimulo elaphakade enkulu kulazo zonke. Ngakho amehlo ethu kasiwakhangelisanga kokubonakalayo, kodwa kokungabonakaliyo. Ngoba okubonakalayo kuyedlula, kodwa okungabonakaliyo kakuyikuphela.

Siyakwazi ukuthi uma ithente lethu lasemhlabeni lidilizwa, silesakhiwo esivela kuNkulunkulu, indlu elaphakade ezulwini, engakhiwanga ngezandla zabantu. Okwakhathesi siyabubula, sifisa ukwembeswa ngekhaya lethu lasezulwini, ngoba uma sesembesiwe kasiyikufunyanwa sinqunu. Ngoba nxa sisesekuleli ithente, siyabubula njalo siyasindwa, ngoba kasifisi ukwembulwa kodwa ukwembeswa ngekhaya lethu lasezulwini, ukuze okufayo kuginywe yikuphila. NguNkulunkulu owasidalayo ngenxa yale injongo njalo wasinika uMoya njengesibambiso, eqinisela okuzayo.

Ngakho sihlezi silethemba njalo siyakwazi ukuthi uma sisesekhona ekhaya emzimbeni sikhatshana leNkosi. Siphila ngokukholwa, hatshi ngokubona. Ngithi silethemba, njalo ngingakhetha ukuba khatshana lomzimba ngisekhaya kanye leNkosi. Ngakho sikwenza kube yinjongo yethu ukuyithokozisa, langabe sisekhaya emzimbeni loba kude lawo.

Ngoba uthando lukaKhristu luyasifuqa, ngoba siyakholwa ukuba oyedwa wafela bonke, ngakho bonke bafa. Wafela abantu bonke ukuze abaphilayo bangaziphileli bona ngokwabo, kodwa lowo owabafelayo wavuswa njalo.

Ngakho-ke kusukela khathesi kusiya phambili kasikhangeli muntu ngengqondo yasemhlabeni. Lanxa sake sakhangela uKhristu ngale indlela, kasisakwenzi. Ngakho uma umuntu ekuKhristu, uyisidalwa esitsha; okudala akusekho, sekufike okutsha.

Kasibeki zikhubekiso endleleni yomuntu, ukuze imfundiso yethu ingasolwa. Kodwa, njengezisebenzi zikaNkulunkulu sizethula ngazo zonke izindlela: ngokubekezela okukhulu; ekuhluphekeni, ebunzimeni kanye lasezinsizini; ekutshayweni, ekuvalelweni entolongweni lakuziphithiphithi; ukusebenza nzima, ukungalali ebusuku kanye lendlala; ukuhlambuluka, ukuqedisisa, ukubekezela kanye lomusa; ngoMoya oNgcwele langothando oluqotho; ngokukhuluma iqiniso langamandla kaNkulunkulu; ngezikhali zokulunga esandleni sokudla lesenxele; ngodumo langehlazo, ukukhulunyelwa kubi lokukhulunyelwa kuhle; siqotho, kodwa sikhangelwa njengabakhohlisi; siyaziwa kodwa sikhangelwa njengabangaziwayo, abafayo, kodwa siqhubeka siphila; siyatshaywa, kodwa kasibulawanga, sisosizini, kodwa sihlezi sijabula; simpofu, kodwa sinothisa abanengi; kasilalutho, kodwa silezinto zonke.

Kangitsho lokhu ukuba ngililahle; ngitshilo ngaphambili ukuthi likhona ezinhliziyweni zethu okungenza siphile kumbe sife lani. Ngilethemba elikhulu ngani; ngiyazigqaja kakhulu ngani. Ngiqungwe isibindi; kuzo zonke izinhlupho zami intokozo yami kayilamikhawulo.

Ekulingweni kwawo okunzima kakhulu, lokuthokoza kwawo okukhulu kanye lobuyanga bawo bokucina kugcwele ukuphana okumangalisayo.

Bayizinceku zikaKhristu na? (Sengiphambene ingqondo ukuba ngikhulume kanje.) Mina ngedlula lokho. Sengisebenze nzima, ngibe sentolongweni kanengi, ngatshaywa kakhulukazi, ngabekwa engozini yokufa futhi futhi. Kahlanu ngatshaywa ngamaJuda izinswazi ezingamatshumi amathathu lesificamunye. Kathathu ngatshaywa ngemiqwayi, kanye ngatshaywa ngamatshe, ngafelwa ngumkhumbi kathathu, ngachitha ubusuku losuku ngindenda elwandle, kade ngihlezi ngingohambayo njalo nje. Ngibesezingozini zemifula, ezingozini zezigebenga, ezingozini zabantu bakithi, ezingozini zabezizweni, ezingozini edolobheni, ezingozini emaphandleni, ezingozini elwandle; lasezingozini zabazalwane bamanga. Ngasebenza nzima ngatshikatshika njalo kanengi ngingalali; ngezwa indlala lokoma, ngaswela lokudla kanengi; ngagodola ngahamba nqunu. Langaphandle kwezinye zonke izinto; ngibhekane lokucindezelwa yikukhathazeka kwami ngamabandla wonke.

Ukuze ngenqabele ukuzikhukhumeza ngenxa yalezizambulo ezinkulu kakhulukazi, ngahlatshwa ngameva emzimbeni wami, ayisithunywa sikaSathane, ukuba angihluphe. Ngancenga iNkosi kathathu ukuba iwasuse kimi. Kodwa yathi kimi, “Umusa wami ukwanele, ngoba amandla ami apheleliswa ebuthakathakeni.” Ngakho ngizazincoma kakhulu-ke ngokuthokoza ngobuthakathaka bami, ukuze amandla kaKhristu ahlale phezu kwami. Yikho nje, ngenxa kaKhristu, ngithokozela ubuthakathaka, lezithuko, lezinhlupho, lokuhlukuluzwa, lokukhathazeka. Ngoba nxa ngibuthakathaka, kulapho-ke ngilamandla.

Ngoba selezwa ngempilo yami yakuqala yokholo lwesiJuda, ukuthi ngalihlukuluza kakhulu okunganani ibandla likaNkulunkulu ngazama lokulichitha.

Sengibethelwe kanye loKhristu, akuseyimi engiphilayo, kodwa uKhristu uphila phakathi kwami. Ukuphila engikuphila emzimbeni, ngiphila ngokukholwa eNdodaneni kaNkulunkulu, eyangithandayo njalo yazinikela ngenxa yami.

Ngalesosikhathi indodana eyazalwa ngendlela ejwayelekileyo yahlukuluza indodana eyazalwa ngamandla kaMoya. Kunjalo lakhathesi.

Labo abangabakaKhristu sebayibethela esiphambanweni imvelo yabo yesono lokufutheka kwayo kanye lezinkanuko.

Lowo ohlanyela ukuthokozisa imvelo yakhe yesono, kuleyomvelo uzavuna ukuchitheka; lowo ohlanyela ukuthokozisa uMoya, kuMoya uzavuna ukuphila okulaphakade.

Mina kangingazincomi lanini ngaphandle kwangesiphambano seNkosi yethu uJesu Khristu, umhlaba wonke owabethelwa ngaso kimi, lami njalo emhlabeni.

Ngenxa yalesisizatho, mina Phawuli, isibotshwa sikaKhristu uJesu ngenxa yenu lina bezizweni  —

Ngakho, ngiyalicela ukuba lingalahli ithemba ngenxa yokulihluphekela kwami, okuludumo kini. Ngenxa yalokhu ngiyaguqa phambi kukaYise,

Ngakho, njengesibotshwa seNkosi, ngiyalincenga ukuba liphile impilo efanele ukubizwa elakwamukelayo. Wobani ngabathobekileyo labamnene okupheleleyo; bekezelani, libekezelelane ethandweni.

liphile impilo yothando, njengalokhu uKhristu wasithanda wazinikela ngenxa yethu njengomnikelo olephunga elimnandi lomhlatshelo kaNkulunkulu.

Bazalwane, ngithanda ukuba likwazi ukuthi okwenzakale kimi kusizile impela eku-qhubeleni ivangeli phambili. Ngalokho, sekube sobala kubo bonke abalindi besigodlo lakwabanye bonke ukuthi ngibotshelwe uKhristu. Ngenxa yokubotshwa kwami, abazalwane abanengi eNkosini sebelesibindi sokukhuluma ilizwi likaNkulunkulu ngesibindi esikhulu kungelakwesaba.

Ngokutshiseka ngilindele njalo ngithemba ukuba angiyikuyangeka langayiphi indlela, kodwa ngizakuba lesibindi esaneleyo ukuze kuthi khathesi njengenjwayelo uKhristu uzaphakanyiswa kimi, loba ngokuphila kumbe ngokufa.

Ngoba kimi, ukuphila kunguKhristu lokufa kuyinzuzo. Uma ngingaqhubeka ngiphila emzimbeni, lokhu kuzakutsho umsebenzi olezithelo kimi. Kodwa-ke kuyini engizakukhetha? Angazi! Ngiphakathi kwakho kokubili: Ngifisa ukusuka ngibe loKhristu, okungcono kakhulu;

kungekho kwethuswa langayiphi indlela yilabo abaliphikisayo. Lokhu kuyisibonakaliso kubo ukuthi bazachithwa, kodwa lina lizasindiswa nguNkulunkulu. Ngoba kunikelwe kini ngenxa kaKhristu kungasikukholwa kuye kuphela, kodwa lokumhluphekela,

Wathi ebunjwe wabonakala njengomuntu, wazithoba walalela kwaze kwaba sekufeni ukufa kwasesiphambanweni.

Kodwa lanxa ngithululwa njengomnikelo wokunathwa phezu komhlatshelo lenkonzo evela ekukholweni kwenu, ngiyathaba ngithokoza lani lonke.

ngoba waphosa wafela umsebenzi kaKhristu, wafaka impilo yakhe engozini ukuze angiphe usizo elingangiphanga lona.

Ngoba thina yithi abokusokwa, thina esikhonza ngoMoya kaNkulunkulu, esiziqhenya ngoKhristu uJesu, njalo esingabeki ithemba okwenyama  —

Kodwa loba kuyini okwakuyinzuzo kimi khathesi ngikubala njengokulahlekelwa ngenxa kaKhristu. Phezu kwalokho, konke ngikubona kuyize lapho kulinganiswa lobukhulu obumangalisayo bokwazi uKhristu Jesu iNkosi yami, esengilahlekelwe yizinto zonke ngenxa yakhe. Ngizibala njengemfucuza, ukuba ngizuze uKhristu ngitholakale kuye, ngingelakulunga okungokwami okuvelela emthethweni, kodwa lokho okungenxa yokukholwa kuKhristu  —  ukulunga okuvela kuNkulunkulu njalo okungokukholwa. Ngifuna ukumazi uKhristu lamandla okuvuka kwakhe ekufeni lobudlelwano bokuhlanganyela ekuhluphekeni kwakhe, ngibe njengaye ekufeni, ukuze, ngenye indlela, ngithole ukuvuka kwabafileyo.

Kodwa elethu ikithi lisezulwini. Njalo simlindele ngokutshiseka uMsindisi evela khonale, iNkosi uJesu Khristu, yena okuzakuthi ngamandla amenza abeke izinto zonke ngaphansi kwakhe, uzaguqula imizimba yethu elesimo esiphansi ibe njengomzimba wakhe olenkazimulo.

Thokozani eNkosini kokuphela. Ngiyatsho futhi ngithi: Thokozani!

Lingakhathazeki ngalutho, kodwa ezintweni zonke, ngokukhuleka langokuncenga, ngokubonga, bekani izicelo zenu kuNkulunkulu. Ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu okudlula ukuqedisisa konke, kuzalinda izinhliziyo zenu lezingqondo zenu kuKhristu uJesu.

Khathesi ngiyathokoza ngokulihluphekela kwami, njalo ngiyagcwalisa emzimbeni okulokhu kusasilela mayelana lezinhlupheko zikaKhristu, ngenxa yomzimba wakhe, olibandla.

Ngakho-ke, njengoba livuswe kanye loKhristu, bekani izinhliziyo zenu ezintweni eziphezulu, lapho uKhristu ahlezi khona esandleni sokunene sikaNkulunkulu. Bekani izingqondo zenu ezintweni eziphezulu, hatshi ezintweni zasemhlabeni. Ngoba lafa, ukuphila kwenu khathesi kufihlwe loKhristu kuNkulunkulu. Lapho uKhristu, oyikuphila kwenu, ebonakala, lani futhi lizabonakala laye enkazimulweni. Ngakho kubulaleni konke okungokwemvelo yenu yasemhlabeni: ukuxhwala kobufebe, ukungcola, inkanuko, izifiso ezimbi kanye lobuhwaba, okuyikukhonza izithombe.

njengoba lisazi ukuthi lizathola ilifa eNkosini njengomvuzo. YiNkosi uKhristu elimkhonzayo.

Lina laba ngabasilingisayo thina kanye leNkosi; langaphandle kokuhlupheka okukhulu, ilizwi lalamukela ngokuthokoza okuvela kuMoya oNgcwele.

abulala iNkosi uJesu labaphrofethi, thina asixotsha. Ayamcunula uNkulunkulu njalo ayizitha zabantu bonke

ukuze angabi khona ongayikuhlaliseka ngenxa yalezizilingo. Liyakwazi kakuhle ukuthi samiselwa zona. Ngeqiniso, siseselani, sasihlala silitshela ukuthi sizahlukuluzwa. Kwaba njalo njengoba lisazi kakuhle.

Bazalwane, kasifuni ukuba libe ngabangaziyo ngalabo abalalayo loba lidabuke njengabanye abantu, abangelalo ithemba. Siyakholwa ukuthi uJesu wafa wabuya wavuka njalo ngalokho siyakholwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzabavusa kanye loJesu labo asebelele kuye. Ngoba mayelana lelizwi leNkosi, siyalitshela ukuthi thina esisaphilayo, esatshiywayo iNkosi ize ifike, kasiyikubandulela impela labo asebelele.

Wasifela ukuze, loba sikhangele kumbe silele, sihlale laye.

Thokozani kokuphela; khulekani kokuphela; bongani kukho konke, ngoba lokhu kuyintando kaNkulunkulu ngani kuKhristu uJesu.

Ngakho-ke, phakathi kwamabandla kaNkulunkulu thina siyazincoma ngokuqinisela kwenu lokukholwa phakathi kwakho konke lokhukuhlukuluzwa kanye lokuhlupheka elikubekezelelayo. Konke lokhu kuyibufakazi bokuthi ukwahlulela kukaNkulunkulu kulungile, ngakhoke lizabalwa njengabafanele umbuso kaNkulunkulu, eliwuhluphekelayo. UNkulunkulu ulungile: Uzaphindisela izinhlupho kulabo abalihluphayo alinike, kanye lathi, ukuhlaliseka lina elihlutshwayo. Lokhu kuzakwenzakala lapho iNkosi uJesu isibonakaliswa ezulwini phakathi komlilo ovuthayo ilezingilosi zayo ezilamandla. Izabajezisa labo abangamaziyo uNkulunkulu njalo bengalilaleli ivangeli leNkosi yethu uJesu. Bazajeziswa ngokubhujiswa okulaphakade bavalelwe ngaphandle kobukhona beNkosi lasenkazimulweni yamandla ayo ngosuku ezafika ngalo ukuba idunyiswe ngabantu bayo abangcwele lokuba ibatshazwe phakathi kwabo bonke abakholwayo. Lokhu kugoqela lani, ngoba labukholwa ubufakazi bethu kini.

Ngalokhu bazazibekela inotho njengesisekelo esiqinileyo sesizukulwana esizayo ukuze babambe ukuphila okuyikuphila okuqotho.

Ngoba uNkulunkulu kasiphanga umoya wobugwala, kodwa umoya wamandla, lowothando kanye lowokuzithiba. Ngakho ungabi lenhloni ukufakaza ngeNkosi yethu, loba ube lenhloni ngami isibotshwa sayo. Kodwa hlanganyela lami ekuhluphekeleni ivangeli, ngamandla kaNkulunkulu, owasisindisayo wasibizela ekuphileni okungcwele  —  kungayisikho ngenxa yokuthi kukhona esakwenzayo kodwa ngenxa yenjongo yakhe langomusa wakhe. Umusa lo sawunikwa ngoKhristu uJesu ngaphambi kokuqala kwesikhathi, kodwa khathesi usubonakaliswe ngokubonakala koMsindisi wethu, uKhristu Jesu, osechithe ukufa waletha ekukhanyeni ukuphila lokungafi ngevangeli.

Yikhonje ngihlupheka njengoba nginje. Kodwa kangilanhloni, ngoba ngiyamazi engikholwa kuye, njalo ngiyakholwa ukuthi ulamandla okulondoloza lokho engikubeke kuye ngalolosuku.

Bekezelela ubunzima kanye lathi njengebutho elifaneleyo likaKhristu uJesu. Kakho osebenza njengebutho ongenela ezindabeni zabangasibo bebutho  —  ufuna ukuthokozisa umlawuli wakhe.

Khumbula uJesu Khristu, owavuka kwabafileyo, wadabuka kuDavida. Leli yilo ivangeli lami engilihluphekelayo ngize ngibotshwe ngamaketane njengesigangi. Kodwa ilizwi likaNkulunkulu kalibotshwanga. Ngakho ngibekezelela konke ngenxa yabakhethiweyo, ukuze labo bazuze ukusindiswa okukuKhristu uJesu, lenkazimulo engapheliyo. Nansi isitsho esiqotho: Uma safa laye sizaphila laye futhi; uma sibekezela sizabusa laye futhi. Uma simphika, laye futhi uzasiphika;

Kodwa wena, wazi konke ngemfundiso yami, lempilo yami, lenjongo yami, lokukholwa, lokubekezela, lothando, lokuqinisela, lokuhlukuluzwa, lezinhlupheko  —  izinhlobo zezinto ezenzakalayo kimi e-Antiyokhi, lase-Ikhoniyami, laseListra, lezinhlupheko engazithwalayo. Kodwa iNkosi yangihlenga kuzo zonke. Impela, umuntu wonke othanda ukuphila impilo yokulalela uNkulunkulu kuKhristu uJesu uzahlukuluzwa,

Kodwa wena chuma kuzo zonke izehlakalo, ubekezele ebunzimeni, wenze umsebenzi womvangeli, uyifeze yonke imisebenzi yenkonzo yakho. Ngoba mina sengilungele ukwenziwa umnikelo, njalo lesikhathi sokusuka kwami sesifikile. Ngilwile ukulwa okuhle, umjaho wami sengiwuqedile, ukukholwa ngikulondolozile. Khathesi ngigcinelwe umqhele wokulunga, iNkosi, uMahluleli olungileyo, ezanginika wona ngalelolanga  —  njalo kungayisimi kuphela, kodwa bonke futhi abatshisekela ukubonakala kwayo.

UPhawuli, isibotshwa sikaKhristu uJesu, loThimothi umzalwane wethu, KuFilimoni umngane wethu othandekayo loyisisebenzi kanye lathi,

kodwa ngiyakuncenga ngenxa yothando. Ngakho-ke mina, enginguPhawuli  —  umuntu omdala khathesi oyisibotshwa sikaKhristu uJesu futhi  —

Kodwa sibona uJesu, owenziwa waba ngaphansanyana kwezingilosi, ebekwa umqhele wobukhosi lodumo, ngokuba wavuma ukufa ukuze kuthi ngomusa kaNkulunkulu ezwe ukufa ngenxa yabantu bonke. Ekuletheni amadodana amanengi enkazimulweni, kwakufanele ukuba uNkulunkulu, yena ozinto zonke zikhona ngenxa yakhe langaye, enze uMsunguli wokusindiswa kwabo aphelele ngokuhlupheka.

Njengoba abantwana belomzimba legazi, laye wahlanganyela ebuntwini babo ukuze kuthi ngokufa kwakhe amchithe lowo ophethe amandla okufa  —  okutsho uSathane  — abakhulule ababebambeke ebugqilini impilo yabo yonke ngenxa yokwesaba kwabo ukufa.

Ngakho kulokhu kukhona ukuphumula kweSabatha kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu; ngoba loba ngubani ongena ekuphumuleni kukaNkulunkulu uyaphumula lakowakhe umsebenzi, njengokwenziwa nguNkulunkulu kowakhe. Ngakho-ke kasenzeni imizamo yonke ukuba singene kulokhokuphumula, ukuze angabi khona ozawiswa yikulandela isibonelo sakhe sokungalaleli.

Ngezinsuku zokuphila kukaJesu emhlabeni, wakhuleka wacela ngokukhala kakhulu langezinyembezi kuye lowo owayengamsindisa ekufeni, njalo wezwakala ngenxa yokuzehlisa kwakhe okuhloniphekayo. Lanxa wayeyindodana wafunda ukulalela kulokhu ahlupheka ngakho, kwathi lapho esephelelisiwe, waba ngumthombo wokusindiswa okulaphakade wabo bonke abamlalelayo

Khumbulani izinsuku zakuqala leziyana emva kokuba selamukele ukukhanya, lapho elaqinisela khona ebunzimeni obukhulu phakathi kokuhlupheka. Ngezinye izikhathi lenziwa umbukiso wokuhlanjazwa lokuhlukuluzwa; kwathi ngezinye izikhathi lamanyana lalabo ababephathwa kanjalo. Laba lozwelo kulabo ababesentolongweni, lamukela ngentokozo ukuthunjwa kwempahla yenu, ngoba lalikwazi ukuthi lina lilempahla engcono engapheliyo. Ngakho lingalilahli ithemba lenu; lizavuzwa ngokunengi.

Abantu bonke laba bafa belokhu bephila ngokukholwa. Kabazamukelanga izinto ezathenjiswayo; bazibona nje kuphela bazithakazelela kude. Njalo bavuma ukuthi bona babeyizizwe lezihambi emhlabeni. Abantu abakhuluma izinto ezinje babonakalisa ukuthi bafuna ilizwe elingelabo. Aluba babecabanga ngelizwe abasuka kulo, babezakuba lethuba lokubuyela. Kodwa-ke bona babefuna ilizwe elingcono  —  elasezulwini. Ngakho uNkulunkulu akumyangisi ukubizwa ngokuthi unguNkulunkulu wabo, ngoba usebalungisele idolobho.

Wakhetha ukuphathwa kubi kanye labantu bakaNkulunkulu kulokuba akholise injabulo yesono okwesikhathi esifitshane. Wakhetha ihlazo ngenxa kaKhristu njengegugu elikhulu kulengcebo yaseGibithe, ngoba wayekhangelele umvuzo phambili. Ngokukholwa wasuka eGibhithe, engalwesabi ulaka lwenkosi; wabekezela ngoba wambona lowo ongabonakaliyo.

Kuyini okunye engingakutsho? Kangilasikhathi sokulandisa ngoGidiyoni, loBharakhi, loSamsoni, loJefitha, loDavida, loSamuyeli kanye labaphrofethi, abanqoba imibuso ngokukholwa batshaya imithetho, njalo bathola okwakuthenjisiwe; bona abavala imilomo yezilwane, bacitsha ukuvutha kwamalangabi, baphepha lasebukhalini benkemba; ababuthakathaka babo bezwa amandla; njalo ababa lamandla empini bawachitha amabutho ezizweni. Abesifazana bamukela abafayo babo sebevuselwe ekuphileni futhi. Abanye bahlukuluzwa njalo bala ukukhululwa, ukuze bathole ukuvuka ekufeni okuhle. Abanye bahozwa batshaywa, kwathi abanye babotshwa ngamaketane bafakwa entolongweni. Batshaywa ngamatshe, baqunywa ngesaha baba ziqambili; babulawa ngenkemba. Bahamba begqoke izikhumba zezimvu lezikhumba zezimbuzi, beswela, behlukuluzwa, bephathwa kubi  — umhlaba kubo wawungabafanele. Bantula enkangala lasezintabeni lasezimbalwini kanye lasemilindini emhlabathini.

Ngakho-ke, njengoba sihanqwe lixuku elikhulu kangaka labofakazi, kasikulahleni konke okusivimbelayo kanye lesono esihilela lula, njalo kasigijimeni ngokubekezela kulo umjaho ophawulelwe thina.

Kasikhangeliseni amehlo ethu kuJesu, uMqalisi loMphelelisi wokukholwa kwethu, okwathi ngentokozo eyayibekwe phambi kwakhe wabekezelela isiphambano, engananzi ihlazo laso, wahlala kwesokudla phansi kwesihlalo sobukhosi sikaNkulunkulu. Cabangani ngaye owabekezelela ukuphikiswa okungaka ngabantu abayizoni, ukuze lingabi buthakathaka lilahle ithemba. Ekulweni kwenu lesono, kalimelananga laso okufika ebangeni lokuchitha igazi lenu.

Ngokunjalo uJesu laye wahlupheka ngaphandle kwesango ledolobho ukuba enze abantu bakhe babe ngcwele ngegazi lakhe. Ngakho-ke, kasiyeni kuye ngaphandle kwezihonqo silehlazo alithwalayo. Ngoba lapha kasiladolobho elimiyo njalo, kodwa sidinga idolobho elizayo.

Bazalwane bami, lapho lisehlelwa yizilingo ezinhlobonhlobo, kubaleni njengentokozo epheleleyo, ngoba liyakwazi ukuthi ukuhlolwa kokholo lwenu kukhulisa ukubekezela. Ukubekezela kufanele kuqede umsebenzi wakho ukuze lina likhule njalo liphelele, lingasileli ngalutho.

Ubusisiwe umuntu oqiniselayo ekulingweni, ngoba lapho esephumelele ekuhlolweni, uzaphiwa umqhele wokuphila, ukuphila uNkulunkulu akuthembisa labo abamthandayo.

Bazalwane, njengesibonelo sokubekezela ekuhluphekeni, khumbulani abaphrofethi abakhuluma ngebizo leNkosi. Njengoba lisazi, labo ababekezelayo sibabala njengababusisiweyo. Selezwa ngokubekezela kukaJobe njalo selikubonile okwalethwa yiNkosi ekucineni. INkosi igcwele isihawu esikhulu lomusa.

kanye laselifeni elingeke libole, lonakale loba libune  —  eliligcinelweyo ezulwini. Ngokukholwa livikelwe ngamandla kaNkulunkulu kuze kufike ukusindiswa okulungiselwe ukubonakaliswa ngesikhathi sokucina.

Lapho lisiza kuye, iLitshe eliphilayo  —  elaliwa ngabantu kodwa elakhethwa nguNkulunkulu njalo liligugu kuye  — lani futhi, njengamatshe aphilayo lakhiwa ukuba yindlu yokomoya ukuba libe yibuphristi obungcwele, linikela imihlatshelo yokomoya eyamukelekayo kuNkulunkulu ngoJesu Khristu.

Labizelwa lokhu, ngoba uKhristu walihluphekela, walitshiyela isibonelo, ukuba lilandele amanyathelo akhe. “Yena kenzanga sono, njalo akukho nkohliso eyatholakala emlonyeni wakhe.” Kwathi bemchaphaza ngezinhlamba zabo, yena kaphindiselanga; lapho ehlupheka, kazange asonge. Kodwa wathembeka kulowo owahlulela ngokulunga.

Kodwa lanxa lingahlupheka ngenxa yokulungileyo, libusisekile. Lingakwesabi lokho abakwesabayo; kalingethuswa.

Ngoba uKhristu wafela izono zenu kwaba kanye, olungileyo efela abangalunganga, ukuze alise kuNkulunkulu. Wabulawa emzimbeni kodwa wavuswa nguMoya,

Bangane bami abathandekayo, lingamangaliswa yibuhlungu besilingo elibuzwayo, kungathi kwenzakala into engaziwayo kini. Kodwa thokozani ngokuthi liyahlanganyela ekuhluphekeni kukaKhristu, ukuze lithokoze kakhulu lapho inkazimulo yakhe isibonakaliswa. Uma lithukwa ngenxa yebizo likaKhristu, libusisiwe, ngoba uMoya wenkazimulo lokaNkulunkulu uhlezi phezu kwenu.

Kodwa-ke, uma lihlupheka njengomKhristu, lingayangeki, kodwa dumisani uNkulunkulu ngokuba lebizo lakhe.

Ngakho-ke labo abahlupheka ngokwentando kaNkulunulu kumele bazinikele kuMdali wabo othembekileyo njalo baqhubeke besenza okulungileyo.

Lapho uMalusi oMkhulu evela, lizakwamukela umqhele wenkazimulo engayikufiphala.

Ngakho-ke zithobeni ngaphansi kwesandla sikaNkulunkulu esilamandla, ukuze aliphakamise ngesikhathi esifaneleyo. Yethulani kuye konke ukukhathazeka kwenu ngoba yena uyalikhathalela. Zithibeni, liqaphele. Isitha senu, uSathane, siyazulazula njengesilwane esibhongayo sidinga esingamudla. Menqabeni, liqinile ekukholweni, ngokuba liyakwazi ukuthi abazalwane benu emhlabeni wonke baphakathi kwazona lezo izinhlupheko. Njalo uNkulunkulu womusa wonke, yena owalibizela enkazimulweni yakhe kuKhristu, emva kokuba lihlupheke okwesikhatshana, yena uqobo uzalivuselela alenze libe lamandla, liqine njalo lithembeke.

Lingabi njengoKhayini, owayengokaSathane wasebulala umfowabo. Wambulalelani na? Ngoba ezakhe izenzo zazizimbi ezomfowabo zilungile.

Lingamangali, bazalwane bami, uma umhlaba ulizonda. Siyakwazi ukuthi sesidlulile ekufeni saya ekuphileni, ngoba siyabathanda abazalwane bethu. Lowo ongathandiyo ulokhu esekufeni. Lowo ozonda umzalwane wakhe ungumbulali, njalo liyakwazi ukuthi akulambulali olokuphila okungapheliyo kuye. Nanku esazi ngakho ukuthi uthando luyini: UJesu Khristu wadela ukuphila kwakhe ngenxa yethu. Lathi kufanele sidele ukuphila kwethu ngenxa yabazalwane bethu.

Lina, bantwana abathandekayo, lingabakaNkulunkulu, njalo selibanqobile, ngoba lowo okini mkhulu kulalowo osemhlabeni.

ngoba umuntu wonke ozelwe nguNkulunkulu uwunqobile umhlaba. Lokhu yikunqoba okwehlule umhlaba, okuyikukholwa kwethu. Ngubani lowo onqoba umhlaba? Ngulowo kuphela okholwayo ukuthi uJesu uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.

Khangelani uyeza ngamayezi, amehlo wonke azambona, lalabo abamgwazayo; labantu bonke basemhlabeni bazalila ngenxa yakhe. kuzakuba njalo! Ameni. “Mina nginguKuqala loKucina,” kutsho iNkosi uNkulunkulu, “okhona, lowayekhona, lozakuza, uSomandla.”

NgingoPhilayo; ngangifile, njalo khangela ngiyaphila kuze kube nininini! Njalo ngiphethe izivulo zokufa kanye leNdawo yabafileyo.

Lowo olendlebe, kezwe okutshiwo nguMoya emabandleni. Lowo onqobayo ngizamnika ilungelo lokudla esihlahleni sokuphila esisepharadisi kaNkulunkulu.

“Ingilosi yebandla laseSimina ilobele uthi: La ngamazwi akhe yena ongo-wokuQala lokuCina, owafayo wabuya wavuka. Ngiyazazi izinhlupheko zakho kanye lobuyanga bakho  —  kanti-ke unothile! Ngiyakwazi ukuhlambaza kwalabo abathi bangamaJuda bengayisiwo, kodwa beyisinagogi sikaSathane. Ungazesabi izinhlupheko esezizakwehlela. Ngiyakutshela ukuthi uSathane uzabeka abanye benu entolongweni ukuba alilinge, njalo lizahlukuluzwa okweminyaka elitshumi. Thembeka, lanxa kuselungeni lokufa, mina ngizakupha umqhele wokuphila.

Lowo olendlebe, kezwe okutshiwo nguMoya emabandleni. Lowo onqobayo kasoze alinyazwe lakancane yikufa kwesibili.

Ngiyakwazi lapho ohlala khona. Ikanti wena uqhubeke uqotho ebizweni lami. Kawukuphikanga ukukholwa kwakho kimi, lasezinsukwini zika-Antiphasi, ufakazi wami othembekileyo, owabulawayo edolobheni lakini  —  lapho uSathane ahlala khona.

Lowo olendlebe, kezwe okutshiwo nguMoya emabandleni. Lowo onqobayo, ngizamupha enye yemana efihliweyo. Ngizamupha lelitshe elimhlophe okulotshwe kulo ibizo elitsha, elaziwa ngulowo kuphela olamukelayo.

Lowo onqobayo esenza intando yami kuze kube sekucineni, ngizamnika amandla phezu kwezizwe  — ‘Uzazibusa ngentonga yensimbi, aziphahlaze zibe yizicucu njengokwenziwa ngebumba’  —  njengoba ngithole amandla avela kuBaba. Ngizamupha lendonsakusa. Lowo olendlebe, kezwe okutshiwo nguMoya emabandleni.

Lowo onqobayo uzagqoka okumhlophe njengabo. Ibizo lakhe kangisoze ngilesule encwadini yokuphila, kodwa ibizo lakhe ngizalivuma phambi kukaBaba lezingilosi zakhe. Lowo olendlebe, kezwe okutshiwo nguMoya emabandleni.

Lowo onqobayo ngizamenza abe yinsika ethempelini likaNkulunkulu. Kasoze asuke kulo futhi. Ngizaloba phezu kwakhe ibizo likaNkulunkulu wami kanye lebizo ledolobho likaNkulunkulu wami, iJerusalema elitsha, elehlela phansi liphuma ezulwini livela kuNkulunkulu wami; njalo ngizaloba phezu kwakhe lebizo lami elitsha. Lowo olendlebe, kezwe okutshiwo nguMoya emabandleni.

Lowo onqobayo, ngizamnika ilungelo lokuhlala lami esihlalweni sami sobukhosi, njengoba lami nganqoba ngasengihlala loBaba esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi. Lowo olendlebe, kezwe okutshiwo nguMoya emabandleni.”

Kwathi livula uphawu lwesihlanu, ngabona ngaphansi kwe-alithare imiphefumulo yalabo ababebulewe ngenxa yelizwi likaNkulunkulu lobufakazi abema ngabo. Yamemeza ngelizwi elikhulu yathi, “Koze kube nini, Nkosi Yobukhosi, engcwele leqotho, ukuze wahlulele abasemhlabeni uphindisele igazi lethu na?” Lapho-ke omunye lomunye wayo waphiwa isambatho esimhlophe, ukuba ilinde okwesikhatshana, inani lezinceku ezingabakhula bayo labazalwane ababezabulawa njengayo lize liphelele.

Emva kwalokhu ngakhangela, khonapho phambi kwami kwakulexuku elikhulukazi okungelamuntu owayengalibala, livela ezizweni zonke, lezizwaneni, lasebantwini kanye lasezindimini zonke, limi phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi laphambi kweWundlu. Babegqoke izambatho ezimhlophe bephethe izingatsha zelala ngezandla zabo.

Emva kwalokho omunye wabadala wangibuza wathi, “Laba abezambatho ezimhlophe  —  ngobani, njalo bavele ngaphi?” Ngaphendula ngathi, “Nkosi, uyakwazi.” Wasesithi, “Laba yibo abaphume ekuhluphekeni okukhulu; bagezise izambatho zabo egazini leWundlu bazenza zaba mhlophe. Ngakho-ke, “baphambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi sikaNkulunkulu bemkhonza emini lebusuku ethempelini lakhe; njalo yena ohlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi uzakwendlala ithente lakhe ngaphezu kwabo. Kabasoze balambe futhi; njalo kabasoze bome futhi. Ilanga kalisayikuhlaba phezu kwabo loba ukutshisa okuhangulayo. Ngoba iWundlu elingaphakathi kwesihlalo sobukhosi lizakuba ngumelusi wabo; lizabaholela emithonjeni yamanzi okuphila. UNkulunkulu uzazesula zonke izinyembezi emehlweni abo.”

Izizwe zazithukuthele; lolaka lwakho selufikile. Isikhathi sokwahlulela abafileyo sesifikile, kanye lesokuvuza izinceku zakho abaphrofethi labangcwele bakho kanye lalabo abalihloniphayo ibizo lakho, abancinyane labakhulu  —  kanye lesokuchitha labo abachitha umhlaba.”

Bamnqobile ngegazi leWundlu langelizwi lobufakazi babo; kabakuthandanga kakhulu ukuphila kwabo ukuba besabe ukufa.

Ngakho umgobho wamthukuthelela owesifazana, wasusuka usiyakulwa impi lenzalo yonke yowesifazana  —  labo abagcina imilayo kaNkulunkulu babambelele lakubufakazi bukaJesu. Umgobho wema ekhunjini lolwandle.

Sasiphiwe amandla okulwa impi labangcwele kanye lokubanqoba. Saphiwa lamandla phezu kwezizwana zonke, labantu, lezindimi kanye lezizwe zonke.

Saphiwa amandla okuba isifanekiso sesilo sakuqala sisinike umphefumulo, ukuze sikhulume njalo sibangele ukuthi bonke abalayo ukukhonza isifanekiso babulawe. Njalo sabamba abantu bonke ngamandla, abancane labakhulu, abanothileyo labayanga, abakhululekileyo kanye lezigqili, ukuba babekwe uphawu ezandleni zabo zokudla loba emabunzini abo, ukuze angabi khona ozathenga kumbe athengise ngaphandle kokuba elophawu lolo, olulibizo lesilo leso loba inombolo yebizo laso. Lokhu kufuna inhlakanipho. Uma umuntu elengqondo ebonayo, kayicabange inombolo yesilo, ngoba yinombolo yomuntu. Inombolo yaso ngama-666.

Lokho kufuna ukuqinisela lokubekezela kwabangcwele abagcina imilayo kaNkulunkulu baqhubeke bethembekile kuJesu. Ngasengisizwa ilizwi livela ezulwini lisithi, “Loba ukuthi: Babusisiwe abafileyo befela eNkosini kusukela khathesi kusiya phambili.” “Yebo,” kutsho uMoya, “bazaphumula ekusebenzeni kwabo, ngoba izenzo zabo zizabalandela.”

Ngabona ukuthi owesifazana lowo wayedakwe ligazi labangcwele, igazi lalabo abafakazela uJesu. Ekumboneni kwami, ngamangala kakhulu.

Ukukhanya kwesibane akusoze kukhanye kuwe futhi. Ilizwi lomyeni lelomlobokazi kalisoze lizwakale kuwe futhi. Abathengisi bakho babeyizikhulu zomhlaba. Izizwe zonke zadukiswa yibuthakathi bakho. Kuwe kwafunyanwa igazi labaphrofethi lelabangcwele, kanye lelabo bonke ababulawayo emhlabeni.’ ”

Ugqoke isambatho esigxanyuzwe egazini, njalo ibizo lakhe nguLizwi likaNkulunkulu. Amabutho asezulwini ayemlandela, egade amabhiza amhlophe njalo egqoke ilineni elihle, elimhlophe njalo lihlanzekile.

Ngabona izihlalo zobukhosi okwakuhlezi kuzo labo ababephiwe amandla okwahlulela. Ngabona imiphefumulo yalabo ababequnywe amakhanda ngenxa yokufakazela kwabo uJesu langenxa yelizwi likaNkulunkulu. Babengasikhonzanga isilo loba isifanekiso saso njalo bengabekwanga uphawu lwaso emabunzini abo loba ezandleni zabo. Bavuka, njalo baphila njalo babusa loKhristu iminyaka eyinkulungwane. (Inengi labafileyo kalivukanga kwaze kwaphela iminyaka eyinkulungwane.) Lokhu yikuvuka ekufeni kwakuqala. Babusisiwe njalo bangcwele labo abahlanganyela ekuvukeni ekufeni kwakuqala. Ukufa kwesibili akulamandla phezu kwabo, kodwa bazakuba ngabaphristi bakaNkulunkulu labakaKhristu njalo bazabusa laye okweminyaka eyinkulungwane.

Uzazesula zonke izinyembezi emehlweni abo. Akusayikuba khona futhi ukufa loba ukulila loba ukukhala loba ubuhlungu, ngoba umumo omdala wezinto usudlule.” Lowo owayehlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi wathi, “Ngenza izinto zonke zibe zintsha!” Wabuya wathi, “Kulobe lokhu, ngoba amazwi la aqotho njalo aliqiniso.” Wasesithi kimi, “Sekwenzakele. Mina ngingu-Alfa lo-Omega, ukuQala lokuCina. Lowo owomileyo ngizamnathisa emthonjeni wamanzi okuphila kungekho mbadalo.

Lowo onqobayo uzakudla ilifa lakho konke lokhu, njalo ngizakuba nguNkulunkulu wakhe yena abe yindodana yami.

“Khangelani, ngiyeza masinyane! Umvuzo wami ukimi, njalo umuntu wonke ngizamupha mayelana lalokho akwenzileyo. Ngingu-Alfa lo-Omega, ukuQala lokuCina, iSiqalo leSicino.