1. UMarta wayeqiniseka ngokuthi kuzokwenzekani kumfowabo? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

UMARTA, owayengumngane kaJesu omkhulu nomfundi wakhe, wayekhihla isililo njengoba umfowabo uLazaru ayeshonile. Kukhona yini okwakungamduduza? Yebo. UJesu wamqinisekisa: “Umfowenu uzovuka.” Kungenzeka ukuthi lokho akubuqedanga ngokuphelele ubuhlungu ayebuzwa kodwa uMarta wakukholwa lokho uJesu ayekusho. Wathi: “Ngiyazi ukuthi uyovuka ovukweni ngosuku lokugcina.” (Joh. 11:20-24) Wayeqiniseka ngokuthi luyoba khona uvuko esikhathini esizayo. Nokho, uJesu wabe esenza isimangaliso. Wavusa uLazaru ngalo lolo suku.

2. Kungani ungathanda ukuba nethemba uMarta ayenalo?

² Asinaso isizathu sokulindela ukuba uJesu noma uYise bavuse abantu esibathandayo njengamanje. Nokho, wena uyaqiniseka yini njengoMarta ukuthi abantu obathandayo bayovuswa esikhathini esizayo? Mhlawumbe owawushade naye, umama, ubaba, ugogo, umkhulu noma ingane yakho. Ulangazelela ukubanga, ukukhuluma nokujabula nalabo bantu obathandayo. Ngokujabulisayo, njengoMarta unesizathu esihle sokuthi: ‘Ngiyazi ukuthi uzovuka.’  Noma kunjalo, kungakuhle ukuthi umKristu ngamunye azibuze ukuthi kungani eqiniseka ngalokhu.

3, 4. Lokho uJesu ayesanda kukwenza kungenzeka kwaluqinisa kanjani ukholo lukaMarta?

³ Njengoba uMarta ayehlala eduze kwaseJerusalema, cishe akambonanga uJesu evusa indodana yomfelokazi eduze kwaseNayini eGalile. Nokho, kungenzeka ukuthi wezwa ngalolo vuko. Mhlawumbe wezwa nangokuvusa kukaJesu indodakazi kaJayiru. Labo ababesekamelweni lentombazane “babazi ukuthi ifile.” Noma kunjalo, uJesu wathatha isandla sayo wabe esethi: “Ntombazane, vuka!” Intombazane yavuka ngaso leso sikhathi. (Luka 7:11-17; 8:41, 42, 49-55) UMarta nodadewabo uMariya babazi ukuthi uJesu unamandla okwelapha abantu abagulayo. Yingakho babecabanga ukuthi ukube uJesu wayekhona ngabe uLazaru akafanga. Kodwa njengoba ayeseshonile, kwakuzokwenzekani? Phawula ukuthi uMarta wathi uLazaru uyovuka esikhathini esizayo, “ngosuku lokugcina.” Kungani ayeqiniseka ngalokho? Kungani wena ungaqiniseka ngokuthi abantu obathandayo asebashona bayovuka esikhathini esizayo?

⁴ Kunezizathu ezinhle zokuqiniseka ngalelo themba. Njengoba sizoxoxa ngezinye zazo, uzothola izinto eziseZwini likaNkulunkulu, ngokuvamile ongazihlobanisi nethemba eliqinisekisiwe lovuko.

5. Yini eyenza uMarta waqiniseka ngokuthi uLazaru uzovuswa?

⁵ Phawula ukuthi uMarta akashongo ukuthi ‘Ngithemba ukuthi umfowethu uzovuka.’ Wathi: “Ngiyazi ukuthi uyovuka.” UMarta wayeqiniseka ngenxa yezimangaliso okungenzeka wezwa ngazo ngisho nangaphambi kokuba uJesu aqale inkonzo yakhe. Ngesikhathi esemusha wezwa ngazo ekhaya nasesinagogeni. Lokhu kusenza sicabange ngezenzakalo ezintathu zokuvuswa kwabantu ezibhalwe eBhayibhelini.

6. U-Eliya wenza siphi isimangaliso futhi sihlobana kanjani nethemba likaMarta?

⁶ Uvuko lokuqala lwenzeka ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu enika umprofethi wakhe u-Eliya amandla okwenza izimangaliso. EZarefathi, edolobheni elisogwini lwaseFenike, umfelokazi oswele wamukela lo mprofethi ngezandla ezimhlophe. UNkulunkulu wabe esenza ngokuyisimangaliso ukuba ufulawa namafutha omfelokazi kungapheli ukuze yena nendodana yakhe baqhubeke bephila. (1 AmaKh. 17:8-16) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, indodana yomfelokazi yagula yaze yashona. U-Eliya wamsiza. Wathinta isidumbu somfana wathandaza wathi: “Nkulunkulu wami, ngiyacela, bangela umphefumulo walo mntwana ukuba ubuyele kuye.” Kwenzeka njengoba ayecelile! UNkulunkulu wamuzwa u-Eliya futhi umfana wavuka. Lolo kwakuwuvuko lokuqala olwabhalwa eBhayibhelini. (Funda Eyoku-1 AmaKhosi 17:17-24.) Ngokuqinisekile uMarta wezwa ngaleso simangaliso.

7, 8. (a) Chaza lokho u-Elisha akwenza ukuze aduduze owesifazane oshonelwe. (b) Isimangaliso sika-Elisha sibonisani ngamandla kaJehova?

⁷ Uvuko lwesibili olubhalwe eBhayibhelini yilolo olwenziwa u-Elisha owaba umprofethi ngemva kuka-Eliya. Owesifazane ovelele ongumIsrayeli eShunemi wamukela u-Elisha ngemfudumalo. Ngalo mprofethi uNkulunkulu wabusisa lona wesifazane nomyeni wakhe owayesekhulile ngendodana. Ngemva kweminyaka ethile, umfana washona. Cabanga nje indlela okumelwe ukuba lona wesifazane wayelusizi ngayo. Ngemvume yomyeni wakhe, wahamba ibanga elingaba amakhilomitha angu-30 waya ku-Elisha eNtabeni iKarmeli. Lo mprofethi watshela isikhonzi sakhe uGehazi ukuba sibuyele eShunemi, bona bazosilandela  ngemuva. UGehazi wayengakwazi ukuvusa umfana. Unina womfana oshonile wabe esefika no-Elisha.—2 AmaKh. 4:8-31.

⁸ EShunemi, u-Eliya wathandaza eseduze komzimba womfana. Ngokuyisimangaliso, umfana wavuka futhi wabuyela kunina owayesegcwele injabulo! (Funda eyesi-2 AmaKhosi 4:32-37.) Kungenzeka ukuthi lona wesifazane wakhumbula umthandazo kaHana owayekade eyinyumba ngesikhathi ehambisa uSamuweli etabernakele: “UJehova . . . wehlisela eShiyoli, futhi uyakhuphula.” (1 Sam. 2:6) Ngokusobala, uNkulunkulu wamvusa ngokoqobo umfana ohlala eShunemi, ebonisa amandla aKhe okuvusa.

9. Chaza indlela u-Elisha ahileleka ngayo ovukweni lwesithathu olubhalwe eBhayibhelini.

⁹ Kodwa leso kwakungesona isimangaliso sokugcina esihilela u-Elisha. Wayesekhonze njengomprofethi iminyaka engaphezu kwengu-50 wabe esegula waphathwa yisifo esagcina simbulele. Kamuva lapho sekusele amathambo ethuneni lika-Elisha, kwafika izitha zizohlasela izwe. Ama-Israyeli athile ayesendleleni eyongcwaba umuntu. Ephuthuma ukuze abalekele izitha zawo, aphonsa isidumbu ethuneni lika-Elisha. Siyafunda: “Lapho lo muntu ethinta amathambo ka-Elisha, masinyane waphila wama ngezinyawo zakhe.” (2 AmaKh. 13:14, 20, 21) Cishe lezi zindaba zovuko zamqinisekisa ngempela uMarta! Ngokuqinisekile uNkulunkulu unamandla okuvusa abantu abafile. Lezi zindaba kufanele zikuthinte kanjani wena? Kufanele zikuqinisekise ngokuthi amandla kaNkulunkulu makhulu kakhulu futhi awanamkhawulo.

10. UPetru wamsiza kanjani owesifazane ongumKristu owayeshonile?

¹⁰ EmiBhalweni YamaKristu YesiGreki, sifunda nangovuko olwenziwa abakhulekeli bakaNkulunkulu abathembekile. Lokho singakubona ovukweni uJesu alwenza ngesikhathi engaphandle kweNayini nalapho esendlini kaJayiru. Umphostoli uPetru wavusa owesifazane ongumKristu, uDorka (Thabitha). Lapho uPetru efika kwakulungiselelwa umngcwabo. Waya eduze kwesidumbu, wafike wathandaza. Ngemva kwalokho wathi: “Thabitha, vuka!” UDorka wavuka ngaso leso sikhathi futhi uPetru “wamethula ephila” kumaKristu ayelapho. Lolo vuko lwenza “abaningi bakholwa eNkosini.” Babengashumayeza abanye ngoJesu futhi babatshele ukuthi uJehova unamandla okuvusa abafile.​—IzE. 9:36-42.

11. ULuka ongudokotela wabika ukuthi yini eyayenzekile ngensizwa futhi lokho kwabathinta kanjani abanye?

¹¹ Abanye bazibonela ngawabo lapho kuphinde kuvuswa umuntu. Ngesinye isikhathi, umphostoli uPawulu wayesemhlanganweni egumbini eliphezulu eTrowa, manje esentshonalanga-nyakatho yeTurkey. UPawulu wakhuluma kwaze kwaba phakathi kwamabili. Insizwa ebizwa ngokuthi u-Evitiku yayilalele, ihleli eduze kwefasitela. Kodwa yazumeka yabe isiwela phansi isuka esitezi sesithathu. Kungenzeka ukuthi uLuka ongudokotela nguye owafika kuqala ku-Evitiku ezomhlola. Akukhona nje ukuthi u-Evitiku wayelimele kancane noma wayequlekile​—wayefile! UPawulu wehla wafike walala phezu kwesidumbu wabe esememeza ethi, ‘Uyaphila.’ Yeka ukuthi lokho kwabathinta kanjani abantu ababelapho! Abantu “baduduzeka kakhulu” ngenxa yokwazi amaqiniso nokwazi ukuthi le nsizwa yafa yavuka.​—IzE. 20:7-12.

12, 13. Mayelana nezindaba zovuko esixoxe ngazo, yimiphi imibuzo okudingeka siyihlole?

¹² Lezi zenzakalo zovuko okukhulunywe ngazo ngenhla kufanele zikuqinisekise  njengoMarta. UNkulunkulu noMniki-kuphila, unamandla okuvusa abafile. Nokho, kuyathakazelisa ukuthi izinceku ezithembekile zikaNkulunkulu, njengo-Eliya, uJesu noPetru, zazikhona lapho uJehova enza lezi zimangaliso. Kodwa kuthiwani ngalabo abashona endulo? Uma enkathini ethile uNkulunkulu engavusanga muntu, ingabe amadoda nabesifazane abathembekile bebengalindela ukuba uNkulunkulu avuse abafile esikhathini esizayo? Bebengaqiniseka yini njengoMarta, owathi: “Ngiyazi ukuthi [umfowethu] uyovuka ovukweni ngosuku lokugcina”? Yini eyayingamenza akukholelwe lokho ngekusasa futhi kungani nawe ungakukholelwa?

¹³ EBhayibhelini kunamavesi amaningana abonisa ukuthi izinceku zikaJehova eziqotho zazazi ukuthi kuzoba khona uvuko esikhathini esizayo. Ake sihlole amavesi ambalwa.

14. Yini esingayifunda ngovuko endabeni ka-Abrahama?

¹⁴ Cabanga ngalokho uNkulunkulu atshela u-Abrahama ukuba akwenze ku-Isaka, owayeyindlalifa okwase kuphele iminyaka eyilindile. UJehova wathi: “Ngicela uthathe indodana yakho, indodana yakho okuwukuphela kwayo oyithanda kakhulu, u-Isaka, . . .uyinikele . . . njengomnikelo wokushiswa.” (Gen. 22:2) Cabanga indlela ongazizwa ngayo lapho uzwa lokhu. UJehova wayethembise ukuthi izizwe zonke zaziyobusiswa ngenxa yenzalo ka-Abrahama. (Gen. 13:14-16; 18:18; Roma 4:17, 18) Waphinde wathi izibusiso ‘ziyoba khona ngo-Isaka.’ (Gen. 21:12) Kodwa lokho kwakungenzeka kanjani uma u-Isaka ebulawa abe umhlatshelo? UPawulu waphefumulelwa ukuba achaze ukuthi u-Abrahama wayekholelwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayezokwazi ukuvusa u-Isaka ekufeni. (Funda eyamaHebheru 11:17-19.) IBhayibheli alisho ukuthi u-Abrahama walalela ngoba wayecabanga ukuthi u-Isaka uzovuka ngemva kwamahora, izinsuku noma amasonto ambalwa. U-Abrahama wayengazi ukuthi indodana yakhe izovuswa nini. Kodwa wayeqiniseka ngokuthi uJehova uzomvusa u-Isaka.

15. Yiliphi ithemba inzalamizi uJobe eyakhuluma ngalo?

¹⁵ Inzalamizi uJobe nayo yayinethemba lovuko olwaluyokwenzeka esikhathini esizayo. Yaqaphela ukuthi uma isihlahla sigawulwa, singaphinde sikhule sifane nesihlahla esisha. Kodwa akunjalo ngomuntu. (Jobe 14:7-12; 19:25-27) Uma umuntu efa, akakwazi ukuzivusa aphinde aphile. (2 Sam. 12:23; IHu. 89:48) Nokho, lokho akusho ukuthi uNkulunkulu akakwazi  ukuvusa umuntu ofile. Eqinisweni, uJobe wayekholelwa ukuthi kunesikhathi uJehova ayomkhumbula ngaso. (Funda uJobe 14:13-15.) UJobe wayengeke asazi isikhathi ayomkhumbula ngaso esikhathini esizayo. Noma kunjalo, wayekholelwa ukuthi Lowo owadala abantu angakwazi ukumkhumbula futhi uyomkhumbula bese eyamvusa.

16. Ingelosi yamkhuthaza kanjani umprofethi uDaniyeli?

¹⁶ UDaniyeli ungomunye wabantu abathembekile okukhulunywa ngabo emiBhalweni YesiHebheru. Wakhonza uNkulunkulu iminyaka eminingi ngokwethembeka futhi uJehova wamsekela. Ngesinye isikhathi, ingelosi yakhuthaza uDaniyeli—indoda ‘efiselekayo’—ukuba ‘abe nokuthula’ futhi ‘abe namandla.’​—Dan. 9:22, 23; 10:11, 18, 19.

17, 18. UDaniyeli wathenjiswa ukuthini mayelana nekusasa lakhe?

¹⁷ UDaniyeli wayesecela eminyakeni eyikhulu, esesondela ekugcineni kokuphila kwakhe. Kungenzeka wayecabanga ngokuthi ikusasa limphatheleni. Ingabe uDaniyeli uzophinde aphile? Nakanjani! Ngasekugcineni kwencwadi kaDaniyeli sifunda amazwi uNkulunkulu amqinisekisa ngawo: “Kepha wena, hamba uye ekupheleni; uyophumula.” (Dan. 12:13) UDaniyeli owayesekhulile wayazi ukuthi abafile baphumule, “akukho msebenzi namacebo nalwazi nakuhlakanipha” eThuneni. Sase sisondele isikhathi sokuba uDaniyeli aye lapho. (UmSh. 9:10) Kodwa lokho akusho ukuthi kwase kuphelile ngaye. Wayethenjiswe ikusasa elihle.

¹⁸ Umyalezo oya kumprofethi uDaniyeli uyaqhubeka: “Uyosukuma umele isabelo sakho ekupheleni kwezinsuku.” Akatshelwanga usuku noma isikhathi ayosukuma ngaso. UDaniyeli wayezoshona bese eyaphumula. Noma kunjalo, ukuthi esikhathini esizayo ‘wayeyosukuma amele isabelo sakhe’ kwakuyisithembiso esicacile sovuko oluzokwenzeka ngemva kwesikhathi eside eshonile. Kwakuzoba ‘sekupheleni kwezinsuku.’ I​-Jerusalem Bible lithi: “Uyovuka wenze isabelo sakho ekupheleni kwesikhathi.”

19, 20. (a) Lokhu esesixoxe ngakho kuhlobana kanjani nempendulo kaMarta? (b) Yini esizoxoxa ngayo esihlokweni esilandelayo?

¹⁹ Ngokusobala uMarta wayenesizathu sokuqiniseka ngokuthi umfowabo othembekile “uyovuka ovukweni ngosuku lokugcina.” Isithembiso esanikwa uDaniyeli, kanye nokuqiniseka okwabonakala empendulweni kaMarta kufanele kuwaqinisekise amaKristu namuhla. Luyoba khona uvuko.

²⁰ Siye sabona ukuthi uvuko olungokoqobo olwenzeka endulo lufakazela ukuthi uvuko luzoba khona​—abafile bangaphinde baphile. Amadoda nabesifazane abakhonza uNkulunkulu balindele uvuko oluzokwenzeka esikhathini esizayo. Nokho, bukhona yini ubufakazi obubonisa ukuthi uvuko luyokwenzeka ngemva kweminyaka eminingi luthenjisiwe? Uma bukhona, lokho kungasinika esinye isizathu sokulangazelela uvuko njengoMarta. Noma kunjalo, kuyokwenzeka nini lokho? Ake sixoxe ngalokho esihlokweni esilandelayo.