10 – Ubatiso

Dziko lapansi linali losakonzedwa ndi lopanda kanthu. Mdima wandiweyani unakuta nyanja ndipo Mzimu wa Mulungu unkayendayenda pamwamba pa madziwo.

Motero chitani mdulidwe wa mitima yanu ndipo musakhalenso opulupudza.

Munditsuke zolakwa zanga zonse ndipo mundiyeretse kuchotsa tchimo langa.

Mundiyeretse ndi hisope ndipo ndidzayera, munditsuke ndipo ndidzayera kuposa matalala

sambani, dziyeretseni. Chotsani pamaso panu ntchito zanu zoyipa! Lekani kuchita zoyipa,

Iwe Yerusalemu, tsuka mtima wako kuchotsa zoyipa kuti upulumuke. Kodi maganizo ako oyipawo udzakhala nawo mpaka liti?

Ndidzakuwazani madzi oyera, ndipo mudzakhala oyera mtima. Zonse zimene zimakuyipitsani zidzachoka. Ndidzakuyeretsani pochotsa mafano anu onse. Ndidzakupatsani mtima watsopano ndi kulowetsa mzimu watsopano mwa inu. Ndidzachotsa mwa inu mtima wanu wowuma ngati mwala ndi kukupatsani mtima wofewa ngati mnofu. Ndipo ndidzayika Mzimu wanga mwa inu ndipo ndidzakuthandizani kutsatira malangizo anga ndi kukusungitsani mosamala kwambiri malamulo anga.

Anthu ankapita kwa iye kuchokera ku Yerusalemu ndi ku Yudeya konse ndi ku madera onse a Yorodani. Ndipo akavomereza machimo awo ankabatizidwa mu mtsinje wa Yorodani. Koma iye ataona Afarisi ndi Asaduki ambiri akubwera kumene ankabatiza, anawawuza kuti, “Ana a njoka inu! Ndani anakuchenjezani kuthawa mkwiyo umene ukubwera? Onetsani chipatso cha kutembenuka mtima.

Tikukamba pano nkhwangwa yayikidwa kale pa mizu ya mitengo, ndipo mtengo umene subala chipatso chabwino udulidwa ndi kuponyedwa pa moto. “Ine ndikubatizani ndi madzi kusonyeza kutembenuka mtima. Koma pambuyo panga akubwera wina amene ali ndi mphamvu kuposa ine, amene sindiyenera kunyamula nsapato zake. Iyeyu adzakubatizani ndi Mzimu Woyera ndi moto. Mʼdzanja lake muli chopetera ndipo adzayeretsa popunthirapo pake nadzathira tirigu wake mʼnkhokwe ndi kutentha zotsalira zonse ndi moto wosazima.”

Pamenepo Yesu anabwera kuchokera ku Galileya kudzabatizidwa ndi Yohane mu mtsinje wa Yorodani. Koma Yohane anayesetsa kumukanira nati, “Ndiyenera kubatizidwa ndi Inu, bwanji Inu mubwera kwa ine?” Yesu anayankha kuti, “Zibatero tsopano, ndi koyenera kwa ife kuchita zimenezi kukwaniritsa chilungamo chonse.” Ndipo Yohane anavomera. Yesu atangobatizidwa, nthawi yomweyo potuluka mʼmadzi, kumwamba kunatsekuka ndipo taonani, Mzimu wa Mulungu anatsika ngati nkhunda natera pa Iye. Ndipo mawu anamveka kuchokera kumwamba kuti, “Uyu ndiye mwana wanga wokondedwa amene ndikondwera naye.”

Yesu anayankha kuti, “Inenso ndikufunsani funso limodzi, mukandiyankha, Inenso ndikukuwuzani ndi ulamuliro wa yani umene ndikuchitira izi. Ubatizo wa Yohane unachokera kuti? Kumwamba kapena kwa anthu?” Anakambirana pakati pawo ndipo anati, “Tikati, ‘Kuchokera kumwamba,’ Iye adzafunsa kuti, ‘Bwanji simunakhulupirire?’ Koma tikati, ‘Kuchokera kwa anthu,’ ife tikuopa anthuwa, pakuti onse amakhulupirira kuti Yohane anali mneneri.” Choncho anamuwuza Yesu kuti, “Sitikudziwa.” Pamenepo Iye anati, “Inenso sindikuwuzani kuti ndi ulamuliro wa yani umene ndichitira izi.”

Chifukwa chake, pitani kaphunzitseni anthu a mitundu yonse, ndi kuwabatiza mʼdzina la Atate ndi la Mwana ndi la Mzimu Woyera, ndi kuwaphunzitsa amvere zonse zimene ndinakulamulirani. Ndipo onani, Ine ndidzakhala pamodzi ndi inu kufikira kutha kwa dziko lapansi pano.”

Ndipo Yohane anabwera mʼmadera a mʼchipululu nabatiza, ndi kulalikira za ubatizo wa kutembenuka mtima ndi wa chikhululukiro cha machimo. Madera onse a ku Yudeya ndi anthu onse a ku Yerusalemu anatuluka napita kwa iye. Akavomereza machimo awo, amawabatiza mu mtsinje wa Yorodani. Yohane amavala zovala zopangidwa ndi ubweya wangamira, ndi lamba wachikopa mʼchiwuno mwake, ndipo amadya dzombe ndi uchi wamthengo. Ndipo uthenga wake unali uwu: “Pambuyo panga pakubwera wina wondiposa ine mphamvu. Ine si woyenera kuwerama ndi kumasula zingwe za nsapato zake. Ine ndikubatizani ndi madzi, koma Iye adzakubatizani ndi Mzimu Woyera.”

Pa nthawi imeneyo Yesu anabwera kuchokera ku Nazareti wa ku Galileya ndipo anabatizidwa ndi Yohane mu mtsinje wa Yorodani. Pamene Yesu ankatuluka mʼmadzi, anaona kumwamba kukutsekuka ndipo Mzimu Woyera akutsikira pa Iye ngati nkhunda. Ndipo Mawu anamveka kuchokera kumwamba: “Iwe ndiwe Mwana wanga wokondedwa; ndipo ndikondwera nawe.”

Yesu anayankha kuti, “Ndikufunsani funso limodzi. Mundiyankhe, ndipo ndikuwuzani ndi ulamuliro wanji umene ndikuchitira izi. Ubatizo wa Yohane, unali wochokera kumwamba, kapena kwa anthu? Ndiwuzeni.” Iwo anakambirana pakati pawo ndipo anati, “Tikati, ‘Wochokera kumwamba,’ atifunsa kuti, ‘Nanga nʼchifukwa chiyani simunamukhulupirire?’ Koma ife tikati, ‘Wochokera kwa anthu.’ ” (Amaopa anthu, pakuti aliyense amakhulupirira kuti Yohane analidi mneneri). Ndipo anamuyankha Yesu kuti, “Sitikudziwa.” Yesu anati, “Nanenso sindikuwuzani kuti ndi ulamuliro wanji ndichitira zimenezi.”

Anati kwa iwo, “Pitani mʼdziko lonse lapansi ndipo mukalalikire Uthenga Wabwino kwa zolengedwa zonse. Aliyense amene akakhulupirire nabatizidwa adzapulumuka, koma amene sakakhulupirira adzalangidwa. Tsono zizindikiro izi zidzawatsata amene adzakhulupirira: Mʼdzina langa adzatulutsa ziwanda; adzayankhula malilime atsopano;

Iye anapita ku dziko lonse lozungulira mtsinje wa Yorodani, nalalikira ubatizo wa kulapa ndi kukhululukidwa kwa machimo.

Yohane anati kwa magulu a anthu amene amabwera kudzabatizidwa ndi iye, “Ana anjoka inu! Anakuchenjezani ndani kuti muthawe mkwiyo umene ukubwera? Onetsani zipatso zakutembenuka mtima, ndipo musamanene mwa inu nokha kuti, ‘Tili nalo kholo lathu Abrahamu,’ pakuti ndikuwuzani kuti kuchokera ku miyala iyi, Mulungu akhoza kumuwutsira Abrahamuyo ana. Nkhwangwa ili kale pa muzu wamitengo, ndipo mtengo uliwonse umene subala chipatso chabwino udzadulidwa ndi kuponyedwa pa moto.”

Amisonkho nawonso anabwera kudzabatizidwa. Iwo anafunsa kuti, “Aphunzitsi, ife tichite chiyani?”

Yohane anayankha onse kuti, “Ine ndikubatizani ndi madzi. Koma wina wondiposa ine mphamvu adzabwera amene sindili woyenera kumasula lamba wa nsapato zake. Iyeyu adzakubatizani inu ndi Mzimu Woyera ndi moto. Mʼdzanja lake muli chopetera kuti ayeretse powomberapo tirigu ndi kusonkhanitsa tirigu ndipo adzatentha zotsalira zonse ndi moto wosazimitsika.”

Pamene anthu onse ankabatizidwa, Yesu anabatizidwanso. Ndipo akupemphera, kumwamba kunatsekuka. Mzimu Woyera anatsika pa Iye mumaonekedwe a nkhunda ndipo mawu anamveka kuchokera kumwamba: “Iwe ndiwe Mwana wanga wokondedwa; ndimakondwera nawe.”

Anthu onse, ngakhale amisonkho, atamva mawu a Yesu, anavomereza kuti njira ya Mulungu ndi yolondola, chifukwa anabatizidwa ndi Yohane. Koma Afarisi ndi akatswiri amalamulo anakana cholinga cha Mulungu kwa iwo okha, chifukwa sanabatizidwe ndi Yohane.

Kenaka Yohane anapereka umboni uwu: “Ine ndinaona Mzimu Woyera ngati nkhunda kuchokera kumwamba nakhala pa Iye. Ine sindikanamudziwa Iye, koma kuti amene anandituma ine kudzabatiza ndi madzi anati kwa ine, ‘Munthu amene udzaona Mzimu Woyera akutsika nakhazikika pa Iye ndi amene adzabatize ndi Mzimu Woyera.’ Ine ndaona ndipo ndikuchitira umboni kuti uyu ndi Mwana wa Mulungu.”

Poyankha Yesu ananena kuti, “Zoonadi, Ine ndikukuwuza kuti, ngati munthu sabadwanso mwatsopano sangathe kuona ufumu wa Mulungu.” Nekodimo anati, “Kodi munthu angabadwenso bwanji atakalamba? Kodi angalowe kachiwiri mʼmimba ya amayi ake kuti abadwenso?” Yesu anayankha kuti, “Zoonadi, Ine ndikukuwuza kuti ngati munthu sabadwa mwa madzi ndi Mzimu Woyera, sangalowe mu ufumu wa Mulungu. Thupi limabereka thupi, koma Mzimu amabereka mzimu. Iwe usadabwe chifukwa ndakuwuza kuti, ‘Uyenera kubadwanso.’

Zitatha izi, Yesu ndi ophunzira ake anapita mʼmadera a ku midzi ya ku Yudeya, kumene Iye anakhala kanthawi akubatiza. Ndipo Yohane amabatizanso ku Ainoni kufupi ndi Salimu, chifukwa kumeneko kunali madzi ambiri ndipo anthu amabwererabwererabe kudzabatizidwa.

Mkangano unabuka pakati pa ophunzira ena a Yohane ndi Ayuda ena pa zamwambo wodziyeretsa wa Ayuda. Iwo anabwera kwa Yohane anati, “Rabi, munthu uja munali naye mbali inayo ya mu mtsinje wa Yorodani, amene munamuchitira umboni, taonani naye akubatizanso, ndipo aliyense akupita kwa Iye.” Atamva zimenezi, Yohane anayankha kuti, “Munthu amalandira chokhacho chapatsidwa kwa iye kuchokera kumwamba.

Yesu atazindikira kuti Afarisi amva zoti Iye ankapeza ndi kubatiza ophunzira ambiri kupambana Yohane, (ngakhale kuti Yesuyo sankabatiza, koma ophunzira ake). Iye anachoka ku Yudeya ndi kubwereranso ku Galileya.

“Ngati mundikonda Ine, sungani malamulo anga.

Nthawi ina atasonkhana nawo pamodzi, Yesu analamulira ophunzira ake kuti, “Musachoke mu Yerusalemu, koma mudikire mphatso imene Atate anga analonjeza yomwe ndinakuwuzani. Pakuti Yohane anakubatizani ndi madzi, koma posachedwapa inu mudzabatizidwa ndi Mzimu Woyera.”

Litafika tsiku la chikondwerero cha Pentekosite, onse anali pamodzi. Mwadzidzidzi kunamveka mkokomo kuchokera kumwamba ngati wa mphepo yamphamvu, ndipo inadzaza nyumba yonse imene amakhala. Iwo anaona zinthu zokhala ngati malilime amoto ogawikana ndipo anakhala pa aliyense wa iwo. Ndipo onse anadzazidwa ndi Mzimu Woyera, nayamba kuyankhula mu ziyankhulo zina, monga Mzimu Woyerayo anawayankhulitsa.

Petro anawayankha kuti, “Lapani ndipo mubatizidwe aliyense wa inu, mʼdzina la Yesu Khristu kuti machimo anu akhululukidwe. Ndipo mudzalandira mphatso ya Mzimu Woyera.

Iwo amene anawulandira uthenga wake anabatizidwa ndipo tsiku lomwelo miyoyo pafupifupi 3,000 inawonjezedwa ku gulu lawo. Iwo ankasonkhana pamodzi kuphunzitsidwa ndi atumwi, pachiyanjano, pachakudya ndi popemphera. Aliyense ankachita mantha chifukwa cha zodabwitsa ndi zizindikiro zambiri zimene atumwi ankachita.

Koma atakhulupirira Filipo akulalikira Uthenga Wabwino wa ufumu wa Mulungu ndiponso dzina la Yesu Khristu, anthuwo anabatizidwa amuna ndi amayi. Nayenso Simoni anakhulupirira ndipo anabatizidwa, natsatira Filipo kulikonse, ndipo anadabwa kwambiri pamene anaona zizindikiro zazikulu ndi zozizwitsa.

Atumwi a ku Yerusalemu atamva kuti anthu a ku Samariya analandira Mawu a Mulungu, anatumiza Petro ndi Yohane. Atafika anawapempherera kuti alandire Mzimu Woyera, chifukwa Mzimu Woyera anali asanafike pa wina aliyense wa iwo; anali atangobatizidwa mʼdzina la Ambuye Yesu. Ndipo Petro ndi Yohane anasanjika manja awo pa iwo, ndipo analandira Mzimu Woyera.

Akuyenda mu msewu anafika pamalo pamene panali madzi ndipo ndunayo inati, “Taonani madzi awa. Kodi pali chondiletsa kuti ndibatizidwe?” Filipo anati, “Ngati mukhulupirira ndi mtima wanu wonse mukhoza kubatizidwa.” Ndunayo inayankha kuti, “Ine ndikukhulupirira kuti Yesu Khristu ndi Mwana wa Mulungu.” Ndipo analamulira galeta kuti liyime. Onse awiriwo, Filipo ndi Ndunayo anatsika ndi kulowa mʼmadzi ndipo Filipo anamubatiza. Pamene iwo anatuluka mʼmadzimo, Mzimu wa Ambuye anamukwatula Filipo, ndipo Ndunayo sinamuonenso, koma inapitiriza ulendo wake ikusangalala. Koma Filipo anapezeka kuti ali ku Azoto ndipo anazungulira konse, kulalikira Uthenga Wabwino mʼmizinda yonse mpaka anakafika ku Kaisareya.

Nthawi yomweyo mʼmaso mwa Saulo munachoka zinthu zokhala ngati mamba ansomba, ndipo anayambanso kuona. Iye anayimirira nabatizidwa,

“Kodi alipo amene angawaletse anthu awa kubatizidwa mʼmadzi? Iwotu alandira Mzimu Woyera monga ifenso.” Tsono iye analamula kuti abatizidwe mʼdzina la Yesu Khristu. Ndipo anthu aja anamupempha Petro kuti akhale nawo masiku angapo.

Kenaka ndinakumbukira zimene Ambuye ananena kuti, ‘Yohane anabatiza ndi madzi, koma inu mudzabatizidwa ndi Mzimu Woyera.’ Tsono ngati Mulungu anawapatsa iwo mphatso yomweyo imene anatipatsa ife, amene tinakhulupirira Ambuye Yesu Khristu, ndine yani kuti nditsutsane ndi Mulungu?” Iwo atamva zimenezi analibenso chonena ndipo anayamika Mulungu nati, “Potero Mulungu wapatsa anthu a mitundu ina mwayi wotembenuka mtima ndi kulandira moyo.”

“Kuchokera mwa zidzukulu za munthu ameneyu, Mulungu anawutsa Yesu kukhala Mpulumutsi wa Aisraeli, monga analonjezera. Yesu asanabwere, Yohane analalikira kwa anthu onse Aisraeli za kutembenuka mtima ndi ubatizo.

Mmodzi wa amayi amene amamvetserawo ndi Lidiya amene amagulitsa nsalu zofiira, wochokera ku mzinda wa Tiyatira, ndipo amapembedza Mulungu. Ambuye anatsekula mtima wake kuti amve mawu a Paulo. Iye ndi a mʼbanja lake atabatizidwa, anatiyitana kuti tipite ku nyumba yake. Iye anati, “Ngati mwanditenga ine kukhala wokhulupirira mwa Ambuye, bwerani mudzakhale mʼnyumba mwanga.” Ndipo anatiwumiriza ife kwambiri.

Iwo anayankha kuti, “Khulupirira Ambuye Yesu ndipo udzapulumuka, iwe ndi a mʼbanja lako.” Kenaka analalikira mawu a Ambuye kwa iyeyo ndi onse amene anali mʼnyumba mwake. Usiku womwewo woyangʼanira ndendeyo anawatenga nakawatsuka mabala awo; ndipo pomwepo iye ndi a mʼbanja lake anabatizidwa.

Krispo, mkulu wa sunagoge, pamodzi ndi a pa banja lake lonse anakhulupirira Ambuye; ndiponso Akorinto ambiri amene anamva Paulo akulalikira anakhulupiriranso nabatizidwa.

Iye anawafunsa kuti, “Kodi munalandira Mzimu Woyera pamene munakhulupirira?” Iwo anayankha kuti, “Ayi, ife sitinamvepo kuti kuli Mzimu Woyera.” Tsono Paulo anawafunsa kuti, “Nanga munabatizidwa ndi ubatizo wotani?” Iwo anati, “Ubatizo wa Yohane.” Paulo anati, “Ubatizo wa Yohane unali wa kutembenuka mtima. Iye anawuza anthu kuti akhulupirire amene amabwera, ameneyo ndiye Yesu.” Atamva zimenezi, anabatizidwa mʼdzina la Ambuye Yesu. Pamene Paulo anawasanjika manja, Mzimu Woyera anadza pa iwo ndipo anayankhula mʼmalilime ndipo ananenera.

Ndipo tsopano ukudikira chiyani? Dzuka ndi kutama dzina la Ambuye mopemba, ubatizidwe ndi kuchotsa machimo ako.’

Kodi simukudziwa kuti tonse amene tinabatizidwa mwa Khristu Yesu tinabatizidwa mu imfa yake? Chifukwa chake ife tinayikidwa mʼmanda pamodzi ndi Iye mwa ubatizo. Tinalowa mu imfa ndi cholinga choti monga momwe Khristu anaukitsidwa kwa akufa ndi ulemerero wa Atate, ifenso tikakhale mʼmoyo watsopano. Pakuti ngati ife tinakhala amodzi ndi Iye mu imfa yake, tidzakhalanso ndithu amodzi ndi Iye mu kuuka kwake. Ife tikudziwa kuti umunthu wathu wakale unapachikidwa pamodzi ndi Iye kuti thupi la uchimo likhale lopanda mphamvu ndi kuti tisakakhalenso akapolo a tchimo chifukwa aliyense amene anafa anamasuka ku tchimo. Koma ngati tinafa pamodzi ndi Khristu, tikhulupirira kuti tidzakhalanso ndi moyo pamodzi ndi Iye.

Kotero inunso, mudzione nokha ngati akufa ku tchimo koma a moyo kwa Mulungu mwa Khristu Yesu.

Ndipo ngati Khristu ali mwa inu, thupi lanu ndi lakufa chifukwa cha uchimo, koma mzimu wanu ndi wamoyo chifukwa cha chilungamo.

Ndipo umu ndi mmene ena mwa inu munalili. Koma munatsukidwa, munayeretsedwa, munalungamitsidwa mʼdzina la Ambuye Yesu Khristu ndi Mzimu wa Mulungu wathu.

Pakuti tonse tinabatizidwa ndi Mzimu mmodzi mʼthupi limodzi. Myuda kapena Mgriki, kapolo kapena mfulu tonse tinapatsidwa kuti timwe Mzimu mmodzi yemweyo.

Nʼchifukwa chake, ngati munthu aliyense ali mwa Khristu, ndi wolengedwa kwatsopano; zinthu zakale zapita taonani, zakhala zatsopano.

Nonse ndinu ana a Mulungu kudzera mʼchikhulupiriro mwa Khristu Yesu, pakuti nonse amene munalumikizana ndi Khristu mu ubatizo munavala Khristu.

Kunena za inu, kale munali akufa chifukwa cha zolakwa zanu ndi machimo anu,

anatipanga kukhala amoyo ndi Khristu ngakhale pamene ife tinali akufa mu zolakwa zathu. Koma tinapulumutsidwa mwachisomo. Ndipo Mulungu anatiukitsa pamodzi ndi Khristu ndi kutikhazika pamodzi ndi Iye mmwamba mwa Khristu Yesu,

Pali thupi limodzi ndiponso Mzimu mmodzi, monganso pali chiyembekezo chimodzi chimene anakuyitanirani. Pali Ambuye mmodzi, chikhulupiriro chimodzi, ubatizo umodzi;

kuti awupatule ukhale oyera, atawuyeretsa powusambitsa ndi madzi omwe ndi mawu ake. Anachita zimenezi kuti awupereke mpingowo kwa Iye mwini, mpingo wowala ndi waulemerero, wopanda banga kapena makwinya kapena chilema chilichonse, koma oyera ndi wangwiro.

Mwa Iye inunso munachita mdulidwe mʼthupi lanu, osati mdulidwe ochitidwa ndi manja a anthu ayi, koma ochitidwa ndi Khristu pamene anavula khalidwe lanu lauchimo lija. Mu ubatizo, munayikidwa mʼmanda pamodzi ndi Khristu ndi kuukitsidwa naye pamodzi, pokhulupirira mphamvu za Mulungu amene anamuukitsa kwa akufa.

Tsono tiyeni tisangoyima pa maphunziro oyambirira enieni a Khristu koma tipitirire kuti mukule msinkhu. Tisaphunzitsenso zinthu zomwe zili ngati maziko, monga za kutembenuka mtima kusiya ntchito zosapindulitsa pa moyo wosatha, za kukhulupirira Mulungu, za maubatizo, za kusanjika manja, za kuuka kwa akufa ndi za chiweruzo chotsiriza. Ndipo Mulungu akalola, tidzaterodi.

Ndipo tsono abale, molimba mtima timalowa mʼMalo Opatulika kwambiri chifukwa cha magazi a Yesu. Iye anatitsekulira njira yatsopano ndi yamoyo kudutsa chinsalu chotchinga, chimene ndi thupi lake. Ndiponso tili ndi wansembe wamkulu woyangʼanira nyumba ya Mulungu. Tsono tiyeni tiyandikire kwa Mulungu ndi mtima woona ndi wodzaza ndi chikhulupiriro. Popeza mitima yathu yayeretsedwa, ndi yopanda chikumbumtima chotitsutsa, ndiponso matupi athu asambitsidwa ndi madzi woyera.

Tsopano mwayeretsa mitima yanu pomvera choonadi, kuti muzikondana ndi abale anu, kukondana kwenikweni kochokera pansi pa mtima. Popeza mwabadwanso, osati ndi mbewu imene imawonongeka, koma imene siwonongeka, ndiye kuti ndi Mawu a Mulungu amoyo ndi okhalitsa.

Madziwo akufanizira ubatizo umene lero ukukupulumutsaninso, osati chifukwa chochotsa litsiro la mʼthupi koma chifukwa cha chikumbumtima choona pamaso pa Mulungu. Umakupulumutsani chifukwa cha kuuka kwa Yesu Khristu,

“Odala amene achapa mikanjo yawo, kuti akhale ndi ufulu wopita ku mtengo wamoyo ndi kuti akalowe mʼzipata za mu mzindawo.