1, 2. Kungani uJesu ayemthanda uMarta, kodwa yiliphi iphutha alenza elibonisa ukuthi wayengaphelele?

LAPHO ucabanga ngodadewabo kaLazaru, uMarta, ucabanga ukuthi wayengumuntu onjani? IBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi uMarta wayengumngane omkhulu kaJesu, futhi uJesu wayemthanda uMarta. Yiqiniso, kwakungeyena ukuphela kowesifazane uJesu ayemthanda futhi emhlonipha. Ngokwesibonelo, noMariya udadewabo kaMarta wayengumngane omkhulu kaJesu. Kanti uJesu wayemthanda nonina, uMariya. (Johane 11:5; 19:25-27) Khona-ke, kungani uJesu ayethanda uMarta?

² UJesu wayemthanda uMarta ngenxa yokuthi wayenomusa, ephana futhi ekhuthele. Kodwa ngaphezu kwakho konke, uJesu wayemthanda ngenxa yokuthi wayenokholo oluqinile. Wayekukholelwa lokho okwakufundiswa uJesu futhi engangabazi ukuthi wayenguMesiya othenjisiwe. (Johane 11:21-27) Noma kunjalo, uMarta wayengaphelele. Njengathi sonke, wayewenza amaphutha. Ngokwesibonelo,  ngesinye isikhathi lapho uJesu ebavakashele, uMarta wayecasukele udadewabo, uMariya, futhi watshela uJesu ukuthi kufanele amnike iseluleko. UMarta wathi: “Nkosi, akunandaba yini ukuthi udadewethu ungishiye ngedwa ukuba nginakekele izinto eziningi? Ngakho-ke, mtshele ukuba angisize.” (Funda uLuka 10:38-42.) Kungani uMarta asho kanjalo, futhi yini esingayifunda endleleni uJesu amphendula ngayo?

3, 4. Yini uJesu ayincoma eyenziwa uMariya, futhi uMarta wafundani? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

³ UJesu wayekwazisa ukuthi uMarta noMariya babemmemele kubo, futhi wayefuna ukusebenzisa lelo thuba ukubafundisa amaqiniso ayigugu. Ngokushesha, uMariya wahlala eduze kwakhe ‘walalela izwi lakhe.’ Wayefuna ukufunda okuningi ngangokunokwenzeka kulo Mfundisi Omkhulu. UMarta naye wayengakhetha ukulalela uJesu. Futhi wayeyomncoma ngokuyeka lokho ayekwenza bese emlalela.

⁴ Kodwa uMarta wayethikamezekile. Wayematasa elungiselela uJesu ukudla okukhethekile, futhi enza nezinye izinto ezaziyokwenza uJesu akujabulele ngangokunokwenzeka ukuba nabo. Lapho ebona ukuthi uMariya akamlekeleli, wacasuka futhi wakhononda kuJesu. UJesu wayazi ukuthi uMarta wayezama ukwenza izinto eziningi kakhulu, ngakho ngomusa wathi: “Marta, Marta, ukhathazwa futhi uphazanyiswa izinto eziningi.” Wasikisela nokuthi ukudla okulula, mhlawumbe isidlo esisodwa nje, sasizokwanela. Wabe esencoma uMariya ngokumlalelisisa. Wathi: “UMariya yena ukhethe isabelo esihle, ngeke aphucwe sona.” Kungenzeka uMariya wakhohlwa ukuthi wayedleni kuleso sidlo, kodwa akungabazeki ukuthi akazange azikhohlwe izinto azifunda kuJesu nendlela amncoma ngayo. Ngemva kweminyaka engu-60, umphostoli uJohane wabhala: “UJesu wayebathanda oMarta nodadewabo.” (Johane 11:5) La mazwi abonisa ukuthi uMarta wasamukela iseluleko sikaJesu sothando futhi wakhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka ukuphila kwakhe konke.

5. Kungani kunzima ngokukhethekile ukugxila ezintweni ezibaluleke kakhudlwana, futhi imuphi umbuzo esizowuphendula?

⁵ Siyaqaphela ukuthi namuhla seziziningi kakhudlwana izinto ezingasiphazamisa ekukhonzeni uJehova kunangezikhathi zeBhayibheli. INqabayokulinda ka-September 15, 1958, yaxwayisa abafowethu nodadewethu ukuba bangavumeli ezobuchwepheshe zibaphazamise ekukhonzeni uJehova. Ngisho nangaleso sikhathi, kwakubonakala sengathi kwakuvela okusha nsuku zonke. Izinto ezinjengomagazini abanyatheliswe ephepheni elicwebezelayo, umsakazo, amabhayisikobho kanye ne-TV zase zithandwa kakhulu. Le Nqabayokulinda yathi njengoba siya sisondela ekupheleni kwalesi simiso sezinto, “kungenzeka iziphazamiso zande.” Namuhla, kunezinto eziningi ezingasiphazamisa kunanini ngaphambili. Yini esingayenza ukuze sifane kakhudlwana noMariya futhi sihlale sigxile ekukhulekeleni uJehova?

6. Abantu bakaJehova bazisebenzise kanjani izinto zobuchwepheshe?

⁶ Abantu bakaJehova baye basebenzisa  izinto zobuchwepheshe zezwe ukuze bashumayele izindaba ezinhle. Ngokwesibonelo, ngaphambi kwempi yezwe yokuqala naphakathi nayo, babukelisa abantu i-“Photo-Drama of Creation.” Ngokusebenzisa ama-slide namabhayisikobho amafushane aveza izithombe ezinombala nomsindo, bashumayeza izigidi zabantu emazweni amaningi. Isiphetho se-“Photo-Drama” sasichaza isikhathi sokuthula lapho uJesu Kristu eyobusa khona umhlaba. Kamuva, abantu baJehova basebenzisa umsakazo ukuze kusakazwe isigijimi soMbuso ezigidini zabantu emhlabeni wonke. Namuhla, sisebenzisa ama-computer ne-Internet ukuze sifinyelele abantu nomaphi lapho bekhona, ngisho nasezindaweni ezikude namadolobha.

7. (a) Kungani kuyingozi ukulisebenzisa ngokugcwele izwe? (b) Yini okufanele siyiqaphele kakhulu? (Bheka umbhalo waphansi.)

⁷ IBhayibheli liyasixwayisa ukuba singalisebenzisi ngokugcwele izwe. Lokhu kuhlanganisa ukuchitha isikhathi esiningi kakhulu ezintweni ezitholakala kuleli zwe. (Funda eyoku-1 Korinte 7:29-31.) Ezinye zalezi zinto azizimbi, kodwa zingadla isikhathi sethu esiningi. Ngokwesibonelo, singase sijabulele ukwenza izinto esizithandayo njengokufunda izincwadi, ukubukela ithelevishini, ukuvakashela izindawo esizithandayo, ukuyothenga nokuthola ngezobuchwepheshe zamuva noma izinto zokunethezeka. Abaningi bayathanda ukuxoxa ezingosini zokuxhumana, ukuthumelelana imiyalezo ngomakhalekhukhwini nangama-e-mail, noma ukubheka izindaba noma imiphumela yezemidlalo. Kodwa abanye bangaba imilutha yalezi zinto. * (UmShumayeli 3:1, 6) Uma sisebenzisa isikhathi ezintweni ezingabalulekile, singase singazinaki ngokwanele izinto ezibaluleke kakhulu, okuwukukhonza kwethu uJehova.—Funda eyabase-Efesu 5:15-17.

8. Kungani kubaluleke kakhulu ukungazithandi izinto ezisezweni?

 ⁸ USathane wenza konke angakwenza ukuze asiyengele ezintweni ezisezweni lakhe futhi asiphazamise ekukhonzeni uJehova. USathane wakwenza lokho ekhulwini lokuqala, futhi ukwenza nakakhulu lokhu namuhla. (2 Thimothewu 4:10) Ngakho kufanele sihlale sihlola indlela esizizwa ngayo ngezinto ezisezweni bese silungisa lapho kudingeka silungise khona. IBhayibheli lisitshela ukuthi akumelwe sithande izinto ezisezweni. Kunalokho, kumelwe sigcine uthando lwethu ngoJehova luqinile. Uma senza kanjalo, kuyoba lula ukulalela uJehova nokuhlala sisondelene naye.—1 Johane 2:15-17.

9. Yini uJesu afundisa abalandeli bakhe ukuba bagxile kuyo, futhi wasibeka kanjani isibonelo?

⁹ Njengoba nje uJesu afundisa uMarta ngomusa ukuba angaphazanyiswa izinto eziningi, wafundisa nabafundi bakhe isifundo esifanayo. Wabakhuthaza ukuba bahlale begxile ekukhonzeni uJehova naseMbusweni wakhe. (Funda uMathewu 6:22, 33.) UJesu ngokwakhe wabeka isibonelo esihle kakhulu. Wayengenazo izinto eziningi, futhi engenamuzi noma indawo.—Luka 9:58; 19:33-35.

10. Isiphi isibonelo esihle uJesu asibekela sona?

¹⁰ UJesu akazange avumele lutho lumphazamise emsebenzini wokushumayela. Ngokwesibonelo, ngemva nje kokuba eqale ukushumayela, izixuku eKapernawume zazifuna achithe isikhathi esengeziwe emzini wazo. Yini ayenza? Wagxila esabelweni sakhe. Wathi: “Nakweminye imizi kumelwe ngishumayele izindaba ezinhle zombuso kaNkulunkulu, ngoba yilokhu engathunyelwa kona.” (Luka 4:42-44) UJesu wahamba amabanga amade eshumayela izindaba ezinhle futhi efundisa abantu abaningi ngangokunokwenzeka. Wayengumuntu ophelele, kodwa wayekhathala futhi edinga ukuphumula ngoba wayesebenza kanzima.—Luka 8:23; Johane 4:6.

11. Yini uJesu ayenza lapho indoda ethile imbuza ngezinkinga zayo? Yisiphi isifundo uJesu asifundisa abafundi bakhe?

¹¹ Kamuva, lapho uJesu efundisa abafundi bakhe isifundo esibalulekile, waphazanyiswa indoda ethile eyathi: “Mfundisi, tshela umfowethu ahlukaniselane nami ifa.” UJesu akazange azame ukuxazulula inkinga yale ndoda. Akazange aphazamiseke ekufundiseni abafundi bakhe. Eqinisweni, wasebenzisa leli thuba ukuze abafundise ukuthi uma begxila ekubeni nezinto eziningi, bangaphazamiseka ekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu.—Luka 12:13-15.

12, 13. (a) Yini uJesu ayenza eyahlaba amaGreki athile eJerusalema umxhwele? (b) Wasabela kanjani uJesu lapho uFiliphu emcela ukuba ayobonana nalabo bantu?

¹² Izinsuku ezimbalwa zokugcina zikaJesu engumuntu zazicindezela kakhulu. (Mathewu 26:38; Johane 12:27) Wayazi ukuthi wayezohlupheka kakhulu futhi afe. Wayazi nokuthi wayenomsebenzi omningi okwakumelwe awenze ngaphambi  kokuba afe. Ngokwesibonelo, ngeSonto, ngoNisan 9, uJesu wangena eJerusalema egibele imbongolo. Izixuku zamamukela njengeNkosi yazo. (Luka 19:38) Ngosuku olulandelayo, ngesibindi uJesu waxosha ethempelini amadoda anobugovu ayethengisa izinto ngamanani emba eqolo, futhi ngaleyo ndlela eqola abantu.—Luka 19:45, 46.

¹³ AmaGreki athile, ayezogubha iPhasika eJerusalema, abona lokho okwakwenziwe uJesu futhi ahlabeka umxhwele. Ngakho abuza kumphostoli uFiliphu ukuthi ayengakwazi yini ukubonana noJesu. Kodwa uJesu wayengazami ukuthola abantu ababengamsekela futhi bamvikele ezitheni zakhe. Wayazi ukuthi yini eyayibaluleke kakhulu. Waqhubeka egxile kulokho uJehova ayekuhlosile ngaye, okuwukuba anikele ukuphila kwakhe njengomhlatshelo. Ngakho wakhumbuza abafundi bakhe ukuthi ngokushesha wayezokufa nokuthi bonke abalandeli bakhe kwakumelwe nabo bazimisele ukudela ukuphila kwabo. Wathi: “Lowo othanda umphefumulo wakhe uyawubhubhisa, kodwa lowo ozonda umphefumulo wakhe kuleli zwe, uyowulondela ukuphila okuphakade.” Kodwa uJesu wathembisa nokuthi ‘uBaba uyobadumisa’ abalandeli bakhe futhi abanike ukuphila okuphakade. UFiliphu wayengadlulisela lo myalezo oyisikhuthazo kulawo maGreki.—Johane 12:20-26.

14. Nakuba uJesu ayebeke umsebenzi wokushumayela kuqala ekuphileni kwakhe, yini aqikelela ukuthi uyayenza?

¹⁴ Ngesikhathi uJesu esemhlabeni, umsebenzi wakhe oyinhloko kwakuwushumayela izindaba ezinhle. Nakuba ayegxile ekushumayeleni, wayengahlale ecabanga ngomsebenzi. Ngokwesibonelo, waba khona okungenani emshadweni owodwa, lapho aphendula khona amanzi aba iwayini lekhethelo. (Johane 2:2, 6-10) Waphinde wadla emakhaya abangane bakhe nabanye ababethanda ukuzwa izindaba ezinhle. (Luka 5:29; Johane 12:2) Okubaluleke nakakhulu, uJesu wayevame ukuzinika isikhathi sokuthandaza, esokuzindla nesokuphumula.—Mathewu 14:23; Marku 1:35; 6:31, 32.

15. Yini umphostoli uPawulu athi amaKristu kudingeka ayenze, futhi wasibeka kanjani isibonelo esihle?

¹⁵ Umphostoli uPawulu wathi amaKristu afana nabagijimi abasemncintiswaneni webanga elide futhi ukuze bawuqede lo mncintiswano, kudingeka balahle noma yini engenza banciphise ijubane noma bame. (Funda eyamaHebheru 12:1.) UPawulu ngokwakhe wabeka isibonelo esihle. Wayengaceba futhi athole udumo njengomholi wenkolo yobuJuda, kodwa wakudela lokho ukuze agxile ‘ezintweni ezibaluleke kakhulu.’ Wasebenza kanzima ekushumayeleni futhi waya ezindaweni eziningi, kuhlanganise naseSiriya, e-Asia Minor, eMakhedoniya naseJudiya. UPawulu wayemagange ukuthola umvuzo wakhe wokuphila okuphakade  ezulwini. Wathi: “Njengoba ngikhohlwa izinto ezingemuva futhi ngilulekela phambili ezintweni ezingaphambili, ngiphishekela emgomweni.” (Filipi 1:10; 3:8, 13, 14) UPawulu wayengashadile futhi lokho kwamsiza ukuba ‘akhonze iNkosi njalo ngaphandle kokuthikamezeka.’—1 Korinte 7:32-35.

16, 17. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sishadile noma cha, singasilandela kanjani isibonelo sikaPawulu? UMark noClaire bakwenza kanjani lokhu?

¹⁶ NjengoPawulu, ezinye zezinceku zikaJehova namuhla zikhetha ukungashadi ukuze zenze okwengeziwe enkonzweni kaJehova. (Mathewu 19:11, 12) Ngokuvamile, abantu abangashadile banemithwalo embalwa emndenini kunabantu abashadile. Nokho, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sishadile noma cha, sonke ‘singalahla konke okusindayo’ okungasithikameza ekukhonzeni uJehova. Kungase kudingeke sishintshe imikhuba yethu ukuze sigweme ukusaphaza isikhathi futhi senze okwengeziwe enkonzweni kaJehova.

¹⁷ Ngokwesibonelo, uMark noClaire, abakhulela eWales, baqala ukuphayona lapho beqeda isikole. Ngemva kokushada baqhubeka nokuphayona. Kodwa babefuna ukwenza okwengeziwe. UMark uyachaza: “Sakwazi ukwenza ukuphila kwethu kwaba lula ngokudayisa indlu yethu enamakamelo amathathu sabe sesiyeka netoho ukuze senze umsebenzi wokwakha womhlaba wonke.” Eminyakeni engu-20 edlule, bahambele izingxenye eziningi ze-Afrika beyosiza ekwakheni amaHholo oMbuso. Ngezinye izikhathi babeba nemadlana nje engatheni, kodwa uJehova wayehlale ebanakekela. UClaire uthi: “Ukuchitha usuku lonke ngikhonza uJehova kungenza nganeliseke ngokujulile. Sesithole abangane abaningi njengoba silokhu sihamba, futhi asintuli lutho. Okuncane esikudelile akunakuqhathaniswa nenjabulo etholakala ekukhonzeni uJehova isikhathi esigcwele.” Izikhonzi eziningi zesikhathi esigcwele zizizwa ngendlela efanayo. *

18. Imiphi imibuzo esingazibuza yona?

¹⁸ Ingabe unomuzwa wokuthi ungaba nentshiseko eyengeziwe enkonzweni yakho kuJehova? Ingabe zikhona izinto ezikuphazamisayo ekwenzeni izinto ezibaluleke kakhulu? Uma kunjalo, yini ongayenza? Mhlawumbe ungathuthukisa indlela ofunda notadisha ngayo iBhayibheli. Isihloko esilandelayo sizochaza indlela ongakwenza ngayo lokho.