Isahluko Seshumi

Isithembiso SeNkosana YoXolo

Isaya 8:19–9:7

 1. Ibe njani imeko yoluntu ukususela ngexesha likaKayin?

 MALUNGA namawaka amathandathu eminyaka eyadlulayo, kwazalwa usana lokuqala ngqa olungumntu. Igama lalo lalinguKayin, yaye ukuzalwa kwalo kwakukhethekile kakhulu. Abazali balo, neengelosi, kwanoMdali ngokwakhe, babengazange balubone usana olungumntu ngaphambili. Le mveku ngeyayiluzisele ithemba uluntu olulahliweyo. Naku ngoku yona isidanisa, ngokuthi ijike ibe ngumbulali, yakuba ikhulile! (1 Yohane 3:12) Ukususela ngoko babulawa bebulewe abantu. Ngenxa yokutyekela kwabo ebubini, abanaluxolo omnye nomnye okanye noThixo.—Genesis 6:5; Isaya 48:22.

2, 3. Liliphi ithuba uYesu Kristu alivulele uluntu, yaye simele senze ntoni ukuze sifumane ezo ntsikelelo?

² Kuqengqeleke amawaka amane eminyaka emva kokuzalwa kukaKayin, kwaphinda kwazalwa olunye usana. Igama lalo nguYesu, yaye naye ukuzalwa kwakhe kwakukhethekile kakhulu. Wazalwa yintombi enyulu, ngamandla omoya oyingcwele—nto leyo engazange ibekho embalini. Ekuzalweni kwakhe, yahlokoma inkitha yeengelosi ezinemincili zidumisa uThixo, zisithi: “Uzuko kwiindawo eziphakamileyo phezulu kuThixo, uxolo emhlabeni phakathi kwabantu abakholekileyo.” (Luka 2:13, 14) Kunokuba abe ngumbulali, uYesu wavulela abantu indlela yokuba seluxolweni noThixo neyokuzuza ubomi obungunaphakade.—Yohane 3:16; 1 Korinte 15:55.

³ UIsaya waprofeta ukuba uYesu wayeza kubizwa ngokuthi “iNkosana yoXolo.” (Isaya 9:6) Wayeza kunikela ngobomi  bakhe ngenxa yoluntu, luze ngaloo ndlela lube nako ukuxolelwa izono. (Isaya 53:11) Namhlanje, singaba seluxolweni noThixo size sixolelwe izono zethu ngokuthi sibe nokholo kuYesu Kristu. Kodwa ezo ntsikelelo azibikho ngamabona-ndenzile. (Kolose 1:21-23) Abo bazifunayo bamele bafunde ukuthobela uYehova uThixo. (1 Petros 3:11; thelekisa amaHebhere 5:8, 9.) Ngomhla kaIsaya, uSirayeli noYuda benza okwahluke ngokupheleleyo koko.

Ukuphethukela Kwiidemon

4, 5. Injani imeko yomhla kaIsaya, yaye abanye baphethukela kubani?

⁴ Ngenxa yokungathobeli kwabo, abantu bomhla kaIsaya bakwimeko engaginyisi mathe, befathula ebumnyameni bokomoya. Kwanobukhosi basezantsi bakwaYuda, apho ikhoyo kanye itempile kaThixo, abunaluxolo. Ngenxa yokungathembeki kwabo, abantu bakwaYuda basesichengeni sokuhlaselwa, bangcungcuthekiswe ngama-Asiriya. Balufuna kubani uncedo? Kubuhlungu ukuthi, abaninzi baphethukela kuSathana, kungekhona kuYehova. Ewe kona, abamthi qampu ngegama uSathana. Kodwa, kanye njengoKumkani uSawule wamandulo, basebenzelana nemimoya, bafune izicombululo kwiingxaki zabo ngokuthi bazame ukunxibelelana nabafileyo.—1 Samuweli 28:1-20.

⁵ Bambi bade balukhuthaze nakwabanye olu qheliselo. Ngabo bawexuki kanye alumkisa nxamnye nabo uIsaya ngokuthi: “Ukuba ke kunokwenzeka bathi kuni: ‘Celani kwabaneshologu okanye kwabo banomoya wokuxela kwangaphambili abatswitswizayo nabathetha amazwi ngesandi esiphantsi,’ abafanelanga na abantu bacele kuThixo wabo? Kufanele kucelwe kubantu abafileyo na ngenxa yabantu abaphilayo?” (Isaya 8:19) Abaneshologu bangabakhohlisa abantu, ‘batswitswize baze bathethe ngesandi esiphantsi.’ Isandi esinjalo, ekuthiwa  siphuma kwimimoya yabafi, sinokwenziwa ngumntu ophilayo ngokuthi ajike ilizwi lakhe livakale ngathi liphuma kwenye indawo kungekhona kuye. Noko ke, maxa wambi iidemon zisenokubandakanyeka ngokungqalileyo zize zizenze ofileyo, njengokuba kubonakala ukuba kwenzeka ngolo hlobo xa uSawule wabuzisa kwigqwirhakazi lase-Endore.—1 Samuweli 28:8-19.

 6. Kutheni amaSirayeli aphethukele ekusebenzelaneni nemimoya ebekek’ ityala ngokukhethekileyo nje?

⁶ Konke oku kwenzeka kwaYuda nangona uYehova ekwalele ukusebenzelana nemimoya. Phantsi koMthetho kaMoses, owenza oku wayebulawa. (Levitikus 19:31; 20:6, 27; Duteronomi 18:9-12) Yintoni ebangela ukuba abantu abayinqobo kuYehova banxaxhe kangaka? Kungenxa yokuba bawunikel’ umva uMthetho nesiluleko sikaYehova baza ‘benziwa lukhuni ngamandla akhohlisayo esono.’ (Hebhere 3:13) “Intliziyo yabo ayinamvakalelo kanye njengamanqatha,” yaye baye bazahlula kuThixo wabo.—INdumiso 119:70. a

 7. Abaninzi namhlanje bawaxelisa njani amaSirayeli omhla kaIsaya, yaye siya kuba yintoni isiphelo sabo ukuba abaguquki?

⁷ Kusenokwenzeka ukuba baqiqa ngelithi, ‘Usinceda ngantoni uMthetho kaYehova njengokuba sele siza kuhlaselwa ngama-Asiriya nje?’ Bafuna isicombululo esikhawulezileyo nesilula sokubakhupha kule ngxaki yabo yaye abakulungelanga ukulindela uYehova ukuba aphumeze ukuthanda kwakhe. Nakumhla wethu, abaninzi bayawutyeshela umthetho kaYehova baze babhenele kwabaneshologu, kubavumisi ngeenkwenkwezi, nakwezinye iintlobo zobugqi, ukuze bacombulule iingxaki zabo. Noko ke, into yokuba abaphilayo bafune isicombululo kwabafileyo ayikho ngqiqweni kwaphela namhlanje kanye njengokuba kwakunjalo nangelo xesha. Bonke abaqhelisela izinto ezinjalo bengaguquki, isiphelo  sabo siya kufana ‘nesababulali nabahenyuzi nabanquli-zithixo nawo onke amaxoki.’ Ikamva labo limfiliba.—ISityhilelo 21:8.

‘Umthetho Nobungqina’ BukaThixo

 8. Uyintoni ‘umthetho nobungqina’ esifanele siye kuwo namhlanje ukuze sifumane ulwalathiso?

⁸ Umthetho kaYehova owalela ukusebenzelana nemimoya, kwaneminye imiyalelo yakhe, ayikhange ifihlwe kwaYuda. Iye yalondolozwa ngokuthi ibhalwe phantsi. Namhlanje iLizwi lakhe elibhaliweyo liyafumaneka lonke liphela. LiyiBhayibhile, equlethe kungekuphela nje intlanganisela yemithetho nemimiselo kaThixo kodwa kwaneengxelo zokuqhubana kukaThixo nabantu bakhe. Ezi ngxelo zeBhayibhile zokuqhubana kukaYehova nabantu bakhe zibubungqina obusifundisa ngobuntu nangeempawu zikaYehova. Kunokuba abuzise kwabafileyo, la maSirayeli ebefanele alufune phi ulwalathiso? UIsaya uphendula athi: “Kuwo umthetho nakubo ubungqina!” (Isaya 8:20a) Ewe, abo bafuna ukhanyiselo lokwenyaniso bafanele baye eLizwini likaThixo elibhaliweyo.

 9. Ngaba ukucaphula eBhayibhileni ngamathuba athile kuluncedo ngandlel’ ithile kuboni abangaguqukiyo?

⁹ Wambi amaSirayeli abandakanyeka ekusebenzelaneni nemimoya asenokuzibanga elihlonela iLizwi likaThixo elibhaliweyo. Kodwa amabango anjalo alilize yaye ngawohanahaniso. UIsaya uthi: “Ngokuqinisekileyo baya kuthetha ngokwale  ngxelo ekuya kuthi ke kungabikho kukhanya kwesifingo.” (Isaya 8:20b) Yiyiphi le ngxelo abhekisela kuyo apha uIsaya? Mhlawumbi yileya ithi: “Kuwo umthetho nakubo ubungqina!” Kusenokwenzeka ukuba wambi amaSirayeli awexukileyo acaphula eLizwini likaThixo, kanye njengokuba nabawexuki kwanabanye namhlanje besenokucaphula eZibhalweni. Kodwa babhibhidla nje amazinyo. Ukucaphula eZibhalweni akuyi kubazisela nakuphi na ‘ukukhanya kwesifingo,’ okanye ukhanyiselo oluvela kuYehova, ukuba akuhambisani nokwenziwa  kokuthanda kukaYehova kunye nokuphepha uqheliselo olungacocekanga. b

‘Indlala, Kungekhona Eyesonka’

10. Abantu bakwaYuda babandezeleka njani ngenxa yokumgatya kwabo uYehova?

¹⁰ Ukungathobeli uYehova kukhokelela kubumnyama bengqondo. (Efese 4:17, 18) Ngengqiqo yokomoya, abantu bakwaYuda baye baba ziimfama, ezingenangqiqo. (1 Korinte 2:14) UIsaya uyichaza ngokuthi imeko yabo: “Ngamnye uya kudlula elizweni ebandezelekile, elambile.” (Isaya 8:21a) Ngenxa yokungathembeki kolu hlanga lwakwaYuda—ingakumbi ebudeni bokulawula kukaKumkani uAhazi—ubukhosi balo busesichengeni. Lurhangqwe ziintshaba. Umkhosi wama-Asiriya uzihlasela uzihlasele izixeko zakwaYuda. Ezi ntshaba zenze imbuqo nje kweli lizwe lichumileyo, kwasala kungekho kutya. Ngoko abaninzi ‘babandezelekile, belambile.’ Kodwa eli lizwe likwathwaxwa nalolunye uhlobo lwendlala. Kumashumi eminyaka ngaphambilana uAmosi waprofeta wathi: “‘Khangela! Kuza imihla,’ itsho iNkosi enguMongami uYehova, ‘yaye ndiza kuthumela indlala elizweni, kungekhona indlala yesonka, kungekhona ukunxanelwa amanzi, kodwa kube kokokuva amazwi kaYehova.’” (Amosi 8:11) Kungokunje uYuda uthwaxwa yiloo ndlala yokomoya kanye!

11. Ngaba uYuda uza kuyaleka ngenxa yoqeqesho alufumanayo?

¹¹ Ngaba uYuda uza kuyaleka aze abuyele kuYehova? Ngaba abantu bakhe baza kuyeka ukusebenzelana nemimoya nokunqula izithixo baze babuyele “kuwo umthetho nakubo ubungqina”? UYehova uyichaza kwangaphambili indlela abaza kusabela ngayo, esithi: “Athi ngenxa yokuba elambile, acaphuke aze akhangele esibhakabhakeni, aqalekise ukumkani  wakhe noThixo wakhe.” (Isaya 8:21b) Ewe, abaninzi baza kugxeka ukumkani wabo ongumntu ngokubakhokelela kule meko. Bambi ngobuyatha baza kugxeka uYehova ngentlekele yabo! (Thelekisa uYeremiya 44:15-18.) Nanamhlanje, abaninzi basabela ngendlela efanayo, begxeka uThixo ngenxa yenkxwaleko engumvuka wobungendawo boluntu.

12. (a) Ukutyeshela kukaYuda uThixo kumkhokelele entwenini? (b) Yiyiphi imibuzo ebalulekileyo ephakanyiswayo?

¹² Ngaba ukuqalekisa uThixo kuza kubazisela uxolo abemi belakwaYuda? Akunjalo. UIsaya utyatyadula athi: “Uya kukhangela nasemhlabeni, abone ukubandezeleka nobumnyama, ukusithakala, amaxesha obunzima nesithokothoko kungekho kuqaqamba.” (Isaya 8:22) Emva kokuphakamisela amehlo abo ezulwini begxeka uThixo, baphinda bawathobele phantsi emhlabeni, babone ubugxwayiba abakubo. Bazigqebhe ngokwabo olungophiyo ngokuthi bamnikele umva uThixo. (IMizekeliso 19:3) Noko ke, kuthekani ngamadinga uThixo awawenza kuAbraham, uIsake noYakobi? (Genesis 22:15-18; 28:14, 15) Ngaba uYehova uza kusilela ukuwaphumeza? Ngaba ama-Asiriya okanye mkhosi uthile ongomnye uza kuwuphelisa umnombo wasebukhosini othenjiswe uYuda noDavide? (Genesis 49:8-10; 2 Samuweli 7:11-16) Ngaba amaSirayeli aza kuyekwa afathule ebumnyameni ngonaphakade?

Ilizwe ‘Eliphathwa Ngendelelo’

13. Iyintoni “iGalili yeentlanga,” yaye ‘iphathwa njani ngendelelo’?

¹³ Ngoku uIsaya ubhekisela kwenye yezona ntlekele zingathethekiyo eyehlela inzala ka-Abraham, esithi: “Ukusithakala akuyi kuba njengaxa ilizwe lalicinezelekile, njengakwixesha langaphambili xa ubani wayeliphatha ngendelelo ilizwe lakwaZebhulon nelizwe lakwaNafetali naxa kwixesha lamva ubani wabangela ukuba kunikwe imbeko—indlela yaselwandle, kummandla weYordan, iGalili yeentlanga.” (Isaya 9:1) IGalili ngummandla ongasentla wobukhosi bakwaSirayeli. Kwisiprofeto sikaIsaya iquka ‘ilizwe lakwaZebhulon nelizwe lakwaNafetali kwanendlela yaselwandle,’ ndlela leyo eyayigudla uLwandle  lwaseGalili isinge kuLwandle lweMeditera. Ngomhla kaIsaya, lo mmandla ubizwa ngokuba ‘yiGalili yeentlanga,’ mhlawumbi ngenxa yokuba izixeko zawo ezininzi zinabemi abangengomaSirayeli. c Eli lizwe ‘liphathwa njani ngendelelo’? Kugaleleka abahedeni abangama-Asiriya, baloyise, bawathimbe amaSirayeli, baze kuwo wonke loo mmandla bahlalise abahedeni, abangeyonzala ka-Abraham. Yaba kukuphela ke oko kobukhosi bangasentla bezizwe ezilishumi!—2 Kumkani 17:5, 6, 18, 23, 24.

14. “Ukusithakala” kukaYuda kuza kuba nganeno njani koko kobukhosi bezizwe ezilishumi?

¹⁴ UYuda naye uyacinezelwa ngama-Asiriya. Ngaba naye uza “kusithakala” njengobukhosi basentla bezizwe ezilishumi bakwaZebhulon nobakwaNafetali? Akunjalo. “Kwixesha lamva,” uYehova uza kuwusikelela ummandla wobukhosi basezantsi bukaYuda kwanelizwe ebelikade lilawulwa bubukhosi basentla ngaphambili. Njani?

15, 16. (a) Liliphi “ixesha lamva” ekuya kuthi ngalo iimeko zitshintshe “kwizithili zakwaZebhulon nakwaNafetali”? (b) Ilizwe ebeliphethwe ngendelelo liziselwe njani imbeko?

¹⁵ Umpostile uMateyu uyawuphendula lo mbuzo kwingxelo yakhe ephefumlelweyo engobulungiseleli basemhlabeni bukaYesu. Xa echaza ukuqala kobo bulungiseleli, uMateyu uthi: “Akuba eyishiyile iNazarete, [uYesu] waya kuhlala eKapernahum ngaselwandle kwizithili zakwaZebhulon nakwaNafetali, ukuze kuzaliseke oko kwathethwa ngoIsaya umprofeti, esithi: ‘Owu lizwe lakwaZebhulon nawe lizwe lakwaNafetali, nina eningakwindlela yaselwandle, ngaphesheya kweYordan, Galili yeentlanga! bantu ababehleli ebumnyameni, nibone ukukhanya okukhulu, nina bahleli kummandla wethunzi lokufa, nivelelwe kukukhanya.’”—Mateyu 4:13-16.

¹⁶ Ewe, “ixesha lamva” elixelwa kwangaphambili nguIsaya lixesha lobulungiseleli bukaKristu basemhlabeni. Inxalenye  eninzi yobomi bakhe, uYesu wayichithela eGalili. Wayekwisithili saseGalili ukuqalisa kwakhe ubulungiseleli bakhe nokumemeza esithi: “Ubukumkani bamazulu busondele.” (Mateyu 4:17) KwakuseGalili, apho wanikela khona iNtshumayelo yakhe edumileyo yaseNtabeni, wakhetha abapostile bakhe, wenza ummangaliso wakhe wokuqala, waza wabonakala kubalandeli bakhe abamalunga nama-500 emva kokuvuswa kwakhe. (Mateyu 5:1–7:27; 28:16-20; Marko 3:13, 14; Yohane 2:8-11; 1 Korinte 15:6) Ngaloo ndlela uYesu wasizalisekisa isiprofeto sikaIsaya ngokulizisela imbeko “ilizwe lakwaZebhulon nelizwe lakwaNafetali.” Noko ke, ubulungiseleli bukaYesu abuphelelanga nje kubantu baseGalili. Ngokushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo kulo lonke elo lizwe, uYesu ‘waluzisela imbeko’ uhlanga luphela lwakwaSirayeli, kuquka noYuda.

“Ukukhanya Okukhulu”

17. “Ukukhanya okukhulu” kukhanyisa njani eGalili?

¹⁷ Noko ke, kuthekani ‘ngokukhanya okukhulu’ okuseGalili athetha ngako uMateyu? Nako oku wayekucaphula kwisiprofeto sikaIsaya. UIsaya wabhala: “Abantu ababehamba ebumnyameni babone ukukhanya okukhulu. Ke bona abo bahlala elizweni elinethunzi elimnyama, ukukhanya kuye kwakhanyisa phezu kwabo.” (Isaya 9:2) Ngenkulungwane yokuqala yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo, ukukhanya kwenyaniso kwakusithwe bubuxoki bobuhedeni. Iinkokeli zonqulo zamaYuda zayenza mandundu le ngxaki ngokunamathela kwizithethe zazo zonqulo ‘ezilitshitshisileyo ilizwi likaThixo.’ (Mateyu 15:6) Abathobekileyo babecinezelwa yaye bedidekile, belandela ‘iinkokeli eziziimfama.’ (Mateyu 23:2-4, 16) Ekufikeni kukaYesu onguMesiya, amehlo abantu abaninzi abathobekileyo avulwa ngendlela emangalisayo. (Yohane 1:9, 12) Umsebenzi kaYesu ngoxa wayesemhlabeni neentsikelelo zedini lakhe zichazwe ngokufanelekileyo kwisiprofeto sikaIsaya ngokuthi “ukukhanya okukhulu.”—Yohane 8:12.

18, 19. Abo bakwamkelayo ukukhanya banasiphi isizathu sokuba nemihlali?

 ¹⁸ Abo bakwamkelayo oko kukhanya babenesizathu esikhulu sokuba nemihlali. UIsaya wahlabela mgama wathi: “Ulwandisile uhlanga; ukwenze kwaba kukhulu ukuba nemihlali kwalo. Luye lwanemihlali phambi kwakho njengokuba nemihlali ngexesha lokuvuna, njengabo bavuyayo ekwahluleni kwabo amaxhoba.” (Isaya 9:3) Ngenxa yokushumayela kukaYesu nabalandeli bakhe, abantliziyo zinyanisekileyo baziveza, bebonisa umnqweno wabo wokunqula uYehova ngomoya nangenyaniso. (Yohane 4:24) Kungaphelanga neminyaka emine, kwakusele kukho inkitha yabantu eyamkele ubuKristu. Kwabhaptizwa abangamawaka amathathu ngomhla wePentekoste yowama-33 C.E. Kungekudala emva koko, “inani lamadoda laba malunga namawaka amahlanu.” (IZenzo 2:41; 4:4) Njengoko abafundi babekhanyisa ngenzondelelo, ‘inani labo landa kakhulu eYerusalem; yaye isihlwele esikhulu sababingeleli saluthobela ukholo.’—IZenzo 6:7.

¹⁹ Kanye njengokuba nemihlali kwabantu emva kokufumana isivuno esikhulu okanye emva kokwabelana ngamaxhoba axabisekileyo athinjwe emfazweni, lwalunjalo ke novuyo lwabalandeli bakaYesu ngenxa yolwando olwalukho. (IZenzo 2:46, 47) Ethubeni, uYehova wenza ukuba oku kukhanya kukhanyisele neentlanga. (IZenzo 14:27) Ngoko abantu bazo zonke iintlanga baba nemihlali kuba bevulelwe indlela yokusondela kuYehova.—IZenzo 13:48.

“Njengemini YakwaMidiyan”

20. (a) AmaMidiyan azingqine eziintshaba zikaSirayeli ngayiphi indlela, yaye uYehova wasiphelisa njani isisongelo sawo? (b) “Ngemini yakwaMidiyan” ezayo uYesu uza kusiphelisa njani isisongelo seentshaba zabantu bakaThixo?

²⁰ Ukuthabath’ inyathelo kukaMesiya kuya kuba nemiphumo ehlal’ ihleli, njengokuba kukhanyiswa ngamazwi kaIsaya alandelayo: “Idyokhwe yomthwalo wabo nentonga esemagxeni abo, umsimelelo walowo ubaqweqwedisela emsebenzini, uyaphule njengemini yakwaMidiyan.” (Isaya 9:4) Kwiinkulungwane  eziliqela ngaphambi komhla kaIsaya, amaMidiyan abhunga namaMowabhi ukuba amrhwebeshele esonweni uSirayeli. (Numeri 25:1-9, 14-18; 31:15, 16) Kamva, amaMidiyan awagrogrisa amaSirayeli ngokuhlasela nokuphanga iidolophana neefama zawo kangangeminyaka esixhenxe. (ABagwebi 6:1-6) Kodwa uYehova, esebenzisa umkhonzi wakhe uGidiyon, wayitshabalalisa imikhosi yamaMidiyan. Emva kwaloo “mini yakwaMidiyan,” akukho bungqina bokuba abantu bakaYehova bakha baqweqwediswa kwakhona ngamaMidiyan. (ABagwebi 6:7-16; 8:28) Kungekudala, uYesu Kristu, uGidiyon omkhulu, uza kuzithi qwaka-qwaka iintshaba zabantu bakaYehova. (ISityhilelo 17:14; 19:11-21) Kuya kuthi ke, “njengemini yakwaMidiyan,” kuzuzwe uloyiso olupheleleyo noluhlala luhleli, kungekhona ngobugcisa babantu, kodwa ngamandla kaYehova. (ABagwebi 7:2-22) Abantu bakaThixo abasayi kuze baqweqwediswe kwakhona!

21. Isiprofeto sikaIsaya sibonisa ntoni ngekamva lemfazwe?

²¹ Ukusetyenziswa kwamandla kaThixo ngale ndlela akuzukisi imfazwe. UYesu ovusiweyo uyiNkosana yoXolo, yaye eyona njongo yokubhangisa iintshaba zakhe, kukuzisa uxolo oluhlala luhleli. Kungako nje ngoku uIsaya ethetha ngokutshatyalaliswa ngokupheleleyo kweempahla zemfazwe ngomlilo, esithi: “Zonke izihlangu zalowo unyathela ngokunyikimisayo nengubo yokwaleka eqengqwe egazini ziye zatshiswa njengokudla komlilo.” (Isaya 9:5) Ukungcangcazeliswa zizingqi zezihlangu zamajoni amatshayo akusayi kuze kubekho kwakhona. Impahla enegazi yabaphumi-mkhosi abangenalusini ayisayi kuze iphinde ibonwe. Imfazwe ayisayi kuze ibekho!—INdumiso 46:9.

“UMcebisi Omangalisayo”

22. Liliphi igama eliphangaleleyo lesiprofeto alinikwayo uYesu kwincwadi kaIsaya?

²² Ngexesha lokuzalwa kwakhe ngokungummangaliso, lowo wayeza kuba nguMesiya wathiywa igama elinguYesu, elithetha ukuthi “UYehova Ulusindiso.” Kodwa unawo namanye amagama esiprofeto, abalaselisa indima yakhe eyintloko  nesigxina sakhe esiphakamileyo. Elinye laloo magama nguImanuweli, othetha ukuthi “UThixo Unathi.” (Isaya 7:14, umbhalo osemazantsi weNW eneembekiselo) Ngoku uIsaya usichazela ngelinye igama lesiprofeto, esithi: “Sizalelwe umntwana, sinikwe unyana; yaye ukuphatha njengenkosana kuya kuba segxalabeni lakhe. Igama lakhe liya kubizwa ngokuba nguMcebisi Omangalisayo, uThixo Onamandla, uBawo ongunaPhakade, iNkosana yoXolo.” (Isaya 9:6) Phawula nje ukuphangalala kwentsingiselo yeli gama lingokwesiprofeto.

23, 24. (a) UYesu ‘unguMcebisi Omangalisyo’ ngayiphi indlela? (b) Abacebisi abangamaKristu namhlanje banokuwuxelisa njani umzekelo kaYesu?

²³ Umcebisi ngumntu onikela amacebiso. Ngoxa wayesemhlabeni uYesu Kristu wanikela amacebiso amahle kakhulu. EBhayibhileni sifunda ukuba “zathi khamnqa izihlwele yindlela yakhe yokufundisa.” (Mateyu 7:28) UnguMcebisi onobulumko nonovelwano, okuqonda kakuhle kakhulu ukubunjwa kwabantu. Amacebiso akhe awapheleli nje ekukhalimeleni nasekohlwayeni. Ubukhulu becala, ayimiyalelo yothando. Amacebiso kaYesu ayamangalisa kuba asoloko engawobulumko, egqibelele, yaye akaze asilele. Xa esetyenziswa, akhokelela kubomi obungunaphakade.—Yohane 6:68.

²⁴ Amacebiso kaYesu akabangelwa nje bubukrelekrele bengqondo yakhe. Kunoko, uthi: “Oko ndikufundisayo asikokwam, kodwa kokwalowo wandithumayo.” (Yohane 7:16) Njengokuba kwakunjalo nakuSolomon, uMthombo wobulumko bukaYesu nguYehova uThixo. (1 Kumkani 3:7-14; Mateyu 12:42) Umzekelo kaYesu ufanele ushukumisele abafundisi nabacebisi ebandleni lamaKristu ukuba basoloko besekela imiyalelo yabo ngeLizwi likaThixo.—IMizekeliso 21:30.

“UThixo Onamandla, UBawo OngunaPhakade”

25. Igama elithi “uThixo Onamandla” lisixelela ntoni ngoYesu osezulwini?

²⁵ UYesu ukwabizwa nangokuthi ‘nguThixo Onamandla noBawo ongunaPhakade.’ Oku akuthethi kuthi urhwaphiliza  igunya nesigxina sikaYehova, ‘onguThixo uBawo wethu.’ (2 Korinte 1:2) ‘[UYesu] akacinganga ngokurhwaphiliza, ukuze azenze alingane noThixo.’ (Filipi 2:6) Ubizwa ngokuba nguThixo Onamandla, kungekhona uThixo uSomandla. UYesu akazange azigqale njengoThixo uSomandla, kuba wathetha ngoYise ‘njengokuphela koThixo oyinyaniso,’ oko kukuthi, okuphela uThixo ofanele anqulwe. (Yohane 17:3; ISityhilelo 4:11) EZibhalweni, igama elithi “thixo” linokuthetha “onamandla” okanye “owomeleleyo.” (Eksodus 12:12; INdumiso 8:5; 2 Korinte 4:4) Ngaphambi kokuza kwakhe emhlabeni, uYesu “wayenguthixo,” “ekubume bukaThixo.” Emva kokuvuswa kwakhe, wabuyela kwisigxina esiphakame nangakumbi emazulwini. (Yohane 1:1; Filipi 2:6-11) Kwakhona, igama elithi “thixo” linenye inkcazelo engakumbi. Abagwebi kwaSirayeli babebizwa ngokuba “ngoothixo”—kwanoYesu uqobo wakha wababiza ngaloo ndlela. (INdumiso 82:6; Yohane 10:35) UYesu unguMgwebi omiselweyo kaYehova, “omiselwe ukugweba abaphilayo nabafileyo.” (2 Timoti 4:1; Yohane 5:30) Ngokucacileyo, limfanele igama elithi uThixo Onamandla.

26. Kutheni uYesu ekufanelekela ukubizwa ngokuba ‘nguBawo ongunaPhakade’?

²⁶ Igama elithi “uBawo ongunaPhakade” libhekisela kumandla nakwigunya likaKumkani onguMesiya lokunika abantu ithemba lobomi obungunaphakade emhlabeni. (Yohane 11:25, 26) Ilifa lomzali wethu wokuqala, uAdam, laba kukufa. UYesu, onguAdam wokugqibela, “waba ngumoya onik’ ubomi.” (1 Korinte 15:22, 45; Roma 5:12, 18) Kanye njengokuba uYesu, uBawo ongunaPhakade, eya kuphila ngonaphakade, ngoko uluntu oluthobekileyo luya kunandipha iingenelo ezingunaphakade.—Roma 6:9.

“INkosana YoXolo”

27, 28. Ziziphi iingenelo ezimangalisayo abazinandiphayo ngoku nakwixesha elizayo abo bazithobayo kulawulo ‘lweNkosana yoXolo’?

²⁷ Ngaphandle kobomi obungunaphakade, abantu kukwafuneka babe seluxolweni noThixo kwanaphakathi kwabo  bodwa. Yaye sithethanje, abo bazithobayo kulawulo ‘lweNkosana yoXolo’ ‘bawakhandile amakrele abo aba ngamakhuba nemikhonto yabo yaba zizitshetshe zokuthena imithi.’ (Isaya 2:2-4) Abafukamanga intiyo ngenxa yokungavisisani ngezobupolitika, ngokobuzwe, ngokobuhlanga, nangokwezoqoqosho. Bamanyene ekunquleni okuphela koThixo oyinyaniso, uYehova, yaye bazabalazela ukuhlala beseluxolweni nabamelwane babo, ngaphakathi nangaphandle kwebandla.—Galati 6:10; Efese 4:2, 3; 2 Timoti 2:24.

²⁸ Ngexesha elifanelekileyo likaThixo, uKristu uza kumisela uxolo oluzinzileyo, nolungapheliyo, emhlabeni wonke. (IZenzo 1:7) “Akayi kuyeka ukuphatha njengenkosana, noxolo aluyi kuphela etroneni kaDavide nasebukumkanini bakhe ukuze bumiselwe ngokuqinileyo nokuze buxhaswe ngokusesikweni nangobulungisa, ukususela ngoku kuse kwixesha elingenammiselo.” (Isaya 9:7a) UYesu, iNkosana yoXolo, akazukulisebenzisa ngobuzwilakhe igunya lakhe. Akazukubahlutha ilungelo lokuzikhethela abalawulwa bakhe aze abandlandlathekise ngetshova. Kunoko, konke aya kukuphumeza kuya kuba “ngokusesikweni nangobulungisa.” Olunjani lona ukuhlaziya utshintsho!

29. Yintoni esifanele siyenze ukuba sifuna ukunandipha intsikelelo yoxolo olungunaphakade?

²⁹ Ngenxa yokumangalisa kweenkcazelo zegama likaYesu lesiprofeto, ihlab’ umxhelo ngokwenene indlela uIsaya ayiqukumbela ngayo le nxalenye yesiprofeto sakhe. Ubhala athi: “Yona kanye inzondelelo kaYehova wemikhosi iya kukwenza oku.” (Isaya 9:7b) Ewe, uYehova usebenza ngenzondelelo. Akenzi nanye into emathidala. Sinokuqiniseka ukuba nakuphi na akuthembisayo, uza kukufeza ngokupheleleyo. Nabani ke ngoko, olangazelela ukunandipha uxolo ngonaphakade, makakhonze uYehova ngentliziyo epheleleyo. NjengoYehova uThixo noYesu, iNkosana yoXolo, ngamana bonke abakhonzi bakaThixo ‘bangazondelela imisebenzi emihle.’—Tito 2:14.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

[Imibuzo YeSifundo]

[Imaphu/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 122]

(Ukuba ufuna inkcazelo ehlahlelwe kakuhle, yiya kwimpapasho)

IKorazin

IBhethesayida

IKapernahum

Ithafa laseGenesarete

Ulwandle LwaseGalili

IMagadan

ITibheriya

Umlambo IYordan

IGADARA

IGadara

 [Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 119]

Ukuzalwa kukaKayin noYesu kwakukhethekile kakhulu. Kukuzalwa kukaYesu kuphela okwaba nemiphumo evuyisayo

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 121]

Kuya kubakho indlala engakumbi lee kunokulambela isonka nokunxanelwa amanzi

 [Umfanekiso okwiphepha 127]

UYesu wayekukukhanya elizweni