1-2. (a) Kuyini isono njalo singasinqoba njani? (Khangela “leNgcazelo Yamabala.”) (b) Sizaxoxa ngani esihlokweni lesi lakwezinye eziku-Nqabayokulinda le? (Khangela lesihloko esithi ‘Kubabali’ esiku-Nqabayokulinda le.)

 UYAFUNA yini ukwazi ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu ukuthanda kangakanani? Indlela enhle yokuthola impendulo yombuzo lo yikufunda ngalokho akwenzileyo ukuze akukhulule esonweni lasekufeni. Isono a yisitha sethu esikhulu njalo ngeke senelise ukusinqoba sisodwa. Sonke siyaphambanisa nsuku zonke njalo siyafa ngenxa yesono. (Rom. 5:12) Kodwa zikhona izindaba ezinhle. UJehova angasincedisa ukuthi sisinqobe isono. Asithandabuzi ukuthi uzasikhulula esonweni lasekufeni!

² Sekuleminyaka engaba ngu-6 000 uJehova encedisa abantu ukuthi balwisane lesono. Kungani esincedisa? Ngenxa yokuthi uyasithanda kakhulu. Wabathanda abantu kusukela ekuqaleni, yikho kunengi kakhulu abekwenza ukuze abancedise ukuthi balwe lesono. UNkulunkulu uyakwazi ukuthi isono sibangela ukufa kodwa yena kafuni ukuthi sife. Ufuna siphile kuze kube nini lanini. (Rom. 6:23) Ufuna ukuthi lawe uphile kuze kube nini lanini. Esihlokweni lesi sizaxoxa ngemibuzo emithathu: (1) Yiliphi ithemba uJehova alinika abantu abalesono? (2) Abantu abaphila kudala benzani ukuze bamukelwe nguJehova? (3) UJesu wenzani ukuze akhulule abantu esonweni lasekufeni?

 YILIPHI ITHEMBA UJEHOVA ALINIKA ABANTU ABALESONO?

3. Kuyini okwenza u-Adamu lo-Eva bawona?

³ UJehova wadala indoda yokuqala lowesifazana futhi wayefuna bathokoze. Wabanika indawo enhle yokuhlala, wabatshadisa futhi wabanika lomsebenzi omuhle. Kwakumele bagcwalise umhlaba ngabantwababo futhi bawenze ube lipharadayisi njengensimu yase-Edeni. Wabanika umlayo owodwa nje. Wabatshela ukuthi nxa bangayekela ukulalela umlayo lo bamhlamukele babezabe sebewonile, yikho babezakufa. Lakanye lokho kwenzakala. Ingilosi embi eyayingamthandi uNkulunkulu futhi eyayingabathandi yabayenga ukuthi bangamlaleli. U-Adamu lo-Eva bayilalela ingilosi leyo. Abamthembanga uBaba wabo owayebathanda, benza isono. Amazwi kaJehova awazange awele phansi. Kusukela ngelanga abawona ngalo bahle baqalisa ukuvuna ababekuhlanyelile. Baguga futhi bacina befile.—Gen. 1:​28, 29; 2:​8, 9, 16-18; 3:​1-6, 17-19, 24; 5:5.

4. Kungani uJehova esizonda isono futhi efuna ukusincedisa ukuthi silwisane laso? (URoma 8:​20, 21)

⁴ UJehova wenza ukuthi indaba le ibhalwe eBhayibhilini ukuze isincede. Yenza sizwisise ukuthi kungani esizonda kangaka isono. Isono senza sibe khatshana kakhulu loBaba wethu futhi sibangela ukuthi sife. (Isaya. 59:2) Yikho uSathane, ingilosi eyahlamukayo yabangela inhlupho zonke lezi, esithanda isono futhi elinga abantu ukuthi bawone. USathane wayengabe esecabanga ukuthi lokho uJehova ayehlose ukukwenzela abantu akusaphumeleli. Kodwa wayengakuzwisisi ukuthi uNkulunkulu usithanda kakhulu kangakanani. Kazange akutshintshe lokho ayehlose ukukwenzela abantwana baka-Adamu lo-Eva. Uyabathanda sibili abantu yikho wahle wabanika ithemba. (Bala uRoma 8:​20, 21.) UJehova wayekwazi ukuthi babezakuba khona abantu ababezamthanda futhi bavume ukuthi abancedise ukuthi balwisane lesono. Njengoba enguBaba wethu futhi enguMdali, wasinika indlela eyayizasikhulula esonweni futhi isincedise ukuthi sisondele eduze kwakhe. Manje wakwenza njani lokho?

5. UJehova wabanika nini abantu ithemba? Chasisa. (UGenesisi 3:15)

⁵ Bala uGenesisi 3:15. Konke lokhu kusanda kwenzakala uJehova wahle wanika abantu ithemba ngokuveza lokho okwakuzakwenzakala kuSathane. Wathi kwakuzakuba “lenzalo” eyayizasindisa abantu. Inzalo le yayizatshabalalisa uSathane ibisilungisa zonke inhlupho ezibangelwe nguye. (1 Joh. 3:8) Kodwa lowo owayezakuba yinzalo wayezaqala ahlupheke, uSathane wayezamlimaza abangele ukuthi afe. Lokhu kwakuzamzwisa ubuhlungu kakhulu uJehova. Kodwa wayezimisele ukuthi abuzwe lobobuhlungu lokuthi ‘inzalo’ ihlupheke ukuze abantu bakhululwe esonweni lasekufeni.

ABANTU BAKUDALA BABESENZANI UKUZE BAMUKELWE NGUJEHOVA?

6. U-Abela loNowa kanye labanye ababethembekile benzani ukuze basondele kuJehova?

⁶ Njengoba iminyaka yayiqhubeka ihamba, kancane kancane uJehova wayekwenza kucace okungenziwa ngabantu ukuze babe ngabangane bakhe. Indodana yesibili ka-Adamu lo-Eva okwakuthiwa ngu-Abela yiyo eyaba ngeyokuqala ukutshengisa ukuthi yayilokholo kuJehova ngemva kokuhlamuka e-Edeni. U-Abela wayemthanda uJehova futhi efuna ukumthokozisa lokusondela kuye, yikho wenza umhlatshelo. Njengoba wayengumelusi wathatha amanye amazinyane ezimvu zakhe wawahlaba  wasewanikela kuJehova. UJehova wathini ngokwenziwa ngu-Abela? “Wamamukela u-Abela, wemukela lomnikelo wakhe.” (Gen. 4:4) Labanye abantu ababemthanda uJehova futhi bemthemba benza imihlatshelo futhi uJehova wayamukela. Omunye wabo kwakunguNowa. (Gen. 8:​20, 21) Nxa uJehova wayeyamukela imihlatshelo yabo wayetshengisa ukuthi abantu abalesono bangasondela kuye futhi abamukele. b

7. Kusifundisani ukuthi u-Abrahama wayezimisele ukunikela ngendodana yakhe?

⁷ Kwakuleyinye indoda eyayilokholo oluqinileyo okwakuthiwa ngu-Abrahama. UJehova wake wacela u-Abrahama ukuthi enze into eyayinzima kakhulu. Wamcela ukuthi anikele ngendodana yakhe u-Isaka. Kufanele ukuthi nxa u-Abrahama wayecabanga ngalokho wayesizwa ubuhlungu obukhulu. Lanxa kunjalo wamlalela uJehova. Wathi eseyibulala indodana yakhe uNkulunkulu wammisa. Kodwa kulesifundo esiqakathekileyo uJehova ayefuna abantu basifunde. Wayefuna sizwisise ukuthi wayezimisele ukunikela ngeNdodana yakhe ayithandayo ukuthi ibe ngumhlatshelo. UJehova kabathontisi abantu.—Gen. 22:​1-18.

8. Imihlatshelo eyayisenziwa ngama-Israyeli yayitshengisani? (ULevi 4:​27-29; 17:11)

⁸ Ngemva kweminyaka eminengi uNkulunkulu wanika isizwe sako-Israyeli uMthetho. EMthethweni lo abantu kwakumele benze imihlatshelo ukuze bahlawulele izono zabo. (Bala uLevi 4:​27-29; 17:11.) Imihlatshelo le yayitshengisa ukuthi uJehova wayezakwenza omunye umhlatshelo ongcono kakhulu owawuzakwenza ukuthi abantu bakhululwe esonweni, kungasaphindi kufuneke omunye umhlatshelo. Abaphrofethi bakaNkulunkulu baphefumulelwa ukuthi bachasise ukuthi inzalo eyayithenjisiwe kwakumele ihlupheke futhi ibulawe. Inzalo le kwaba yiNdodana kaNkulunkulu ezelwe yodwa. Yayizabulawa njengemvu yomhlatshelo. (Isaya. 53:​1-12) UJehova wayezanikela ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa futhi ayithandayo ukuze abantu bakhululwe esonweni lasekufeni. Wena uzwa njani ngokuthi umhlatshelo lo unceda lawe?

UJESU WENZANI UKUZE AKHULULE ABANTU ESONWENI?

9. UJohane uMbhabhathizi wathini ngoJesu? (UHebheru 9:22; 10:​1-4, 12)

⁹ Ngomnyaka ka-29 C.E., uJohane uMbhabhathizi wathi ebona uJesu waseNazaretha wathi: “Khangelani, nansi imvana kaNkulunkulu esusa isono somhlaba!” (Joh. 1:29) Amazwi la aphefumulelweyo aveza ukuthi uJesu nguye inzalo eyayithenjisiwe. UJesu wayezanikela ngempilo yakhe ibe ngumhlatshelo. Khathesi ithemba laselikhanya bha ngoba wayesefikile lowo owayezasindisa abantu esonweni lasekufeni.—Bala uHebheru 9:22; 10:​1-4, 12.

10. UJesu watshengisa njani ukuthi wayelande “ukuzobiza” izoni?

¹⁰ UJesu wenza konke okusemandleni akhe ukuthi ancedise abantu ababethwele nzima ngenxa yesono njalo wayebanxusa ukuthi babe ngabalandeli bakhe. Wayekwazi ukuthi okwenza abantu bahlupheke yisono, yikho wancedisa kakhulu abantu ababesaziwa ngokuthi bayizoni. Wachasisa lokho ayekwenza esebenzisa umzekeliso wathi: “Abantu abaphilileyo abamdingi udokotela, abagulayo yibo abamdingayo.” Waphinda wathi: “Angilandanga ukuzobiza abalungileyo, ngalanda ukuzobiza izoni.” (Mat. 9:​12, 13) Ngokwesibonelo, wathethelela izono zowesifazana  owamgezisa inyawo ngenyembezi zakhe. (Luk. 7:​37-50) Wafundisa owesifazana ongumSamariya amthola emthonjeni izinto eziqakathekileyo lanxa wayekwazi ukuthi owesifazana lo wayengaziphathanga. (Joh. 4:​7, 17-19, 25, 26) Abantu bayafa ngenxa yesono, kodwa uNkulunkulu wanika uJesu amandla okuthi avuse abafileyo, abantu abadala labantwana.—Mat. 11:5.

11. Kungani abantu abalesono babengesabi ukuya kuJesu?

¹¹ Abantu ababesenza izinto ezimbi babengesabi ukuya kuJesu. Lokhu akumangalisi ngoba uJesu wayelesihawu lozwelo, ngakho kwakulula ukuthi bakhulume laye. (Luk. 15:​1, 2) UJesu wabancoma futhi wabenzela okuhle ngenxa yokuthi babetshengise ukuthi balokholo kuye. (Luk. 19:​1-10) Okwenziwa nguJesu kwenza abantu bazwisisa ukuthi isihawu sikaJehova sikhulu kangakanani. (Joh. 14:9) Watshengisa ngamazwi langezenzo ukuthi uYise ulesihawu lozwelo, uyabathanda abantu njalo ufuna ukubancedisa ukuthi basinqobe isono. UJesu wancedisa abantu ukuthi babe lesifiso sokutshiya izono zabo futhi bamlandele.—Luk. 5:​27, 28.

12. Kuyini uJesu akufundisa abalandeli bakhe ngokufa kwakhe?

¹² UJesu wayekwazi okwakuzakwenzakala kuye. Wabatshela kanengi abalandeli bakhe ukuthi wayezanikelwa futhi abethelwe esigodweni. (Mat. 17:22; 20:​18, 19) Wayekwazi ukuthi umhlatshelo wakhe wawuzasusa isono sabantu njengoba nje uJohane  labanye abaphrofethi babetshilo. UJesu waphinda wathi nxa engafa ‘wayezadonsela yonke imihlobo yabantu’ kuye. (Joh. 12:32) Bonke ababezakwamukela uJesu njengeNkosi futhi bamlingisele babezathokozisa uJehova, bacine ‘bekhululwa esonweni.’ (Rom. 6:​14, 18, 22; Joh. 8:32) Yikho uJesu waba lesibindi wazinikela ukuthi abulawe ngendlela elesihluku ukuze asisindise.—Joh. 10:​17, 18.

13. UJesu wafa njani futhi ukufa kwakhe kusifundisani ngoJehova? (Khangela lomfanekiso.)

¹³ UJesu wathengiswa, wabotshwa, wathethiswa, waqanjelwa amanga, wagwetshwa njalo wahlukuluzwa. Amasotsha amqhuba emusa lapho ayezabulawelwa khona, afika ambethela esigodweni. Yena wayebuzwa ubuhlungu ngesikhathi esehlelwa yizinto zonke lezi, kodwa ukhona owayesizwa ubuhlungu obedlula lapho. Ngubani? NguJehova uNkulunkulu. Lanxa elamandla amakhulu wazibamba ukuze angavimbi ukuthi iNdodana yakhe ihlupheke. Wayekwenzelani lokhu? Kambe kuyini okwakungenza ukuthi uBaba ayekele ukuvikela iNdodana yakhe? Akula okunye ngaphandle kothando. UJesu wathi: “UNkulunkulu wawuthanda kakhulu umhlaba waze wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa, ukuze wonke umuntu otshengisa ukuthi uyakholwa kuyo angabhujiswa kodwa abe lokuphila okungapheliyo.”—Joh. 3:16.

14. Ukufundisani umhlatshelo kaJesu?

¹⁴ Umhlatshelo kaJesu usinika ubufakazi obukhulu obutshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyabathanda kakhulu abantwana baka-Adamu lo-Eva. Utshengisa ukuthi uJehova kakuthontisi, uyakuthanda kakhulu. Wenze konke angakwenza, wazimisela ukuthi azwe ubuhlungu obukhulu kakhulu ukuze akusindise esonweni lasekufeni. (1 Joh. 4:​9, 10) Ufuna ukuncedisa ngamunye wethu ukuthi alwisane lesono aze asinqobe!

15. Kumele senzeni ukuze inhlawulo isincede?

¹⁵ UNkulunkulu wasihlawulela ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa ukuze sithethelelwe izono zethu. Lanxa kunjalo kukhona okumele sikwenze ukuze asithethelele. Kumele senzeni? UJohane uMbhabhathizi kanye loJesu Khristu bakukhuluma okumele sikwenze. Bathi: “Phendukani ngoba uMbuso wezulu ususondele.” (Mat. 3:​1, 2; 4:17) Ngakho ukuphenduka kuqakathekile nxa sifuna ukusinqoba isono lokusondela kuBaba wethu osithandayo. Kodwa kutshoni ukuphenduka njalo kusinceda njani ukuthi sithokozise uJehova lanxa siyizoni? Impendulo sizayithola esihlokweni esilandelayo.