1-3. Sigwetshelweni futhi uJehova uzasikhulula njani?

AKE sithi ugwetshelwe ukuhlala ejele impilo yakho yonke kodwa wena ungelacala. Amathuba okuthi uphume alilihlo lentwala. Ikusasa lakho lifiphele futhi akula ongakwenza ukuze uzikhiphe esimeni leso. Besekusithi usulahle ithemba uzwe kuthiwa kulomuntu othembise ukuthi uzakukhipha ejele. Ungezwa njani?

² Sonke sagwetshelwa ukufa. Asingeke siphunyuke emihlathini yokufa. Kodwa uJehova ulawo amandla okusikhulula ekufeni. Uthembise ukuthi “isitha sokucina esizachithwa, yikufa.”​—1 KwabaseKhorinte 15:26.

³ Uzwa kusithi hu nxa ucabanga ngokuthi uNkulunkulu uzaqeda ukufa. UJehova uzavusa “abafileyo” njalo uthembisa ukuthi bazaphinda baphile. (U-Isaya 26:19) Ake ucabange ukuthi lokho kuqakatheke kangakanani kuwe.

4. (a) Kuyini okungasiduduza nxa singafelwa? (b) Ngobani ababengabangane bakaJesu?

⁴ Nxa singafelwa yisihlobo kumbe ngumngane, inhliziyo zethu zisala zisopha igazi futhi sikhala ezimathonsi. Ayabe esechithekile engasabutheki ngoba  ngeke senelise ukumvusa lowomuntu. Kodwa iBhayibhili liyasiduduza. (Bala u-2 Khorinte 1:3, 4.) Ake sixoxeni ngesibonelo esitshengisa ukuthi uJehova loJesu bakukhangelele ngabomvu ukuvusa abafileyo. Ngesikhathi uJesu esemhlabeni, wayejayele ukuvakatshela uLazaro labodadewabo uMatha loMariya. UJesu lalaba abathathu babengamathe lolimi. IBhayibhili lithi: “UJesu wayemthanda uMatha kanye labafowabo oMariya loLazaro.”​—UJohane 11:3-5.

5, 6. (a) UJesu wenzani lapho ebona izihlobo kanye labangane bakaLazaro bekhala? (b) Kungani kududuza ukwazi ukuthi uJesu uzwa ubuhlungu nxa abantu besifa?

⁵ Ngelinye ilanga uLazaro wafa. UJesu wahamba wayaduduza uMatha loMariya. UMatha wathi esizwa ukuthi uJesu uyeza, wahle wathi lothu wayamhlangabeza. Wathaba ukubona uJesu kodwa wathi kuye: “Aluba ubukhona lapha ngabe umnewethu kafanga.” UMatha wayecabanga ukuthi kwakungaselalutho uJesu ayengalwenza. UJesu wathi ebona uMariya labanye bekhala, wadabuka, zehla lakuye. (UJohane 11:21, 33, 35) Wabuzwa ubuhlungu bokufelwa.

⁶ Ukwazi ukuthi uJesu uzwa ubuhlungu nxa umuntu angafa kuyaduduza. Kusifundisa ukuthi uJehova loJesu bayakuzonda ukufa. (UJohane 14:9) UJehova ulamandla okuqeda ukufa futhi kasoze apholise amaseko, uzakuqeda masinyane.

7, 8. Kungani uMatha wayengafuni ukuthi ilitshe elalivale ithuna likaLazaro lisuswe futhi uJesu wenzani ilitshe selisusiwe?

⁷ UJesu wathi efika ethuneni likaLazaro, intuba yayivalwe ngci ngelitshe elikhulu. UJesu wathi: “Lisuseni  ilitshe.” Kodwa uMatha wayengafuni ukuthi balisuse. Phela kwasekulamalanga amane uLazaro engcwatshiwe. (UJohane 11:39) UMatha wayengazi ukuthi uJesu ufuna ukwenzani.

⁸ Ilitshe lasuswa uJesu wasesithi kuLazaro: “Phuma!” Okwenzakalayo kwatshiya uMatha loMariya bengelankani. “Indoda efileyo yaphuma, izandla zayo lezinyawo kusongiwe ngamaqhele elineni.” (UJohane 11:43, 44) ULazaro wayesevusiwe. Waphinda wabonana lezihlobo kanye labangane bakhe. Kwakuyisimanga sezimanga sibili!

9, 10. (a) Ngubani owanika uJesu amandla okuvusa abantu? (b) Izindaba zokuvuswa kwabantu zisinceda ngani?

⁹ UJesu wayewathatha ngaphi amandla okuvusa abafileyo? Engakavusi uLazaro, wathandaza ecela uJehova ukuthi amnike amandla. (Bala uJohane 11:41, 42.) ULazaro kayisuye yedwa owavuswayo. IBhayibhili lisitshela ngentombazana eleminyaka engu-12 eyayisibangwa lezibi. Uyise uJayiru wayesephelelwe futhi wancenga uJesu ukuthi ayisilise ngoba phela yayinguyedwana wakhe. UJayiru wathi esakhuluma loJesu, amanye amadoda afika athi: “Indodakazi yakho isifile. Kambe usamhluphelani umfundisi na?” Kodwa uJesu wathi kuJayiru: “Ungesabi, wena kholwa kuphela, izaphiliswa.” Wasehamba loJayiru. Bathi sebebanga endlini kaJayiru, uJesu wabona abantu besiqhinqa isililo. UJesu wathi kubo: “Thulani ukukhala. Kafanga kodwa ulele.” Kufanele  ukuthi abazali bentombazana leyo babezibuza ukuthi uJesu utshoni. UJesu wacela wonke umuntu ukuthi aphume phandle wasengena labazali bentombazana endlini lapho eyayibekwe khona. UJesu wabamba isandla sentombazana wasesithi kuyo: ‘Ntombazana ngithi kuwe, vuka.’ Abazali bayo bathaba baze bathinta amayezi lapho beyibona ivuka. (UMakho 5:22-24, 35-42; ULukha 8:49-56) Kusukela ngelanga lelo, babesithi nxa bekhangela umntanabo bakhumbule lokho uJehova ayebenzele khona esebenzisa uJesu. *

¹⁰ Abantu abavuswa nguJesu baphinda bafa. Kodwa lokho esikufunda ngabo kuyasinceda ngoba kwenza sibe lethemba. Kusitshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyafuna ukuvusa abantu abafileyo futhi uzabavusa.

11. UmTshumayeli 9:5 uthini ngabantu abafileyo?

¹¹ IBhayibhili lithi “abafileyo kabazi lutho.” Yiso kanye isimo uLazaro ayekuso ngesikhathi efile. (UmTshumayeli 9:5) Wayefanana lomuntu oleleyo njengoba nje uJesu wayetshilo. (UJohane 11:11) Ngesikhathi uLazaro efile, ‘wayengazi lutho.’

12. Sikwazi njani ukuthi uLazaro wavuswa sibili?

¹² Abantu abanengi bazibonela ngawabo uJesu  evusa uLazaro. Izitha zikaJesu lazo zazikwazi ukuthi wavusa uLazaro. Phela uLazaro wayesephila. Pho babengakuphika njani ukuthi uvusiwe? (UJohane 11:47) Abantu abanengi bamvakatshela uLazaro futhi lokhu kwenza bakholwa ukuthi uJesu wayethunywe nguNkulunkulu. Izitha zikaJesu azizange zikuthande lokhu, yikho zeluka icebo lokuthi zibulale uJesu loLazaro.​—UJohane 11:53; 12:9-11.

13. Kuyini okwenza sibe leqiniso lokuthi uJehova uzabavusa abafileyo?

¹³ UJesu wathi “bonke abasemathuneni” bazavuswa. (UJohane 5:28) UJehova uzavusa bonke abasenkumbulweni yakhe. Ukuze uJehova avuse umuntu othile, kumele akhumbule konke ngaye. Kodwa angenelisa yini ukukwenza lokho? Ake ucabange ukuthi kulezinkanyezi ezinengi kangakanani. Lanxa zizinengi kangako, iBhayibhili lithi uJehova uzazi zonke ngamabizo azo. (Bala u-Isaya 40:26.) Kambe nxa esazi inkanyezi ngayinye, kungamehlula yini ukukhumbula konke okumayelana lalabo abazavuswa? Okunye okwenza sibe leqiniso lokuthi uJehova uzabavusa abantu abafileyo yikuthi nguye owadala zonke izinto. Yikho ulawo amandla okubavusa.

14, 15. Amazwi kaJobe asifundisani ngokuvuswa kwabafileyo?

¹⁴ Indoda elungileyo uJobe yayikholwa ukuthi abafileyo bazavuswa. Wabuza wathi: “Umuntu angafa uphinde aphile na?” Wasesithi kuJehova: “Uzabiza lami ngizasabela; uzasifisa lesosidalwa esenziwa yizandla zakho.” Kuyakhanya ukuthi uJobe wayekwazi ukuthi uJehova ukulindele ngabomvu ukuvusa abantu abafileyo.​—UJobe 14:13-15.

 ¹⁵ Uzwa njani nxa ucabanga ngokuvuswa kwabafileyo? Mhlawumbe uyazibuza ukuthi, ‘Izihlobo kanye labangane bami bazavuswa yini?’ Kuyasiduduza ukwazi ukuthi uJehova uyafuna sibili ukuvusa abafileyo. Ake sibone ukuthi iBhayibhili lithi ngabanjani abazavuswa lokuthi nxa sebevusiwe bazahlala ngaphi.

16. Ukuvuswa kwabantu esikhathini esizayo kuzabe kutshiyene njani lokwakudala?

¹⁶ ULazaro kanye labanye abavuswayo baphinda babonana lezihlobo kanye labangane babo. Kodwa ukuvuswa kwabantu esikhathini esizayo kuzabe kungcono kulokwakudala. Ngenxa yani? Ngoba labo abazavuswa bazathola ithuba lokuphila phakade bengasafi. Ngaleso sikhathi kuyabe kungasela zimpi, ubugebenga lokugula emhlabeni.

17. Ngobani abazavuswa?

¹⁷ Ngobani abazavuswa? UJesu wathi: ‘Bonke abasemathuneni abo bazalizwa ilizwi layo baphume.’ (UJohane 5:28, 29) ISambulo 20:13 sithi: “Ulwandle lwakhupha abafileyo ababekulo, ukufa leHadesi kwakhupha abafileyo ababekukho.” IHadesi lithuna. Izigidi zabantu zizavuswa. IBhayibhili lithi kuzavuswa “abalungileyo lababi.” (Bala imiSebenzi 24:15.) Kutshoni lokhu?

18. Ngobani “abalungileyo” abazavuswa?

¹⁸ “Abalungileyo” bagoqela izikhonzi zikaJehova ezithembekileyo ezafa uJesu engakabuyi emhlabeni.  UNowa, u-Abhrahama, uSara, uMosi, uRuthe, u-Esta labanye bazavuswa bahlale khonapha emhlabeni. Abanye kukhulunywa ngabo kumaHebheru isahluko 11. Izikhonzi zikaJehova ezithembekileyo ezifa lamuhla zona-ke? Zizavuswa ngoba lazo zibalelwa ‘kwabalungileyo.’

19. Ngobani “ababi”? UJehova uzabanika ithuba lokwenzani?

 ¹⁹ “Ababi” abavuswa yizigidi zabantu ezafa zingazange zithole ithuba lokufunda ngoJehova. Lanxa bafa uJehova kabakhohlwanga. Uzabavusa ukuze bathole ithuba lokufunda ngaye futhi bamkhonze.

20. Ngabanjani abangasoze bavuswe?

²⁰ Lokhu kutsho ukuthi bonke abafileyo bazavuswa yini? Hatshi. UJesu wathi labo abaseGehena ngeke bavuswe. Ibala elithi iGehena lihunyutshwe ngokuthi “isihogo” eBhayibhilini lesiNdebele. (ULukha 12:5) Ngubani olamandla okutsho ukuthi umuntu othile uyavuswa yini loba kavuswa? UJehova nguye uMahluleli, kodwa unike uJesu amandla ‘okwahlulela abaphilayo labafileyo.’ (ImiSebenzi 10:42) Loba ngubani ongalunganga futhi ongafuni ukuntshintsha kasoze avuswe.​—Khangela amabala asekucineni 18.

21, 22. (a) Labo abazayahlala ezulwini bavuswa belomzimba onjani? (b) Ngubani owaba ngowokuqala ukuvuselwa ukuyahlala ezulwini?

²¹ IBhayibhili lisitshela ukuthi abanye abantu bazavuswa bayehlala ezulwini. Bazavuswa belemizimba yomoya.

²² UJesu waba ngumqali wesiziba ukuvuselwa ukuyahlala ezulwini. (UJohane 3:13) UJehova wamvusa ngemva kwamalanga amathathu. (IHubo 16:10; ImiSebenzi 13:34, 35) UJesu kavuswanga elomzimba onjengowethu. Umphostoli uPhethro wathi uJesu ‘wabulawa emzimbeni kodwa wavuswa engumoya.’  (1 UPhetro 3:18) UJesu wavuswa eseyisidalwa somoya esilamandla. (1 KwabaseKhorinte 15:3-6) Kodwa iBhayibhili lithi akucinanga ngaye.

23, 24. Ngobani ‘abangumhlambi omncane’ uJesu akhuluma ngabo futhi bangaki?

²³ UJesu engakafi watshela abafundi bakhe wathi: “Ngiya khona [ezulwini] ukuyalilungisela indawo.” (UJohane 14:2) Lokhu kutsho ukuthi abanye abalandeli bakhe bazavuswa bayehlala laye ezulwini. Bangaki? UJesu wathi balutshwana, ‘bangumhlambi omncane.’ (ULukha 12:32) Umphostoli uJohane yena waqamba ukuthi bangaki. Wabhala wathi wabona uJesu ‘emi phezu kweNtaba iZiyoni, elabayizi-144 000.’​—ISambulo 14:1.

²⁴ Laba abangu-144 000 babezavuswa nini? IBhayibhili lisitshela ukuthi babezavuswa lapho uJesu eseqalisile ukubusa ezulwini. (1 KwabaseKhorinte 15:23) Khathesi uJesu useyiNkosi ezulwini futhi inengi labangu-144 000 selavuswa laya ezulwini. Labo abasasemhlabeni bahle bavuswe ngokuphazima kwelihlo baye ezulwini besanda kufa nje. Kodwa bonke abanye abantu bazavuswa esikhathini esizayo futhi bazahlala emhlabeni olipharadayisi.

25. Sizacubungulani esahlukweni esilandelayo?

²⁵ Masinyane uJehova uzakuqeda ukufa futhi ngeke kuphinde kube khona. (Bala u-Isaya 25:8.) Kodwa labo abaya ezulwini bayakwenzani khonale? IBhayibhili lithi bazabusa loJesu eMbusweni wasezulwini. Sizacubungula okunengi ngoMbuso lowo esahlukweni esilandelayo.