Amadodakazi, Ukuphelelwa, Ukwesaba & Ukuhlangulwa

Luke 8:40-56

NgokuDr. Jonathan Pennington

Izwi Lethu ekuseni namhlanje livela ku-Luke 8:40-56. Uma ukwazi, ngaba ucela ukuthi ume ukuze kufundwe iZwi likaThixo?

Ngesikhathi uJesu abuya, umphakathi wamemukela, ngokuba bonke babemlinde. Khona umuntu ogama lakhe nguJairus, umkhulu wesigibamthandazo, weza wawa phansi ezinyaweni zikaJesu, ecela kuye ukuba aye endlini yakhe, ngokuba indodakazi yakhe eyodwa, intombazana eneminyaka eyishumi nambili, yayifa.

Ndlela uJesu, izithutu zazimcindezela. Kwaye kwakukhona umfazi oyena obe engenwa yisifo sokopha iminyaka eyishumi nambili, kodwa akekho oweza kumponya. Weza emva kwakhe wathinta umpheuko wengubo yakhe, ngokushesha ukopha kwakhe kwama.

“Ngubani ongithembisile?” uJesu wabuza.

Ndawonye bonke benqaba, uPetro wathi, “Mkhulu, abantu bacindezela wena.”

Kodwa uJesu wathi, “Kunalowo ongithembisile; ngiyazi ukuthi amandla aphumile kuye.”

Khona umfazi, ebona ukuthi akakwazi kuhleka, weza edingizela wawa phansi ezinyaweni zake. Phambi kwabantu bonke, watshela ukuthi kungani amthinta yena nokuthi angabe eseqhephile.

Khona wathi kuye, “Indodakazi, ukholo lwakho lukuponyle. Hamba ngokuthula.”

Ndlela uJesu asakhuluma, kuwe umuntu endlini kaJairus, umkhulu wsesigibamthandazo. “Indodakazi yakho ifile,” wathi. “Musani kumthandaza umfundisi.”

Ndizwa lokhu, uJesu wathi kuJairus, “Musani ukwesaba; kholwani nje, yena akanalifo.”

Ndifikile endlini kaJairus, akavumanga muntu angene naye ngaphandle kukaPetro, uYohane, uJames, noyise noyune womntwana. Phakathi, bonke abantu bebekhala bengilila ngenxa yakhe.

“Yekani ukukhala,” uJesu wathi. “Ningesifi kodwa elele.”

Bahleka ngaye, besazi ukuthi yena wayefile. Kodwa yena wamthatha ngesandla, wathi, “Indodakazi yami, vuka!” Umoya wakhe wabuya, kwathi ngomva nje yena wama. Khona uJesu wabatshela ukuba bamnike okuthile ukudla.

Abazali bakhe bemangala, kodwa wabala ukuba bangatsheli muntu lokho okwenzekile.

Iliya Liyamagama eNkosi.

Hhayi—wow. Yindaba enamandla. Indaba eyaziwa kahle. Ngokweli, zindaba ezimbili zithungelwe ndawonye. Futhi ingxenye yesisekelo sokuthi yaziwa kakhulu yingoba uMathewu, uMarko, noLuka bayibhala ngendlela efanayo: indaba yokuqala iqala, eyesibili iyiphazamisa, khona indaba yokuqala iphetha. Yilokho izazi zibiza ngokuthi intercalation, kodwa ngoba isiGrike, ngithanda kufikisa njenggyro—ungqimba olulodwa, khona ukugcwalisa, khona ungqimba lokugcina.

ULuka ubeka le “indaba gyro” ekupheleni kwenhlanganyela yezigcawu ezibonisa amandla kaJesu ekwenzeni okuhle. Emuva kwesahluko 7, yena welapha isicelo somphongolo esikude. Yena vusa umfana wothile umke. Yena athethela izono. Yena athulisa isiphepho. Ngokuqondile ngaphambi kwalokhu, yena abonisa ukugunyazwa phezu kwelizimu ngokukhipha umkhandlu wabathakathi. Futhi manje, ukuqukula lo mkhakha wezithombe zikaJesu, thola le ndaba ephindwe kabili.

Kodwa kukhona okwenzekayo lapha ngaphezu kwezindaba ezimbili ezihlanganisiwe. Lezi zindaba zilinganisa ngabomu. Ungayibiza ngokuthi yindaba yamadodakazi amabili. Indodakazi kaJairu esindabeni sokuqala, khona lo wesifazane—oJesu amthatha ngokuthi “Indodakazi” esikhathini esibaluleke kakhulu.

Zonke izodakazi zithile, ngokomthetho wamaJuda, zingcwele ngokwesiko—oyedwa ngokopha lwegazi olungapheli, omunye ngokufa. Siyabuya kulokho.

Naye kukhona ukuxhumana okumangazayo kwabalishumi naambili. Inkosazana eneminyaka yalishumi naambili. Umfazi ohluphekile iminyaka yalishumi naambili. Unyaka lo inkosazana azalwa ngalo waya unyaka umfazi lo ahlupheka ngawo. Imisonto engabonakali ibophela ubomi babo, nanje—yize bengalanaazi—babesikhashana ndawonye, kule nyanga, kule ny時刻, zombili zidana noJesu zaguqulwa ngokupheleleyo.

Kwasithethe, inkosazana iba ngumfazi kumunyaka wabalishumi naambili. Ngakho apha sinamadodakazi amabini, abafazi ababini, izindaba zabo ezibopheleleneyo. Naye ngokuzibona ndawonye, ndicinga uThixo unento ekhethekileyo yokusixelela.

Ukulandelana kwezindaba zabo kuyafana: ukuphelelwa lithemba, ukwesaba, nokuceba. Yiloo nto ke ukulandelana kwenze ukulandela.

Kungenxa yokuba unaBhayibheli—okanye ungayifumana—vula uLuka 8, uqale emavesini 40. Ndingathanda ukucotha, ndinake, ndihambe nale nto eyenzekayo ukuze sikwazi ukuva uThixo anayo kuthi.

Inqanaba lokuqala kukuphelelwa lithemba.

NoJesu ubuyile kulhamo olungaqhelekanga kunye nabafundi bakhe, apho adana nomntu owayenomoya ovambeleyo. Njengaye ngoku usele kwindawo enabantu, yonke imen ukumfuna. Bavile ukhulumela. Baye babona ukuphulukisa. Bayazi into yokuba ubukho bukaThixo buphumla kuye. Ngakho izihlwele zicindezela.

Naye phakathi kwesihlwele esicindezelayo, kwavuleleke indlela. Kufika umntu ohloniphekileyo: Jayiro, umkhokeli wosynagogi. Umntu ohloniphekileyo, ophucukileyo. Naye wamsingatha njani uJesu?

Uwela phantsi kweenyawo zikaJesu aze amcele.

ULuka usebenzisa lo fanelekiso kwakhona nangakhona—ukuwela phantsi kweenyawo zikaJesu—njengendlela yokuveza ukuphelelwa lithemba. Akuyinto yokuzithandela. Yiloo nto ke yenzekayo xa umntu ephelelwa yithemba.

Ndingakaze ngizwezele lokho kuze kube yizikhathi ezimbalwa ezidlulileyo—eyodwa phakathi nesikhathi sokukhathazeka okukhulu nokungalungi, lapho ngawa phansi emhlabathini. Futhi, ngonyaka odlule, emva kokuhlinzwa kwesimila sobuchopho somkakwetfu, emva kwamahora ayishumi nesombathini, lapho wayesebuhlotsheni obi kakhulu futhi sacabanga ukuthi isiphetho sesifikile—angingakwazi ukungawa phansi eduze kombhede wakhe. Abanye benu bekhona. Abanye benu abekho. Kodwa yisibonakaliso somuntu sokuphelelwa yithemba.

Kwa yini uJairu ephelelwe yithemba? Ngoba indodakazi yakhe yedwa—indodakazi yakhe encane eneminyaka eyishumi nambili—iyafa. Hhayi ukugula nje. Hhayi ukukhathazeka nje abazali bayo njengoba izingane zivame ukwenza. Uyafa.

Kwa yini uphelelwe yithemba.

Futhi uma ubheka nje lezo zivergi zokuqala—izivergi 41 no 42—kukhona usizi olungaka, ubuhlungu obungaka, ukwesaba okungaka okuqukethwe kuzo ukuthi kulula ukufunda ngaphezulu kwisindo semizwa y lokho umuntu akubonakalisa. UJesu, oyena esimbona njalo egcwele umusa, uthi yebo. Uya noJairu. Futhi isiphetho sevesi 42 sisikhumbuza futhi ukuthi izihlwele zimcindezela. Wonke umuntu ufuna ukusondela kuye.

Ngabe ivesi 43 yethula usumbufu:

Kwakukhona umfazi lapho owayesekhishwe egazini iminyaka eyishumi nambili, kodwa akekho owayengamponya.

UMako wengeza ukuthi wayesetshintshile konke awayenako kodokotela, futhi esikhundleni sokuba ngcono, wayewohloka kakhulu.

Kwa Jairu, sibona ukuphelelwa yithemba okukhulu—ngozuko oluzumayo. Kwa lo mfazi, sibona ukuphelelwa yithemba okungamahlalakhona—iminyaka eyishumi nambili y ukuhlupheka. Futhi ngokweLevitikus 15, yini imedical condition yakhe, yenza ukuba awele ekilini lokungahlanzeki ritually. Hhayi onyaluthi. Hhayi onesici. Kodwa ehlukanisiwe. Ekwenziwa.

Futhi ngoba isimo sakhe asipheli, ukwehlukaniswa kwakhe asipheli. Yini na wakhe wayezithinta zaba ngahlanzeki. Yini na wakhe ayebana wayezithinta. Akazange akwazi ukukhuleka ethempelini. Akazange akwazi nokungena eJerusalema. Wayehlukanisiwe. Wedwa. Impofu. Ongenamsizi.

Zama ukucabanga ngako: iminyaka eyishumi nambili ingenathintwa. Iminyaka eyishumi nambili ingenamkhosom. Iminyaka eyishumi nambili ingenabantu abahlala naye.

Kanti manje—lapha—ubona ithuba lakhe. Inixani inkulu. Wonke umuntu uyaxinana. Akekho umuntu ongabona kahle. Abafundi bazama ukulawula isiphithiphithi. Yena ucabanga, Uma nje ngikwazi ukusondela ngokwanele… akekho umuntu onyakathubha. Akekho umuntu ongiqaphelayo. Uma nje ngikwazi ukuthinta umphetho wengubo yakhe… ngiyakholwa ukuthi ngiyaphilika.

Kwa into yokuthi ushelela phakathi kwinixani, mhlawumbe nengubo yakhe yokuhlanganisa iphansi, waphumela ngaphandle. Wathinta umphetho wengubo yakhe.

Ngokushesha—yena uyazi. Umzimba wakhe uyamshela. Kufana nokuhlanganisa okuhlangene. Owesifazane noma owesilal ngumthwal wa siphila lokhu kuthi kwenzeke .

Ngicabanga yena angabengakholwa—injabulo ixubekile nokungakholwa, ixubekile nokwesaba ukuze athembe futhi.

Indaba yayingekwazi ukuphela lapho. Eziningi izindaba ziphela khona. Abantu bayahlangana noJesu, bayamkelwa ekuphilisweni, baya emgwaqweni wabo. Kanti noJairu, uJesu angaphilisa intombi yakhe kude, njengalokhu akwenza kwisahluko 7.

Kanti into enga yenzeka. Kukhona esinye isinyathelo. Hhayi nje ukuphelelwa kweshope nokulethwa—kodwa ukwesaba.

Bhekani kwivesi 45:

“Ngubani onthintayo?” uJesu wabuza.

Wonke umuntu uyakuphika. UPetru usho lokho noma yimuphi kuthi: Nkosi, wonke umuntu uyakuthinta. Kanti uJesu uyazi enye into eyenzekile. Uyazi amandla aphumile kuye.

Kanti lokhu kucaba. Lelo yim miracle efanana naleyo—umuntu othinta ingubo kaJesu waphilika. Kucaba ukuthinta umphathi wokuphila noma ikristale kwindaba yomlingo. Kanti lokho akhona. Lokhu kuyinto yomuntu. Lokhu kuyinkolo. Yilokho uJesu ayazi.

Ngoba, abantu abaningi babethinta. Oyedwa waphilika.

Naye isikhathi esiphuthumayo sowesifazane siguqula ukwesaba. Ube ethemba ukuhlala engaziwa. Uyaphumelela. Uyangalapheka. Uyabe esekwazi ukunyamalala. Kodwa uJesu uyamisa umgombo wonke wayibuza, O nguye owangithinta?

Ujoyo wakhe omkhulu uguquka ube ukwesaba. Iminyaka eyishumi nambili yent shame, ukukhishwa, ubuwakhe – uyaveza. Ungathintile uJesu, kungenzeka yena engamhlanzanga. Uyenzile ngokuyimfihlo. Naye manje ime phambi komuntu kaNkulunkulu ngowesaba olungenakucatshangwa.

Isiqephu 47:

Naye owesifazane, ebona ukuthi akakwazi ukuhlala engaziwa, weza ekhanda elimangalisayo wayawa phambi kwakhe. Phambi kwabantu bonke, watshela ukuthi kungani emthintile nokuthi angaphilisiwa njani ngesikhathi esisodwa.

Kafana noJairu, uwe phambi kwezinyawo zikaJesu. Kodwa hhayi kuphela esikhathini sokuphuthuma – kodwa futhi awesaba. Akazi ukuthi kungenzeka yini okwenzekayo. Konke akwazi ukukwenza ukukhululekile wayesaba phambi kwakhe.

Naphambi kokuzwa impendulo kaJesu, bheka isiqephu 49:

Nakowesu uJesu asakhuluma, kuwe umuntu owavela ekhaya loJairu. “Indodakazi yakho ifile,” wathi. “Ungasiphazamisi isifundisi nakwezinye.”

Kafana nje nendaba yowesifazane ihamba ekuphuthumeni kuye ku joyo kuye ekwesabeni, nendaba kaJairu nayo ihamba ekuphuthumeni kuye ekwesabeni. Uyabona umyalezo. Uyazwa amazwi abandayo.

Naye uma uzama ukucabanga ngesimo sikaJairu lapha – ucabange ngempela – ungazwa ukushuba. Ukhathazekile. Uyincengile uJesu ukuba aye. UJesu uyavuma. Kodwa umgombo uyacotha yonke into. Abantu bayacindezela yonke indawo. Naye Jairu uyacabanga, Nkosi, ndikhawuleleni – indodakazi yami iyafa. Asinaso isikhathi sokwenza lokhu.

Naye uJesu uyamisa.

Naye lo wesifazane – ongahlonishwa – wabuye wawa phambi kwakhe. Naye Jairu uyacabanga kuphela, Asinaso isikhathi sokwenza lokhu. Indodakazi yami iyafa. Ndikhawuleleni, Nkosi.

Naye, phakathi kwesikhathi esibuhlungu sokulibala, uyazwa amazwi abandayo:

“Indodakazi yakho ifile.

Ungasiphazamisi isifundisi nakwezinye.”

Iphindisela intlungu y kaMariya noMartha kwisiBhalo 11, xa umshwazi w abo wafa yena uYesu akazifikanga ngesikhathi.

Zombili izindaba zithatha indlela esingayilindelanga. Zihamba zivela kubi ukuya kubi nakakhulu. Zivela ekuphelelweni ithemba ukuya ekwesabeni.

Kodwa ezezi ntombi zimbili ziza kukuhlangenwe nakwezinye. Yaye le yindawo yokuhlangana kweyesithathu — ukhululwe; -

Khasa sibuyele k kwau ngumfazi onophephile. Ukhanda ezeni zikaYesu, mhlawumbe esaba ukuba angabuyisela umva ukuphulukiswa, okanye abazezele phambili, okanye ekugcineni athi, Kulungile, ungayigcina, kodwa wena wenza into engalunganga.

Uza kutsho ntoni?

Umvusele 48:

“Ntombi, inkolo yakho ikuphulukisile.

Hamba ungene uxolo.”

Rakwele ukumsola, rakwele ukubuyisela amandla akhe, uyamsblessa. Uyibiza ntombi — igama uYesu angakaze ayisebenzisele nakubani else kwi Iinjeli. Yaye uyamthuma ungene uxolo.

Kwaye oku kubonisa kwakhona: oku kwakungekho mchazel. Oku kwakungekho nyakanyaka yoku phulukiswa. UYesu uyabonakalisa inkolo yakhe. Uyafuna yena— nabanye bonke—baqonde into eyenzekile.

Kwaye uqaphela ochungelellwe noJairu. Ngokukhawuleza emvusele 50, xa iindaba zokufa kwentombi yakhe zifika, uYesu uyamthuma yena athi:

“Musk’oyiki.

Kholela, yaye uya kuphulukiswa.”

Inkolo kwakhona.

Kwaye yile nto kanye eyenzekile. Ukuba ujonga emavusele enxalenye, uYesu uya endlini kaJairu. Inkosazana ifile. Yon’ayifumanayo. Akavumeli isihlwele silande—uPetro, uYakobe, uYohane, noabazali. Bangena egumbini apho inkosazana ilele.

Endleleni, uYesu athi, “Kutheni nikhala? Ayifanga kodwa ilele.” Bayamhleka. Bayazi ukufa xa beyibona. Kodwa uYesu uhlala esho umongo ngomlomo wakhe ekuqaleni.

Kwaye kutheni ukuthi lokhu? Bhekani ndima yama-56. Ngemuva kokumvusa, uyabatshela ukuthi bangamsheli muntu ukuthi kwenzeke njani. UJesu akazami ukuvusa izixuku. Akazami ukuzuza udumo noma ukuqala umnyakazo. Ukube efuna udumo, wayeyenzile le ngxubezimpo edsthirikazi.

Uyasebenza ngomusa—umusa othembeneyo, oqingqili. Uyabuyisela ukuphila kule ndlu, kodwa akaintereswa ekubonjweni. Uze ukuphulukisa, yebo—kodwa futhi ukufundisa, ukushumayela ibandla, nasekugcineni ukufa nokuvuka, ukwethula ubudlelwane obusha phakathi kukaNkulunkulu nabantu.

Kwa lelo daba eliphuthumayo eliguqukile ekwesabeni manje iguquka ekukhululweni—kubantakanyana bobabili.

Kwaye kusho ukuthini lokhu kithi?

Ndise ngicabanga ngale ndaba lesi wiki, ngacabanga: ngendlela eyodwa, kwakuyokwanela ukuma nje ekumangazeni. Ukubona amandla kaJesu. Ukukhumbula ukuthi uJesu oyenzile lezi zinto uphila namhlanje, ekhona nathi, enamandla nomusa nengahlosi.

Kodwa ngifuna ukudonsa imisho emibili—imisho emibili— engiyakholelwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu usimema ukuba siyibone.

Kokuqala:

UNkulunkulu afuna sizuze isithombe esigcwele sokuthi uJesu ungubani nokuthi wenzani kubantu—kithi.

Khona siyakhu ekhuluma ngokufa kukaJesu nokuvuka kwakhe ngokuthethelwa kwzono. Lokho kuyinto ebalulekile. Akuyona into engathengiseki. Kodwa isitsho sonke.

Izindaba ezinjengale zisibonisa ukuthi umsebenzi kaJesu uphinde uhlanganise: * ukuhlanza okungahlanzekile * ukususa amahloni * ukunqoba ukufa * ukukhulula abantu ezimpozeni eziyingozi * ukubuyisela abantu emphakathini

Abantakanyana bobabili bayabuyiselwa emphakathini wabo. Kanye nomuntu owayenomoya onungathi emsindweni odlulelwe. UTomu Wright uyibeka ngobuhle: uJesu uyawathinta amanqaku angcolile ehlabathini. Uyayamkela inqaku yethu enqenqemeni. Futhi uyaphendula ngomusa ophakathi weBhayibheli: Musa ukwesaba.

Yesu akasikhathali nje kuphela ukuthethelela izono — uyasusa amahloni. Akasikhathali nje kuphela ukuthembisa ukuphila kwevekhini — uyakwazi ukunqoba ukufa. Akasikhathali nje kuphela ukusisondeza kuThixo — uyasibuyisela kwabanye.

Kwaye oko kusengqiqibile namhlanje. Abanye benu apha — okanye nibukele kwi-intanethi — bazive bebodwa. Amahloni. Ukuzisola. Udlakela. Ngaphandle, nibonakala ngathi nilungiswe. Ngaphakathi, nizive nibodwa.

Yesu waza akagcini nje kuphela ukuthethelela, kodwa ukubuyisela — kuye nakwabanye. Nokuba ukusilela kwenu kubonakala okanye kukungabonakali, ubudlelwane okanye imali, amahloni enu angasuswa. Ngenziwa kuthiwa kwingqondo owilayo.

Umphengululi omnye wathi kakuhle:

“ ‘Musa ukukhathaza umfundisi ngoku’ asinguye kwaphela isenzo esifanelekileyo kwimingxaka yethu.”

Mhlawumbi namhlanje uzive ukude pheshe. Ukhohlisiwe kakhulu. Wophukile kakhulu. Uhambe kakhulu.

Kodwa “musa ukukhathaza umfundisi ngoku” asinguye kwaphela isenzo esifanelekileyo.

O-Yesu wathi ubathinta aba bantu ubathinta nathi. Kwaye sifuna ukuba yibandla apho ukubuyiselwa kukwamkelekile. Akudingeki ukuba uqale ubeke ubomi bako emgcini. Wamkelekile ukuba ubuyiselwe.

Kwaye konke oku kufinyelelwa akukho ngokwenza, kodwa ngokholo — ngokuwela phantsi kweenyawo zika-Yesu, entliziyweni yakao emzimbeni wakho, uze uvume imfuno yakao.

Oko kukhokelela kwindawo yesibini:

UThixo usebenzisa ukungcola nokwesaba ukusitshintsha — nokuba kuza isindiso okanye hayi.

Kwiintsomi, isindiso sizenzeka. Kodwa ngamanye amaxesha asenzeki. Kwaye uThixo usebenzisa ukungcola nokwesaba ukusitshintsha — nokuba kuza isindiso okanye hayi.

Esi veki, ndibe nethuba — enye yenzelwe, eningi ingenenzelwa — lokuchitha ixesha elininzi nabani benu. Ixesha nabantu apha, abantu abakude. Ixesha lokufundisa, ukumamela, ukubamba isikhala, ukubonisana, ukuthandaza. Ibe iveki enesindiso – eningi imeko ezingxamisekileyo nezimo zikaphandle.

Ndibe nabantu abal elderly oogogo babo batekwa ziqabane zabo abanengqondo ephambeneyo ngelixa besjongene nomhlaza beb.

Ndibe nabantu ababomi babo babonakala besheshile ngaphandle kodwa bagcwele ikhefu, ukukhathazeka, nokuzisola.

Ndihlezi nabantu enkazini yokulahleka kwemisebenzi, ukutshatyalaliswa kweminshado, neengquzulwano nabantwana abadala abangazi ukuba bazihambele.

Ndithe ndanencoko nomfundi nomhlobo oserva kwisebe eChrist Covenant Church eNashville, apho iziganeko ezibuhlungu zenzeka khona kwinyanga ephelileyo. Wayesihlahleni sakhe xa kwenzeka – waphila ngengakumbi – waza wema kwindawo yokupaka imoto ubonakala iziphumo ezibuhlungu. Ukudana.

Kukho incoko enye ndifuna ukwabelana nawe, kuba lo mntu wandicela ukuba. UCrihs wandivumela ukuba ndiyabelane. Okanye ndingayi.

Imalunga nomdakwethu, uAndrew Toy. Abaninzi oyaziyo uAndrew noSarah Beth. Bamalungu eSojourn. UAndrew uneengxaki zempilo ixesha elide, kodwa kwiiveki ezisandula ukuya kube nzima ngakumbi. Akhona kwisibhedlele – unokundibonela ngoku – eCincinnati, ejongene notyando olukhulu oluneengxaki ezibalulekileyo. Iintsuku ezimbalwa ezidlulileyo wabuza oogqirha bakhe, ngokuthe ngqo, “Zithini iithuba zam zokufa?” Kwaye impendulo yayingekho ngezantsi.

Kwa le nto sincoko ende ngomnxeba. Ukufa kuyamnyani kuye ngoku ngendlela enkulu kuthi uphila kuyo. Siyathetha malunga noLuka 18 – enye yeevesi endizithandayo – apho uYesu axelela ibali lamadoda amabini athandazayo: omnye eqinisekile ngokulunga kwakhe, omnye esazi kakhulu isono sakhe nokwaphuka kwakhe. Omnye uthi, “Enkosi kuba andifani naloo mntu.” Omnye angathi kuphela, “Thixo, yiba nomusa kuthi, umoni.” Kwaye uYesu ubuza, Yeyiphi yaya ekhaya ilungiswe?

Sasiyakhuluma ngalokho. Siyakhuluma ngoLuka 8. Siyakhuluma ngaleli story namuhla. Futhi makadunyiswe uThixo ngenxa yegracia elizwi likaAndrews—ukuphela kokuthemba uJesu phambi kokwesaba, ukucaca okuza lapho ukufa akusiyinto yokufikwa kodwa kunokwenzeka. Yile yisipho esingakavamile sokungafuni. Isipho esingakavamile sokwesaba. Siyacacisa okulindelekhileyo. Siyacacisa ukuthi yini yokuphila.

Na ungahlana nami ekuthandazeni ukuthi uThixo amkhulule ngokupheleleyo—kuthi uThixo amgcine yena nomndeni wakhe lobu buhlungu. UThixo angakwenza lokho. Kodwa ngob testimonya kaAndrews—lokho ayefuna ukuthi ngikutshele yina—yilokhu:

UThixo upo nguye kule meko eliyingozi, noma ukhululwa ufike noma cha.

Yile yinto enhle. Ngoba noThixo, izinto ziyahlukahluka. Ukwazi uThixo njengoKhululi—noma ukhululwa udonsa noma ungafiki—kuyashintsha yonke into.

Ithanda lezi ziveto ezivela kuDeuteronomiyu. Israyeli ubekhona ehlane iminyaka engamashumi amane—iminyaka engamashumi amane yokungafuni, ukwesaba, ukulahleka, nobuhlungu. Futhi uMose wathi kuDeuteronomiyu 8:

Oyakukhumbula yonke indlela uThixo wakho oykulandile kule minyaka engamashumi amane ehlane, ukuze akuthobise, ekukuhlola ukuba wazi okwakukhona enhliziyweni yakho… Futhi wakuthobisa wakulethela inyama… wakulethela ukudla ngomana… ukuze akwazi ukuba umuntu akaphili ngomka wodwa, kodwa ngalo izwi lokuphuma emlonyeni kaThixo… ukuze akuthobise akohlolwe, ukwenza okulungeleyo ekugcineni.

Yile yinto ecacayo okuza ehlane.

Yile yinto ecacayo okuza ekungafunini.

Yile yinto ecacayo okuza ekwesabeni.

Henry David Thoreau wathi ngokuduma, “Abantu abaningi bahola imiphila yokungafuni ngokuthula.” Wiya phambili: lokho esikubiza ngokuthi ukuzinikela ngempela ukungafuni okuqinisekisiwe. Futhi ukudimayeka okungaziwa kufihla phantsi kwezinto zokuzijabulisa zempilo.

Ndikhokhele lapho ukhona namhlanje. Ngiyazi abaningi benu bakhathazekile. Abanye benu besaba. Abanye benu nizizwa kahle—kwaye kulungile. Kunezikhathi zokuphumula. Kodwa kungekudala, ngayinye yethu iyakubana nemikhawulo yethu—ukufa kwethu, ukuntula kwethu ukulawula.

Umthixo wathi lo mthixo lowo owathi khona kuJairus nendodakazi yakhe, lo mthixo lowo owathi khona kule nkazi ophelayo, ungumthixo lowo ongakashintshi. Ukhona namhlanje nathi kuJesu. Yiloo ndaba ilungile.

Nokho lapho ukhona namhlanje—noma uma kungenjalo, kungekudala—lapho ukhona khathazeko nesaba, khona kukhaye ithemba.

Kukhaye ithemba ngoba uThixo uyakuba khona nawe.

Kukhaye ithemba ngoba uJesu uyakwamukela abakhathazekile.

Kukhaye ithemba ngoba ukholo—ukholo olulula, olukhatshazekile—luvula umnyango ekhona kwakhe.

Dr. Jonathan T. Pennington njengaye njini Professor of New Testament Interpretation eSouthern Seminary e Louisville, Kentucky. Uyabe esebenza njengaye njini visiting professor eReformed Theological Seminary (Orlando), Southeastern Seminary, The Village Church Institute (Dallas), kanye The Institute of Biblical Studies eOrlando, FL kanye Morling College (Melbourne, Australia).

Lesi sihloko sisekelwe kumbhalo wenkulumo ka Dr. Pennington. Siyabe sishintshwe kancane eCopilot, kanye nabantu abahlelela imithixo e Third Millennium Ministries.