1. Yiliphi ithemba uMatha ayelalo? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)

UMATHA wayengumlandeli kaJesu futhi engumngane wakhe. Ngelinye ilanga wayephakathi kosizi ngoba wayefelwe ngumnewabo uLazaro. Kukhona kambe okwakungamduduza? Ye, kukhona. UJesu wamtshela wathi: “Umfowenu uzavuka.” Lanxa amazwi la engazange abuqede ubuhlungu ayebuzwa, uMatha watshengisa ukuthi ulokholo esithembisweni sikaJesu wathi: “Ngiyazi ukuthi uzavuka futhi ekuvukeni kwabafileyo ngosuku lokucina.” (Joh. 11:20-24) Wayengathandabuzi ukuthi lokhu kuzakwenzakala ngesikhathi esizayo. Ngemva kwalokho uJesu wenza isimangaliso ngokuvusa uLazaro.

2. Kungani kumele sibe lethemba eliqinileyo njengoMatha?

² Lamuhla kasikhangelelanga ukuthi uJesu loba uYise benze izimangaliso ngokuvusa izihlobo zethu kumbe abangane bethu abafayo. Kodwa ulalo yini ulethemba eliqinileyo njengoMatha lokuthi uJehova uzabavusa abafileyo ngesikhathi esizayo? Kungenzakala ukuthi wafelwa ngumkakho, umntanakho, umzali kumbe ugogo loba ukhulu wakho. Kumele  ukuthi uyamkhumbula kakhulu lowomuntu. Okuhle yikuthi lawe njengoMatha ulindele isikhathi lapho azavuswa khona. Kuqakathekile ukuthi sicabangisise ngobufakazi obutshengisa ukuthi abafileyo bazavuswa.

3, 4. Izimangaliso ezenziwa zaluqinisa njani ukholo lukaMatha?

³ Kungenzakala ukuthi uMatha kazange ambone uJesu evusa indodana yomfelokazi eduzane ledolobho leNayini ngoba yena wayehlala eduze kweJerusalema. Kodwa kumele ukuthi wezwa ngayo indaba le leyokuvuswa kwendodakazi kaJayirosi eyenzakala edolobheni leKhaphenawume. UJesu wavusa indodakazi le sekusaziwa ukuthi “isifile.” Wathi efika wayibamba isandla wathi: “Mntanami, vuka!” Lakanye yavuka. (Luk. 7:11-17; 8:41, 42, 49-55) UMatha lodadewabo uMariya babekwazi ukuthi uJesu ulamandla okusilisa abagulayo. Yikho babekholwa ukuthi umnewabo wayengasoze afe aluba uJesu wayephangise ukufika. Kodwa njengoba wayesefile, basebelindele ukumbona evuswa ngesikhathi esizayo. Khumbula ukuthi uMatha wathi uLazaro uzavuka “ngosuku lokucina.” Kuyini okwamenza wangakuthandabuzi lokhu? Kuyini okwenza sibe leqiniso lokuthi abafileyo bazavuswa ngesikhathi esizayo?

⁴ Okwakhathesi ake sixoxe ngezizatho ezenza sikholwe ukuthi abafileyo bazavuswa. Ukwenza njalo kuzasinceda sibone eminye imicijo okungenzakala ukuthi kasikaze sicabange ngayo. Kanti njalo kuzasenza sibe lethemba eliqinileyo lokuthi sizaphinda sizibone izihlobo zethu ezafayo.

5. Kuyini okwenza uMatha wakholwa ukuthi uLazaro uzavuswa?

⁵ UMatha kazange athi ‘ulethemba lokuthi umnewabo uzavuka,’ kodwa wathi: “Ngiyazi ukuthi uzavuka.” Kuyini okwamenza wakholwa ukuthi umnewabo uzavuswa? Wayekwazi ukuthi kulabathile abake bavuswa endulo. Kungenzakala ukuthi wafunda ngabo esinagogeni kumbe ngakibo. Ake sixoxe ngezindaba ezintathu okukhulunywa ngazo eBhayibhilini.

6. Yisiphi isimangaliso esenziwa ngu-Elija okungenzakala ukuthi uMatha wayesazi?

⁶ U-Elija wayengumphrofethi futhi uNkulunkulu wamnika amandla okwenza izimangaliso. Ngesinye isikhathi umfelokazi ongumyanga owayehlala eZarefathi wamukela umphrofethi lo emzini wakhe. UNkulunkulu wambusisa owesifazane lo ngokwenza ukuthi ifulawa kanye lamafutha akhe kungapheli ukuze yena lendodana yakhe bangabulawa yindlala. (1 AmaKho. 17:8-16) Kodwa ngokuya kwesikhathi indodana yomfelokazi lo yagula yaze yafa. U-Elija weza wafika wabamba isidumbu somfana wasekhuleka wathi: “Nkulunkulu wami, ake ubuyisele impilo yalumntwana!” UNkulunkulu wakuzwa ukukhala kuka-Elija, lakanye umfana wavuka waphila. Lesi yisimangaliso sokuqala esitholakala eBhayibhilini esiphathelane lokuvuswa. (Bala u-1 AmaKhosi 17:17-24.) Kumele ukuthi uMatha wayeyazi indaba le.

7, 8. (a) U-Elisha wenzani ukuze asize owesifazane owayefelwe yindodana yakhe? (b) Isimangaliso lesi sitshengisani?

⁷ Isimangaliso sesibili esifunda ngaso eMibhalweni senziwa ngumphrofethi u-Elisha. Ngesikhathi umphrofethi lo eseShunemi wamukelwa kuhle ngowesifazane othile owayenothile. Owesifazane lo wayengelabantwana kodwa ngokuya kwesikhathi uJehova wambusisa yena lomkakhe owayesekhulile ngokubanika indodana. Ngemva kweminyaka ethile indodana le yafa. Lokhu kwamzwisa  ubuhlungu owesifazane lo futhi wazimisela ukuhamba amakhilomitha angu-30 esiyadinga umphrofethi u-Elisha waze wamthola eNtabeni iKhameli. U-Elisha wathumela inceku yakhe uGehazi ukuthi igijime phambi kwabo iyemvusa umfana. UGehazi wehluleka ukumvusa kwaze kwafika unina lo-Elisha.​—2 AmaKho. 4:8-31.

⁸ U-Elisha wathi efika waya lapho okulesidumbu somfana wathandaza kuJehova. Lakanye senzakala isimangaliso, umfana wavuka futhi unina wathaba okumangalisayo. (Bala u-2 AmaKhosi 4:32-37.) Kungenzakala ukuthi owesifazane lo wakhumbula umthandazo owatshiwo nguHana ngesikhathi esethula indodana yakhe uSamuyeli ethabanikeli, othi: “UJehova . . . wehlisela phansi engcwabeni njalo avuse.” (1 Sam. 2:6) Isimangaliso esenziwa ngu-Elisha eShunemi sitshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulamandla okuvusa abafileyo.

9. Yisiphi esinye isimangaliso sokuvuswa komuntu ofileyo esiqanjwa eBhayibhilini?

⁹ Esinye isimangaliso sokuvuswa komuntu senzakala ngemva kokufa kuka-Elisha. Umphrofethi lo wakhonza uJehova okweminyaka edlula 50 kodwa ngokuya kwesikhathi wahlaselwa ngumkhuhlane wagula waze wafa. Ngemva kweminyaka efile, kwafika isitha sizohlasela ko-Israyeli. Kwathi abantu ababesiyangcwaba indoda ethile bebona sekukubi balahlela isidumbu sayo engcwabeni lika-Elisha babaleka. Kwenzakalani ngemva kwalokho? IBhayibhili lithi: “Kuthe isidumbu leso sithinta amathambo ka-Elisha, indoda leyo yavuka yasukuma yama ngezinyawo zayo.” (2 AmaKho. 13:14, 20, 21) Kumele ukuthi ukubala izindaba lezi kwenza uMatha wakholwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulamandla okuvusa abantu abafileyo. Ukucabangisisa ngezindaba lezi kuzakunceda lawe ubone ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulamandla amangalisayo.

10. Chaza ukuthi kwenzakalani kowesifazane okwakuthiwa nguDokhasi.

¹⁰ IMibhalo yamaKhristu yesiGrikhi layo isitshela ngabanye abantu abavuswayo. Ngokwesibonelo uJesu wavusa indodana yowesifazane othile eNayini njalo waphinda wavusa lendodakazi kaJayirosi. Umphostoli uPhetro laye wavusa owesifazane ongumKhristu okwakuthiwa nguDokhasi (loba uThabitha). Wathi efika lapho okwakulesidumbu khona wathandaza kuJehova, ngemva kwalokho wathi: “Thabitha vuka!” Lakanye wavuka owesifazane lo futhi uPhetro ‘wamethula kubo esephila.’ Isenzakalo lesi saba yindaba esegudwini futhi senza “abanengi bakholwa eNkosini.” Kumele ukuthi baqalisa ukufakaza ngoJesu njalo bexoxela abanye ngendaba le eyayitshengisa ukuthi uJehova ulamandla okuvusa abafileyo.​—ImiSeb. 9:36-42.

11. Kwenzakalani kuYuthikhu njalo kwaba lempumela bani kwababekhona?

¹¹ Esinye isimangaliso sokuvuswa kothile senziwa ngumphostoli uPhawuli ngesikhathi esemhlanganweni edolobheni leThrowa. Ngalolosuku uPhawuli wakhuluma kwaze kwaba phakathi kobusuku. Wathi elokhu esakhuluma uYuthikhu wajunywa yibuthongo, wasesiwa esuka esitezi sesithathu wayatshaya phansi. Kungenzakala ukuthi udokotela uLukha nguye owafika kuqala wamhlola wasebona ukuthi usefile. UPhawuli wathi efika wazilahlela phezu kwakhe wamgona wasememeza wathi: ‘Lingethuki, uyaphila!’  Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi ukubona uPhawuli evusa uYuthikhu ‘kwabaduduza kakhulu’ bonke ababekhona.​—ImiSeb. 20:7-12.

12, 13. Yiphi imibuzo okumele sizibuze yona mayelana lezindaba zokuvuswa kwabafileyo?

¹² Ukucabangisisa ngezindaba lezi kuzakwenza ube lethemba lokuthi uNkulunkulu uzabavusa abathandekayo bethu abafileyo. UJehova wenza izimangaliso lezi esebenzisa izinceku zakhe ezithembekileyo futhi banengi abazibona ngamehlo zisenzakala. Kodwa-ke bakhona abafa kungakenziwa izimangaliso ezinjalo loba abangazange bazibone. Babelabo yini ubufakazi bokuthi uJehova uzavusa abafileyo ngesikhathi esizayo? Babengawatsho yini amazwi akhulunywa nguMatha athi: “Ngiyazi ukuthi [umfowethu] uzavuka futhi ekuvukeni kwabafileyo ngosuku lokucina”? Kuyini okwenza uMatha wangathandabuzi ukuthi abafileyo bazavuswa ngesikhathi esizayo? Kuyini okungenza lawe ube lethemba njengaye?

¹³ Kulamavesi athile eBhayibhilini atshengisa ukuthi izinceku zikaJehova endulo zazikholwa ukuthi kuzakuba lokuvuswa kwabafileyo esikhathini esizayo. Ake sixoxe ngamanye akhona.

14. Indaba ka-Abhrahama isifundisani ngokuvuswa kwabafileyo?

¹⁴ Cabanga ngalokho uJehova akutshela u-Abhrahama mayelana lendodana yakhe u-Isaka. Wamtshela wathi: “Thatha indodana yakho, indodana yakho eyiyo yodwa, u-Isaka, . . . umenze umhlatshelo abe ngumnikelo wokutshiswa.” (Gen. 22:2) Kumele ukuthi lokhu kwamphica u-Abhrahama ngoba uJehova wayemtshele ukuthi zonke izizwe zazizabusiswa ngenzalo yakhe. (Gen. 13:14-16; 18:18; Rom. 4:17, 18) Wayemtshele lokuthi isibusiso leso sasizakuza “ngo-Isaka.” (Gen. 21:12) Manje kwakuzagcwaliseka njani lokhu yena esethethe u-Isaka wanikela ngaye? UPhawuli waphefumulelwa ukuba abhale ukuthi u-Abhrahama wayekholwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzamvusa u-Isaka kwabafileyo yikho wavuma ukunikela ngaye. (Bala uHebheru 11:17-19.) IBhayibhili kalitsho ukuthi u-Abhrahama wayecabanga ukuthi nxa anganikela ngo-Isaka, uJehova wayezamvusa ngemva kwamahola, insukwana loba amaviki athile. U-Abhrahama wayengakwazi ukuthi u-Isaka uzavuswa nini kodwa wayekholwa ukuthi uJehova ulamandla okumvusa.

15. Yiliphi ithemba uJobe ayelalo?

¹⁵ UJobe laye wayekholwa ukuthi abafileyo  bazavuswa ngesikhathi esizayo. Wayekwazi ukuthi nxa isihlahla singaganyulwa siyaphinda sihlume kodwa lokhu akwenzakali emuntwini. (Jobe. 14:7-12; 19:25-27) Nxa umuntu angafa ngeke azivukele yedwa. (2 Sam. 12:23; Hubo. 89:48) UJehova uNkulunkulu nguye kuphela olamandla okuvusa abantu abafileyo futhi uJobe wayelethemba lokuthi lokhu kuzakwenzakala. (Bala uJobe 14:13-15.) Lanxa wayengakwazi ukuthi kuzakwenzakala nini, wayeleqiniso lokuthi uJehova uzamkhumbula amvuse ekufeni.

16. Ingilosi yamtshelani uDanyeli?

¹⁶ Esinye isibonelo ngesikaDanyeli owayengumphrofethi kaNkulunkulu othembekileyo. Wakhonza uJehova okweminyaka eminengi kakhulu futhi uJehova wayemsekela lapho edinga usizo. Ngokwesibonelo wake wathuma ingilosi yakhe ukuthi iyemqinisa futhi imtshele lokuthi uyaqakathekiswa kakhulu.​—Dan. 9:22, 23; 10:11, 18, 19.

17, 18. UJehova wamthembisani uDanyeli?

¹⁷ Kungenzakala ukuthi uDanyeli eseleminyaka engaba ngu-100 waqalisa ukuzibuza ukuthi kuzakwenzakalani kuye nxa angafa. Wayezaphinda avuswe yini? Ye! UNkulunkulu wamtshela wathi: “Kodwa wena, zihambele nje kuze kube sekucineni. Uzaphumula.” (Dan. 12:13) UDanyeli wayekwazi ukuthi abafileyo bayaphumula ngoba engcwabeni “akulakulungiselela kakulalwazi kumbe ukuhlakanipha.” (UmTshu. 9:10) Kodwa lokhu akutsho ukuthi kwasekuphelile ngaye ngoba uJehova wamthembisa ikusasa elihle.

¹⁸ Wathi kuye: “Ekucineni kwezinsuku uzavuka ukuba wamukele elakho ilifa olabelweyo.” UJehova kazange amtshele ukuthi lokhu kwakuzakwenzakala nini. Ngakho uDanyeli wayezakufa aziphumulele. Lanxa kunjalo, ukuzwa ingilosi imtshela ukuthi ‘uzavuka amukele ilifa’ lakhe kwamenza waba lethemba lokuthi uzavuswa esikhathini esizayo. Lokhu kwakuzakwenzakala “ekucineni kwezinsuku” ngemva kwesikhathi eside uDanyeli efile.

19, 20. (a) Esixoxe ngakho esihlokweni lesi kwenza siwazwisise njani amazwi kaMatha? (b) Sizaxoxa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?

¹⁹ UMatha wayelezizatho eziqinileyo ezamenza wakholwa ukuthi umfowabo uLazaro ‘wayezavuka ekuvukeni kwabafileyo ngosuku lokucina.’ Amazwi la kanye lesithembiso esanikwa uDanyeli kwenza lathi sikholwe ukuthi abafileyo bazavuswa.

²⁰ Izimangaliso zokuvuswa kwabantu okukhulunywa ngazo eBhayibhilini zitshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulamandla okuvusa abafileyo. Sibonile lokuthi izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezaphila endulo zazikholwa ukuthi abantu abafileyo bazavuswa ngesikhathi esizayo. Kodwa bukhona yini ubufakazi obutshengisa ukuthi isithembiso sokuvuswa kwabafileyo sizagcwaliseka lanxa sakhulunywa kudala? Kuzakwenzakala nini lokhu? Imibuzo le sizaxoxa ngayo esihlokweni esilandelayo njalo ukuyihlola kuzasinceda ukuthi siqinise ithemba esilalo mayelana lokuvuswa kwabafileyo.