1. Yini uJesu ayisho esigebengwini esasiseceleni kwakhe ngaphambi nje kokuba afe? (Luka 23:39-43)

 UJESU nezigebengu ezimbili ezaziseceleni kwakhe babezwa ubuhlungu njengoba babefa kancane kancane. (Luka 23:32, 33) Zombili lezi zigebengu zazikhulume kabi ngoJesu, ngakho kusobala ukuthi zazingebona abafundi bakhe. (Math. 27:44; Marku 15:32) Kodwa esisodwa kuzo sashintsha. Sathi: “Jesu, ngikhumbule lapho ungena eMbusweni wakho.” UJesu waphendula: “Ngiyakuqinisekisa namuhla, uyokuba nami ePharadesi.” (Funda uLuka 23:39-43.) Akukho okubonisa ukuthi lesi sigebengu sasiwamukele umyalezo okhuluma ‘ngoMbuso wamazulu’ uJesu ayeshumayela ngawo phakathi nenkonzo yakhe. UJesu naye akazange athi le ndoda yayizoba khona eMbusweni ezulwini. (Math. 4:17) Wayekhuluma ngePharadesi elizoba semhlabeni esikhathini esizayo. Kungani sisho kanjalo?

2. Yini ebonisa ukuthi isigebengu esaphenduka sasingumJuda?

² Cishe isigebengu esaphenduka sasingumJuda. Sathi kulesi esinye: “Ingabe awumesabi nhlobo uNkulunkulu, njengoba uthole isahlulelo esifanayo?” (Luka 23:40) AmaJuda ayekhonza uNkulunkulu oyedwa, kodwa abantu bezinye izizwe babekholelwa konkulunkulu abaningi. (Eks. 20:2, 3; 1 Kor. 8:5, 6) Ukube lezo zigebengu zazingabantu bezizwe, lesi sigebengu sasingase sibuze umbuzo othi, “Ingabe awubesabi nhlobo onkulunkulu?” Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJesu wayengathunyelwanga kubantu bezizwe kodwa wayethunywe “ezimvwini ezilahlekile zendlu ka-Israyeli.” (Math. 15:24) UNkulunkulu wayewambulele ama-Israyeli ukuthi wayeyovusa abafile. Kungenzeka ukuthi isigebengu esaphenduka sasikwazi lokhu, kanti  njengoba amazwi aso ebonisa, sasicabanga ukuthi uJehova uzovusa uJesu ukuze abuse eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu. Kubukeka sengathi le ndoda yayinethemba lokuthi uNkulunkulu uzoyivusa nayo.

3. Yini okungenzeka isigebengu esaphenduka sayicabanga lapho uJesu ekhuluma ngePharadesi? Chaza. (Genesise 2:15)

³ NjengomJuda, isigebengu esaphenduka sasiyazi indaba ka-Adamu no-Eva nePharadesi uJehova ayebabeke kulo. Ngakho, kungenzeka saqaphela ukuthi iPharadesi uJesu akhuluma ngalo laliyoba ingadi enhle lapha emhlabeni.​—Funda uGenesise 2:15.

4. Amazwi uJesu washo kwesinye sezigebengu kufanele asenze sicabange ngani?

⁴ Amazwi uJesu awasho esigebengwini kufanele asenze sicabange ngokuthi kuyoba njani ukuphila ePharadesi. Empeleni, singafunda okuthile ngePharadesi ekubuseni okunokuthula kweNkosi uSolomoni. Singalindela nokuba uJesu, lowo omkhulu kunoSolomoni, asebenze nalabo ayobusa nabo ukuze alethe izimo ezinhle kakhulu emhlabeni. (Math. 12:42) Ngokusobala, “ezinye izimvu” kufanele zithande ukwazi ukuthi yini okufanele ziyenze ukuze ziphile phakade ePharadesi.​—Joh. 10:16.

5. Ucabanga ukuthi ukuphila kuyoba njani ePharadesi?

⁵ Yini efika engqondweni lapho ucabanga ngokuphila ePharadesi? Kungenzeka ucabanga ngepaki elihle elinjengengadi yase-Edene. (Gen. 2:7-9) Ungase ukhumbule isiprofetho esabhalwa uMika esikhuluma ngabantu bakaNkulunkulu esithi, “yilowo nalowo [uyohlala] ngaphansi kwesihlahla sakhe samagilebhisi nangaphansi kwesihlahla sakhe somkhiwane.” (Mika 4:3, 4) Ungase ukhumbule nokuthi iBhayibheli lithi kuyoba nenala yokudla. (IHu. 72:16; Isaya 65:21, 22) Ngakho, ungase uzibone usengadini enhle, uhlezi etafuleni eligcwele ukudla okumnandi. Ungase uhogele iphunga elimnandi lezimbali nezitshalo. Mhlawumbe uzwa nabangane nezihlobo​—ngisho nabavusiwe—​behleka bejabulela ukuba ndawonye. Konke lokhu akulona iphupho nje. Akungabazeki ukuthi lezi zinto ziyokwenzeka lapha emhlabeni. Noma kunjalo, ePharadesi siyokwenza nomsebenzi ojabulisayo.

6. Siyobe senzani ePharadesi? (Bheka isithombe.)

⁶ UJehova usidale ngendlela yokuba siwujabulele umsebenzi wethu. (UmSh. 2:24) Siyobe simatasa ngempela ikakhulukazi phakathi nokuBusa KukaKristu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane. Labo abayosinda osizini olukhulu kanye nezigidi eziyovuswa bayodinga izingubo, ukudla nendawo yokuhlala. Ukuze bathole lezo zinto, kuyodingeka senze umsebenzi omningi ojabulisayo.  Njengoba nje u-Adamu no-Eva kwakufanele banakekele ingadi eyikhaya labo, nathi siyoba nelungelo lokwenza umhlaba ube iPharadesi. Cabanga nje nokuthi kuyojabulisa kanjani ukufundisa izigidi zabavusiwe ezinolwazi oluncane ngoJehova nenjongo yakhe, nokusiza abathembekile abaphila esikhathini eside ngaphambi kwesikhathi sikaJesu ukuba bafunde okwengeziwe!

7. Yini esingaqiniseka ngayo, futhi kungani?

⁷ Singaqiniseka ukuthi ukuphila ePharadesi esikhathini esizayo kuyoba nokuthula, kuchume futhi kuhleleke kahle. Kungani? Kungoba uJehova usesibonisile amazwibela okuthi kuyoba njani ukuphila ngaphansi kokubusa kweNdodana yakhe. Siyakubona lokho endabeni yokubusa kweNkosi uSolomoni.

8. Agcwaliseka kanjani amazwi akumaHubo 37:10, 11, 29 ngemva kokuba iNkosi uDavide iwabhalile? (Bheka isihloko esithi “Imibuzo Evela Kubafundi” esikulo magazini.)

⁸ INkosi uDavide yaphefumulelwa ukuba ichaze ukuthi ukuphila kuyoba njani esikhathini esizayo lapho sekubusa inkosi ehlakaniphile nethembekile. (Funda iHubo 37:10, 11, 29.) Sivame ukufundela abanye iHubo 37:11 lapho sixoxa ngePharadesi elizayo. Lokhu kuyafaneleka ngoba uJesu wawucaphuna lowo mBhalo eNtshumayelweni Yasentabeni, ebonisa ukuthi uyogcwaliseka esikhathini esizayo. (Math. 5:5) Kodwa amazwi kaDavide abonisa nokuthi ukuphila kwakuyoba njani ezinsukwini zeNkosi uSolomoni. Ngesikhathi uSolomoni ebusa kwa-Israyeli, abantu bakaNkulunkulu bajabulela ukuthula okukhulu nokuchuma ezweni “eligeleza ubisi noju.” UNkulunkulu wayethe: “Uma niqhubeka nihamba ngemithetho yami . . . , ngiyobeka ukuthula ezweni, niyolala kungabi bikho muntu onesabisayo.” (Lev. 20:24; 26:3, 6) Lezo zithembiso zagcwaliseka phakathi nokubusa kukaSolomoni. (1 IziKr. 22:9; 29:26-28) UJehova wathembisa nokuthi abantu ababi ‘bayobe bengekho.’ (IHu. 37:10) Ngakho, amazwi asencwadini yamaHubo 37:10, 11, 29 agcwaliseka esikhathini esidlule futhi azophinde agcwaliseke esikhathini esizayo.

9. Indlovukazi yaseSheba yathini ngokubusa kweNkosi uSolomoni?

 ⁹ Izindaba eziphathelene nokuthula nokuchuma okwakujatshulelwa ama-Israyeli ngesikhathi kubusa uSolomoni zafika ezindlebeni zendlovukazi yaseSheba. Yasuka ezweni elikude yaya eJerusalema ukuze izibonele mathupha leso simo. (1 AmaKh. 10:1) Ngemva kokubona umbuso kaSolomoni, yathi: “Kuncane kakhulu ebengikuzwile. . . . Bayajabula abantu bakho, ziyajabula nezinceku zakho ezima phambi kwakho njalo, zilalele ukuhlakanipha kwakho!” (1 AmaKh. 10:6-8) Kodwa okwenzeka ngaphansi kokubusa kukaSolomoni kwakumane kungamazwibela alokho uJehova ayokwenzela isintu ngaphansi kokubusa kweNdodana yakhe, uJesu.

10. UJesu uphakeme ngaziphi izindlela kunoSolomoni?

¹⁰ UJesu uphakeme ngazo zonke izindlela kunoSolomoni. USolomoni wayeyindoda enesono eyenza amaphutha amakhulu ekwahluleleni futhi wagcina ebangele ukuba abantu bakaNkulunkulu bathwale kanzima. UJesu yena unguMbusi ongenasono, ongawenzi amaphutha. (Luka 1:32; Heb. 4:14, 15) Wanqoba uvivinyo olunzima olwabangelwa uSathane. UKristu ubonisile ukuthi akasoze ona noma enze noma yini engalimaza abalandeli bakhe abaqotho. Kuyilungelo ngempela ukuthi uyiNkosi yethu.

11. Obani abayosiza uJesu lapho ebusa?

¹¹ UJesu uyobusa nabangu-144 000, basebenze naye ukuze banakekele isintu futhi bagcwalise injongo kaJehova ngomhlaba. (IsAm. 14:1-3) Laba babhekana novivinyo nokuhlupheka okukhulu ngesikhathi besaphila emhlabeni, ngakho bayoba ababusi abanozwela. Iyiphi indima eyodlalwa yilaba babusi ngokukhethekile?

12. Yimuphi umsebenzi uJehova ayowunika abangu-144 000?

¹² Umsebenzi onikwe uJesu nalabo ayobusa nabo mkhulu kakhulu kunomsebenzi owanikwa uSolomoni. Leyo nkosi yakwa-Israyeli kwakufanele inakekele izigidi zabantu ezweni elilodwa kuphela. Nokho, labo ababusa eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu bayosiza ekunakekeleni izigidigidi zabantu ezihlala kuwo wonke umhlaba. UJehova ubanike ilungelo elimangalisa ngempela abangu-144 000!

13. Yimuphi umsebenzi okhethekile oyokwenziwa yilabo abayobusa noJesu?

¹³ NjengoJesu, abangu-144 000 bayoba amakhosi nabapristi. (IsAm. 5:10) Ngaphansi koMthetho KaMose, abapristi ngokuyinhloko babenomthwalo wokuvikela impilo yabantu, ngesikhathi esifanayo kwakudingeka baqiniseke ukuthi abantu banobuhlobo obuhle noJehova. UMthetho ‘wawuyisithunzi sezinto ezinhle ezizayo,’ ngakho kunengqondo ukuphetha ngokuthi laba abayobusa noJesu bayosiza emsebenzini okhethekile wokunakekela abantu ngokoqobo nokubasiza babe nobuhlobo obuseduze noJehova. (Heb. 10:1) Kuzodingeka silinde sibone ukuthi lawo makhosi nabapristi bayoxhumana kanjani nezikhonzi zoMbuso ezisemhlabeni. Kunoma yikuphi uJehova ayokuhlela, singaqiniseka ngokuthi ePharadesi elizayo, labo abasemhlabeni bayosithola isiqondiso abasidingayo.​—IsAm. 21:3, 4.

14. Yibuphi ubudlelwane obukhona phakathi ‘kwezinye izimvu’ nabafowabo bakaKristu?

¹⁴ UJesu wabiza labo abayobusa naye ngokuthi ‘umhlambi omncane.’ (Luka 12:32) Wakhuluma nangeqembu lesibili, alibiza ngokuthi  “ezinye izimvu.” La maqembu amabili akha umhlambi owodwa onobunye. (Joh. 10:16) La maqembu amabili kakade asebenza ndawonye futhi azoqhubeka enza kanjalo njengoba umhlaba wenziwa iPharadesi. Ngaleso sikhathi, labo abakha ‘umhlambi omncane’ bayobe sebesezulwini futhi “ezinye izimvu” ziyoba nethemba lokujabulela ukuphila phakade emhlabeni. Kodwa kunezinto “ezinye izimvu” okudingeka zizenze manje ukuze zifanelekele ukuphila ePharadesi.

15. (a) “Ezinye izimvu” zisebenzelana kanjani nabafowabo bakaKristu? (b) Ungasilingisa kanjani isibonelo somzalwane osesitolo? (Bheka isithombe.)

¹⁵ Isigebengu esaphenduka safa singakalitholi ithuba lokubonisa ukuthi sikwazisa ngempela lokho uKristu asenzela kona. Ngokungefani naso, thina ‘bezinye izimvu’ sinamathuba amaningi okubonisa ukuthi sizizwa kanjani ngoJesu. Ngokwesibonelo, sibonisa ukuthi siyamthanda ngendlela esiphatha ngayo abafowabo abagcotshwe ngomoya. UJesu wathi indlela ayozahlulela ngayo izimvu iyoncika ekutheni zibaphathe kanjani abafowabo. (Math. 25:31-40) Singasekela abafowabo bakaKristu ngokubasiza ngentshiseko emsebenzini wokushumayela nokwenza abafundi. (Math. 28:18-20) Yingakho sifuna ukuwasebenzisa kahle amathuluzi okutadisha iBhayibheli esiwalungiselelwe, njengencwadi ethi Phila Kuze Kube Phakade!. Uma ungenaye umuntu omqhubela isifundo seBhayibheli, kungani ungazibekeli umgomo wokucela isifundo seBhayibheli kubantu abaningi ngangokunokwenzeka?

16. Yini esingayenza manje ukuze sizilungiselele ukuba izakhamuzi zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu?

¹⁶ Akudingeki silinde size siphile ePharadesi ngaphambi kokuba sibe abantu uJehova afuna baphile kulo. Esingakwenza manje ukuzama ukuba abantu abathembekile kwesikushoyo nesikwenzayo futhi siphile ngendlela elinganiselayo. Singaba qotho nakuJehova, kwesishade naye nakwamanye amaKristu. Uma siphila ngemithetho kaNkulunkulu manje sisaphila kuleli zwe elibi, kuyoba lula nakakhulu ukuphila ngayo ePharadesi. Singaphinde sithuthukise amakhono nezimfanelo  ezinhle ukuze sibonise ukuthi sizilungiselela ukuphila khona. Bheka isihloko esithi “Ingabe Ukulungele ‘Ukudla Ifa Lomhlaba’?” esikulo magazini.

17. Ingabe izono esazenza esikhathini esidlule kufanele zisiqede amandla? Chaza.

¹⁷ Kufanele silwe kanzima nemizwa yecala esingase sibe nayo ngenxa yezono ezinkulu esazenza esikhathini esidlule. Yiqiniso, asisoze sacabanga ukuthi umhlatshelo wesihlengo uyisizathu ‘sokwenza isono ngamabomu.’ (Heb. 10:26-31) Kodwa singaqiniseka ngokuthi uma siphenduke ngempela esonweni esikhulu, sacela usizo lukaJehova nolwabadala, sashintsha nendlela esiziphatha ngayo, uJehova usesithethelele ngokukhululekile. (Isaya 55:7, mbhw.; IzE. 3:19) Khumbula amazwi uJesu awasho kubaFarisi: “Ngizele ukuzobiza izoni, hhayi abantu abalungile.” (Math. 9:13) Umhlatshelo wesihlengo unamandla okwesula zonke izono zethu.

18. Yini ongathanda ukuyixoxa nesigebengu esabulawa kanye noJesu?

¹⁸ Ungazibona yini ngeso lengqondo usePharadesi, ukhuluma nesigebengu esasikhuluma noJesu? Akungabazeki ukuthi niyoxoxelana ukuthi niwazisa kangakanani umhlatshelo kaJesu. Ungase usicele ukuba sikutshele okwengeziwe ngokwenzeka phakathi namahora ambalwa okugcina okuphila kukaJesu emhlabeni nendlela esazizwa ngayo lapho uJesu ephendula isicelo saso. Kanti naso singase sikubuze ukuthi kwakunjani ukuphila phakathi nezinsuku zokugcina zesimiso sikaSathane. Kuyoba ilungelo elikhulu ngempela ukutadisha iZwi likaNkulunkulu nabantu abafana naleyo ndoda!​—Efe. 4:22-24.

19. Kungani kuyojabulisa ukuphila ePharadesi? (Bheka isithombe esisekhasini 1.)

¹⁹ Ukuphila ePharadesi kuyohlale kujabulisa. Kuyohlale kunabantu esiyokujabulela ukubazi nomsebenzi owanelisayo esiyowenza. Okuhle nakakhulu, usuku nosuku siyomazi kangcono uBaba wethu osezulwini, sijabulele lokho asinike kona. Ngeke siphelelwe izinto esiyozifunda ngaye futhi kuyoba kuningi esiyokufunda ngendalo yakhe. Njengoba siqhubeka siphila, siyomthanda nakakhulu uNkulunkulu. Sikwazisa ngempela ukuthi uJehova noJesu basinike ithemba lokuphila phakade ePharadesi!