1, 2. (a) Kungani ukwazi ibizo lomuntu odumileyo kungatsho ukuthi uyamazi sibili? (b) Abantu bacabangani mayelana loJesu?

KULABANTU abanengi abadumileyo emhlabeni. Abanye baziwa kakhulu emphakathini wabo, edolobheni lakibo kumbe elizweni abahlala kulo. Abanye baziwa emhlabeni wonke. Kodwa ukwazi ibizo lomuntu odumileyo akutsho ukuthi uyamazi sibili. Akutsho ukuthi uyayazi indlela akhule ngayo lokuthi ungumuntu onjani sibili.

² Lanxa uJesu Khristu waphila emhlabeni eminyakeni engaba ngu-2 000 eyadlulayo, abantu emhlabeni wonke sebake bezwa ngaye. Kodwa abanengi kabalaqiniso lokuthi uJesu wayengubani sibili. Abanye bacabanga ukuthi wayeyindoda ezilungeleyo nje. Abanye bathi wayengumphrofethi kuphela. Kanti njalo abanye bakholwa ukuthi uJesu unguNkulunkulu okumele akhonzwe. Kumele akhonzwe yini?

3. Kungani kuqakathekile ukwazi uJehova uNkulunkulu loJesu Khristu?

³ Kuqakathekile ukuthi ulazi iqiniso ngoJesu. Ngenxa yani? Ngenxa yokuthi iBhayibhili lithi: ‘Manje-ke yilokhu ukuphila okungapheliyo: ukuthi bakwazi wena onguwe wedwa uNkulunkulu weqiniso loJesu Khristu omthumileyo.’ (UJohane 17:3) Yikho-ke ukumazi kuhle uJehova uNkulunkulu kanye loJesu Khristu kungasisiza ukuthi sithole ukuphila okungapheliyo epharadayisi emhlabeni. (UJohane 14:6) UJesu uphinda asibekele isibonelo esihle kakhulu  sendlela okumele siphile ngayo lendlela okumele siphathe ngayo abanye. (UJohane 13:34, 35) Esahlukweni sokuqala salelibhuku, safunda iqiniso ngoNkulunkulu. Khathesi ake sixoxe ngeqiniso elifundiswa liBhayibhili mayelana loJesu Khristu.

4. Kutsho ukuthini ukuthi “Mesiya” loba ukuthi “Khristu”?

⁴ IBhayibhili lakhuluma ngokuza kwalowo uNkulunkulu ayezamthuma njengoMesiya kumbe uKhristu kusasele isikhathi eside kakhulu ukuthi uJesu azalwe. Ibizo lokuhlonipha elithi “Mesiya” (elivela ebaleni lesiHebheru) lelithi “Khristu” (elivela ebaleni lesiGiriki) womabili  atsho ukuthi “oGcotshiweyo.” Lo othenjisiweyo wayezagcotshwa, okutsho ukuthi wayezaphiwa umsebenzi oqakathekileyo nguNkulunkulu. Ezahlukweni ezizalandela zebhuku leli, sizafunda okunengi ngomsebenzi oqakathekileyo ozakwenziwa nguMesiya ekugcwalisekeni kwezithembiso zikaNkulunkulu. Sizafunda langezibusiso uJesu angasilethela zona khathesi. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi uJesu engakazalwa abanengi babezibuza ukuthi, ‘Ngubani ozakuba nguMesiya?’

5. Kuyini abafundi bakaJesu ababeleqiniso ngakho?

⁵ Ekhulwini lokuqala C.E., abafundi bakaJesu waseNazaretha babeleqiniso lokuthi uJesu wayenguye kanye uMesiya okwakuphrofethwe ngaye. (UJohane 1:41) USimoni Phethro omunye wabafundi bakaJesu wathi kuJesu: “UnguKhristu.” (UMathewu 16:16) Kuyini okwakusenza abafundi babeleqiniso lokuthi uJesu wayenguMesiya othenjisiweyo sibili, njalo kuyini okungenza lathi sibe leqiniso?

6. Yiwuphi umzekeliso otshengisa indlela uJehova anceda ngayo abathembekileyo ukuthi bamazi uMesiya?

⁶ Abaphrofethi bakaNkulunkulu abaphila uJesu engakezi emhlabeni baphrofetha okunengi ngoMesiya. Lokhu kwakuzanceda abanye ukuthi bamazi. Singakufanisa lalokhu: Ake sithi ucelwe ukuthi uyehlangabeza umuntu ongakaze umbone esititshini samabhasi, kumbe esezitimela loba lapho okugadelwa khona izindizamtshina. Bekungeke kukuncede yini ukuthi omunye umuntu akutshele ukuthi unjani lowo muntu? UJehova wenza okufananayo, wasebenzisa abaphrofethi beBhayibhili ebatshela ngokwakuzakwenziwa nguMesiya lalokho uMesiya ayezahlangana lakho. Ukugcwaliseka kwalezi ziphrofetho ezinengi kwakuzanceda abathembekileyo ukuthi babone ukuthi nguye kanye uMesiya owayethenjisiwe.

7. Yiziphi iziphrofetho ezimbili ezagcwalisekayo mayelana loJesu?

⁷ Ake sixoxe ngezibonelo ezimbili. Esokuqala, kusasele iminyaka engu-700 ukuthi uJesu azalwe, umphrofethi uMikha waveza ukuthi othenjisiweyo wayezazalelwa eBhethilehema, idolobho elincane elizweni lamaJuda. (UMikha 5:2)  Wasezalelwa ngaphi-ke uJesu? Khona kanye edolobheni lelo! (UMathewu 2:1, 3-9) Esesibili, kusasele amakhulu eminyaka isiphrofetho esibhalwe kuDanyeli 9:25 sawuqamba wona kanye umnyaka uMesiya ayezavela ngawo. Wayezavela ngo-29 C.E. * Ukugcwaliseka kwalezi ziphrofetho kanye lezinye kuyibufakazi bokuthi uJesu wayenguMesiya othenjisiweyo.

8, 9. Yibuphi ubufakazi obutshengisa ukuthi uJesu wayenguMesiya obacaca ngesikhathi ebhaphathizwa?

⁸ Obunye ubufakazi obutshengisa ukuthi uJesu wayenguMesiya bacaca sekusiyaphela u-29 C.E. Kwakungumnyaka lapho uJesu ahamba khona kuJohane uMbhaphathizi ukuze ayebhaphathizwa eMfuleni uJodani. UJehova wayethembise ukutshengisa uJohane isibonakaliso esasizakwenza ukuthi amazi uMesiya. UJohane wasibona leso sibonakaliso ngesikhathi ebhaphathiza uJesu. IBhayibhili liyasitshela okwenzakalayo: ‘Masinyane nje uJesu eqeda ukubhaphathizwa waphuma emanzini. Khonokho nje kwavuleka izulu wasebona umoya kaNkulunkulu usehla njengejuba usehlela phezu kwakhe. Ilizwi lisuka ezulwini lathi, “Lo yiNdodana yami engiyithandayo; ngiyathokoza kakhulu ngayo.”’ (UMathewu 3:16, 17) Esebonile njalo esezwile okwakwenzakele, uJohane wayengasathandabuzi ukuthi uJesu wayethunywe nguNkulunkulu. (UJohane 1:32-34) Ngesikhathi uJesu ethululelwa umoya kumbe amandla kaNkulunkulu asebenzayo, waba nguMesiya loba uKhristu, lowo obekwe njengoMkhokheli futhi eyiNkosi.​—U-Isaya 55:4.

⁹ Ukugcwaliseka kweziphrofetho zeBhayibhili kanye lamazwi akhulunywa nguJehova uNkulunkulu kwenza kukhanye ukuthi uJesu wayenguMesiya othenjisiweyo. Kodwa iBhayibhili liphendula eminye imibuzo emibili eqakathekileyo ngoJesu Khristu ethi: Wavela ngaphi njalo wayengumuntu onjani?

10. IBhayibhili lifundisa ukuthi uJesu wayengaphi engakabuyi emhlabeni?

¹⁰ IBhayibhili lifundisa ukuthi uJesu waphila ezulwini engakezi emhlabeni. Umphrofethi uMikha wayephrofethe ukuthi uMesiya wayezazalelwa eBhethilehema lokuthi isiqalo sakhe ‘sasisekadeni.’ (UMikha 5:2) UJesu wakhuluma kanengi ngokuphila kwakhe ezulwini engakazalwa lapha emhlabeni. (Bala uJohane 3:13; 6:38, 62; 17:4, 5) Eseseyisidalwa somoya ezulwini, uJesu wayelobuhlobo obuqinileyo loJehova.

11. IBhayibhili litshengisa njani ukuthi uJesu uyiNdodana kaJehova eligugu ukwedlula wonke?

¹¹ Kulesizatho esihle esenza uJesu abe yiNdodana kaJehova eligugu ukwedlula wonke. Ubizwa ngokuthi ‘lizibulo kukho konke okwadalwayo,’ ngenxa yokuthi nguye owadalwa kuqala nguNkulunkulu. * (KwabaseKholose 1:15) Kulokunye okwenza iNdodana le ibe ngeqakathekileyo. ‘UyiNdodana ezelwe yodwa.’ (UJohane 3:16, The Holy Bible in Ndebele) Lokhu kutsho ukuthi uJesu nguye yedwa owadalwa nguNkulunkulu ngokwakhe. UJesu nguye yedwa futhi owasetshenziswa nguNkulunkulu ekudaleni zonke ezinye izinto. (KwabaseKholose 1:16) UJesu ubizwa langokuthi ‘nguLizwi.’ (UJohane 1:14) Lokhu kusitshela ukuthi wayeyisikhulumeli sikaNkulunkulu, okutsho ukuthi wayehambisa imilayezo lemibiko kumadodana kaYise asemhlabeni lasezulwini.

12. Sikwazi njani ukuthi iNdodana elizibulo kayilingani loNkulunkulu?

¹² UNkulunkulu leNdodana yakhe elizibulo bayalingana yini njengoba abanye bekholwa ukuthi kunjalo? IBhayibhili alikufundisi lokhu. Sibonile endimeni edlulileyo ukuthi  iNdodana yadalwa. Kuyakhanya-ke ukuthi yayilesiqalo kodwa uJehova uNkulunkulu yena kalasiqalo loba isiphetho. (IHubo 90:2) INdodana ezelwe yodwa kayizange icabange ukuzama ukuzilinganisa loYise. IBhayibhili likwenza kucace ukuthi uBaba mkhulu kuleNdodana. (Bala uJohane 14:28; 1 KwabaseKhorinte 11:3) UJehova nguye yedwa ‘uNkulunkulu uSomandla.’ (UGenesisi 17:1) Lokhu kutsho ukuthi akulamuntu olingana laye. *

13. IBhayibhili litshoni nxa lisithi iNdodana “iyisifanekiso sikaNkulunkulu ongabonakaliyo”?

¹³ UJehova leNdodana yakhe elizibulo bahlala ndawonye okwamabhiliyoni eminyaka kungakadalwa umhlaba lezulu eligcwele izinkanyezi. Kumele ukuthi babethandana kakhulu! (UJohane 3:35; 14:31) INdodana le ethandekayo yayinjengoYise. Yikho iBhayibhili libiza iNdodana ngokuthi “iyisifanekiso sikaNkulunkulu ongabonakaliyo.” (KwabaseKholose 1:15) Njengoba indodana ingafuza uyise ngezindlela ezitshiyeneyo, iNdodana le esezulwini layo yabonakalisa ubuntu bukaYise.

14. Kwenzakala njani ukuthi iNdodana kaJehova ezelwe yodwa izalwe isingumuntu wenyama?

¹⁴ INdodana kaJehova ezelwe yodwa yavuma ukuthi isuke ezulwini ize emhlabeni. Kodwa ungazibuza ukuthi, ‘Kwakungenzakala njani ukuthi isidalwa somoya sizalwe sesingumuntu wenyama?’ Ukuze enze lokhu, uJehova wenza isimangaliso. Wathatha ukuphila kweNdodana yakhe elizibulo ezulwini wasekufaka esiswini sentombi engumJuda okuthiwa nguMariya. Lokhu kwenzakala uMariya engahlangananga lendoda emacansini. Yikho-ke, uMariya wazala indodana engelasono waseyinika ibizo elithi Jesu.​—ULukha 1:30-35.

15. Kungani singathi uJesu wenza simazi kuhle uJehova?

¹⁵ Okwakhulunywa nguJesu lakwenzayo esesemhlabeni  kusinceda ukuthi simazi kuhle. Okuqakatheke kakhulu yikuthi uJesu wenza simazi kuhle uJehova. Kungani sisitsho njalo? Khumbula ukuthi iNdodana le iyisifanekiso esipheleleyo sikaYise. Yikho uJesu watshela omunye wabafundi bakhe ukuthi: “Lowo ongibonileyo usembonile uBaba.” (UJohane 14:9) Amabhuku amane eBhayibhili aziwa ngokuthi ngamaVangeli, uMathewu, uMakho, uLukha loJohane asitshela okunengi ngempilo kaJesu Khristu, ngomsebenzi wakhe langobuntu bakhe.

16. Isiqokoqela somlayezo kaJesu sasiyini, njalo izimfundiso zakhe zazivela kubani?

¹⁶ UJesu wayesaziwa kakhulu ngokuthi ‘nguMfundisi.’ (UJohane 1:38; 13:13) Wafundisa ngani? Isiqokoqela somlayezo wakhe ‘sasiyizindaba ezinhle zoMbuso.’ Umbuso otshiwo lapha nguMbuso kaNkulunkulu, uhulumende wasezulwini ozabusa emhlabeni wonke njalo ozaletha izibusiso ezingapheliyo ebantwini abalalelayo. (UMathewu 4:23) Lo kwakungumlayezo kabani? UJesu ngokwakhe wathi: “Imfundiso kayisiyami mina. Ivela kulowo ongithumileyo,” okutsho uJehova. (UJohane 7:16) UJesu wayekwazi ukuthi uYise ufuna abantu bazwe izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso. ESahlukweni 8, sizafunda okunengi ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu lalokho ozakwenza.

17. UJesu wayefundisela ngaphi, futhi kungani wasebenza nzima ukuze afundise abanye?

¹⁷ UJesu wayefundisela ngaphi? Wayefundisela loba ngaphi lapho ayethola khona abantu, ngokwesibonelo emaphandleni lasemadolobheni, emamakethe lasezindlini zabantu. UJesu wayengalindeli ukuthi abantu baze kuye. Wayebalanda. (UMakho 6:56; ULukha 19:5, 6) Kungani uJesu wasebenza nzima kangaka njalo kungani wayetshumayela futhi efundisa zikhathi zonke? Kungenxa yokuthi uNkulunkulu wayefuna enze njalo. UJesu wayehlala esenza intando kaYise. (UJohane 8:28, 29) Kodwa kulesinye isizatho esenza uJesu watshumayela. Wayewazwela amaxuku abantu ayezombona. (Bala uMathewu 9:35, 36.) Abakhokheli benkolo  kwakumele babafundise abantu laba iqiniso ngoNkulunkulu langezinjongo zakhe, kodwa abakwenzanga lokho. UJesu wayekwazi ukuthi abantu babefuna kakhulu ukuzwa izindaba zoMbuso.

18. Yibuphi ubuntu bukaJesu obuthanda kakhulu?

¹⁸ UJesu wayelozwelo njalo wayelendaba labanye. Yikho abanye babembona elomusa njalo bebona kulula ukukhuluma laye. Kanti njalo labantwana babekhululeka nxa belaye. (UMakho 10:13-16) UJesu wayengakhethi. Wayebuzonda ubuqili lokungalungi. (UMathewu 21:12, 13) Wabaphatha kuhle abesifazana ngesikhathi bengahlonitshwa njalo belamalungelo amalutshwana. (UJohane 4:9, 27) UJesu wayezithoba okweqiniso. Ngelinye ilanga wagezisa izinyawo zabaphostoli bakhe, umsebenzi owawujayele ukwenziwa yisisebenzi esiphansi.

19. Yisiphi isibonelo esitshengisa ukuthi uJesu wayeziqakathekisa izidingo abanye?

¹⁹ UJesu wayeziqakathekisa izidingo zabanye. Lokhu kwakhanya kakhulu lapho esenza izimangaliso, encediswa ngumoya  kaNkulunkulu. (UMathewu 14:14) Ngokwesibonelo, indoda eyayilobulephero yahamba kuJesu yathi: “Aluba uthanda ungangihlambulula.” UJesu wabuzwa ubuhlungu lokuhlupheka okwakuzwiwa yindoda le. Wamzwela kakhulu waseselula isandla sakhe wambamba wathi: “Ngiyathanda. Hlanzeka!” Indoda le eyayigula yasila! (UMakho 1:40-42) Ucabanga ukuthi yezwa njani?

20, 21. UJesu wasibekela njani isibonelo sokulalela uNkulunkulu ngokuthembeka?

²⁰ UJesu wasibekela isibonelo esihle kakhulu sokulalela uNkulunkulu ngokuthembeka. Wahlala ethembekile kuYise osezulwini kukho konke ayekwenza lanxa wayesolwa njalo ehlutshwa. UJesu waphumelela ekulwisaneni lezilingo zikaSathane. (UMathewu 4:1-11) Ngesinye isikhathi ezinye izihlobo zikaJesu kazimkholwanga, zaze zathi ‘usephambene.’ (UMakho 3:21) Kodwa uJesu kavumanga ukuthi zimphambanise; waqhubeka esenza umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu.  Lanxa uJesu wayetshelwa amagama abuhlungu njalo ehlukuluzwa, kazange azame ukulimaza ababemphikisa, wayehlala ezibamba.​—1 UPhetro 2:21-23.

²¹ UJesu wathembeka waze waya kufa kabuhlungu, ngendlela elesihluku ebulawa yizitha zakhe. (Bala uFiliphi 2:8.) Ake sibone ukuthi kwenzakalani kuye ngelanga lokucina lempilo yakhe lapha emhlabeni. Wabotshwa, wathonisiswa ngofakazi bamanga labahluleli ababengamaqili, wahlekwa ngabantu njalo wahlukuluzwa ngamasotsha. Wabethelwa esigodweni waphefumula okokucina esithi: “Sekuphelile.” (UJohane 19:30) Kodwa uJesu eselamalanga amathathu efile, uYise osezulwini wamvusa waphila eseyisidalwa somoya. (1 UPhetro 3:18) Ngemva kwamalanga angu-40, wabuyela ezulwini. Ezulwini “wahlala phansi esandleni sokunene sikaNkulunkulu” wamelela ukwamukela amandla obukhosi.​—KumaHebheru 10:12, 13.

22. Ukuthembeka kukaJesu waze waya kufa kwasivulela liphi ithuba?

²² Ukuthembeka kukaJesu waze waya kufa kwasivulela liphi ithuba? Kwasivulela ithuba lokuphila okungapheliyo emhlabeni olipharadayisi, okuvumelana lenjongo kaJehova yokuqala. Esahlukweni esilandelayo sizaxoxa ngokuthi ukufa kukaJesu kwenza njani ukuthi lokho kuphumelele.