1, 2. (a) Kuyini abakhokheli benkolo ababefuna ukwazi, njalo uPhetro wabaphendula wathini? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.) (b) Kuyini okwenza ukuthi uPhetro abe lesibindi sokubaphendula?

 KWATHI sekudlule insukwana nje uJesu efile, umphostoli uPhetro wahlaselwa liqembu lezidlamlilo ezazifuna ukumudla ephila. Amadoda la angamaJuda kwakungabakhokheli benkolo abalamandla njalo kwakuyibo ababenze amaqhinga okuthi uJesu abulawe. UPhetro wayesanda kwelapha indoda eyayiyisigoga kusukela yazalwayo. Yikho ayefuna ukuthi uPhetro awachasisele ukuthi wayewathethe ngaphi amandla okwenza into enje, kumbe ukuthi wayekwenze ngegama likabani lokhu. Umphostoli lo wawaphendula ngesibindi wathi: “Kungenxa yamandla kaJesu Khristu waseNazaretha elambethelayo kodwa uNkulunkulu wamvusa kwabafileyo ayiwo enza indoda le ime phambi kwenu isilile ngokupheleleyo.”​—ImiSeb. 4:5-10.

² UPhetro wayeke waphika uJesu kathathu ngenxa yokwesaba. (Mak. 14:66-72) Pho wayesesithethe ngaphi isibindi sokuphendula abakhokheli benkolo laba? Lanxa umoya ongcwele wamnceda kakhulu, okunye okwamncedayo yikuthi wayeleqiniso lokuthi uJesu wayesevusiwe. Kuyini okwenza umphostoli lo wangathandabuzi ukuthi uJesu wayesevusiwe, njalo kuyini okungenza lathi sivume ukuthi wavuswa sibili?

3, 4. (a) Landisa izindaba ezimayelana labantu abavuswa ngesikhathi abaphostoli bakaJesu bengakazalwa. (b) Yibaphi abantu abavuswa nguJesu?

 ³ Abaphostoli bakaJesu babekwazi mhlophe ukuthi abafileyo bangaphinda baphile ngoba bakhona abantu ababeke bavuswa ngesikhathi abaphostoli laba bengakazalwa. Babekwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayenike abaphrofethi bakhe u-Elija lo-Elisha amandla okwenza izimangaliso lezi. (1 AmaKho. 17:17-24; 2 AmaKho. 4:32-37) Kulenye njalo indoda eyayifile eyavuka yaphila lapho isidumbu sayo esajikelwa ethuneni sithinta amathambo ka-Elisha. (2 AmaKho. 13:20, 21) AmaKhristu akuqala ayezikholwa izindaba zokuvuswa kwabafileyo eziseMibhalweni, njengoba lathi sikukholwa ukuthi iLizwi likaNkulunkulu liliqiniso.

⁴ Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi sonke kuyasikhuthaza ukubala izindaba ezimayelana labantu abavuswa nguJesu. Lapho uJesu evusa indodana yomfelokazi eyayizelwe yodwa, kumele ukuthi umfelokazi lo wamangala kakhulu. (Luk. 7:11-15) Kanti njalo uJesu waphinda wavusa intombazana eyayileminyaka engu-12. Ubona angani bezwa njani abazali bentombazana le ababehlulukelwe? Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi bamangala njalo bathaba baba manzi te bebona umntanabo esevusiwe! (Luk. 8:49-56) Kumele ukuthi ababebukele bathokoza kakhulu lapho bebona uLazaro ephuma ethuneni ephilile njalo eqine saka.—Joh. 11:38-44.

5. Ukuvuswa kukaJesu kwakutshiyene ngani lokunye okwake kwenzakala?

⁵ Abaphostoli babekwazi ukuthi ukuvuswa kukaJesu kwakungafanani lokunye nje okwake kwenzakala. Abantu ababefile bavuswa belemizimba yenyama, njalo baphinda bafa. Kodwa uJesu yena wavuswa elomzimba womoya ongeke ubole. (Bala imiSebenzi 13:34.) UPhetro wabhala ukuthi uJesu “wabulawa emzimbeni kodwa wavuswa emoyeni.” (The Holy Bible in Ndebele) Waphinda wabhala lokuthi uJesu “usesandleni sokunene sikaNkulunkulu—lezingilosi, leziphathamandla kanye lezikhulu ekuzehliseni kuye.” (1 Phet. 3:18-22) Ukuvuswa kukaJesu kwakuyisimanga sezimanga, kwakungafanani lokunye okwake kwenzakala.

6. Ukuvuswa kukaJesu kwabanceda ngani abafundi bakhe?

⁶ Ukuvuswa kukaJesu kwabanceda kakhulu abafundi bakhe. Izitha zakhe zazicabanga ukuthi wayelokhu efile, kanti zilahlekile. Wayesengumuntu womoya olamandla ongeke alinyazwe ngabantu. Ukuvuswa kwakhe kwacacisa ukuthi wayeyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu sibili. Kanti njalo ukwazi ukuthi wayesevusiwe kwabaduduza kakhulu abafundi bakhe ababedanile njalo kwabenza baba lesibindi kulokuthi baqhubeke besesaba. Ukuvuswa kukaJesu kwakuqakathekile ukuze injongo kaJehova igcwaliseke lokuthi izindaba ezinhle zitshunyayelwe ngesibindi emhlabeni wonke jikelele.

7. UJesu wenzani khathesi, njalo yiyiphi imibuzo eba khona?

⁷ Izinceku zikaJehova ziyakunanzelela ukuthi uJesu wayengasimuntu olamandla nje kuphela, kodwa wayeqakatheke kakhulu. Uyaphila njalo nguye okhokhelayo emsebenzini wokutshumayela onceda bonke abantu emhlabeni wonke. Sikhuluma nje uJesu Khristu useyiNkosi yoMbuso kaNkulunkulu ezulwini njalo sekuseduze ukuthi azokhipha bonke ububi futhi antshintshe umhlaba lo ube lipharadayisi lapho abantu abazaphila khona kuze kube nini lanini. (Luk. 23:43 NW) Konke lokhu kwakungeke kwenzakale ngabe uJesu kazange avuswe. Pho-ke yiziphi izizathu esilazo ezenza sikholwe ukuthi wavuswa kwabafileyo? Kanti vele ukuvuswa kwakhe kusinceda ngani?

8, 9. (a) Kuyini okwenza ukuthi abakhokheli benkolo yesiJuda bacele ukuthi ithuna likaJesu lilindwe? (b) Lapho abesifazana befika ethuneni kwenzakalani?

⁸ UJesu wathi esebulewe, abaphristi abakhulu labaFarisi babuya kuPhilathu bathi:  “Nkosi, siyakhumbula ukuthi esaphila, umkhohlisi loyana wathi, ‘Ngemuva kwezinsuku ezintathu ngizavuka.’ Ngakho yenza ukuthi ithuna lilindwe kuze kube lusuku lwesithathu. Engxenye abafundi bakhe bangeza bantshontshe isidumbu, batshele abantu ukuthi uvukile kwabafileyo. Inkohliso le ingabambi kakhulu kuleyakuqala.” UPhilathu yena wasebaphendula wathi: “Thathani abalindi. Hambani liyovikela ithuna njengokubona kwenu.” Bathi besuka lapho yikho kanye abakwenzayo.—Mat. 27:62-66.

⁹ Isidumbu sikaJesu sasifakwe ethuneni elaligujwe edwaleni njalo lalivalwe ngenkalakatha yelitshe. Abakhokheli benkolo yesiJuda babefuna uJesu abolele khona, angaphindi aphile futhi. Kodwa lokhu kayisikho okwakufunwa nguJehova. Lapho uMariya Magadalena lomunye uMariya befika ethuneni ngelanga lesithathu, bathola ilitshe okwakuvalwe ngalo seligiqelwe eceleni njalo ingilosi ihlezi phezu kwalo. Ingilosi le yatshela abesifazana laba ukuthi balunguze phakathi kwethuna ukuze babone ukuthi kwakungaselalutho. Yathi: “Kakho lapha; usevukile.” (Mat. 28:1-6) UJesu wayesephila sibili!

10. UPhawuli wakutshengisa njani ukuthi uJesu wayesevusiwe?

¹⁰ Izinto ezenzakala emalangeni angu-40 ngemva kokuvuswa kukaJesu zatshengisa ukuthi wayesevusiwe sibili. Umphostoli uPhawuli wakuveza lokhu kwabaseKhorinte wathi: “Engakwamukelayo lami ngakudlulisela kini njengokuqakatheke kakhulu: ukuthi uKhristu wafela izono zethu mayelana lemibhalo, lokuthi wangcwatshwa, lokuthi wavuswa ngosuku lwesithathu mayelana lemibhalo, kanye lokuthi wabonakala kuPhetro, njalo muva kwabalitshumi lambili. Emva kwalokho wabonakala phambi kwabazalwane abadlula amakhulu amahlanu sikhathi sinye, inengi labo lilokhu lisaphila, lanxa abanye sebalala. Wabuya wabonakala kuJakhobe, muva kubaphostoli bonke, kwathi ekucineni wabonakala kimi futhi, njengalowo ozelwe ngendlela engajwayelekanga.”—1 Khor. 15:3-8.

11. Kungani kuthiwa ukuvuswa kukaJesu ‘kwakumayelana lemibhalo’?

¹¹ Okunye okwenza sikwazi ukuthi uJesu wavuswa kwabafileyo yikuthi ukuvuswa kwakhe ‘kwakumayelana lemibhalo.’ ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lakhuluma ngokuvuswa kwakhe kungakenzakali. Ngokwesibonelo uDavida wabhala ukuthi “Ongcwele” kaNkulunkulu wayengasoze atshiywe eseNgcwabeni. (Bala iHubo 16:10.) Mhla kuyiPhentekhosti ngo-33 C.E., umphostoli uPhetro watshengisa ukuthi isiphrofetho lesi sasikhuluma ngoJesu. Wathi: “[UDavida] ebona okwakungaphambili, wakhuluma ngokuvuka kukaKhristu, ukuthi kazange atshiywe engcwabeni, njalo umzimba wakhe kawukubonanga ukubola.”—ImiSeb. 2:23-27, 31.

12. Ngobani ababona uJesu esevusiwe?

¹² Isizathu sesibili esenza sikwazi ukuthi uJesu wavuswa yikuthi abantu abanengi bazibonela ngawabo ukuthi lokhu kwakwenzakele. Emalangeni angu-40 ngemva kokuvuswa kwakhe, uJesu wabonakala esivandeni lapho okwakulethuna lakhe khona, waphinda wabonakala kwezinye izindawo kanye lasemgwaqweni owawusiya e-Emawusi. (Luk. 24:13-15) Ngesikhathi ebonakala, wakhuluma labantu abathile, ngokwesibonelo uPhetro, njalo kwezinye izikhathi wayekhuluma lamaqembu. Phela waze wabonwa lixuku labantu abangu-500! Nxa kulabofakazi abanengi kangaka abazibonela ngawabo ukuthi lokhu kwakwenzakele, pho ngubani ongaphika ukuthi uJesu wavuswa?

13. Kuyini okwakutshengisa ukuthi abafundi bakaJesu babengathandabuzi ukuthi wayesevusiwe?

¹³ Isizathu sesithathu esenza sikwazi ukuthi uJesu wavuswa yikuthi abafundi bakhe babezimisele ukutshela abanye ukuthi wayesevusiwe. Ukusebenza gadalala befakaza ukuthi uKhristu wayesevusiwe kwabangela ukuthi bahlupheke, bahlukuluzwe, njalo babulawe. Abakhokheli benkolo babemzonda uJesu baze benza amaqhinga  okuthi abulawe. Yikho-ke nxa kuyikuthi uJesu Khristu wayengavuswanga, uPhetro wayengazihluphelani efaka ukuphila kwakhe engozini ebatshela ukuthi wayesevusiwe? UPhetro labanye abafundi bakwenza lokhu ngenxa yokuthi babengathandabuzi ukuthi uJesu wayephila lokuthi wayesekhokhela emsebenzini uNkulunkulu ayefuna bawenze. Kanti njalo ukuvuswa kwakhe kwenza abafundi baba leqiniso lokuthi labo babezavuswa. Ngokwesibonelo, uStefane wafa engathandabuzi ukuthi kuzakuba lokuvuswa kwabafileyo.—ImiSeb. 7:55-60.

14. Kuyini okwenza ukholwe ukuthi uJesu uyaphila?

¹⁴ Isizathu sesine esenza sikwazi ukuthi uJesu wavuswa yikuthi kulobufakazi bokuthi usebusa lokuthi useyiNhloko yebandla lobuKhristu. Lokhu kwenza ukuthi umsebenzi wobuKhristu ube lengqubelaphambili. Kambe bekungenzakala yini aluba uJesu wayengavuswanga? Mhlawumbe sasingeke siphinde sizwe ngaye ngabe kavuswanga. Kodwa thina silezizathu kuzwa ezenza sikholwe ukuthi uyasikhokhela nxa sisenza umsebenzi wokutshumayela izindaba ezinhle emhlabeni wonke jikelele.

15. Kungani ukuvuswa kukaJesu kusinika isibindi sokutshumayela?

¹⁵ Ukuvuswa kukaKhristu kwenza sibe lesibindi sokutshumayela. Sekuleminyaka engu-2 000 izitha zikaNkulunkulu zisebenzisa izikhali ezitshiyeneyo ukuze zimise umsebenzi wokutshumayela izindaba ezinhle. Ngokwesibonelo kulabahlamuki, kulabasichothozayo, njalo abanye abafowethu bancitshwa inkululeko yokukhonza. Abanye bahlaselwa ngamaqembu abantu, bahlukuluzwe, njalo abanye baze babulawe lokubulawa. Kodwa ‘akulasikhali esikhandelwe thina’ esingamisa umsebenzi wokutshumayela ngoMbuso lowokwenza abafundi. (Isaya. 54:17) Izigqili zikaSathane kasizesabi ngitsho. UJesu ulathi njalo uyasincedisa njengoba nje wayethembisile. (Mat. 28:20) Akula sizatho sokuthi sesabe ngoba siyakwazi ukuthi izitha zethu azingeke zisithulise lanxa zingazama wonke amaqhinga!

16, 17. (a) Ukuvuswa kukaJesu kutshengisa njani ukuthi lokho ayekufundisa kwakuliqiniso? (b) Okutshiwo kuJohane 11:25 kutshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uphe uJesu amandla okwenzani?

¹⁶ Ukuvuswa kukaJesu kutshengisa ukuthi lokho ayekufundisa kwakuliqiniso. UPhawuli wabhala ukuthi ngabe uKhristu kazange avuswe, ukutshumayela kanye lalokho okukholwa ngamaKhristu kwakuzabe kungasizi lutho. Esinye isifundiswa seBhayibhili sabhala ukuthi: “Nxa uKhristu engavuswanga, . . . amaKhristu ayabe esengothathekile abayizithutha abaqilwe yinkalakatha yeqili.” Yikho aluba uJesu kazange avuswe, lokho okulandiswa kumaVangeli bekuzabe kuyindatshana nje edanisayo emayelana lendoda elungileyo eyayihlakaniphile njalo yacina isibulewe yizitha zayo. Kodwa uKhristu wavuswa, okutshengisa ukuthi lokho ayekufundisa kanye lalokho athi kwakuzakwenzakala kwelizayo kwakuliqiniso.—Bala u-1 Khorinte 15:14, 15, 20.

¹⁷ UJesu wathi: “Mina ngiyikuvuka kwabafileyo lokuphila. Lowo okholwa kimi uzaphila, loba ezakufa.” (Joh. 11:25) Isithembiso lesi esimangalisayo sizagcwaliseka loba sekutheni. UJehova unike uJesu amandla okuvusa abafileyo. Lokhu kugoqela abalethemba lokuphila ezulwini kanye lamabhiliyoni abantu abalethemba lokuphila emhlabeni kuze kube nininini. Umhlatshelo wenhlawulo kaJesu kanye lokuvuswa kwakhe kwenza sibe leqiniso lokuthi ukufa akusoze kuphinde kube khona. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi ulwazi lolu lukunika isibindi sokuqinisela kungelani lokuthi uhlangana laziphi izilingo, lanxa kusitsho ukuthi uzakufa.

18. Ukuvuswa kukaJesu kwenza sibe leqiniso lokuthini?

¹⁸ Ukuvuswa kukaJesu kwenza sibe leqiniso lokuthi abantu abahlala emhlabeni bazakwahlulelwa kusetshenziswa izimiso  zikaJehova ezitshengisa ukuthi ulothando. UPhawuli wathi ekhuluma leqembu lamadoda labesifazana e-Athene yasendulo wathi: “[UNkulunkulu] uselumisile usuku lapho azakwehlulela khona umhlaba ngokulunga ngomuntu ammisileyo. Usevezile ubufakazi balokhu kubo bonke abantu ngokumvusa kwabafileyo.” (ImiSeb. 17:31) Kuyakhanya ukuthi uJesu wabekwa nguNkulunkulu ukuthi abe nguMahluleli njalo sileqiniso lokuthi uzakwahlulela kuhle engabandlululi njalo etshengisa ukuthi uyabathanda abantu.—Bala u-Isaya 11:2-4.

19. Ukukholwa ukuthi uKhristu wavuswa kusikhuthaza njani?

¹⁹ Ukukholwa ukuthi uJesu wavuswa kusikhuthaza ukuthi senze intando kaNkulunkulu. Besizahlala siyizigqili zesono lokufa aluba uJesu kazange azinikele ukuthi asifele, abesevuswa. (Rom. 5:12; 6:23) Aluba kavuswanga ngabe sithi: “Kasidleni sinathe, ngoba kusasa sizakufa.” (1 Khor. 15:32) Kodwa thina kasiphileli ukukholisa nje kuphela. Siyaliqakathekisa ithemba esilalo lokuthi abafileyo bazavuswa njalo silezizathu ezinengi zokulalela konke uJehova athi sikwenze.

20. Ukuvuswa kukaJesu kucacisa njani ukuthi uNkulunkulu mkhulu kakhulu?

²⁰ Ukuvuswa kukaKhristu kucacisa ukuthi uJehova mkhulu kakhulu njalo “uyabanika umvuzo labo abadinga ngobuqotho.” (Heb. 11:6) UJehova wasebenzisa amandla amakhulukazi kanye lenhlakanipho yakhe lapho evusa uJesu ukuthi abe yisidalwa sasezulwini esingafiyo. Lokhu kwatshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyenelisa ukugcwalisa zonke izithembiso zakhe. Esinye sezithembiso lezi yisiphrofetho esiphathelane lokuthi ‘inzalo’ eqakathekileyo yayizakwenza umsebenzi omkhulu owawuzacacisa ukuthi ngubani okumele abuse izidalwa zonke. Yikho-ke uJesu kwakumele afe abesevuswa ukuze isithembiso lesi sigcwaliseke.—Gen. 3:15, The Holy Bible in Ndebele.

21. Ithemba lokuthi abantu bazavuswa likunceda ngani?

²¹ Wena uthini ngokuthi uJehova usithembisa ukuthi uzabavusa sibili abafileyo? Kumele ukuthi uyambonga kakhulu. IMibhalo yenza singakuthandabuzi lokhu ngoba ithi: “Khathesi ikhaya likaNkulunkulu selisebantwini, uzahlala labo. Bazakuba ngabantu bakhe, njalo uNkulunkulu yena uqobo uzakuba labo abe nguNkulunkulu wabo. Uzazesula zonke izinyembezi emehlweni abo. Akusayikuba khona futhi ukufa loba ukulila loba ukukhala loba ubuhlungu, ngoba umumo omdala wezinto usudlule.” Ithemba leli elihle lavezwa kumphostoli owayethembekile uJohane owatshelwa amazwi la athi: “Kulobe lokhu, ngoba amazwi la aqotho njalo aliqiniso.” Wasithola kubani isambulo lesi esaphefumulelwayo? Wasithola kuye kanye uJesu Khristu owayesevusiwe.—Isam. 1:1; 21:3-5.