Iinqubuthu ezikulu zabantu zibuthanele kuJesu esifundeni seDekapolisi, epumalanga yeLwandle leGalile. Beze ukuzomlalela nokuzokulatjhwa, baphethe abomantji abakhulu bomphako.

Nokho, ngokukhamba kwesikhathi uJesu uthi ebafundini bakhe: “Ngiyabarhawukela abantwaba ngombana sebahlezi nami amalanga amathathu begodu abanakudla. Nangingathi bakhambe baye emakhaya balambile, bazokuphelelwa mamandla endleleni, ngombana abanye babo babuya kude.” Abafundi bayambuza bathi: “Endaweni ekude kangaka nemizi, umuntu angasifumanaphi isikwa esaneleko esingasuthisa abantwaba?”​—Markosi 8:2-4.

UJesu uyabaphendula uthi: “Ninezikwa ezingaki?” Abafundi bathi: “Ezilikhomba, neenhlambi ezincani ezimbalwa.” (Matewu 15:34) Nje-ke, uJesu uthi abantu abahlale phasi. Uthatha izikwa neenhlambi, uthandaza kuZimu, ngemva kwalokho uzinikela abafundi bakhe bona bazinikele abantu. Ngokurarako, woke umuntu udla bekasuthe. Kubuthelelwa ukudla okuseleko, kuzala abomantji abakhulu bomphako abalikhomba, ngitjho nanyana kudle amadoda azi-4 000, kuhlanganise nabafazi nabantwana!

Ngemva kokuthi uJesu akhambise isiqubuthu, yena nabafundi bakhe bakhamba ngesikepe bayamela eMagadani, engetjingalanga yeLwandle leGalile. Lapho, abaFarisi nabanye besitlamu sabaSadusi balinga uJesu, bambawa bona abavezele isibonakaliso esivela ezulwini.

UJesu uyalemuka ukuthi bahloseni, yeke uthi kibo: “Nakutjhinga ilanga, nithi, ‘Kusasa lizokubalela, ngombana amafu abomvu komlilo,’ bese ekuseni nithi, ‘Namhlanjesi kuzokuba makhaza kune nezulu, ngombana amafu abomvu komlilo begodu asibekele.’ Niyakwazi ukuhlathulula ubujamo bezulu ngokuqala amafu, kodwana anikghoni ukuhlathulula amatshwayo weenkhathi.” (Matewu 16:2, 3) Nje-ke, uJesu utjela abaFarisi nabaSadusi ukuthi akunasibonakaliso abazokunikelwa sona ngaphandle kwesibonakaliso sakaJona.

UJesu nabafundi bakhe bakhwela isikepe batjhinga eBhethesayida engetlhagwini-pumalanga yelwandle. Nabasendleleni, abafundi balemuka ukuthi bakhohlwe ukuphatha izikwa ezaneleko. Banesikwa sinye tere. Acabanga ngalokho okusand’ ukwenzeka phakathi kwakhe nabaFarisi nabalandeli bakaHerode ababaSadusi, uJesu uyayelelisa uthi: “Yelelani; nitjheje isibiliso sabaFarisi nesibiliso sakaHerode.” Abafundi benza iphoso yokucabanga ukuthi uJesu nakakhuluma ngesibiliso uqalisela ekukhohlweni kwabo ukuphatha isikwa. UJesu uyayibona iphoswabo, uthi: “Kubayini niphikisana ngokuthi aninasikwa?”​—Markosi 8:15-17.

Akusikade uJesu asuthise iinkulungwana zabantu ngesikwa. Nje-ke, abafundi kufuze ngathana bayazi ukuthi akakatshwenyeki ngokutlhayela kwezikwa zamambala. Uyababuza uthi: “Anikhumbuli na ukuthi lokha ­nangihlephulela  amadoda azi-5 000 izikwa ezihlanu, nabutha abomantji abangaki abazele ukudla okuseleko?” Bathi kuye: “Abalitjhumi nambili.” UJesu uragela phambili uthi: “Nalokha nangihlephulela amadoda azi-4 000 izikwa ezilikhomba, nabutha abomantji abakhulu abangaki abazele ukudla okuseleko?” Bathi kuye: “Abalikhomba.”​—­Markosi 8:18-20.

UJesu uyabuza uthi: “Kuza njani ­ningalemuki ukuthi angikhulumi ngesikwa?” Uyangezelela uthi: “Yelelani isibiliso sabaFarisi nabaSadusi.”​—Matewu 16:11.

Ekugcineni, abafundi bayazwisisa. Isibiliso senza izinto zibile, begodu senza isikwa sikhukhumale. Lapha uJesu usebenzisa isibiliso njengetshwayo lokonakala. Ulemukisa abafundi bakhe bona bayelele “ifundiso yabaFarisi nabaSadusi,” eyonakalisako.​—Matewu 16:12.