1. Ungawuchaza kanjani umndeni wakubo kaJakobe?

UJAKOBE, umfowabo kaJesu, wakhulela emndenini onobuhlobo obuseduze noJehova. * Abazali bakhe, uJosefa noMariya, babemthanda kakhulu uJehova futhi benza konke okusemandleni ukuze bamkhonze. UJakobe wayenesinye isibusiso​—umfowabo omdala wayezokhula abe uMesiya othenjisiwe. KuJakobe kwakuyisibusiso ngempela ukuba ingxenye yalowo mndeni!

2. UJakobe wayenaziphi izizathu zokubheka umfowabo omdala njengesibonelo esihle?

² UJakobe wayenezizathu eziningi zokubheka umfowabo omdala njengesibonelo esihle. (Math. 13:55) Ngokwesibonelo, lapho uJesu eneminyaka engu-12, wayeyazi kahle kakhulu imiBhalo kangangokuba wamangaza amadoda amadala aseJerusalema ayeyizifundiswa. (Luka 2:46, 47) Kungenzeka ukuthi uJakobe wasebenza noJesu emsebenzini wokubaza. Uma kunjalo, cishe wayemazi kahle kakhulu umfowabo. UNathan H. Knorr wayevame ukuthi: “Ufunda okuningi ngomuntu uma usebenza naye.” * Kungenzeka uJakobe waqaphela nokuthi “uJesu waqhubeka ekhula futhi ezuza ukuhlakanipha. Wathola umusa kuNkulunkulu nakubantu.” (Luka 2:52) Lokho kungasenza sicabange ukuthi uJakobe waba omunye wabafundi bakaJesu bokuqala. Kodwa akubanga njalo.

3. UJakobe wasabela kanjani lapho uJesu eqala inkonzo yakhe?

 ³ Phakathi nenkonzo kaJesu yasemhlabeni, uJakobe akazange abe umfundi wakhe. (Joh. 7:3-5) Empeleni, kungenzeka uJakobe wayengomunye wezihlobo zikaJesu ezazicabanga ukuthi “useyahlanya.” (Marku 3:21) Akukho nokubonisa ukuthi uJakobe wayenonina, uMariya, lapho uJesu ebulawa esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa.​—Joh. 19:25-27.

4. Yiziphi izifundo esizoxoxa ngazo?

⁴ Kamuva, uJakobe waba nokholo kuJesu futhi waba ilungu elihlonishwayo lebandla lobuKristu. Kulesi sihloko, sizoxoxa ngezifundo ezimbili esingazifunda kuJakobe: (1) kungani kumelwe sihlale sithobekile nokuthi (2) singaba kanjani abafundisi abaphumelelayo?

5. Yini uJakobe ayenza lapho uJesu ovusiwe ebonakala kuye?

⁵ UJakobe waqala nini ukuba umlandeli kaJesu oqotho? Ngemva kokuvuswa kwakhe ekufeni, uJesu “wabonakala kuJakobe, kwase kuba kubo bonke abaphostoli.” (1 Kor. 15:7) Ukuphila kukaJakobe kwashintsha ngemva kwalokho. Wayekhona lapho abaphostoli besekamelweni eliphezulu eJerusalema belinde ukwamukela umoya ongcwele othenjisiwe. (IzE. 1:13, 14) Kamuva, uJakobe wajabulela ukukhonza njengelungu lendikimba ebusayo yangekhulu lokuqala. (IzE. 15:6, 13-22; Gal. 2:9) Ngemva kwesikhathi esithile ngaphambi kuka-62 C.E., waphefumulelwa ukuba abhalele amaKristu agcotshiwe incwadi. Leyo ncwadi iwusizo kithi namuhla kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sinethemba lokuphila ezulwini noma emhlabeni. (Jak. 1:1) Ngokwesazi-mlando sangekhulu lokuqala uJosephus, uJakobe wabulawa ngemva kokuba uMpristi Ophakeme ongumJuda, u-Ananiya Omncane, eyale ukuba abulawe. UJakobe wahlale ethembekile kuJehova waze waqeda inkambo yakhe yasemhlabeni.

6. UJakobe wayehluke kanjani kubaholi benkolo bangosuku lwakhe?

⁶UJakobe wayethobekile. Kungani singasho kanjalo? Cabanga ngomehluko okhona endleleni uJakobe agcina esabele ngayo kuJesu nasendleleni abaholi benkolo abaningi abasabela ngayo. Lapho uJakobe ebona ubufakazi obucacile bokuthi uJesu uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu, wabamukela ngokuthobeka. Akubanga njalo ngabapristi abakhulu baseJerusalema. Ngokwesibonelo, babengenakuphika ukuthi uJesu wayevuse uLazaru. Kunokuba  bamukele ukuthi uJesu wayengummeleli kaJehova, bazama ukumbulala yena noLazaru. (Joh. 11:53; 12:9-11) Kamuva, lapho sekunguJesu ovusiwe ekufeni, bacebisana ukuze bazame ukufihlela abantu ukuthi wayevusiwe. (Math. 28:11-15) Ukuqhosha kwalabo baholi benkolo kwabenza bamphika uMesiya.

7. Kungani kumelwe sigweme ukuqhosha?

⁷Isifundo: Gwema ukuqhosha, uzimisele ukufundiswa. Njengoba nje isifo singabangela imithambo yenhliziyo ukuba iqine, ingabe isakwazi ukushaya kahle, ukuqhosha nako kungenza inhliziyo yethu engokomfanekiso iqine, isenze singakwamukeli lokho uJehova asifundisa kona. AbaFarisi benza izinhliziyo zabo zaba lukhuni kangangokuba babenqaba ubufakazi obucacile ababebunikezwa umoya kaNkulunkulu. (Joh. 12:37-40) Kwakuyinto eyingozi leyo ngoba yayingabenza bangakutholi ukuphila okuphakade. (Math. 23:13, 33) Kubaluleke kakhulu ukuba siqhubeke sivumela iZwi likaNkulunkulu nomoya wakhe kubumbe ubuntu bethu, kushintshe indlela esicabanga ngayo nezinqumo esizenzayo. (Jak. 3:17) Ngenxa yokuthi uJakobe wayethobekile, wavumela uJehova ukuba amfundise. Njengoba sizobona, ukuthobeka kwakhe yikona okwamenza waba umfundisi onekhono.

8. Yini ezosisiza sibe abafundisi abaphumelelayo?

⁸ UJakobe wayengesona isifundiswa. Akungabazeki ukuthi abaholi benkolo bosuku lwakhe babembheka ngendlela efana naleyo ababebheka ngayo umphostoli uPetru noJohane​—‘njengabantu abangafundile nabavamile.’ (IzE. 4:13) Noma kunjalo, uJakobe wafunda ukuba umfundisi ophumelelayo, njengoba sibona lapho sifunda incwadi ebizwa ngegama lakhe. NjengoJakobe, nathi singase singabi izifundiswa. Noma kunjalo, ngosizo lomoya kaJehova nokuqeqeshwa esikuthola enhlanganweni yakhe, singaba abafundisi abaphumelelayo. Ake sifunde ngesibonelo esabekwa uJakobe njengomfundisi sibone ukuthi yiziphi izifundo esingazifunda.

9. Ungayichaza kanjani indlela uJakobe afundisa ngayo?

⁹UJakobe akazange asebenzise amagama anzima noma achaze izinto ngendlela engaqondakali. Umphumela waba ukuthi ababemlalele  babekuqonda okwakudingeka bakwenze nendlela okwakumelwe bakwenze ngayo. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngendlela elula uJakobe afundisa ngayo amaKristu ukuthi kumelwe akulungele ukubhekana nokungabi nabulungisa kodwa angabi nenzondo. Wabhala: “Sithi bayajabula labo abaye bakhuthazela. Nizwile ngokukhuthazela kukaJobe, nezwa nangesibusiso uJehova amnikeza sona, okubonisa ukuthi uJehova unothando olukhulu nesihe.” (Jak. 5:11) Phawula ukuthi uJakobe wayefundisa esebenzisa imiBhalo. Wayesebenzisa iZwi likaNkulunkulu ukuze asize izilaleli zibone ukuthi uJehova uhlale ebavuza labo abaqotho kuye njengoJobe. UJakobe wafundisa lesi sifundo ngamazwi alula futhi wabonisana nabantu ngendlela elula. Ngokwenza kanjalo, udumo waluyisa kuJehova hhayi kuye.

10. Singasilingisa kanjani isibonelo sikaJakobe lapho sifundisa?

¹⁰Isifundo: Fundisa ngendlela elula, usebenzise iZwi likaNkulunkulu. Umgomo wethu akufanele kube ukuvezela abanye ukuthi sazi kangakanani, kodwa kufanele ube ukubavezela ukuthi uJehova wazi kangakanani nokuthi ubakhathalela kangakanani. (Roma 11:33) Lokho singakwenza ngokuba ngaso sonke isikhathi sikusekele emiBhalweni konke esikushoyo. Ngokwesibonelo, kunokuba sitshele esibafundelayo ukuthi yini thina ebesingayenza ukube besisezicathulweni zabo, kufanele sisize bona bacabange ngezibonelo eziseBhayibhelini futhi baqonde indlela uJehova acabanga ngayo nazizwa ngayo. Uma senza kanjalo, bayokwenza izinqumo eziyojabulisa uJehova hhayi thina.

11. Yiziphi izinkinga amanye amaKristu ayenazo ngosuku lukaJakobe, futhi wawanikeza siphi iseluleko? (Jakobe 5:13-15)

¹¹UJakobe wayebheka isimo njengoba sinjalo. Encwadini ayibhala, kusobala ukuthi uJakobe wayezazi izinkinga ababenazo labo ayekholwa nabo futhi wabanika isiqondiso esicacile sokuthi bangazinqoba kanjani. Ngokwesibonelo, amanye amaKristu ayengasheshi ukusebenzisa iseluleko. (Jak. 1:22) Amanye ayenzelela uma kuziwa kwabacebile. (Jak. 2:1-3) Kanti amanye ayekuthola kunzima ukulawula ulimi. (Jak. 3:8-10) Lawo maKristu ayenezinkinga ezinkulu, kodwa lokho akuzange kumthene amandla uJakobe. Waweluleka ngendlela enomusa kodwa engagunci, wakhuthaza nalawo ayegula ngokomoya ukuba acele usizo olwengeziwe kubadala.​—Funda uJakobe 5:13-15.

12. Singahlala kanjani sinombono omuhle lapho sisiza esibafundela iBhayibheli?

¹²Isifundo: Bheka isimo njengoba sinjalo, kodwa ube nombono omuhle ngabanye. Abaningi esibafundela iBhayibheli bangase bakuthole kunzima ukusebenzisa iseluleko salo. (Jak. 4:1-4) Kungase kubathathe isikhathi ukuyeka imikhuba emibi, bafunde ukubonisa izimfanelo zobuKristu. NjengoJakobe, kumelwe sibe nesibindi sokutshela abantu esibafundelayo ukuthi kudingeka bathuthukise kuphi. Kudingeka sihlale sinombono omuhle, sinethemba lokuthi uJehova uzobadonsa abantu abathobekile futhi uzobanika amandla okwenza ushintsho oludingekayo ekuphileni kwabo.​—Jak. 4:10.

13. Njengoba kuboniswe kuJakobe 3:2 nasembhalweni waphansi, yini ayiqaphela uJakobe?

¹³UJakobe akazibhekanga njengongcono kunabanye. UJakobe akazange acabange ukuthi ubalulekile ngenxa yokuthi wayengumfowabo kaJesu noma ukuthi izabelo ayenazo zazimenza akhetheke noma abe ngcono kunabafowabo nodadewabo. Wabiza ayekholwa nabo ngokuthi ‘abazalwane abathandekayo.’ (Jak. 1:16, 19; 2:5) Akazange azame ukwenza abanye bacabange ukuthi wayengenawo  amaphutha. Kunalokho, wazibala naye lapho ethi: “Sonke siyawenza amaphutha.”​—Funda uJakobe 3:2, nombhalo waphansi.

14. Kungani kumelwe sizimisele ukuvuma amaphutha ethu?

¹⁴Isifundo: Khumbula ukuthi sonke siyona. Akumelwe sicabange ukuthi ngandlela-thile singcono kunalabo esibafundelayo. Kungani? Uma senza esifunda naye acabange ukuthi asinawo amaphutha, angase aphethe ngokuthi akasoze akwazi ukulalela imithetho kaNkulunkulu. Kodwa lapho sivuma ngokwethembeka ukuthi akuzange kube lula ngaso sonke isikhathi nakithi ukusebenzisa izimiso zeBhayibheli, sichaza nendlela uJehova asisize ngayo ukuba sinqobe izinkinga, siyosiza umuntu esimfundelayo abone ukuthi naye angakwazi ukukhonza uJehova.

15. Ungayichaza kanjani imifanekiso uJakobe ayisebenzisa? (Jakobe 3:2-6, 10-12)

¹⁵UJakobe wasebenzisa imifanekiso ethinta inhliziyo. Akungabazeki ukuthi umoya ongcwele wamsiza, kodwa kungenzeka nokuthi wafunda okuningi ngendlela yokufundisa ngokutadisha imifanekiso eyasetshenziswa umfowabo omdala, uJesu. Imifanekiso uJakobe ayisebenzisa encwadini yakhe ilula nendlela esebenza ngayo icacile.​—Funda uJakobe 3:2-6, 10-12.

16. Kungani kufanele sisebenzise imifanekiso efundisa kalula?

¹⁶Isifundo: Sebenzisa imifanekiso efundisa kalula. Lapho usebenzisa imifanekiso efanelekayo, wenza abantu bakubone ngeso lengqondo lokho abakuzwayo. Lokho abakubona ngeso lengqondo kubasiza bakhumbule amaqiniso eBhayibheli abalulekile. UJesu wayenekhono lokusebenzisa imifanekiso efundisa kalula futhi umfowabo uJakobe wasilandela isibonelo sakhe. Ake sihlole omunye wemifanekiso kaJakobe, sibone ukuthi kungani unezifundo eziqondakala kalula kangaka.

17. Kungani umfanekiso okuJakobe 1:22-25 ufundisa kalula kangaka?

¹⁷ Funda uJakobe 1:22-25. Umfanekiso kaJakobe wesibuko uyafundisa ngenxa yezizathu eziningana. Wayefundisa isifundo esithile, esiwukuthi ukuze sizuze eZwini likaNkulunkulu kumelwe senze okungaphezu kokulifunda; kumelwe sikwenze esikufundayo. UJakobe wasebenzisa umfanekiso izilaleli zakhe ezazingawuqonda kalula​—umuntu ozibuka esibukweni. Yisiphi  isifundo ayesifundisa? Kungaba ubuwula uma umuntu engazibuka esibukweni, abone okuthile angakulungisa, kodwa angakulungisi. Ngendlela efanayo, kungaba ubuwula uma singafunda iZwi likaNkulunkulu, sibone okuthile okudingeka sikushintshe ebuntwini bethu, kodwa singenzi lutho ngakho.

18. Yiziphi izinto ezintathu okumelwe sizenze lapho sisebenzisa umfanekiso?

¹⁸ Lapho usebenzisa umfanekiso, ungalingisa isibonelo sikaJakobe ngokwenza lezi zinto ezintathu: (1) Qiniseka ukuthi umfanekiso uyahlobana nephuzu olifundisayo. (2) Sebenzisa umfanekiso izilaleli zakho ezingawuqonda kalula. (3) Yenze icace indlela umfanekiso osebenza ngayo. Uma kunzima ukucabanga umfanekiso ohlobana nephuzu olifundisayo, bheka i-Watch Tower Publications Index. Ngaphansi kwesihloko esithi “Illustrations,” uyothola inqwaba yemifanekiso ongayisebenzisa. Nokho, khumbula ukuthi imifanekiso ifana nombhobho​—izokwenza iphuzu lakho lizwakale ngokucacile. Ngakho, qiniseka ukuthi wenza umfanekiso okhanyisa kuphela amaphuzu ayinhloko. Yiqiniso ukuthi isizathu esibaluleke kakhulu esenza sifune ukuthuthukisa ikhono lethu lokufundisa, siwukusiza abantu abaningi ngangokunokwenzeka babe ingxenye yomndeni kaJehova ojabulayo, hhayi ukufuna ukunconywa.

19. Sibonisa kanjani ukuthi siyawazisa umndeni wethu ongokomoya?

¹⁹ Thina asibanga nelungelo lokukhula sinomfowethu omdala ongenasono, kodwa sinalo ilungelo lokukhonza uJehova nomndeni omkhulu wabafowethu nodadewethu abangamaKristu. Sibonisa ukuthi siyabathanda ngokuchitha isikhathi nabo, ngokufunda kubo, nangokusebenza nabo ngobuqotho nangobunye emsebenzini wokushumayela nokufundisa. Lapho silwa kanzima ukuze silingise isibonelo sikaJakobe endleleni esicabanga ngayo, esiziphatha ngayo nasendleleni esifundisa ngayo, sidumisa uJehova futhi sisiza abanezinhliziyo eziqotho basondele kuBaba wethu osezulwini onothando.