IBetlehema

Indoda engumyanga lomkayo babesehambeni olude, oludinisayo. Asazi uqobo ukuthi babehamba njani – ukuthi kumbe babehamba ngezinyawo loba mhlawumbe babegade ubabhemi. Babesendleleni yabo yokuya kudolobho elincinyane leBetlehema. Ibizo lendoda lalinguJosefa, unkosikazi wakhe enguMariya.

Kumele ukuthi bathi befika basebedinwe kakhulu njengoba babehambe umango omude. Kodwa kwakungelandawo lapho ababengahlala khona. Indlu yezihambi abantu abanengi abahlala khona yayigcwele. Babengelandawo ngitsho ukuthi bahlale. Kwakudanisa kangakanani! Kwasekumele benzeni? Bahlale phandle emigwaqweni ubusuku bonke?

Indawo engcono ababengayithola yisibaya – lapho okugcinwa khona izinkomo loba amabhiza. Kwakuzabe kuqanda njalo kungahlanzekanga. Yayingasindawo enhle! Kodwa kwakungcono kulokulala phandle.

Ngitsho-ke ngalobobusuku uMariya wathola umntwana ongumfana. Ibizo lakhe kwakunguJesu. Kwathi esegoqelwe, indawo eyayikhona ukuthi bambeke kwakungumkolo – lapho izinkomo ezidlela khona. Asazi-ke ukuthi inkomo zazikhona yini khonapho kanye lamankonyane azo amancinyane ngalesosikhathi? Kumbe njalo kwakulamabhiza labobabhemi bevalelwe lapho?

Kungani kanti usane lolu lwathiwa nguJesu? (Lokhu kutsho ukuthi “uMsindisi”.) Kudala, emva le, kungakafiki lobobusuku, ingilosi evela emazulwini yayize yethekelela uMariya yamtshela ukuthi wayezathola umntwana, njalo uNkulunkulu ngokwakhe wayezakuba nguYise walo umntwana – hatshi uJosefa. Umntwana lo wayezakwehluka kubantwana bonke ngoba yena eyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.

Emva kwalokho, ingilosi yayibuye yeza kuJosefa yamtshela laye ngalo umntwana ongummangaliso. Yayimtshelile uJosefa ukuthi ibizo lalo umntwana kumele abe ngubani. Kwakumele athiwe nguJesu, “ngoba uzasindisa abantu bakhe ezonweni zabo”.

Khathesi-ke lumntwana ongummangaliso wayesezelwe – esibayeni. UJosefa loMariya baluthanda kakhulu lolusane lapho lulele laphaya emkolweni. Njalo loNkulunkulu esezulwini wathokoza.

Kodwa-ke iBetlehema lonke lalilele. Akukho loyedwa owayesazi ngezinto lezi ezimangalisayo ezasezenzakele.

UNkulunkulu wayethe kuzakuthi lapho ethumela iNdodana yakhe, yayizazalelwa edolobheni elincinyane leBetlehema. Yikho kwathi masinyane nje lungakazalwa usane, uJosefa loMariya basuka betshiya umuzi wabo eNazaretha. Ababusi beRoma babebalaye ukuthi baye eBetlehema ukuze amabizo abo abhalwe phansi ukuze bathele.

Mhlawumbe abanye benu balabanawabo, umfana loba inkazana. Kwalungiswa kuhle kakhulu ngonanzelelo engakazalwa. Kodwa uJesu, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu wathi esiza wazalelwa esibayeni. Uthando olukhulu okungakanani alalo.

Kulevesi elithi, “Liyawazi umusa weNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu, ukuthi lanxa wayenothile, waba ngumyanga ngenxa yenu.”

Ungayifunda indatshana le kuLuka isahluko 2 kuvesi 1 kusiya ku-7. Khangela njalo uMathewu isahluko 1 kuvesi 18 kusiya ku-25, lakuLuka 1 amavesi 26 kusiya ku-37.

O dolojana leBetlehema,

Sikubona ulele ngokuthula njani;

Phezu kobuthongo bakho obunzulu obungelaphupho

Izinkanyezi ezithuleyo ziyedlula;

Kanti phakathi kwemigwaqo yakho emnyama

Kukhazimula isibane saphakade;

Amathemba lokwesaba kweminyaka yonke

Kuhlangene kuwe ngalobubusuku.

“Lithembekile lelilizwi njalo lifanele ukwamukelwa konke, ukuthi uKristu Jesu weza emhlabeni ukusindisa izoni, engiyinduna yazo mina” (1 Timoti 1 v 15).

Abelusi Bezimvu

Phandle le emadlelweni ngaphandle kweBetlehema kwakulabelusi ababeluse izimvu zabo. Lanxa nje kwakuphakathi kobusuku, kwakumele babe lapho. Mhlawumbe isilwane, loba ibhere lalicatheme, lilinde ukuthumba amazinyane ezimvu amancinyane. Loba yibuphi ubusuku, kuqanda loba kutshisa, kumanzi loba komile, kwakumele babe lapho, balinde izimvu zabo emasimini.

Kanti kodwa kuyini lokhu okwenzekayo? Ngubani lo abambona ekhazimula? Njalo yikukhanya kwani lokhu okukhazimula kubazingeleza? Basebethukile. Isibili le kumele kube yingilosi!

Kodwa- ke ingilosi yasikhuluma kubo – ngomusa omkhulu. Yabatshela ukuthi kwakungadingeki ukuthi bethuke. Yayize ivela emazulwini ukuzabazisa ngomntwana ongummangaliso oweyezelwe eBetlehema ngesikhathi abantu bonke belele. Lo umntwana “wayenguMsindisi, uKristu iNkosi”.

Abelusi bamangala ukuthi bezwe ukuthi uMsindisi owayelindelwe isikhathi eside wayeseze wafika. Kodwa isimanga esinjani! Nxa befuna ukubona umntwana, babengafanelanga ukuya esigodlweni – babengeke baye esigodlweni senkosi uHerodi. Babezathola lolusane, phakathi kwendawo zonke ezingalalwa, “lulele emkolweni”. Ngakho kwakumele baqale badinge isibaya.

Kodwa bathi bangakenzi lutho, bengakaxoxi lokuxoxa omunye lomunye, khonokho nje isibhakabhaka sasesigcwele ixuku lezingilosi ezingcwele zihlabela zisithi:

“UDUMO KALUBE KUNKULUNKULU KWELIPHEZULU, LOKUTHULA EMHLABENI; ISIFISO ESIHLE EBANTWINI.”

Kufanele ukuthi leyo yayiyingoma emnandi kulazo zonke esezake zezwakala emhlabeni. Akucabange sibili ngakho lokhu! Umntwana ongummangaliso usezelwe eBetlehema. UMsindisi usebuyile, kodwa kakho okwaziyo, kakho onakayo. Kodwa uNkulunkulu uthuma ixuku lengilosi ezingcwele, ezikhazimulayo njalo zilodumo, zivela emazulwini ukuzajabulela ukuzalwa kweNdodana yakhe ethandiweyo. UJesu wayehlezi eyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu; kodwa khathesi wayesebuye emhlabeni ukuthi azalwe njengomntwana.

Khona izingilosi zanyamalala. Zasezibuyele emazulwini. Abelusi bezimvu bakhangelana. “Asihambeni eBetlehema siyebona lolulutho”, batsho njalo. Babesazi ukuthi nguNkulunkulu owayebazise ngalokhu. Kungumusa lesihawu esinganani ukuthi uNkulunkulu olomusa osemazulwini athumele umbiko ngoJesu oqondiswe kubelusi bezimvu abayangekileyo abambalwa!

Ngakho bahaluzela ngokuphangisa ukuthi bathole isibaya lomkolo. Izimvu babezazithini? Ah! Bathembela eNkosini ukuthi yayizazigcina. Khathesi basebezwe indaba ezinhle, ngakho kwasekumele bakhohlwe okunye konke.

Kwathi lapho befika edolobheni bathola zonke izinto zinjengalokhu uNkulunkulu wayetshilo - “uMariya loJosefa kanye losane lulele emkolweni”.

Ucabanga ukuthi benzani? Babethabe kakhulu okwenza batshela bonke okwakwenzakele, njalo bonke bamangala. Kodwa asizwa ukuthi ukhona umuntu loba oyedwa owabonakala edinga uMsindisi. Isimanga esinjani!

Okwenzakala kubelusi bezimvu emva kwalokhu kasikwazi. Kasiwazi ngitsho lamabizo abo, loba nje ukuthi bacabangani, kanye lokuthi babe ngabantu abadala loba abasebatsha. Kodwa esikuzwa okukucina ngabo yikuthi badumisa uNkulunkulu. Inhliziyo zabo zazigcwele injabulo. Basebembonile uMsindisi owayekade elindelwe, uJesu iNdodana kaNkulunkulu.

Ungazibalela indatshana le kuLuka isahluko 2 amavesi 8 kusiya ku-19.

Zingilosi elivela ebukhosini bodumo,

Ndizani phezu komhlaba wonke;

Lina elacula indaba yendalo,

Khathesi memezelani ukuzalwa koGcotshiweyo,

Wozani likhonze,

Likhonze uKristu, iNkosi entsha ezelweyo.

“Wayekhona emhlabeni, njalo umhlaba wenziwa ngaye, kodwa umhlaba kawumazanga. Weza kokwakhe, kodwa abakhe kabamamukelanga. Kodwa bonke abamamukelayo, wabapha amandla okuthi babe ngabantwana bakaNkulunkulu, labo abakholwa ebizweni lakhe” (uJohane 1 v 10-12).

UMariya

Kwathi lalapho abelusi bezimvu sebehambile, unina kaJesu, uMariya kazange atsho lutho. Wathula zwi. Kanenginengi sifunda ngoMariya ethule zwi. Kodwa- ke zinengi izinto ayezicabanga.

Kambe wayecabanga okwakukhulunywe yingilosi lapho uJesu engakazalwa yini? “Uzakuba mkhulu, njalo uzathiwa yiNdodana yoPhezukonke.” Kambe wacabanga ngomculo awuculayo yena yini? (Ubukwazi ukuthi uMariya waqala owakhe umculo?) Uqala kanje: “Umphefumulo wami uyayikhulisa iNkosi, lomoya wami uyathokoza ngoNkulunkulu uMsindisi wami.”

Kodwa ngalesisikhathi kumele ukuthi wayemangele kakhulu phezu kodaba abelusi bezimvu ababemtshele lona – mayelana lengilosi lalokho eyayikubikile, kanye lexuku lezingilosi zemazulwini kanye lengoma yazo.

Ngeqiniso uMariya wayengumfazi othokoza kakhulu. Wayelesibusiso esikhulu sokuthola usane olwahluke kuzinsane zonke esezake zazalwa. Wayesazi kuhle ukuthi lumntwana wayenguNkulunkulu uqobo. Wamthanda kakhulu kangkanani, wamnakekela kakhulukazi! Siyazi futhi ukuthi ngesikhathi esakhula uJesu, wayethanda unina kakhulu, elomusa kuye.

Ngalokho, abanye abantu bakhonza uMariya, kodwa lokhu akumelanga sikwenze. Kumele sikhonze uNkulunkulu kuphela. Futhi angeke zikhuleke kuMariya ngoba phela uMariya sewafa.

Kuyisimanga ukuthi usane lukaMariya lunguNkulunkulu woqobo olamandla wonke!

Kamncinyane uSomandla ekuzalweni kwakhe,

Okudlula esesihlalweni sakhe elamandla;

Amahlombe akhe athwala amazulu lomhlaba,

Ngesikhathi uMariya emphethe yena.

Ungabala ngoMariya ikakhulu kuLuka isahluko 1 kumavesi 26 kusiya ku-56, lakuLuka 2 amavesi 16 kusiya ku-19. (Ungabala lezinye iziqa ezivela kwezinye izahluko.)

Wahlala emkolweni,

Lowa owemzini wasemazulwini,

Lapho izinkabi ezanyathela khona;

Owesifazana-ke owathola umusa kuNkulunkulu;

EloNkulunkulu wamuthi nguMsindisi,

Wasemazi njengoNkulunkulu.

“Kwathi ukuphelela kwesikhathi sekufikile, uNkulunkulu wathuma iNdodana yakhe, yazalwa ngowesifazana, yazalelwa ngaphansi komthetho, ukuze ihlenge abangaphansi komlayo” (amaGalathiya 4 v 4, 5).

Kanye emzini wobukhosi kaDavida,

Kwema isibaya senkomo esidelelekayo,

Khona umama walalisa usane lwakhe,

Emkolweni owaba ngumbheda wakhe,

UMariya wayengulowo mama ochumileyo,

UJesu Kristu elusane lwakhe.

USimeyoni

Ngalesisikhathi kwakulendoda endala eyayihlala eJerusalema, umango ongaba ngamamayila ayisithupha nxa usuka eBetlehema. Wayeyindoda elungileyo, elomusa, futhi wayelemfihlo. UNkulunkulu wayemtshele ukuthi engakafi yena uqobo wayezabona uMsindisi okwakukade walindelwa, iNkosi uJesu Kristu. Abantu abanengi abalungileyo babethembe ukuthi ngelinye ilanga bazambona, kodwa badaniswa.

Ngolunye usuku kwakhanya angathi kukhona okuthile okuqakathekileyo okwakusenzakala. USimeyoni wezwa ukuthi laye kaye ethempelini. Wayeke wabakhona le kanengi empilweni yakhe, kodwa khathesi uNkulunkulu wayekhuluma emtshela ukuthi kumele ahambe lamuhla. Ngakho-ke wahamba.

Kwasekusenzeka okunye. Indoda lomkayo bangena ethempelini. Akula lutho olumangalisayo ngalokho. Kodwa kwakunguJosefa loMariya njalo bephethe umntwana uJesu. Khathesi wayesanda ukwedlula inyanga eyodwa yobudala. Babesenza lokho uNkulunkulu ayebalaye ukuthi bakwenze – ukuletha usane kuNkulunkulu ethempelini, lokunikela umnikelo. Umhlatshelo-ke ababengawenelisa yilowo oweneliswa ngabayanga: hatshi iwundlu, loba inkunzi, kodwa inkwilimba ezimbili kuphela.

Kwathi lapho uSimeyoni ekhangelisisa laba ababili wananzelela ukuthi lolusane abalalo nguMsindisi loNkulunkulu wakhe. Usuku okukade lwalindelwa lwaselufikile. Kufanele ukuthi wajabula kangakanani! UNkulunkulu wayesenze lokho ayekuthembisile, nanso-ke iNkosi yakhe phambi kwamehlo akhe.

Njengomprofethi omdala uSimeyoni waphakamisa iNkosi uJesu wambamba engalweni zakhe. Wasebonga uNkulunkulu ngenxa yomusa lothando lwakhe. Wazizwa evuma ukufa. Phela lokho ayekulindele wayesekutholile. Wathi: “Nkosi, khathesi iyekele inceku yakho ihambe ngokuthula, njengokwelizwi lakho; ngoba amehlo ami alubonile usindiso lwakho.”

Labo abalinde iNkosi abadaniswa.

UJosefa loMariya balalelisisa. Bamangala kangakanani ukuzwa ezinye zezinto ezimangalisayo ezatshiwo nguSimeyoni mayelana lomntwana!

USimeyoni wacina ngokubabusisa. Kodwa-ke kulokuthile okudanisayo akukhulumayo. Wazisa uMariya ngosizi ayezalwazi ngelinye ilanga.

Ngakho-ke lanxa wayeselusane, lesisikhumbuzo sasikhona esokuthi “uKristu wazalelwa ukuthi afe”. Wayezalelwe eBetlehema, kodwa lukhona usuku lapho ayezahlupheka khona afe esiphambanweni seKalivari.

Indaba le ungayibala kuLuka isahluko 2 amavesi 25 kusiya ku-35.

Wehlela phansi emhlabeni evela emazulwini

Lowo oyiNkosi loNkulunkulu wakho konke;

Njalo idumba lakhe kwakuyisibaya,

Umbheda wakhe kwakuyisitebelo,

Labayanga, labasweleyo labeyisekayo,

Wahlala emhlabeni uMsindisi wethu ongcwele.

“Ngoba sizalelwe umntwana, sinikiwe indodana; lombuso uzakuba semahlombe akhe; lebizo lakhe lizakuthiwa nguMangaliso, uMcebisi, uNkulunkulu olamandla, uBaba olaphakade, iNkosi yokuthula” (uIsaya 9 v. 6).

UAna

Imihla yonke ethempelini eJerusalema kwakubonakala isalukazi. Wayelapho isikhathi sonke. Ibizo lakhe lalinguAna.

Kudaladala uAna esemutsha kwakwenzeke kuye ulutho oludanisayo. Wayendile – kodwa masinyane nje indoda yakhe yafa. Usizi olubuhlungu!

Kodwa-ke uAna wayengowesifazana olomusa, njalo impilo yakhe yonke wayeyichithe ekusebenzeleni uNkulunkulu. Ebusuku lasemini ngokufananayo wayetholakala ekhuleka kuNkulunkulu. Kambe thina sikhuleka kanengi kangakanani?

UAna-ke wayengumprofethikazi, ngakho-ke wayesazi konke ngezithembiso zikaNkulunkulu lalokho uNkulunkulu ayethe uzakwenza. Wakwazi ukuthi ngolunye usuku iNdodana kaNkulunkulu yayizazalwa njengosane eBetlehema. NjengoSimeyoni wayengomunye walabo ababeloyisa kakhulu ukubona ukuza kweNdodana.

Khonapho kanye uSimeyoni esaphethe iNkosi uJesu ezandleni zakhe kwakungafika bani ngaphandle kukaAna.UNkulunkulu wabona ukuthi wayelapho “khonokho-nje”. Laye-ke uAna wathaba kakhulu. Wathulula inhliziyo yakhe ebonga iNkosi ngenxa yesipho sakhe esimangalisayo seNdodana yakhe.

Ngaphandle kukaSimeyoni loAna babekhona futhi abanye abalutshwana eJerusalema ababelindele ukubuya kukaJesu beloyisa kakhulu ukuza kwakhe. Sitshelwa ukuthi “babelindele uhlengo”. Babesazi ukuthi lapha uJesu esebuyile wayezahlenga abantu bakhe ngegazi lakhe.

Njalo uNkulunkulu wabona ukuthi bonke laba bakwazi okwasekwenzakele, ukuthi iNdodana kaNkulunkulu yayisifikile. Ingilosi yatshela abelusi bezimvu. Inkanyezi yatshela amadoda ahlakaniphileyo. UNkulunkulu ngokwakhe watshela uSimeyoni. Kodwa kwakunguAna owathunywa nguNkulunkulu ukuthi akhulume indaba ezimangalisayo kulaba abatshiyeneyo eJerusalema.

Singakhumbula ngalesi salukazi sihamba kancinyane izindlu ngezindlu, sithabe kangaka ukuthi sibatshela ukuthi iNkosi isifikile. Bathokoza kanganani- ke ukuzwa izindaba ezithokozisayo!

Indaba le ungayifunda kuLuka 2 isahluko 2 amavesi 36 kusiya ku-38.

Bayethe, wena kusa obusisiweyo,

Bayethe, madabukakusa entokozo ohlengo!

Hlabelela kuJerusalema lonke;

UKristu uzelwe eBetlehema!

“Ngoba lizalelwe lamuhla uMsindisi, onguKristu iNkosi, emzini kaDavida” (uLuka 2 v. 11).

Amadoda Ayizazi

Khatshana elizweni lempumalanga kwakuhlala amadoda ayizazi. Asikwazi ukuthi kungani babethiwa ngamadoda ayizazi. Kukhanya babekhaliphile njalo bebala bechwayisisa yonke imihlobo yezinto. Kufanele futhi ukuthi babenothile. Mhlawumbe babengamakhosi. (Abantu abanengi sebenakane njalo.)

Asitshelwa ukuthi amadoda ayizazi ayemangaki. Abantu bande ukukhuluma “ngamadoda ayizazi amathathu”. Hayike, mhlawumbe babebathathu – kodwa iBhayibhili kayisitsheli.

Ngobusuku thize la amadoda ayizazi ayekhangele phezulu esibhakabhakeni. Kodwa kuyini lokhu ayekubona, ulutho ayengakaze alubone mandulo? Inkanyezi ekhanyayo ecazimulayo. Kanengi isibhakabhaka sempumalanga sasihlala sigcwele inkanyezi – kodwa lesi? Hatshi, ayengakaze asibone mandulo. Sasehlukile.

UNkulunkulu-ke wawatshengisa ukuthi kungani inkanyezi yayilapho. INkosi engummangaliso yayizelwe, futhi uba ayengalandela inkanyezi yayizabakhokhelela lapho iNkosi eyayingatholwa khona.

Athaba kangakanani ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayesewatshelile ngeNkosi esanda kuzalwa! Kwasekumele ahle atshetshe ayemthola. Kodwa mana! Okokuqala kusamele athole izipho ezinhle ukumphathela. Nxa uzake uyevakatshela usane, uhlala uthwala isipho, kawenzi njalo yini? Ngakho athi ebezitholile izipho, atshiya konke angena indlela.

Kufanele ukuthi kwakuluhambo olude kakhulu - amamayila amanenginengi. Kodwa aqhubeka, elandela inkanyezi. Nxa ayeke ezwa isizungu kumbe ukudana, kumbe ukuzibuza ukuthi abuyele emuva, inkanyezi yayikhona ilokhu ihamba phambi kwawo. Kuwo okwakuphezu kwakho konke yikuyathola le iNkosi esanda-kuzalwa.

Ekucineni afika emzini ongcwele weJerusalema. Ngamadlabuzane alindela ukubona usane oluyiNkosi ngakho ahaluzela esiya esigodlweni, elindele ukuthi uzaba lapho.

Kodwa kulolutho oluphambanisekileyo! Kuyini okuphambanisekileyo? Akukho loyedwa okhanya esazi ulutho maqondana losane oluyiNkosi. Kakulasane esigodlweni. Inkosi uHerodi usebunyameni ngalokho akhuluma ngakho. Njalo ukhanya engathokozi ngitsho!

Kwakudanisa kangakanani! Kambe ayenze iphutha elibi yini? Ukuthi kambe ayezicabangela izinto ezingekho?

Hatshi! Labo abadinga uJesu ngeqiniso bazamthola kuphela ekucineni.

Ungazibalela indatshana le kuMathewu isahluko 2 kumavesi 1 kusiya ku-7.

Njengoba ngentokozo amadoda akudala

Abona inkanyezi ekhokhelayo,

Langenjabulo bahlangabeza ukukhanya kwayo,

Ikhokhelela phambili, inkanyazela,

Ngokunjalo, Nkosi elomusa omkhulu, lathi

Njalo njalo kasiholelwe kuwe.

“INKOSI izakusa phezu kwakho, lenkazimulo yayo ibonakale phezu kwakho. Lezizwe zizakuza ekukhanyeni kwakho, lamakhosi ekukhazimuleni kokusa kwakho” (Isaya 60 v. 2, 3).

UHerodi

UHerodi inkosi wayekhathazekile kakhulu. Wayeyindoda ekhohlakeleyo, elesihluku njalo engelamusa. Kuyini lokhu ayesanda kukuzwa? Umntwana osezelwe owayezakuba yiNkosi? Kodwa wayengubani umntwana? UHerodi wayengezwanga lutho. Umntwana lo wayezakhula abesekhupha uHerodi esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi yini?

Kumele kwenziwe ulutho. Futhi ngokuphangisa!

UHerodi waqala ukukhumbula ngayesekuzwe kanenginengi. KuloMuntu olenkazimulo owayezakuza ngolunye usuku owayezakuba yiNkosi yamaJuda. Lokhu kuza kwale iNkosi enkulu – uKristu (kumbe uMesiya) njengoba wayesaziwa, kwasekukhulunywe okweminyakanyaka ngabantu.

UHerodi-ke wasesiba lomcabango okhohlakeleyo. Nxa wayengathola lumntwana, wayezakwenza ukuthi abulawe. UHerodi olesihluku! Kodwa kungaphi lapha angabe ezalelwe khona? Ukhona owayekwazi yini?

Ngakho-ke uHerodi wabuthanisa bonke ababesazi iMibhalo kuhle. Wayelombuzo ayefuna ukubabuza wona. Bayasitshela yini lapho uKristu azazalelwa khona?

Isibili, lo kwakungumbuzo olula. Kwakungelabunzima. Babelakho ukumtshela uHerodi khonokho. “Yebo”, batsho, “eBetlehema”. Kungekhatshana kangako – amamayila ayisithupha kuphela.

IMibhalo yayisobala kakhulu. Eminyakeni eminengi eyayedlule umprofethi owayethiwa nguMika wayebikile ukuthi kuseBetlehema lapho okwakumele uKristu azalelwe khona.

Ngakho uHerodi wathuma ukubiza amadoda ayizazi. Wonke umuntu kwakumele aphume, wasewabuza ngokunanzelela okukhulu: kwasekukude kangakanani eqale ukuyibona le inkanyezi? Wasesithi kawaye eBetlehema.

“Liqhubeke lidinga lize liluthole lolusane”, watsho. “Lingakhohlwa ukuphenduka beselingitshela lapho akhona”. Khonokho uHerodi wasekhuluma amanga esabekayo. Wathi, “Ngifuna ukuza ngimkhonze”. Lonke liyakwazi isibili uHerodi ayefuna ukukwenza, akunjalo? Yebo, ukubulala uJesu.

Asuka njalo amadoda ayizazi ukuthi aqhubeke ngenhambo zawo. Ajabula kakhulu lapha esebuye ayibona inkanyezi njalo.

Kodwa inkanyezi yayingeke iwakhokhelele kundawo engayisiwo. Inkanyezi yayingawasanga esigodlweni sikaHerodi. Kufanele ukuthi anakana, nxa efika eJerusalema, ukuthi sekulula khathesi; kawasayisweli inkanyezi khathesi. Impambaniso engakanani! Ajabula kakhulu ukubona inkanyezi futhi.

Inkanyezi yasihamba phambi kwawo yaze “yema phezu kwalapho usane olwalukhona”.

Abanye abantwana bacabanga ngabelusi bezimvu lezazi befika ndawonye ukuzakwethekela uJesu. Hatshi. Abelusi bezimvu bafika ngobusuku azalwa ngabo; amadoda ayizazi wona afika emva kwesikhathi eside. Asikwazi ukuthi kwasekukude kangakanani, kodwa uJosefa loMariya loJesu basebesendlini eBetlehema, hatshi isitebele.

Ungazibalela indatshana le kuMathewu isahluko 2, amavesi 1 kusiya ku-10.

Inkanyezi yasondela kuningizimu yentshonalanga,

Phezu kweBetlehema yaphumula,

Lalapho yema njalo yahlala,

Phezu kwendawo kanye lapho uJesu ayelele khona.

“Kodwa wena Betlehema Efratha, lanxa umncinyane phakathi kwezinkulungwane zakoJuda, kodwa kuwe ngizavelelwa ngozakuba ngumbusi koIsrayeli; okuvela kwakhe ngokwephakadeni, kusukela ephakadeni” (uMika 5 v. 2).

Izazi Zikhonza UJesu

Ngumsindo wani lo ozwakala ngaphandle kwendlu encinyane eBetlehema? Njalo ngobani laba abemzini abalindele ukungena? Kwakuyizazi, njalo zangena endlini.

UJosefa loMariya babengejwayelanga ukuba lezethekeli ezinjenga lezi – izinothi, njalo ezazivele khatshana kangaka.

Asazi kumbe izazi zazethukile? kumbe zazidanile? loba njalo zazidangele. Zazihambe wonke lo umango, ukuzabona iNkosi esanda kuzalwa – njalo ekucineni kwakho konke inkanyezi yabakhokhela, hatshi esigodlweni loba endlini yesinothi, kodwa kule indlu ethobekileyo, engumuzi wendoda lomfazi abangabayanga (hatshi inkosi lendlovukazi).

Kodwa kuyamangalisa kangakanani! Bathi khonokho “beyibona ingane encinyane, bawela phansi bamkhonza”. Cabanga ngalokhu! Lezizazi zisiwa phansi phambi kweNkosi uJesu encinyane, futhi zimkhonza njengoNkulunkulu. Kazidaniswanga. Babethole ababekufuna. Babesuthisekile.

Sengathi lathi singafundiswa ukudinga iNkosi uJesu njalo singasuthiseki size simthole.

Kodwa khathesi kwenzakalani? Izazi sezikhupha izipho ezidulayo njalo zizibeka phambi kweNkosi uJesu.

Okokuqala kulegolide eliligugu – isipho esihle esifanele inkosi.

Kulandele impepha enuka kuhle – uhlobo lwamakha anukelela kuhle asetshenziswa ethempelini ekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu. Futhi ifanele ngoba uJesu unguNkulunkulu.

Kodwa isipho sesithathu asejwayelekanga sibili. Imure! Kungani imure? Imure yayingesiyo yomntwana omncinyane; imure yayisetshenziswa nxa umuntu esefile. Wo! Yayiyisikhumbuzo sokuthi uJesu wayeze ukuthi ngolunye usuku afe esiphambanweni, afe ukuze asindise abantu bakhe ezonweni zabo.

Khonokho, emva kokupha lezizipho ezinhle, ezidulayo, izazi zasuka. UJosefa loMariya kufanele ukuthi bamangala.

Kodwa kambe izazi zabuyela zayatshela uHerodi ezazikutholile? Hatshi. Ngalobobusuku kwathi sezilele izazi zaba lephupho elimangalisayo. UNkulunkulu wakhuluma lazo. Wazitshela ukuthi zingayi ukuyatshela uHerodi, kodwa ukuthi ziqonde kanye elizweni lakizo.

Siyakuthanda ukukhumbula ngezazi kanye lokwethekela kwazo. Sisuka sizibuze ukuthi kambe bahamba besithini omunye komunye sebebuyela ekhaya labo empumalanga?

UHerodi inkosi wazonda. Wathukuthela. Wezwa sengathi izazi zazimhleka. Kungani zingasaphendukelanga kuye? Kungani zingasenzanga ayekutshilo? Kungani zingamkholwanga?

UHerodi wasesenza into eyesabekayo. Wathumela amadoda ukuyadinga bonke abantwanyana abangaphansi kweminyaka emibili ngobudala, ababulale ngesihluku. Akumangalisi ukuthi sihlezi sicabanga ngoHerodi njengendoda ekhohlakele kakhulu. Wayezimisele ukuthi kakho omunye owayezakuba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

Kodwa iNkosi encinyane uJesu - ke? Kabulawanga laye yini?

Indatshana le ungayibala kuMathewu isahluko 2, amavesi 11 kusiya ku-16.

Ozelwe eyiNkosi egcekeni leBetlehema,

Igolide ngiyaliletha ngimfake umqhele futhi,

INkosi phakade, kalasiphelo

Phezu kwabangcwele bakhe ukubusa.

Impepha ngilayo ukumupha

Iphunga elimnandi uNkulunkulu ngelakhe;

Umkhuleko lendumiso, amazwi ephakanyiswa

Mkhonzenini uNkulunkulu ophezukonke.

Imure ngeyami; iphunga layo elibabayo,

Liphefumula impilo egcwele ububi:

Usizi, iphika, igazi, ukufa,

Kupheleliswe engcwabeni eliqandayo njengelitshe

“Ikhonzeni INKOSI ebuhleni bobungcwele” (Isihlabelelo 96 v. 9).

Ukubalekela EGibithe

Kusebusuku. Konke kumnyama. Zingobani lezizimo ezibonakala kanzima ziphuma okokweba eBetlehema? Indoda, umfazi, njalo lomntwana. Yebo, uJosefa, uMariya lengane encinyane uJesu. Babalekela icebo likaHerodi elilesihluku elokubulala bonke abantwana abancinyane ngaseBetlehema.

Uhambo olude luphambi kwabo. Basendleleni yokuya eGibithe, lapho okwakhe kwathi usane uMozisi lwandenda phakathi komkolo walo wemihlanga phezu koMfula iNayili. INkosi uJesu wayezaphepha engozini elapho. Icebo likaHerodi laselehlulekile.

Kodwa- ke kungani iGibithe? Njengezihlakaniphi, uJosefa laye wayesuke waba lephupho elimangalisayo, laye futhi wayetsheliwe ukuthi sihluku bani uHerodi ayehlose ukusenza. UNkulunkulu esemazulwini wayekhangela iNdodana yakhe ethandiweyo ngothando njalo eyinakekela. Ngakho watshela uJosefa ukuthi abaleke loMariya loJesu behlele elizweni leGibithe.

Siyaloyisa ukwazi ukuthi kuyini okwenzakala kuJosefa, loMariya loJesu behlezi eGibithe. Kufanele ukuthi kwakungejwayeleki kubo, bengekho ebantwini bakaNkulunkulu. Asazi ukuthi bahlangana labobani, lokuthi babonani, mhlawumbe babebona izakhiwo zamaphiramidi.

Kodwa ekucineni uHerodi okhohlakeleyo wafa, loJosefa wasesiba lephupho elimangalisayo. Ngalesisikhathi kwakuyingilosi eyayimtshela ukuthi uHerodi kasekho. Basebengabuyela bonke elizweni lakoIsrayeli.

UJosefa loMariya kufanele ukuthi babethabile, babengafanelanga yini? Kwasekukade basuka bobabili betshiya iNazaretha besiya eBetlehema. Njalo kunenginengi okumangalisayo okwasekwasala kusenzeka kusuka ngalesosikhathi. Kungakanani ababezaxoxa ngakho!

Ekucineni nampo befika njalo kuNazaretha yakibo. Ngakho lumntwana obusisiweyo ongcwele, iNkosi uJesu, kumpilo yakhe engummangaliso, waziwa ngokuthi “nguJesu weNazaretha”.

Lukhulu kangakanani uthando lukaJesu iNkosi ukuthi eze emhlabeni wesono azalwe – lokuzakufa!

Indaba le ungayibala kuMathewu isahluko 2 amavesi 13 kusiya ku-15, lo-19 kusiya ku-23.

UJesu owayehlala emazulwini

Weza emhlabeni ukuthi abe ngumuntu lokuthi afe,

LeBhayibhilini singabona,

Ukuthi wayelunge kangakanani.

Kodwa ukufa okwesihluku okunje wakufa,

Waphanyekwa phezulu wabethelwa;

Lalezo zandla ezilomusa ezenze okuhle,

Bazibhethela esiphambanweni sogodo.

Wasesifa kanjalo, langenxa yalokhu

Weza ukuba ngumuntu lokufa.

IBhayibhili lithi wavela ezulwini,

Ukuze imiphefumulo ixolelwe izono zayo.

Futhi wayesazi ukuthi abantu bakhohlakele kangakanani,

Futhi wakwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu kumele ajezise isono,

Ngakho kusenzelwa abantu bakhe uJesu wathi,

Uzathwala isijeziso endaweni yabo.

“Kakho olothando olukhulu kulalolu, lokuthi umuntu ababekele phansi abangane bakhe impilo yakhe” (uJohane 15 v. 13).

“Uthando lukulokhu, kungesikuthi thina samthanda uNkulunkulu, kodwa ukuthi yena wasithanda, wasethuma iNdodana yakhe ukuthi ibe yinhlawulo yokuthula ngezono zethu (1 uJohane 4 v. 10).

Teus Benschop

2005-03-13T08:23:31