1-3. Zeziphi izinto ezaye zenza ukufa kukaYesu akwafana nokwabanye abantu?

 NGENYE imini, kwiminyaka ephantse ibe yi-2 000 eyadlulayo, indoda emsulwa yagwetyelwa ityala engalenzanga, yaza yabulawa ngeyona ndlela ebuhlungu. Yayingekokokuqala, futhi ngelishwa ingekokokugqibela kubulawa umntu ngenkohlakalo nangendlela engenabulungisa ngolu hlobo. Kodwa, ukufa kwale ndoda kwakungafani nokufa kwabany’ abantu.

² Kwiiyure zokugqibela zokungcungcutheka kwayo, kwenzeka into engaqhelekanga tu esibhakabhakeni eyenza abantu baqonda indlela ekwakubaluleke ngayo ukufa kwale ndoda. Kwathi kusemini emaqanda, suke kwamnyama thsu kwelo lizwe. Uthi omny’ umbhali weBhayibhile, “ilanga layeka ukukhanya.” (Luka 23:44, 45) Emva koko, ngaphambi kokuba iphefumle okokugqibela le ndoda, yathetha amazwi angalibalekiyo athi: “Kugqityiwe!” Ngokuncama ubomi bayo, le ndoda yafeza into emangalisa nyhani. Ukuncama kwayo ubomi bayo yayilolona thando lukhulu ekungekho mntu owakha walwenza.—Yohane 15:13; 19:30.

³ Njengokuba usazi, loo ndoda nguYesu Kristu. Abantu abaninzi emhlabeni wonke bakha beva ngendlela uYesu awaphathwa kabuhlungu nawabulawa ngayo ngoNisan 14, 33 C.E. Kodwa kukho enye into ebalulekileyo abangayaziyo. Ewe kona uYesu weva ubuhlungu kakhulu, kodwa kukho nomnye umntu owayebuhlungu nyhani. Loo mntu wancama eyona nto inkulu, wabonisa uthando ekungekho mntu owakha walubonisa ngaphambili. Wenza ntoni? Impendulo yalo mbuzo iza kusifundisa ngolona phawu lubalulekileyo lukaYehova, uthando lwakhe.

4. Ijoni laseRoma labona njani ukuba uYesu wayengengomntu oqhelekileyo, futhi elo joni lagqiba ngelithini?

⁴ Ijoni laseRoma elaliququzelela ukubulawa kukaYesu lothuswa bubumnyama obabakho ngaphambi kokufa kukaYesu nayinyikima enkulu eyabakho emva kokufa kwakhe. Lathi: “Ngokuqinisekileyo lo ibinguNyana kaThixo.” (Mateyu 27:54) Ngokucacileyo, uYesu wayengengomntu oqhelekileyo. Elo joni laliququzelele ukubulawa koNyana okuphela kozelweyo wOyena Thixo Uphakamileyo! UTata wayemthanda kangakanani kanye kanye lo Nyana?

5. UYehova noNyana wakhe babehleli kunye ixesha elingakanani ezulwini?

⁵ IBhayibhile ithi “kwaqala kwadalwa [uYesu] kuyo yonke indalo.” (Kolose 1:15) Le nto ithetha ukuba uNyana kaYehova wayekho ngaphambi kokuba kudalwe iinkwenkwezi. Ngoko, uTata noNyana baphila kunye ixesha elingakanani? Abanye oososayensi bakholelwa ukuba iinkwenkwezi zineminyaka eyi-13 bhiliyoni zikho. Lixesha ekunzima nokulicingela elo! Kodwa ke, ukuba oososayensi bachanile, loo nto ithetha ukuba unyana kaYehova ebekho ixesha elingaphezulu kakhulu kwiminyaka eyi-13 bhiliyoni. Wayesenza ntoni lonke elo xesha?

6. (a) Wayesenza ntoni uNyana kaYehova ezulwini ngaphambi kokuba eze emhlabeni? (b) Lunjani uthando olukhoyo phakathi kukaYehova noNyana wakhe?

⁶ UNyana wayekuvuyela ukusebenza noTata wakhe “njengomsebénzi onobuchule.” (IMizekeliso 8:30) IBhayibhile ithi: “Akukho nenye into eyabakho ngaphandle [koNyana].” (Yohane 1:3) Ngoko uYehova noNyana wakhe babesebenza kunye ekwenzeni zonke ezinye izinto. Babekuvuyela nyhani ukusebenza kunye! Sonke siyazi ukuba uthando oluphakathi komzali nomntwana luqine ngendlela emangalisayo. Eny’ into, uthando “lubamanyanisa ngokupheleleyo abantu.” (Kolose 3:14) Kuba uYehova noNyana wakhe babekunye ixesha elide kakhulu, asinakukwazi nokuzama ukuyicingela indlela ababethandana ngayo! Kucacile ukuba, uYehova uThixo noNyana wakhe bamanyaniswe luthando olomelele ngendlela engazange ibonwe ngaphambili.

7. Xa uYesu wabhaptizwayo, uYehova wayibonisa njani indlela avakalelwa ngayo ngoNyana wakhe?

 ⁷ Nangona uYehova wayemthanda kakhulu unyana wakhe wamthumela apha emhlabeni ukuze azalwe njengosana. UTata noNyana wakhe babesondelelene nyhani ezulwini, kodwa uYehova kwafuneka akuncame ukuhlala naye kangangeminyaka engaphezu kweyi-30. Wayembukele ngomdla esezulwini njengoko ekhula esiba yindoda egqibeleleyo. Xa uYesu wayeneminyaka emalunga neyi-30, wabhaptizwa. UYehova wavakalelwa njani ngoNyana wakhe? Wathetha esezulwini wathi: “Lo nguNyana wam endimthandayo, nondivuyisayo.” (Mateyu 3:17) UYesu wenza yonk’ into eyayiprofetiwe ngaye, nayo yonk’ into uYehova awayefuna ayenze. Loo nto imele ukuba yamvuyisa nyhani uTata wakhe!—Yohane 5:36; 17:4.

8, 9. (a) Waphathwa njani uYesu ngoNisan 14, 33 C.E., futhi waziva njani uTata wakhe wasezulwini? (b) Kwakutheni ukuze uYehova avumele ukuba uNyana wakhe abulawe kabuhlungu?

⁸ Kodwa, wavakalelwa njani uYehova ngoNisan 14, 33 C.E.? Wavakalelwa njani xa uYesu wajikelwa waza wabanjwa ligquba labantu ngobusuku? Xa washiywa ngabahlobo bakhe waza wamangalelwa ngokungekho mthethweni? Uthini ngexesha kuhlekiswa ngaye, etshicelwa, ebethwa nangamanqindi? Wavakalelwa njani xa wayetywatyushwa, umqolo wakhe ugcwele imivumbo? Naxa wayebethelelwa izandla neenyawo esibondeni waza washiywa ejinga apho, abantu behlekisa ngaye? Uyayicinga indlela uTata awayeziva ngayo xa uNyana wakhe amthandayo wayekhalela kuye epenapena ziintlungu? Waziva njani uYehova xa uYesu wayephefumla okokugqibela, waza okokuqala ngqa, akabikho lo Nyana Wakhe amthandayo?—Mateyu 26:14-16, 46, 47, 56, 59, 67; 27:38-44, 46; Yohane 19:1.

⁹ Asinakukwazi ukuyichaza indlela uYehova awaba buhlungu ngayo xa wabona uNyana wakhe ebulawa kabuhlungu. Kodwa into nakanjani esinokukwazi ukuyichaza sisizathu sokuba uYehova ayivumele loo nto ukuba yenzeke. Kwakutheni ukuze uTata azivumele ukuba ave loo ntlungu engako? UYehova uveza into emangalisayo kuYohane 3:16. Ndlela le ibaluleke ngayo le vesi abanye bade bathi ishwankathela iindaba ezilungileyo  ezingoYesu. Ithi: “UThixo walithanda kakhulu ihlabathi kangangokuba wanikela ngoNyana wakhe ekuphela kwamzeleyo, ukuze wonke umntu ozikholelwayo izinto azifundisayo aze azenze, angatshabalali, kodwa afumane ubomi obungunaphakade.” Ngoko eyona nto yayimqhuba uYehova luthando. Isipho sikaYehova, esikukuthumela kwakhe uNyana wakhe ukuze aphathwe kabuhlungu aze afe ngenxa yethu, yayilolona thando lukhulu ekungekho mntu wakha walubonisa.

10. Yintoni edingwa ngabantu, futhi kwenzeke ntoni kwinto ethethwa ligama elithi “uthando”?

¹⁰ Lithetha ukuthini eli gama lithi “uthando”? Abaninzi bathi uthando yeyona nto bayidinga kakhulu abantu. Ukususela ekuzalweni kuse ekufeni, abantu bafuna uthando, bayonwaba xa bethandwa, futhi bade bafe xa bengalufumani. Kodwa ke lubaluleke lunjalo, luyinto ekunzima kakhulu ukuyicacisa. Kakade abantu bathetha kakhulu ngothando. Kukho iincwadi ezininzi, iingoma nemibongo ethetha ngalo. Kodwa loo nto ayibancedanga abantu baluqonda ukuba luyintoni kanye kanye uthando. Phofu, ngendlela elisetyenziswe kakhulu ngayo eli gama kude akwabi sacaca nokuba lithetha ukuthini kanye kanye.

11, 12. (a) IBhayibhile isifundisa njani ukuba uthando luyintoni? (b) Zeziphi iintlobo zothando ezazicaciswa ngamagama ahlukahlukeneyo ngesiGrike sakudala, futhi leliphi igama elithetha “uthando” elisetyenziswe kakhulu kwiZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike? (Jonga nombhalo osemazantsi.) (c) IZibhalo zisikrobisa ukuba lidla ngokuthetha ukuthini igama elithi a·gaʹpe?

¹¹ Kodwa ke, iBhayibhile isicacisela kakuhle ukuba uthando luyintoni. IExpository Dictionary of New Testament Words kaVine ithi: “Uthando lubonakala ngezenzo.” Ininzi into esiyixelelwa yiBhayibhile ngendlela uYehova awaba nothando nobubele ngayo ebantwini. Ngokomzekelo, yeyiphi enye indlela ebinokulwenza lucace gca uthando lukaYehova ngaphezu kokunikela ngoNyana wakhe? Kwizahluko ezilandelayo, siza kubona eminye imizekelo emininzi yezenzo zothando zikaYehova. Kanti kukho into esinokuyifunda nakumagama olwimi eyayibhalwe ngalo iBhayibhile aguqulelwe ngokuthi “uthando.” KwisiGrike sakudala, kwakukho  amagama amane awayethetha “uthando.” a Kula magama, elona lisetyenziswe kakhulu kwiZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike lelithi a·gaʹpe. Esinye isichazi-magama seBhayibhile sithi “lelona gama linamandla sinokulicinga elicacisa uthando.” Ngoba?

¹² Ngendlela elisetyenziswe ngayo eBhayibhileni, igama elithi a·gaʹpe lisenza sicinge ngothando olulawulwa ngumgaqo. Ngoko aluphelelanga kwindlela esivakalelwa ngayo ngomnye umntu. Sikhetha ukuba nolu thando ebantwini bonke kuba sisazi ukuba leyo yinto entle esinokuyenza. Okubaluleke nakakhulu kukuba, umntu onolu hlobo lothando akazicingeli yedwa. Ngokomzekelo, khawuphinde ujonge uYohane 3:16. Leliphi “ihlabathi” uThixo awalithanda kangangokuba wada wanikela ngoNyana wakhe okuphela kwamzeleyo? Ngabo bonke abantu abanokuncedwa yintlawulelo kaYesu. Abaninzi kubo basaphila ngendlela angayithandiyo uThixo. Ngaba uYehova uthanda mntu ngamnye njengomhlobo wakhe osondeleyo, ngendlela awayethanda ngayo uAbraham othembekileyo? (Yakobi 2:23) Akunjalo, kodwa ngothando uYehova wenza izinto ezilungileyo kubo bonke abantu, ade axolele ukulahlekelwa kakhulu. Ufuna ukuba bonke baguquke baze batshintshe iindlela zabo. (2 Petros 3:9) Abaninzi bayayenza loo nto, futhi uyakuvuyela ukubavumela babe ngabahlobo bakhe.

13, 14. Yintoni ebonisa ukuba uthando lobuKristu ludla ngokukhatshwa ziimvakalelo?

¹³ Kodwa ke, abanye bayicinga ngendlela engeyiyo into ethethwa yiBhayibhile xa isebenzisa igama elithi a·gaʹpe. Bacinga ukuba lithetha uthando olufuna ingqondo nje kuphela, olungakhatshwa ziimvakalelo. Kodwa uthando lobuKristu lusoloko luhamba neemvakalelo. Ngokomzekelo, xa uYohane wathi,  “uTata uyamthanda uNyana,” wasebenzisa igama elithathwe kwelithi a·gaʹpe. (Yohane 3:35) Ngaba luthando olungenazimvakalelo olo? Akunjalo. Phawula ukuba xa uYohane wabhala amazwi kaYesu athi, “uTata umthanda kakhulu uNyana,” kuYohane 5:20, wasebenzisa igama elithathwe kwelithi phi·leʹo, elithetha ukuba “uyavakalelwa ngaye.” Uthando lukaYehova ludla ngokuhamba neemvakalelo. Kodwa ke, uthando lwakhe alukhokelwa ziimvakalelo nje kuphela. Lusoloko lukhokelwa yimigaqo yakhe yobulumko neyobulungisa.

¹⁴ Njengoko sibonile, zonke iimpawu zikaYehova zibalasele, zigqibelele, futhi zinomtsalane. Kodwa uthando lolona lunomtsalane kunazo zonke. Ayikho into esitsalela ngamandla kuYehova njengalo. Into evuyisayo kukuba, uthando lukwalolona phawu lwakhe luhamba phambili kunazo zonke. Siyazi njani loo nto?

15. Yintoni iBhayibhile eyithethayo ngothando lukaYehova engayithethiyo ngezinye iimpawu zakhe? (Jonga nombhalo osemazantsi.)

¹⁵ Kukho into iBhayibhile eyithethayo ngothando engayithethiyo ngezinye iimpawu eziphambili zikaYehova. IZibhalo azitsho ukuba uThixo ungamandla okanye uThixo ububulungisa okanye uThixo ububulumko. Ziimpawu anazo ezo, zisuka kuye, futhi akukho mntu umogqithayo kuzo zontathu. Kodwa iBhayibhile ithetha into eyahlukileyo ngolu phawu lwesine. Ithi: “UThixo uluthando.” b (1 Yohane 4:8) Ithetha ukuthini loo nto?

16-18. (a) Kutheni iBhayibhile isithi “uThixo uluthando”? (b) Kuyo yonke indalo esemhlabeni, kutheni umntu elumela kakuhle uphawu lukaYehova oluluthando?

¹⁶ Ukuthi “uThixo uluthando” akuthethi ukuba uthando noThixo yinto enye. Asinakuba sichanile xa sisithi “uthando lunguThixo.”  UYehova ungaphezulu lee kunalo naluphi na uphawu. UnguThixo oneengcinga, iimvakalelo, nezinye iimpawu ezininzi ukongeza kuthando. Sekunjalo, uthando lolona phawu luphambili lukaYehova. Yiloo nto esinye isichazi-magama seBhayibhile sisithi ngale vesi: “Yonke into kaThixo isoloko iluthando.” Singayicinga ngolu hlobo le nto: Amandla kaYehova amenza akwazi ukwenza izinto. Ubulungisa nobulumko bakhe buyamkhokela kwindlela enza ngayo. Kodwa uthando lukaYehova lumqhuba ukuba enze. Kwakhona uthando lwakhe lusoloko lubonakala kwindlela azisebenzisa ngayo ezinye iimpawu zakhe.

¹⁷ Sidla ngokuthi uYehova ngoyena mzekelo mhle ekuboniseni uthando. Ngoko, ukuba sifuna ukufunda ngothando, simele sifunde ngoYehova. Kakade ke, sisenokulubona nasebantwini olu phawu luhle. Kodwa babelufumene njani? Phawula into awayithethayo uYehova kuNyana wakhe xa wayedala abantu: “Masenze umntu ngokomfanekiso wethu, ngokufana nathi.” (Genesis 1:26) Kuyo yonke indalo esemhlabeni, ngabantu kuphela abanokukhetha ukubonisa uthando, ngaloo ndlela belinganisa uTata wabo osezulwini. Khumbula ukuba uYehova wasebenzisa izidalwa ezahlukahlukeneyo ukufanekisela iimpawu zakhe eziphambili. Kodwa, uYehova wakhetha esona sidalwa sakhe sibalulekileyo sasemhlabeni, esingumntu, ukuze simele olona phawu Lwakhe lubalulekileyo, uthando.—Hezekile 1:10.

¹⁸ Xa sikhetha ukubathanda abanye abantu ngendlela ebonisa ukuba asicingeli thina kuphela, silinganisa olona phawu lubalulekileyo lukaYehova. Kunjengokuba umpostile uYohane watshoyo: “Thina ke sinothando, kuba wasithanda kuqala.” (1 Yohane 4:19) Kodwa uYehova wasithanda kuqala ngaziphi iindlela?

19. Yintoni eyenza uYehova wadala?

¹⁹ Uthando lwalusoloko lukho. Kutheni sisitsho nje? Khawucinge ngalo mbuzo: Yintoni eyenza uYehova wadala? Ayikokuba wayenesithukuthezi futhi edinga umntu ozomhlalisa. UYehova uphelele futhi akukho nto ayidingayo ephuma emntwini. Kodwa kuba uthando lumenza umntu enzele abanye izinto ezintle,  ngothando noYehova unike iingelosi nabantu isipho esibubomi ukuze nabo bonwabe. “Isiqalo sendalo kaThixo” sasinguNyana wakhe okuphela kwamzeleyo. (ISityhilelo 3:14) Emva koko uYehova wamsebenzisa lo Msebénzi Onobuchule ekudaleni zonke ezinye izinto, eqala ngeengelosi. (Yobhi 38:4, 7; Kolose 1:16) UYehova wazinika inkululeko yokuzenzela izigqibo, wazenza zakrelekrele futhi zaba neemvakalelo. Ngenxa yaloo nto, ezi ngelosi zinamandla zaye zakwazi ukubonisa uthando nokuba ngabahlobo, futhi okubaluleke kakhulu, zakwazi ukwenza ubuhlobo noYehova. (2 Korinte 3:17) Ngaloo ndlela, zakwazi ukubonisa uthando kuba uYehova wazithanda kuqala.

20, 21. Bubuphi ubungqina ababenabo uAdam noEva bokuba uYehova wayebathanda, kodwa benza ntoni?

²⁰ Kwaba njalo nangabantu. Kwasekuqaleni, uYehova wabathanda ngeendlela ezahlukahlukeneyo uAdam noEva. Naphi na apho babejonga khona kwikhaya labo lase-Eden eliyiParadesi, babenokubona ubungqina bendlela uTata awayebathanda ngayo. Phawula into ethethwa yiBhayibhile: “UYehova uThixo watyala umyezo e-Eden, ngasempuma, wambeka khona umntu awayemenzile.” (Genesis 2:8) Ngaba wakha waya kumyezo okanye kwipaki entle nyhani? Yintoni owayithanda kakhulu? Ngaba yayililanga elikhanya ngapha kwamagqabi emithi? Iintlobo ezininzi zeentyatyambo ezinemibalabala ethi ndijonge? Ukunkcenkceza komlanjana, ukuntyiloza kweentaka nentsholo yezinambuzane? Okanye ngaba yayilivumba lemithi, leziqhamo kunye neleentyatyambo? Ungazihamba zonke, ayikho ipaki namhlanje enokuba ntle ukogqitha eyase-Eden. Kutheni?

²¹ Loo myezo wenziwa nguYehova ngokwakhe! Umele ukuba wawuthandeka ngendlela engathethekiyo. Kwakukho zonk’ intlobo zemithi emihle neziqhamo ezimnandi. Loo myezo wawumkhulu, unemisinga yamanzi futhi ugcwele zizilwanyana ezibangel’ umdla. UAdam noEva babenayo yonke into ababeyidinga ukuze bonwabe, kuquka umsebenzi owanelisayo kunye novuyo lokuba kunye. UYehova wabathanda kuqala, futhi nabo babefanele bamthande. Kodwa zange bayenze loo nto. Kunokuba bamthobele uTata wabo osezulwini kuba bemthanda, bacingela iziqu zabo kuphela baza bamvukela.—Genesis, isahluko 2.

22. Indlela awenza ngayo uYehova kwimvukelo yase-Eden yabonisa njani ukuba uthando lwakhe alugungqi?

 ²² Kumele ukuba waba buhlungu kakhulu uYehova. Kodwa ngaba lo nto yamenza wayeka ukuthanda abantu? Akunjalo! “Uthando lwakhe olungagungqiyo lukho ngonaphakade.” (INdumiso 136:1) Ngenxa yothando, wakhawuleza wagqiba ekubeni uza kubasindisa abantwana baka-Adam noEva abanokufuna ukumazi baze bamthande. Njengoko sibonile, enye yezinto uYehova awazenzayo ukuze asindise abantu kukunikela ngoNyana wakhe amthandayo ukuze abahlawulele, nangona lo nto yayimenza abe buhlungu.—1 Yohane 4:10.

23. Sesiphi esinye sezizathu zokuba uYehova ‘enguThixo owonwabileyo,’ futhi ngowuphi umbuzo obalulekileyo oza kuphendulwa kwisahluko esilandelayo?

²³ Kwasekuqaleni uYehova waba ngowokuqala ukubonisa uthando ebantwini. Ngeendlela ezininzi, “wasithanda kuqala.” Uthando lwenza kuvanwe futhi kubekho uvuyo, yiloo nto singothuki xa iBhayibhile isithi uYehova ‘nguThixo owonwabileyo.’ (1 Timoti 1:11) Kodwa kuvela umbuzo obalulekileyo. Ngaba nyhani uYehova uthanda umntu ngamnye? Lo mbuzo ubalulekileyo uza kuphendulwa kwisahluko esilandelayo.