Amadodakazi, Ukuphelelwa, Ukwesaba & Ukuhlangulwa

Ngokuqondiswa nguDkt. Jonathan Pennington

Isono sethu ekuseni sivela kuLuka 8:40-56. Uma ukwazi, ngingacela ukuthi ume ukuze kufundwe iLizwi likaNkulunkulu?

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

Ndowayesiya uJesu, izithutu zaphithana phezu kwakhe. Kwakukhona owesifazane owayesekhishwe inopho iminyaka eyishumi nambili, yena wayengenakuphulukiswa nguze. Waya ngemuva kwakhe wathinta umpheuko wengubo yakhe, ngokushesha inopho lakhe lamisa.

“Ngubani othinge kuye?” uJesu wabuza.

Nabo bonke benqaba, uPetro wathi, “Nkosi, abantu bayaphithana phezu kwakho.”

UJesu wathi, “Kukhona othinge kuye; ngiyazi ukuthi amandla aphumile kuye.

Khona owesifazane, ebona ukuthi akakwazi kuhleka, weza edingizela wawa phansi ezinyaweni zake. Phambi kwabantu bonke, watshela ukuthi kungani athinta kuye nokuthi uphulukiswe njani.

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

Ndowakakhuluma, kwafika umuntu ovela endlini kaJairu, umkhulu wsesigibamthandazo. “Indodakazi yakho ifile,” wathi. “Musani kumfundisi.”

Ndowakuzwa lokhu, uJesu wathi kuJairu, “Musani ukwesaba; kholwani nje, yena uyakuphila.”

Ndowafika endlini kaJairu, akavumanga muntu ukuba angene naye ngaphandle kukaPetro noJohane noJakobe noyise noyine. Phakathi nalokho, bonke abantu babekhala bebila ngenxa yakhe.

“Yekani ukukhala,” uJesu wathi. “Ngeke ifile kodwa iyalala.”

Bahleke wabahleka, besazi ukuthi yena wayefile. Kodwa yena wamthatha ngesandla, wathi, “Mntanakazi wami, vuka!” Umoya wakhe wabuya, yena wavuka ngokushesha. Khona uJesu wabatshela ukuba bamnike okuthile ukudla.

Abazali bakhe bamangala, kodwa wabala ukuba bangatsheli muntu ukuthi kwenzekile njani.

Lesi yizwi leNkosi.

Hhayi—wow. Yindaba enamandla. Indaba eyaziwa kahle. Ngokuqinisekile, izindaba ezimbili zithungelwe ndawonye. Futhi ingxenye yezizathu zokuthi yaziwa kakhulu yingoba uMathewu, uMarko, noLuka bayirekhodi 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 “gyro story” ekupheleni kwenhlanganyana yezigcawu ezibonisa amandla kaJesu ekwenzeni okuhle. Emuva kwesahluko 7, yena welapha isicelo somphongolo esikude. Yena vusa umfana wothile umke. Yena athethelela izono. Yena athulisa isiphepho. Ngokuqinisekile ngaphambi kwalokhu, yena abonisa ukugunyazwa phezu kwemibuso yezinto ezingcwele ngokukhupha umkhandlu wabathakathi. Futhi manje, ukuqukula lo mkhakha wezithombe zamandla kaJesu, thola le ndaba ephindwe kabili.

Kodwa kuningi okwenzekayo lapha kungezindaba ezimbili nje ezihlanganisiwe. Lezi zindaba zilinganisa ngabomu. Ungayibiza ngokuthi indaba yamadodakazi amabili. Indodakazi kaJairu esindabeni sokuqala, khona lo wesifazane—oJesu amthatha ngokuthi “Indodakazi” esikhathini esiphuthumayo.

Bobabili ododakazi, ngokomthetho wamaJuda, babengahlanzekile ritually—oyedwa ngokopha okungamisa, omunye ngokufa. Sizobuya kulokho.

Naphe bekukhona ukuxhumana okumangazayo okweshumi naambili. Inkosazana eneminyaka eyishumi naambili. Umuntu wesifazane obuleleke iminyaka eyishumi naambili. Unyaka lo nkosazana azalwa kuwo kwakuwunyaka umuntu wesifazane lo aqala ukubuleleka. Imichilo engabonakali ibophela ubomi babo, futhi manje—nakuba kungenzeka ukuthi abazange bazi kanjani omunye—bahlangana kuleli suku, kulelo okamzi, lapho bobabili behlangana noJesu baze bashintshwa ngokupheleleyo.

Ngokwesiko, inkosazana iba umuntu wesifazane eminyakeni eyishumi naambili. Ngakho-ke lapha sinamadodakazi amabili, abantu wesifazane ababili, izindaba zabo ezibophelana. Futhi ngokuzibona ndawonye, ngicabanga ukuthi uNkulunkulu unento ekhethekile yokusitshela.

Ukulandelana kwezindaba zabo kuyafana: ukuphelelwa yithemba, ukwesaba, nokukhululwa. Lokho ndlela esiyolandela.

Kungenxa yokuthi unaBible—noma ungayiphakamisa—vula uLuka 8, uqale ngesigaba se-40. Ngifuna ukwehla, ngiqaphe, futhi ngihambe ngendlela eyenzekayo ukuze sikwazi ukuzwa uNkulunkulu anakho kithi.

Isigaba sokuqala ukuphelelwa yithemba.

UJesu usebuyile kulowo mshangamu oshangasayo nabafundi bakhe, lapho ahlangana khona nomuntu os demon; manje usebuyile endaweni enabantu, nabantu bonke bamfuna. Bazwile efundisa. Bazwile emphilisa. Bayazi ukuthi kukhona okukhethekile ekhona kwuNkulunkulu kubo. Ngakho-ke izihlwele zicindezela.

Kodwa phakathi kwesihlwele esicindezelayo, kunendlela evuleleka. Kufika umuntu ozitholela yena: Jayiru, umholi wosynagogi. Umuntu ohlonishwa, ohloniphekile. Futhi wenza kanjani ukuba asondele kuJesu?

Uwela phansi ezinyaweni zikaJesu, amaphofuza kuye.

ULuka usebenzisa lesi sithombe futhi futhi—ukuwela phansi ezinyaweni zikaJesu—njengendlela yokubonisa ukuphelelwa yithemba. Akuyona into yokuzithandela. Yinto eyenzekayo lapho phansi kudingeka.

Ngeke ngikwazi lokho okuqondene nami mpaka emizuzu embalwa phakathi neshumi leminyaka elidlule—eyodwa phakathi nesikhathi sokukhathazeka okukhulu nokungalungi, lapho ngawa khona emhlabathini. Futhi, ngonyaka odlule, emva kokuhlinzwa kwesimila sobuchopho somkakwetfu, emva kwamahora ayishumi nesombulawa, lapho wayesezinhlungwini ezibuhlungu futhi sacabanga ukuthi isiphelo sesifikile—ange ngiphinde ngandingawi phansi kombedeshe. 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 nje igula. Hhayi nje ikhathaza abazali bayo njengoba izingane zivame ukwenza. Uyafa.

Kwa yini uphelelwe yithemba.

Futhi uma ubheka nje lezo zinguquko zokuqala—izinguquko 41 no 42—kukhona usizi olungaka, uchungu olungaka, ukwesaba okungaka okuqukethwe kuzo okulula ukufunda ngaphandle kwesisindo semizwa yento umuntu lo ophila. UJesu, oyena esimbonayo njalo egcwele umusa, uthi yebo. Uya noJairu. Futhi isiphetho sezinguquko 42 sisikhumbuza futhi ukuthi izihlwele zimcindezela. Wonke umuntu ufuna ukusondela kuye.

Inguquko 43 yethula ukuphazamiseka:

Kwakukhona owesifazane lapho obe ekhishwe igazi iminyaka eyishumi nambili, kodwa akekho angamphulukisa.

UMako wengeza ukuthi umfazi utchithe konke awayenakho kodwa odokotela, futhi esikhundleni sokuba ngcono, waba mbi nakakhulu.

Kwa Jairu, sibona ukuphelelwa yithemba okukhulu—ngozeleni eqatha. Kwa lo mfazi, sibona ukuphelelwa yithemba okungamanga—iminyaka eyishumi nambili yezinhlungu. Futhi ngokweLevitikus 15, yini imedical condition yakhe, yenza ukuba awele esigabeni sokungahlanzeki ritually. Hhayi onaka. Hhayi unecala. Kodwa wahlukaniswa. Waqhekeka.

Futhi ngoba isimo sakhe asipheli, ukwahlukaniswa kwakhe asipheli. Yini na wakhe wayezithinta angahlanzeka. Yini na wakhe ayebana angahlanzeka. Akazange akwazi ukukhuleka ethempelini. Akazange akwazi nokungena eJerusalema. Wayesodwa. Wayengumuntu ophansi. Wayengumxexeli.

Zama ukucabanga ngakho: iminyaka eyishumi nambili ingenathintwa. Iminyaka eyishumi nambili ingenamkhoselwa ekhaya lomuntu. Iminyaka eyishumi nambili ingenabantu abahlala naye.

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

Kwaqhubeka waxinana phakathi kwabantu, mhlawumbe nengubo yakhe ephansi, wathinta umphetho wengubo yakhe.

Nesikhathi esifanayo—yena wazi. Umzimba wakhe umtshela. Njengalokhu amalunga abuyela endaweni yawo. Kanye nalelo xesha lapho umthwalo wengqondo ongawazi ngokugcwele usuka khona ngokuzuma uyabona ukuthi ubekunzima kangakanani. Yena wazi ukuthi uphilile.

Ngicabanga ukuthi cishe wayengakholwa—injabulo ixubene nokungakholwa, ixubene nokwesaba ukuze athembe futhi.

Indaba yayingeke igcine lapho. Izindaba eziningi ziyagcina. Abantu bayahlangana noJesu, bayamthola baphilika, bayahamba ngendlela yabo. Kanye noJairu, uJesu wayengaphilisa intombi yakhe ngaphandle, njengalokhu enze kwisahluko 7.

Kodwa kukhona okungalindelekile. Kukhona isinyathelo esinye. Hhayi nje ukuphelelwa yithemba nokulethwa—kodwa ukwesaba.

Bhekani isigwebo 45:

“Ngingubani owangithinta?” uJesu wabuza.

Wonke umuntu uyakuphika. UPetru uthi noma ngubani kithi athi: Nkosi, wonke umuntu uyakuthinta. Kodwa uJesu wazi ukuthi kukhona okunye okwenzekile. Yena wazi ukuthi amandla aphumile kuye.

Kodwa lokhu kucweka. Lona yisimangaliso esifanayo—umuntu othinta ingubo kaJesu aphilika. Cishe kuzwakala njengamatshe, njengokuphulukisa okanye ikristalu kwindaba yomlingo. Kodwa lokho akwenzeki. Lokhu kukhathisa. Lokhu kukholwa. Yilokho uJesu akwazi.

Ngaphandle kwalokho, abantu abaningi babethinta. Oyedwa kuphela uthola ukuphulukiswa.

Kwayo owesifazi usukela ekuphelelweni yithemba kuya ekwesabeni. Wayethemba ukuhlala engaziwa. Yilokho ayekufikile ukukwenza. Wayephulukene nokugula kwakhe. Wayengakwazi ukusuka lapho. Kodwa uJesu wamisa umphakathi wonke wabuza, Yini umuntu oyangithintshile?

Ujabulile kancane, kodwa yena usukela ekujabuleni kuya ekwesabeni. Iminyaka eyishumi nambili y shame, ukuxexwa, ubusuku—yilokho ayekubhekene nayo. Yena uthinte uJesu, kungenzeka yena wamenza waba ngowangakhethi. Yena wenzile lokho ngobusuku. Kwayo owesifazi yena ime phambi komuntu kaNkulunkulu enegunya elikhulu.

Isiqephu 47:

Owesifazi yena ebone ukuthi akakwazi ukuhlala engaziwa, wza ekhanda phansi, wawela phambi kwakhe. Phambi kwabantu bonke, yena watshela ukuthi yini ayemthintshile noJesu nokuthi yena ephulukene nokugula kwakhe.

Kafana noJairo, yena wawela phambi kwezinyawo zikaJesu. Kodwa hhayi nje kuphela ekuphelelweni yithemba—yena ekwesabeni. Yena akanakho ukwazi ukuthi kungenzeka yini okwenzekayo. Yilokho yena angakwenza yena ukhulume ngokuphandle phambi kwakhe.

Kwayo singengeke sizwe impendulo kaJesu, bheka isiqephu 49:

Ndowakhe uJesu asakhuluma, othile wafika ekhaya likaJairo. “Inhlwa yakho ifile,” wathi. “Musani kumthokozisa umfundisi.

Kwayo njengale ndaba yowesifazi isukela ekuphelelweni yithemba kuya ekujabuleni kuya ekwesabeni, nendaba kaJairo yena isukela ekuphelelweni yithemba kuya ekwesabeni. Yena ubona umthunywa. Yena uzwa amazwi abandayo.

Kwayo uma uzama ukucabanga ngesimo sikaJairo lapha—ucabange ngakho—unga zwa ukushuba. Yena uphelelwe yithemba. Yena wamcenga uJesu ukuba aye. uJesu uvumile. Kodwa umphakathi unciphisa yonke into. Abantu bacindezela phakathi kwakhe. Kwayo uJairo akabe ecabanga, Nkosi, ndawuya—indhlwa yami ifa. Asinayo isikhathi sokwenza lokhu.

Kwayo uJesu wamisa.

Kwayo owesifazi—umuntu ophalayo—wza phambili wawela phambi kwakhe. Kwayo uJairo angacabanga yena, Asinayo isikhathi sokwenza lokhu. Indhlwa yami ifa. Ndawuya, Nkosi, asiye.

Kwayo phakathi kwalokho ukuhlupheka, yena uzwa amazwi abandayo:

“Inhlwa yakho ifile.

Musani kumthokozisa umfundisi.”

Kuyisikhumbuzo sikabuhlungu bukaMaria noMartha kwisahluko 11 sikaJohane, lapho umshana wabo efa khona uJesu engafikanga ngesikhathi.

Zombili izindaba zithatha indlela esingayilindelanga. Zihamba zivela kokubi ukuya kokubi nakakhulu. Zivela ekuphelelweni yithemba ukuya ekwesabeni.

Kodwa lezi zwezintombi zizothola okuthile okunye. Futhi yile ndawo lapho ukunikezwa kwesithathu—ukukhululwa—kuqala khona.

Masiyabuyela kowesifazeke ophalayo. Unikine ezinyaweni zikaJesu, mhlawumbe wesaba ukuthi angab withdraw ukuphulukisa kwakhe, noma amshazelebesheze esidlangalaleni, noma okungeni, uthi, Kulungile, ungakugcina, kodwa okwenzile kwakungalungile.

Yini ayokuthi?

Umvulandlela 48:

“Indodakazi, ukholo lwakho lukuphulukisile.

Hamba ngokuthula.”

Rakensi yokumsola, kunalokho, ukhipha amandla akhe, uyambusisa. Uyibiza ngendodakazi—igama uJesu angalokothi alisebenzisele muntu ngaphandle kwakhe. Futhi uyamthuma ekuthuleni.

Futhi lokhu kutu bonisa futhi: lokhu kwakungekho umthakathi. Lokhu kwakungekho nyakanyaka wokuphulukisa. uJesu ugcizelela ukholo lwakhe. Ufuna yena—nawo wonke umuntu—ukuqonda kwenzekile.

Futhi uqaphela ukufana noJairu. Ngokushesha emvulandlela 50, lapho izindaba zokufa kwendodakazi zifikile, uJesu uphendukela kuye wathi:

“Musa ukwesaba.

Kholo, yena uyakuphulukiswa.”

Ukholo futhi.

Futhi yilelo ndlela eyenzekile. Uma uqaphela emavesini ambalwa alandelayo, uJesu uyasebenza endlini kaJairu. Inkosazana ifile. Wonke umuntu uyayazi. Akavumeli umphakathi—Petro, Yakobe, Yohane, nabazali. Bangena ekamelweni lapho inkosazana ilele khona.

Endleleni, uJesu uthi, “Kani nikhala? Akakafanga kodwa elele.” Bayamhleka. Bayakwazi ukufa kwakhe uma beyibona. Kodwa uJesu ngokuvamile usho okungaphezu kwamazwi akhe ekuqaleni.

Kwaye kusho yini lokhu? Bhekani umverse 56. Ngokumvusa, uyabatshela ukuthi bangamsheli muntu ukuthi kwenzeke njani. UJesu akazami ukuvusa izixuku. Akazami ukuzuza udumo noma ukuqala ukunyakaza. Ukube efuna udumo, wayeyenze le miqulu emgwaqweni.

Uyasebenza ngomusa—umusa othempile, othe iqinisile. Uyabuyisela ukuphila kuleli familia, kodwa akana nentshisekelo ekubukeni. Uyeza ukuphulukisa, yebo—kodwa futhi ukufundisa, ukushumayela ibandla, nasekugcineni ukufa nokuvuka, ukuqala ubudlelwane obusha phakathi kukaNkulunkulu nabantu.

Kwa njalo ukuphazanyeka okwaguqula ukwesaba kwabuye kwalandelwa ukukhululwa—kubantakanyana bobabili.

Kwaye kusho yini lokhu kithi?

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

Kodwa ngifuna ukudonsa imisho emibili—imisho emibili— engicabanga ukuthi uNkulunkulu usimema ukuba sibone.

Okokuqala:

UNkulunkulu ufuna sikuzuza isithombe esigcwele sokuthi uJesu ungubani nokuthi wenzani kubantu—kithi.

Sikhuluma kahle ngokufa kukaJesu nokuvuka kwakhe ngokuthethelwa kwzono. Lokho kuyinto ebalulekile. Akukho ukuxoxisana. Kodwa isitsho sonke.

Izindaba ezinjengale zisibonisa ukuthi umsebenzi kaJesu uphinde uhlanganise: * ukuhlanza okungahlanzekile * ukususa amashoni * ukunqoba ukufa * ukukhulula abantu ezimweni ezibucayi * ukubuyisela abantu emphakathini

Abantakanyana bobabili bayabuyiselwa emphakathini wabo. Kanye nomuntu owayenomoya onyanyekayo endabeni yangaphambilini. UTom Wright uyibeka ngobuhle: uJesu uyawathinta amanqaku ngezinkinga zomhlaba. Uyayamukela ukuthinta kwethu okweqayo. Futhi uyaphendula ngomyalo omkhulu weBhayibheli: Musa ukwesaba.

UJesu akasikhululi nje kuphela ekonileweni — uyasithola ekhathazweni. Akasithembisisi nje kuphela ukuphila okuphakade — uyasinqoba ukufa. Akasivumelanisi nje kuphela noNkulunkulu — uyasibuyisela kwabanye.

Kwaye lokhu kuseyiqiniso nanamuhla. Abanye benu lapha — noma bebuka ku-inthanethi — bazizwa bebodwa. Ekhathazweni. Ukuphatheka. Udlame. Ngaphandle, ubukeka uhlanganiswe. Ngaphakathi, uzizwa ubodwa.

UJesu weza angakwenzela kuphela ukukuthethelela, kodwa ukukubuyisela — kuye nakwabanye. Kungaba ukwehluleka kwakho kubantu noma ebuhlotsheni, noma kwezezimali, ikhathazweni lakho lingasuswa. Ungabuyiselwa emphakathini owulangazela.

Omunye umbhali wathi kahle:

“‘Musa ukuphazamisa umfundisi khona’ akaze kube yimpendulo efanele ezinkingeni zethu.”

Mhlawumbe nanamuhla uzizwa ungenathemba. Ukhathazwe kakhulu. Uphukile kakhulu. Uhambe kakhulu.

Kodwa “musa ukuphazamisa umfundisi khona” akaze kube yimpendulo efanele.

OJesu ofanayo owathinta lezi zimpilo uyathinta nezethu. Futhi sifuna ukuba yibandla lapho ukubuyiselwa kukamukelwa. Akudingeki ukuba uhleleke kuqala. Uyemukelwa ukuba ubuyiselwe.

Konke lokhu kufinyelelwa hhayi ngokwenza, kodwa ngokholo — ngokuwela phansi ezinyaweni zikaJesu, enhliziyweni yakho noma ngomzimba wakho, nokuvuma isidingo sakho.

Okuholela kwelinye iqiniso:

UNkulunkulu usebenzisa ukuphelelwa yithemba nokwesaba ukusiguqula — noma kusifikile ukulethwa noma cha.

Kulezi zindaba, ukulethwa kuyenzeka. Kodwa kwesinye isikhathi akusenzeki. Futhi nokho UNkulunkulu usebenzisa ukuphelelwa yithemba nokwesaba ukusiguqula — noma kusifikile ukulethwa noma cha.

Le viki, ngibe naithuba — enye yenzelwe, eningi ika yenzeke — ukuchitha isikhathi esiningi nabanye benu. Isikhathi nabantu lapha, abantu abekude. Isikhathi sokufundisa, ukulalela, ukubamba isikhala, ukweluleka, ukuthandaza. Ibeke iveki ekhathazwe kakhulu — egcwele izimo zokuphelelwa yithemba nezimo zokudabuka.

Ngibe nabantu abal elderly asebekhulile batekela abashade nabo abane-dementia ngenkathi bebhekene nomdlavuza ngokwabo.

Ngingiwe neminye abantu abaphila babukeka besheshile ngaphandle kodwa banehlazo, ukukhathazeka, nokuzisola.

Nihlezi nabantu enkonzweni yokulahlekelwa yisikhundla, imishado ephukile, nezingxabano nabantwana abadala abangazi ukuthi bangayinqoba kanjani.

Ndikhulume nomfundi oyingane, osebenza eKristu Covenant Church eNashville, lapho kwenzeka khona iziganeko ezibuhlungu inyanga edlule. Wayesekhona ehhovisi lakhe ngesikhathi kwenzeka lokho—waphila kancane—wabe esema egaraji lakhe ebona imiphumela emibi. Ukudabuka.

Kukhona ingxoxo eyodwa engifuna ukwabelana nawe, ngoba lo muntu wangicela ukuba. UCrihs wanginika imvume yokwabelana. Okunye ngangingeke.

Iyakhuluma ngomshana wethu, u-Andrew Toy. Iningi lenu liyamazi u-Andrew noSarah Beth. Bayamalungu eSojourn. U-Andrew ubekulwa yizinkinga zezempilo isikhathi eside, kodwa emasontweni adlule izinto zithathe indlela enzima. Akhona njengamanje embhedeni wasesibhedlela—ungase abuke njengamanje—eCincinnati, ebuka phambi kokuhlinzwa okukhulu nezinkinga ezinkulu. Izinsuku ezimbalwa ezedlule wabuza odokotela bakhe, ngokucacile, “Zithini amathuba ami okufa?” Futhi impendulo yayingekho phansi.

Kwa njengathi saba nengxoxo ende yocingo. Ukufa kuyamkhathaza njengamanje ngendlela iningi labantu esiphila ekukhanyelweni. Sikhulume ngoLuka 18—ngenye yezindimo zethu esizithandayo—lapho uJesu asemeza khona indaba yabantu ababili abathandaza: omunye eqinisekile ekulungiseni kwakhe, omunye esazi kakhulu isono sakhe nokuphuka kwakhe. Omunye uthi, “Ngiyabonga ukuthi awunjengathi lowo muntu.” Omunye angathi, “Nkosi, yiba nomusa kumi, isoni.” UJesu uyabuza, Ubani owahamba wajuziswa?

Sikhulume ngalokho. Sikhulume ngalokho. Sikhulume ngoLuka 8. Sikhulume ngaleli story namuhla. Futhi makadunyiswe uThixo ngomusa osekwizwi likaAndrews - ukulula kokuthemba uJesu phambi kokwesaba, ukucaca okuza lapho ukufa kungeyona into yokucabanga kodwa kunokwenzeka. Yilesi isipho esingajwayelekile sokuphoxeka. Isipho esingajwayelekile sokwesaba. Siyacacisa okulindeleke. Siyacacisa ukuthi yini ukuphila.

Nawe ungahlangana nami ekuthandazeni ukuthi uThixo amxhulule ngokuphelele - ukuthi uThixo amsindise yena nomndeni wake lobu buhlungu. UThixo angakwenza lokho. Kodwa ngob testimonies kaAndrew - lokho afuna ukuthi ngikutshele yina - yilokhu:

UThixo upo nguye kule si situation esabekayo, noma uxhululwa noma cha.

Yinto enhle le. Ngoba noThixo, izinto ziyahlukahluka. Ukwazi ukuthi uThixo ungubani oXhululayo - noma uxhululwa udonsa noma ungafiki - kuyashintsha yonke into.

Nithanda lezi ziqubulo zithe kusuka kuDeuteronomy. Israyeli ubekwi desert iminyaka engamashumi amane - iminyaka engamashumi amane yokuphoxeka, ukwesaba, ukulahleka, nobuhlungu. Futhi uMose wathi kuDeuteronomy 8:

Gcumu zonke izindlela uThixo uNkulunkulu wakho akhokeze ngazo wena kule minyaka engamashumi amane kwi desert, lokhu kuthiwa akakuhluphe, ekukuhlola ukuba azi okwakwi heart yakho… Futhi wakuhlupha wakulethe ukulamba, wakondla ngommanna… lokhu kuthiwa akakwazi ukwazi ukuthi umuntu akaphili ngoboti bodwa, kodwa ngalo izwi eliphuma kumlomo kaThixo… lokhu kuthiwa akakuhluphe akukuhlola, ukwenza okuhle kuwe ekugcineni.

Yilokho ukucaca okuza kwi desert.

Yilokho ukucaca okuza ekuphoxekeni.

Yilokho ukucaca okuza ekwesabeni.

UHenery David Thoreau wathi, “Abantu abaningi bahola imiphila yokuphoxeka okuthula.” Uyaqhubeka: lokhu esikubiza ngokuthi ukuzikhandla really is desperation eqinisekisiwe. Futhi ukudabuka okungaziwa kufihliwe phansi kwezinto zokuzijabulisa zempilo.

Angazi ukuthi ukuphi namuhla. Ngiyazi ukuthi abaningi benu bacindezelekile. Abanye benu bayesaba. Abanye benu nizizwa kahle—kwaye lokho kuhle. Zikhona izikhathi zokuphumula. Kodwa ngaphambi nangaphambi, sonke sizobhekana nemikhawulo yethu—ukufa kwethu, ukuntula kwethu ukulawula.

Umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu lapha uthi uNkulunkulu oyedwa owawukhona noJairus nendodakazi yakhe, nalo wesifazane ophemba, uNkulunkulu ofanayo onguwehlanga. Ukhona namuhla nathi kuJesu. Lokho yisindiso esihle.

Kuphi ozithola khona namuhla—noma uma kungeyona namuhla, khona-ke kungekudala—lapho ubhekana nokuphelelwa yithemba nokwesaba, khona kukhona ithemba.

Kukhona ithemba ngoba uNkulunkulu uyakuba khona nawe.

Kukhona ithemba ngoba uJesu uyakwamukela abaqhaqhazelayo.

Kukhona ithemba ngoba ukholo—ukholo olulula, olungaka—luvula umnyango ekhona kwakhe.

Dr. Jonathan T. Pennington njengamanje uProfesa weNcwadi kaTestamente Entsha eSeminari yaseSouthern eLouisville, eKentucky. Uphinde asebenze njengo-profesa ozayo eSeminari yaseReformed Theological (Orlando), eSeminari yaseSoutheastern, eThe Village Church Institute (Dallas), kanye neThe Institute of Biblical Studies eOrlando, FL kanye neMorling College (Melbourne, Australia).

Lesi sihloko sisekelwe emazwini esikhulumi sikaDr. Pennington. Sihlelwe kancane eCopilot, kanye nabasebenzi bethiyoloji kwa Third Millennium Ministries.