1. Hlathulula indlela uMarta ebekazizwa ngayo, nokobana kubayini ebekazizwa ngendlela leyo.

 UMARTA bekalibona ngelihlo lengqondo—ithuna lomfowabo, irharha elivalwe ngelitje emnyango. Bekazizwa athwele umthwalo obudisi njengelitjelo. Bekangakholwa bona umfowabo amthandako uLazaro akasekho. Amalanga amane ahlongakele bekubudisi khulu, iimvakatjhi ezililako nabantu abazokutjhiriya bebangena bangenile.

2, 3. (a) Ukubona uJesu kungenzeka kwamthinta njani uMarta? (b) Amezwi kaMarta aqakathekileko atjengisani ngaye?

² Umuntu ebekajame eqadi kwakaMarta bekuyindoda emngani omkhulu kaLazaro. Ukubona uJesu kungenzeka kwamvusela amanceba ngombana uJesu bekukuphela komuntu ephasini mazombe obekangaphulusa umfowabo. Nanyana kunjalo, uMarta watjhiriyeka ngokuba noJesu ngaphandle komuzana weBhethaniya oseqadi kombundu loyo. Ngemva kwemizuzwana anaye, waduduzwa bewakhuthazwa mumusa nesirhawu sakhe. Wambuza imibuzo eyamsiza wadzimelela ekholweni neenkolelweni zakhe ngevuko. Ingcocwabo yarholela uMarta bona atjho amanye wamezwakhe aqakatheke khulu kinanyana ngimaphi akhe wawatjho: “Ngiyakholwa bona unguKrestu, iNdodana kaZimu, ebekufanele ize ephasini.”—Jwa. 11:27.

³ Njengombana amezwi layo atjengisa, uMarta bekamfazi wekholo elikhethekileko. Lokho okuncani iBhayibhili esitjela khona ngaye kusifundisa iimfundo ezinamandla ezingasisiza siqinise ikholo lethu. Ukubona bonyana kubayini kunjalo, akhe sicabangele ukulandisa kokuthoma okuseBhayibhilini ngoMarta.

4. Ngiyiphi indlela ikhaya lakaMarta ebelirara ngayo, begodu bebunjani ubuhlobo bakaJesu nomndeni lo?

⁴ Iinyanga ezimbalwa ngaphambidlana, uLazaro bekaphile njengotjheleni. Ekhabo eBhethaniya bekuzokufika umyeni oqakatheke khulu, uJesu Krestu. ULazaro, uMarta noMariya bebamndeni orarako —abantwana bomuntu abathathu abakhulileko bahlala ndawonye. Abanye abarhubhululi balinganisa bona kungenzeka uMarta bekalizibulo, njengombana kubonakala kunguye omukela abayeni begodu ngezinye iinkhathi kukhulunywa ngaye ntanzi. (Jwa. 11:5) Ayikho indlela esingazi ngayo bona kwabathathwaba kukhona owakhe watjhada na. Kinanyana ngikuphi, baba bangani bakaJesu abaseduze. Phakathi nekonzwakhe eJudiya, lapho ahlangana khona nokuphikiswa okunengi nelunya, uJesu wahlala nabo ekhabo. Akunakuzaza bona walithabela khulu ikhaya elinokuthula nokusekeleli.

5, 6. (a) Kubayini bekunguMarta otinazela ngokukhethekileko ngesikhathi sokuvakatjha kwakaJesu ngesikhatheso? (b) UMariya wenzani uJesu nekavakatjhele ekhabo?

⁵ Kunengi uMarta ebekakwenza bona ikhayeli libe ngelithokomeleko nelamukela abayeni. Atinazela begodu akhuthele, kanengi bekahlala aphasi phezulu. Ngesikhathi sokuvakatjha kwakaJeswesi, wenza adume ngakho. Msinyana wahlela isidlo esikhethekileko esinomhlobohlobo wokudla kwesivakatjhi esikhethekilekwesi mhlamunye nabantu egade sikhamba nabo. Ngesikhatheso, ukwamukela abayeni bekuqakatheke khulu. Isivakatjhi nesifikako, besilotjhiswa ngokumangwa, sikhitjhwe amapatlagwana, sihlanjiswe iinyawo, ihlokwaso itjhatjhwe ngamafutha aqabulako nanuka kamnandi. (Funda uLuka 7:44-47.) Besilungiselwa indawo ehle nokudla okumnandi.

⁶ UMarta noMariya bebatinazela balungiselela ukuvakatjha kwakaJesu. UMariya, ngezinye iinkhathi obekacatjangelwa njengothinteka msinyana nocabangisisako kwababilaba, ngokuqinisekileko wathoma wasiza udadwabo. Kodwana uJesu nekafikako, izinto zagaya ngomunye umhlathi. UJesu wasebenzisa isikhathesi njengethuba lokufundisa—wafundisa-ke! Ngokungafani nabadosi phambili beenkolo bangesikhatheso, uJesu bekabahlonipha abafazi begodu akulungele ukubafundisa ngomBuso kaZimu, okusihloko sekonzwakhe. UMariya walibamba ngazo zombili ithubeli, wahlala ngeenyaweni zakhe wadobha koke uJesu ebekakutjho.

7, 8. Kubayini uMarta ahlangahlangana, begodu ekugcineni wakutjengisa njani lokho?

⁷ Singacabanga ngokuhlangahlangana kwakaMarta. Kikho koke ukudla okufuze akupheke, umsebenzi okufuze awenzele isivakatjhi, watshwenyeka bewawurubajeka khulu. Njengombana ehla anyuka abona udadwabo ahlezi lapho angenzi litho ukumsiza, kghani waphefumulela phezulu, wakhwinyisa? Bengekhe kusirare lokho. Bengekhe enze woke umsebenzi lo ayedwa!

⁸ Ekugcineni, uMarta wabhalelwa kuzibamba. Wathikazisa uJesu, waphahluka: ‘Kosi, awutshwenyeki bona udadwethu ungiliselele  ngomsebenzi omkhulu kangaka na? Mtjele bona azongisiza.’ (Luka 10:40) Amezwi la, bekahlaba. Amatjhugululo amanengi umbuzwakhe lo awubeka bunje: “Kosi, awutshwenyeki . . . ?” Wabawa uJesu bona akhalime uMariya, amtjele bona ayomsiza.

9, 10. (a) UJesu wamphendula njani uMarta? (b) Sazi njani bona uJesu bekanganyazi ukusebenza kwakaMarta budisi ukulungiselela ukudla?

⁹ Ipendulo kaJesu kungenzeka yamrara uMarta, njengombana irara nabafundi beBhayibhili abanengi kusukela lokho. Wathi: “Marta, Marta, uyahlubayezeka utshwenyeka ngezinto ezinengi, kodwana kunye kwaphela okufunekako: UMariya ukhethe okungikho, yeke angekhe kwasuswa kuye.” (Luka 10:41, 42) Bekatjho ukuthini uJesu? Bekatjho bona uMarta uthanda izinto eziphathekako? Bekanyaza umsebenzakhe obudisi wokulungiselela ukudla okumnandi?

¹⁰ Awa. UJesu wabona bonyana umnqopho kaMarta bewungewethando begodu uhlanzekile. Ngaphezu kwalokho, bekangatjho bona ukwamukela iimvakatjhi ngokukhethekileko bekukumbi ngokwakho. Ngesinye isikhathi ngaphambidlana ngokuzithandela waya ‘emnyanyeni omkhulu’ kwaMatewu. (Luk 5:29) Umraro bekungasikukudla kwakaMarta; kunalokho, bekuzizinto eziza qangi kuye. Ngalokho bekaqale ukudla kwakhe okuphambili kangangobana walahlekelwa mbono wezinto eziqakatheke khulu. Bekuyini leyo?

11, 12. UJesu wamphosulula njani uMarta ngesineke?

¹¹ UJesu, okukuphela kweNdodana kaJehova uZimu, bekasekhabo likaMarta ukufundisa iqiniso. Beyingekho into, kubandakanye ukudla kwakhe okumnandi nokukulungiselela obekuqakatheke ukudlula lokho. Ngokunganakuzaza uJesu bekadaniswe kulahlekelwa kwakaMarta lithuba elikhethekilekweli lokuqinisa ikholo lakhe, kodwana wamlisa wazikhethela. a Nokho, bekungenye into ngoMarta ukubawa uJesu bona akatelele uMariya bona naye alahlekelwe lithubeli.

¹² Ngalokho waphosulula uMarta ngesineke, abuyelela ibizo lakhe ngesineke bona amehlise umoya, begodu wamqinisekisa bona akutlhogeki ‘ahlubayele abe atshwenyeke ngezinto ezinengi.’ Wathi kunye kwaphela okufunekako, khulukhulu ngesikhathi  sokudla okungokomoya. Bekungakafuzi amuke uMariya “okungikho” akukhethileko—ukufunda kuJesu!

13. Sifundani endleleni uJesu aphosulula ngayo uMarta?

¹³ Isenzakalo sekhaya esincanesi singabafundisa likhulu abalandeli bakaKrestu namhlanje. Akukafuzi sivumele nanyana yini bona iminyanise ‘ukutlhaga kwethu emoyeni.’ (Mat. 5:3) Njengombana sifuna ukulingisa ukuphana nokukhuthala kwakaMarta, asifuni ‘ukuhlubayela nokutshwenyeka’ ngezinto ezingatjho litho endleleni yokwamukela abayeni besilahlekelwe yinto eqakatheke khulu. Sihlangana nesikholwa nabo, ingasi ngokuyihloko bona siphane namtjhana samukele ukudla okuphuma phambili, kodwana khulukhulu bona sikhuthazane siphane izipho  ezingokomoya. (Funda amaRoma 1:11, 12.) Ngitjho nanyana siphana ngokudla okujayelekileko, ukuhlangana kwethu kungaba ngokukhuthazako.

14. Kubayini singaqiniseka bona uMarta wasibekela isibonelo esihle ngokwamukela ukululekwa?

¹⁴ UMarta wasamukela na isiluleko sakaJesu sesineke begodu wafunda kiso? Siyazi bona wasamukela. Umpostoli uJwanisi nekathula ukulandisa okuthabisako ngomfowabo kaMarta, uyasikhumbuza: ‘UJesu bekamthanda uMarta, udadwabo kanye noLazaro.’ (Jwa. 11:5) Sekudlule iinyanga solo uJesu avakatjha eBhethaniya okucocwe ngakho ngehla. Ngokukhanyako, uMarta akhenge adubhule umlomo; akhenge abambele uJesu amavunda ngokumluleka kwakhe. Wakwamukela. Nakilokhu, wasibekela isibonelo sekholo esihle, ngombana ngubani phakathi kwethu ongathi akakutlhogi ukukhalinyelwa ngezinye iinkhathi?

15, 16. (a) UMarta wenzani umfowabo nekagulako? (b) Kubayini uMarta noMariya baphelelwa lithemba?

¹⁵ Umfowabo nekathoma ukugula, siyaqiniseka bona uMarta bekaphasi phezulu amtlhogomela. Wenza koke angakwenza ukumsiza bona abe ngcono. Nanyana kunjalo, umlambo wathwala iingodo. Kikho koke ukugula kwakhe, abodadwabo bebasolo banaye. Cabanga bona kukanengi kangangani uMarta abukela ubuso bomfowabo obuwohlokako, akhumbula iminyaka eminengi bandawonye, bahlangayela ithabo neenhlungu ndawonye!

¹⁶ Nekubonakala kwanga uLazaro uzokufa, uMarta noMariya bathumela umlayezo kuJesu. Bekatjhumayela endaweni ekude elikhambo lamalanga amabili. Umlayezwabo bewulula: “Kosi, umngani wakho othandekako uyagula.” (Jwa. 11:1, 3) Bebazi bona uJesu uyamthanda umfowabo, begodu bebakholwa bona uzokwenza nanyana yini angayenza ukusiza umnganakhe lo. Inga-kghani bebanethemba lokobana uJesu angafika kusesenesikhathi? Nengabe kunjalo, bebabethe phasi. ULazaro wafa.

17. Khuyini eyahlangahlanganisa uMarta, begodu wenzani nekezwa bona uJesu selaseduze?

¹⁷ Bobabili uMarta noMariya balilela umfowabo, benza amalungiselelo womngcwabo banabantu abanengi beBhethaniya nendawo ebabhodileko abazobatjhiriya. Nanyana kunjalo, akhenge bezwe litho ngoJesu. UMarta kungenzeka wahlangahlangana khulu njengombana isikhathi sikhamba. Emaswapheleni, emalangeni amane ngemva kokuhlongakala kwakaLazaro, uMarta wezwa bona uJesu selaseduze. Njengombana amfazi okhutheleko, ngitjho nangesikhathi  samatlhuwesi, msinyana uMarta wakhamba wayokuhlangabeza uJesu angakamtjeli uMariya.—Funda uJwanisi 11:18-20.

18, 19. Ngiliphi ithemba uMarta ebekanalo, begodu kubayini ikholo lakhe belikhethekile?

¹⁸ UMarta nekabona iKosakhe, wayitjela into ebesekumalangana ibatshwenya banoMariya: “Kosi, ngathana gade ulapha, umfowethu ngangakafi!” Kodwana uMarta bekasenethemba nekholo lokobana uJesu angenza okuthileko. Wangezelela: “Kodwana ngiyazi bona uZimu uzakupha namtjhana yini oyibawako.” Khonokho uJesu watjho okuthileko ukuqinisa ikholo lakhe: ‘Umfowenu uzakuvuka.’—Jwa. 11:21-23.

¹⁹ UMarta bekacabanga bona uJesu ukhuluma ngevuko lesikhathi esizako, ngalokho waphendula: “Ngiyazi uzavuka aphile godu ngomhla wokuphela.” (Jwa. 11:24) Ikholo lakhe evukweni belikhethekile. Abanye abadosi phambili bekolo yamaJuda, ababizwa  bona baSadusi, bebangakholelwa evukweni, nanyana bekuyifundiso ekhanya bha emiTlolweni ephefumulelweko. (Dan. 12:13; Mar. 12:18) Nokho, uMarta bekazi bona uJesu wafundisa ngethemba levuko begodu wavusa nabathileko—nanyana angazange akhe avuse umuntu esekumalangana afa njengoLazaro. Bekangazi bona yini ezokwenzeka.

20. Hlathulula lokho okutjhiwo mamezwi kaJesu angalibalekiko atlolwe kuJwanisi 11:25-27 nependulo kaMarta.

²⁰ UJesu watjho amezwi angalibalekiko: “Ngingukuvuka nokuphila.” Kwamambala, uJehova uZimu unikele iNdodanakhe amandla wokuvusa abafileko ephasini mazombe esikhathini esizako. UJesu wabuza uMarta: “Uyakukholwa lokhu na?” UMarta wanikela ipendulo esicoce ngayo ekuthomeni kwesahlukwesi. Bekakholwa bona uJesu unguKrestu, nofana uMesiya, bona uyiNdodana kaJehova uZimu, nokobana ungiloyo abaporofidi ababikezela bona uzokuza ephasini.—Jwa. 5:28, 29; funda uJwanisi 11:25-27.

21, 22. (a) UJesu wawaveza njani amazizwakhe kwabalilako? (b) Hlathulula ivuko lakaLazaro.

²¹ UJehova uZimu neNdodanakhe uJesu Krestu baliqala njengeliqakathekileko na ikholo elifana nelakaMarta? Into eyenzeka phambi kwamehlo kaMarta yanikela ipendulo ekhanyako. Msinyana wayokubiza udadwabo. Ngemva kwalokho, wabona bona uJesu utlhuwe khulu njengombana akhuluma noMariya nabantu abanengi ebebalila. Wabona kwehla iinyembezi emehlwenakhe njengombana angakhenge afihle ubuhlungu abuzwako obubangelwa kukufa. Wezwa uJesu athi kugedwe ilitje ebelisemnyango wethuna lomfowabo.—Jwa. 11:28-39.

²² Atjho kufanele, uMarta wala wathi isidumbu kufuze bona sesinuka nje, njengombana besele kumalanga amane ahlongakele. UJesu wamkhumbuza: “Azange ngikutjele bona uzabona iphazimulo kaZimu nawukholwako na?” Wakholwa, begodu wayibona iphazimulo kaJehova uZimu. Khonokho, khonapho, wanikela iNdodanakhe amandla wokuvusa uLazaro! Cabanga ngezinto okumelwe bona zahlala emkhumbulweni kaMarta ukuphila kwakhe koke: ukubiza kwakaJesu, “Lazaro, phuma!”; kwazwakala itjhadanyana ethuneni lapho uLazaro ebekabulungwe khona njengombana avuka, asaphuthelwe ngamatjhila asetjenziselwa ukubulunga, kabuthaka eza emnyango wethuna; uJesu wathi “bamtjhaphulule bamlise akhambe”; singacabanga ngethabo elaba khona njengombana uMarta noMariya baya ezandleni zomfowabo. (Funda uJwanisi 11:40-44.) Ilitje ebelisemahlombe kaMarta lasuka!

23. Khuyini uJehova noJesu abafuna ukukwenzela yona, begodu khuyini okufuze uyenze?

²³ Ukulandisokhu kutjengisa bona ukuvuswa kwabafileko akusisifiso  esingatjho litho kwaphela; yifundiso yeBhayibhili eduduzako nefakazelwa mlando. (Job. 14:14, 15) UJehova neNdodanakhe bayakuthabela ukuvuza abakholwako, njengombana benza endabeni kaMarta, uMariya noLazaro. Nawe bakubekele umvuzo onjalo nengabe wakha ikholo eliqinileko.

24. Ngiyiphi into yokugcina iBhayibhili eyitjhoko ngoMarta?

²⁴ Umlando weBhayibhili ukhuluma ngoMarta ihlandla lokugcina. Bekusekuthomeni kweveke yokugcina yokuphila kwakaJesu ephasini. Azi kuhle ngobudisi azokuqalana nabo, uJesu godu wakhetha ukuya eBhethaniya. Nekalapho bekazokukhamba amakhilomitha amathathu ukuya eJesusalema. UJesu noLazaro bebayokudla emzini kaSimoni umlepheru, lapho kulapha sifumana kukhulunywa khona kokugcina ngoMarta: “UMarta wasiza ukuphakulula.”—Jwa. 12:2.

25. Kubayini kusibusiso namhlanje emabandleni ukuba nabafazi abafana noMarta?

²⁵ Umfazi lo wenza into adume ngayo! Nesithoma ukuzwa ngaye eBhayibhilini, uyasebenza; nesizwa ngaye ihlandla lokugcina, usasebenza, wenza koke angakwenza ukutlhogomela iintlhogo zalabo abanaye. Amabandla wabalandeli bakaKrestu namhlanje abusiswe ngokuba nabafazi abafana noMarta—abanesibindi nabaphanako, ngaso soke isikhathi batjengisa ikholo labo ngezenzo nangokuzidela. Inga-kghani uMarta waragela phambili enza khona lokho? Kubonakala ngasuthi kunjalo. Nengabe kunjalo, wenza ngokuhlakanipha, ngombana ikholo lakhe belizomsiza bona akghodlhelele naphezu kobunzima.

26. Ikholo lakaMarta lamsiza bona enzeni?

²⁶ Ngemva kwamalanga ambalwa, uMarta bekufuze aqalane nokubulawa ngesihluku kweKosakhe ethandekako, uJesu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ababulali abafanako ababazenzisi ababulala uJesu bebafuna ukubulala noLazaro, njengombana ukuvuswa kwakhe bekuqinisa ikholo labanengi. (Funda uJwanisi 12:9-11.) Liqiniso, ekugcineni ukufa kwahlukanisa uMarta nabantwana bakwabo. Asazi bona lokho kwenzeka njani, nini, kodwana naku esiqiniseka ngakho: Ikholo lakaMarta eliqinileko lamsiza wabekezela bekwaba sekugcineni. Ngikho amaKrestu namhlanje enza kuhle ngokulingisa ikholo lakaMarta.