1-2. (a) Kunini lapho sikhumbula khona kakhulu umuntu esimthandayo owashona? (b) Yini uJesu ayimisa ngobusuku bangaphambi kokufa kwakhe?

KUNGAKHATHALISEKI ukuthi abantu esibathandayo sebenesikhathi esingakanani bashona, sisabakhumbula. Ngosuku abashona ngalo sivame ukucabanga kakhulu ngabo.

² Unyaka ngamunye siba ingxenye yezigidi ezihlangana ndawonye emhlabeni wonke ngosuku okwafa ngalo umuntu esimthanda kakhulu​—uJesu Kristu. (1 Pet. 1:8) Siyahlangana ukuze sikhumbule umuntu owanikela ngokuphila kwakhe kwaba isihlengo ukuze sikhululwe esonweni nasekufeni. (Math. 20:28) Empeleni, uJesu wayefuna abalandeli bakhe bakhumbule ukufa kwakhe. Ngobusuku bangaphambi kokufa kwakhe, wamisa isidlo sakusihlwa esikhethekile, wayesesho lo myalo: “Qhubekani nikwenza lokhu ningikhumbula.” *​—Luka 22:19.

3. Sizoxoxa ngani kulesi sihloko?

³ Idlanzana lalabo ababa khona eSikhumbuzweni sokufa kukaKristu linethemba lokuphila ezulwini. Kodwa ziba khona nezigidi ezinethemba lokuphila emhlabeni. Kulesi sihloko, sizoxoxa ngezizathu ezenza la maqembu womabili abantu abe magange ukuba khona eSikhumbuzweni unyaka nonyaka. Sizohlola nokuthi thina sizuza kanjani ngokuba khona. Ake siqale sixoxe ngezizathu ezenza abagcotshiwe babe khona.

4. Kungani abagcotshiwe bedla isinkwa baphuze newayini eSikhumbuzweni?

⁴ Unyaka nonyaka abagcotshiwe balangazelela ukuba khona eSikhumbuzweni njengabahlanganyela ekudleni izifanekiselo. Kungani bedla isinkwa futhi bephuza newayini? Ukuze uthole impendulo, cabanga ngalokho okwenzeka ngobusuku bokugcina bokuphila kukaJesu esemhlabeni. Ngemva kwesidlo sePhasika, uJesu wamisa lokho manje okwaziwa ngokuthi iSidlo SeNkosi Sakusihlwa. Wadlulisa isinkwa newayini kubaphostoli bakhe abangu-11 abathembekile, wabatshela ukuba badle futhi baphuze. UJesu wakhuluma nabo ngezivumelwano ezimbili​—isivumelwano esisha nesivumelwano soMbuso. * (Luka 22:19, 20, 28-30) Lezo zivumelwano zavulela abaphostoli nabanye abambalwa ithuba lokuba babe amakhosi nabapristi ezulwini. (IsAm. 5:10; 14:1) Ngabagcotshiwe abasele kuphela, * abakulezi zivumelwano ezimbili, abangadla isinkwa newayini eSikhumbuzweni.

5. Yini abagcotshiwe abayaziyo ngethemba abalinikeziwe?

⁵ Nasi esinye isizathu esenza abagcotshiwe bakulangazelele ukuba khona eSikhumbuzweni: Lesi senzakalo sibanika ithuba lokucabanga ngethemba labo. UJehova ubanike ithemba elimangalisayo​—ukujabulela ukuphila okuphakade okungonakalisiwe ezulwini, ukukhonza noJesu Kristu okhazinyulisiwe nabangu-144 000, okukhulu kunakho konke, ukuba phambi kukaJehova uNkulunkulu uqobo! (1 Kor. 15:51-53; 1 Joh. 3:2) Abagcotshiwe bayazi ukuthi bamenyelwe ukuba bajabulele lawo malungelo ezulwini. Kodwa ukuze bawuthole umvuzo wabo wasezulwini, kumelwe bahlale bethembekile baze bafe. (2 Thim. 4:7, 8) Kubathokozisa kakhulu abagcotshiwe ukucabanga ngethemba labo lasezulwini. (Thithu 2:13) Kuthiwani ‘ngezinye izimvu’? (Joh. 10:16) Yiziphi ezinye zezizathu ezenza zibe khona eSikhumbuzweni?

6. Kungani ezinye izimvu ziba khona eSikhumbuzweni unyaka nonyaka?

⁶ Ezinye izimvu ziba khona eSikhumbuzweni njengezibukeli, azihlanganyeli ekudleni izifanekiselo. Ngo-1938, labo abanethemba lokuphila emhlabeni bamenywa okokuqala ukuba babe khona eSikhumbuzweni. INqabayokulinda kaMashi 1, 1938, yathi: “Kuyinto enhle nefanelekayo ukuba [ezinye izimvu] zibe khona kulo mhlangano zibukele okwenziwayo. . . . Kufanele ube isikhathi sokujabula, nazo kufanele zijabule.” Njengezimenywa ezikujabulelayo ukuba khona emshadweni, nezinye izimvu ziyakujabulela ukuba khona eSikhumbuzweni njengezibukeli.

7. Kungani ezinye izimvu zilangazelela ukulalela inkulumo yeSikhumbuzo?

⁷ Ezinye izimvu nazo zicabanga ngethemba lazo. Ziyayilangazelela inkulumo yeSikhumbuzo ngoba isuke igxile kakhulu kulokho uKristu nalabo azobusa nabo abangu-144 000 abayokwenzela abantu abathembekile phakathi nokuBusa Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane. Beholwa iNkosi yabo uJesu Kristu, labo babusi basezulwini bayosiza ekwenzeni umhlaba ube ipharadesi futhi baqede isono kubantu abalalelayo. Kuzijabulisa kakhulu izigidi zalabo ababa izibukeli eSikhumbuzweni ukubona ngeso lengqondo ukugcwaliseka  kweziprofetho zeBhayibheli ezinjengalezo eziku-Isaya 35:5, 6; 65:21-23; nesAmbulo 21:3, 4. Ngokuzibona ngeso lengqondo zona nabantu ezibathandayo bekulelo zwe elisha, benza liqine ithemba labo lekusasa nokuzimisela kwabo ukungalokothi bayeke ukukhonza uJehova.​—Math. 24:13; Gal. 6:9.

8. Yisiphi esinye isizathu esenza ezinye izimvu zibe khona eSikhumbuzweni?

⁸ Cabanga nangesinye isizathu esenza ezinye izimvu zibe khona eSikhumbuzweni. Zifuna ukubonisa ukuthi ziyabathanda futhi ziyabasekela abagcotshiwe. IZwi likaNkulunkulu labikezela ukuthi kwakuyoba nobuhlobo obuseduze phakathi kwabagcotshiwe nabanethemba lokuphila emhlabeni. Kanjani? Ake sixoxe ngezibonelo ezimbalwa.

9. Isiprofetho esikuZakariya 8:23 sibonisani ngendlela ezinye izimvu ezizizwa ngayo ngabagcotshiwe?

⁹ Funda uZakariya 8:23. Lesi siprofetho siyichaza kamnandi indlela ezinye izimvu ezizizwa ngayo ngabafowabo nodadewabo abagcotshiwe. Inkulumo ethi “umJuda” nethi “nani” ibhekisela eqenjini elilodwa​—abagcotshiwe abasele. (Roma 2:28, 29) “Amadoda ayishumi avela kuzo zonke izilimi zezizwe” amelela ezinye izimvu. ‘Abamba’ abagcotshiwe​—noma azihlanganisa ngobuqotho nabo—​ahlanganyele nabo ekukhulekeleni ngendlela emsulwa. Ngakho, ezinye izimvu zibonisa ukuthi zisondelene eduze nabagcotshiwe ngokuba kanye nabo ngobusuku beSikhumbuzo.

10. Yini uJehova ayenzile ukuze kugcwaliseke isiprofetho esikuHezekeli 37:15-19, 24, 25?

¹⁰ Funda uHezekeli 37:15-19, 24, 25. Ukuze agcwalise lesi siprofetho, uJehova uhlanganise abagcotshiwe nezinye izimvu ndawonye esibophweni esingagqashuki sobunye. Lesi siprofetho sikhuluma ngezinduku ezimbili. Labo abanethemba lokuphila ezulwini bafana nenduku okuthiwa “ngekaJuda” (isizwe amakhosi akwa-Israyeli ayekhethwa kuso), abanethemba lokuphila emhlabeni bafana nenduku “ka-Efrayimi.” * UJehova wayeyowahlanganisa la maqembu amabili ukuze abe “induku eyodwa.” Lokhu kusho ukuthi akhonza ngobunye ngaphansi kweNkosi yawo eyodwa, uKristu Jesu. Unyaka ngamunye, abagcotshiwe nezinye izimvu baba khona eSikhumbuzweni, hhayi njengamaqembu amabili angafani, kodwa ‘njengomhlambi’ owodwa ongaphansi ‘kukamalusi’ oyedwa.​—Joh. 10:16.

11. “Izimvu” okukhulunywa ngazo kuMathewu 25:31-36, 40 zibasekela kanjani ngokuyinhloko abafowabo bakaKristu?

¹¹ Funda uMathewu 25:31-36, 40. “Izimvu” okukhulunywa ngazo kulo mfanekiso zimelela abalungile esikhathini sokuphela abanethemba lokuphila emhlabeni​—okungezinye izimvu. Zisekela abasele babafowabo bakaKristu abagcotshwe ngomoya ngokuyinhloko ngokubasiza bafeze umsebenzi omkhulu​—umsebenzi wokushumayela nokwenza abafundi emhlabeni wonke.​—Math. 24:14; 28:19, 20.

12-13. Yiziphi ezinye izindlela ezinye izimvu ezisekela ngazo abafowabo bakaKristu?

¹² Minyaka yonke, emavikini andulela iSikhumbuzo, ezinye izimvu zibonisa ukuthi ziyabasekela abafowabo bakaKristu ngokuhlanganyela ngokugcwele emkhankasweni womhlaba wonke wokumema abanesifiso sokuba khona eSikhumbuzweni ukuba babe khona. (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “ Ingabe Uyihlelela Kusenesikhathi Inkathi YeSikhumbuzo?”) Ziphinde zisize ekwenzeni izinhlelo ezidingekayo  ukuze iSikhumbuzo senziwe kuwo wonke amabandla emhlabeni, ngisho noma amabandla amaningi engenabo abadla izifanekiselo. Ezinye izimvu ziyakujabulela ukusekela abafowabo bakaKristu ngalezi zindlela. Lezi zimvu ziyazi ukuthi uJesu ubheka lokho ezikwenzela abafowabo abagcotshiwe njengokungathi zikwenzela yena uqobo.​—Math. 25:37-40.

¹³ Yiziphi ezinye izizathu ezenza sibe khona eSikhumbuzweni kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sinaliphi ithemba?

14. UJehova noJesu basibonise kanjani uthando olukhulu?

¹⁴Siyabonga ngothando uJehova noJesu abasibonise lona. UJehova usibonise uthando lwakhe ngezindlela eziningi, kodwa iyodwa evelele kunazo zonke. UNkulunkulu wethu wabonisa uthando olukhulu olungenabugovu ngokuthumela iNdodana yakhe eyigugu ukuba izohlupheka futhi ife ngenxa yethu. (Joh. 3:16) Siyaqaphela nokuthi uJesu naye wabonisa uthando olukhulu ngokunikela ngokuphila kwakhe ngokuzithandela ngenxa yethu. (Joh. 15:13) Asisoze sakwazi ukukhokhela uJehova noJesu ngothando abasibonise lona. Kodwa singabonisa ukubonga ngendlela esiphila ngayo usuku ngalunye. (Kol. 3:15) Siba khona naseSikhumbuzweni ukuze sikhumbule indlela abasithanda ngayo, nathi sibabonise indlela esibathanda ngayo.

15. Kungani abagcotshiwe nezinye izimvu besazisa kangaka isipho sesihlengo?

¹⁵Siyasazisa kakhulu isipho sesihlengo. (Math. 20:28) Abagcotshiwe babheka isihlengo njengesiyigugu ngoba senza bakwazi ukuba nethemba elimangalisayo. Ngenxa yokholo lwabo emhlatshelweni kaKristu, uJehova uthe balungile futhi wabamukela njengabantwana bakhe bokutholwa. (Roma 5:1; 8:15-17, 23) Ezinye izimvu nazo ziyasazisa isihlengo. Ngenxa yokholo lwazo egazini likaKristu elachitheka, zinokuma okuhle phambi kukaNkulunkulu, zinganikela kuye inkonzo engcwele futhi zinethemba lokusinda “osizini olukhulu.” (IsAm. 7:13-15) Enye indlela abagcotshiwe nezinye izimvu ababonisa ngayo ukuthi bayabonga ngesihlengo ukuba khona eSikhumbuzweni unyaka nonyaka.

16. Yisiphi esinye isizathu esenza sibe khona eSikhumbuzweni?

¹⁶ Esinye isizathu esenza sibe khona eSikhumbuzweni ukuthi sifuna ukulalela uJesu. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sinaliphi ithemba ngekusasa, siyawulalela umyalo uJesu awukhipha ngobusuku amisa ngabo iSikhumbuzo, othi: “Qhubekani nikwenza lokhu ningikhumbula.”​—1 Kor. 11:23, 24.

17. ISikhumbuzo sisisiza kanjani sisondele nakakhulu kuJehova?

¹⁷Kusisondeza nakakhulu kuJehova. (Jak. 4:8) Njengoba sifundile, iSikhumbuzo sisinika ithuba lokucabanga ngethemba esilinikezwe uJehova nelokuzindla ngothando olukhulu asibonise lona. (Jer. 29:11; 1 Joh. 4:8-10) Lapho sizindla ngethemba lethu eliqinisekisiwe ngekusasa nangothando lukaNkulunkulu olungapheli, simthanda nakakhulu uJehova siqinise nobungane bethu naye.​—Roma 8:38, 39.

18. Ukuzindla ngesibonelo sikaJesu kusenza senzeni?

¹⁸Kusenza silingise isibonelo sikaJesu. (1 Pet. 2:21) Ezinsukwini ezandulela iSikhumbuzo, sigxila ekulandiseni kweBhayibheli okukhuluma ngesonto lokugcina likaJesu esemhlabeni, ekufeni kwakhe nasekuvusweni kwakhe. Ngobusuku beSikhumbuzo,  inkulumo ibe isisikhumbuza indlela uJesu asithanda ngayo. (Efe. 5:2; 1 Joh. 3:16) Lapho sifunda ngesibonelo sikaJesu sokuzidela futhi sizindla ngaso, sizizwa sinesibopho ‘sokuqhubeka sihamba njengoba nje lowo ahamba.’​—1 Joh. 2:6.

19. Singahlala kanjani sisothandweni lukaNkulunkulu?

¹⁹Kusenza sizimisele nakakhulu ukuhlala sisothandweni lukaNkulunkulu. (Jude 20, 21) Sihlala othandweni lukaNkulunkulu ngokwenza konke esingakwenza ukuze simlalele, singcwelise igama lakhe futhi senza inhliziyo yakhe ijabule. (IzAga 27:11; Math. 6:9; 1 Joh. 5:3) ISikhumbuzo sisenza sizimisele nakakhulu ukuphila usuku ngalunye ngendlela ethi kuJehova: ‘Ngifuna ukuhlala othandweni lwakho kuze kube phakade!’

20. Yiziphi izizathu ezinhle zokuba sibe khona eSikhumbuzweni?

²⁰ Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sinethemba lokuphila phakade ezulwini noma emhlabeni, sinezizathu ezinhle zokuba khona eSikhumbuzweni. Unyaka ngamunye lapho sihlangana ndawonye ngalolo suku, sikhumbula ukufa komuntu esimthandayo, uJesu Kristu. Ngaphezu kwakho konke, sikhumbula isenzo sothando esikhulu kunazo zonke​—uthando uJehova asibonisa lona ngokunikela ngeNdodana yakhe ukuba ibe isihlengo. Kulo nyaka iSikhumbuzo sizoba kusihlwa ngoLwesihlanu, Ephreli 15, 2022. Siyamthanda uJehova neNdodana yakhe, ngakho ngosuku uJesu afa ngalo, ayikho into ebaluleke ukwedlula ukuba sibe khona eSikhumbuzweni.