1, 2. Ngusiphi seluleko Jesu lasiniketa baphostoli bakhe, futsi yini leyambangela kutsi ente njalo?

BEKUNGUMNYAKA wanga-32 C.E. ngesikhatsi Jesu asesifundzeni saseGalile nakuvela tinkinga letitsite. Labanye baphostoli bakhe bebaphikisana ngekutsi ngubani lomkhulu emkhatsini wabo. Umbhali weliVangeli Lukha uyabika: “Bafundzi baJesu babese bayaphikisana ngekutsi ngubani lomkhulu kunabo bonkhe. Kodvwa Jesu asabonile kutsi bacabangani, wase uletsa umntfwana, wammisa eceleni kwakhe. Wase utsi kubo: ‘Umuntfu lowemukela lomntfwana ngelibito lami, wemukela mine; nalowo lowemukela mine, wemukela lowo longitfumile. Ngobe lowo lomncane kakhulu kunani nonkhe, nguye lomkhulu kunani nonkhe.’” (Luk. 9:46-48) Ngesineke kodvwa ngemavi lacacile, Jesu wasita baphostoli bakhe basibona sidzingo sekutfobeka.

² Seluleko saJesu sekutiphatsa njengalomncane besihambisana yini nendlela emaJuda angelikhulu lekucala labetiphatsa ngayo, nobe bantfu bebakhombisa umoya lowehlukile? Naku lokushiwo yi-Theological Dictionary of the New Testament ngesimo sebantfu bangaleso sikhatsi: “Kunobe ngubuphi budlelwane, bantfu bebahlala bakhatsateke ngekutsi ngubani lomkhulu emkhatsini wabo futsi bekuyintfo lebalulekile kubo kuhlonipha lomunye umuntfu.” Jesu abeluleka baphostoli bakhe kutsi behluke kubantfu labanjalo.

3. (a) Kusho kutsini kutiphatsa njengalomncane, futsi yini lengabangela kutsi kube matima kwenta njalo? (b) Ngumiphi imibuto lesingatibuta yona mayelana nekutfutfukisa umoya wekuba ngulomncane?

³ Ligama lesiGriki lelihunyushwe ngekutsi “lomncane kakhulu” lisho umuntfu lozitsile, lotfobekile, lophansi, longanakeki nobe longaticabangi ancono kunalabanye futsi lote ligunya kubo. Jesu wasebentisa umntfwana lomncane kute acacisele baphostoli  bakhe kutsi kufanele batfobeke futsi bazitse. Leso seluleko siyasebenta kumaKhristu eliciniso lamuhla njengobe bekunjalo ngelikhulu lekucala. Kungaba matima kutiphatsa njengalabancane, ikakhulukati etimeni letitsite. Umkhuba webantfu lowetayelekile wekutigcabha ungasenta sifune kuba ncono kunalabanye. Lelive lesiphila kulo lelitsandza kutibeka embili nemoya walo ungasenta sitibone sincono kunalabanye, sitsandze kuphikisana nobe sicindzetele labanye bantfu kutsi bente tintfo ngendlela yetfu. Yini lengasisita kutsi sitfutfukise umoya wekuba ngulabancane? Kungayiphi indlela ‘lomncane kakhulu kunatsi sonkhe, kunguye lomkhulu’? Kukutiphi tici tekuphila lapho kufanele setame khona kukhombisa kutfobeka?

4, 5. Yini lengasenta sitfutfukise kutfobeka? Fanekisa.

⁴ Lenye indlela lesingatfutfukisa ngayo kutfobeka, kuzindla ngebukhulu baJehova nasiticatsanisa naye. Ecinisweni, ‘kute longakuphenyisisa kucondza kwakhe.’ (Isa. 40:28) Umphostoli Pawula wabhala loku nakakhuluma ngetici letitsite tebukhulu baJehova: “Maye, kujula kwemcebo, nekwenhlakanipho, nekwelwati lwaNkulunkulu! Ngubani nje longaphenya kwehlulela kwakhe ahlolisise imfihlakalo yetindlela takhe?” (Rom. 11:33) Ngisho nobe lwati lwebantfu lwetintfo letinyenti selukhule kakhulu kusukela ngesikhatsi Pawula abhala lamavi eminyakeni lengu-2 000 leyendlulile, kodvwa emavi akhe aseliciniso nalamuhla. Kufanele kusente sitfobeke kwati kutsi kunyenti lesingakufundza ngaJehova, ngemisebenti yakhe nangetindlela takhe.

⁵ Kucaphela kutsi kungetulu kwemandla etfu kuphenyisisa tindlela taNkulunkulu, kwasita Leo * kutsi atibone njengalomncane. Ngesikhatsi aselijaha, Leo abeyitsandza isayensi. Abenesifiso sekucondza lokunyenti ngendzawo yonkhe, ngako wenta tifundvo letimayelana netinkhanyeti nemaplanethi nalokunye lokusesibhakabhakeni (astrophysics), ekugcineni wephetsa ngekutsi atsi: “Kuloko lebengikufundza, ngabona kutsi timfundziso tesayensi natitodvwa angeke tikhone kusita bantfu bayicondze ngalokuphelele indzawo yonkhe. Ngaleso sizatfu, ngakhetsa kufundzela temtsetfo.” Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, Leo waba ngummeli wase uba lijaji lasenkantolo. Ekugcineni, yena nemfati wakhe bafundza liBhayibheli naboFakazi BaJehova, balemukela liciniso futsi baba tinceku letitinikele taNkulunkulu. Yini leyasita  Leo kutsi atiphatse njengalomncane ngisho nobe abefundze kakhulu? Uphendvula ngekungangabati atsi: “Ngasitwa kwati kutsi ngisho nobe singafundza kangakanani ngaJehova nendzawo yonkhe, kusenalokunyenti lesisengakufundza.”

6, 7. (a) Jehova usibekela siphi sibonelo lesihle kakhulu sekutfobeka? (b) Kutfobeka kwaNkulunkulu kungamenta njani umuntfu abe ‘ngulomkhulu’?

⁶ Lokunye lokusisita kutsi sitfobeke kutsi Jehova ngekwakhe utfobekile. Cabanga ngaloku: “Tsine sitisebenti nje taNkulunkulu letibambisene naye.” (1 Khor. 3:9) Cabanga nje, Jehova longuNkulunkulu longacatsaniswa namuntfu ngebukhulu ukhombisa kusihlonipha ngekusiniketa litfuba lekushumayela sisebentisa liVi lakhe liBhayibheli. Ngisho nobe Jehova kunguye lokhulisa imbewu lesiyihlanyelako siphindze siyinisele, usiniketa lilungelo lelihloniphekile lekusebenta naye. (1 Khor. 3:6, 7) Leso akusiso yini sibonelo lesihle kakhulu sekutfobeka kwaNkulunkulu? Sibonelo saJehova sekutfobeka kufanele sisikhutsate kakhulu kutsi sitiphatse njengalabancane.

⁷ Sibonelo saNkulunkulu sekutfobeka samtsintsa kakhulu umhlabeli Davide. Wahlabela kuJehova watsi: “Ungihlomisa ngesihlangu sensindziso yakho; utehlisa wena kuze uphakamise mine.” (2 Sam. 22:36) Bonkhe bukhulu Davide labenabo ka-Israyeli abebubhekisa ekutitfobeni kwaJehova—kugobondzela nobe kutehlisa kwaNkulunkulu kute amnake. (Hla. 113:5-7) Kwehlukile yini kitsi? Ukhona yini kitsi lonebuntfu, emakhono nemalungelo ‘langazange awaphiwe’ nguJehova? (1 Khor. 4:7) Umuntfu lotiphatsa njengalomncane uba ‘ngulomkhulu’ ngekutsi uba yinceku yaJehova leligugu. (Luk. 9:48) Ase sibone kutsi kwenteka njani loko.

8. Kutfobeka kusitsintsa njani simo setfu ngenhlangano yaJehova?

⁸ Kutfobeka kubalulekile kute senetiseke enhlanganweni yaNkulunkulu futsi sisekele emalungiselelo elibandla. Cabanga ngaPetra, dzadze losemusha lowakhulela emndenini waboFakazi. Ngesizatfu sekutsi abefuna kwenta tintfo ngendlela yakhe, Petra watehlukanisa nelibandla. Ngemuva kweminyaka letsite, waphindze wacala kutihlanganisa nelibandla. Nyalo uyakujabulela kuba senhlanganweni yaJehova futsi uyafisa kuwasekela emalungiselelo elibandla. Yini leyente kwaba nemehluko? Naku lakubhala: “Lokwangenta ngativa ngemukelekile enhlanganweni yaNkulunkulu, kucondza nekutfutfukisa kutfobeka nekuzitsa.”

9. Umuntfu lotfobekile uba nasiphi simo ngetincwadzi letisekelwe eBhayibhelini lesititfolako, futsi loko kumenta njani abe ligugu?

⁹ Umuntfu lotfobekile unekwatisa lokusuka enhlitiyweni ngemalungiselelo aJehova lahlanganisa tincwadzi letisekelwe eBhayibhelini. Ngako-ke, umuntfu lonjalo uba ngumfundzi lokhutsele weliBhayibheli futsi unenshisekelo yekufundza Sicongosekulindza ne-“Phaphama!” Njengetinceku taJehova letinyenti letetsembekile, ukwenta umkhuba kufundza tincwadzi letinsha ngembikwekutsi atibeke emtatjeni wakhe. Nangabe ngekutfobeka sikhombisa kubonga ngekufundza nekutadisha tincwadzi tetfu letisekelwe eBhayibhelini, siyatfutfuka ekukhonteni Jehova futsi Jehova uyakhona kusisebentisela imisebenti yakhe.—Heb. 5:13, 14.

10. Singasikhombisa njani simo sekuba ngulabancane ebandleni?

¹⁰ Umuntfu lotiphatsa njengalomncane uba ‘mkhulu’ nangalenye indlela. Libandla ngalinye linemadvodza lafanelekako labekwe ngekucondzisa  kwemoya longcwele waJehova kutsi abe ngulabadzala ebandleni. Enta emalungiselelo ekukhonta Nkulunkulu njengemihlangano yelibandla, umsebenti wekushumayela nekwelusa. Nasikhombisa simo sekuba ngulabancane ngekuwasekela ngekutitsandzela lamalungiselelo, sitfutfukisa injabulo, kuthula, nebunye ebandleni. (Fundza Hebheru 13:7, 17.) Nangabe ukhonta njengalomdzala nobe inceku lesebentako, awumbongi yini Jehova ngekukunika lilungelo lelinjalo?

11, 12. Ngusiphi simo sengcondvo lesingasenta sibe ligugu enhlanganweni yaJehova, futsi loko kungabangelwa yini?

¹¹ Loyo lotiphatsa njengalomncane uba ‘mkhulu’ nobe abe ligugu enhlanganweni yaJehova ngobe kutfobeka kwakhe kumenta abe sisebenti saNkulunkulu lesihle nalesisebentisekako. Bekudzingeka kutsi Jesu eluleke bafundzi bakhe ngekutiphatsa njengalabancane ngobe labanye babo besebangenwe ngumoya lowawukhona ngaleso sikhatsi. Umbhalo waLukha 9:46 utsi: ‘Baphikisana ngekutsi ngubani lomkhulu kunabo bonkhe.’ Kungenteka yini natsi sicale kuticabanga kutsi sincono kunalabanye lesikholwa nabo nobe labanye bantfu? Bantfu labanyenti eveni lesiphila kulo bayatigcabha futsi banebugovu. Asitehlukanise nebantfu labatikhukhumetako, sente tintfo ngekutitfoba. Nangabe senta njalo futsi sibeka intsandvo yaJehova kucala, siba bangani labakhutsatako kubazalwane betfu nabodzadze.

¹² Seluleko saJesu sekutiphatsa njengalabancane siyasikhutsata. Akukafaneli yini setame kukhombisa umoya wekuba ngulabancane kuto tonkhe tici tekuphila? Ase sinake tici letintsatfu.

13, 14. Indvodza nobe umfati angatiphatsa njani njengalomncane, futsi loko kungawutsintsa njani umshado?

¹³ Emshadweni. Bantfu labanyenti lamuhla banaka kakhulu kulwela emalungelo abo ngisho nobe kwenta njalo kusho kunyatsela emalungelo alabanye. Nobe kunjalo, loyo lotiphatsa njengalomncane ucondziswa simo Pawula lasikhutsata kutsi sibe naso. Encwadzini layibhalela baseRoma, watsi: “Asilangatelele lokuletsa kuthula nekwakhana.” (Rom. 14:19) Umuntfu lotiphatsa njengalomncane ulangatelela kuba nekuthula nabo bonkhe bantfu, ikakhulukati umuntfu lashade naye.

¹⁴ Cabanga ngendzaba yekutijabulisa. Kungenteka bantfu labashadene babe nemibono lengafanani endzabeni yekutijabulisa. Mhlawumbe indvodza itsandza kucitsa sikhatsi ihleli ekhaya futsi itifundzela incwadzi. Kungenteka umfati yena utsandza kuphuma ayodlela kulenye indzawo nobe avakashele bangani. Angeke yini kube melula ngalomfati kuhlonipha indvodza yakhe nakabona kutsi ikhombisa kutitfoba nekutsi iticabangela ngebucotfo tintfo latitsandzako nalangatitsandzi, kunekutsi imane iticabangele yona? Indvodza iyamtsandza futsi imatise kakhulu umfati wayo nayibona kutsi aketami kwenta tintfo ngendlela yakhe kodvwa uyaticabangela tifiso tayo. Sibopho semshado siyacina nangabe laba labashadene batiphatsa njengalabancane.—Fundza Filiphi 2:1-4.

15, 16. Ngusiphi simo Davide lasikhutsata kuTihlabelelo 131, futsi loko kufanele kuyitsintse njani indlela lesitiphatsa ngayo ebandleni?

¹⁵ Ebandleni. Emhlabeni, bantfu labanyenti baphilela kwenetisa tifiso tabo. Kubantfu labanjalo, kubeketela kuncane futsi kulindza kuba luvivinyo. Kutfutfukisa umoya wekuba ngulabancane kusisita kutsi silindzele Jehova. (Fundza Tihlabelelo 131:1-3.) Tinzuzo tekutfobeka nekulindzela Jehova, kulondzeka netibusiso, indvudvuto nekwenetiseka. Kungako Davide akhutsata ema-Israyeli  kutsi amlindzele ngesineke Nkulunkulu.

¹⁶ Ungatfola indvudvuto lefanako nangabe ngekutitfoba ulindzela Jehova. (Hla. 42:5) Kungenteka kutsi “ufisa umsebenti lomuhle” futsi ‘ufisa umsebenti wekuba ngumbonisi.’ (1 Thim. 3:1-7) Kuliciniso kutsi kufanele wente konkhe lokusemandleni akho kute uvumele umoya longcwele uvete kuwe buntfu lobudzingekako kute ube ngumbonisi. Kodvwa kutsiwani nangabe kubonakala kutsatsa sikhatsi lesidze kuwe kunakulabanye? Loyo lotiphatsa njengalomncane, lolindzela ngesineke kutfola umsebenti ebandleni, utawuchubeka akhonta Jehova ngenjabulo futsi utawujabulela nobe ngusiphi sabelo lanikwa sona.

17, 18. (a) Kuba namiphi imiphumela nangabe sicela kutsetselelwa futsi natsi sikulungele kutsetselela labanye? (b) Taga 6:1-5 tisikhutsata kutsi senteni?

¹⁷ Ebuhlotjeni betfu nalabanye. Kubantfu labanyenti kumatima kucolisa. Nobe kunjalo, tinceku taNkulunkulu titfutfukisa umoya wekuba ngulabancane ngekuwavuma emaphutsa ato nekucela kutsetselelwa. Tikulungele nekutsetselela labanye emaphutsa abo. Kutigcabha kubangela kwehlukana nekungevani, kodvwa kutsetselela kutfutfukisa kuthula ebandleni.

¹⁸ Kungadzingeka kutsi ‘sititfobe’ sicolise kulomunye umuntfu nangabe sehluleka kwenta loko lebesivumelene ngako ngesizatfu setimo letingetulu kwemandla etfu. Ngisho nobe tikhona tizatfu tekusola lomunye umuntfu, umKhristu lotfobekile unaka kakhulu emaphutsa akhe futsi ukulungele kuwavuma.—Fundza Taga 6:1-5.

19. Ngutiphi tizatfu lesinato tekubonga ngeseluleko seliBhayibheli sekutiphatsa njengalabancane?

¹⁹ Sibonga kakhulu ngesikhutsato lesiseBhayibhelini sekutfutfukisa umoya wekuba ngulabancane. Ngisho nobe ngaletinye tikhatsi singakutfola kumatima kukhombisa umoya lonjalo, kuba nembono lokahle ngesigaba setfu nasicatsaniswa neMdali wetfu nekukwatisa kutfobeka kwakhe, kungasikhutsata kutsi natsi sitfobeke. Nasenta njalo sitawuba tinceku taJehova letiligugu. Ngako-ke, shengatsi ngamunye wetfu angatiphatsa njengalomncane.