Lingisa Ikholo Labo

Wavikela, Watlhogomela, Wakghodlhelela

UJESEFA uphosela omunye umthwalo phezu kwakadumbana. Mbone ngelihlo lengqondo njengombana aqala ngapha nangapha emzini weBhetlehema njengombana sele kumnyama, unande abhambada ihlangothi lesibandana esincancani esinamandla esithwele umthwalo. Akunakuzaza bona bekacabanga ngekhambo elide elibajameleko. IGibhida! Abantu bakwenye inarha, ilimi lakwenye inarha, amasiko wakwenye inarha—umndenakhe omncani bewuzokujayelana njani namatjhuguluko angaka?

Bekungasilula ukutjela umkakhe othandekako uMariya iindaba ezimbi, kodwana uJesefa waqunga isibindi wamtjela. Wamtjela ngebhudango lapho ingilozi imtjele khona umlayezo naku ovela kuZimu: IKosi uHerodi ufuna ukubulala indodanabo encani! Bekufuze bakhambe khonokho. (Matewu 2:13, 14) UMariya bekatshwenyeke khulu. Kungenzeka njani bona kube nomuntu ofuna ukubulala umntwanakhe onganamlandu, ongasiyingozi? Bobabili uMariya noJesefa bebangazwisisi. Kodwana bathembela kuJehova, ngalokho bazilungiselela.

Bangazi okwenzekako, abantu beBhetlehema besele balele njengombana uJesefa, uMariya, noJesu bakhukhutha baphuma emzini loyo ngomnyama. Batjhinga ngesewula, nesibhakabhaka sithoma ukukhanya ngepumalanga, uJesefa kungenzeka bekazibuza bona khuyini ebalindeleko. Umbazi ophasi lo bekangawuvikela njani umndenakhe eembunjweni ezinamandla kangaka? Bekazokwazi na ukutlhogomela umndenakhe qobe? Bekazokukghona ukukghodlhelela umsebenzi obudisi kangaka awuphathiswe nguJehova uZimu, ukutlhogomela nokukhulisa umntwana ohlukileko lo? UJesefa bekaqalene neentjhijilo eziqeda amandla. Njengombana sicabangela indlela akghona ngayo ukuqalana nesitjhijilo ngasinye, sizokubona bonyana kubayini abobaba namhlanjesi—nathi soke—kufuze silingise ikholo lakaJesefa.

UJesefa Wavikela Umndenakhe

Eenyangeni ezimbalwa ngaphambili, endaweni yangekhabo eNazareda, ukuphila kwakaJesefa kwatjhentjha unomphela ngemva kobana athembise indodakazi ka-Heli umtjhado. UJesefa bekazi uMariya njengowesifazana omsulwa nothembekileko osesemutjha. Kodwana wafumana bona bekazithwele. Bekazimisele ukumtlhala ngerhorhomejeni bona amvikele ehlazweni. * Nokho, ingilozi yakhuluma naye ebhudangweni, yamhlathululela bona uMariya bekasidisi ngebanga lomoya ocwengileko kaJehova. Ingilozi yangezelela bona indodana ayithweleko “izaphulusa abantu bayo ezonweni zabo.” Yaragela phambili yaqinisekisa uJesefa: “Ungasabi ukuthatha uMariya abe mkakho.”—Matewu 1:18-21.

UJesefa indoda elungileko nelalelako yenza njalo. Wathatha umsebenzi obudisi kunayo yoke: ukukhulisa nokutlhogomela indodana egade kungasi ngeyakhe kodwana ebeyiligugu kwamambala kuZimu. Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, alalela umthetho wombuso, uJesefa wasa umkakhe osidisi eBetlehema ukuyokutlolisa. Kulapho umntwana abelethelwa khona. *

UJesefa akhenge abuyisele umndenakhe eNazareda. Kunalokho, bahlala eBhetlehema emakhilomitha ambalwa ukusuka eJerusalema. Bebatlhagile, kodwana uJesefa wenza koke angakwenza ukuvikela uMariya noJesu ekutlhageni. Ngemva kwesikhatjhana bahlala endlini yezinga  eliphasi. Ngemva kwalokho, lapho uJesu angaseselisana kodwana amntwana omncani—mhlamunye angaphezu komnyaka owodwa ubudala—ukuphila kwabo msinyana kwatjhentjha godu.

Kwafika isiqhema samadoda, izazi zeenkwekwezi ezivela Epumalanga, pheze eBhabhiloni elikude. Bebalandela ikwekwezi ukuya emzini kaJesefa noMariya begodu bebafuna umntwana ozokuba yikosi yamaJuda. Amadoda layo bekahlonipha khulu.

Kungakhathaliseki bona gade zazi namtjhana awa, izazi zeenkwekwezi zafaka uJesu engozini ekulu. Ikwekwezi ezayibonako akhenge ibase eBhetlehema kokuthoma, kodwana yabasa eJerusalema. Nebafika lapho batjela iKosi embi uHerodi bona bebafuna umntwana egade azokuba yikosi yamaJuda. Lokhu kwenza indoda leyo yasilingeka khulu ngebanga lomona.—Qala isihloko esithi “Okubuzwa Bafundi Bakamagazini Lo . . . Ngubani Owathumela ‘Ikwekwezi’?” ekhasini 29.

Nokho ngokuthabisako, bekuneembunjwa ezinamandla angaphezu kwakaHerodi egade zibandakanyekile kilokhu. Njani? Iimvakatjhi zaletha izipho kodwana akhenge zifune ukubhadelwa ngalitho. Qala bona bekurara kangangani kuJesefa noMariya ngokungakatjheji nebazifumana sele ‘banerhawuda, ipepho nemure’—amagugu aqakathekileko! Izazi zeenkwekwezi bezizimisele ukutjela iKosi uHerodi bona zimfumanephi umntwana ebezimfuna. Nokho, uJehova wazivimba. Asebenzisa ibhudango, walayela izazi zeenkwekwezi bona zibuyele ekhaya ngenye indlela.—Matewu 2:1-12.

Msinyana ngemva kobana izazi zeenkwekwezi zikhambile, uJesefa wafumana isiyeleliso nasi engilozini kaJehova: “UHerodi uzofuna umntwana ukuzombulala. Yeke vuka, uthathe umntwana nonina nibalekele eGibhida, nihlale lapho kufikela benginitjele bona nisuke.” (Matewu 2:13) Nje-ke, njengombana sibonile ekuthomeni kwesihlokwesi, uJesefa walalela khonokho. Wabeka ukuphepha komntwanakhe ngaphezu kwananyana yini bese wasa umndenakhe eGibhida. Ngombana izazi zeenkwekwezi ezibarhedenezo zanikela umndeni izipho ezibiza kangaka, nje besele banezinto ezizobasiza ekhambweni labo elibalindeleko.

Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi iinolwana ze-apocrypha zafederisa ikhambo lokuya eGibhida, zathi ngomlingo uJesu osesemncani wenza ikhambelo laba lifitjhani, wavimbela abatsotsi bewabangela nemithi yepato bona ikhothame kunina bonyana akhe iinthelo zawo. * Eqinisweni bekulikhambo elide elibudisi ekungaziwa bona kunjani lapho baya khona.

Ababelethi bangafunda okunengi kuJesefa. Wawulisa ngokuzithandela umsebenzakhe begodu wadela nehlalakuhle yakhe bona avikele umndenakhe  engozini. Kwamambala, bekaqala umndenakhe njengelifa elicwengileko elivela kuJehova. Ababelethi namhlanje bakhulisa abantwababo ephasini eliyingozi, iphasi elizele iimthelela engalimaza, yonakalise namtjhana itjhabalalise abasesebatjha. Qala bona babukwa kangangani abomma nabobaba abathatha amagadango msinyana njengoJesefa, abasebenza budisi ukuvikela abantwababo eemtheleleni enjalo!

UJesefa Watlhogomela Umndenakhe

Kubonakala kwanga umndenakhe akhenge uhlale isikhathi eside eGibhida, ngombana msinyana ingilozi yatjela uJesefa bona uHerodi uhlongakele. UJesefa wabuyisela umndenakhe enarheni yekhabo. Isiporofido sekadeni sabikezela bona uJehova uzokubiza indodanakhe “iphume eGibhida.” (Matewu 2:15) UJesefa wasiza ekuzaliseni isiporofidwesi, kodwana uzowusaphi umndenakhe kwanje?

UJesefa bakamumuntu otjhejako. Ngokuhlakanipha wasaba owalandela uHerodi u-Artjhilawosi, naye ogade anelunya begodu ambulali. Isinqophiso esivela kuZimu senza uJesefa bona ase umndenakhe etlhagwini, kude neJerusalema nemiraro yakhona, babuyela endaweni yekhabo eNazareda eGaleliya. BanoMariya bakhulisela umndenabo lapho.—Matewu 2:19-23.

Baphila ukuphila okubulula—kodwana ingasi okunganayo imiraro. IBhayibhili ikhuluma ngoJesefa njengombazi, isebenzisa ibizo elihlanganisa iindlela ezinengi zokusebenza ngesikhuni, njengokukapa imithi, ukuyithutha, nokuyilungisa bona ifanelekele ukwakha izindlu, iinkepe, amabhlorho amancani, iinkarana, amavili, amajogi nawo woke amathulusi aziinsetjenziswa zokulima. (Matewu 13:55) Bekumsebenzi wezandla obudisi. Ngeenkhathi zeBhayibhili kanengi umbazi bekasebenzela hlanu komnyango wendlwakhe yezinga eliphasi namtjhana esitolo esihlanu kwayo.

UJesefa bekasebenzisa amathulusi ahlukahlukeneko, amanye okungenzeka wawatjhiyelwa nguyise. Kungenzeka bekasebenzisa isikwere, umthofi wokujamisa, intambo yokulinganisa eyitjhogo, izembe, isarha, ihamura yesimbi, ihamura yesikhuni, amatjhizela, ibhoro yokuthumbusa imbobo oyisa emva naphambili enjengomswibela, ama-glue ahlukahlukeneko mhlamunye neempikiri nanyana bezibiza.

Cabanga ngoJesu njengomsanyana abukele ubabakhe wokutholwa asebenza. Arhudule amehlo begodu aqale koke ukusikinyeka okwenziwa nguJesefa, akunakuzaza bona bekakarwa mahlombe neemkhonwakhe enamandla, ikghono lezandla, nokuhlakanipha okusemehlweni. Kungenzeka uJesefa wathoma ukutjengisa indodanakhe eseseyincani ukwenza imisebenzi ebulula njengokukarabha iindawo ezimakghwakghwa esikhunini ngesikhumba sefesi esomileko. Kungenzeka wafundisa uJesu umahluko hlangana neenkuni ezihlukahlukeneko egade azisebenzisa—isibonelo, isikhuni sesikhamore, se-oak namtjhana se-oliva.

Godu uJesu wafunda bona izandla ezinamandla ezikapa imithi, zembele amadrobholo begodu ebezihlanganisa amajoyini wezinto godu bekuzizandla ezithambileko egade zimbamba ziduduze yena, unina nabantwana bakwabo. Iye, uJesefa noMariya bebanomndeni okhulako kamva owaba nabantwana abasithandathu kuhlanganise noJesu. (Matewu 13:55, 56) UJesefa bekufuze  asebenze budisi ukutlhogomela nokondla woke umndenakhe.

Nokho, uJesefa bekazwisisa bona ukutlhogomela iintlhogo zomndenakhe ezingokomoya bekuqakatheke khulu. Ngalokho wasebenzisa isikhathi esinengi ukufundisa abantwabakhe ngoJehova uZimu neeMthethwakhe. Yena noMariya bebabasa qobe esinagogeni langekhabo, lapho uMthetho bewufundwa ngokuzwakalako begodu uhlathululwa. Mhlamunye uJesu bekaneembuzo eemnengi ngemva kwalokho begodu uJesefa walinga ngamandla ukwanelisa indlala engokomoya yomsana lo. Godu uJesefa wasa umndenakhe emigidini yekolo eJerusalema. NgePhasika laqobe mnyaka, kungenzeka uJesefa bekatlhoga iimveke eembili ukukhamba indlela elibanga elimakhilomitha ali-112.65 km, ukuya nokubuya ekugidingeni isenzakalwesi.

Iinhloko zeemndeni yamaKrestu namhlanje zilandela isibonelo esifanako. Ziyazidela ngebanga labantwabazo, zibeka ifundo engokomoya ngaphezu kwananyana yini enye, kuhlanganise nehlalakuhle yezinto eziphathekako. Zenza koke ezingakwenza ukusa abantwabazo emihlanganweni yobuKrestu emincani nemikhulu. NjengoJesefa, ziyazi bona ayikho indlela engcono yokubulungela ikusasa ezingayenzela abantwabazo.

“Sitjhwenyeke Khulu”

UJesu naneemnyaka eli-12 ubudala, uJesefa wasa umndenakhe eJerusalema njengokujayelekileko. BekuyiPhasika, isikhathi semigidi, begodu iimndeni eemkhulu beyikhamba ndawonye ngeemjeje emide eendaweni zemakhaya ezihlaza. Njengombana batjhidela eendaweni ezinganalitho okuhlaza hlanu kweJerusalema eliphakemeko, abanengi bebabhina amaRhalani wokukhwela imibundu. (AmaRhalani 120–134) Kungenzeka bona idorobho belitjharagana ngamakhulu weenkulungwana zabantu. Ngemva kwalokho, iimndeni ngemijejayo beyithoma ukubuyela emakhaya. UJesefa noMariya, mhlamunye banokunengi ebekufuze bakwenze, bacabanga bona uJesu bekakhamba nabanye, mhlambe amalunga womndeni. Kungemva kwelanga elilodwa basukile eJerusalema lapho bayelela khona iqiniso elithusako—uJesu bekalahlekile!—Luka 2:41-44.

Batshwenyekile, babuyela eJerusalema baqala  uJesu kizo zoke iindawo egade bakizo. Cabanga bona bekuthule begodu kuthunana kangangani edorobhenelo njengombana bakhambakhamba eendleleni barhuwelela ibizo lendodanabo. Bekakuphi umsana lo? Ngemva kwelanga lesithathu bafuna, uJesefa wacabanga bona kungenza uhlulekile na ekutlhogomeleni ilifa elicwengilekweli elivela kuJehova? Ekugcineni, baya etempelini. Nebafika lapho bafuna bebafika ewolweni lapho amadoda amanengi azimfundiswa, izazi zoMthetho bewahlangene khona—noJesu omncani ahlezi hlangana nawo! Cabanga bona uJesefa noMariya batjhaphuluka kangangani!—Luka 2:45, 46.

UJesu bekalalele amadoda azimfundiswa layo begodu abuza iimbuzo ngetjiseko. Amadoda la bekararwa kuzwisisa komntwana lo neempendulo zakhe. UMariya noJesefa nabo bebararekile. Ekulandiseni kwendaba le, uJesefa uthulile. Amezwi kaMariya awaveza ngokukhanyako amazizwabo bobabili: “Ndodana yami, ukwenzeleni lokhu kithi na? Mina noyihlo sitshwenyeke khulu sikufuna.”—Luka 2:47, 48.

Ngendlela efitjhani leyo, iLizwi lakaZimu litjengisa ngendlela ekhanyako bona kunjani ukuba mbelethi. Kungagandelela—ngitjho nanyana umntwana aphelele! Ukuba mbelethi ephasini lanamhlanje eliyingozeli kungabangela ‘ukutshwenyeka okukhulu,’ kodwana abobaba nabomma bangaduduzwa kukwazi bona iBhayibhili iyavuma bona baqalene neemraro.

Ngokuthabisako, uJesu wahlala endaweni eyodwa ephasini lapho ezwa khona ukutjhidelana noYise osezulwini, uJehova, ngetjiseko afunda koke angakufunda kuye. Ngalokho waphendula ababelethi bakhe ngendlela elula nokuthembeka: “Beningifunelani na? Beningazi bona kufanele ngibe ngekumbeni kaBaba na?”—Luka 2:49.

Akunakuzaza bona uJesefa wacabanga kanengi ngamezwi layo. Mhlamunye wamomotheka ngokuzikhakhazisa ngawo. Ngaphezu kwakho koke, bekasebenze ngekuthalo ukufundisa indodanakhe yokutholwa bona izizwe njalo ngoJehova uZimu. Ngesikhatheso ekuphileni kwakhe asesemsana, uJesu gade sele anamazizo wamambala ngebizo elithi ‘baba’—amazizo ngokuyihloko enziwa kuhlala kwakhe noJesefa.

Nengabe ungubaba, uyatjheja na bona unelungelo elingangani lokusiza abantwabakho babe nombono wokobana unjani ubaba onethando novikelako? Ngokufanako, nengabe unabantwana abangasibo beengazi namtjhana bokutholwa, khumbula isibonelo sakaJesefa bese uphatha ngamunye njengoqakathekileko noligugu. Basize batjhidele kuBababo osezulwini, uJehova uZimu.

UJesefa Wakghodlhelela Ngokuthembeka

IBhayibhili iveza imikhondo embalwa yokuphila kwakaJesefa, kodwana kuqakathekile bona siyiqalisise. Sifunda bona uJesu “wasolo abalalela abazali bakhe.” Godu sifumana bona “uJesu wakhula ngomzimba nangehlakanipho,  wathandwa nguZimu nabantu.” (Luka 2:51, 52) Amezwi la ambulani ngoJesefa? Izinto ezimbalwa. Sifunda bona uJesefa waragela phambili adosa phambili emndeninakhe, njengombana indodanakhe epheleleko yahlonipha igunya lakayise begodu yaragela phambili izithoba kilo.

Godu sifunda bona uJesu waragela phambili akhula ekuhlakanipheni. Kwamambala uJesefa waba nomthelela omkhulu etuthukweni yendodanakhe ekuhlakaniphenokho. Ngesikhatheso, bekunesaga sekadeni esihlonitjhwako emaJudeni. Besithi babantu abanesikhathi kwaphela abahlakaniphe kwamambala, kodwa abasebenzako njengababazi, abalimi nabasebenza ngesimbi “angekhe bakhupha ubulungisa nesahlulelo; begodu angekhe bafumaneke lapho kukhulunywa khona ngemifanekiso.” Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, uJesu waveza ukuba mamala kwesageso. Nekasesemsana, qala bona wamuzwa kanengi kangangani uyise wokutholwa afundisa ‘ngobulungisa nangesahlulelo’ sakaJehova ngokuphumelelako ngitjho nanyana bekambazi ophasi! Akunakuzaza bona wamuzwa enza njalo iinkhathi ezimbalwa.

Godu sibona nobufakazi bomthelela kaJesefa ekukhuleni kwakaJesu okungokomzimba. Bekamsana otlhogonyelwe kuhle, wakhula waba yindoda enamandla nephile kuhle. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJesefa wabandula indodanakhe bona ibe nekghono emsebenzinayo wezandla. UJesu bekangaziwa njengendodana yombazi kwaphela kodwana ‘nanjengombazi.’ (Markosi 6:3) Ngalokho ukubandula kwakaJesefa kwaphumelela. Iinhloko zeemndeni ngokuhlakanipha zilingisa uJesefa, zitlhogomela ukukhula kuhle kwabantwabazo begodu ziqinisekise bona bangakwazi ukuzitjheja.

Nesifika endabeni lapho uJesu abhabhadiswa khona aneemnyaka ema-30 ubudala eBhayibhilini, sifumana bona uJesefa akusakhulunywa ngaye endabeni le. Ubufakazi butjengisa bona uMariya besele amhlolokazi lokha uJesu nathoma ikonzwakhe. (Qala ibhoksi elithi “Wahlongakala Nini UJesefa?” ekhasini 27.) Nanyana kunjalo, uJesefa watjhiya itshwayo elikhanyako—isibonelo esihle sakababa owavikela umndenakhe, wawutlhogomela begodu wakghodlhelela ngokuthembeka bekwaba semaswapheleni. Nanyana ngimuphi ubaba, nanyana ngiyiphi ihloko yomndeni namtjhana ngimuphi omunye umKrestu, bangenza kuhle nebangalingisa ikholo lakaJesefa.

[Imitlolo yaphasi]

[Ibhoksi elisekhasini 27]

Wahlongakala Nini UJesefa?

Siyazi bona uJesefa gade asaphila uJesu nekaneemnyaka eli-12. Eemnyakeni leyo amaJuda amanengi asesematjha bekathoma ukufunda iimsebenzi yaboyise bese ayokusebenza ngaphandle kwekhaya nekaneemnyaka eli-15. Kungenzeka bona uJesefa waphila isikhathi eside ngokwaneleko ukufundisa uJesu bonyana abe mbazi. UJesefa bekasaphila na uJesu nekathoma ikonzwakhe pheze nekaneemnyaka ema-30? Kubonakala kungasinjalo. Unina lakaJesu, abanakwabo nabodadwabo boke kukhulunywa ngabo njengabaphilako ngesikhatheso, kodwana uJesefa akukhulunywa ngaye. UJesu wakhe wabizwa bona ‘yindodana kaMariya’ ingasi indodana kaJesefa. (Markosi 6:3) UMariya kukhulunywa ngaye njengowenza izinto nozenzela iinqunto, ngaphandle kokukhuluma nendodakwakhe. (Jwanisi 2:1-5) Lokhu bekungakajayeleki ngeenkhathi zeBhayibhili ngaphandle kobana umuntu amhlolokazi. Ekugcineni, njengombana selafa, uJesu watjela umpostoli uJwanisi bona atlhogomele unina. (Jwanisi 19:26, 27) Lokho bekungekhe kutlhogeke nengabe uJesefa gade asaphila. Kuyakhanya bona uJesefa wahlongakala uJesu asesemncani. Njengendodana ekulu, ngokunganakuzaza uJesu wathatha ibhizinisi kayise yokubaza begodu watlhogomela bekhabo bekwaba sekubhabhadisweni kwakhe.

[Isithombe ekhasini 24]

UJesefa wathatha isiqunto ngokungazazi nangokuzidela ukuvikela umntwanakhe

[Isithombe ekhasini 25]

UJesefa wasebenza budisi ukutlhogomela umndenakhe

[Isithombe ekhasini 26]

UJesefa bekasa umndenakhe qobe bona uyokukhuleka etempelini eJerusalema

[Isithombe ekhasini 28]

UJesefa wabandula indodanakhe bona ibe mbazi