1-3. Yiziphi ezinye zezinto ezenza ukufa kukaJesu kwahluka kokwabanye emlandweni?

 NGOLUNYE usuku kuyisentwasahlobo cishe eminyakeni engu-2 000 edlule, kwaqulwa icala lendoda eyayimsulwa, yagwetshelwa ubala, yayisihlushwa yaze yafa. Kwakungaqali ukubulawa komuntu ngale ndlela enesihluku nengenabulungisa; futhi kuyadabukisa ukuthi kwakungagcini. Nokho, ukufa kwaleyo ndoda kwakungafani nokwamuntu.

² Njengoba leyo ndoda yayizwa ubuhlungu phakathi namahora ayo okugcina nayengawosizi, izulu nalo labonisa ukuthi lesi sigigaba sibalulekile. Kwavele kwaba mnyama emhlabeni, yize kwakusemini bebade. Kunjengoba esinye isazi-mlando sisho, “ukukhanya kwelanga kwacima.” (Luka 23:44, 45) Khona-ke, ngaphambi nje kokuba ife, le ndoda yasho la mazwi angeke alibaleke: “Kufeziwe!” Ngempela, yafeza lukhulu ngokudela ukuphila kwayo. Umhlatshelo wayo wawuyisenzo sothando esikhulu kunazo zonke ezake zenziwa umuntu.—Johane 15:13; 19:30.

³ Leyo ndoda kwakunguJesu Kristu. Kwaziwa kahle ukuhlupheka nokufa kwakhe ngalolo suku losizi ngoNisani 14, 33 C.E. Kodwa kuneqiniso elibalulekile elivame ukunganakwa. Nakuba uJesu ahlupheka kakhulu, kunothile owahlupheka nakakhulu kunaye. Eqinisweni, lowo wazidela ngisho nakakhulu kunoJesu ngalolo suku—wenza isenzo sothando esikhulu ukuzidlula zonke ezake zenziwa ezulwini nasemhlabeni. Yisiphi leso senzo? Impendulo iyendlalela kahle indaba ebaluleke kunazo zonke: uthando lukaJehova.

4. Isosha elingumRoma labona kanjani ukuthi uJesu wayengeyena umuntu ovamile, futhi laphetha ngokuthini?

⁴ Induna yekhulu yaseRoma eyayiqondisa ngesikhathi  kubulawa uJesu yamangazwa ubumnyama obandulela ukufa kukaJesu nokuzamazama komhlaba okunamandla okwalandela. Yathi: “Ngokuqinisekile lo ubeyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.” (Mathewu 27:54) Kwaba sobala ukuthi uJesu wayengeyena umuntu ovamile. Lelo sosha lalibe nesandla ekubulaweni kweNdodana ezelwe yodwa kaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke! Yayiyigugu kangakanani le Ndodana kuYise?

5. Singafanekiswa kanjani isikhathi uJehova neNdodana yakhe asebenaso bendawonye ezulwini?

⁵ IBhayibheli libiza uJesu ngokuthi “izibulo layo yonke indalo.” (Kolose 1:15) Cabanga nje—iNdodana kaJehova yayisikhona kungakabi khona konke okunye. Kwase kuyisikhathi esingakanani-ke iNdodana noYise bendawonye? Abanye ososayensi balinganisela ukuthi sekuyiminyaka eyizigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-13 izulu nomhlaba kukhona. Ungakwazi yini ukubona ukuthi isikhathi esingakanani leso? Ukuze basize abantu baqonde ukuthi sekuyisikhathi esingakanani izulu nomhlaba kukhona, ngokulinganisa kososayensi, isikhungo sokupopola izinkanyezi sineshadi elide ngamamitha angu-110, elibonisa isikhathi. Njengoba izivakashi zihamba eduze kwaleli shadi, igxathu ngalinye limelela iminyaka eyizigidi ezingu-75 yokuba khona kwezulu nomhlaba. Ekugcineni kwalelo shadi, wonke umlando wabantu umelelwe umugqa owodwa ongangonwele ubukhulu! Kodwa, noma ngabe lokhu kuyiqiniso, lonke lelo shadi belingeke libe lide ngokwanele ukuba liveze isikhathi iNdodana kaJehova esisiphilile! Yayenzani yonke leyo minyaka?

6. (a) Yayenzani iNdodana kaJehova ngesikhathi ingakabi umuntu? (b) Hlobo luni lwesibopho esiphakathi kukaJehova neNdodana yakhe?

⁶ INdodana yakujabulela ukukhonza ‘njengesisebenzi esiyingcweti’ sikaYise. (IzAga 8:30) IBhayibheli lithi: “Ayikho neyodwa into eyaba khona ngaphandle [kweNdodana].” (Johane 1:3) Ngakho uJehova neNdodana yakhe basebenzisana ekwenzeni zonke izinto zibe khona. Yeka izikhathi ezimnandi nezijabulisayo ababa nazo! Abaningi bazovuma ukuthi lujule ngendlela emangalisayo uthando oluphakathi komzali nengane yakhe. Futhi uthando “lwenza abantu babe nobunye ngokuphelele.” (Kolose 3:14) Ukhona-ke yini ongaqala ukuqonda amandla esibopho esesinesikhathi  eside kangaka sikhona? Kusobala ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu neNdodana yakhe bahlanganiswe isibopho sothando esiqine kunazo zonke ezake zakhiwa.

7. Lapho uJesu ebhapathizwa, uJehova wayiveza kanjani indlela azizwa ngayo ngeNdodana yakhe?

⁷ Noma kunjalo, uYise wathumela iNdodana yakhe emhlabeni ukuba izozalwa njengomntwana ongumuntu. Leso senzo sasho ukuthi uJehova wayezodela ukusondelana neNdodana yakhe ethandekayo ezulwini kuze kuphele amashumi athile eminyaka. UJehova esezulwini wayemkhathalela kakhulu uJesu njengoba ayekhula eba indoda engenasono. Eseneminyaka engaba ngu-30 ubudala, uJesu wabhapathizwa. Akudingeki siqagele ukuthi uJehova wazizwa kanjani ngaye. UYise wazikhulumela mathupha esezulwini: “Lo yiNdodana yami ethandekayo, engiyamukele.” (Mathewu 3:17) Kumele ukuba uYise wajabula kakhulu lapho ebona ukuthi uJesu wayekwenze ngokwethembeka konke okwakubikezelwe, konke okwakuthiwe akakwenze!—Johane 5:36; 17:4.

8, 9. (a) Kwenzekani kuJesu ngoNisani 14, 33 C.E., futhi kwamphatha kanjani uYise wasezulwini? (b) Kungani uJehova avumela iNdodana yakhe ukuba ihlupheke futhi ife?

⁸ Kodwa uJehova wazizwa kanjani ngoNisani 14, 33 C.E.? Wazizwa kanjani ngesikhathi uJesu ekhashelwa futhi eboshwa isixuku ebusuku? Ngesikhathi elahlwa abangani bakhe futhi equliswa icala eliphambene nomthetho? Njengoba ayegconwa, ekhafulelwa ngamathe, ebhonywa ngezibhakela? Ngesikhathi ebhaxabulwa ngesiswebhu kuze kudabuke umhlane? Ngesikhathi izandla nezinyawo zakhe zibethelwa esigxotsheni futhi eshiywa lapho elenga, abantu bebe bemthuka? UYise wazizwa kanjani njengoba iNdodana yakhe ayithandayo yayimkhalela, izwa ubuhlungu obukhulu? UJehova wazizwa kanjani lapho uJesu efa, futhi le Ndodana yakhe ayithandayo iqala ngqa ukungabi khona selokhu kwaba khona indalo?—Mathewu 26:14-16, 46, 47, 56, 59, 67; 27:38-44, 46; Johane 19:1.

⁹ Asinawo amazwi okuphendula. Njengoba uJehova enemizwa, asinawo amazwi okuchaza ubuhlungu abuzwa ngokufa kweNdodana yakhe. Esikwazi ukukusho isisusa sikaJehova sokuba akuvumele kwenzeke. Kungani uYise azizwisa ubuhlungu obunjalo? UJehova usembulela into emangalisayo kuJohane 3:16—ivesi  leBhayibheli elibaluleke kakhulu kangangokuba seliye labizwa ngokuthi lingumnyombo wamaVangeli. Lithi: “UNkulunkulu walithanda izwe kangangokuba waze wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa, ukuze wonke umuntu obonisa ukholo kuyo angabhubhi kodwa athole ukuphila okuphakade.” Nasi-ke isisusa sikaJehova: uthando. Isipho sikaJehova—ukuthumela kwakhe iNdodana yakhe ukuba izohlupheka futhi isifele—sasiyisenzo sothando esikhulu kunazo zonke ezake zenziwa.

10. Abantu banasiphi isidingo, futhi kwenzekeni encazelweni yegama elithi “uthando”?

¹⁰ Lisho ukuthini leli gama elithi “uthando”? Uthando luye lwachazwa ngokuthi luyisidingo sabantu esikhulu kunazo zonke. Kusukela bezalwa baze bayokufa, abantu bahlale befuna uthando, ukufudumala kothando kubenza baswabuluke, bayadangala futhi bafe uma lungekho. Noma kunjalo, kunzima kakhulu ukuluchaza. Kuyavunywa, kuningi abantu abakushoyo ngothando. Kuhlale kubhalwa izincwadi, izingoma nezinkondlo ngalo. Umphumela walokho awuyenzi icace ngaso sonke isikhathi incazelo yothando. Kunalokho, leli gama sekudlalwe ngalo kangangokuba kuya kuba nzima ukuthola incazelo yalo.

11, 12. (a) Kukuphi lapho singafunda khona okuningi ngothando, futhi kungani singakufunda lapho? (b) Yiziphi izinhlobo zothando ezazishiwo ulimi lwesiGreki sakuqala, futhi yiliphi igama elisho “uthando” elisetshenziswe kaningi emiBhalweni yamaKristu yesiGreki? (Bheka nombhalo waphansi.) (c) EBhayibhelini, igama elithi i-a·gaʹpe livame ukudlulisela muphi umqondo?

¹¹ Kodwa iBhayibheli lifundisa ngokucacile ngothando. I-Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words ka-Vine ithi: “Uthando lungabonakala ngezenzo oluzizalayo.” Lokho iBhayibheli elikushoyo ngezenzo zikaJehova kusifundisa okuningi ngothando lwakhe—indlela azithanda ngayo izidalwa zakhe. Ngokwesibonelo, kukhona yini okungasembulela okwengeziwe ngale mfanelo ukwedlula isenzo sikaJehova sothando esikhulu kakhulu esesichaziwe? Ezahlukweni ezilandelayo sizobona ezinye izibonelo eziningi zezenzo zikaJehova zothando. Ngaphezu kwalokho, singathola ukukhanyiselwa okuthile emagameni okuqala ahunyushwe  ngokuthi “uthando” asetshenziswe eBhayibhelini. Olimini lwesiGreki sakuqala, kwakunamagama amane asho “uthando.” a Elisetshenziswa kakhulu kulawa emiBhalweni yamaKristu yesiGreki elithi a·gaʹpe. Esinye isichazamazwi seBhayibheli silibiza ngokuthi “yigama lothando elinamandla kunawo wonke ongawacabanga.” Kungani?

¹² Njengoba lisetshenzisiwe eBhayibhelini, elithi a·gaʹpe livame ukudlulisela umqondo wothando olubuswa izimiso. Ngakho ingaphezu nje kokuthinteka inhliziyo ngomunye umuntu. Yenabile, umuntu uyibonisa ngemva kokucabanga futhi uyibonisa ngenhloso. Ngaphezu kwakho konke, uthando lobuKristu alinabo nakancane ubugovu. Ngokwesibonelo, phinda ubheke uJohane 3:16. Yiliphi leli “zwe” uNkulunkulu alithanda kangangokuba waze wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa? Yizwe lesintu esingase sihlengwe. Lihlanganisa abantu abaningi abalandela inkambo yokuphila yesono. Ingabe uJehova uthanda ngamunye wabo njengomngani wakhe, ngendlela ayethanda ngayo u-Abrahama othembekile? (Jakobe 2:23) Cha, uJehova ubabonisa uthando ngokubenzela okuhle ngisho noma lokho kuzomlahlekisela kakhulu yena. Ufuna ukuba bonke baphenduke futhi bashintshe izindlela zabo. (2 Petru 3:9) Abaningi bayakwenza lokho. Uyakujabulela ukubamukela njengabangani.

13, 14. Yini ebonisa ukuthi uthando lobuKristu ngokuvamile luhilela ukusondelana kakhulu?

¹³ Kodwa abanye banombono oyiphutha ngokusetshenziswa kwegama elithi a·gaʹpe eBhayibhelini. Bacabanga ukuthi i-a·gaʹpe isho uthando olungenamizwa nolugcina ngokuba sengqondweni. Iqiniso liwukuthi uthando lobuKristu ngokuvamile luhilela ukusondelana nomuntu ngemfudumalo. Ngokwesibonelo,  lapho uJohane ebhala, “UBaba uyayithanda iNdodana” wasebenzisa igama elihlobene nelithi a·gaʹpe. Ingabe lolo thando alunayo imizwa efudumele? Phawula ukuthi uJesu wathi, “UBaba uyayithanda iNdodana” esebenzisa igama elihlobene nelithi phi·leʹo. (Johane 3:35; 5:20) Uthando lukaJehova ngokuvamile luhilela nokusondela okufudumele. Nokho, uthando lwakhe alulokothi luthathwe imizwelo. Ngaso sonke isikhathi lubuswa izimiso zakhe ezihlakaniphile nezinobulungisa.

¹⁴ Njengoba sesibonile, zonke izimfanelo zikaJehova zinhle kakhulu, ziphelele futhi ziyakhanga. Kodwa uthando yilona olukhanga kunazo zonke. Ayikho into enamandla kangaka okusisondeza kuJehova. Kuyajabulisa nokuthi uthando luyimfanelo yakhe evelele. Sazi kanjani?

15. Lithini iBhayibheli ngemfanelo kaJehova yothando, futhi lokho kuhluke ngayiphi indlela? (Bheka nombhalo waphansi.)

¹⁵ IBhayibheli lisho okuthile ngothando elingalokothi neze likusho ngezinye izimfanelo zikaJehova ezivelele. ImiBhalo ayisho ukuthi uNkulunkulu ungamandla noma ukuthi uNkulunkulu ungubulungisa noma ukuthi uNkulunkulu ungukuhlakanipha. Unazo lezo zimfanelo, unguMthombo omkhulu wazo, futhi akekho ofika kuye ngokubonisa lezi zimfanelo ezintathu. Kodwa kushiwo okuthile okujule nakakhulu kunalokho ngemfanelo yesine, kuthiwa: “UNkulunkulu uluthando.” b (1 Johane 4:8) Kusho ukuthini lokho?

16-18. (a) Kungani iBhayibheli lithi “uNkulunkulu uluthando”? (b) Kungani umuntu eyifanekisela kahle imfanelo kaJehova yothando ukwedlula zonke ezinye izidalwa emhlabeni?

¹⁶ Ukuthi “uNkulunkulu uluthando” akufani nje nokuthi  “uNkulunkulu ulingana nothando.” Ngeke kufaneleke ukuba siwuhlanekezele lo musho sithi “uthando lunguNkulunkulu.” UJehova ungaphezulu kakhulu kokuba yimfanelo engachazeki. UnguMuntu onemizwa nezimfanelo eziningi ezihlukahlukene, ngaphandle kothando. Nokho uthando analo uJehova lujule kakhulu. Ngaleso sizathu, enye incwadi ithi ngaleli vesi: “Ubuyena uNkulunkulu noma lokho ayikho, uthando.” Singase sikubheke kanje: Amandla kaJehova amenza akwazi ukwenza okuthile. Ubulungisa nokuhlakanipha kwakhe kuqondisa indlela enza ngayo. Kodwa uthando lukaJehova yilo olumshukumisela ukuba enze okuthile. Futhi lolu thando lwakhe lubonakala ngaso sonke isikhathi endleleni asebenzisa ngayo ezinye izimfanelo zakhe.

¹⁷ Kuvame ukuthiwa uJehova uwuthando olwenziwe samuntu. Ngaleso sizathu, uma sifuna ukufunda ngothando olunezimiso, kumele sifunde ngoJehova. Yebo, singase siyibone le mfanelo enhle nakubantu. Kodwa kungani benayo? Ngesikhathi sokudala, uJehova washo la mazwi cishe eNdodaneni yakhe: “Masenze umuntu ngomfanekiso wethu, afane nathi.” (Genesise 1:26) Kuzo zonke izidalwa zasemhlabeni, abesilisa nabesifazane kuphela abangakhetha ukuthanda futhi ngaleyo ndlela balingise uYise wasezulwini. Khumbula ukuthi uJehova wazifanekisela ngezidalwa ezihlukahlukene izimfanelo zakhe ezivelele. Kodwa uJehova wakhetha umuntu, oyindalo yakhe yasemhlabeni ephakeme kakhulu, ukuba afanekisele imfanelo yaKhe evelele, uthando.—Hezekeli 1:10.

¹⁸ Uma sithanda ngendlela engenabugovu nenezimiso, sisuke sibonakalisa le mfanelo kaJehova evelele. Kunjengoba nje umphostoli uJohane abhala: “Siyathanda ngoba yena wasithanda kuqala.” (1 Johane 4:19) Kodwa yiziphi izindlela uJehova asithande ngazo kuqala?

19. Kungani singase sithi uthando lwaba nendima esemqoka emsebenzini kaJehova wokudala?

¹⁹ Uthando alulusha. Yini eyashukumisela uJehova ukuba aqale ukudala? Kwakungekhona ukuthi wayenesizungu futhi edinga umuntu ayezoba naye. UJehova unakho konke futhi akancike  kumuntu, akadingi lutho angalunikezwa omunye umuntu. Kodwa uthando lwakhe, oluyimfanelo eboniswa ngezenzo, yilona olwamshukumisela ukuba afune ukujabulela ukuphila nezidalwa ezikhaliphile ezazingasazisa leso sipho. “Isiqalo sendalo kaNkulunkulu” kwakuyiNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa. (IsAmbulo 3:14) UJehova wabe esesebenzisa lesi Sisebenzi esiyiNgcweti ukuba adale zonke ezinye izinto, waqala ngezingelosi. (Jobe 38:4, 7; Kolose 1:16) Njengoba zazibusiswe ngenkululeko, ukukhalipha nemizwa, lezi zidalwa zomoya ezinamandla zazinethuba lokwakha izibopho zothando zazo siqu—izibopho phakathi kwazo zodwa, futhi okubaluleke nakakhulu, isibopho noJehova uNkulunkulu. (2 Korinte 3:17) Ngakho, zathanda ngoba zazithandwe kuqala.

20, 21. U-Adamu no-Eva babenabuphi ubufakazi bokuthi uJehova uyabathanda, kodwa basabela kanjani?

²⁰ Kwaba njalo nangabantu. U-Adamu no-Eva baboniswa uthando olukhulu kusukela ekuqaleni. Nomaphi lapho babebuka khona ekhaya labo eliyiPharadesi e-Edene babebona ubufakazi bokuthi uYise uyabathanda. Phawula lokho iBhayibheli elikushoyo: “UJehova uNkulunkulu watshala insimu e-Edene, ngasempumalanga; wambeka lapho umuntu ayembumbile.” (Genesise 2:8) Wake waba yini sengadini noma epaki elihle ngempela? Yini owayijabulela kakhulu? Ukukhanya okuhlaba emthunzini wezihlahla? Imibala yezimbali emihle ehlukahlukene? Ukugobhoza komhosha, ukucula kwezinyoni nokubhuza kwezinambuzane? Kuthiwani ngephunga lezihlahla, lezithelo nelezimbali? Alikho ipaki namuhla elingafana nelalise-Edene noma lingaba njani. Kungani?

²¹ Leyo ngadi yayitshalwe uJehova uqobo lwakhe! Kumele ukuba yayiyinhle ngendlela engachazeki. Kwakukhona zonke izihlahla ezinhle noma ezinezithelo eziconsisa amathe. Le ngadi yayinamanzi amaningi, ivulekile futhi igcwele izilwane ezinhlobonhlobo ezithakazelisayo. U-Adamu no-Eva babenakho konke okwakwenza ukuphila kwabo kube mnandi futhi kwanelise, kuhlanganise nomsebenzi owawubanika injabulo futhi bengenasizungu nakancane. UJehova wabathanda kuqala futhi babenezizathu ezinhle zokuba nabo bamthande. Kodwa abakwenzanga lokho. Esikhundleni sokubonisa uthando ngokulalela uYise  wasezulwini, babonisa ubugovu bamhlubuka.—Genesise, isahluko 2.

22. Indlela uJehova akusingatha ngayo ukuvukela kwase-Edene yakufakazela kanjani ukuthi uthando lwakhe luqotho?

²² Yeka ukuthi kumele ukuba kwamphatha kabi kanjani lokho uJehova! Kodwa ingabe lokho kwayenza yaba lukhuni inhliziyo yakhe enothando? Cha! “Uthando lwakhe oluqotho luhlala kuze kube phakade.” (IHubo 136:1) Ngakho, khona manjalo wazimisela ukwenza amalungiselelo othando okuhlenga noma ibaphi abathambekele ekulungeni enzalweni ka-Adamu no-Eva. Njengoba sibonile, lawo malungiselelo ahlanganisa nomhlatshelo wesihlengo weNdodana yakhe ayithandayo, okwamlahlekisela kakhulu uYise.—1 Johane 4:10.

23. Yisiphi esinye sezizathu ezenza uJehova abe ‘uNkulunkulu ojabulayo,’ futhi yimuphi umbuzo obalulekile ozodingidwa esahlukweni esilandelayo?

²³ Yebo, kusukela ekuqaleni uJehova uye wathatha isinyathelo kuqala sokubonisa isintu uthando. “Wasithanda kuqala” ngezindlela eziningi. Uthando lwandisa ubunye nenjabulo, yingakho uJehova echazwa ngokuthi ‘unguNkulunkulu ojabulayo.’ (1 Thimothewu 1:11) Kodwa kuphakama umbuzo obalulekile. Ingabe ngempela uJehova usithanda njengabantu ngabanye? Isihloko esilandelayo sizodingida le ndaba.