1. Waziva njani uPetros emva kommangaliso owawenziwe nguYesu?

 UPETROS wayechithe ubusuku bonke eloba kodwa engade abambise nto. Into eyammangalisayo kukuba uYesu athi kuye: “Qhubela esi sikhephe kwindawo enzulu, nize nihlise iminatha yenu ukuze nibambise iintlanzi.” (Luka 5:4) UPetros wayengaqondi ukuba iza kusebenza le nto yayithethwa nguYesu, kodwa wayenza. Iminatha abayihlisayo yaqalisa ukukrazuka kuba yayisindwa ziintlanzi ababezibambisile. Ngenxa yommangaliso ababesand’ ukuwubona, uPetros nabantu ababesebenza naye ‘bothuka.’ UPetros wathi: “Ndiyeke mna Nkosi, kuba ndingumoni.” (Luka 5:6-9) Kuyabonakala ukuba wayezibona engakufanelekeli ukuba kunye noYesu.

2. Kutheni kusinceda ukufunda ngoPetros?

² Wayenyanisile uPetros xa wayesithi ‘ungumoni.’ IZibhalo zibonisa ukuba wayekhe athethe aze enze izinto awayeye azisole ngazo. Ngaba ukhe ufane noPetros? Ngaba kukho uphawu olwisana nalo okanye into ongayenzi kakuhle nekudala uzama ukuyilungisa? Ukuba kunjalo, kungakukhuthaza ukufunda ngoPetros. Kutheni sisitsho? Khawucinge ngale nto: Iimpazamo zikaPetros zazisenokungabhalwa eBhayibhileni, kodwa uYehova waphefumlela abantu ukuba nazo bazibhale ukuze sifunde kuzo. (2 Tim. 3:16, 17) Ukufunda ngeengxaki awayenazo uPetros kusinceda sibone ukuba uYehova akalindelanga ukuba singazenzi iimpazamo. Ufuna singanikezeli, siqhubeke sizama ngoxa sizenza iimpazamo.

3. Kutheni kufuneka singanikezeli?

³ Kutheni kubalulekile ukuba singanikezeli? Kaloku xa usoloko uyiprekthiza into, ude ukwazi ukuyenza kakuhle. Ngokomzekelo, kusenokumthatha iminyaka umntu ukude akwazi ukudlala isixhobo somculo. Ngeli xesha angekakwazi, uza kuman’  eyiloza. Kodwa ukuba akayeki ukuprekthiza, uza kude asidlale kakuhle. Naxa sele ekwazi ukusidlala kakuhle, usenokuman’ ephazama. Kodwa akanikezeli, uhlala eprekthiza. Ngokufanayo ke, xa side sakwazi ukuyilungisa into ebesilwisana nayo, isenokuphinda ibuye. Kodwa loo nto ayisenzi sincame. Sonke sikhe sithethe okanye senze izinto esiye sizisole ngazo. Kodwa ukuba asinikezeli, uYehova uza kusinceda sikwazi ukulungisa. (1 Pet. 5:10) Makhe sibone ukuba uPetros wabonisa njani ukuba akanikezeli. Indlela uYesu awayenenceba ngayo kuPetros nangona wayesenza iimpazamo, ingasinceda nathi singayeki ukukhonza uYehova.

4. KuLuka 5:5-10 uPetros wathi ungumntu onjani? Kodwa uYesu wathini?

⁴ IZibhalo azisixeleli ukuba kwakutheni ukuze uPetros athi ‘ungumoni,’ okanye zeziphi izono awazenzayo awayecinga ngazo. (Funda uLuka 5:5-10.) Kodwa kungenzeka ukuba zikhona iimpazamo ezinkulu awazenzayo. UYesu wabona ukuba uPetros uyoyika, mhlawumbi kuba wayezijongela phantsi. Wayesazi nokuba uPetros angakwazi ukuhlala ethembekile. Ngoko uYesu wathetha naye enobubele esithi, “Sukoyika.” Indlela uYesu awayemthembe ngayo yabutshintsha ubomi bakhe. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, uPetros nomntakwabo uAndreya, balishiya ishishini labo lokuloba baza bangabalandeli bakaMesiya. UYehova wabasikelela ngeendlela ezininzi.​—Marko 1:16-18.

5. UPetros wasikelelwa njani ngenxa yokungavumeli ukuzijongela phantsi kumenze angavumi ukulandela uYesu?

⁵ Zininzi izinto ezimangalisayo ezenzeka phambi kukaPetros xa wayengumlandeli kaKristu. Wabona uYesu ephilisa abantu abagulayo, ekhupha iidemon, evusa nabaswelekileyo. b (Mat. 8:14-17; Marko 5:37, 41, 42) Wabona nombono kaYesu enguKumkani woBukumkani BukaThixo, nto leyo angazange ayilibale. (Marko 9:1-8; 2 Pet. 1:16-18) UPetros wabona izinto awayengasoze azibone ukuba wayengazange abe ngumlandeli kaYesu. Inoba wavuya nyhani kuba engazange avumele indlela awayezijongela phantsi ngayo imenze angazifumani ezo ntsikelelo!

6. Ngaba uPetros wakhawuleza wayeka ukuba neempawu ezingathandekiyo kubuntu bakhe? Cacisa.

⁶ Phezu kwazo zonke izinto awazibonayo nawazivayo, uPetros wayesalwisana neempawu ezingathandekiyo zobuntu bakhe. Nantsi imizekelo ebonisa loo nto: Xa uYesu  wayechaza indlela awayeza kuva iintlungu ngayo aze afe, njengokuba kwakuprofetiwe eBhayibhileni, uPetros wamnqanda. (Marko 8:31-33) Yena nabanye abapostile babesoloko bephikisana ngokuba ngowuphi oyena umkhulu kubo. (Marko 9:33, 34) Ngobusuku obungaphambi kokuba uYesu afe, uPetros waqhawula indlebe yenye indoda. (Yoh. 18:10) Kwangobo busuku, ngenxa yokoyika abantu, wamphika kathathu umhlobo wakhe uYesu, esithi akamazi. (Marko 14:66-72) Loo nto yamenza wakhala kabuhlungu uPetros.​—Mat. 26:75.

7. Emva kokuba uYesu evusiwe, wanika uPetros ithuba lokwenza ntoni?

⁷ UYesu zange amncame lo mpostile wakhe wayetyhafile. Emva kokuba evusiwe, wanika uPetros ithuba lokumbonisa ukuba usamthanda. Wamnika nomsebenzi wokwalusa izimvu zakhe. (Yoh. 21:15-17) UPetros wavuma ukuwenza. NgePentekoste wayeseYerusalem waza waba ngomnye wabafundi bokuqala abathanjiswa ngomoya oyingcwele.

8. Yeyiphi impazamo enkulu eyenziwa nguPetros kwa-Antiyokwe?

⁸ Nasemva kokuba ethanjiswe ngomoya oyingcwele, uPetros wayesajijisana neempawu ezingathandekiyo zobuntu bakhe. Ngo-36 C.E., wayekhona xa uKorneli owayengengomYuda nowayengolukanga wayethanjiswa ngomoya oyingcwele. Loo nto yayibubungqina obucacileyo bokuba “uThixo akakhethi” nokuba abantu abangengomaYuda babenako ukuba kwibandla lamaKristu. (IZe. 10:34, 44, 45) Emva koko, uPetros waqalisa ukutya nabantu ababengengomaYuda, nto leyo awayengenakuyenza ngaphambili. (Gal. 2:12) Kodwa amanye amaKristu angamaYuda ayesithi amaYuda awamelanga atye nabantu abangengawo. Xa amanye aloo maKristu afikayo kwa-Antiyokwe, uPetros wayeka ukutya nabazalwana bakhe ababengengomaYuda, mhlawumbi kuba esoyika ukuwakhathaza. Wathi akuyibona loo nto umpostile uPawulos, wamlungisa phambi kwabantu. (Gal. 2:13, 14) Nangona wayenze loo mpazamo uPetros, zange anikezele. Wancedwa yintoni?

9. UYohane 6:68, 69 uyibonisa njani indlela awayethembeke ngayo uPetros?

⁹ UPetros wayethembekile, ngoko zange avumele nantoni na imyekise ukuba ngumlandeli kaYesu. Loo nto wayibonisa xa uYesu wathetha into ababengayiqondi abafundi bakhe. (Funda uYohane 6:68, 69.) Abaninzi kubo bayeka ukumlandela, bengafunanga nokuqonda ukuba wayethetha ukuthini. Kodwa yena uPetros zange ayeke. Wayesazi ukuba nguYesu yedwa “onamazwi anika ubomi obungunaphakade.”

10. UYesu wabonisa njani ukuba umthembile uPetros? (Jonga nomfanekiso.)

¹⁰ UYesu zange amlahle uPetros. Ngobusuku obungaphambi kokuba afe, wayesazi ukuba uPetros nabanye abapostile baza kumshiya. Sekunjalo, uYesu wamxelela ukuba wayeqinisekile ukuba wayeza kubuya aze ahlale ethembekile. (Luka 22:31, 32) UYesu wayeqonda ukuba “intliziyo iyafuna ukwenza okulungileyo, kodwa wona umzimba ubuthathaka.” (Marko 14:38) Ngoko nasemva kokuba lo mpostile wakhe, uPetros, emphikile, zange amncame. Emva kokuba evusiwe, wabonakala kuPetros, ngexesha ekusenokwenzeka ukuba wayeyedwa. (Marko 16:7; Luka 24:34; 1 Kor. 15:5) Inoba yamomeleza nyhani loo nto lo mpostile wayetyhafile ngenxa yento awayeyenzile!

11. Yintoni awayenzayo uYesu, eyamenza waqiniseka uPetros ukuba uYehova uza kumnika izinto azidingayo?

 ¹¹ UYesu wamenza waqiniseka uPetros ukuba uYehova uza kumnika izinto azidingayo. Emva kokuba evusiwe, wenza uPetros nabanye abapostile baphinda babambisa iintlanzi ngendlela emangalisayo. (Yoh. 21:4-6) Ngokuqinisekileyo lo mmangaliso wenza uPetros waphinda waqiniseka ukuba uYehova soze axakwe kukumnika izinto azidingayo. Mhlawumbi wakhumbula into eyathethwa nguYesu, esithi uYehova uza kubanika izinto abazidingayo abo ‘bafuna kuqala uBukumkani.’ (Mat. 6:33) Ngenxa yaloo nto, ukushumayela kwaba yeyona nto ibalulekileyo kuPetros kuneshishini lokuloba. NgePentekoste ka-33 C.E. washumayela ngesibindi, enceda amawaka abantu bamkele iindaba ezilungileyo. (IZe. 2:14, 37-41) Emva koko wanceda amaSamariya nabantu abangengomaYuda bafunda ngoKristu baza bamlandela. (IZe. 8:14-17; 10:44-48) Ngokuqinisekileyo uYehova wamsebenzisa kakhulu ukuze ancede zonke iintlobo zabantu zibe kwibandla lamaKristu.

12. Xa sicinga ngoPetros, yintoni esimele singayilibali ukuba silwisana nophawu olungathandekiyo olungade luphele?

¹² UYehova angasinceda singanikezeli. Kusenokungabi lula kona, ngokukodwa xa sekukudala silwisana nophawu olungathandekiyo. Ngamany’ amaxesha, iimpawu ezingathandekiyo esinazo zisenokuba yingxaki ukodlula ezikaPetros. Kodwa uYehova unokusinika amandla ukuze singanikezeli. (INdu. 94:17-19) Ngokomzekelo, omnye umzalwana wayethandana namanye amadoda kangangeminyaka ngaphambi kokuba afunde inyaniso. Wayiyeka ngokupheleleyo loo ndlela wayeziphethe ngayo waza waphila ngemigaqo yeBhayibhile. Kodwa ngamanye amaxesha, wayekhe alwisane neminqweno engafanelekanga. Wancedwa yintoni ukuze anganikezeli? Uthi: “UYehova uyasomeleza. Ndiye ndafunda ukuba umoya wakhe unokundinceda ndihlale ndihamba kwindlela yenyaniso. UYehova uye wakwazi ukundisebenzisa. Nangona ndizenza iimpazamo, khange ayeke ukundomeleza.”

13. Sinokuyilinganisa njani into eyenziwa nguPetros ekwiZenzo 4:13, 29, 31? (Jonga nomfanekiso.)

¹³ Njengokuba sesibonile, uPetros wenza iimpazamo ngenxa yokoyika abantu. Kodwa  wathandazela ukuba uYehova amncede abe nesibindi, watsho wanaso. (Funda iZenzo 4:13, 29, 31.) Nathi sinokuyeka ukoyika. Khawuve into eyenzeka komnye umzalwana osemtsha uHorst, owayehlala eJamani yamaNazi. Ngenxa yokoyika utitshala nabantwana awayefunda nabo, wayekhe abulise ngendlela ekwakubuliswana ngayo ngelo xesha, neyayithetha ukuthi “siza kusindiswa nguHitler.” Abazali bakhe zange bamngxolise, kodwa bathandaza naye, becela uYehova amncede ukuba abe nesibindi. UYehova nabazali bakhe bamnceda waba nesibindi, watsho akagungqa. Ekuhambeni kwexesha wathi: “UYehova akazange andishiye.” c

14. Abalusi banokubakuthaza njani abantu abatyhafileyo?

¹⁴ UYehova noYesu abazukusincama. Emva kokuba uPetros ephike uKristu, kwafuneka enze isigqibo esibalulekileyo. Ngaba wayeza kunikezela okanye wayeza kuhlala engumlandeli kaKristu? UYesu wacenga uYehova ukuba amncede, angaphelelwa lukholo. Wamxelela uPetros ngalo mthandazo, waza ekuhambeni kwexesha wamxelela into awayeqiniseke ngayo yokuba wayeza kubomeleza abazalwana bakhe. (Luka 22:31, 32) Kumele ukuba kwamkhuthaza nyhani ukukhumbula loo nto yayithethwe nguYesu! Nathi, xa kufuneka senze isigqibo esibalulekileyo, uYehova usenokusebenzisa abalusi abasikhathaleleyo ukuze basikhuthaze ukuba sihlale sithembekile. (Efe. 4:8, 11) UPaul onexesha elide engumdala, uyazama ukuba nguloo malusi. Xa kukho umntu ofuna ukunikezela, uye amcele ukuba acinge ngendlela uYehova awamtsalela ngayo enyanisweni. Emva koko, uye amqinisekise ukuba uYehova soze amncame  kuba uthando lwakhe alugungqi. Uthi: “Ndiye ndabona abantu abaninzi ababetyhafile bencedwa nguYehova ukuze banganikezeli.”

15. Umzekelo kaPetros noHorst uyibonisa njani indlela achane ngayo amazwi akuMateyu 6:33?

¹⁵ Njengokuba uYehova wamnikayo uPetros nabanye abapostile izinto ababezidinga, uza kusinika nathi ukuba ukushumayela yeyona nto ibalulekileyo ebomini bethu. (Mat. 6:33) Emva kweMfazwe Yehlabathi II, uHorst ekukhe kwathethwa ngaye wacinga ngokuba nguvulindlela. Kodwa wayesokola kakhulu, engaqinisekanga nokuba uza kuba nayo na imali eyaneleyo eza kumnceda ahlale enguvulindlela. Wayeza kuthini? Wavavanya uYehova ngokushumayela iveki yonke xa kwakukho utyelelo lomveleli wesiphaluka. Ekupheleni kwayo, wothuka xa umveleli wesiphaluka emnika imvulophu enemali, waza akamchazela ukuba isuka kubani. Loo mali yayiza kumnceda ahlale enguvulindlela kangangeenyanga. Le nto yamenza waqiniseka uHorst ukuba uYehova wayeza kumnika izinto azidingayo. Ubomi bakhe bonke, uBukumkani baba yeyona nto ibalulekileyo kuye.​—Mal. 3:10.

16. Kutheni kusinceda ukufunda ngoPetros nezinto awazibhala kwiileta zakhe?

¹⁶ Inoba uPetros wavuya nyhani akungayenzi uYesu into awayeyicela yokuba amyeke! UYesu zange ayeke ukumqeqesha uPetros ukuze abe ngumpostile othembekileyo, atsho afunde kuye amanye amaKristu. Nathi sinokufunda izinto ezininzi kwizinto uYesu awazifundisa uPetros. Ezinye zazo wazibhala kwiileta zakhe ezimbini eziphefumlelweyo, nawazithumela emabandleni ngexesha labapostile. Inqaku elilandelayo, liza kusikhumbuza ngezinto ezimbalwa ezikwezi leta nangeendlela esinokuzisebenzisa ngazo namhlanje.