1. Ungawuhlathulula njani umndeni kaJakopo?

 UJAKOPO umfowabo kaJesu, wakhuliswa emndenini ebewuthanda uJehova. * Ababelethi bakhe, uJosefa noMariya bebamthanda khulu uJehova bebenza koke okusemandlenabo bona bamlotjhe. Kunokhunye uJakopo ebekabusiseke ngakho, umnakwabo waba nguMesiya othenjisiweko. Qala bona bekulilungelo elikhulu kangangani ngoJakopo bona abe lilunga lomndeni loyo!

2. Ngimaphi amabanga ebekangenza uJakopo ahloniphe umnakwabo?

² UJakopo bekanamabanga amanengi wokuqalelela kumnakwabo. (Mat. 13:55) Ngokwesibonelo, uJesu bekayazi kuhle imitlolo kangangokuthi nakaneminyaka eli-12, warara abadala abafundileko eJerusalema. (Luk. 2:46, 47) Kungenzeka ukuthi uJakopo bekabaza kunye noJesu. Nangabe bekunjalo, wafumana ithuba lokwazi kuhle umfowabo. U-Nathan H. Knorr bekajayele ukuthi, “Ufunda okunengi ngomuntu nawusebenza naye.” * Kungenzeka uJakopo walemuka ukuthi “UJesu waragela phambili athuthuka ngokuhlakanipha, akhula kuhle begodu athandwa nguZimu nabantu.” (Luk. 2:52) Ngebanga lalokho kungaba bulula ukuphetha ngokuthi uJakopo bekangomunye wabalandeli bakaJesu bokuthoma, kodwana akusingilokho okwenzekako.

3. UJakopo bekacabangani lokha uJesu nakathoma umsebenzakhe wokutjhumayela?

³ Ngesikhathi uJesu enza umsebenzakhe wokutjhumayela, uJakopo akhenge abe mfundakhe. (Jwa. 7:3-5) Kuhlekuhle,  kungenzeka ukuthi uJakopo bekangomunye weenhlobo zakaJesu ezacabanga bona “Uyarhapha.” (Mar. 3:21) Abukho ubufakazi obutjengisa ukuthi uJakopo bekanommakhe uMariya lokha uJesu nakabethelwa esigodweni sokuhlunguphazwa.—Jwa. 19:25-27.

4. Ngiziphi iimfundo esizokucoca ngazo?

⁴ Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, uJakopo wakholelwa kuJesu bewaba lilunga elihloniphekileko ebandleni lobuKrestu. Esihlokwenesi, sizokucoca ngeemfundo ezimbili esizifunda kuJakopo: (1) kubayini kufuze sithobeke begodu (2) singaba njani bafundisi abanekghono.

5. Khuyini eyenziwa nguJakopo lokha uJesu ovusiweko nakabonakala kuye?

⁵ UJakopo wathoma nini ukuba mlandeli kaJesu othembekileko? Ngemva kokuvuswa kwakhe, uJesu “wabonakala kuJakopo, bese kibo boke abapostoli.” (1 Kor. 15:7) Ukuhlangana kwakaJakopo noJesu kwatjhugulula ukuphila kwakhe. Bekakhona ngesikhathi abapostoli balindele ukwamukela ummoya ocwengileko ekumbeni ephezulu eJerusalema. (IzE. 1:13, 14) Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, uJakopo wafumana elinye ilungelo lokuba lilunga lesihlopha esibusako sangekhulu lokuthoma. (IzE. 15:6, 13-22; Gal. 2:9) Ngaphambi komnyaka ka-62 C.E., waphefumulelwa ukuthi atlolele amaKrestu azesiweko incwadi. Incwadi le iyasisiza nathi namhlanjesi, kungayi ngokuthi sinethemba lokuphila ezulwini namkha ephasini. (Jak. 1:1) Isazimlando sangekhulu lokuthoma uJosephus satlola ukuthi, uJakopo wabulawa ngokomyalo womPhristi oPhakemeko omJuda u-Ananiyasi Omncani. UJakopo wahlala athembekile kuJehova bekwaba sekufeni.

6. UJakopo bekahluke njani kubadosiphambili bezekolo bangesikhathi sakhe?

⁶ UJakopo bekathobekile. Kubayini sitjho njalo? Qala umehluko owaba khona hlangana kwakaJakopo nabadosiphambili bezekolo. UJakopo nakathola ubufakazi bokuthi uJesu uyiNdodana kaZimu, wakwamukela ngokuzithoba. Akhenge kubenjalo ngabaphristi beJerusalema. Ngokwesibonelo, bengekhe baphike ukuthi uJesu wavusa uLazaru kwabafileko. Kunokobana bavume ukuthi uJesu bekamjameli kaJehova, balinga ukumbulala yena noLazaru. (Jwa. 11:53; 12:9-11) Ngemva kokuvuswa kwakaJesu kwabafileko, balinga ukufihlela abantu iqiniswelo. (Mat. 28:11-15) Ngebanga lokuthi abadosiphambilabo bebazikhakhazisa akhenge bamamukele uMesiya.

7. Kubayini kufuze sibalekele ukuzikhakhazisa?

 ⁷ Lokho esikufundako: Asibalekeleni ukuzikhakhazisa, sifundiseke. Njengombana ukugula kungenza ihliziyo yomuntu ingasebenzi kuhle, nokuzikhakhazisa kungenza kube budisi ngomuntu ukulalela iinqophiso zakaJehova. Ukuzikhakhazisa kwabaFarisi kwabenza bangavumi ukukholelwa ubufakazi obubonakalako bokuthi uJesu bekanommoya ocwengileko kaZimu nokuthi bekayiNdodanakhe. (Jwa. 12:37-40) Lokho bekuyingozi ngombana kwabalahlekisela ukuphila okungapheliko. (Mat. 23:13, 33) Kuqakathekile ukuragela phambili sivumele iliZwi lakaZimu nommoyakhe ocwengileko bona ubumbe ubuntu bethu, indlela esicabanga ngayo neenqunto zethu! (Jak. 3:17) Njengombana sizokubona, ngebanga lokuthi uJakopo bekathobekile wavuma ukufundiswa nguJehova begodu waba mfundisi onekghono.

8. Khuyini ezosisiza ukuthi sibe bafundisi abanekghono?

⁸ UJakopo bekangasimumuntu ofunde khulu. Abadosiphambili bezekolo bangesikhathi sakhe bebamthatha njengompostoli uPitrosi no Jwanisi, njengabantu ‘abangakafundi begodu abajayelekileko.’ (IzE. 4:13) UJakopo wafunda ukuba mfundisi onekghono, lokho sikubona nasifunda incwadi yeBhayibheli ethiyelelwe ngebizo lakhe. NjengoJakopo kungenzeka singabi babantu abafunde khulu. Nanyana kunjalo, ngesizo lommoya ocwengileko kaJehova nokubandulwa yihlanganwakhe, singakghona ukuba bafundisi abanekghono. Akhe sicoce ngesibonelo uJakopo asibekela sona njengomfundisi besibone nokuthi singafundani kiso.

9. Ungayihlathulula njani indlela kaJakopo yokufundisa?

⁹ UJakopo akhenge asebenzise amagama abudisi namkha ihlathululo engazwisisekiko. Umphumela waba kukuthi abantu abamlaleleko bebazi ukuthi khuyini ekutlhogeka bayenze nokuthi kufuze bayenze njani. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngendlela elula uJakopo afundisa ngayo amaKrestu ukuthi kufuze azimisele ukuqalana nokungabi nobulungiswa ngaphandle kokubamba amavunda. Watlola wathi: “Sithi bayathaba  labo abakghodlheleleko. Nizwile ngokukghodlhelela kwakaJobho nabona nomphumela uJehova awunikelako, ukuthi uJehova unethando khulu begodu unesirhawu.” (Jak. 5:11) Tjheja ukuthi uJakopo bekasekela ifundiswakhe emtlolweni. Wasebenzisa iliZwi lakaZimu ukusiza abamlaleleko babone ukuthi uJehova uhlala abavuza abanjengoJobho abahlala bathembekile kuye. UJakopo wakhanyisa iphuzweli ngokuthi asebenzise amezwi alula nazwakalako. Ngendlela le akhenge azidosele amehlo kunalokho waphazimulisa uJehova.

10. Ngiyiphi enye indlela esingalingisa ngayo uJakopo nasifundisako?

¹⁰ Lokho esikufundako: Yenza umlayezwakho ube bulula begodu usebenzise iliZwi lakaZimu. Umnqophwethu akusikutjengisa abantu ukuthi sazi kangangani, kodwana kubatjengisa ukuthi uJehova wazi kangangani nokuthi unendaba nabo. (Rom. 11:33) Singafikelela umnqopho lo ngokuthi sihlale sisekela lokho esikutjhoko emtlolweni. Ngokwesibonelo, kunokuthi sitjele abantu esibafundelako ukuthi thina besizokwenzani, kufuze sibasize bacabange ngeembonelo eziseBhayibhelini bebazwisise ukuthi uJehova ucabangani nokuthi uzizwa njani. Lokho kuzobenza bafune ukuthabisa uJehova ingasi thina.

11. Ngimiphi imiraro amaKrestu wangeenkhathi zakaJakopo ebekaqalana nayo begodu wawanikela siphi iseluleko? (Jak. 5:13-15)

¹¹ UJakopo bekabeka indaba njengombana injalo. Encwadinakhe ayitlolako, kuyakhanya ukuthi uJakopo bekalemuka iintjhijilo abantu ebekalotjha nabo uZimu ebebaqalana nazo, begodu wanikela iinqophiso zokuthi bangazihlula njani. Ngokwesibonelo, amanye amaKrestu bekabuthaka ekusebenziseni iseluleko. (Jak. 1:22) Abanye bebathanda khulu abantu abanjingileko. (Jak. 2:1-3) Abanye bebakufumana kubudisi ukulawula ilimu labo. (Jak. 3:8-10) AmaKrestu la bekanemiraro emikhulu kodwana uJakopo akhenge alahle itewu. Bekanikela iseluleko ngendlela enomusa kodwana bekabeka indaba njengombana injalo begodu bekakhuthaza labo ababogabogako etjhebiswaneni labo noZimu ukuthi bayokufuna isizo kubadala.​—Funda uJakopo 5:13-15.

12. Singahlala njani sinombono omuhle nasisiza abantu esifunda nabo iBhayibheli?

¹² Lokho esikufundako: Beka indaba njengombana injalo, kodwana yiba nombono ofaneleko ngabanye. Abanengi esifunda nabo iBhayibheli bangakufumana kubudisi ukusebenzisa iseluleko seBhayibheli. (Jak. 4:1-4) Kungabathatha isikhathi ukuruthula imikghwa emimbi bese bayijamiselele ngobuntu obuhle bobuKrestu. Nathi njengoJakopo kufuze sibe nesibindi sokutjela abantu esifunda nabo ukuthi kukuphi lapho ekufuze bathuthukise khona. Kufuze sihlale sinethemba lokuthi uJehova uzobadosela kuye abantu abathobekileko bekabanikele amandla wokwenza amatjhuguluko atlhogekako ekuphileni kwabo.​—Jak. 4:10

13. Njengombana kutjengisiwe kuJakopo 3:2, khuyini uJakopo ayilemukako?

¹³ UJakopo bekaziqala ngendlela efaneleko. UJakopo akhenge azibone aqakathekile kunamanye amaKrestu ngebanga lokuthi bekangumfowabo kaJesu namkha bekanesabelo esiqakathekileko. Bekabiza amanye amaKrestu ngokuthi ‘bafowabo abathandekako.’ (Jak. 1:16, 19; 2:5) Akhenge enze abanye bacabange ukuthi akanasono.Kunalokho, wazifaka naye emezwini athi: “soke siyatjhapha iinkhathi ezinengi.”—Funda uJakopo 3:2.

14. Kubayini kufuze sizimisele ukuvuma imitjhaphwethu?

¹⁴ Lokho esikufundako: Khumbula ukuthi  soke sinesono. Akukafuzi sicabange ukuthi sibakhulu kunalabo esibafundisako. Kubayini? Nange senza abantu esibafundelako bacabange ukuthi asiyenzi imitjhapho, bangaphela amandla bacabange ukuthi angeze bakghona ukulalela uZimu ngokupheleleko. Nange sivuma ukuthi akusibulula ngaso soke isikhathi ukulandela iinkambisolawulo ezisemTlolweni besihlathulule nokuthi uJehova usisize njani senza amatjhuguluko afaneleko ekuphileni kwethu, sizokusiza umuntu esimfundelako abone ukuthi naye angakghona ukulotjha uJehova.

15. Ungayihlathulula njani imifanekiso eyasetjenziswa nguJakopo? (Jakopo 3:2-6, 10-12)

¹⁵ UJakopo wasebenzisa imifanekiso ebeyithinta ihliziyo. Asinakuzaza ukuthi wasizwa mmoya ocwengileko kodwana kungenzeka wafunda nemifanekisweni ebeyisetjenziswa ngumnakwabo uJesu. Imifanekiso esencwadini kaJakopo ibulula begodu iyasebenziseka.—Funda uJakopo 3:2-6, 10-12.

16. Kubayini kufuze sisebenzise imifanekiso ephumelelako?

¹⁶ Lokho esikufundako: Sebenzisa imifanekiso ngendlela ephumelelako. Nawusebenzisa imifanekiso ephumelelako, wenza iindlebe zibe mamehlo. Ugwala iinthombe emikhumbulweni yabantu. Iinthombezo zizokusiza abantu abakulaleleko bakhumbule iqiniso eliqakathekileko leBhayibheli. UJesu bekasikghwari ekusebenziseni imifanekiso ngendlela ephumelelako begodu umfowabo uJakopo walandela isibonelo sakhe. Akhe siqale umfanekiso munye kaJakopo besihlole ukuthi kubayini uphumelela kangaka.

17. Kubayini umfanekiso okuJakopo 1:22-25 uphumelela?

¹⁷ Funda uJakopo 1:22-25. Kunamabanga amanengi enza umfanekiso kaJakopo wesiboniboni uphumelele. Okhunye esikufundako emfanekisweni lo kukuthi nasifuna ukuzuza ngokupheleleko eliZwini lakaZimu, akukafuzi silifunde kwaphela kodwana kufuze sikusebenzise nalokho esikufundako. UJakopo wasebenzisa umfanekiso wokuziqala esibonibonini ngombana bekulula ngeenlaleli zakhe bona ziwuzwisise. Ngisiphi isifundo asifundisako emfanekisweni lo? Angekhe kube kuhlakanipha ngomuntu ukuziqala esibonibonini abone umtjhapho ekufuze awulungise kodwana  angenzi litho. Ngendlela efanako, angekhe kube kuhlakanipha nange sizokufunda iliZwi lakaZimu bese silemuka lapho ekufuze senze khona amatjhuguluko ekuphileni kwethu bese singakwenzi lokho.

18. Ngiziphi izinto ezintathu ekufuze sizenze nasisebenzisa umfanekiso?

¹⁸ Nawusebenzisa umfanekiso, ungalingisa isibonelo sakaJakopo ngokwenza izinto ezintathu ezilandelako: (1) Qiniseka bona umfanekiso uveza kuhle iphuzu ococa ngalo. (2) Sebenzisa umfanekiso abantu abakulaleleko abazowuzwisisa bulula. (3) Veza bona umfanekiso lo usebenza njani. Nawukufumana kubudisi ukucabanga ngemifanekiso efaneleko, qala i-Watch Tower Publications Index efumaneka ngesiNgisi. Ngaphasi kwesihloko esithi, “Illustrations” uzokufumana imifanekiso eminengi ongayisebenzisa. Khumbula bona imifanekiso ifana nombhobho wokukhuluma, yenza iphuzu esikhuluma ngalo lizwakale kuhle. Njeke, qiniseka ukuthi usebenzisa imifanekiso kwaphela emaphuzwini ayihloko ofuna bawakhumbule. Kuliqiniso, asithuthukisi indlela esifundisa ngayo ngombana sifuna kubukwe thina, kunalokho sifuna ukusiza abantu abanengi ngendlela esingakghona ngayo ukuthi babe yingcenye yomndeni kaJehova othabileko.

19. Singatjengisa njani ukuthi siyabathanda abafowethu nabodadwethu?

¹⁹ Akhenge sibe nelungelo lokukhula nomfowethu onganasono kodwana sinethuba lokulotjha uJehova nomndeni omkhulu wamaKrestu wabafowethu nabodadwethu. Sitjengisa ukuthi siyabathanda ngokuthi sibe nabo, sifunde kibo, sithembeke ekulotjheni uJehova, sitjhumayele besifundise nabo. Nasilwela ukulingisa isibonelo sakaJakopo endleleni esiziphatha ngayo, ezenzweni zethu nendleleni esifundisa ngayo, siletha iphazimulo kuJehova besisize nalabo abaneenhliziyo ezithobekileko bona batjhidelane noBabethu wezulwini onethando.