1, 2. (a) Yini uJesu ayitshela abafundi bakhe ngaphambi nje kokuba afe? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.) (b) Kungani kubalulekile ukukhumbula izizathu zokushumayela? (c) Yini esizoxoxa ngayo?

KUSIHLWA ngosuku lokugcina ngaphambi kokuba afe, uJesu wakhuluma isikhathi eside nabaphostoli bakhe ebaqinisekisa ngokuthi ubathanda ngokujulile. Wabatshela nangomfanekiso womvini esikhulume ngawo esihlokweni esidlule. Ngalo mfanekiso, uJesu wakhuthaza abafundi bakhe ukuba ‘baqhubeke bethela izithelo’—ukuba bashumayele izindaba zoMbuso ngokukhuthazela.—Joh. 15:8.

² Nokho, uJesu akagcinanga nje ngokutshela abafundi bakhe ukuthi yini okufanele bayenze kodwa wabatshela nokuthi kungani kufanele bayenze. Wabatshela izizathu zokwenza umsebenzi wokushumayela. Kungani kubalulekile ngathi ukucabanga ngalezo zizathu? Lapho sikhumbula izizathu ezenza kudingeke siqhubeke sishumayela, sishukumiseleka ukuba sikhuthazele njengoba sinikeza ‘ubufakazi ezizweni zonke.’ (Math. 24:13, 14) Ngakho, ake sihlole izizathu ezine ezingokomBhalo ezisenza sishumayele. Ngaphezu kwalokho, sizobe sesixoxa ngezipho ezine ezivela kuJehova ezisisiza sithele izithelo ngokukhuthazela.

3. (a) Yisiphi isizathu sokushumayela esisithola kuJohane 15:8? (b) Amelelani amagilebhisi asemfanekisweni kaJesu futhi kungani lokhu kuqhathanisa kufaneleka?

³ Isizathu esiyinhloko esenza sishumayele, ukukhazimulisa uJehova nokungcwelisa igama lakhe. (Funda uJohane 15:1, 8.) Phawula ukuthi uJesu wafanisa uYise, uJehova, nomlimi wamagilebhisi. Yena wazifanisa nomvini, abalandeli bakhe wabafanisa namagatsha. (Joh. 15:5) Ngakho, amagilebhisi asifanekisela kahle isithelo soMbuso esivezwa abalandeli bakaKristu. UJesu watshela abaphostoli bakhe: “UBaba uyakhazinyuliswa ngalokhu, ukuba niqhubeke nithela izithelo eziningi.” Njengoba isivini esithela amagilebhisi amahle siletha udumo kumlimi, nathi siletha udumo noma sikhazimulisa uJehova lapho sizikhandla ukuze sishumayele izindaba zoMbuso.—Math. 25:20-23.

4. (a) Igama likaNkulunkulu silingcwelisa ngaziphi izindlela? (b) Uzizwa kanjani ngokuba nelungelo lokungcwelisa igama likaNkulunkulu?

⁴ Umsebenzi wethu wokushumayela ulingcwelisa kanjani igama likaNkulunkulu? Ngeke sikwazi ukwenza igama likaNkulunkulu libe ngcwele ngaphezu kwalokho eliyikho. Kakade lingcwele ngomqondo ophelele. Nokho, phawula lokho okwashiwo umprofethi u-Isaya, wathi: “UJehova wamabutho—nguYe okufanele nimphathe njengongcwele.” (Isaya 8:13) Enye yezindlela esilingcwelisa ngayo igama likaNkulunkulu ukuliphatha njengelihlukile kuwo wonke amanye amagama nangokusiza abanye baliphathe njengelingcwele. (Math. 6:9) Ngokwesibonelo, lapho sitshela abantu iqiniso ngobuntu bukaJehova obuhle nangenjongo yakhe engenakushintsha ngesintu, sisuke sivikela igama likaNkulunkulu emangeni kaSathane nasekunyundeleni kwakhe. (Gen. 3:1-5) Nalapho sizikhandla ukuze sisize abantu abasensimini yethu babone ukuthi uJehova uyakufanelekela “ukwamukela inkazimulo nodumo namandla,” sisuke singcwelisa igama laKhe. (IsAm. 4:11) URune osephayone iminyaka engu-16 uthi: “Kuyangiyajabulisa ukwazi ukuthi nginikwe ithuba lokufakaza ngoMdali wamazulu nomhlaba. Lokhu kungenza ngifise ukuqhubeka ngishumayela.”

5. (a) Yisiphi isizathu sokushumayela esikuJohane 15:9, 10? (b) UJesu wasigcizelela kanjani isidingo sokukhuthazela?

⁵ Funda uJohane 15:9, 10. Isizathu esibalulekile esenza sishumayele izindaba zoMbuso ukuthi sithanda uJehova noJesu ngokusuka enhliziyweni. (Marku 12:30; Joh. 14:15) UJesu akazange nje athi abafundi mababe sothandweni lwakhe kodwa wathi ‘mabahlale othandweni lwakhe.’ Kungani? Ngoba ukuphila nsuku zonke njengomfundi kaKristu kudinga ukukhuthazela. UJesu wagcizelela isidingo sokukhuthazela ngokusebenzisa igama elithi “hlalani” ngokuphindaphindiwe emazwini akhe alotshwe kuJohane 15:4-10.

6. Sibonisa kanjani ukuthi sifuna ukuhlala othandweni lukaKristu?

⁶ Sibonisa kanjani ukuthi sifuna ukuhlala sisothandweni lukaKristu futhi sihlale samukeleka kuye? Ngokulalela imiyalo kaJesu. Kalula nje, uJesu uthi kithi, ‘Ngilaleleni.’ UJesu usicela ukuba senze lokho naye akwenza, ngoba wenezela: “Njengoba nje nami ngiye ngagcina imiyalo kaBaba futhi ngihlala othandweni lwakhe.” UJesu wasibekela isibonelo.—Joh. 13:15.

7. Ukulalela nothando kuhlobene kanjani?

⁷ Ngokuphathelene nokuhlobana okukhona phakathi kokulalela nothando, uJesu wathi kubaphostoli bakhe: “Lowo onemiyalo yami futhi oyigcinayo, lowo nguye ongithandayo.” (Joh. 14:21) Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngokulalela umyalo kaJesu wokushumayela,  nathi sibonisa ukuthi siyamthanda uNkulunkulu ngoba imiyalo kaJesu isibonisa indlela uYise acabanga ngayo. (Math. 17:5; Joh. 8:28) Lapho sibonisa ukuthi siyabathanda, uJehova noJesu basigcina othandweni lwabo.

8, 9. (a) Yisiphi esinye isizathu esinaso sokushumayela? (b) Kungani amazwi kaJehova asencwadini kaHezekeli 3:18, 19 no-18:23 esishukumisela ukuba siqhubeke sishumayela?

⁸ Sinesinye isizathu esisenza siqhubeke nomsebenzi wethu wokushumayela. Sishumayela ukuze sixwayise abantu. EBhayibhelini uNowa ubizwa ngokuthi “umshumayeli.” (Funda eyesi-2 Petru 2:5.) Umsebenzi wakhe wokushumayela ngaphambi kukaZamcolo wawuxwayisa ngembhubhiso ezayo. Kungani sisho kanjalo? Phawula lokho uJesu akusho: “Ngoba njengoba babenjalo ngalezo zinsuku zangaphambi kukazamcolo, bedla, bephuza, amadoda eshada nabesifazane bendiswa, kwaze kwaba usuku uNowa angena ngalo emkhunjini; futhi benganakanga kwaze kwafika uzamcolo, wabakhukhula bonke, kuyoba njalo nokuba khona kweNdodana yomuntu.” (Math. 24:38, 39) Nakuba abantu babengamnaki, ngokwethembeka uNowa washumayela izindaba eziyisixwayiso ayethunywe ukuba azimemezele.

⁹ Namuhla sishumayela izindaba zoMbuso ukuze sinikeze abantu ithuba lokufunda ngentando kaNkulunkulu ngesintu. NjengoJehova, sifisa ngempela ukuba abantu bawulalele umyalezo wethu ukuze ‘baqhubeke bephila.’ (Hez. 18:23) Ngesikhathi esifanayo, lapho sishumayela endlini ngendlu nasezindaweni zomphakathi, sixwayisa abantu abaningi ngangokunokwenzeka ngokuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uzofika futhi ubhubhise leli zwe elingamkhonzi uNkulunkulu.—Hez. 3:18, 19; Dan. 2:44; IsAm. 14:6, 7.

10. (a) Yisiphi isizathu sokushumayela okukhulunywa ngaso kuMathewu 22:39? (b) Chaza indlela uPawulu noSila abasiza ngayo umgcini jele eFilipi.

¹⁰ Nasi esinye isizathu esibalulekile sokuqhubeka sishumayela: Sishumayela ngoba siyabathanda omakhelwane bethu. (Math. 22:39) Sishukunyiswa yilolo thando ukuba sikhuthazele kulo msebenzi, siqaphela ukuthi abantu bangase bashintshe lapho izimo zabo zishintsha. Cabanga ngalokho okwenzeka kumphostoli uPawulu nakulowo ayehamba naye uSila. Edolobheni laseFilipi, abaphikisi babavalela ejele. Ngemva kwalokho, ezinzulwini zobusuku kwazamazama umhlaba ngokungazelelwe, ijele lonke landindizela kwabe sekuvuleka iminyango. Kwase kusele kancane ukuba umgcini jele azibulale esaba ukuthi iziboshwa zibalekile. Kodwa uPawulu wamemeza wathi: “Ungazilimazi!” Umgcini jele owayecindezelekile wabuza: “Yini okumelwe ngiyenze ukuze ngisindiswe.” Bathi kuye: “Kholwa yiNkosi uJesu khona-ke uzosindiswa.”—IzE. 16:25-34.

11, 12. (a) Indaba yomgcini jele ihlobana kanjani nenkonzo yethu? (b) Sifuna ukuhlala silungele ukwenzani?

¹¹ Indaba yomgcini jele ihlobana kanjani nomsebenzi wokushumayela? Phawula lokhu: Umbono womgcini jele washintsha wabe esecela usizo ngemva kokuzamazama komhlaba. Ngendlela efanayo namuhla,  umbono wabantu abangakaze basabele emyalezweni weBhayibheli, ungashintsha bese becela usizo lapho behlelwa izinto ezifana nokuzamazama komhlaba ezishintsha ukuphila kwabo. Ngokwesibonelo, abanye ensimini yethu kungenzeka balahlekelwe umsebenzi wokuziphilisa ngokungazelelwe okungabashiya beshaqekile. Abanye kungenzeka bahlukumezekile ngemva kokuhlukana nomuntu abashade naye. Kanti abanye kungenzeka baphelelwe amandla ngemva kokuthola ukuthi baphethwe yisifo esisongela ukuphila, noma basezwa ubuhlungu ngemva kokushonelwa umuntu abamthandayo. Lapho kwenzeka izinto ezinjalo, abantu abacindezelekile bangase bazibuze imibuzo ngenjongo yokuphila okungenzeka ukuthi esikhathini esidlule bebengazihluphi ngayo. Mhlawumbe bazibuza nokuthi, ‘Yini okumelwe ngiyenze ukuze ngisindiswe?’ Lapho sihlangana nabo bangase bafune ukulalela umyalezo wethu wenduduzo okokuqala ngqa ekuphileni kwabo.

¹² Ngakho, ngokuqhubeka sishumayela ngokwethembeka, sihlale sikulungele ukududuza abantu ngesikhathi abakulungele ukududuzwa ngaso. (Isaya 61:1) UCharlotte osekuphele iminyaka engu-38 esenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele uthi: “Abantu namuhla bakhungethwe yizinkinga. Badinga ukuzwa izindaba ezinhle.” U-Ejvor osephayone iminyaka engu-34 uthi: “Namuhla, abantu abaningi badangele kunanini ngaphambili. Ngifuna ukubasiza ngempela. Lokho kungishukumisela ukuba ngishumayele.” Ukuthanda umakhelwane—lesi yisizathu esihle ngempela sokuqhubeka nenkonzo yethu!

13, 14. (a) Yisiphi isipho okukhulunywa ngaso kuJohane 15:11? (b) Injabulo kaJesu iyoba kanjani eyethu? (c) Injabulo iyithinta kanjani inkonzo yethu?

¹³ Kusihlwa ngosuku lokugcina ngaphambi kokuba afe, uJesu waphinde watshela abaphostoli bakhe ngezipho eziningana ezazizobasiza bakhuthazele njengoba bethela izithelo. Ziyini lezi zipho futhi zisizuzisa kanjani?

¹⁴ Isipho esiyinjabulo. Ingabe ukulalela umyalo kaJesu wokushumayela kuwumthwalo? Cha. Ngemva kokusho umfanekiso wakhe womvini, uJesu wathi njengoba sishumayela ngoMbuso siyothola injabulo. (Funda uJohane 15:11.) Empeleni, wasiqinisekisa ngokuthi injabulo yakhe iyoba injabulo yethu. Kanjani? Njengoba kubonisiwe ekuqaleni, uJesu wazifanisa nomvini, abafundi bakhe wabafanisa namagatsha. Umvini usekela amagatsha. Uma nje amagatsha exhumene nomvini, athola amanzi nomsoco osuka emvinini. Ngendlela efanayo, uma sihlala simunye noKristu ngokulandela izinyathelo zakhe eduze, sithola injabulo efana naleyo ayithola ngokwenza intando kaYise. (Joh. 4:34; 17:13; 1 Pet. 2:21) UHanne osekuphele iminyaka engu-40 ephayona uthi, “Injabulo engiba nayo njalo ngemva kokushumayela ingikhuthaza ukuba ngiqhubeke enkonzweni kaJehova.” Ngempela, injabulo isinika amandla okuqhubeka sishumayela ngisho nasemasimini alukhuni.—Math. 5:10-12.

15. (a) Yisiphi isipho okukhulunywa ngaso kuJohane 14:27? (b) Ukuthula kusisiza kanjani ukuba siqhubeke sithela izithelo?

¹⁵ Isipho esiwukuthula. (Funda uJohane 14:27.) Kusihlwa ngosuku lokugcina ngaphambi kokuba afe, uJesu wathi kubafundi bakhe: “Ngininika ukuthula kwami.” Lesi sipho—ukuthula—sisisiza kanjani sithele izithelo? Njengoba sikhuthazela, siba nokuthula okuhlala njalo okusenza sazi ukuthi uJehova noJesu bayasamukela. (IHu. 149:4; Roma 5:3, 4; Kol. 3:15) U-Ulf osekuphele iminyaka engu-45 esenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele uthi, “Umsebenzi wokushumayela uyakhandla kodwa ungenza nganeliseke futhi unginika injongo yangempela  ekuphileni.” Sibonga ngempela ngokubusiswa ngokuthula kwangaphakathi okuhlala njalo.

16. (a) Yisiphi isipho okukhulunywa ngaso kuJohane 15:15? (b) Yini abaphostoli ababengayenza ukuze bahlale bengabangane bakaJesu?

¹⁶ Isipho sokuba nomngane. Ngemva kokuba uJesu esho isifiso sakhe sokuba injabulo yabaphostoli yenziwe “igcwale,” wabachazela ukubaluleka kokubonisa uthando lokuzidela. (Joh. 15:11-13) Ngemva kwalokho wathi: “Nginibizé ngokuthi ningabangane.” Lesi yisipho esiyigugu ngempela—ukuba umngane kaJesu. Yini abaphostoli okwakudingeka bayenze ukuze bahlale bengabangane bakhe? Kwakudingeka ‘baqhubeke bethela izithelo.’ (Funda uJohane 15:14-16.) Eminyakeni emibili edlule, uJesu wayala abaphostoli bakhe wathi: “Njengoba nihamba, nishumayele, nithi, ‘Umbuso wamazulu ususondele.’” (Math. 10:7) Ngakho, ngalolo suku lokugcina kusihlwa, wabakhuthaza ukuba bakhuthazele emsebenzini ababewuqalile. (Math. 24:13; Marku 3:14) Ukulalela umyalo kaJesu kwakunzima kodwa babengaphumelela, ngaleyo ndlela bahlale bengabangane bakhe. Kanjani? Ngosizo lwesinye isipho.

17, 18. (a) Yisiphi isipho okukhulunywa ngaso kuJohane 15:16? (b) Leso sipho singabasiza kanjani abafundi bakaJesu? (c) Yiziphi izipho ezisiqinisayo namuhla?

¹⁷ Isipho sokuphendulwa kwemithandazo. UJesu wathi: “Noma yini eniyicela kuBaba egameni lami [uyoninika] yona.” (Joh. 15:16) Kumelwe ukuba lesi sithembiso sabaqinisa ngempela abaphostoli! * Abaphostoli abazange baqonde ukuthi uJesu wayezofa maduze; kodwa ukufa kwakhe kwakungachazi ukuthi bazoshiywa dengwane. UJehova wayekulungele ukuphendula imithandazo yabo nokubasiza emsebenzini wabo wokushumayela. Nangempela, ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho bayibona indlela uJehova ayiphendula ngayo imithandazo yabo.—IzE. 4:29, 31.

¹⁸ Kwenzeka okufanayo nanamuhla. Njengoba sikhuthazela ekutheleni izithelo, sijabulela ukuba abangane bakaJesu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, singaqiniseka ngokuthi uJehova ukulungele ukuphendula imithandazo yethu lapho sicela ukuba asisize sinqobe izinselele esingase sihlangabezane nazo njengoba sishumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso. (Fil. 4:13) Ave sijabula ngesibusiso esiwukuphendulwa kwemithandazo nesokuba abangane bakaJesu! Lezi zipho ezivela kuJehova ziyasiqinisa ukuze siqhubeke sithela izithelo.—Jak. 1:17.

19. (a) Kungani siqhubeka senza umsebenzi wokushumayela? (b) Yini esisiza sifeze umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu?

¹⁹ Njengoba sibonile kulesi sihloko, siyaqhubeka sishumayela ukuze sikhazimulise uJehova futhi singcwelise igama lakhe, ukuze sibonise ukuthi sithanda uJehova noJesu, ukuze sixwayise abantu, sibonise nokuthi siyabathanda omakhelwane bethu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, isipho senjabulo, sokuthula, esokuba nomngane, nesokuphendulwa kwemithandazo siyasiqinisa ukuze sifeze umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu. UJehova uyajabula ngempela lapho esibona senza konke okusemandleni ethu ukuze ‘siqhubeke sithela izithelo eziningi’!