1-3. Chaza indlela uYesu awasondla ngayo isihlwele esikhulu esasingqendeve kufuphi neBhethesayida. (Bona umfanekiso osekuqaleni.)

KHAWUBE nalo mfanekiso. (Funda uMateyu 14:14-21.) Kungaphambi kwePasika ka-32. Kukho isihlwele samadoda amalunga ne-5 000, ngaphandle kwabafazi nabantwana, sihleli kunye noYesu nabafundi bakhe kwanti, kufuphi neBhethesayida, idolophana ekunxweme olusemantla kuLwandle lwaseGalili.

² Esakubona ezo zihlwele, uYesu uyazisizela, aze ke aphilise abagulayo abafundise izinto ezininzi ngoBukumkani bukaThixo. Kuthi kwakuhlwa, abafundi bacele uYesu ukuba andulule izihlwele ukuze zikwazi ukuya kwiidolophana ezikufuphi zize zizithengele ukutya. Esabela uYesu uthi kubo: “Zinikeni nina into yokudla.” Amazwi akhe amele abamangalise, kuba ukutya abanako kuncinane gqitha—zizonka nje ezihlanu neentlanzi ezimbini.

³ Ezisizela, uYesu wenza ummangaliso—ekuphela kommangaliso ochazwa ngabo bobane ababhali beencwadi zeVangeli. (Marko 6:35-44; Luka 9:10-17; Yoh. 6:1-13) UYesu uyalela abafundi bakhe ukuba bahlalise ezo zihlwele engceni ngokwamaqela ngalinye libe na-50 amanye 100. Emva kokucela iintsikelelo, uqhekeza isonka nentlanzi. Kunokuba abanike ngokwakhe oko kutya abantu, uYesu ‘ukunika abafundi, ukuze bona bakunike izihlwele.’ Okumangalisayo kukuba, wonk’ umntu olapho udla anele koko kutya! Khawufan’ ucinge: UYesu wondla amawaka ngezandla zabambalwa—abafundi ­bakhe.

4. (a) Luluphi olona hlobo lokutya wayeluxhalabele ngakumbi uYesu, yaye ngoba? (b) Yintoni esiza kuxubusha ngayo kweli nqaku nelilandelayo?

⁴ Eyona nto wayeyixhalabele nangakumbi uYesu kukondla abalandeli bakhe ngokutya kokomoya. Wayesazi ukuba ukutya kokomoya, inyaniso efumaneka kwiLizwi likaThixo kukhokelela kubomi obungunaphakade. (Yoh. 6:26, 27; 17:3) Ngenxa yolo velwano ­lwabangela  ukuba ondle izihlwele ngesonka nentlanzi, uYesu wachitha iiyure ezininzi efundisa abalandeli bakhe. (Marko 6:34) Noko ke, wayesazi ukuba lifutshane ixesha aza kuliphila emhlabeni kwanokuba wayeza kubuyela ezulwini. (Mat. 16:21; Yoh. 14:12) UYesu osezulwini wayeza kuqinisekisa njani ukuba abalandeli bakhe abasemhlabeni bondleka kakuhle ngokomoya? Wayeza kwenza ngendlela efanayo—wayeza kondla abaninzi ngezandla zabambalwa. Ngoobani kodwa abo babeza kuba mbalwa? Makhe sibone indlela uYesu awasebenzisa ngayo abambalwa ukondla inkumbula yabalandeli bakhe abathanjisiweyo ngenkulungwane yokuqala. Siya kwandula ke, kwinqaku elilandelayo sixubushe lo mbuzo ubalulekileyo kuthi sonke: Singakwazi njani ukubona abo bambalwa basetyenziswa nguYesu ukusondla namhlanje?

5, 6. (a) Sisiphi isigqibo esibalulekileyo uYesu awasenzayo eqinisekisa ukuba abalandeli bakhe bayondliwa ngokomoya nasemva kokuba efile? (b) Yintoni awayenzayo uYesu ukuxhobisa abapostile bakhe ukuze bakwazi ukusingatha iimbopheleleko emva kokufa kwakhe?

⁵ Intloko-ntsapho enenkathalo iyawenza amalungiselelo okunyamekela intsapho yayo xa inokufa. Ngokufanayo ke, noYesu—owayeza kuba yiNtloko Yebandla—wawenza amalungiselelo okuba abalandeli bakhe banyanyekelwe emva kokuba efile. (Efe. 1:22) Ngokomzekelo, malunga neminyaka emibini ngaphambi kokuba afe, wenza isigqibo esibalulekileyo. Wakhetha abokuqala kwabo bantu bambalwa wayeza kubasebenzisa ukondla abaninzi. Qwalasela into eyenzekayo.

⁶ Emva kokuthandaza ubusuku bonke, uYesu ubizela kuye abafundi bakhe aze unyule phakathi kwabo abapostile abayi-12. (Luka 6:12-16) Kwiminyaka emibini elandelayo, wasondelelana ngokukhethekileyo nabo bapostile, ebafundisa ngelizwi nangezenzo. Wayesazi ukuba ininzi into amele abafundise yona; enyanisweni, baqhubeka bebizwa ngokuba ‘ngabafundi.’ (Mat. 11:1; 20:17) Wayebanceda ngamacebiso abalulekileyo waza wabaqeqesha kubulungiseleli. (Mat. 10:1-42; 20:20-23; Luka 8:1; 9:52-55) Kuyacaca ukuba wayebaxhobisa ukuze bakwazi ukusingatha iimbopheleleko emva kokufa nokubuyela ezulwini.

7. UYesu wayithi thsuphe njani eyona nto yayiza kwenziwa ngabapostile bakhe?

⁷ Babeza kudlala yiphi indima abapostile? Njengoko kwakusondela iPentekoste ka-33, kwaye kwacaca ukuba ngabapostile abaza kuthatha ‘isigxina sobuveleli.’ (IZe. 1:20) Yiyiphi kanye eyona nto babeza kuyenza? Emva kokuvuswa kwakhe, xa wayencokola nompostile uPetros, uYesu wayithi thsuphe. (Funda uYohane 21:1, 2, 15-17.) Ngoxa kwakukho nabanye abapostile, uYesu wathi kuPetros: “Yondla amatakane am ezimvu.” Ngokwenjenjalo, uYesu wayebonisa ukuba abapostile bakhe babeza kuba phakathi kwabantu abambalwa awayeza kusebenzisa bona ukondla abaninzi ngokomoya. Ichukumisa ngokwenene yaye ityhila indlela avakalelwa ngayo uYesu ‘ngamatakane akhe ezimvu’!”

8. Abo babesandul’ ukuguquka ngePentekoste babonisa njani ukuba balazi kakuhle ijelo elalisetyenziswa nguKristu?

⁸ Ukususela ngePentekoste ka-33, uKristu ovusiweyo wasebenzisa abapostile bakhe njengejelo lokondla bonke abafundi bakhe abathanjisiweyo. (Funda iZenzo 2:41, 42.) Elo jelo laqondwa kakuhle ngamaYuda nabangeni buYudeni ababa ngamaKristu athanjiswe ngomoya ngolo suku. Bengaphozisanga maseko, “baqhubeka bezinikela emfundisweni yabapostile.” Ngokutsho komnye umphengululi, isenzi sesiGrike esiguqulelwe ngokuba “baqhubeka bezinikela” sinokuthetha “ukuma ngokuqinileyo utsolise amehlo kwinto enye ukuze ungaphazanyiswa.” Abo babesandul’ ukuguquka babelambele ukutya kokomoya,  ibe babeyazi kakuhle indawo abaza kukufumana kuyo. Bengagungqi ekunyanisekeni kwabo, balindela kubapostile ukuba babacacisele amazwi nezenzo zikaYesu nokuze babakhanyisele ngeyona ntsingiselo yezibhalo ngokuphathelele uYesu.—IZe. 2:22-36.

9. Abapostile babonisa njani ukuba banikel’ ingqalelo ngokupheleleyo kwimbopheleleko ababenayo yokondla izimvu zikaKristu?

⁹ Abapostile banikel’ ingqalelo ngokupheleleyo kwimbopheleleko ababenayo yokondla izimvu zikaKristu. Ngokomzekelo, phawula indlela abawusingatha ngayo umbandela ontununtunu owavelayo nowawunokuliqhekeza elo bandla lalisandul’ ukusekwa. Okubangel’ umdla kukuba, loo mbandela wawubandakanya ukutya—ukutya kokoqobo. Abahlolokazi abathetha isiGrike babengananzwa kulwabiwo lwamihla le lokutya, ngoxa kunyanyekelwa abo bathetha isiHebhere. Abapostile bayicombulula njani le ngxaki inobuzaza kangaka? Bamisela abazalwana abafanelekayo abasixhenxe ukuze banyamekele loo “mcimbi uyimfuneko” wokwabiwa kokutya. Abapostile—esiqinisekileyo ukuba inkoliso yabo baba nenxaxheba xa uYesu wayesabela izihlwele ukutya ngokungummangaliso—babona ukuba eyona nto ibalulekileyo kukunikel’ ingqalelo ekondleni abantu ngokomoya. Ngoko ke, bazinikela ‘kubulungiseleli belizwi.’—IZe. 6:1-6.

10. UKristu wabasebenzisa njani abapostile namadoda amakhulu eYerusalem?

¹⁰ Ngo-49, abapostile ababesaphila babesele bencediswa ngabanye abadala abafanelekayo. (Funda iZenzo 15:1, 2.) ‘Abapostile namadoda amakhulu eYerusalem’ baye bakhonza njengequmrhu elilawulayo. NjengeNtloko yebandla, uKristu wasebenzisa eli qela lincinane lamadoda afanelekayo ukulungisa iimfundiso nokongamela aze alathise ekushumayeleni nasekufundiseni iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani.—IZe. 15:6-29; 21:17-19; Kol. 1:18.

11, 12. (a) Yintoni ebonisa ukuba uYehova walisikelela ilungiselelo elalisetyenziswa nguNyana wakhe ukondla amabandla enkulungwane yokuqala? (b) Yiyiphi indlela elaliqondakala lula ngayo ijelo elalisetyenziswa nguKristu ukondla izimvu zakhe ngokomoya?

¹¹ Ngaba uYehova walisebenzisa elo lungiselelo lalisetyenziswa nguNyana wakhe ukondla amabandla enkulungwane yokuqala? Kunjalo kanye! Siqinisekiswa yintoni? Incwadi yeZenzo isixelela oku: “Ke kaloku njengoko babehamba betyhutyha izixeko babeye banikele kwabo balapho imimiselo ukuba bayigcine leyo kwakugqitywe kuyo ngabapostile namadoda amakhulu awayeseYerusalem. Ngoko ke, eneneni,  amabandla aqhubeka eqiniswa elukholweni yaye esanda ngenani imihla ngemihla.” (IZe. 16:4, 5) Phawula ukuba loo mabandla aphumelela ngenxa yokusebenzisana kwawo ngokunyaniseka nequmrhu elilawulayo eliseYerusalem. Ngaba obo asibobungqina baneleyo bokuba uYehova walisikelela ilungiselelo elalisetyenziswa nguNyana wakhe ukondla amabandla? Simele sikhumbule ukuba siphumelela ngokomoya kuphela xa sisikelelwa nguYehova.—IMize. 10:22; 1 Kor. 3:6, 7.

¹² Ukuza kuthi ga ngoku siye sabona ukuba uYesu wasebenzisa indlela ethile ukondla abalandeli bakhe: Wondla abaninzi ngezandla zabambalwa. Ijelo awayelisebenzisa ukondla izimvu zakhe ngokomoya laliqondakala lula. Ngapha koko, abapostile—amalungu okuqala equmrhu elilawulayo—kwakucaca ukuba baxhaswa nguThixo. IZenzo 5:12 zithi: “Ngezandla zabapostile kwaqhubeka kusibakho imihlola nemiqondiso phakathi kwabantu.” Ngoko ke, sasingekho isizathu sokuba abo baguqukela kubuKristu babe bezibuza, ‘Ngubani ngokwenene owayesetyenziswa nguKristu ukondla izimvu zakhe?’ Noko ke, ngasekupheleni kwenkulungwane yokuqala, yatshintsha yonke loo meko.

13, 14. (a) Sisiphi isilumkiso esenziwa nguYesu ngokuphathelele uhlaselo, ibe azaliseka nini amazwi akhe? (b) Ziziphi iindlela ezimbini elaliza kuhlaselwa ngazo ibandla? (Funda umbhalo osemazantsi.)

¹³ UYesu wachaza ukuba ibandla lamaKristu laliza kuhlaselwa. Khumbula ukuba, kwisiprofeto somzekeliso wakhe wengqolowa nokhula, uYesu walumkisa ngelithi kuloo ntsimi yayisandul’ ukutyalwa ingqolowa (amaKristu athanjisiweyo) kwakuza kuhlwayelwa ukhula (oosinga maKristu). Wathi, la maqela omabini ayeza kuyekwa akhule kunye—engaphazanyiswa de kube lixesha lokuvuna, elaliza kufika ‘ukupheliswa kwenkqubo yezinto.’ (Mat. 13:24-30, 36-43) Zange kube kudala azaliseka loo mazwi kaYesu.

¹⁴ Uwexuko lwaqalisa ukuvela kwangenkulungwane yokuqala, kodwa ingxaki yayisengabapostile abathembekileyo bakaYesu ‘ababesisithintelo,’ ekonakalisweni kwebandla nakwiimfundiso zobuxoki. (2 Tes. 2:3, 6, 7) Noko ke, emva nje kokufa kompostile wokugqibela, uwexuko lwema ngeenyawo lwaza lwagqugqisa kangangeenkulungwane. Ukongezelela koko, lonke elo xesha ukhula lwagqugqisa yabe ingqolowa imbalwa. Lalingekho ijelo eliqhubeka lidlulisela ukutya kokomoya. Kodwa loo ngxaki yayiseza kutshintsha. Umbuzo kukuba, Nini?

15, 16. Ziziphi iziqhamo olwaba nazo ufundisiso lweZibhalo olwenziwa ngaBafundi BeBhayibhile, ibe nguwuphi umbuzo ophakamayo?

¹⁵ Njengokuba kwakusondela isiphelo sexesha lokukhula, abantu baya besiba nomdla ngakumbi kwinyaniso yeBhayibhile. Khumbula ukuba ngee-1870, kukho iqela elincinane labo babefuna inyaniso elaye lahlanganisana laza laseka iklasi zokufunda iBhayibhile ngokwahlukileyo kukhula—oosinga maKristu ababesezicaweni nakumaqela athile. Ngeentliziyo ezithobekileyo neengqondo ezivulekileyo, abo Bafundi BeBhayibhile banyanisekileyo, igama ababezibiza ngalo, babethandaza ngoxa behlolisisa ngokunyanisekileyo iZibhalo.—Mat. 11:25.

¹⁶ Ukufundisisa ngokuzimisela kwaBafundi BeBhayibhile kweza neziqhamo ezihle. Babhenca iimfundiso zobuxoki basasaza inyaniso yeBhayibhile, kwelimiweyo liphela. Umsebenzi wabo wanceda abaninzi uqinisekisa abo babelambile yaye benxanelwe inyaniso kaThixo. Ngoko ke, umbuzo obangel’ umdla ngulo: Ngaba aBafundi BeBhayibhile kwiminyaka engaphambi ko-1914  babelijelo elimiselweyo ukuze lisetyenziswe nguKristu ukondla izimvu zakhe? Nakanye. Babesekwixesha lokukhula, labe ilungiselelo lokuba kubekho ijelo lokondla ngokomoya lisaqalisa ukwakheka. Lalingekafiki ixesha lokuba ukhula loosinga maKristu lwahlulwe kwingqolowa engamaKristu okwenene.

17. Ziziphi izinto ezibalulekileyo ezaqalisa ukutyhileka ngo-1914?

¹⁷ Njengokuba siye seva kwinqaku elandulela eli, ixesha lokuvuna laqalisa ngo-1914. Ngaloo nyaka, ziliqela izinto ezibalulekileyo ezaqala ukutyhileka. UYesu wabekwa etroneni wanguKumkani ngoxa kuqalisa imihla yokugqibela. (ISityhi. 11:15) Ukususela ngo-1914 ukusa kwinxalenye yokuqala ka-1919, uYesu wapheleka uYise ukuya kwitempile yokomoya ukuze bayihlole baze bayicoce. (Mal. 3:1-4) Ukususela ngo-1919, kwaqalisa ixesha lokuhlanganisa ingqolowa. Ngaba elo yada yaba lixesha lokuba uKristu amisele ijelo elinye elilungelelaniselwe ukusasaza ukutya kokomoya? Yayililo ngokwenene!

18. Yintoni awathi wayeza kuyimisela uYesu, ibe nguwuphi umbuzo obalulekileyo owaphakamayo njengoko kuqhubeka imihla yokugqibela?

¹⁸ Kwisiprofeto sakhe esiphathelele ixesha lesiphelo, uYesu wachaza ukuba wayeza kumisela ijelo ukuze linikele ‘ukutya kokomoya ngexesha elifanelekileyo.’ (Mat. 24:45-47) Liliphi ijelo awayeza kulisebenzisa? Ngokuvisisana noko wakwenzayo ngenkulungwane yokuqala, uYesu wayeza kuphinda ondle abaninzi ngezandla zabambalwa. Kodwa njengoko imihla yokugqibela yayiqhubeka, umbuzo obalulekileyo yaba ngulo, Yayiza kuba ngoobani aba bambalwa? Lo mbuzo neminye ephathelele isiprofeto sikaYesu uza kuxutyushwa kwinqaku elilandelayo.