Umpristi Ophakeme Owalahla UJesu Ngecala

NGO-NOVEMBER 1990, amadoda ayesebenza epaki elungisa nomgwaqo endaweni eqhele cishe ngekhilomitha eningizimu yoMuzi Omdala waseJerusalema athola into eyayithakazelisa kakhulu. Ugandaganda wawisa ngengozi uphahla lomhume omdala okwakungcwatshwa kuwo. Indawo ezungezile yayisetshenziswe njengendawo enkulu yamathuna kusukela ekhulwini lokuqala B.C.E. kuya ekhulwini lokuqala C.E. Kwakuthakazelisa ngempela lokho abavubukuli abakuthola ngaphakathi kwalo mhume.

Lo mhume wawunezitsha zamathambo ezingu-12, noma amabhokisi, okwakufakwe kuzo amathambo abafileyo ngemva kokuba beye baba sethuneni cishe unyaka futhi inyama yabo isibolile. Ohlangothini lwelinye ibhokisi elibazwe kahle kakhulu—elingenye yezinto eziyigugu ezatholakala—kwakuqoshwe igama elithi Yehosef bar Caiapha (uJosefa indodana kaKayafase).

Ubufakazi busikisela ukuthi leli thuna kungenzeka kwakungelompristi ophakeme owengamela ukuqulwa kwecala elibaluleke kakhulu kunawo wonke ake aqulwa—icala likaJesu Kristu. Isazi-mlando esingumJuda uJosephus sichaza lo mpristi ophakeme ngokuthi “uJosefa, owayebizwa ngokuthi uKayafase.” EmiBhalweni kuthiwa nje uKayafase. Kungani kufanele sibe nesithakazelo kuye? Yini eyamshukumisela ukuba alahle uJesu ngecala?

Umndeni Nesizinda Sakhe

UKayafase waganwa indodakazi ka-Anase, omunye umpristi ophakeme. (Johane 18:13) Kungenzeka kakhulu ukuthi ukwendiselana kwabo kwahlelwa eminyakeni eminingi ngaphambili, njengoba yomibili imindeni yayiyofuna ukuqiniseka ukuthi yakha ubuhlobo obuyoyizuzisa. Lokhu kwakuyosho ukucubungulisisa izinhlu zozalo ukuze iqiniseke ukuthi akukho lutho olungcolisa uhlu lozalo lobupristi. Kubonakala sengathi yomibili le mindeni yayicebile futhi ingeyozalo lwezicukuthwane, ngokunokwenzeka umcebo wayo uvela emafeni amakhulu omhlaba eyayinawo eJerusalema. Ngokungangabazeki u-Anase wafuna ukuqiniseka ukuthi umkhwenyana wakwakhe uyoba umlekeleli onokwethenjelwa kwezombangazwe. Kubonakala sengathi  bobabili u-Anase noKayafase babengabohlelo olunamandla lwabaSadusi.—IzEnzo 5:17.

Njengelungu lomkhaya wabapristi ovelele, uKayafase cishe wafundiswa imiBhalo YesiHebheru nokuchazwa kwayo. Kumelwe ukuba waqala inkonzo yakhe yasethempelini eneminyaka engu-20 ubudala, kodwa akwaziwa ukuthi wayeneminyaka emingaki lapho eba umpristi ophakeme.

Abapristi Abaphakeme Nabapristi Abakhulu

Ekuqaleni isikhundla sokuba umpristi ophakeme sasihamba ngozalo futhi umuntu wayeyekwa angagudluzwa, aze afe. Kodwa ekhulwini lesibili B.C.E., amaHasmonaean asigabadela lesi sikhundla. * UHerode Omkhulu wamisa futhi wagudluza abapristi abaphakeme, ekwenza kucace ukuthi wayengumakhonya kulesi sikhundla. Ababusi abangamaRoma baseJudiya balandela umkhuba othi awufane.

Lezi zenzakalo zaholela ekwakhekeni kweqembu imiBhalo elibiza ngokuthi “abapristi abakhulu.” (Mathewu 26:3, 4) Ngaphandle kukaKayafase, leli qembu lalihlanganisa nalabo ababengabapristi abaphakeme, njengo-Anase, abagudluzwa kodwa abaqhubeka bebizwa ngalesi siqu. Lalihlanganisa nemindeni esondelene nabapristi abaphakeme ababesesikhundleni ngaleso sikhathi nalabo bangaphambili.

AmaRoma avumela ukuba izindaba zansuku zonke zabaseJudiya ziphathwe izicukuthwane ezingamaJuda, kuhlanganise nabapristi abakhulu. Lokhu kwenza ukuba iRoma ilawule lesi sifundazwe futhi ithole nezintela ngaphandle kokuthumela amasosha amaningi khona. IRoma yayilindele ukuba isigaba sabaphathi abangamaJuda silondoloze ukuhleleka futhi sivikele nesifundazwe. Ababusi abangamaRoma babengabathandisisi abaholi abangamaJuda, ababekucasukela ukubuswa ngamaRoma. Kodwa kwakuzowasebenzela womabili la maqembu ukuba abambisane ukuze kube nombuso ozinzile.

Ngesikhathi sikaKayafase, umpristi ophakeme wayengumholi wezombangazwe wamaJuda. U-Anase wamiswa kulesi sikhundla uQuirinius, umbusi waseSiriya ongumRoma, ngo-6 noma ngo-7 C.E. Inkolelo yorabi ibonisa ukuthi ukuhaha, ukwenzelela izihlobo, ukucindezela nobudlova kwakuyinsakavukela emindenini yezicukuthwane eholayo yamaJuda. Omunye umlobi usikisela ukuthi u-Anase njengoba ayengumpristi ophakeme, wayeyoqiniseka ukuthi umkhwenyana wakwakhe “ukhushulelwa ngokushesha esigabeni sabaphathi bethempeli; kakade, ukukhushulelwa kukaKayafase esikhundleni esiphakeme kwakumenza abe usizo ngokwengeziwe ku-Anase.”

UValerius Gratus, umbusi waseJudiya wamgudluza u-Anase cishe ngo-15 C.E. Abanye abathathu, kuhlanganise nenye yamadodana ka-Anase, balandelana ngokushesha esikhundleni sokuba umpristi ophakeme. UKayafase waba umpristi ophakeme cishe ngo-18 C.E. UPontiyu Pilatu, owaba umbusi waseJudiya ngo-26 C.E., wamyeka uKayafase ekulesi sikhundla phakathi neminyaka yakhe eyishumi engumbusi. Isikhathi sikaKayafase sokuba umpristi sihlanganisa inkathi yenkonzo kaJesu neminyaka yokuqala yokushumayela kwabafundi bakhe. Kodwa uKayafase wayengasithandi isigijimi samaKristu.

Ukwesaba UJesu, Ukwesaba IRoma

UKayafase wabheka uJesu njengomphehli wodweshu oyingozi. UJesu wayibekela inselele indlela isigaba sabaphathi bethempeli esasiyichaza ngayo imithetho yeSabatha wabuye waxosha abathengisi nabashintshi bemali ethempelini, ethi babelenze ‘umhume wabaphangi.’ (Luka 19:45, 46) Ezinye izazi-mlando zikholelwa ukuthi la mabhizinisi ayenzelwa ethempelini ayengawendlu ka-Anase—okungesinye isizathu mhlawumbe esenza ukuba uKayafase azame ukuthulisa uJesu. Lapho abapristi abakhulu bethumela izikhonzi ukuba ziyobopha uJesu, zakhexiswa kakhulu amazwi akhe kangangokuthi zabuya zilambatha.—Johane 2:13-17; 5:1-16; 7:14-49.

Cabangela lokho okwenzeka lapho isigaba sabaphathi bamaJuda sizwa ukuthi uJesu wayevuse uLazaru. IVangeli likaJohane liyabika: “Abapristi abakhulu nabaFarisi baqoqela ndawonye iSanhedrini futhi bathi: ‘Sizokwenzenjani, ngoba lo muntu wenza izibonakaliso eziningi? Uma simyeka ngale ndlela, bonke bazokholwa nguye, futhi  amaRoma azofika athathe kokubili indawo yethu nesizwe sethu.’” (Johane 11:47, 48) ISanhedrini yayibheka uJesu njengosongo egunyeni lenhlangano yayo engokwenkolo nasekuhlelekeni komphakathi, uPilatu ayebaphathise khona. Noma iliphi iqembu elithandwayo, amaRoma ayengase alibheke njengelivukelayo, lalingawenza agaxele ezindabeni zamaJuda—into iSanhedrini eyayifuna ukuyigwema ngazo zonke izindlela.

Nakuba ayengenakukuphika ukuthi uJesu wenza imisebenzi yamandla, uKayafase akazange abe nokholo kuye, kunalokho wafuna ukulondoloza isikhundla negunya lakhe. Wayengakuvuma kanjani ukuthi uLazaru uvusiwe? Phela, njengoba ayengumSadusi, uKayafase wayengakholelwa ovukweni!—IzEnzo 23:8.

Ububi bukaKayafase bahlaluka lapho etshela ababusi akanye nabo: “Anicabangi ukuthi kuzuzisa nina ukuba umuntu oyedwa afe ngenxa yabantu, hhayi ukuba kubhujiswe sonke isizwe.” Ukulandisa kuyaqhubeka: “Nokho, lokhu akakushongo ngokuzisukela kuye; kodwa ngoba wayengumpristi ophakeme ngalowo nyaka, waprofetha ukuthi uJesu wayemiselwe ukuba afele isizwe, kungesona isizwe kuphela, kodwa ukuze abantwana bakaNkulunkulu abahlakazekile nabo abaqoqele ndawonye babe munye. Ngakho-ke kusukela ngalolo suku kuqhubeke bacebisana ngokuba bambulale [uJesu].”—Johane 11:49-53.

UKayafase wayengakuqondi konke okwakumumethwe amazwi akhe. Ngenxa yesikhundla sakhe njengompristi ophakeme, waprofetha. * Ukufa kukaJesu kwakuyozuzisa—kodwa hhayi amaJuda kuphela. Umhlatshelo wakhe wesihlengo wawuyolungiselela indlela yokukhulula sonke isintu ebugqilini besono nokufa.

Uzungu Lokubulala

Abapristi abakhulu bamaJuda namadoda amadala bahlangana emzini kaKayafase ukuze babhunge indlela yokubamba nokubulala uJesu. Lo mpristi ophakeme cishe wayebe nesandla ekunqumeni imali uJuda Iskariyothe ayezomkhaphela ngayo. (Mathewu 26:3, 4, 14, 15) Nokho, ukubulala umuntu oyedwa kwakungeke kumgculise uKayafase onezinhloso ezimbi. “Abapristi abakhulu manje bacebisana ukuba babulale noLazaru, ngoba abaningi kumaJuda . . . ngenxa yakhe . . . [babeba] nokholo kuJesu.”—Johane 12:10, 11.

UMalkusi, inceku kaKayafase, wayesesixukwini esasithunyelwe ukuyobopha uJesu. UJesu wayiswa kuqala ku-Anase eyisiboshwa ukuba ayomphonsa imibuzo kamuva wabe eseyiswa kuKayafase, owayesebize amadoda amadala angamaJuda ukuze kuqulwe icala ebusuku, elingekho emthethweni.—Mathewu 26:57; Johane 18:10, 13, 19-24.

Inhloso kaKayafase ayizange ishafe lapho ofakazi bamanga behluleka ukuvumelana ebufakazini babo obumelene noJesu. Lo mpristi ophakeme wayeyazi imicabango yababophi bozungu abakanye naye ngokuphathelene nanoma ubani owayethi unguMesiya. Ngakho wafuna ukwazi ukuthi ingabe uJesu wayethi unguye yini. UJesu waphendula ngokuthi abamangaleli bakhe babeyombona ‘ehlezi ngakwesokunene samandla eza ephezu kwamafu ezulu.’ Efuna ukubonakala ehlonipha, “umpristi ophakeme waklebhula izingubo zakhe zangaphandle, wathi: ‘Uhlambalazile! Sisabadingelani ofakazi?’” ISanhedrini yavuma ukuthi uJesu wayefanelwe ukufa.—Mathewu 26:64-66.

Izigwebo zokufa kwakumelwe zigunyazwe amaRoma. Njengoba kwakunguKayafase owayengumxhumanisi phakathi kwawo namaJuda, cishe nguye owethula lolu daba kuPilatu. Lapho uPilatu efuna ukukhulula uJesu, uKayafase cishe wayephakathi kwabapristi abakhulu abamemeza: “Mbethele! Mbethele!” (Johane 19:4-6) UKayafase cishe wakhuthaza izixuku ukuba zimemeze zicele ukuba kukhululwe umbulali esikhundleni sikaJesu futhi wayephakathi kwalabo bapristi abakhulu abamemeza ngokuzenzisa bathi: “Asinankosi ngaphandle kukaKhesari.”—Johane 19:15; Marku 15:7-11.

UKayafase wabenqaba ubufakazi bokuvuswa kukaJesu. Wamelana noPetru noJohane nanoStefanu kamuva. UKayafase wagunyaza noSawulu ukuba abophe wonke amaKristu ayeyowathola eDamaseku. (Mathewu 28:11-13; IzEnzo 4:1-17; 6:8–7:60; 9:1, 2) Nokho, cishe ngo-36 C.E., uKayafase wagudluzwa uVitellius, inxusa lamaRoma eSiriya.

Imibhalo yamaJuda inikeza isithombe esibi ngomndeni kaKayafase. Ngokwesibonelo, iTalmud  YaseBhabhiloni iyabalisa: “Maye kimi ngenxa yendlu kaHanin [u-Anase], maye kimi ngenxa yokuhleba kwabo,” noma “ukunyundela kwabo.” Kucatshangwa ukuthi lesi sikhalazo sibhekisele “emihlanganweni eyinguyazane yokusungula izindlela ezicindezelayo.”

Isifundo Esisifunda KuKayafase

Esinye isazi sachaza abapristi abaphakeme ngokuthi amadoda “ayenesandla esiqinile, engamaqili futhi ekwazi ukukwenza ayekufuna—cishe futhi ezidla.” Ukuzidla kwavimbela uKayafase ukuba amukele uMesiya. Ngakho akumelwe kusimangaze uma abantu namuhla benqaba isigijimi seBhayibheli. Abanye abanaso isithakazelo ngokwanele eqinisweni elisemiBhalweni ukuba bashiye izinkolelo zabo abazazisayo. Abanye kungenzeka babe nomuzwa wokuthi ukuba abashumayeli bezindaba ezinhle abaphansi kubehlisa isithunzi. Kanti futhi izindinganiso zamaKristu zibadedisela kude labo abangathembekile noma abahahayo.

Njengompristi ophakeme, uKayafase wayengasiza amaJuda akubo ukuba amukele uMesiya, kodwa ukuhahela isikhundla kwamenza walahla uJesu ngecala. Lokho kumelana kwakhe neqiniso kumelwe ukuba kwaqhubeka waze wafa. Umbhalo ogciniwe wokuziphatha kwakhe ubonisa ukuthi akuwona wodwa amathambo esiwashiyayo lapho sifa. Ngezenzo zethu, sizakhela idumela elihlala njalo kuNkulunkulu, kungaba elibi noma elihle.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Isithombe ekhasini 10]

UJosefa indodana kaKayafase

[Isithombe ekhasini 10]

Isitsha samathambo esisanda kutholakala

[Imithombo Yezithombe ekhasini 10]

Ossuary, inscription, and cave in background: Courtesy of Israel Antiquities Authority