Ukufunda iBhayibheli Ngendlela Eyahlukile

Ngabuye uJohn Leonard

Siyabonga! Ngijabule kakhulu ukuba yimpela eFirst Presbyterian Church, eJackson. Eqinisweni ngangilapha iminyaka emine – ngo-1973 ngo-1977 ngenkathi ngisengumfundi eBelhaven College. Futhi ngifuna ukubonga, iFirst Presbyterian Church, ngomlando owashiya ekuphileni kwami. Uyabona, kwakungaphakathi kwelesi chweba, ngikhonzela njalo ngezinsuku zikaSonto, ngihlezi cishe lapho, imizila emine ngaphambili, nokulalela njalo iphredikho kanye nothisha kaDon Patterson. Uyazi ukuthi awukwazi ukuhlala phansi kukaDon Patterson ngaphandle kokuba nawo umbono wakho wemisebenzi yasemhlabeni ugxilile, ucace futhi usheshiswe. Kodwa okubaluleke kakhulu, ngiye njalo emihlangwini yemisebenzi. Futhi uyazi ukuthi ngafunda ntoni? Ngafunda ngeFaith Promise. Ngafunda ngokunikela ngendlela yokuzithandela. Futhi ngalixesha elokhu ekuphileni kwami, njengomfundi wekolishi, ngathatha ingozi yenza isithembiso. Futhi ngacinga uma ngisebenza isikhathi sonke ehlobo, ngabe ngiyakwazi ukugcina leso sithembiso. Nokho phakathi nomjikelezo wihlobo ngagula; ngangigula isikhathi sesehlobo. Futhi ngathi, “Aw, ngiyakwenza njani isithembiso sami uma ngigula?” Futhi ngempela, ngezimo ezithile, ngafika kwimali, imali ekwaNikwa yami, uyazi ukuthi yimalini? Imali ekwa esithembisweni iFaith Promise yimpela eFirst Presbyterian Church. Futhi ngiyabonga kakhulu ngomlando owashiya kimi nawo bahamba ngekhulu abanye abantu abaye badlula lapha babongeke wena kanye nomsebenzi walesi chweba. Siyabonga kakhulu.

Ngesikhathi sasekuseni namhlanje ngifuna ukubuza umbuzo, “Uyafunda yini iBhayibheli? Uyafika yini esontweni?” Kwabaningi bethu, kungenxa yokuthi kunento engalungile ekuphileni kwethu futhi sibheke eBhayibhelini ukulungisa lelo nkinga. Sithemba ukuthi izimiso eziseZwi likaNkulunkulu zizothuthukisa umshado wethu, ukuthi uma ungumyeni, “Kuzosiza umkayo;” uma ungumkayo, kuzosiza umyeni wakho. Uma ungumzali, ukuthi kuzosiza abantwana bakho. Ukuthi uma ungumuntu omncane, kuzosiza abazali bakho. Noma ufika lapha ngenxa yokuthi, uyazi, uzame ukuphila iphupho kodwa lelo phupho liphenduke incubazeko futhi ufuna ukuthola “Kazi njani ukuphila impilo egcwele futhi ejabulisayo?” Kwaye ufika eBhayibhelini ubheke izimiso ezizokuqondisa nokukukhokhela ekuphileni kwako. Kodwa ngifuna ukukutshela ukuthi lapho sifika eBhayibhelini njengesibalo sokuzisiza ukuthuthukisa impilo yethu, injabulo yethu, ukusinika impumelelo nokuphila okugcwele, senza umonakalo omkhulu kithi.

Kuyiqiniso ukuthi uma sikholwa eZwi likaNkulunkulu sizoshintshwa; impilo yethu izogcwala. Kodwa lezi yinto zesibili hhayi injongo yokuqala uYise wethu onguNkulunkulu aveze iZwi Lakhe kithi. Uyabona, lapho ufunda iBhayibheli ubheke injabulo yakho, uphila impilo egxile kuwe. Futhi yonke le mpilo injongo yayo kuphela ukubonakaliswa okunye kokuvukela kwethu kuNkulunkulu. Kweza ukuze ube lapha ekuseni ekuvukeleni okukhulu kuNkulunkulu uzama ukusebenzisa izimiso Zakhe ekuphileni kwako. Kazi ngani? Ngoba ufuna uNkulunkulu akusebenzele akuphucuze impilo yakho. Inkinga nalokho ukuthi umphumela uwukuba nomkhuba wokholo ongena ubuti bukaKristu, umoya wokholo ongena, ekugcineni, ubuti bemizamo yethu hhayi amandla okuguqula oMoya oNgcwele. Futhi uthi, “Kazi ngani umuntu angenza lokho?” Abafarishe bazenza lokho, khonzi? Futhi abo uKristu ababekhathazeka kakhulu.

Nokho hhayi nje kuphetha kwethu ukuthi sifunde iBhayibheli ngale ndlela kuba emizini eminingi kakhulu yezinkolo, hhayi le, lapho iBhayibheli litheswa khona lifundiswa njengencwadi yezimiso – incwadi yokuzisiza uma usebenzisa lezi zimiso ekuphileni kwakho, uyashintsha. Uzwa izindikimba ezinjengale, “Izimiso Ezinhlanu Zomshado Omuhle,” “Izindlela Eziyisithupha Zokukhulisa Abantwana Abanempilo Yomoya,” “Izifundo Eziyisikhombisa Zempumelelo Yezezimali,” “Izifundo Ezine Zobuholi Ekuphileni kukaDavide.” Nokho yiqiniso ukuthi iBhayibheli linazo izimiso eziningi, kodwa inhloso yalo eyinhloko akuyona ukusebenzisa lezo zimiso. Ngakho uma ucabanga ukuthi iBhayibheli buphathelene nawe, nginezimbi kakhulu – akubona! iBhayibheli lisitshela indaba etshatileyo.

Naye ngakho ekuseni namhlanje, ngithemba ukunifundisa indlela yokufunda iBhayibheli ngendlela eyahlukile. Ngithemba ukuninika umbono omusha ngokuphelele ocwaningeni ongaqonda ngaso iZwi likaNkulunkulu. Ngifuna ukwazi ukubona ukuthi kukhona umxholo okufanele njalo niwugcine engqondweni yakini lapho niqonda iZwi likaNkulunkulu. Futhi yini lo mxholo? Yini lo mbono? Umbono womthume. Futhi cishe nicabanga, “Yiqiniso uJohane, uyakusho lokho; ungumthume! Futhi konke okuyenzayo ukufunda embhalweni kanye nento oyifunayo ukuyikhipha embhalweni!” Kodwa kuzo zonke izindlela zokuya eZwini likaNkulunkulu engimelene kakhulu, yileyo – ukuthi sifunde iBhayibheli ngendlela enjalo ukuthi sikhiphe kulo kanye nokufuna kwethu. Indlela, lo mbono womthume, akuyona indlela yami. Lo mbono womthume akuyona indlela yePresbyteri yokuqala yaseJackson. Umbono womthume awuyona indlela ye-PCA noma yenkolo ebuyiselwe. Lo mbono womthume, njengenkolo yethu yonke ebuyiselwe, uvela eZwini likaNkulunkulu ngokwalo ngoba sinomfundiso omkhulu ositshela indlela yokutolika iZwi likaNkulunkulu. Sichaza iZwi likaNkulunkulu ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu. Futhi sifika kanjani ukuqonda iZwi likaNkulunkulu lonke? Ngokufunda eNkosini yethu indlela ayisitshentje ngayo ukufunda iZwi likaNkulunkulu.

Kwaye ungase uthi, “Ukuphi lokho, uJohane?” Pho vukani nami ukuya kwisahluko 24 sikaLuka, umv. 36 kuya ku-48. Manje kule ndima, uJesu uvukile kwabafileyo, uvele kubafundi bakhe ekamelweni eliphezulu. Abazi kahle ukuthi yini lokhu. Ingabe ungumoya? Ungumphongolo? Ubonisa amanxeba akhe; ucela ukudla. Ekudidekeni kwabo, uthi, “Mak ngichazele izinto.” Futhi uthi lokhu, kuqala emv. 44:

“Konke okubhalwa ngami kwiLaws kaMose kwabaPhrofethi nakuPisalemu kumele kugcwaliseke." Khona uwavula amehlo abo ukuba baqonde iZibhalo. Wathi kubo, "Kwenze njalo kwabhalwa, ukuthi uKristu ufanele aphethwe yizinhlupheko nokuthi ngomhlanga wesithathu avuke kwabafileyo, nokuthi ukuphenduka kube khona ekuxolelweni kwezono kungekho sonke isizwe, kuqala eJerusalema."

Ngeni indlela yendabuko yokuqonda lo mBhalo ukuthi uJesu ngokuyisisekelo wabathatha njengohlobo lokufakazela umbhalo weTestamente EliDala lapho Ebonisa khona imibhalo eyayimprofetha ngokufika kwakhe. Le ndlela yokuqonda iBhayibheli ngale ndlela ivame ukubizwa ngokuthi umsipha obomvu weZwi likaNkulunkulu. Ivemeka kulowo wesifazane, uRahabhi, owayekufanele alengise umsipha obomvu njengophawu ekwindini yakhe. Futhi uma ukhuluma ngomsipha obomvu wokutolika, yilowo msipha wemaprofetho kuwo wonke umBhalo othetha ngoJesu. Ngakho-ke kuphakanyiswa ukuthi uJesu wayenokwenza okuthile okunjalo. Wayephendukela kwisahluko sesi-3 seGenesise nabafundi bakhe wathi, “Bhekani, Nginguye umntwana oyisiThekwa kaEva oyayothukuthelelwa inyoka kodwa oyayichoboza ikhanda layo. Nginguye oyayimprofethwa kwisahluko sesi-5 seMika ukuthi ngazalwa eBethlehem. Nginguye oyayimprofethwa ukuthi ngazalwa ngenhlanhla kwisahluko sesi-7 seIsaya. Nginguye owayekufanele ngibe setribhu kaJuda, eyayimprofethwa kwisahluko sesi-49 seGenesise. NginguKumkani oyakuhlala kwitrone kaDavide kwisahluko sesi-9 seIsaya. Wayazi ukuthi ngiyayenqatshwa, ngiyayobesulwa phakathi kwizoni, futhi ngiyayongcwazwa phakathi kwabacebile kwisahluko sesi-53 seIsaya; ukuthi ngiyayoba ngumhlatshwa oyayihlatshwa ngenxa yabantu bami. Wayazi ukuthi uma ufunda isahluko sesi-4 seMika ukuthi Nginguye oyayimprofethwa ukuthi uyakwenzeka ngaphambi kukaEliyahu, ukuthi ngiyayobizwa ngokuthi iKumkani, iNyana kaNkulunkulu oPhezulu, kwisahluko sesi-2 sePisamu. Kuthi ngiyayoba ngumpristi ngemuva komyalelo kaMelkhizedeki kwisahluko sesi-110 sePisamu. Kuthi ngiyayobethelwa kwisahluko sesi-41 sePisamu. Kuthi izandla nezinyawo zeMesiwaya ziyayopiqwa kwisahluko sesi-22 sePisamu. Futhi ngiyayenqatshwa futhi ngiyayahlupheka ekuc crucifixion enkatha, konke kwaprofethwa kulowo pisamu. Kuthi kwisahluko sesi-34 sePisamu, kwaprofethwa ukuthi amasoldati ayengeke aphule imilenze yami kodwa ayayopiga isiqephu sami.” Futhi kwisahluko sesi-16 sePisamu, wayeza kubonisa ukuthi NginguMesiwaya oyayovuswa kwabafileyo.

I-Warp neWoof yawo wonke uMbhali

Kwayo uma sifunda iSibhalo ngale ndlela, yebo, uKristu angaba yintambo ebomvu egijima ngeSibhalo sonke eyophuka ihamba emgxeni walo njengalapho itaphile khona, kodwa yona into uJesu akushoyo. Uthi, “Ngingumgxeni walo lonke iSibhalo! Yona yonke le nto imayelana Nami.” Vukani nami futhi kumbhalo wethu. Bhekani umv. 45. Ithi, “Khona uwavula imindeni yabo ukuze baqonde iSibhalo.” Uyabona, uJesu akazange avele wabonisa umv. okomncane kubo yena kanye nalokho okwakusho; Unikeze indlela entsha yokufunda le ncwadi, yokuyiqonda le ncwadi. Futhi ngingacabanga ukuthi iningi lathi lapha, ngesikhathi esithile emilayeni yethu, njengePhawuli owakha eyayekwa ubumphakazi boMoya oNgcwele emilayeni yethu, ngesikhathi esifunda le Ncibhalo ngaphambili sathi, “Yini le Ncibhalo imayelana nayo?” Kodwa uKristu owakha wangempela emihlotsheni yethu, konke kwaba nengqondo. Kwakwenzeka yini lokho kuwe? Kwakwenzeka yini emilayeni yakho wena uqobo ngesikhathi wazi uKristu?

Umshikizo Wokudlulisa

Nokho, okufundiswa uKristu abafundi bakhe ukuthi azikho iziprofetho ezimbalwa ngokuza kwakhe, kodwa wafundisa ukuthi bafunde iBhayibheli ngendlela ehluke ngokuphelele. Wathi ufunda ukuthi yonke iScripcha inephuzu eliphakathi; ukuthi zonke izigaba, zonke, zikhuluma ngomuntu wakhe nomsebenzi wakhe. Ngakho iBhayibheli alilibhuku lezindaba eziningi ezihluke. Liyimlayo yendaba eyodwa. Abafundisi bezitho babiza le ndaba ngokuthi yindaba yokudlulisa. Yindaba yokuthi uThixo enza ntoni emhlabeni. Ngakho konke okuvela kuGenesise kufika kuSambulo kukhonya kuthi kuThixo, uhlelo lwakhe, nokuthi sibizwa njengabantu bakhe ukuba simthembe uKristu futhi sihlanganyele naye kule msebenzi. Nokho, lokhu kushintsha indlela esifunda ngayo siqonda iScripcha, akunjalo? Lokhu kwenza ngendlela efanayo nendlovukazi enkulu yokuthola imfihlo. Uma ufunde indlovukazi enkulu yokuthola imfihlo into eyenza ibe nkulu ukuthi awukwazi ukuthi uyini umenzi wokubi kuze kube isahluko sokugcina. Uyazi ukuthi ucabanga ukuthi, “Ubani owenza lokhu?” Futhi uma ufunda leso sahluko sokugcina uthi, “Bekufanele ngazi!” Futhi libhuku lonke lithatha umbono ohluke, akunjalo? Futhi uthi, “Ngifuna ukulifunda libhuku futhi!” Futhi uma ulifunda libhuku futhi, uqala ukubona ukuthi bekukhona ubufakazi nezinkomba nezindikimba ezicacile kuwo wonke umbhuku okufanele zenze kucace kakhulu ukuthi ungubani nokuthi yini le mfihlo.

UKhesu eTestamenteni Elidala

Nokho yileyo esiyithola kwiBhayibheli. Yize njengoba uJesu ecacile futhi ebonakala njengoba esekhasini ngalinye leNcwadana, akusayi kuze kube yini yokuthi Weyeza wathi uyabonisa indlela yonke ihlanganiswe ngayo ukuthi iyabonakala, iyabonakala kubo bonke. Ngendlela efanayo, uJesu usifundisa ukuthi iBhayibheli aliyincwadi yezindaba eziningi ezahlukene. Yebo, zikhona izindaba zika-Abraham noNoa no-Abraham noJosefu noMose noYoshuwa nabahluleli, uSawuli noDavide, kodwa zonke lezi zindaba zikhomba kwindaba eyodwa kaJesu Kristu. Zikhona abaprofeti, abapristi, namakhosi kuwo wonke umTestamente Omadala, kodwa zonke lezo zindaba zisibonisa ukuthi bayahluleka kanjani nokuthi sidinga iNkosi yangempela, uMpristi wangempela, noKumkani wangempela yize lokho kunatholakali kuphela kuJesu Kristu. UmTestamente Omadala uyindaba yabantu bakaNkulunkulu uSirayeli. Bakhona endaweni eyodwa ebizwa ngokuthi “Indlulwana yakhe.” Kodwa bayahluleka. Nokho lesi sizwe sikaSirayeli sikhomba kumntwana oyodwa wangempela ka-Abraham, imbewu yangempela, iNdodana yangempela egcina umbandela, uJesu, owaba yinto yonke uSirayeli angakwazi ukuba yona. Umthetho uchaza ngokuningiliziwe isistimu yezisulu, indlela ithempeli yayakhiwa ngayo; isistimu yonke yezinkolo ikhomba umuntu oyedwa, umbikiso oyedwa, uMsindisi oyedwa. Zonke zikhomba uJesu Kristu.

UJesu uthi umthetho kaTestamente Omadala uyaphrofetha. Bhekani nami kuMathewu isahluko 5 verse 18. UJesu uthi, “Akukho jota noma tithelo elidlulayo emthethweni kuze kube yilapho konke kunokwenziwa.” Nokho umthetho wonke kuTestamente Omadala, zonke izinto 613 zemithetho yayikhomba kithi kuJesu Kristu. Yebo, zayosisbonisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu unkulunkulu oyingcwele nokuthi bayasiswarnisa ukuthi njengabantu abangcwele hindi singakwazi ukusondela kuye ngobulungiswa bethu. Yasibonisa ukuthi sidinga ubulungiswa obuzakuKristu yize bube bobu. Yasibonisa ukuthi sidinga uMvana kaNkulunkulu othatha isono somhlaba esigcwele ezinhliziyweni zethu. Yonke imithetho kuTestamente Omadala, nokho, ikhomba kithi kuJesu Kristu.

Kodwa qaphela ukuthi uJesu akazange amise khona. Bheka umverse 44 kumatekisi yethu. Uthi “Kusukela kumthetho kaMose, abaprofeti nama-pszaluma, yonke into kumele igcwaliseke.” Manje, lokhu kungukwahlukaniswa kwamaJuda kweTestamente Elidala. Uyazi ukuthi siwahlukanisa kanjani uTestamente Elisha phakathi kwamaVangeli nama-epistles. KweTestamente Elidala, amaJuda babelahlukanisa iTestamente Elidala phakathi komthetho, abaprofeti, nezincwadi. UJesu uthi “Yonke lezi zingxenye ezintathu zeSibhalo zikhuluma Ngami. Zonke zikhomba Kimi.” Akukhona nje kuphela umverse embalwa kwabaprofeti abakhuluma ngoJesu; yiyonke imlayo yabaprofeti. Akukhona nje kuphela isahluko 53 sika-Isaya esonkhulula ngoJesu; kusukela ekuqaleni kuze kube ekupheleni kwaleyo prophesiyo. Akukhona nje kuphela i-psaluma eyodwa, njengoPsaluma 22, esonkhulula ngokuqulwa kwesiphambano, kodwa yonke i-psaluma ekhomba kuthi kuJesu oyena ngumculi na oyena oculiweyo kuma-Psaluma. Ithemba aliyincwadi nje kuphela ngobuhlaka beubuntu kodwa uma siyalisebenzisa ezimpilweni zethu sizophila ngenjabulo nangcono. Cha, yasazisa ngobuhlaka bukaNkulunkulu, i-logos awenza ngayo amazulu nomhlaba. UPawulu usitshela ukuthi yonke imcebo yobuhlaka nodumo itholakala kuJesu Kristo.

“Psalms 96” (Psalms 96, ZU)

Incwadi kaSolomoni, Isingoma sikaSolomoni ingaphezu kwencwadi nje kuphela ngobuhle bothando phakathi komyeni nomkayo. Ikhuluma ngomyeni wethu oyedwa, uJesu Kristo, yona itshela ukuthi unganthanda kangaka njengebride yayo, iBandla.

Ukuthi zonke izinto, ngendlela yonke, kuzo zonke iZwi likaNkulunkulu, ziyasikhomba kuJesu Kristo. Futhi, lokhu akusiyo imibono yami. Lalela uMartin Luther. Wathi, “Umsebenzi wazo zonke ukutolika uwukuthola uKristo. UKristo uyinhliziyo yeBhayibheli.” UCalvin wathi, “UKristo uyisiphetho nomoya womthetho. Nguwo owafunayo ukwenza inqubekelaphambili enkulu eZwini likaNkulunkulu, kufanele ahlale eyekhumbula lokhu.” UEd Clowney wathi, “Yena opredikayo iZwi kufanele apredike uKristo.” Iqiniso elikhulu nenjongo yeBhayibheli kuwukusikhomba kuJesu Kristo. Manje, le ndlela yokufunda iZwi likaNkulunkulu ibizwa ngokuthi isimiso sokutolika esekelwe kuKristo. Vumela nami ukuthi ngikuphinde. Ibizwa ngokuthi isimiso sokutolika esekelwe kuKristo. Hhayi, kuzo zonke iziqephu, kuzo zonke izinkondlo, kuzo zonke izindaba, kufanele uthole uKristo nokuthi yingxenye yaleyo ndaba ikhomba kwlokho uNkulunkulu akwenzayo ukusilungiselela ukwamkela uMesiya no wamkelo lo myalezo ovela Kuye. Awukapredikanga umyalezo wobuKristu kwenye indawo yeBhayibheli, ikakhulukazi eTestamenteni Elidala, uma ungakusiyi ekhoneni loku thwala uKristo. Kwaye yilokho uJesu asifundise sona ukufunda iZwi likaNkulunkulu.

Umsebenzi weKheswa

Kodwa yile ngxaki yami! Phantse wonke umuntu waziwa uyeka apho ethi, “Ewe, kukhona umgawo omkhulu weKhristu. Yonke iNcwadi iKhalela kuJesu Khristu.” Kodwa oko akuwona wonke amazwi kaJesu kuliphasishi eli malunga nokufundiswa yiNcwadi yonke. Uyaqhubeka athi “Zonke iindawo apho iNcwadi ifundisa ngaye, ifundisa no ngomsebenzi kaThixo wehlabathi.” Isicatshulwa sevesi 47 – yabona, isicatshulwa asipheli kuvesi 46. Siqhubeka. Sithi, “kwaye ukuthwala ingila nokholo, nokholo lokuthethelelwa kwezono kumele kushunyixwe egameni lakhe kuzonke izizwe uqala eJerusalem.” Kufuneka uJesu athini? Uthi umsebenzi webandla, wokuthi uya kukhuphuka wenza abafundi kuzonke izizwe, uyashunyixwa uyafundishwa kulo lonke iBhayibheli.”

Ngoku unokucinga, “Ewe ukuba oko kuyiqiniso, kutheni amaJuda angayiqondi?” Kwaye ndingacebisa kuwe ukuba amaJuda ayeyiqonda loo nto uJesu wabalahla ngayo. Wathi, “O weni, ababhali neFarise! Niwagibisayo” – yini? “Umhlaba nomlambo, uzama ukwenza umfundi, kodwa xa niwenza, niwenza unguwe kabini unogwaja kaSathana njengawe.”

Baqondi ukuba kulo lonke iTestamente Elidala likhalela uJesu. UJesu ufundisa ukuba ayinguye kuphela uJesu, ubomi bakhe, inkonzo yakhe, ukufa kwakhe nokuvuka kwakhe zifundiswa kwiNcwadi yonke, kodwa kwano ukuba lo myalezo uthathwe kulo lonke iBhayibheli.

I-Missiological Perspective

Uyazi ukuthi lokhu kusho ukuthini? Kusho ukuthi izindima ze-Great Commission aziyona nje into eyengeziwe ekupheleni komsebenzi kaJesu Kristu. Akukhona ukuthi uJesu, ngaphambi kokuba ashiye, wacabanga, “Uyazi, bekukhona enye into engangifuna ukuyisho. Yayini? Angikhumbuli kahle. Into ethile mayelana nomhlaba; akubalulekile kangaka. O yebo, yilokhu kanye – Hamba wenze abafundi kuzo zonke izizwe.” Uyabona, yiyo into esemqoka kakhulu yonke into uJesu ayefundisa yona eMathewu isahluko 5. Futhi lapho siqonda lokhu, sibona ukuthi umsebenzi webandla akuwona nje ukucaphuna izindima ze-Great Commission ezintathu ezitholakala eMathewu 28 noma “Mark 15” (Mark 15, ZU) noma “Luke 24” (Luke 24, ZU) noma John 20:21 noma Acts 1:8 Hayi, uyafundiswa yonke indawo nakuwo wonke umhlaba. Ziyona, khona, isicelo esisemqoka kakhulu sonke esafundiswa kuzo zonke iziBhalo nakulo lonke umsebenzi kaJesu Kristu. Lokhu kusho ukuthi kufanele sifunde iBhayibheli lethu ngezibuko ze-missiological ngoba yileyo ndlela uJesu asifundisa ngayo ukufunda iZwi.

Kufanele kube yanele. Ngingaqeda umkhuleko lapha ngithi, “Hamba wenze njengalokho.” Kodwa makini nginike elinye iphuzu lokuthi kungani kumele sifunde iBhayibheli ngendlela yobomishinari. Uyobani umkhuleko omkhulu kunabo bonke eTestamenteni Entsha ngemuva kweNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu? Umpostoli uPawuli. Kithe umkhuleko omkhulu kunabo bonke weBhayibheli yincwadi yamaRoma. Yini ekhanga kimi ngoPawuli ukuthi yini eyamenza waba nesibopho kangaka sokuthatha iVangeli kude kube sekugcineni komhlaba? Kungenzeka uphendule lo mbuzo ngokuthi, “Hhayi, waba nesibopho kangaka sokuthatha iVangeli kude kube sekugcineni komhlaba ngenxa yokuthi iNkosi yamvele yena emgwaqweni wokuya eDamasko, wamfanyeka, yathi, ‘Uyakuba umf testigo wami phakathi kwabagwelile.’” Kodwa lokho akusona isizathu sokuba waba nesibopho kangaka kubomishinari. Lokho kwaba negalelo elithile kukho. Waba nesibopho kangaka kubomishinari ngenxa yokuthi phakathi kwabo bonke abalandeli bakaJesu Kristu ekuqaleni yena yedwa wayenomfundo olungileyo, wezifundo zetholoji, neBhayibheli. Wayesazi iBhayibheli. Kwaye ngokuJesu evulele amehlo akhe angaboni kokuqala, waqonda ukuthi zonke iziBhayibheli zaziphathelene noJesu Kristu – yathuma yena emhlabeni wonke.

Roma 15

Kazi ukwazi kanjani? Nokho, ngoba uyatsho. Vula nami ekhayeni loku-15 likaRomans. Sathi uRomans ungubhuku omkhulu, omkhulu kunazo zonke uPawuli alobho kuTestamente Entsha esinayo. Yini injongo kaPawuli ngokulobha le ncwadi? Nokho, kwakuwukubavimbela ibandla eRoma ukuba bahambe naye ekusakazeni iVangeli emiphethweni yomhlaba. uRomans akuyona ithiyoloji ehleliwe yento okufanele uyazi; uRomans uyithiyoloji yezithunywa – into okufanele siyenze. Futhi yini uPawuli abhala le ncwadi? Nokho, kwivesi 24 uthi, “Ngilobha le ncwadi nginethemba lokunibona ndisendleleni eya eSpain ukuze ngisizwe yenu kulolu hambo.” Incwadi kaRomans ifana kakhulu nemibiko esinayo namuhla yizithunywa abathi, “Yilokhu ngiyenzayo. Yilokhu ndiyenzayo nokho yini okufanele ningihambe naye.” Futhi yini ubufakazi obukhulu, yini yobufakazi obunegunya uPawuli ayisebenzisayo ukubavimbela abantu ukuthi bahambe naye ekusakazeni le Vangeli emiphethweni yomhlaba? Akuyona into yokuthi uThixo wamvele ekuboneni kwathi, “Hamba ube yisithunywa.” Cha, ubufakazi obunegunya yinto ayisa abantu kwiZwi likaThixo.

Misiona Kunzulu

Bheka umverse 9 kwisahluko 15. Uthi, “Njengoba kulotshiwe, ngakho nginidumisa phakathi kwabagentile bengimila egameni lakho.” Umverse 10, “Futhi futhi ithi, Yibani njabulo, nina bagentile, nabantu bakhe.” Umverse 11, “Futhi futhi, Dumisani iNkosi, nina bagentile, zonke, lokhu bani bakhe bayamdumisa.” Umverse 12, “Futhi futhi u-Isaya wathi, Ingcambu kaJeshe iyakuza, leyo naleyo okuzovuka ukubusa abagentile. Kuye abagentile bayakulethemba.” Njengoba kukho okuhle kakhulu ngala mavesi ane! Qagela yiphi ingxenye yeTestamente Elidala aya phuma kuyo? Aya phuma ezigabeni ezintathu ezinkulu zeTestamente Elidala – umthetho, umverse 10 uphuma kuDeuteronomi; uSamweli no-Isaya bayumverse 9 nomverse 12, abaprofeti. Futhi umverse 11 uphuma ezimbongi. Lokhu akukona ukuphatha nje kwengozi kaLwazi lukaThixo nguPawulu. Lokhu kungendlela ehleliwe yokuqondisa kithi ukuthi, “Ngizibolele kangaka ekuthumeni abantu ngoba yonke indawo eLwazini lukaThixo iyasithatha yasisika ekuthumeni abantu emazweni!”

Uyabona, uPawulu wathi into efanayo noJesu ashoyo. uPawulu wathi into efanayo noJesu awabonisa abafundi bakhe. Uthi umyalezo ophakathi weBhayibheli usikhomba kuJesu nokusebenza kwalomyalezo kukulethe kwetu levangeli emhlabeni. Ukuthumwa kwabantu abanye akutholakali engxenyeni eyodwa yeBhayibheli; kutholakala kuwo wonke umchapter weBhayibheli. uPawulu uphuma emthethweni, abaprofeti, nezimbongi ngoba elandela umzekelo kaKristu. Futhi mak ngikubonishe ukuthi lokhu kungasebenza njengoba sifunda ukufunda kabusha iBhayibheli lethe. Masibuyele emuva ngeziNkholwa futhi sibone indlela yokulifunda kabusha.

Kuthakazelisa kanjani iBhayibheli liqala futhi liphele? Liqala ngokudalwa kwezulu nomhlaba futhi liphela ngokudalwa kweZulu Ezintsha nomHlabathi Omusha. Manje ungacabanga ukuthi iNcwadi eqala ngomhlaba futhi iphele ngomhlaba imayelana nomhlaba. Futhi ungaba yiqiniso ngokwenza leso sinqumo. Liqala eGenesis lapho uThixo efuna abantu ababili, uAdamu noEva, engadini, futhi liphela lapho Efumana abantu Bakhe futhi ebahlanganisa kuzo zonke izizwe zomhlaba. Futhi leJerusalem yasemhlangeni phakathi kwayo iCentral Park, iGadi likaEdene, lapho kunomuthi wokuphila futhi sithola ukufinyelela kuwo. Ithempeli ngokwalo kanye nesistimu yezokholo emthethweni yabonisa u-Israyeli ukuthi bekufanele balindele futhi bafake abantu bangaphandle emphakathini wabo. Uyabona, u-Israyeli wayengenguqulo yobuzwe. U-Israyeli akasibandla sabantu abathi, “Sisabantu abodwa ngoba sinegazi elifanayo.” Cha, u-Israyeli wayesizwe ngoba babizibophele kwisivumelwano esifanayo futhi noma ngubani ofuna ukwenza leso sivumelwano noThixo angaba yingxenye yaleso sizwe. Futhi yilokhu kanye omthetho uwafundisa. Uthi lapho abezinye izizwe beza ukuhlala phakathi kwenu, banazo zonke izilungelo nezikhwele ozenayo futhi kufanele ubathande futhi ubaphatheshe njengomzalwane. Futhi kufanele bahileleke kuzo zonke izinto zenkolo zika-Israyeli.

Umsebenzi weSonto Kuzakhiwo Zezokholo

Kodwa futhi sibona lo msebenzi webandla ubandakanya izakhiwo zenkolo. Cabanga ngethempeli. Itempeli yayakhiwe ngamagceke ambalwa. Igceke elincane kunazo zonke itempeli kwakuyindawo engcwele kakhulu. Ngabe unayo igceke labantu abangakholwa, igceke labantu, igceke labantu besifazane, negceke labantu abangakholwa. Ngikhulumile? Ingabe ulalela! Lalela, kufanele nijabhe ngoba ngehamba kancane kakhulu! Kule ekuseni ngangihamba ngokushesha ngale! Indawo engcwele kakhulu negceke labantu abangakholwa. Manje yini enkulu kunazo zonke ezine gceke? Igceke labantu abangakholwa. Ingabe umuntu uyakhumbula ukuthi igceke labantu abangakholwa lalikhulu kangakanani? Ingabe abakho phakathi kwenu bakhumbula? Lalikhulu kangakanani? Mhle kakhulu! Wayelalela! Iyakhele amakhala angu-13. Amakhala angu-13! Uyazi ukuthi bangaka-300,000 abantu abangahlala amakhala angu-13? Manje kungani bebakha igceke elingahlalisa abantu abangaka-300,000 uma bengaqondi ukuthi uThixo wayo yabiza izizwe zonke zomhlaba kuye? Uyabona, bakholwa yinto leyo futhi benza indawo yayo!

Uyazi ukuthi asikholwa kakhulu lapha eFirst Pres. ngoba asina makhala angu-13 okuwamukela abantu! Hhayi, mhlawumbe abayozi kuza! AbakwaJuda abakholwanga nakho. Bakenzani ngamakhala angu-13? “Hayi, sinazo zonke izikhala ezingenalutho. Uyazi, kufanele sigcwalise ngabashintshanisi bemali ukuze impilo yethu ibe lula.” E-e, baye basebenzisa njengesifinyezo sokuwela iJerusalema ukuze bangahambi ngendlela eyindilinga. Yaye uJesu wathi? “Kwa nini nijikile indlu yami yentombi ngaba yindlu yezohweba? Abizwe izizwe lapha, ngeke kube khona indawo yabo. Kufanele nenze indawo yabo.” Ngakho kanye itempeli lona lathi umhlaba uyakuza nokukhanya.

Izingoma Zabantu BakaThixo

Izingubo zikaNkulunkulu yizalelwazi zabantu bakhe. Futhi wake wazi ukuthi zikhona izicelo ezingaphezu kuka-175 ezijwayelekile emizikweni? Okungukuthi, izitatements mayelana nokubiza umhlaba ukuba uze uwonke ukuyakhonza uNkulunkulu ne-Israyeli. Manje yini eyinqaba mayelana naleyo – izicelo ezingaphezu kuka-175 emizikweni? Yini eyinqaba mayelana naleyo ukuthi zikhona imizikwe engu-150 kuphela! Kanjalo kusho ukuthi izikhathi eziningi emizikweni eminingi uthola lesi sikumbuzo esiqhubekayo sokuletha izizwe nawe uma uza khonza. Ukuba uNkulunkulu usinikeleyo ukuba siyacula kanye kanye ebuzikalini bethu, ungacabanga ukuthi mhlawumbe sesiyafanele ukuletha umuntu nawe ekuseni uma siza esontweni. Nazi izibonelo: “Yenza umsindo omjabulisayo kuNkulunkulu, wonke amazwe.” Njengomuntu omlungileyo nina ngisiya kuthi umziko lowo, ngangicabanga ukuthi bayakhuluma ngamazwe. Uyazi, amadwala. Futhi kuyiqiniso. UJesu uthi, uyazi, “Uma izingane zingamemezi, lamadwala ayamemeza.” Kodwa akakhulumi ngamazwe amemeza; ukhuluma ngabantu bamazwe abamemezayo. “Psalms 100” (Psalms 100, ZU) yingubo yomthumeli ebiza umhlaba ukuba uhlangane nawo. “Psalms 96” (Psalms 96, ZU) Manje ekuhunyushweni kweSeptuagint kweHebheru, uhlobo lweGreek, lowo mazi, “shumayela,” yisiGrike esithola lowo mazi wesiNgisi, “evangelize” kuwo. Kanjalo ungahumusha umshoyo we-3 njengo, “Evangelize izizwe.”

Abaprofeti

Kwaye, yini ngabaprofethi? Kubaprofethi, sibona lo mbono mkhulu wokuthi uNkulunkulu uzobiza zonke izizwe zomhlaba ukuba zimkhonze Yena endlini yakhe engcwele. Isahluko sama-25 sika-Isaya imisho yesi-6 nesi-7 ithi, “Entabeni, iNkosi yezibalo yenza umkhosi wokudla okumnandi kubo bonke abantu, umkhosi wewayini olungiswe kahle, wokudla okumnandi okuzele ngamafutha, newayini elungiswe kahle. Yena uyagwinya le ntaba, izinto ezifihlayo ezibekwe phezu kwabantu bonke, isembo esisabalele phezu kwazo zonke izizwe.” UNkulunkulu uyakwenza lo msebenzi. I-Psalma 19, umshoyo wesi-23 kuya kwesi-25, ithi ngalolo suku kukoba umgwaqo ovela eGiphethe ukuya e-Assyria abantu base-Assyria baya eGiphethe abantu baseGiphethe baya eSiriya. Yini abayokwenza? Hhayi, siqhubeka sifunda emshweni wesi-24, “Ngololo suku, u-Israyeli uyakuba yingxenye yesithathu neGiphethe ne-Assyria, isibusiso phakathi komhlaba, ababusisiwe yiNkosi yezibalo, ithi, ‘ibusisiwe iGiphethe abantu bami ne-Assyria umsebenzi wezandla zami!’” Yaye lokho akushoyo, yini, zonke izizwe ziya kumkhonza. Inkinga ngalokho, uNkulunkulu wayehlale etshela abantu base-Israyeli ukuba bakhe isizinda esisodwa. Kodwa manje uma zonke izizwe zifikile, i-ekhaya eziyisishumi nantathu ngeke zibe zanele. Yaye wathi, “Siyakhele izizinda eziningi! Sibudinga eyodwa e-Assyria empumalanga nesinye eGiphethe entshonalanga nesinye phakathi e-Israyeli ukuze zonke izizwe zifikile zikhonze!” Kungani? “Kungenxa yokuthi umhlaba uyakuwa phansi ngolwazi lwendumiso kaNkulunkulu njengamanzi agubha ulwandle yaye bayakukhonzisa iNkosi yabo.”

I-Monotheism Ehlanzekile yeTestamente Yakudala

Esinye isizathu sokuthi umsebenzi wamasheya yisigqoko esiphakathi seTestamente Yakudala yinto yokuthi uThixo wenza izulu nomhlaba, ukuthi zonke izithixo zezizwe yizithombe. Futhi uma ukwazi lokho, unomlayezo omnye kuphela walezo zizwe. Lokho wukuthi uphenduke ezithixweni zakho ezingamanga ukhonze uThixo weqiniso, uThixo owenza izulu nomhlaba. Isigqoko esiphakathi nenhloso yeSibhalo yukusikhomba kuKristu nalelo lizwi elilula lokuthi ngemuva kokumamukela yena nomusa wakhe, ukuthatha lo mlayezo kuwo wonke umhlaba nakuzo zonke izingxenyeko zale njini. Inhloso ephakathi yeSibhalo isibiza kuKristu yasisuthumela emhlabeni ukuba sibe ngamasheya. Ngenxa yokuthi lo mlayezo uwisigqoko esiphakathi seSibhalo, kufanele ube yinhloso ephakathi yokuphila kwakho. Kufanele ibe yinhloso ephakathi yale chitha yaye kufanele ibonakale ngindlela esiphila ngayo, esenza ngayo, nendlela esisebenzisa ngayo isikhathi sethu, iziphi zethu, nemali yethu. Uyabona, awukwazi ukusho ukuthi uhlangene nezinjongo zikaThixo uma ufunda iBhayibheli njengencwadi mayelana nawe. Uyabona nokuthi kufa kangakanani ukufunda kweSibhalo uma uqonda injongo enkulu kaThixo?

UmLayezo Ophakathi weBhayibheli

Ngiqale lo mlayezo ngokukuxwayisa ukuba nidlame ukwenza iNcwadi kaThixo yencwadi yokuzi thuthukisa, ukuyisebenzisa ukuze uthole ukuzifeza, ukwaneliseka, nokuphelela ebomini bakho. Kodwa esikutholile, lapho siqonda ukuthi umlayezo ophakathi weBhayibheli ungowemishini, siqonda ukuthi yonke into ebomini bethu ibalulekile. Siyaqonda ukuthi kubalulekile ukuba nomshado omuhle nokuthi usebenzise lezo zigawo ebomini bakho ngoba umshado wethu manje unenjongo. Le njongo ukwandisa ukubusa nokuphatha kukaThixo ngomshado wethu. Siyaqonda ukuthi kungani kubalulekile ukuba nemindeni yamaKristu eqinile ngoba imindeni yethu iba yimishini; siba yindlu okufanele ibe ukukhanya phakathi kwezizwe ngendlela esiphila ngayo futhi siphila njengabashadile nabazali nabantwana. Siba yizibonelo eziphilayo zayo yonke into okufanele iVangeli libe yona phakathi kwethu ngoba umlayezo ophakathi weBhayibheli ungowemishini, wemishini, ngakho imishini kufanele ibe injongo ephakathi okumele siphile nayo. Futhi lapho sihlanganisa nalezo njongo, uyazi ukuthi kuya kwenzeka ntoni? Akekho umuntu othola ubomi obicebile, akekho umuntu othola ubomi obugcwele, akekho umuntu othola ubomi obumnandi ngoba ngeke uphile wena ngokwakho kodwa uza kuthola injongo okwake wadaliwa ngayo. Uza kugcwalisa izinhlelo nezinhloso zikaThixo ebomini bakho.

Ungase ufike lapha ekuseni ucabanga, “Hhayi, ngiyaqonda ukuthi yisikhathi sonyaka lapho siqwashiswa ngemisebenzi yezithunywa. Kufanele ibe yinto ebalulekile njengoba sinquma amaSundays ambalwa ngonyaka kuyo.” Kodwa ngithemba ukuthi uzophuma lapha ucabanga, “Yilokhu ndlela esiza lapha njalo.” Sinamathele kuye njongo ephakathi kaNkulunkulu kuzo zonke iziBhalo. Sifuna ukuphila kwethu kube yinto ekhombisa injongo leyo. Sifuna indlela esebenzisa ngayo imali yethu ibe yinto ekhombisa injongo leyo. Sifuna ukwakha ukuthi lesi sigereke sikuphi ngokusekelwe kule njongo ephakathi yeBhayibheli. Uyabona, iqiniso yile, le ncwadi iyindaba yezindaba ezinhle kuphela ngoba ayikuthii; ibasikhomba kuMsindisi futhi ibasikhokhisa kubo bonke abantu.

Ake sithandaze!

Yayena uNkulunkulu wethu noYise wasezulwini, siyabonga Ngaku lokhu okuyindlela entsha yokufunda iBhayibheli. Siyabonga Ngaku ngokutusikhulula ekufundeni iBhayibheli njengomlayezo ngathi. Ungasitusa ukuthi siphakamise amehlo ethu kulelo mbono omkhulu wokwenza kwakho ukuze sikhethe ukuphuma endleleni yethu siye ekuphazanyeni kwethu sihambisane nezinhloso zakho kithi? Ngicela usikhulule ekuboneni kwethu okuncane nokucabanga kwethu komhlaba ukuze sikwazi ukuphila kuwe. Sicela konke lokhu egameni likaJesu. Amen.