Inkuthazo kaJesu

Induduzo kaJesu

Johane 6:16-21

NguGabe Fluhrer

Ngeni nisihlezi, uma ungathanda ukuthatha ikhophi yaLizwi likaNkulunkulu, thina kulelo Johane isahluko 6. Uyakuthola ekhasini 891 uma usebenzisa iBhayibheli lesihlalo; 891, siqhubeka nezifundo zethu kule sihluko esimangalisayo yaLizwi likaNkulunkulu. Futhi thina kulelo siqhubeka ukubuka imisho 16 kuya ku 21 noJohane 6:16-21. Ngaphambi kokuthi thina sizwe Lizwi likaNkulunkulu, masicelenge um благословение wakhe kulo. Masithandaze.

Yase, thina thengwa ngegazi eliyigugu, yase into yokuthi thina sidinga kakhulu muhlanga ubusuku nemihlola eyahlukahlukene eyasiphazamisa usuku nosuku, yinto yokuthi thina sikhunjuzwe ukuthi Uyena othela igazi lakhe eliyigugu ngathi ungena enqoleni nathi. Ungasibonisa Jesu muhlanga? Yenza umuhle ngakhe, umenze abonakale ngakhe kunazo zonke izinto emhlabeni, ngamandla oMoya Wakho oNgcwele sithandaza, egameni likaJesu, amen.

Johane 6, kuqala imisho 16. Yilo Lizwi likaNkulunkulu:

Ububini bufikile, abafundi bakhe behla kwis elandelayo, bafika enqoleni, baqalisa ukuwela kwis ukuya eKapernaum. Kwakuse mnyama, noJesu akabuzifikanga kubo. I kwis bay benza bub ngenxa umoya oqinile bewa. Bak bafika benza imihlola emi-3 noma 4, babona Jesu hamba kwis befikile eduze enqoleni, bathe besaba. Kodwa wathi kubo, "Mina ngingu; musani ukwesaba." Bak bajabha ukuthatha kuye enqoleni, ngoko enqoleni yafika kwis eyayiya.

Utshani buya koma, izimbali ziwa, kodwa Lizwi likaNkulunkulu ovivayo bukahlala phakade naphakade.

Nkathi umntwana weminyaka emine uSidney Fahrenbruch athuthela eColorado, wenza le nto umntwana wonke angayenzayo. Wafumana isicuphi samapolisa esikufuphi waza wambuza ngokukhawuleza ukuba ajonge ikhaya lakhe kubakho oodaka. Uthe wenza umsebenzi wakhe wobuciko kodwa wawufuna ukuqiniseka ukuba akhona oodaka. Isicuphi uBonday weSebe lamapolisa laseColorado wabonakala ekhaya lakhe waza wahamba naye uSidney ukuze aqiniseke ukuba akhona oodaka waza ekupheleni kosuku wakwazi ukunika ingxelo yokuba ikhaya lakhe alinazo oodaka. Kodwa umama wakhe wathi. Umama wakhe wathi, “Kuyamangalisa ukuzithemba okwathi uBonday kusinika kuye uSidney njengoko ejonga ikhaya kubakho oodaka.”

Ukoyika kwethu kuqala xa sisemncinci, akunjalo? Kwaye njengoko sikhula, shintsha oodaka ngemali mboleko nabantwana neemeko ezingqongileyo nasezopolitikeni zelizwe, kodwa inqaku lihlala linala, zininzi izinto ezingqongileyo ezinokusoyikisa waze uhlale ujongene nokoyika ebomini bakho. Kwaye mhlawumbi olona loyiko lkhulu oluyothusa ngamanye amaxesha yinto esizama ukuyikhuphela ngaphandle ngokukhawuleza, yona le – “Mhlawumbi uThixo akakho. Mhlawumbi oku akuyonyaniso.” Ngaba ukhe wacinga njalo? Ngaba ukhe wacinga waza wacinga kuwe, “Ukuba ndixelela umntu endimazayo, baya kundijonga njenge ndiyathuka. Baya kunganathethi nam kwakhona. Baya kucinga ndishiye ukholo.” Nokuba yintoni. Loloyiko lkhulu esinalo sonke. Kwaye sikwindawo elungileyo, kuba uMartin Luther wabhala kakhulu ngalo, malunga noThixo owabonakala engenakho. Kwaye apha namhlanje kwesi sifundo, uYesu ufuna ukuthetha nathi waze aqiniseke olwo loyiko lwethu malunga nokuba uThixo ukhona na. Nokuba uyabakhathalela na.

Naye silapha kuJohane 6, njengodwa besikhuluma kancane ngalo isonto elidlule, yisikhathi esibalulekile. Futhi uJohane ubekhathazekile kufika kulelo ndawo, futhi uyakuba njalo ngezizulu ezimbalwa ezizayo, ukuze aqinisekise ngubani lo. UJohane uphakamisa futhi uphendula imibuzo yobunikazi ngoJesu. “Ngubani lo?” Ubatshele ekuqaleni – “Lowo Igama lalinguNkulunkulu.” Futhi manje uyapenda umfanekiso ngalowo. Futhi unikeza lezi zithombe, njengokungathi, zensada kaJesu ukusitshela ngubani Lo. Futhi sifika kule ngxenye lapha namhlanje ebusuku emva kokudla kwabantu abangamakhulu amahlanu isonto elidlule. Nalu into eyinhloko uJohane afuna ukuyenza namhlanje ebusuku ku 16 kufika ku 21. Lapho sesaba khona uNkulunkulu akhona, uJesu uyasiduduza ngobukhona Bakhe. Lowo yinto eyinhloko. Lapho sesaba khona uNkulunkulu akhona, uJesu uyasiduduza ngobukhona Bakhe. Futhi lozakuba ngamaduba ethu msimu. Kuvesi 16 kufika ku 18 – Ukungabakho kukaNkulunkulu. Futhi kuvesi 19 kufika ku 21 – Ubukhona bukaNkulunkulu. Ukungabakho kukaNkulunkulu nobukhona bukaNkulunkulu.

Ukungabakho kukaNkulunkulu

Thandani khona futhi ubuke umshana 16. “Nkathi yasebusuku yafika, abafundi bakhe behla baya olwandle, bangena esikebheni, baqala ukuwela olwandle baya eKapernawume. Kwase kude ubusuku, uJesu akabakufikanga kubo. Ulwandle lwaba lwengcwele ngenxa yokuthi umoya onamandla wawuvunguza.” Ngakho ngaphambi nje kwalokhu eveseni 15, izihlwele zafuna ukumenza inkosi yabo Akasuka kubo. Abafundi, uyabona lokhu ngokuphindaphindi - lokhu kukhuthaza kakhulu kimi njengoba ngifunda iZithunywa - abafundi baningi kakhulu njengizihlwele kunokuba njengoJesu uma ufunda uTestamente Omusha. Ngamanye amazwi, baphuthelwa yinto. Eqinisweni, uma ufika emsebenzini kaJesu, ngokuyisisekelo kuphela abantu ababona ukuthi ungubani, kuphela izidalwa ezibona ukuthi ungubani zii dmoni, hhayi abafundi, hhayi omunye umuntu. Baphuthelwa yinto enkulu futhi bazayiphuthela futhi lapha emva kokudla kwabantu abayizinkulungwane ezinhlanu. Bebengeke babe nalabo izihlwele becabanga ukuthi, “UyiNkosi! Uyobani esihlengera khona yena uyakulwela amaRoma yena uyakwenza kube mnandi eJerusalema futhi!” UJesu wabasuka wathi kubo ngandlela, “Angiyiyo inkindi yenu. Angikho lapha ukhonza ngendlela yamandla ayingcwele nawo wonke umntu. Kodwa angiyiyo inkosi enalokhu; yena ke, ndiye Inkosi enihlanzekelayo.” Lokho yinto ayakubonisa kubo njengoba eza kubo olwandle.

Johana usinika iinkcukacha ezinomdla. Kungoboobusuku. Nanini na kwenzeka oku kule ndima, kunesifuzo esikhulu. Kuyiqiniso, kuyiqiniso, kwakuyoboobusuku iminyaka engama-2 000 eyadlula eLwandle lwaseGalilee, kodwa kukho kwakhona isici esifuzo kuko. UJohana usithi into embi ihlala ikwenzeka; into embi ihlala ikwenzeka. Bona baye bodwa elwandle lo moya uvuka. Ngoku mhlawumbi uzwile oku ngaphambili, kodwa uLwandle lwaseGalile lwahlala, ndicinga, phantsi kancinane emanzini malunga ne-8 000. Ngoko ngokuqinisekileyo, iinkanyamba zinokuvela ngomoya ogqithisileyo, imvula eninzi, umoya omningi, phantsi kwemizuzu e15. Inokutshintsha kakhulu. Njengemozulu eMississippi kodwa yona iphambene kancinane! Bona bakhona – aba baqulunqi bezolwanje abaninzi kubo, kulungile? UJames noPeter noJohana. Kodwa wena unomntu onje ngoSimoni iZeloti. Yintoni iZeloti? Njengomntu oguqulayo; njengomntu oguqulayo, mhlawumbi umntu onje ngumntu osesangweni ebomini bakhe. Akaluncedo kubo kwaphela xa bebheke. Kulungile? Ngoko unalo iqela elikhathazekileyo labantu, abanye babo baqonda into eyenzekayo, abanye babo bangayazi. Ndingakubekela inceba into enye abayihlakulele, njengoko uJohana usitshela apha, bayesaba, bayathuka, bayesatshiswa. Kutheni? Kuba basithi kuye, “Uphi Yena?” UYesu akabandanga kuza kubo. Baye bodwa, ebusuku. Kwaye khumbula, zibekele kule scene. Akukho ukukhanya okungqongileyo kubo. Akukho umbane. Akukho ukukhanya kwaphela. Baye bodwa phakathi kwinkanyamba, yonke into ihlala ikwenzeka, akukho uphawu lukaYesu.

Umthandazo ongawabulewanga

Nokho lokho kupainta umfanekiso kithi, akunjalo? Siyabona njani uThixo engakho emileni yethu? Siyathandwa ukucabanga ukuthi ukhona njani? Nokho, ngiyacinga ukuthi indawo yokuqala yokuya kuyona yinto yokuthandaza engaphendulwa. Yinto ebuhlungu kithi, akunjalo? Okungenziwa yinto ayiphendulwa ngathi. Singathandaza iminyaka yonke ngento ethile bese sidimazeka sishiye. "Ukuphi uThixo? Kwa ngani engaphenduli lo mthandazo? Kubonakala ngathi njengento efanelekile. Yinto ngokuya kweLizwi Lakhe!" Zonke izinto esizishayelayo abaphostoli bathi imithandazo kufanele ibe yinto ayiphendulwa. Futhi uthi, "Ukuphi, uThixo? Kwa ngani umntanakwa wam engabuyi? Kwa ngani eqhubeka egijima awaye kuwe? Kwa ngani umdlavuza ungapholi? Abanye abantu bathandazile baphila, kodwa lokhu akusebenzi emileni yami." Kutheni ngayo yonke into evil emhlabeni? Akusiholeli yona ukuba sibuze ukuthi uThixo ukhona na? Siyabona yonke into evil ephithizelayo ukusuka eCharlottesville ukuya ekubulaweni kwababies abangama 3000 namuhla nje, njengakayile, ngakusasa, ngakusasa, ngakusasa, ukuya phambili 1973 ukuya phambili holocaust yanamuhla kwenzeka phansi nje eNorth State Street. Yonke into evil. Kuya evil yowesifazane odutshulwa ngaphandle kwanjengo, njengokuthi uRichard asho, amabhuloki angama 4 kususwa lapha. Ukuphi uThixo? Kwa ngani iISIS ikhona? Kwa ngani sithola izifo ezingakapholi? Yonke into evil – into evil yendalo, into evil yomzimba, evil yonke iphakathi kwethu. Kwa ngani? "Ukuphi, uThixo?"

Sikhathele uThixo

Naye, zicingisisa lokhu – mhlawumbe sekuseduze nje. Kutheni uma ukhathele nje kuThixo. Uya khona uphindele izenzo, umincumince, ubukeke muhle; akakho uyazi ukuthi kukhona okungalungile. Naye awuzwi ukusondelana Naye. Naye uthi, “Ukuphi, Thixo? Ngiqonde ukuthi ngizama ukwenza lokhu engiyazi ukuba ngikwenza kodwa ngefunda iBhayibheli lakho yize alukho. Ngithandazela yize alukho. Angizwi lutho ekunquleni. Ukuphi?” Naye le mibuzo ingaba yingozi. Ingaqala ukusikhathaza. Naye uma lokhu kwenzeka, nakhu umbuzo phambi kwethu – “Sizokwenza ntoni uma le mibuzo isikhathaza?” Masiqhubeke sifunde.

Ubukhona bukaThixo

Bhekani lokhu uJesu akusho; bhekani lokhu Enza, kodwa, kwivesi 19. Endaweni yesibili lapha sizobheka khona ubukhona bukaThixo. “Nabo bakhukula phandle baye malunga namamayela amathathu noma amane, babona uJesu ehamba phezu kolwandle anezela eduze kwenqola, bayesaba. Kodwa wathi kubo, ‘Mina ngingu; musani ukwesaba.’ Naye bajabula ukumngenisa enqoleni, yize inqola yafika ezweni ekuya kulo.” Ngakho bakhukula phandle baye malunga namamayela three-and-a-half ukuya eLwandle lwaseGalile, basaphila kude nalapho befuna ukuya khona, naye uJesu uza. Kutheni? Ngoba lokhu kungaba yisikhathi lapho bebebheke ukuyeka yonke ithemba. Lokhu kungaba yisikhathi sokugcina. Lokhu kungaba yisikhathi lapho ungaba khona ebomini bakho wathi, “Uma Ungabonakali, Thixo, ngiyaphela.” Yilapho uJesu abonakala khona. Bayesaba uma bembonile.

Ndiyo into ethakazelisayo. UJohane ungumuntu oyisebenzisa iGreki elula kakhulu. Abafundi base seminari yazi ukuthi uma uqala ukuhumusha nokufunda ulimi lweGreki, uqala ngo-1 Johane kakhulu ngenxa yokuthi silula kakhulu isichazamazwi. Kodwa unayo eminye imikhetho yamagama athakazelisayo lapha. Leli gama elithi “esatshik’ izulu” liyesaba hhayi nje kuphela kwokwenzekayo; abesabi ngenxa yokuthi babona uJesu ehamba. Babesaba ngenxa yokuthi umuntu oyedwa uza kubo. Leli gama lisetshenziswa nakweminye imibhalo yale njika nakuTestamente Elisha ngesaba lapho umuntu ekhona uNkulunkulu! UJohane uthi, “ehamba.” Futhi futhi, elinye igama elithakazelisayo lapha elichaza “ehamba ngokulula.” Akusiyo into enkulu Kuye ukuhamba phezu kwamagagasi esiphepho.

UJesu Ungumphathi Wendalo

Yesu usitshela into ethile nguye. Yini ayitshela yona? Uma ubuya emuva ukuya kuZibhaliso 107 – awudingi ukuya khona; ngizokufundela yona. Zibhaliso 107 zithi lokhu emavesini 29 no 30, “Wenza isiphepo sathula,” bekhuluma ngoYahweh, “namagagasi olwandle athulile. Khona-ke bajabule ukuthi amanzi athule wabaletha ekhaya labo elililo.” Khumbula lokhu esikuxoxe ngalo isonto eledlule, uYohane uyibhali yakho yesiTestamente Esisha ohlala enesesiTestamente Esidala ngemuva. Kukhona yini ayitshela yona? Uma ufunda uZibhaliso, futhi futhi, uzofunda lezi ndlopfu zinjalo. UNkulunkulu ethulisa ulwandle, UNkulunkulu enkulisa ukudalwa, uYahweh, uMdali wezenkolo wezulwini nomhlaba, uNkulunkulu wamaYuda, umbono ohluke kakhulu kaNkulunkulu emhlabeni wakudala – lo Nkulunkulu uyiOne osebenza egameni labantu bakhe. UYohane uthi, “Yebo, wabonakala ng肉mu futhi wafeza uZibhaliso 107:29-30 njengokuhamba phezu kolwandle.” Ungahamba phezu kolwandle kalula ngoba wena wadalile kalula. Kanjalo kwaba kalula kuYesu ukukhuluma ulwandle ukuba lubakho, amagagasi aqaphela izinyathelo zaye owenza izinyawo zicwilike emanzini ngokwemvelo. Uyini lo. Lokhu uYohane anxusa ukuba sikubone.

UNkulunkulu Uhlale Ethikame

Naye into yesibili ayenzayo ngokuya kubo lapha kukuthi, “Isikhathi Sami singathembwa. Isikhathi Sami singathembwa.” Yinto leyo esiyibuza ngayo lapho uThixo abonakala engasekho, khona? Inkhulumo yethu, lapho sibuza, “Kutheni umthandazo wethu ungaphenduliwe? Kutheni kukhona ububi obuningi?” Inkhulumo yethu, lapho sibuza, “Kutheni ungathintathanga, uThixo? Kutheni ungaphendulanga, uThixo?” Inkhulumo yesikhathi. Yinto leyo esiyenzayo. Naye uJesu uthi, “Isikhathi Sami siphelele.” “Kutheni usithumile ekhurumini, uJesu?” “Thembani kimi,” uthi. “Ndofika ngesikhathi esifanele.” Njengoba umuntu oyilungu losendlu yami athanda ukusho, “UThixo usindisa, kodwa asindisi ngaphambi kwesikhathi, yena usindisa ngesikhathi.”

Naye into ayenzayo lapha ehamba kubo phezu kolwandle, uthi, “Ndifike ku angenzeni.” Ifundvo liyenzeka njani? Lapho ufunda iTestamente Yakudala, ulwandle lufananisa ukuphikisana noThixo; isiphithiphithi, ukungahleleki, isono ngezinzwa. Yinto efananisayo kakhulu kubantu bakwa-Israyeli kuTestamente Yakudala. Naye uJesu lapho afika phezu kolwandle, uthi kubo, “Bona zonke izinto ezingaphikisana Nami, nina bazalwane, ezazikufundiswa ebandleni, nina abafundi, bona bazalwane, ezaziphikisana Nami? Ngiyazo zimisa zonke. Naye indlela leyo ezakubonakala ngayo kuvukelo lwakho, abafundi,” naku kwethu namuhla “ukuthi, isiphepho sobuNgelo bukaThixo esilufanelayo” namu “ndosithulisa.” Yinto leyo ivelele kule ndima. Akusiwe kuphela induduzo uJesu ayiselayo ngokufika ezokwesabisa kwethu; siyakhuluma ngayo ngomzuzu. Yinto leyo, yukuuthi uThixo uthi ufika kithi ukuze asuse ubuNgelo bakhe nokuphikisana kwakhe kule mondo. Yinto leyo ivelele kule ndima.

“Mina nguye”

Nase kwalokhu bheka into ayisho kubo njengoba besabeka. “Ngiyena.” Uqala ukuzazisa Yena. Kutheni enza njalo? Ngoba wena nami ngeke siyeke ukwesaba ngaphandle kokuba nesizatho esihle sokuyeka ukwesaba. UShesu akaholi ngokuthi, “Musani ukwesaba; Ngiyena.” Uholwa ngokuthi, “Ngiyena. Musani ukwesaba.” Futhi kwezinye izinguqulo, yiyo “I AM,” igama lesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu elivela eTestamenteni Elidala; UShesu afungamela ubuNkulunkulu. Akudingi ukuhunyushwa njalo, kodwa nganoma yiluphi uhlobo lokuhunyusha kunocacile umbono uJohane asivuyele. Isizatho sokuthi abafundi bangadingi ukwesaba kungenxa yokuthi ngubani oya kubo aqabele ebhathini labo. Ngamanye amazwi, UShesu uzazisa kithi ngoba usithanda, ngoba uthi, “Kukhona umuntu omkhulu lapha ofuneka futhi afune ukwesaba okulungile kuwe abafundi abasabekayo.”

“Musani Ukwesaba”

Ndipo uba yena athi eyakeleyo, "Unga". Jesu uza kutishela ukuthi singenz' yini lokhu kaningi eTestamenteni Entsha. Uza kuthi, "Ungawebi. Ungak'ahlukanisi. Ungabulali." Kodwa uyazi ngaphandle kwngxaki yini eyakeleyo kaYesu "Unga", eyakeleyo, "Musa ukwenza"? "Musa ukwesaba." Yilokho uYesu atishela ukuthi singenz' yini ngaphezu kwako konke okunye. "Musa ukwesaba." Kutheni? Kutheni uYesu akushela njalo kithi? Ngoba, ngicabanga uYohane enza njalo kithi umfanekiso omangalisayo wokuthi uJesu unguThixo ngokugcwele, unguThixo ngokupheleleyo, nokuthi unobuntu ngokupheleleyo. Ngoba unguThixo futhi ulawula konke okwenzekayo, angathi, "Musa ukwesaba." Nokuthi unobuntu ngokupheleleyo, ngoba uyahukunywa ngendlela njengathi, angathi, "Musa ukwesaba." UnguThixo ngokwanele ukuthulisa isiphepho futhi unobuntu ngokwanele ukwazi ukuthi kwa yenziwa kutheni isiphepho ebomini bethu. Akunjalo okulula? UnguYena owakwazi ukumisa isiphepho, kodwa uyazi kwa yenziwa kutheni isiphepho ebomini bethu. UnguThixo ngokupheleleyo futhi unobuntu ngokupheleleyo. Asisodwa. Njengoba umbhali weHeberu akhala, "Asinampriests chiefu ongakwazi ukuzwela kithi." Uyazi konke okwenzeka kithi. Ube khona.

Yesu Ungasithumela Esiphephweni

Nokho, yini esifanele siyenze ngalo? Yini umehluko walo kubomi bethu, ekuseni? Into yokuqala okufanele siyibone kule ndima, okungenani enye yezinto eziningi, yilokhu. UJesu usithumela phakathi kwesiphepho. Wayazi yini? Wathumela abafundi phakathi kwesiphepho. Khumbulani uJohane, ekugcineni, wayezwisa ukuba siwazi ukuthi uJesu wayazi ngqo ukuthi kuzokwenzeka ntoni, kodwa wabuza uFiliphu nokho ukuze ahlolisise ukholo lwakhe. Uyazi ngqo ukuthi isiphepho sizokufika nini. Uyazi ngqo ukuthi kuzokwenzeka ntoni kubafundi lapho ebathumela phakathi kwesiphepho, kodwa wabathuma nokho. Iziphepho ziphansi yokunakekela kwakhe okukhulu. Noma yini oyidlulayo nokuhlala kwakho, wathumwa kukho nguJesu. Ingabe lokho akushintshi indlela esiyibuka ngayo imibandela yethu? Wathumela thina kukho. Wabeka phakathi kwemibandela leyo ngenxa yokuzukiswa kwakhe nokuhle kwethu.

Kwa lokho akunangqondo ukusho, “UThixo akanasikhathi sokusinika ngaphezu kwakho konke esingakuphatha.” IBhayibheli ngumlando kaThixo onika abantu ngaphezu kwakho konke abangakuphatha! Lokho ndilo. Nokho futhi nokho uThixo athi, “Ngiyaku nikela ngaphezu kwakho konke ongakuphatha.” Lokho kungaba ngekhohlakalo, ngaphandle kokuthi athi, “Ngiyaku ba nawe phakathi kwakho konke ongakuphatha” ukuze thina sifunde ukuyeka ukuthembela ekwazini kwethu, kwizinsiza zethu, kucwaningo lwethu, ezinhlelweni zethu, ekomeleleni kwethu, kubuntu bethu, emalini yethu, ekhulisweni lethu. Noma yini! UThixo athi, “Ngiyaku qeda konke lokho ngokuthumela kwami kwenu ukuze kungabi salala lutho ekholweni lakho ukubambelela kuko ngaphandle kwami. Ngoba ngingumThixo onomona,” athi. “Angifuni ube neliyinhliziyo ehlukanisiwe ngoba inhliziyo ehlukanisiwe ayilungile kuwe. Ngiyakuthanda kakhulu,” athi, “ukuvumela ukwethemba kwakho kube njengelifolda lebhange elihlukahlukene. Kuyakuba yimi yedwa,” athi uJesu. “Ngiyaku thumela phakathi kwisiphepho.”

UJesu Ungena Emkhunjini Nathi

Naye indaba emnandi kakhulu ngalendima ukuthi, Angasithumela ekududuzeni kodwa uyahlala engena enqoleni nami. Angasithumela kulezozududuze, kodwa uyahlala engena enqoleni nami. Uyazi na omunye unkulunkulu onjengalowo? Ingabe nokungasocaphuni amakhasi om religion womhlaba wonke awufi unkulunkulu engena enqoleni? Ngoba uyabathanda abafundi bakhe ngokwanele ukuba nabo phakathi kwalokho ayebathumela kukho. Futhi uyakwenza njalo namhlanje. Akukho okushintshileyo eminyakeni eyi-2 000. Uyahlala enenqoleni nami.

Kodwa uphinde anganika nendlela yokuqeda ukwesaba. Cinga ngalokho okwakukhuthaza kuleli viki lokuphela nokuthi ukwesaba kwakudlala kangakanani. Cinga ngoba ungene egumbini lapho wena ungayazi abantu abaningi khona. Yini iphimbo lakho lokuqala? “Abantu abacabangani ngami?” Alikudingi kakhulu lokho kube nakweyiphi indawo yokuhlangana kwabantu esizithola khona. Ngisho nabangani bethu, sihlala sicabanga, “Abantu abacabangani ngami?” “Kwa yini ukukhathalala kwethu kangaka?” Lo ngomunye umbuzo, akunjalo? Kodwa ukwesaba kukhuthaza okuningi kwalokho esikwenzayo – ukuthi sikhulisa abantwana bethu njani, sicabanga njani ngobudlelwane, liza luni kule Msombuluko ek Prep noma MRA noma Madison Central. Ukwesaba – konke lokho kukhona, akunjalo? Futhi hakufezeki emilweni yethu – ukwesaba kweminye imibono yabantu, ukwesaba kwezimo zethu.

Shintshanisa Ukwesaba Kwenu

Nansi yinto uJesu asho kithi namhlanje. Usho, “Ngifuna nishintshe ukwesaba kwenu.” Wayazi kungani abafundi besaba. Uma ukwisikebhe, olwandle e-Israeli lasendulo ngaphandle konyana wokududuza noma ubuhlanga besikebhe sanamuhla, kunethuba elihle ungehle ufe! Uyazi kungani besaba, kodwa Usho, “Ngifuna nishintshe ukwesaba kwenu.” Futhi uhlobo lokwesaba alofuna ukuba nalo kuye, lolo wesaba lokuhlonipha nokumthanda. Cinga ngalo ngale ndlela. Uhlobo lokwesaba uJesu alofuna ukuba nalo kuye, lolo wesaba oluza kwathi besaba ukulimaza umuntu omthandayo. Ngithukuthele kakhulu ukulimaza uCallie noma amantombazane akithi. Angifuni neze ukwenza njalo. Ngesaba lokho. Ngithemba ukuthi lolofeso lwezaba lunempilo. Kungani? Ngoba ngimthanda. Futhi uma kuziwa kuThixo, ukwesaba asho ukuthi kumele kube kuye, akulona lolofeso lokuthi, “Oh, uzongishaya ngehlelo ngomzuzu!” Lolofeso lokuthi, “Uyangithanda kakhulu, yaye ngifuna kumthanda ngcono, ngesaba ukwenza nantoni na engenza umlimaze yena okhuthandayo.” Lolo luhlobo lokwesaba uJesu asho ukuthi alofuna ukuba nalo.

Nendlela esiya khona iyindlela engavamile. Indlela esiya khona idlula ekuvuseleleni umuzwa wethu wokumangala ngoJesu. Ngoba noma yini oyimangalayo, iyinto oyikhonzayo. Futhi ufuna ukuthola ukuthi yini oyimangalayo? Yini ekukhathazayo? Yini elenga engqondweni yakho? Noma yini leyo nto iyinto oyimangalayo. Futhi uJesu uhamba phezu kwamanzi, athulisa isiphepho, aletha isikebhe ngokuphepha ogwini. Kungani? Ukubakhalela bona kanye nathi, “Mangaliwa Mine! Kungcono kakhulu! Awudingi ukukhathazwa njengo. Nginayo.” Yilokho ayesho kithi. Siphila kanjani ukuze simangale ngoJesu? Kudingeka sicela uMoya oNgcwele asibonise izinto ezintshontsha ukumangala kwethu. Yini entshontsha ukunaka kwakho ekumangaleni ngoJesu? Ngabe ukudla? Ngabe yindlela oyisebenzisa ngayo ukuzidambisa? Unamathele ekudleni kanjalo ukuze uzolise ukwesaba kwakho? Ngabe ukuchitha? Lokho ubumelo bePrime kuza ukuze kuvuselelwe futhi uyenza kungenxa yokuthi kulula kakhulu yena uyazizwa ngathi unamandla? Ngabe yinduduzo? Noma yini leyo, noma yini entshontsha ukumangala kwakho kude noJesu, Uthi, “Ngithembisa ukuthi kungcono kwene. Ngithembisa ukuthi uma uyimangala Mine, ngiyakuvumela ukuba ujabule ngazo zonke izinto ezinhle kulolu hlelo njengami ngiyanika zona, njengami ngiyanazenza. Kodwa kudingeka umthembe kule nto.” Futhi yingxenye enzima yokuhatshana Naye, khona?

Tafuta na Linda

Kwa lelo, kufanele sibuze iNkosi yinto eyintshontshayo ukumthanda kwethu Kuye, and then kufanele senze into esingayenzi kahle ebomini bakithi banamuhla. Kufanele sifune iNkosi silinde Kuye. Senza njani? Siyamkhala Kuye – nsuku zonke, naxa singazizwa, naxa Eseka uzwele, siyakhalela. “Mfune iNkosi,” iBhayibheli lithi. “Ndamfuna iNkosi, emva koko wangiphendula,” uDavide wabhala. Kulelo, sinawo la mazwi eBhayibheli – “Mfune iNkosi” – and then unawo – “Nina, nginawe njalo de kube sekupheleni kwabakhulu.” Senza njani ukulinganisa la mabini – ukumfuna nokulinda? Le, ngenye indlela, yinto ukholo oluyiyo, akunjalo? Ukumfuna uThixo nokulinda Kuye ukuba avele. Kwaye le yinto ebhaliweyo kombleko wekheke lelo, iBhayibheli zihlanganise ukusifundisa ngayo. Xena umfuna, xena sikhalela, xena sifuna ubuso Bakhe eLizwini Lakhe nangomthandazo, Uyavela. Kungenzeka yinto engeyenzeki, kungenzeka yinto ejwayelekile, kodwa Uyavela. Kungenzeka kuthathe isikhathi eside. Uyavela. Ungazizwa unje ukhona phakathi kwenhlanga – akukho luxa, akukho kodwa amagagasi namabhubesi. Uyavela xa sifuna Kuye.

It reminds me of something I read about Teddy Roosevelt not too long ago. Great president of the United States; of course, the teddy bear is named after his ill-fated hunting trip in the delta in 1902 when he refused to kill a black bear. He was always an outdoorsman and if you read some of his writings and journals and whatnot, he talked about how much he loved to look at the sky. And so when he would have visitors to the White House – this was of course back before electricity was widespread through our cities – at the end of each meal, as the sun was setting, he would take the visitors outside and simply stare at the sunset with them until it got dark and the stars came out. Sometimes guests would be uncomfortable because the president would just be sitting there looking at the sky and the stars. And eventually he would say to the men with him, “Gentlemen, I believe we are small enough now. Let’s go to bed.”

Kuyandikhumbuza into engilifundayo ngoTeddy Roosevelt kungephambili. Omkhulu wamaprezidanti eUnited States; yiqiniso, ibhere elithi teddy liqanjwe ngemuva kohambo lwakhe lokuzingela olwaphazamiseka e delta ngomnyaka we-1902, lapho enqaba ukubulala ibhere elimnyama. Wayehlala engumuntu onothando lwendlela yangaphandle, uma ufunda eminye yimisebenzi yakhe, iijenali zakhe nezinto ezinjalo, wayehlala ekhuluma ngokuthi wayenothando olukhulu lokubuka esibingeni. Kanje uma wayenabavakashi eWhite House – lokhu kwakungephambili, kwakungaphambi kokuba umnyama usabalele emadolobheni – ekupheleni kwemidlo yabo, njengoba ilanga lisiya phansi, wayethatha abavakashi ngaphandle, wayahlala nabo nje ebuka ukutshona kwelanga, de kwaba mnyama, nezinkanyezi zaphuma. Ngamanye amaxesha abavakashi wayebahlephuza, ngoba iphezulu wayehlala ehlezi nje ebuka esibingeni, nezinkanyezi. Ekugcineni wayesithi kwabantu ababe naye, “Gentlemen, ngikholwa ukuthi sesincane ngokwanele. Masiyolala.”

Kunjalo okuhamba nami, uma sibona uJesu ngendlela uJohane afuna ngayo kithi, sibone. Sizophila kamncane, njengoba nje thina. Kodwa yinto kuphela uma thina sicane, lokhu ukwesaba kwethu kukaJesu kukhula, ukwesaba kwethu kuthatha umfutho. Le yiphethini. Thina esincane, ukwesaba kwethu ubukonzi kuthatha umfutho, ngenxa yokwesaba kwethu uThixo. Njengoba siphela lokhu, sibona ukwesaba kwethu. UThixo wathi kithina namhlanje, “Shintshanai ukwesaba kwenu. Yiba nokwesaba okulungile Kimi, yenza lokhu, ungalwi nokwesaba.” Masithandaze.

Thixo wethu, kulula ukuma lapha, ukhulume amazwi wokungabesabi, kodwa thina siphuma lapha namhlanje, thina siba phantsi kwukwesaba nokungakholelwa. Ngakho sithandazela kithina namhlanje, Nkosi. Yinto enkulu yethu yokuthanda, into enkulu yethu yokuthandaza, njengoba siphuma lapha, amazwi aba yinto yeqiniso, ukuba khona kwakho kuba yinto yeqiniso, ukukhululwa kwakho kuba yinto yeqiniso, thina sazi, thina saba, thina singaba yedwa, in Christ. Sithandazela egameni lakhe, amen.