1. Khuyini uMarta ebekaqiniseka ngayo ngomnakwabo? (Qala isithombe esisekuthomeni.)

UMNGANI nomlandeli kaJesu omkhulu uMarta bekezwe ubuhlungu. Kazi umnakwabo uLazaru bekahlongakele. Ikhona na into ebeyingamduduza? Iye, ikhona. UJesu wamqinisekisa wathi: “Umfowenu uzakuvuka aphile godu.” Nanyana lokho bekungekhe kususe ubuhlungu uMarta abuzwako, kodwana wasamukela isiqinisekiso sakaJesu. Ngikho athi: “Ngiyazi uzakuvuka aphile godu ngokuvuka komhla wokuphela.” (Jwa. 11:20-24) Bekanesiqiniseko sokobana uzokuvuka esikhathini esizako. Kodwana nakho-ke uJesu azakwenza ikarisomraro. Kazi ngelangelo wavusa uLazaru ekufeni.

2. Kubayini ungathanda ukuba nokukholwa okunjengekwakaMarta?

² Angekhe salindela ukuthi uJesu namkha uYise basenzele ikarisomraro enjenga le namhlanjesi. Inga-kghani nawe njengoMarta uyaqiniseka bona abahlongakeleko bazokuvuka? Mhlamunye kuhlongakele umnganakho, ummakho, ubabakho, ugogwakho namkha umkhulwakho. Kungenzeka ulilela umntwanakho ohlongakeleko. Ufisa ukumsingatha, ukukhuluma naye bewuhleke naye. Okuthabisako kukuthi njengoMarta, nawe unesizathu esizwakalako sokutjho amezwi athi: ‘Ngiyazi bazakuvuka.’ Nokho  kungaba kuhle ukuthi omunye nomunye umKrestu azibuze ukuthi kubayini kuqakathekile ukuqiniseka ngevuko.

3, 4. Ngebanga lalokho uJesu akwenze, ukukholwa kwakaMarta kwaqina njani?

³ UMarta bekahlala eduze neJerusalema, yeke kungenzeka khenge akubone ukuvuswa kwendodana yomhlolokazi obekahlala hlanu kweNayini eGalile. Nanyana kunjalo kungenzeka wezwa ngesenzakalweso. Nangendlela uJesu avusa ngayo indodakazi kaJayirosi. Labo egade basekhabo lomntazana lo “gade basazi bona uhlongakele.” Nokho uJesu wambamba ngesandla wathi kuye: “Mntwanami, vuka!” Wavuka khonokho. (Luk. 7:11-17; 8:41, 42, 49-55) Bobabili uMarta nodadwabo uMariya bebazi ukuthi uJesu uyakghona ukulapha abagulako. Bazizwa ngasuthi ngathana uJesu bekakhona, uLazaru bekangekhe ahlongakale. Njengombana gade sele kuhlongakele umnganakhe omkhulu, ingomusa belimphatheleni? Tjheja bona uMarta bekakhuluma ngokuvuswa kwakaLazaru bona kuzokwenzeka esikhathini esizako, ‘ngomhla wokuphela.’ Kubayini bekaqiniseka ngalokho? Kubayini wena unesiqinisekiso sokuthi kuzokuba nevuko esikhathini esizako, lapho kuzokuvuswa khona abantu obathandako?

⁴ Uneenzathu ezizwakalako zokuqiniseka. Nawuhlolisisa ezinye zazo uzokufumana bona eliZwini lakaZimu kunemiTlolo ebewungayitjheji ekhuluma ngevuko. ImiTlolo le izokuqinisa ukukholwa kwakho.

5. Yini eyenza uMarta wakholwa kobana uLazaru uzokuvuka?

⁵ UMarta akhenge athi: ‘ngiyathemba bona umnakwethu uzokuvuka.’ Uthe: “Ngiyazi uzakuvuka aphile.” Kungenzeka uMarta wakholwa ngebanga lemikarisomraro afunda ngayo ngaphambi kokuthi uJesu enze imikarisomraro. Wafunda ngayo asesemncani ekhaya nesinagogini. Akhesikhulumeni ngabantu abathathu abavuswako okutlolwe ngabo eBhayibhelini.

6. Ngiyiphi ikarisomraro eyenziwa ngu-Eliya, begodu ihlangana njani noMarta?

⁶ Ivuko lokuthoma lenzeka ngesikhathi uZimu azakunikela umphorofidi u-Eliya amandla wokwenza ikarisomraro. Edorobheni leTsarifathi indawo emagegana nelwandle, bekunomhlolokazi otlhagileko owamukela umphorofidi kwakhe. Lokho kwenza bona uZimu amenzele ikarisomraro, kazi iflowuru namafutha ebebanawo akhenge aphele ukwenzela bona bakghone ukuba nento abangayindla. (1 Kho. 17:8-16) Kwathi ngokukhamba kwesikhathi indodanakhe yahlongakala. Kwathi kusesenjalo u-Eliya wamsiza umhlolokazi lo. Wafese wathinta umsana ohlongakeleko lo wathandaza wathi: “Maye Somnini Zimami, buyisela umphefumulo womsana lo.” UZimu wamuzwa u-Eliya, umsana lo wavuka waphila godu. Lelo kwaba livuko lokuthoma okwatlolwa ngalo eBhayibhelini. (Funda 1 AmaKhosi 17:17-24.) Asingabazi ukuthi uMarta bekayazi kuhle indaba le.

7, 8. (a) Akhusicocele bona u-Elitjha wamsiza njani umma womsana owahlongakalako. (b) Ikarisomraro eyenziwa ngu-Elitjha, isitjelani ngoJehova?

⁷ Ukuvuswa komuntu kwesibili okutlolwe ngakho eBhayibhelini ngilokhu okwenziwa mphorofidi u-Elitjha. Bekunomunye umma obekahlala kwelinye lamadorobho wakwa-Israyeli ebelibizwa ngokuthi yiTjhunemi. Umma lo bekaziwa khulu kwa-Israyeli begodu wamukela umphorofidi kaZimu. UZimu wasebenzisa umphorofidakhe bona asize umma lo nendodakwakhe, nayo ebesele iluphele bona babe nomntwana. Ngemva kweminyaka ethileko umsana ababusiswa ngaye loyo wahlongakala. Akhucabange ukuthi umma lo wezwa ubuhlungu obungangani. Ngemvumo kababakwakhe, wakhamba amakhilomitha ama-30 aya ku-Elitjha eNtabeni iKarameli. U-Elitjha wathumela incekwakhe uGehazi bona ayokuvusa umsana lo. Kodwana  nakho-ke uGehazi azakubhalelwa kumvusa. Ngemva kwalokho umma lo wafika ekhaya sele abuya no-Elitjha.—2 Kho. 4:8-31.

⁸ U-Elitjha waya ngalapho umsana ohlongakeleko lo ebekalele khona, wafika wathandaza. Begodu uJehova wawuphendula umthandazwakhe, umsana lo wavuka. Ungacabanga ukuthi ummakhe wathaba kangangani nakabona umntwanakhe aphila! (Funda 2 AmaKhosi 4:32-37.) Kungenzeka wakhumbula amezwi kaHana ngesikhathi azakuthandaza. Kazi uHana naye bekanganabantwana, kwabe kwangenela uJehova wamsiza bona abe nendodana, wayithiya bona nguSamyela. Lokho kwamenza wadumisa uJehova ngebanga lokuthi “wehlisela phasi kwabaleleko, abuye enyuse.” (1 Sam. 2:6) UZimu waziveza bona uyakghona ukuvusa abantu abahlongakeleko ngesikhathi avusa umsana eTjhunemi.

9. Akhusihlathululele ngevuko lesithathu iBhayibheli elikhuluma ngalo.

⁹ Khenge kuphelele lapho, kodwana kwenzeka okhunye godu ngesikhathi saka-Elitjha. Kwathi sele kuphele iminyaka ema-50 amphorofidi, ‘wagula waphathwa sisifo esagcina simthethe.’ Wabulungwa, nesikhathi naso sakhamba njalo, isidumbu sakhe sabola kwasala amathambo kwaphela. Kwathi ngelinye ilanga ama-Israyeli ayokubulanga enye indoda, nawathi mehlo suka veliyani amanabawo. Ama-Israyeli abhebhula iinthende. Ngebanga lokuthi bewanevalo, avele aphosela isidumbu sendoda ebewayoyibulunga leyo ngethuneni laka-Elitjha. Kwenzekani ngemva kwalokho? IBhayibheli lithi: “Kuthe bona isidumbu sithinte amathambo ka Elitjha, savuka sajama ngeenyawo.” (2 Kho. 13:14, 20, 21) Akhuzibuze-ke ukuthi kwamtjelani uMarta ngemilandu yabantu abavuswako le. Kwamambala uZimu unamandla ukudlula ukufa! Alo utjho bona lokhu akukwenzi uqiniseke bona amandla kaZimu akanamkhawulo?

10. UPitrosi wenzani komunye udade omKrestu obekahlongakele?

¹⁰ EmTlolweni yamaKrestu yesiGiriki sifunda ngokuthi ukuvuswa kwabantu kwenzeka ngesikhathi kusaphila iinceku zakaZimu. Lokho sikubona kuJesu, kazi wavusa abantu eduze kweNayini nalokha asendlini kaJayirosi. Umpostoli uPitrosi naye wavusa omunye umKrestu ibizo lakhe nguDorcas (namkha uThabitha). UPitrosi wafika endaweni lapho umma lo bekazokubulungwa khona. Nakaseduze kwesidumbu somma lo, wathandaza, wathi: “Thabitha, vuka!” Wavuka khonokho, begodu “uPitrosi wabanikela yena sele aphila.” Isenzweso senza abantu abanengi baqiniseka kangangobana “abanengi bakholwa eKosini.” Boke ebebalapho bebangalitjho lizale umlomo ngeKosi, khulukhulu ngoJehova ukuthi uyakghona ukuvusa abahlongakeleko.—IzE. 9:36-42.

11. Yini udorhodere uLukasi ayitjho ngobujamo baka-Ewuterhusi, begodu lokho kwabathinta njani abanye?

¹¹ Abanye baba boFakazi bokuzibonela kesinye isenzakalo sevuko. Ngelinye ilanga umpostoli uPowula nakasemhlanganweni othileko ngekamerweni eliphezulu eTrowasi, nje ebizwa ngokuthi yi-northwest Turkey. UPowula wakhuluma bekwaba phakathi kobusuku. Isokana elithileko elingu-Ewuterhusi belilalele, lihlezi efesidereni. Lathi lisahlezi njaya, kwafika ubuthongo lalala, lawa layokuduleka phasi lisuka emgangadelweni wesithathu layokubetha phasi. Kungenzeka bona umuntu wokuthoma owafika esokaneneli bekunguLukasi, njengombana bekangudorhodera nje. Wamhlolisisa kodwana wafumana ukuthi: U-Ewuterhusi bekangakalimali nje kwaphela, kodwana besele ahlongakele! UPowula wehlela ngenzasi wayokubona umzimba wesokaneli, wathi nakaqedako, watjho amezwi naka abatjhiya babambe ongenzasi, wathi: “Liyaphila.” Akhucabange  nje bona amezwi la aba nomphumela ongangani kilabo ebebalapho! Ukwazi kwabo amaqiniso ngokufa, khulukhulu njengombana baqeda ukubona kuvuswa umuntu, kwenza “iinhliziyo zabo zaba mhlophe.”—IzE. 20:7-12.

12, 13. Eembonelweni zevuko esicoce ngazo, ngimiphi imibuzo ekufuze sizibuze yona?

¹² Izehlakalo esikhulume ngazo ngehla, kufuze zikunikele okuthileko uMarta ebekanakho. Okusiqinisekiso sokobana uZimethu uMuphikuphila unekghono lokuvusa abahlongakeleko. Kuyakarisa nokho bona qobe uJehova nakenza imikarisomraro le omunye wabakhulekeli bakhe bekaba khona, kungaba ngu-Elitjha, uJesu namkha uPitrosi. Singathini-ke ngalabo abahlongakala bangakaboni imikarisomraro enjalo? Iinceku zakaZimu ezithembekileko zingalindela na bona uZimu avuse abantu abahlongakeleko esikhathini esizako? Bangazizwa na njengoMarta owathi: “Ngiyazi [ukuthi umnakwethu] uzakuvuka aphile godu ngokuvuka komhla wokuphela”? Kubayini bekakholelwa bona lokho kuzokwenzeka, kubayini nawe kungaba kuhle bona ukukholelwe?

¹³ Kuneendawo ezinengi khulu eliZwini lakaZimu eliphefumelelweko ezitjengisa ukuthi mbala iinkhonzi zakaJehova ezithembekileko bezikukholelwa ukuthi esikhathini esizako lizokuba khona ivuko. Akhesihlole iimbonelo ezimbalwa.

14. Indaba ka-Abrahamu le isifundisani ngevuko?

¹⁴ Akhucabange ngalokho uZimu athi u-Abrahamu akwenze ngo-Isaka indodanakhe ebesele kuphele iminyaka eminengi ayilindele. UJehova wathi: “Thatha indodanakho ekukuphela kwayo leyo noyithandako u-Isaka . . .  uyenze isihlabelo.” (Gen. 22:2) Ucabanga ukuthi u-Abrahamu wazizwa njani nakezwa amazwi la? Phela uJehova bekathe zoke iintjhaba zizokubusiswa ngeenzukulwana zaka-Abrahamu. (Gen. 13:14-16; 18:18; Rom. 4:17, 18) UJehova bewatjho nokuthi iimbusiswezi zizokuvela “ngo-Isaka.” (Gen. 21:12) Alo lokho bekuzokwenzeka njani nange u-Abrahamu enze umhlatjelo ngo-Isaka? UPowula watlola ukuthi u-Abrahamu bekakholwa bona uZimu angayivusa ngitjho nekufeni indodanakhe. (Funda beHebheru 11:17-19.) Kghani u-Abrahamu walalela ngebanga lokuthi u-Isaka uzakuvuka mhlamunye ngemva kwama-awara ambalwa, namkha athi kuzakuthatha ilanga namkha iveke nje bese indodanakhe iyavuka? IBhayibheli alitjho litho ngalokho. Okutjho bona bekangazi ukuthi indodanakhe izokuvuswa nini. Nanyana kunjalo, wakholwa ukuthi uJehova uzoyivusa iphile godu.

15. Ngiliphi ithemba uJobho ebekanalo?

¹⁵ Indoda ethembekileko uJobho nayo beyikholwa bona nakulivuko lona nakanjani lizokuba  khona. Beyazi kuhle nje bona umuthi nawungaquntulwa, ungazivuselela ubonakale ngasuthi mutjha. Kodwana lokho akwenzeki ngomuntu. (Job. 14:7-12; 19:25-27) Kazi umuntu nakahlongakalako angeze azivusa yena abuye aphile. (2 Sam. 12:23; Rhu. 89:49, [89:48, NW]) Lokho akutjho ukuthi uZimu angabhalelwa kuvusa umuntu ohlongakeleko. UJobho bekakholelwa ukuthi uZimu uzokuvusa abantu ngesikhathi yena asibekileko. (Funda uJob 14:13, 15.) Yeke uJobho naye bekangazi bona isikhatheso sizokufika nini. Kodwana bekakholwa ukuthi uZimu njengombana kunguye owadala abantu, uzomkhumbula bese amvuse ekufeni.

16. Ingilozi kaJehova yamqinisekisa ngani uDanyela?

¹⁶ UDanyela ngenye yamadoda athembekileko ekutlolwe ngayo emTlolweni yesiHebheru. Walotjha uJehova amatjhumitjhumi weminyaka, begodu uZimu bekasolo anaye. Ngelinye ilanga ingilozi yabiza uDanyela yathi “muntu othandwa khulu,” “yiba nokuthula” begodu “uqine ube nesibindi.”—Dan. 9:22, 23; 10:11, 18, 19.

17, 18. UDanyela wathenjiswani?

¹⁷ UDanyela ngesikhathi aneminyaka eli-100 yeke besekazokuhlongakala. Kungenzeka bekazibuza ukuthi kazi ikusasa liphatheleni. Kgani uDanyela naye ukhona esibalweni sabantu abazokuvuswa? Iye ukhona! Kazi emaswaphaleni wencwadi kaDanyela uZimu wathi kuye: “Wena phila bekube sekugcineni; uzakuphumula.” (Dan. 12:13) UDanyela bekaazi ukuthi abantu abahlongakeleko baphumulile ngombana “endaweni yabafileko . . . akuhlelwa, akunalwazi namkha ukuhlakanipha.” Phela uDanyela besele azokuhlongakala. (uMtj. 9:10) Kodwana lokho bekungatjho ukuthi vele sekuphelile ngaye. Bekathenjiswe ikusasa elincono.

¹⁸ Ingilozi kaJehova yaraga yathi emphorofidini uDanyela: “Uvukela isiphetho sakho ekupheleni kwamalanga.” UDanyela bekangazi ukuthi koke lokho kuzokwenzeka nini. Ebekakwazi kukuthi besele azokuhlongakala, ayoziphumulela. Kodwana amezwi athi ‘uzakuvukela isiphetho sakhe’ asitjela ukuthi bekazwisisa bona esikhathini esizako uzokuvuswa aphile godu. Lokho kuzokwenzeka “ekupheleni kwamalanga.”

19, 20. (a) Imilando esikhulume ngayo le ihlangana njani namezwi uMarta awatjela uJesu? (b) Sizabe siphethe yiphi esihlokweni esilandelako?

¹⁹ UMarta bekanamabanga azwakala khulu wokukholelwa bona umfowabo “uzakuvuka aphile godu ngokuvuka komhla wokuphela.” Lokho uDanyela athenjiswa khona namezwi kaMarta awatjela uJesu, kufuze asenze siqiniseke nathi bona nakulivuko lano lizokuba khona kumnyama kubomvu.

²⁰ Njengombana sikhulume ngevuko elenzeke gade nje, kutjho khona bona abantu abahlongakeleko bazokuvuka baphile godu! Safunda nangokuthi abakhulekeli bakaZimu bebalilulukela ivuko, kodwana bebazi ukuthi lizokwenzeka emihleni yokuphela. Akhesithi nakho kuyenzeka ivuko alenzeki msinya ngendlela ebesicabanga ngayo. Nakhibe kunjalo sizokuba namabanga amanengi wokuthi sihlale sililinde ngabomvu. Njengombana noMarta bekakulinde ngabomvu ukuvuswa kwakaLazaru. Alo lokho kuzokwenzeka nini? Leyo sizabe siyiphethe esihlokweni esilandelako.