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Ukuhlola Incazelo KaJohane 12

Po Ray and Star Silverman (Strojno prevedeno u isiZulu)

Isahluko seshumi nambili


Izinsuku Eziyisithupha Ngaphambi KwePhasika


1 Khona uJesu, kusasele izinsuku eziyisithupha ngaphambi kwePhasika, wafika eBethaniya, lapho kwakukhona uLazaru owayefile, amvusa kwabafileyo.

2 Basebemenzela ukudla kwakusihlwa, uMarta wakhonza; uLazaru wayengomunye wababehlezi naye.

3. UMariya wayesethatha ilitha lamafutha enadi lodwa elinenani elikhulu, wagcoba izinyawo zikaJesu, wesula izinyawo zakhe ngezinwele zakhe; indlu yagcwala iphunga lamafutha.

Isimangaliso sikaJesu sakamuva kwaba ukuvusa uLazaru owayesenezinsuku ezine efile (bheka Johane 11:43-44). Njengoba izindaba zalesi simangaliso zihamba, zavusa ukuhlukahluka okuhlukahlukene kwezimpendulo. Abantu abaningi bamangala kangangokuthi baqala ukukholwa kuJesu. Abanye basala benokungabaza. Kwabe sekuba nabaholi benkolo abazimisela kakhulu kunanini ngaphambili ukuhlela ukufa kukaJesu. Esazi ukuthi abaholi benkolo bafuna ukumbamba, uJesu wamuka eBethaniya, waya emzini othiwa i-Efrayimi, wahlala khona nabafundi bakhe isikhathi eside (bheka Johane 11:54-57).


UMariya ugcoba izinyawo zikaJesu


Kungalesi sikhathi sokulandisa kwaphezulu lapho kuqala khona isiqephu esilandelayo. Njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Khona ezinsukwini eziyisithupha ngaphambi kwePhasika uJesu wafika eBethaniya, lapho kwakuhlala uLazaru lowo uJesu ayemvuse kwabafileyo. Bamenzela isidlo khona, uMarta wakhonza, noLazaru wayengomunye wababehlezi naye ekudleni.”Johane 12:1-2).

Ngesinye isikhathi phakathi nesidlo sakusihlwa, uMariya uthatha iphawundi lamafutha enadi elibiza kakhulu, uwasebenzisa ukuze agcobe izinyawo zikaJesu, abese esula izinyawo Zakhe ngezinwele zakhe (bheka. Johane 12:3). Ngenxa yezindawo zawo ezipholile futhi zokwelapha, amafutha abelokhu ewuphawu lothando. Ngakho-ke, lapho uMariya esebenzisa amafutha ayigugu ukuze agcobe izinyawo zikaJesu, kuwukubonakaliswa kwangaphandle kothando lwakhe olujulile nokubonga ngakho konke uJesu amenzele kona, kuhlanganise nokuvusa umfowabo, uLazaru.

Ngomfanekiso ongcwele, kokubili izinwele nezinyawo zimelela izici ezingaphandle zobuntu bethu. Lokhu akubandakanyi nje izinto esizithandayo, noma esizikholelwayo, kodwa ikakhulukazi, izinto esizenzayo. Mayelana nalokhu, uMariya usebenzisa izinwele zakhe ukuze esule izinyawo zikaJesu izithombe zendlela uthando lwethu lweNkosi nokholo Kuyo oluvela ngayo ezenzweni zokuphila kwethu kwansuku zonke. 1

Kumelwe kuphawulwe futhi ukuthi lapho uMariya egcoba izinyawo zikaJesu ngamafutha ayigugu, “indlu igcwele iphunga elimnandi lamafutha” (Johane 12:3). Ngokufanayo, noma nini lapho izenzo zethu ziwukubonakaliswa kokuzinikela kwethu kuNkulunkulu, uthando lungena emicabangweni nasezinjongweni zethu njengoba nje iphunga lamafutha ligcwala endlini. 2


Uthando lokusebenzela


Lapho uMariya egcoba izinyawo zikaJesu ngamafutha, udadewabo, uMarta, uyakhonza. Lokhu kusikhumbuza isiqephu esifanayo kuIvangeli NgokukaLuka. Kulelo vangeli, lapho uJesu efika endlini yabo, uMarta naye wayekhonza, futhi uMariya wahlala ezinyaweni zikaJesu. UMarta uchazwa njengophazamisekile, ekhathazekile, ekhathazekile, futhi ekhononda ngokuthi uMariya wayengamsizi (bona Luka 10:41-42).

KuLuka , uMarta ukhonza, kodwa ukhathazekile futhi ukhathazekile. Ku-John, nokho, izikhalo zikaMartha ezikhathazekile azishiwo. Ukhonza nje. Ngokufanayo, kuJohane , uMariya akahlali nje ezinyaweni zeNkosi elalele iZwi laKhe. Futhi ugcoba izinyawo zaKhe ngamafutha futhi ezisula ngezinwele zakhe. Ngesikhathi uMarta ekhonza umakhelwane, uMariya ukhonza iNkosi. Kuzo zombili izimo, izenzo zabo zimelela uthando lokukhonza. 3

Lokhu kukhombisa umehluko omkhulu phakathi kweIvangeli NgokukaLuka, elimayelana nenguquko yokuqonda, kanye IVangeli NgokukaJohane, elimayelana ngokuyinhloko ukwenziwa kabusha kwefa elisha. Olunye lwezimpawu zencwadi yefa entsha uthando lokukhonza ngaphandle kokuthola udumo, ukuqashelwa, noma inzuzo yezinto ezibonakalayo. Ukugxila akukhona kulokho esingazitholela kona, kodwa kunalokho esingakunikeza abanye.


Ukubaluleka kukaLazaru


Umfowabo kaMariya noMarta, uLazaru, naye ukhona, futhi uchazwa ‘njengomunye wababehlezi noJesu etafuleni’ (Johane 12:2). KuIVangeli NgokukaLuka, kukhulunywa ngendoda ehlukile okuthiwa uLazaru. Ukuthi uLazaru uyisinxibi esincenga imvuthuluka ewa etafuleni lesicebi (bheka Luka 16:19). Kuleyo ndaba, isicebi sifanekisela labo abanensada yeqiniso, futhi isinxibi okuthiwa uLazaru sichaza leyo ngxenye yethu elambele iqiniso futhi efisa ukufundiswa (bona Luka 16:19-21).

Ekulandiseni kukaJohane, uLazaru unokumelelwa okuhlukile. Uchazwa njengomngane kaJesu, njengomuntu uJesu amthandayo, futhi, ikakhulukazi njengomuntu owafa, wavuswa, futhi manje uhlezi etafuleni, edla noJesu. Ngokuphathelene nalokhu, uLazaru ubonisa okungaphezu kokulangazelela kwethu ukufundiswa. Ufanekisa ingxenye yethu ezwa iNkosi ibiza, isabela kulolobizo, futhi iphume ekuphileni kwemvelo iye ekuphileni kukamoya. 4

Kunomehluko phakathi kokulangazelela iqiniso, okumelelwa uLazaru okukhulunywa ngaye kuLuka , nokuphumela ekuphileni okusha, emelelwa uLazaru okukhulunywa ngaye kuJohane . KuLuka, egxile ekuguqulweni kokuqonda, uJesu kungenzeka ukuthi wabonwa njengomfundisi waphezulu weqiniso elisha, umboni okhanyiselwe ovula amehlo ethu okomoya. Kodwa-ke, njengoba siqala ukusebenzisa le mibono ezimpilweni zethu, sibhekana noshintsho olushintshashintshayo lwesimo sengqondo. UJesu akabonwa nje kuphela njengomfundisi waphezulu olungisa ukuqonda kwethu. Ubuye abonakale njengomlethi waphezulu wokuphila okusha - Lowo obuyisela umphefumulo wethu futhi avuselele intando yethu.

Lokhu kushintsha kokugcizelela kusukela ekuguqulweni kokuqonda kuya ekuzalweni kwefa elisha kuyisithombe senqubo yokuvuselela engenzeka ngaphakathi komuntu ngamunye. Lephethini ayibonakali kuphela esifundweni esilandelanayo sesiqephu ngasinye evangelini ngalinye, kodwa nasekufundweni okulandelanayo kwezimangaliso ezenziwa uJesu. Ngokwesibonelo, kuJohane, isimangaliso uJesu avula ngaso amehlo ayizimpumputhe silandelwa isimangaliso uJesu avusa ngaso uLazaru kwabafileyo. Lapho zibonakala ngohlelo lwazo nokulandelana kwazo, lezi zimangaliso ezimbili zinikeza umfanekiso ongokomfanekiso wokuthi ukuqonda kwethu kufanele kuvulwe kanjani ngaphambi kokuba kuzalwe intando entsha kithi. 5


Uhlelo lokusebenza olusebenzayo


Njengoba intuthuko yethu engokomoya iqhubeka, siyasuka ekufiseni ukwazi iqiniso, siqhubeke siphila ngokuvumelana neqiniso ngokuzithandela nangaphandle kokukhononda. Nakuba lokhu kungase kubonakale kuyisimangaliso, kuyinkomba yokuthi uNkulunkulu akagcini nje ngokubeka eceleni isimo sethu sengqondo esidala, kodwa futhi wakha intando entsha ngaphakathi kwethu. Kodwa lokhu kuthatha isikhathi nokuzijwayeza. Ngakho-ke, njengendlela engokoqobo, cabangela izinto ezihlukahlukene ongase uzenze. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kuyimisebenzi yakho emsebenzini, imithwalo yakho yemfanelo yasekhaya, noma ubudlelwano bakho nabanye, lwela ukwenza ngaphandle kokucasuka noma ukukhononda. Kubone njengethuba lokuvumela iNkosi isebenze ngawe. Njengoba uqhubeka nalo mkhuba, wenza ngokuvumelana nalokho okwaziyo ukuthi kuyiqiniso, isimo sakho sengqondo esisha sizoqina, futhi ukuguquka kwenhliziyo kuzolandela. Isenzo siyandulela; uzimisele uyalandela. 6


Ukusebenzelana noJudas


4. Khona wathi omunye wabafundi bakhe, uJuda Iskariyothe, uSimoni[indodana] eyayizomkhaphela,

5. Kungani lawa mafutha engathengiswanga ngodenariyu abangamakhulu amathathu, kwaphiwa abampofu?

6 Kodwa wakutsho lokhu, kungeyisikho ukuthi wayekhathalele abayanga, kodwa ngoba wayelisela, ephethe isikhwama, ethwala okufakwa kuso.

7 UJesu wasesithi: Myekeni; ngoba usuku lokungcwatshwa kwami ulugcinile lokhu.

8. Ngokuba abampofu ninabo njalo, kepha mina aninami njalo.

9 Ngakho isixuku sabaJuda sezwa ukuthi ulapho; futhi beza, kungengenxa kaJesu kuphela, kodwa ukuze babone noLazaru, ayemvuse kwabafileyo.

10 Abapristi abakhulu benza icebo lokuba babulale noLazaru;

11 ngoba ngaye abaningi kubaJuda bamuka, bakholwa nguJesu.

Njengoba siphawulile esiqeshini esidlule, ukugcoba kukaMariya izinyawo zikaJesu kufanekisa lezo zikhathi lapho izinhliziyo zethu zigcwele uthando kanye nokubonga eNkosini—kangangokuthi kuvela ezindaweni ezingaphandle kakhulu zezimpilo zethu. Lezi zikhathi zothando kanye nokubonga zifana nephunga elimnandi eligcwele ubuntu bethu. Ngokomoya, igcwalisa yonke indlu yengqondo yethu. Njengoba kulotshiwe esiqeshini esidlule, “Indlu yagcwala iphunga lamafutha” (Johane 12:3).

Nokho, kukhona enye ingxenye yengqondo yethu. Lena ingxenye ebona ngeso lokuzicabangela wena. Ukuba matasa ngokuphishekela izinto zezwe nokuthola izinto ezibonakalayo, akuthathi isikhathi ukuba noNkulunkulu. Lapho le ngxenye yengqondo yethu ibusa, singase sizibuze, “Kungani kufanele ngisebenzise isikhathi sami ngithandaza noma ngizindla ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu kuyilapho isikhathi sami nemali yami bengingayisebenzisa kangcono kokuthile okuwusizo?” Lesi simo esikithi simelelwa nguJudasi othi, “Kungani lamafutha anephunga elimnandi engathengiswanga ngodenariyo abangamakhulu amathathu, baphiwa abampofu na?” (Johane 12:5).

Ngalezo zinsuku, odenariyu abangamakhulu amathathu babecishe balingane nomholo wonyaka. Uma ichithwa kwabampofu, leyo mali ingenza lukhulu. Ngakho-ke, kungase kucatshangwe ukuthi uJuda ubakhathalela ngempela abampofu nokuthi amafutha abizayo ayengase asetshenziswe kangcono. Kodwa umbalisi uyasiqinisekisa ukuthi akunjalo. Njengoba ekubeka, “UJuda washo lokhu, kungengoba enakekela abampofu, kepha ngokuba eyisela, ephethe ibhokisi lemali; futhi wayethatha lokho okwakufakwe kuwo” (Johane 12:6).

Khona-ke, uJuda ufanekisela ingxenye yengqondo yethu esizicabangela yona eyenqaba ukubona okuhle ekuzinikeleni okungokwenkolo ngaphandle uma ngandlela-thile ihlangene nenzuzo yobugovu. Liphuphuthekiswe ukuhaha, libheka ukuchuma ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo njengendlela yokugcina yenjabulo. Ngakho-ke, ibheka isenzo sikaMariya sokuzinikela njengokumosha isikhathi, amandla, nemali. Eshukunyiswa ukugqugquzelwa kwesimo sakhe esiphansi, uJuda akalona nje isela elintshontsha ibhokisi lemali labafundi lokuhlanganyela, kodwa futhi ungumkhohlisi onenkohliso othi imali kufanele inikezwe abampofu. Eqinisweni, akanandaba nokusebenzela abampofu. Amazwi akhe awukuzenzisa ukuze akhiphe imali eyengeziwe ebhokisini lemali—imali azozithathela yona ngasese.


“Abampofu bazohlala benawe”


Nakuba ezazi izinhloso zikaJuda zokukhohlisa, uJesu akakhulumi naye ngalokhu. Kunalokho, uJesu usebenzisa leli thuba ukuze asekele izenzo zikaMariya. “Myekeni,” kusho uJesu. “Lokhu ukugcinele usuku lokungcwatshwa kwami” (Johane 12:7). UJesu uyazi ukuthi isikhathi sokubethelwa Kwakhe siyasondela, nokuthi abantu bayobe beza ukuzogcoba umzimba Wakhe ngosuku lokungcwatshwa Kwakhe. Nakuba lokhu kuyiqiniso ngokoqobo, uJesu ube esenikeza esinye isizathu sokusekela isinqumo sikaMariya sokugcoba izinyawo zaKhe ngamafutha ayigugu. UJesu uthi: “Abampofu bayoba nani ngaso sonke isikhathi, kodwa nina aninami ngaso sonke isikhathi.”Johane 12:8).

Ezingeni elingokoqobo, uJesu uthi kuyohlale kunezinkonzo eziwusizo okufanele zenziwe. Zizohlala zikhona izindlela eziningi esingafinyelela ngazo kwabanye, futhi abantu abaningi abadinga usizo lwethu nokusekelwa. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi okokunikeza abalambile ukudla noma indawo yokuhlala yalabo abangenazo izindlu ezanele, ayohlala ekhona amathuba okukhonza.

Ngokujule nakakhulu, uJesu ubhekisela ezimeni ezingaphakathi kwethu. Noma nini lapho singenakho ukudla okunomsoco kothando lukaNkulunkulu noma isivikelo seqiniso Lakhe, siyahlupheka futhi siswele. Lapho ichuma, iNkosi uDavide yayicebile kakhulu. Nokho, emibhalweni yesiHeberu uyathandaza, “O, Nkulunkulu, ngimpofu futhi ngiswele. Shesha ungisize” (AmaHubo 70:5). 7

UJesu akagcini nje ngokuthi, “Abampofu bayoba nani njalo.” Uyanezela futhi, “kodwa aninami njalo.” Ezingeni elingokoqobo, la mazwi abhekisela ekuboshweni nokubethelwa kukaJesu osekusele izinsuku eziyisithupha kuphela. Ngalo mqondo, kuyiqiniso impela ukuthi ngeke babe noJesu ngaso sonke isikhathi.

Ngokujule kakhulu, nokho, amazwi athi, “kepha aninami njalo,” abhekisela kulezo zikhathi lapho singacabangi ngeqiniso likaNkulunkulu noma singenzi ngokusuka othandweni lukaNkulunkulu. Kunalokho, inkonzo yethu kwabanye yonakaliswe isifiso sokuvuzwa, ukutuswa, nokuqashelwa ngokuhle esikwenzayo. Ezikhathini ezinjalo, siyakhohlwa ukuthi ngaphandle kukaNkulunkulu asinakwenza lutho oluhle ngempela. Njengoba uJesu asho, “kodwa aninami njalo.” Ngaphandle kosizo lukaNkulunkulu, ngaphandle kothando, ukuhlakanipha, namandla Okwenza izinkonzo eziwusizo, sonke ‘simpofu futhi siswele. Lezi yizikhathi lapho singabazi khona ubukhona bukaNkulunkulu ezimpilweni zethu, ngakho-ke, ungamceli usizo.


ULazaru: ubufakazi obuphilayo


Ngalezo zikhathi lapho kubonakala sengathi uNkulunkulu akekho, ukholo lwethu lungaqiniswa ubufakazi beqiniso babanye. Ngokuphathelene nalokhu, uLazaru ohlezi etafuleni noJesu, uwubufakazi obuphilayo bamandla kaJesu okuletha isimangaliso sokuvuka ezimpilweni zethu. Ngakho-ke, sifunda evesini elilandelayo ukuthi abantu abaningi beza, hhayi nje ukuzobona uJesu, kodwa futhi “ukuzobona uLazaru ayemvuse kwabafileyo” (Johane 12:9).

Beqaphela lokhu, abaholi benkolo besaba ukuthi uLazaru ophilayo uwubufakazi bamandla kaJesu futhi uwusongo oluqondile egunyeni labo. Ngakho-ke, kulotshiwe ukuthi “abapristi abakhulu benza icebo lokuba babulale noLazaru.”Johane 12:10). Izinhloso zokubulala zabaholi benkolo zimelela amathonya esihogo afuna ukuqeda noma iyiphi inkolelo emandleni kaJesu okuvuselela ithemba lethu, ukuqinisa ukholo lwethu, noma ukuvuselela umuzwa wethu wenjongo. Ngokusobala, uvuko lukaLazaru, ikakhulukazi ngenxa yokuthi lwenzekile eduze neJerusalema, luwusongo olukhulu kubaholi benkolo.

Ngesikhathi esifanayo, indaba yendlela uJesu avusa ngayo uLazaru ekufeni iyaqhubeka ikhanga abantu ukuba beze bazozibonela ngawabo. Lapho bebona uLazaru eBhethaniya, ukholo luyaqina, futhi ukungabaza kuyaphela. Njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Ngenxa kaLazaru abaningi bamuka bakholwa nguJesu”Johane 12:11).

Nakuba lawa kungamazwi okuphetha alesi siqephu, aphinde asebenze ekuboniseni ukuxhumana okungenazihibe kwezehlakalo ezandulelayo ngokushesha. Lesi sahluko saqala ngesithombe esihle sothando nokuzinikela kukaMariya. Ukubonisa kwakhe ukubonga okungenabugovu kulandelwa indaba yokuzicabangela kukaJuda—isithombe salezo zikhathi lapho sibona ngeso lokuzicabangela yena siqu. Okulandelayo kulandela indaba yokuthi singaphinde siphefumulelwe kanjani ngokuvuswa kukaLazaru okuyisimangaliso. Lokhu kulandelana kweziqephu kuyisithombe sokwehla nokwenyuka kwezimpilo zethu. Kunezikhathi lapho sizizwa sisondelene neNkosi, njengoMariya, izikhathi lapho siwa khona, njengoJuda, nezikhathi lapho sivuselelwa kabusha ngethemba, njengoLazaru.


Uhlelo lokusebenza olusebenzayo


Ukwehla nokwenyuka kuyingxenye engenakugwemeka yalo lonke uhambo lukamoya. Ake sithi uye waba nesenzakalo esimangalisayo, ngisho esiyisimangaliso esiqinise ukholo lwakho. Lokhu kungenzeka ukuthi kwalandelwa isikhathi sokungabaza, noma ngisho nokulahlekelwa ithemba okwesikhashana. Le micabango nemizwa engemihle ifakwe imimoya emibi ezimisele ukucekela phansi ukholo lwakho futhi ithuntubeze ukukhumbula kwakho okuhlangenwe nakho okuhle. Esikhundleni sokulalela lab’ ofakazi bamanga, lwela ukukhumbula izenzakalo zokholo ezakhayo futhi uzivumele zikugcwalise futhi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ungase ufune ukufuna abanye abaye baba “nezikhathi zikaLazaru.” Vumela ubufakazi beqiniso bobufakazi babo buqinise ukholo lwakho. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ukhuphuka kangakanani, ungaqhubeka nokukhuphuka. 8


The Triumphal Entry


12. Ngangomuso isixuku sabantu abaningi beza emkhosini, sizwe ukuthi uJesu uyeza eJerusalema;

13. Bathatha amagatsha esundu, baphuma ukumhlangabeza, bamemeza bathi: “Hosana!

14. UJesu esefumene ithole likababhemi, wahlala phezu kwalo njengokulotshiweyo ukuthi:

15 Ungesabi, ndodakazi yaseSiyoni; bheka, iNkosi yakho iyeza, ihlezi etholeni lembongolo.

Njengoba izindaba zokuvuswa kukaLazaru ziqhubeka zisabalala, kuyanda ukuqaphela ukuthi uJesu kungenzeka ngempela unguMesiya okwase kuyisikhathi eside elindelwe. Ngemva kokuzwa ukuthi uJesu uyeza eJerusalema, abantu bayamhlangabeza, benyakazisa amagatsha esundu, bememeza, “Hosana! Ubusisiwe ozayo egameni leNkosi, iNkosi ka-Israyeli.”Johane 12:13).

UJesu akabadumazi. Kuyo yonke inkonzo Yakhe, uJesu uhambe yonke indawo ngezinyawo. Nokho, kulokhu uJesu ugibela eJerusalema egibele ithole lembongolo ekugcwalisekeni kwesiprofetho esanikezwa ngoZakariya. Njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Ungesabi, ndodakazi yaseSiyoni; bheka, iNkosi yakho iyeza, ikhwele etholeni lembongolo” (Zakariya 9:9; Johane 12:14).

Kulabo ababuthene ukuzobingelela uJesu, kubonakala sengathi isiprofetho sikaZakariya siyagcwaliseka ekugcineni, nokuthi uJesu usezoba inkosi yakwa-Israyeli okwase kuyisikhathi eside ilindelwe. Bejabule ngalokhu okungenzeka, abantu bathatha amagatsha esundu, bawanyakazise ngezandla, bese bememeza amazwi esiprofetho AmaHubo 118:26, “Hosana! Ubusisiwe ozayo egameni leNkosi.


Ukubaluleka kwamagatsha esundu


Ukungena kokunqoba kwenzeka kuwo wonke amavangeli amane. Nokho, iVangeli NgokukaJohane, ilona kuphela ivangeli elikhuluma ngokuqondile ngamagatsha esundu. Njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Sebezwile ukuthi uJesu uyeza eJerusalema, bathatha amagatsha esundu baphuma ukumhlangabeza.”Johane 12:13).

Isundu linomlando omude futhi ongcwele emifanekisweni yeBhayibheli. Njengomuthi oma ubude futhi uqondile, onesiqu esingenagatsha, umelela ukulunga. Njengesihlahla esikwazi ukumelana neziphepho ezinamandla ngaphandle kokusishulwa, simelela ukuqina namandla. Njengomuthi othela izithelo, umelela ukuphila okuwusizo.

Okubaluleke nakakhulu ukuthi ezinye izinhlobo zesundu zinekhono lokuthela unyaka wonke. Lokhu kumelela ikhono lokuqina empilweni yethu kamoya, kungakhathaliseki izimo esizithola sikuzo. Isihlahla sesundu asikwazi nje ukuthela izithelo ngaso sonke isikhathi, kodwa siyaqhubeka senza kanjalo ngisho nasebudaleni. Ngakho-ke, kulotshiwe emibhalweni yesiHeberu ukuthi “Abalungileyo bayoqhakaza njengesundu…. Basayothela izithelo nasebudaleni. Ayoba masha futhi achume” (AmaHubo 92:12-14). 9

Kwelinye izinga, ukunyakaziswa kwamagatsha esundu kumelela amathemba, amaphupho, kanye nezifiso zabantu njengoba bemukela uJesu njengenkosi yabo. Ngokujule ngokwengeziwe, ukunyakaziswa kwamagatsha esundu kufanekisela injabulo yenkonzo ewusizo eyoba isici esiyinhloko sombuso kaJesu womoya. Umgomo wesihlahla sezithelo uwukuthela izithelo. Umgomo wempilo yomuntu uwukuveza izithelo zothando—okungukwenza izenzo zenkonzo yothando. 10


Ukubaluleka kwembongolo


Abantu ababuthene ukuzobingelela uJesu babheka ukungena Kwakhe ngokunqoba njengomzuzu wezombangazwe. Njengoba bekuqonda, uJesu uyoba inkosi yabo. Yisikhathi esijabulisayo kubo. Kungasho ukuphela kokucindezelwa kwamaRoma. Kungase kusho ukuthi amandla, ingcebo, nokuchuma ngokwezimali kuseduze. Kungase kusho ukuthi isizwe sabo siyophinde sibe umbuso wezwe, njengoba kwenzeka ezinsukwini zeNkosi uDavide neNkosi uSolomoni.

Nakuba kusobala ukuthi uJesu akazimisele ngokuba inkosi yezwe, uvumela abantu abambingelelayo ukuba babambelele embonweni wabo oyiphutha, okungenani okwamanje. Ngakho-ke, uJesu akabadikibali noma abatshele ukuthi banephutha. Uyazi ukuthi abakakulungeli ukuqonda izici ezijulile, ezingokomfanekiso zokungena Kwakhe kokunqoba. Kubaluleke kakhulu ukuthi bakholelwe kuYe njengenkosi yabo yasemhlabeni kunokungakholwa Kuye nhlobo. Njengoba kulotshiwe emiBhalweni yesiHeberu, “Umhlanga ofecekileyo akayikuwuphula, nentambo efipheleyo akayikuyicisha.”Isaya 42:3). 11

Eqinisweni, lapho uJesu engena eJerusalema egibele imbongolo, ubonakala esekela inkolelo yabo yokuthi usezoba inkosi yezwe. Phela kwakuyisiko elaziwayo lasebukhosini. Ngesikhathi sobukhosi, inkosi entsha yayigibela imbongolo noma umnyuzi ingene edolobheni ukuze imemezele ukumiswa kokubusa kwayo. Isibonelo esithile sinikezwe emibhalweni yesiHeberu. Lapho iNkosi uDavide isilungele ukumemezela ukuthi indodana yayo, uSolomoni, isizoba inkosi elandelayo, uDavide wathi: “USolomoni indodana yami uyakugibela umnyuzi wami . . . , nithi, ‘Mana njalo, inkosi uSolomoni’” (1 Amakhosi 1:33). 12

KuJesu, nokho, ukungena ngokunqoba kunencazelo ejulile—ikakhulukazi mayelana nokuthi ugibele ithole lembongolo. Emibhalweni engcwele, amahhashi, izimbongolo, neminyuzi, ngoba ithwala abantu ezindaweni ngezindawo, imelela izici ezihlukahlukene zokuqonda kwethu. Enkulumweni yansuku zonke ngezinye izikhathi sisho izinto ezinjengokuthi, “Ngithemba ukuthi ungawuthwala lowo mcabango” noma “Imicabango yami yangisusa.” Ngokuphathelene nalokhu, ukuqonda kwethu kusisusa emcabangweni kuya emcabangweni, sisuka emcabangweni siye emcabangweni, futhi sisuka emqondweni siye emcabangweni ngendlela efana nendlela ihhashi, imbongolo, noma umnyuzi okungase kusithwale ngayo sisuka kwenye indawo siye kwenye.

Ngakho-ke, lapho uJesu engena eJerusalema egibele ithole lembongolo, kusifanekisela indlela esingavumela ngayo uthando lukaNkulunkulu luqondise ukuqonda kwethu, lusihole isinyathelo ngesinyathelo, izwi nezwi, futhi isiqephu ngesiqephu sibheke eJerusalema Elisha—okungukuthi, ngaseJerusalema. izibusiso zezulu. 13


Uhlelo lokusebenza olusebenzayo


Lapho abantu bamukela uJesu njengenkosi yabo entsha, babebheke phambili esikhathini esizayo esigcwele ukuchuma okungokwenyama nenkululeko yezombangazwe embusweni kaJesu omusha. Kodwa uJesu wayecabanga okuthile okuphakeme kakhulu. Weza ukuzonqoba izihogo futhi alethe ukuchuma okungokomoya ngokufundisa iqiniso laphezulu; futhi Weza ukuzoletha inkululeko engokomoya ngokukhuthaza abantu ukuba baphile ngokuvumelana nalelo qiniso. Ngezinga abantu abenza ngalo lokhu, bebusa umhlaba wabo wangaphakathi ngeqiniso alifundisayo, babezokwazi ukuxosha imicabango engamanga nezifiso ezimbi njengoba nje inkosi ingaxosha umuntu ongenamthetho, owonakele embusweni wayo. Noma nini lokhu kwenzeka, iqiniso likaNkulunkulu liyabusa, umbuso kaNkulunkulu uyeza, futhi intando kaNkulunkulu iyenziwa. Zizame wena. Vumela iqiniso elithile elivela eZwini leNkosi libe yisimiso esibusayo, esilawulayo, nesiqondisayo engqondweni yakho—ikakhulukazi iqiniso olithanda kakhulu. Khona-ke, lapho uzithola usesimeni esinzima, khumbula lelo qiniso. Umbuso kaNkulunkulu mawuze. Mayenziwe intando kaNkulunkulu.” 14


“Ihora Selifikile”


16 Kepha lokho abafundi bakhe abakwazanga ekuqaleni; kodwa kwathi uJesu esekhazinyulisiwe, basebekhumbula ukuthi lezizinto zazilotshiwe ngaye, lokuthi bazenza lezizinto kuye.

17. Isixuku esasinaye mhla ebiza uLazaru ukuba aphume ethuneni emvusa kwabafileyo safakaza.

18. Ngenxa yalokho isixuku samhlangabeza, ngokuba sizwe ukuthi wenze lesi sibonakaliso.

19. Ngakho abaFarisi bakhuluma bodwa, bathi: Liyabona ukuthi kalisizi lutho; bheka, izwe liyamlandela.

20 Kwakukhona amaGreki athile kwababekhuphukele ukukhuleka emkhosini.

21 Lawo-ke eza kuFiliphu waseBetsayida laseGalile, amncenga, esithi: Nkosi, sithanda ukubona uJesu.

22. UFiliphu weza watshela u-Andreya; o-Andreya noFiliphu babuye batshela uJesu.

23 Kodwa uJesu wabaphendula wathi: Isikhathi sesifikile sokuthi iNdodana yomuntu idunyiswe.

24. Amen, amen, Ngithi kini: Ngaphandle kokuthi uhlamvu kakolweni iwele emhlabathini ingafi, ihlala yodwa; kepha uma ifa, ithela izithelo eziningi.

25. Othanda umphefumulo wakhe uyakulahlekelwa yiwo, nozonda umphefumulo wakhe kulomhlaba uyakuwulondolozela ukuphila okuphakade.

26 Uma umuntu engikhonza, makangilandele; nalapho ngikhona, siyakuba khona nesikhonzi saMi; uma umuntu engikhonza, uBaba uyakumdumisa.

Nakuba uJesu esanda kuqeda ukungena Kwakhe ngokunqoba, abafundi abakuqondi okujulile kwalokho uJesu akwenzayo noma ukuthi iziprofetho eziphathelene nenkosi ezayo zisebenza kanjani Kuye. Njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Abafundi abazange baziqonde lezi zinto ekuqaleni, kodwa ngemva kokuba uJesu ekhazinyulisiwe, bakhumbula ukuthi lezi zinto zazilotshiwe ngaye.”Johane 12:16).

Kwakunezinto eziningi abafundi ababengaziqondi. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho uJesu ezwa ukuthi uLazaru uyagula, uJesu walinda ezinye izinsuku ezimbili ngaphambi kokuba aye eBhethaniya. Lokhu kwabadida abafundi. Phela uJesu wayemthanda uLazaru. Pho, kungani uJesu alinda kwaze kwaba yilapho uLazaru efile futhi wangcwatshwa? UMariya noMarta nabo babedidekile. Lapho uJesu ekugcineni efika eBhethaniya, bathi kuye: “Nkosi, ukube ubulapha, umfowethu ngabe akafanga.”Johane 11:21, 32).

Nokho, uJesu wayenenjongo ephakeme kakhulu. Njengoba atshela abafundi Bakhe ngaphambi kokuba aye eBethaniya, “Lokhu kugula akusikho okokufa, kodwa kungenxa yenkazimulo kaNkulunkulu, ukuze iNdodana kaNkulunkulu ikhazinyuliswe ngakho.”Johane 11:4). Futhi kamuva, njengoba besusa itshe ethuneni likaLazaru, uJesu wathi: “Angikutshelanga yini ukuthi uma ukholwa, uyobona inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu?Johane 11:40). Emuva kwaso sonke isenzo uJesu asenza nangaphakathi kwawo wonke amazwi uJesu awakhuluma, kwakunenhloso ejulile yokubonakalisa inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu ngandlela-thile nangandlela thize.

Njengabafundi, nanjengoMariya noMarta, asiqondi ngaso sonke isikhathi ukubaluleka kwezinto ezenzeka ekuphileni kwethu, noma ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhazinyuliswa kanjani kithi. Kukamuva kuphela, uma sibheka emuva, lapho singabona khona ukuthi iNkosi isebenzise kanjani izehlakalo zezimpilo zethu—ngisho nezimo ezingezinhle—njengamathuba okujulisa ukholo lwethu futhi asisize sikhule ngokomoya. 15

Kulokhu, ukuvuswa kukaLazaru kwakunezincazelo ezijulile. UJesu wayengagcini nje ngokuphulukisa uLazaru owayegula, kodwa wayemvuse uLazaru ekufeni. Kwakuyisimangaliso esikhulu, hhayi kwabakubonayo kuphela, kodwa nakulabo abezwa ngaso. Njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Isixuku esasinaye lapho ebiza uLazaru aphume ethuneni lakhe futhi emvusa kwabafileyo, safakaza.”Johane 12:17). Njengoba indaba isakazeka ezindaweni ezikude, abantu abaningi benza isinqumo sokuza eJerusalema ukuze babone uJesu okwakubonakaliswe kuye inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu.

UJesu akagcinanga nje ngokuvusa uLazaru ethuneni, kodwa futhi usanda kungena ngokunqoba eJerusalema lapho abantu bemdumise khona njengenkosi yabo. Lesi senzakalo, esiwumthombo wokugujwa nokujabula okukhulu kangaka phakathi kwabantu, sinomphumela ophambene kubaholi benkolo. Njengoba izixuku ziqala ukwamukela uJesu njengenkosi yazo entsha, abaholi benkolo bakhathazeke kakhulu. Besolana ngokuphatha kabi itulo lokubamba uJesu, bathi: “Uyabona? Awufezi lutho. Umhlaba wonke uyamlandela” (Johane 12:19).

Eqinisweni, ivesi elilandelayo libonakala libonisa ukuthi udumo lukaJesu luyasabalala. Abantu beza bevela kwamanye amazwe bezombona. Njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Kwakukhona amaGreki athile phakathi kwabakhuphukele ukukhuleka emkhosini” (Johane 12:20). Basebesithi kuFiliphu: “Nkosi, sithanda ukubona uJesu.”Johane 12:21). Ephendula, uFiliphu uqala ngokudlulisela isicelo sabo ku-Andreya, bese bobabili betshela uJesu ukuthi amaGreki afuna ukumbona.

Ethatha lokhu njengenkomba yokuthi isikhathi sokubethelwa nokuvuka Kwakhe sesifikile, uJesu uthi, “Isikhathi sesifikile sokuba iNdodana yomuntu ikhazinyuliswe. Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Ngaphandle kokuthi uhlamvu lukakolweni luwele emhlabathini futhi lufe, luhlala lodwa. Kodwa uma ifa, ithela amabele amaningi.”Johane 12:23-24). Lawa mazwi ahlobene ngokuqondile nokubethelwa kukaJesu okuzayo. Ngokufa nokuvuka Kwakhe, uzosusa ngokuphelele konke obekungumuntu kuye uqobo. Njengohlamvu lukakolweni lapho ekugcineni lukhumula igobolondo elizungezile, uJesu uyosusa yonke into yofuzo Lwakhe. Okuwukuphela kwento esele kuyoba ubuntu Bakhe bobunkulunkulu. KuJesu, le nqubo ibizwa ngokuthi “inkazimulo.”

Inqubo efanayo yenzeka komunye nomunye wethu; kubizwa ngokuthi “ukuvuselelwa.” Uma nje siphilela ukwanelisa izidingo zethu ngaphandle kokucabangela abanye, sifana nohlamvu lukakolweni olungasodwa olungenanjongo ephakeme. Ngokuphathelene nalokhu, “sihlala sodwa,” sivalelwe egobolondweni lokuzicabangela thina. Njengoba uhlamvu lukakolweni kufanele luwele emhlabathini, luphuke egobolondweni lalo, futhi lulahlekelwe isembozo salo sokuzivikela, nathi, kufanele silahlekelwe indlela yethu yokuphila endala nemvelo yayo yokuzibusa ngaphambi kokuba singene empilweni entsha nolwazi olusha. imvelo yethu enhle. Lomuntu ophakeme, ongokomoya uzalelwe ukukhonza abanye. 16

Konke lokhu kukhomba isidingo sokufa nokuvuka kukaJesu. Kukho konke ukuphila kwakhe emhlabeni, uJesu ubelokhu edela ukuphila kwakhe ngenxa yabanye. Ubelokhu elwa futhi enqoba izihogo, esinye ngemva kwesinye, ukuze zingabe zisahlasela abantu Bakhe. Futhi manje, njengoba Ezilungiselela impi yokugcina, Uthi, “Ihora lami selifikile.” Lokhu kuzoba yimpi yokugcina kanye nokunqoba kokugcina. UJesu uzonqoba izihogo, abuyisele ukuthula emhlabeni nasezulwini, akhazimulise ubuntu Bakhe, futhi amise kabusha ukuxhumana okuphukile phakathi kukaNkulunkulu nabantu Bakhe. 17


Indida yomhlatshelo


Njengoba uJesu eqhubeka ekhuluma ngokufa nokuvuka, uthi: “Lowo othanda ukuphila kwakhe uyolahlekelwa yikho, futhi ozonda ukuphila kwakhe kuleli zwe uyokulondela ukuphila okuphakade.”Johane 12:25). Nakuba lokhu kungase kuzwakale kuyindida, kuqukethe ukuhlakanipha okuphakeme kakhulu. UJesu akasikhuthazi ukuthi sizonde ukuphila ngokwako, kodwa kunalokho ukuba sizonde ukuphila okungokwemvelo okungagxili kokunye ngaphandle kwakho. Yile ndlela yokuphila yobugovu okufanele izondwe. Futhi yingakho uJesu esinxusa ukuba sihlakulele ukuphila kwethu okungokomoya.

Ukutshalwa kwempilo kamoya, nokho, angeke kwenziwe ngaphandle komzabalazo nokuzidela. Ngokuphindaphindiwe, kuvela izimo lapho kumelwe sidele intando yethu ukuze siphile ngokwentando kaNkulunkulu. Usuku ngalunye, kunamathuba amaningi okubeka abanye kuqala, ukuyekelela inkani, ukuyeka isidingo sokulunga, nokweqa isifiso sokulawula abanye. Ngoba uJesu usesenzele lokhu ezingeni le-cosmic, singakwenza kumuntu ngamunye.

Lokhu akusho ukuthi siyadela ukuzicabangela kwethu noma ukuthi sivumela abantu bephule imingcele enempilo. Nokho, kusho ukuthi ukuguquka komuntu siqu kuqala ngokuzehlisa ukuze sikhule sibe umuntu ophakeme. Ngale ndlela, njengoba silwela ukubeka uthando oluphansi futhi siphakamise uthando oluphakeme, sihlakulela ukuphila okungasoze kwafa. Njengoba sifa entandweni yethu endala, kuzalwa intando entsha kithi. Lena indida yomhlatshelo. Ukwenza umhlatshelo kusho “ukwenza ngcwele.” Livela egameni lesiLatini elithi sacrificium, inhlanganisela yegama lesiLatini elithi sacer, elisho “ngcwele” kanye facere, okusho “ukwenza.” Lapho sinciphisa kakhulu noma “sinikela” lokho okungokwezwe nokudlulayo, kulapho sizuza khona okwasezulwini futhi okuphakade. Yilokhu uJesu akushoyo lapho ethi, “Lowo ozonda ukuphila kwakhe kuleli zwe uyokulondela ukuphila okuphakade.” 18


Udunyiswe uBaba


Njengoba uJesu ephetha lesi sifundo, uthi, “Uma umuntu engikhonza, makangilandele; futhi lapho ngikhona inceku Yami iyoba khona.” (Johane 12:26). Olimini lwesiGreki, igama elithi “inceku” lihlobene negama elithi diakonos [διάκονος] elisho futhi “isikhonzi.” Ngaphezu kwenceku, inceku ilandela inkosi, iya lapho eya khona, futhi ihlala eduze, ilungele ukulalela umyalo wenkosi yayo. Kungakho uJesu ethi, “Lapho ngikhona, nenceku Yami iyoba lapho.”

UJesu wabe esenezela, “Uma umuntu engikhonza, uBaba uyakumdumisa yena.”Johane 12:27). UJesu ukhuluma ngendlela engokomfanekiso. Iqiniso elifundiswa uJesu libizwa ngokuthi “iNdodana”; futhi uthando, oluwumphefumulo Wakhe uqobo, lubizwa ngokuthi “uBaba.” UJesu uthi lapho siphila ngokuvumelana neqiniso alifundisayo, ‘sikhonza iNdodana’ Futhi lapho sithola uthando olugelezayo, ngomqondo ongokomoya, ‘sidunyiswa uBaba.

Ukukubeka ngenye indlela, njengoba siphila ngokuvumelana neqiniso uJesu alifundisayo, uthando Lwakhe lugeleza lungene kithi, lusiholele ekuthuleni okujulile, enjabulweni ejulile, nasezibusisweni ezijulile zasezulwini. Leli yiqiniso eliyisisekelo elifundiswa yonke indawo embhalweni. Kafushane, iqiniso liwumthombo wothando. Lena incazelo engaphakathi yemfundiso kaJesu engokoqobo, “Uma umuntu engikhonza, uBaba uyakumdumisa yena.” 19


“Baba, Khazimulisa Igama Lakho”


27 Manje umphefumulo wami ukhathazekile, futhi ngizothini? Baba, Ngisindise kulelihora; kodwa ngenxa yalokhu ngize kulelihola.

28. Baba, khazimulisa igama lakho. Khona kwavela izwi ezulwini, lithi: Ngilikhazimulisile, ngobuye ngilikhazimulise.

29. Khona isixuku simi sizwa sathi liyaduma; abanye bathi: Ingelosi yakhuluma kuye.

30. UJesu waphendula wathi: Leli zwi alizanga ngenxa yami, kodwa ngenxa yenu.

Azi ukuthi isikhathi sokubethelwa Kwakhe siyasondela, uJesu uthi, “Manje umphefumulo wami ukhathazekile, ngiyakuthini na? Baba, ngisindise kulelihora na?” (Johane 12:27). EVangelini NgokukaLuka, ubuhlungu bomphefumulo kaJesu okhathazekile buqhubeka ubusuku bonke. Nokho, kuJohane, ukugxila kusheshe kudlulele empendulweni kaJesu. UJesu uthi, “Ngenxa yalokhu ngize kuleli hora. Baba, khazimulisa igama lakho” (Johane 12:27-28). Ngalesi sikhathi esinzima kakhulu, uJesu ufinyelela ekujuleni, ebiza amandla othando angumphefumulo Wakhe uqobo. Kuyisifiso Sakhe esijulile ukusindisa bonke abantu. 20

Kuphendula izwi livela ezulwini, lithi: “Ngilikhazimulisile, ngobuye ngilikhazimulise” (Johane 12:28). Abanye kwababemi khona futhi abalizwayo bathi “liduma,” kanti abanye bathi, “ingelosi ikhulume naye” (Johane 12:29). Nokho, uJesu uyazi ukuthi lokhu akuwona umsindo wokuduma noma amazwi engelosi. Yizwi likaNkulunkulu.

UJesu ube esetshela abantu ukuthi “Leli zwi alivelanga ngenxa yami, kodwa ngenxa yenu” (Johane 12:30). Ngamanye amazwi, izwi elivela ezulwini ngelabo bonke abantu ngaso sonke isikhathi. Iwumyalezo ophathelene nothando lukaNkulunkulu, osiqinisekisayo ngokuthi igama laKhe liyokhazinyuliswa kithi ngokuphindaphindiwe, kuxhomeke ekukulungeleni kwethu ukwamukela izimfanelo asinika zona, nokuzimisela kwethu ukubeka lezo zimfanelo ekuphileni kwethu. Lena yindlela uNkulunkulu abonakalisa ngayo “igama Lakhe” kithi. 21

Umbono wokuthi igama likaNkulunkulu liyokhazinyuliswa kithi ngokuphindaphindiwe ukhomba eqinisweni lokuthi ukuzalwa kabusha kuyaqhubeka. Kuqala ekuzalweni futhi kuqhubeke kukho konke ukuphila kwethu, kuze kube phakade. Njengoba kuqhubeka, kuyoba nezinselele eziningi lapho sinikezwa khona amathuba amaningi ‘okudumisa igama likaNkulunkulu’—okungukuthi, ukuthandazela izimfanelo zikaNkulunkulu zaphezulu bese senza ngokuvumelana nazo. 22


Uhlelo lokusebenza olusebenzayo


Ngezikhathi ezithile, ungase uzithole ubhekene nesimo esikukhathaza kakhulu. Kungase kuhlanganise ubuhlobo obunzima nabanye noma isimo esiphazamisayo ekuphileni kwakho. Ungakwazi ukugwema ukusebenza kulesi simo, noma ungabhekana naleli “hora lokulingwa” ngosizo lweNkosi. Lesi yisikhathi sokuthandazela ngobuqotho imfanelo kaNkulunkulu oyidingayo okwamanje. Kungaba ukubekezela, ukubekezela, ukuthobeka, isibindi, noma ikhono lokuqonda. Lezi zimfanelo zingamane nje ambalwa “emagameni eNkosi” amaningi. Khona-ke, ngemva kokuthandazela imfanelo ethile, yazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu unawe futhi uzokufeza. Hamba phambili “egameni leNkosi,” uthi, “Ngenxa yalokhu ngize kulelihora. Baba, khazimulisa igama lakho.”


“Uma Ngiphakanyiswa”


31. Kalokhu kungukwahlulelwa kwalomhlaba; kalokhu umbusi walumhlaba usezakhutshelwa phandle.

32 Mina-ke, uma ngiphakanyiswa emhlabeni, ngiyakubadonsela bonke Kimi.

33 Wakusho lokhu efanekisa ukufa ayezakufa ngakho.

34. Isixuku samphendula sathi: “Sizwile emthethweni ukuthi uKristu uhlala kuze kube phakade; usho kanjani ukuthi iNdodana yomuntu imelwe ukuphakanyiswa na? Ingubani le Ndodana yomuntu?

35 UJesu wasesithi kubo: Kuseyisikhashana ukukhanya kukini; hambani nisenokukhanya, funa ubumnyama bunibambe; futhi ohamba ebumnyameni akazi lapho eya khona.

36 Nisenakho ukuKhanya, kholwani kukho ukuKhanya, ukuze nibe ngabantwana bokuKhanya. UJesu wakhuluma lezizinto, wasuka wafihlakele kubo.

Njengoba uJesu eqhubeka eyala abantu, uthi, “Kalokhu sekukhona ukwahlulelwa kwalomhlaba; manje umbusi waleli zwe uzophonswa ngaphandle” (Johane 12:31). Ngokomoya, uJesu uthi esikhundleni sokubuswa izifiso zobugovu, ngezinye izikhathi ezibizwa ngokuthi “udeveli,” “amathonya esihogo,” noma ukugqugquzelwa ‘kwemvelo yethu ephansi,’ singabuswa futhi sibuswe iqiniso likaNkulunkulu alinikezayo. Ngezinga esibusa ngalo ukuphila kwethu ngezimiso zeqiniso uJesu asinika zona, lezi zifiso eziphansi ngeke zisasibusa. Njengoba uJesu asho, “umbusi waleli zwe uyophonswa ngaphandle.” 23

Ngezimpi Zakhe ezilingayo, uJesu ubelokhu enqoba izihogo, ngalokho esusa amandla azo phezu Kwakhe. Yilokhu futhi afuna ukukwenza ngaphakathi komunye nomunye wethu, kodwa kumelwe sikhombe “ababusi baleli zwe” abangaphakathi kwethu futhi sithandazele ukukhululwa kubo. Khona-ke kumelwe silwe njengokungathi sivela kithi kuyilapho sithemba ukuthi uJehova usinika amandla okwenza lokho.

Lapho uJesu ethi “umbusi waleli zwe uyophonswa ngaphandle,” abantu abazi ukuthi uJesu ukhuluma ngalelizinga elingokomoya. Kunalokho, bacabanga ukuthi uJesu ukhuluma ngokuxosha ababusi bamaRoma. Ngakho-ke, bajabula kakhulu ukuzwa ukuthi uJesu uhlela ukuxosha ababusi baleli zwe. Phela abantu kade belindile bewulangazelela lomzuzu. Ezindlebeni zalabo abezwa amazwi kaJesu, kuzwakala njengokumenyezelwa kosuku olusha. Bakholelwa ukuthi ekugcineni uJesu uzobaxosha ababusi baseRoma, ahlale esihlalweni sobukhosi, abuse njengenkosi yabo.

Kodwa ithemba labo lokuthi uJesu usezothatha isihlalo sobukhosi lingelesikhashana. Ekuphefumuleni kwakhe okulandelayo, uJesu ubakhumbuza ukuthi kumele aphakanyiswe esiphambanweni futhi abethelwe. Njengoba ekubeka, “Futhi mina, uma ngiphakanyiswa emhlabeni, ngiyodonsela bonke abantu kimi” (Johane 12:32). Umlandisi uyachaza ukuthi uJesu usho ukuthini ngala mazwi. NgokukaJohane, uJesu washo lokhu “ukuze abonise ukuthi yikuphi ukufa ayeyokufa ngakho” (Johane 12:33).

NjengoJohane, olandisa indaba, abantu nabo bakholelwa ukuthi uJesu ukhuluma ngokubethelwa Kwakhe. Kodwa abantu abafuni ukuyizwa. Njengoba bekuqonda, uMesiya wabo akasoze afe. Ngakho-ke bayaphendula: “Sizwile emthethweni ukuthi uKristu uhlala kuze kube phakade; usho kanjani ukuthi iNdodana yomuntu imelwe ukuphakanyiswa na? (Johane 12:34).

Besaqhutshwa ithemba labo lobuMesiya, bangase bacabange ngamavesi anjengalawa, “INkosi iyakuhlala kuze kube phakade; Usilungisele isihlalo sakhe sobukhosi ukwahlulela (AmaHubo 9:7-8); noma “UJehova unguNkulunkulu weqiniso; UnguNkulunkulu ophilayo neNkosi yaphakade” (Jeremiya 10:10). Lezi ngezinye zezithembiso zikaMesiya ezabagcwalisa ngethemba lokuthi uKristu wayeyophila futhi abuse phakade. Izithembiso ezinjalo zakhuluma kubo ngohulumeni waphezulu ongasoze waphela. Mhlawumbe ibekwe ngokunamandla kakhulu esiprofethweni esijwayelekile esanikezwa ngo-Isaya: “Siphiwe iNdodana. Nombuso uyakuba semahlombe aKhe. Ukwanda kombuso wakhe nokuthula akuyikuba nakuphela” (Isaya 9:6-7).

Ngakho-ke, lapho uJesu ekhuluma ‘ngokuphakanyiswa Kwakhe emhlabeni’ bayadideka. “Nisho ngani ukuthi iNdodana yomuntu imelwe ukuphakanyiswa na? bathi. “Ingubani le Ndodana yomuntu na?” (Johane 12:34). UJesu akabaphenduli ngokuqondile. Kunalokho, ubatshela ukuthi uzohlala nabo isikhathi esifushane. Ephinda amazwi afanayo nalawo awasho kubafundi Bakhe ngaphambi kokuya eBethaniya, uJesu uthi kubo, “Sekuyisikhashana ukukhanya kukini. Hambani nisenokukhanya, funa ubumnyama bunifice; ohamba ebumnyameni akazi lapho eya khona.”Johane 12:35). UJesu wabe esenezela, “Nisenokukhanya, kholwani ngukukhanya, ukuze nibe-ngabantwana bokukhanya” (Johane 12:36).

UJesu akazami ukushintsha izingqondo zabo mayelana nenkosi yasemhlabeni eyobusa phakade. Kunalokho, uzama ukuphakamisa izingqondo zabo ngaphezu komqondo wokuthi inkosi yasemhlabeni ingabasindisa. Uma befuna ngempela ukusindiswa, kumelwe ‘bahambe ekukhanyeni. Ngokuphathelene nalokhu kuyaphawuleka ukuthi lapho bebuza uJesu ngokuqondile, “Ingubani le Ndodana yomuntu?” UJesu akabaniki impendulo eqondile. Kunalokho, ukhuluma “ngokukhanya,” ethi “ukukhanya kunawe,” ubatshela ukuthi “bakholwe ekukhanyeni” futhi uyabakhuthaza ukuba “bahambe ekukhanyeni.” Lona nguJesu oseduze kakhulu aze amemezele ukuthi iNdodana yomuntu iyiqiniso ngokwalo. 24

Kulo lonke leli vangeli umlayezo kaJesu oqhubekayo ubuwukuthi ungukukhanya, nokuthi akufanele nje bakholelwe Kuye, kodwa futhi bamlandele. Noma kunjalo, baningi abasakwenqaba ukukholwa. Njengoba umlandisi esitshela, “Nakuba wayenze izibonakaliso ezingaka phambi kwabo, abakholwanga kuye” (Johane 12:37). Nokho, abanye bayakholwa. Eqinisweni, lokhu manje kuhlanganisa abaholi benkolo—hhayi nje abathile, kodwa abaningi. Njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi, “naphakathi kwababusi abaningi bakholwa nguye” (Johane 12:42).

Kuyasiqinisa idolo lokhu. Ifundisa ukuthi kungakhathaliseki ukuthi abantu bagxile kangakanani emibonweni yabo, futhi kungakhathaliseki ukuthi banikele kangakanani ekulondolozeni isimo sabo siqu, kusengenzeka ukuba abantu bezwe futhi bakholwe iqiniso elinikezwa uJesu. Okuwukuphela kwento ebaphuphuthekisayo ukungafuni kwabo ukuqonda. Okuwukuphela kwento ebavala izindlebe ukungafuni ukulalela. Kodwa wonke umuntu onenhliziyo enhle uyodonsekela eqinisweni elifundiswa uJesu. Lokhu kungenxa yesimiso somoya esidala njengendalo ngokwayo: ubuhle buthanda iqiniso futhi budonseleka eqinisweni. Njengoba uJesu esho, “Uma ngiphakanyiswa, ngiyodonsela bonke Kimi.” 25


Ukukhanya Ahluleli Noyedwa


37. Kodwa lanxa wazenza izibonakaliso ezingaka phambi kwabo, kabakholwanga kuye;

38. ukuze kugcwaliseke izwi lika-Isaya umprofethi, alishoyo ukuthi: “Nkosi, ngubani okholwe umbiko wethu na? Futhi ingalo yeNkosi yembulwe kubani na?

39 Ngakho kabakholwanga, ngoba uIsaya waphinda wathi:

40. Uphuphuthekisile amehlo abo, wayenza lukhuni inhliziyo yabo ukuba bangaboni ngamehlo, bacabange ngenhliziyo, baphenduke, ngibaphulukise.

41. UIsaya wakusho lokho lapho ebona inkazimulo yakhe, wakhuluma ngayo.

42 Nokho abaningi bababusi bakholwa kuye, kepha ngenxa yabaFarisi abavumanga, funa bakhishwe esinagogeni.

43. Ngokuba babethanda udumo lwabantu kunodumo lukaNkulunkulu.

44. UJesu wamemeza wathi: “Okholwa yimi, kakholwa yimi, kodwa nakulowo ongithumileyo.

45. Obona Mina, ubona ongithumileyo.

46. Mina ngizile njengokukhanya emhlabeni, ukuze wonke okholwa yimi angahlali ebumnyameni.

47 Futhi uma umuntu ezwa amazwi ami engawakholwa, mina angimahluleli; ngoba angizanga ukuzokwahlulela umhlaba, kodwa ukusindisa umhlaba.

48 Ongidelelayo, engawamukeli amazwi aMi, unomehlulelayo; izwi engilikhulumile, yilo eliyakumahlulela ngosuku lokugcina;

49. Ngokuba angikhulumanga ngokwami, kodwa uBaba ongithumileyo nguyena onginike umyalo, engizakukusho nokukhulumayo.

50 Futhi ngiyazi ukuthi umyalo wakhe ungukuphila okuphakade; ngakho-ke engikukhulumayo, njengalokhu uBaba engitshelile, ngiyakukhuluma.

Nakuba amazwi akhuthazayo esiqephu esedlule kungenzeka azithintile izinhliziyo zabantu, ngisho nezinhliziyo zabaholi benkolo abaningi, bakhona abanye abaqhubeka nokungakholwa kwabo. Njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Nakuba wazenza izibonakaliso ezingaka phambi kwabo, abakholwanga kuye.”Johane 12:37).

Nokho, lokhu kwakubikezelwe umprofethi u-Isaya. Eminyakeni engamakhulu ayisikhombisa ngaphambi kokuzalwa kukaJesu, u-Isaya wayethe, “Nkosi, ngubani okholwe umbiko wethu na? Futhi ingalo yeNkosi yembulwe kubani na? (Johane 12:38; Isaya 53:1). Inkulumo ethi “ingalo yeNkosi,” ngokomfanekiso ifanekisela uNkulunkulu wasezulwini uMninimandla onke efinyelela ingalo Yakhe enamandla esuka ezulwini eze emhlabeni ukuze anqobe izihogo, afundise iqiniso, futhi avikele abangenacala. Njengoba kulotshiwe emibhalweni yesiHeberu, “Bheka, iNkosi uJehova iyakuza ngamandla, nengalo yayo iyobusa. Iyokwelusa umhlambi wayo njengomalusi, ibuthele amawundlu ezingalweni zayo.”Isaya 40:10-11). 26

Ngakho-ke, lapho u-Isaya ethi, “Ingalo yeNkosi yambulelwe kubani,” ubuza lo mbuzo: “Obani abaye babona amandla kaNkulunkulu njengoba embulwa ekuphileni nasezimfundisweni zikaJesu Kristu? ” Njengoba isiprofetho sika-Isaya siqhubeka, uthi: “Uphuphuthekisile amehlo abo, wazenza lukhuni izinhliziyo zabo, ukuze bangaboni ngamehlo, bacabange ngenhliziyo, baphenduke, ngibaphulukise.”Johane 12:40, bhekafuthi Isaya 6:10).

Yebo, uNkulunkulu ufuna wonke umuntu abone iqiniso futhi athande okuhle, kodwa futhi uyazi ukuthi kwezinye izimo ukuguquka kwesikhashana kungenza umonakalo omkhulu kunokuhle. Kungcono ukungavulwa kwamehlo ethu okomoya, kunokubona iqiniso, sikholwe, bese kamuva siliphike. Ngomusa Wakhe, uNkulunkulu uvumela lolu hlobo lobumpumputhe obungokomoya kanye nokungezwa ngokomoya ukuze asivikele engozini yokungcoliswa. Ngakho-ke, uNkulunkulu usembulela kuphela iqiniso eliningi njengoba sesilungele ukulamukela, ukuze sihlale siqinile ekuphileni, futhi singafulatheli. Kungalesi sizathu u-Isaya ebhala, “Uphuphuthekisile amehlo abo, wazenza lukhuni izinhliziyo zabo.” 27

Nakuba lesi siqephu sisebenza kulabo baholi benkolo abenqabayo ukuvuma ubunkulunkulu bukaJesu, asisebenzi kubo bonke abaholi benkolo. Njengoba sekushiwo, abaholi benkolo abaningi sebeqala ukukholelwa kuJesu. Noma kunjalo, bayesaba ukuvuma ukholo lwabo ngoba besaba ukuthi bangase bakhishwe esinagogeni. Njengoba kulotshiwe, “bathanda udumo lwabantu kunodumo lukaNkulunkulu” (Johane 12:43). Ebona lokhu, uJesu uzama ukubakhombisa ukuthi ukukholwa Kuye ngeke kuqede kodwa kuqinise ukukholwa kwabo kuNkulunkulu. Njengoba uJesu asho, “Okholwa yimi, akakholwa yimi kodwa kongithumileyo. Futhi ongibonayo Mina ubona ongithumileyo” (Johane 12:44-45).

Ngokujule kakhulu, uJesu uthi ukubona nokuqonda iqiniso kuwukubona nokuqonda uthando olungaphakathi kweqiniso. Amazwi kaJesu ayiqiniso laphezulu; kodwa baphuma othandweni olungcwele, alubiza ngokuthi “uBaba.” 28


Ukukhanya akulahli


UJesu weza emhlabeni ukuze anqobe isihogo, alethe ukukhanya kweqiniso futhi aholele abantu ekuphileni kwasezulwini. Ngokuphathelene nalokhu, ‘wayengukukhanya kwezwe’ ngempela. Uma sikubeka ngenye indlela, uJesu weza emhlabeni ukuze akhulule abantu ekugqilazweni imibono engamanga futhi abanike ukukhanya okwakuyobakhipha ebumnyameni bamanga babayise ekukhanyeni kweqiniso. Njengoba uJesu asho, “Mina ngize njengokukhanya ezweni, ukuze yilowo nalowo okholwa yimi angahlali ebumnyameni.”Johane 12:46). 29

Lapho sicabanga ngokwengeziwe ngemvelo “yokukhanya,” yilapho siqaphela nakakhulu ukuthi kuwuphawu olufanele lweqiniso. Njengokukhanya, okugcwele indawo yonke, ukukhanya kweqiniso likaNkulunkulu kukhanya yonke indawo, ukuze bonke bakuthole. Njengokukhanya, okusenza sikwazi ukubona izinto ezibonakalayo, ukukhanya okungokomoya—okuyiqiniso—kunikeza indlela yokuba abantu babone izinto ezingokoqobo ezingokomoya. Njengokukhanya okungasahluleli, uNkulunkulu akalahli muntu ngokungakholwa. Njengoba uJesu esho, “Uma umuntu ezwa amazwi Ami futhi angakholwa, mina angimahluleli; ngokuba angizanga ukuzokwahlulela izwe, kodwa ukuba ngisindise izwe” (Johane 12:47).

Nokho, kunesinye isici embonweni wokuthi uNkulunkulu akahluleli muntu. Uma, ngokwesibonelo, sikhetha ukuhamba ebumnyameni futhi sikhubeke, sizilimaza, ngeke sisole uNkulunkulu ngalelishwa. Sakhetha ngamabomu ukuhamba ngaphandle kokukhanya. Yilokhu uJesu akushoyo lapho ethi, “Lowo ongalayo futhi angawemukeli amazwi Ami, unalowo omahlulelayo—izwi engilikhulumile liyomahlulela ngosuku lokugcina” ( Mathewu 25:35 )Johane 12:47-48).

Nakulokhu, uJesu ukwenza kucace ukuthi lokho akushilo kuhambisana ngokuphelele nentando kaBaba. Njengoba ekubeka: “Angizikhulumelanga ngokwami; kodwa uBaba ongithumileyo unginike umyalo, lokho engizakukukhuluma nalokho engizakukukhuluma.”Johane 12:49). Ngamanye amazwi, uJesu uthi uma bengawemukeli amazwi Akhe, abamane nje bamenqabe; benqaba ubuhle baphezulu okuvela kubo iqiniso. Lobuhle obungcwele bubizwa ngokuthi intando kaBaba. 30

Njengoba uJesu ephetha le nkulumo, uqinisa umqondo wokuthi iZwi likaNkulunkulu linikezwe ukuze lisisindise ekufeni komoya futhi lisiholele ekuphileni komoya. IZwi likaNkulunkulu, lilonke, liwuthando lukaNkulunkulu ngendlela yomlomo. Ngakho-ke, uJesu uthi, “Futhi ngiyazi ukuthi umyalo wakhe ungukuphila okuphakade. Ngakho-ke lokho engikukhulumayo, njengalokho uBaba engitshelile, kanjalo ngiyakukhuluma.”Johane 12:50).

Lawa amazwi okugcina enkonzo kaJesu yasobala. Amazwi akhe, aqukethe isithembiso sokuphila okuphakade, ayisiphetho esifanelekayo salesi sahluko, futhi ayisikhumbuzo esibalulekile sokuthi uNkulunkulu akezi ukuzosilahla kodwa uzosisindisa. Noma yini uJesu ayishoyo ivela othandweni olungcwele olungaphakathi Kwakhe, okungukuthi, lusuka emphefumulweni Wakhe. Lapho izimfundiso Zakhe zifakwa enhliziyweni futhi zilethwa empilweni yomuntu, zivula indlela eya enjabulweni enkulu kunazo zonke esingake sizazi. Njengoba kulotshiwe emibhalweni yesiHeberu, “Umthetho weNkosi uphelele, uvuselela umphefumulo; ubufakazi bukaJehova buthembekile, buhlakaniphisa oyisiwula; iziyalezo zikaJehova zilungile, ziletha intokozo enhliziyweni.”AmaHubo 19:7-8).


Uhlelo lokusebenza olusebenzayo


Ezimpilweni zethu miningi imithetho okumele siyilandele. Kunokuba uyibheke njengemithetho eqinile evimbela inkululeko yakho, lwela ukubona ubuhle obungaphakathi kuyo. Ungawaboni kangako njengemingcele, kodwa kunalokho njengemithetho yothando ehloselwe ukukuvikela nokwandisa injabulo yakho. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi umthetho wethrafikhi ohloselwe ukuvikela ukuphepha kwakho, umkhawulo wokudla okuhloswe ngawo ukuthuthukisa impilo yakho engokwenyama, noma umyalo waphezulu ohloselwe ukuthuthukisa inhlalakahle yakho engokomoya, bheka ubuhle obungaphakathi eqinisweni. Yilokhu uJesu akushoyo lapho esinxusa ukuba sibone uthando, alubiza ngokuthi “uBaba,” ngaphakathi kweqiniso alifundisayo.

Bilješke:

1Izimfihlakalo Zezulu 3301: “Izinwele, noma izinwele ekhanda, kukhulunywa ngazo izikhathi eziningana eZwini, futhi kulezo zindawo kusho lokho okungokwemvelo. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi izinwele zikhula ezingxenyeni ezingaphandle kakhulu zomuntu…. Kuwo wonke umuntu kubonakala sengathi imvelo yikho konke okukhona kubo. Kodwa lokhu kusekude kakhulu nokuba yiqiniso. Imvelo iyisithombo esivela ezithweni zangaphakathi zomuntu, njengezinwele ezithweni zomzimba.” Bhekafuthi Izimfihlakalo Zezulu 10047: “EZwini, ‘izinyawo’ zifanekisela imvelo noma ingaphandle yomuntu.” Bhekafuthi Izimfihlakalo Zezulu 6844: “Izinto ezivusa inkanuko ... ngezokugcina ukwenziwa kabusha. ”

2I-Apocalypse Ichazwe 324:24: “Iphunga elimnandi lihambisana … izinto ezitholwa iNkosi njengokubonga futhi ezibonwa izingelosi njengezibongayo. Lokhu kubonga kuhle kwasezulwini, okuwubuhle bothando eNkosini.” Bhekafuthi Inkolo YeQiniso yobuKhrestu 852: “Ezulwini izinjabulo ezitholakala ngokuthanda okuhle zibhekwa njengamakha ezivande zemifino nezingadi zezimbali.”

3Nothando Lobunkulunkulu Nenhlakanipho Yobunkulunkulu 414: “Intando yomuntu ayinakuphakanyiswa nhlobo uma isiphetho siwudumo, inkazimulo, noma inzuzo yezinto ezibonakalayo. Ingaphakanyiswa kuphela ngothando lwenkonzo ewusizo, hhayi kakhulu ngenxa yayo, kodwa ngenxa kamakhelwane. Lolu thando lwenkonzo ewusizo lunikezwa iNkosi lapho umuntu egwema okubi njengezono. Yile ndlela kuphela lapho intando ingaphakanyiswa ngayo. ” Bhekafuthi Inkolo YeQiniso yobuKhrestu 394: “Uthando lwasezulwini lusho uthando eNkosini, kanye nothando ngomakhelwane, futhi njengoba bobabili banombono womsebenzi njengomphumela wabo, kungase kubizwe ngokuthi uthando lokukhonza.”

4I-Arcana Coelestia 9231:3: “KuLuka, isicebi sembethe okunsomi nelineni elicolekileyo sifanekisela labo abanolwazi lokuhle neqiniso leZwi. Umuntu ompofu [othiwa uLazaru] ufanekisela labo abasekungazini iqiniso, kodwa abalangazelela ukufundiswa. Ukuthi wayebizwa ngokuthi ‘uLazaru’ kwakuvela kuLazaru owavuswa iNkosi kuJohane, okuthiwa ngaye iNkosi ‘yamthanda,’ nokuthi ‘wayengumngane weNkosi,’ nokuthi ‘wayehlezi naye ekudleni. iNkosi.’ Umuntu owayefisa ukusuthiswa imvuthuluka ewa etafuleni lesicebi ubonisa ukulangazelela ukufunda amaqiniso ambalwa kulabo abanensada yawo.”

5I-Arcana Coelestia 5113:2: “Abantu kumele baqale bafunde iqiniso elokholo, balifake ekuqondeni kwabo…. Khona-ke, lapho iqiniso selibenze baqaphela ukuthi kuyini okuhle, bangacabanga ngakho, bese bayakufisa, futhi ekugcineni bakusebenzise. Lena yindlela iNkosi eyakha ngayo intando entsha engxenyeni yokuqonda yengqondo. Kungale ntando entsha lapho iNkosi iphakamisa khona abantu ezulwini. Noma kunjalo, ukuthambekela kokubi kusalokhu kuyintando yakudala, kodwa ngokuyisimangaliso kubekwa eceleni amandla aphakeme agodla abantu ebubini futhi abagcine besesimweni esihle.” Bhekafuthi Izimfihlakalo Zezulu 9325: “Ukuze abantu bavuselelwe, okwemvelo noma kwangaphandle kufanele kuhambisane nokomoya noma kwangaphakathi. Ngakho-ke, abantu abavuselelwa kuze kube yilapho okungokwemvelo sekwenziwe kabusha.”

6I-Arcana Coelestia 4353:3: “Isenzo siyandulela, ukuzimisela komuntu kuyalandela. Ngokuba lokho umuntu akwenzayo ngokuqonda ekugcineni kwenziwa ngentando.” Bhekafuthi Nothando Lobunkulunkulu Nenhlakanipho Yobunkulunkulu 431: “Ezulwini, ukwenza ukusetshenziswa kusho ukwenza ngobuqotho, ubuqotho, ukulunga, nokwethembeka, emsebenzini womuntu. Lokhu bakubiza nge-charity…. futhi yilokhu okushiwo ukuba ‘seNkosini.’”

7I-Arcana Coelestia 9209:5: “Kulotshiwe ukuthi, ‘Ngimpofu futhi ngiswele; shesha ungisize, Nkulunkulu.’ La mazwi ashiwo uDavide, owayengeyena ompofu nompofu, okubonakala kukho ukuthi ubumpofu nokuswela okungokomoya kuhloselwe.” Bhekafuthi I-Apocalypse Ichazwe 236:5: “Abacebile yilabo abanensada yamaqiniso.”

8Izimfihlakalo Zezulu 6611: “Izinguquko zesimo ezimpilweni zabantu azihlali zinjalo. Kunalokho, babhekana nokwehla nokwenyuka. ngesinye isikhathi kukhushulelwe phezulu ezulwini futhi kwesinye isikhathi kwehle kuya esihogweni. Kodwa abantu abavuma ukuvuselelwa baqhutshwa ngokuqhubekayo, ngakho-ke baya emiphakathini yasezulwini ehlala ingaphakathi kakhulu. INkosi yenza ukuthi indawo yalabo abavuselelwayo ingene kuleyo miphakathi ikakhulukazi ngezilingo, lapho okubi kanye namanga kumelana khona. Ngoba phakathi nezilingo, iNkosi ilwa ngezingelosi nobubi namanga, futhi ngale ndlela, abantu baholelwa emiphakathini yangaphakathi yalezi zingelosi. Sebengeniswa kuzo, bahlala khona; futhi lokhu kubanika nekhono elibanzi neliphakeme lokubona [okwenzeka emoyeni wabo].”

9Ambulo sAmbuliwe 367: “Ukubamba amagatsha esundu ngezandla kufanekisela ukuvuma izono okuvela emaqinisweni angcwele…. EZwini, zonke izihlahla zifanekisela ingxenye ethile yebandla, futhi amagatsha esundu afanekisela iqiniso laphezulu ngamazwi avelele…. Ngakho-ke, ezindongeni zonke zethempeli laseJerusalema, ngaphakathi nangaphandle, nasezicabheni zalo, kwakuqoshwe amakherubi namasundu,1 Amakhosi 6:29; 32). Ngokunjalo nasethempelini elisha elichazwe ku Hezekeli 41:18-20.”

10Uthando Lomshado 9:4: “Ukukhazinyuliswa kukaNkulunkulu kusho ukuveza izithelo zothando; okungukuthi, ngokwethembeka, ngobuqotho, nangenkuthalo ukwenza umsebenzi womuntu. Ngoba lokhu kuwukuthanda uNkulunkulu nokuthanda umakhelwane.” Bhekafuthi I-Apocalypse Ichazwe 140:6: “Kuyisikhundla sokuqonda ukwazi, ukucabanga, nokukhuluma amaqiniso, kodwa okwesifiso sokuthanda izinto eziqondwayo, kanye nentando, noma othandweni, ukuzenza.”

11Izimfihlakalo Zezulu 25: “Umhlanga ofecekileyo akayikuwuphula, nefilakisi elithunqayo akayikuyicisha…. Lokhu kusho ukuthi akazephuli izinkolelo ezingamanga, futhi akacimi izifiso ezimbi, kodwa uzigobela kulokho okuyiqiniso nokuhle.”

12I-Arcana Coelestia 2781:8: “Ezikhathini zangaphambili ‘ukugibela imbongolo’ kwakusho ukuthi okwemvelo kungaphansi, futhi ‘ukugibela ithole lembongolo,’ ukuthi lokho okunengqondo kwakungaphansi.”

13Ambulo sAmbuliwe 922: “Ukukhanya kweJerusalema Elisha kuyiqiniso elivela ebuhleni bothando, futhi okuhle kothando kuvela eNkosini; futhi kulokho kukhanya akukho abanye abangangena ngaphandle kwabaseqinisweni elivela kokuhle okuvela eNkosini.”

14Izimfihlakalo Zezulu 5044: “Lapho abantu bebhekene nezilingo, iqiniso elivela eNkosini liyagobhoza, futhi leli qiniso libusa futhi libusa imicabango yabo, libaphakamisa njalo lapho benikezwa ukungabaza kanye nemizwa yokuphelelwa ithemba…. Ngoba ubuNkulunkulu beNkosi bugelezela kulelo qiniso elibusayo futhi ngokwenza kanjalo bugcina izingxenye ezingaphakathi zomqondo ngaphakathi kwendawo yabo. Khona-ke, lapho ingqondo ifika ekukhanyeni [kwalelo qiniso elibusayo], umuntu obhekene nesilingo uthola induduzo kuso futhi yikho kuyamkhuthaza.”

15Inhlakanipho Yobungelosi 187: “Kunikwe umuntu ukubona ukuphatha kobuNkulunkulu ngemuva hhayi ngaphambili, futhi esesimweni somoya hhayi esimweni semvelo. Ukubona ukubusa kobuNkulunkulu ngemuva hhayi ngaphambili kuwukubona kamuva hhayi ngaphambili. Futhi ukukubona ngombono wesimo somoya hhayi kuleso simo semvelo kuwukubona ngeso lezulu hhayi ngokombono wezwe. Abantu abathola ukuthutheleka okuvela ezulwini futhi bavume ukuphatha kobuNkulunkulu, futhi ikakhulukazi labo abathi ngenguquko babe ngokomoya, lapho bebona izenzakalo zenzeka ngokulandelana okumangalisayo, babona ukuphatha kwaphezulu, njengokungathi, ngokukuvuma kwangaphakathi, futhi bakuvume. Abantu abanjalo abafisi ukuyibona ingaphambili, okungukuthi, ngaphambi kokuba isebenze, ngoba besaba ukuthi izifiso zabo zingase ziphazamise ingxenye ethile yokulandelana kwayo okuhlelekile.”

16Inkolo YeQiniso yobuKhrestu 406: “Abantu abazalelwa bona, kodwa ngenxa yabanye; okusho ukuthi abazalelwanga ukuziphilela bona bodwa, kodwa baphilele abanye.”

17I-Arcana Coelestia 10659:3: “INkosi yeza emhlabeni ukuze inqobe izihogo futhi ibuyisele konke okukhona nasezulwini esimweni esihle, okwakungeke kwenzeke nganoma iyiphi indlela ngaphandle koMuntu Wakhe; ngokuba Wayekwazi kusukela kuMuntu, kodwa hhayi kobuNkulunkulu ngaphandle koMuntu, ukulwa nezihogo. Weza futhi emhlabeni ukuzokhazimulisa uMuntu Wakhe, ukuze ngalowo Muntu okhazinyulisiwe zonke izinto ezibuyiselwe ekuhlelekeni nguye zigcinwe phakade kuleso simo. Kulokhu kuvela insindiso yesintu. Ngoba wonke umuntu uzungezwe izihogo; ngamunye uzalelwa ebubini balo lonke uhlobo, futhi lapho ububi bukhona, kanjalo nezihogo. Futhi ngaphandle kokuba lezi zajikijelwa emuva ngamandla eNkosi yobuNkulunkulu akekho noyedwa owayengasindiswa. Lezi yizinto ezifundiswa yiZwi, futhi ezibonwa yibo bonke abavumela iNkosi ekuphileni kwabo ngokuyivuma nangokuthanda ukuphila ukuphila ngokuvumelana nemiyalo Yayo.”

18Ambulo sAmbuliwe 556: “Inkulumo ethi “ukungathandi ukuphila komuntu” isho, ngokomfanekiso, ukungazithandi wena nezwe ngaphezu kweNkosi nanoma yini evela eNkosini…. Ukuthanda iNkosi kusho ukuthanda ukwenza lokho ekuyala ngakho. Lokho kungenxa yokuthi Uyilokho Akuyalayo, ngoba imiyalo Yakhe isuka Kuye, ngakho Ukhona kuyo, futhi kanjalo ukhona kumuntu okuqoshwe kuye ukuphila kwakhe, futhi iqoshwe kumuntu lapho umuntu ethanda futhi ethanda. bayakwenza.”

19I-Arcana Coelestia 4247:2: “Okuhle kugeleza njalo, futhi kwamukelwe ngeqiniso, ngokuba amaqiniso ayizitsha zokuhle. Ubuhle baphezulu abunakusetshenziswa kunoma yiziphi ezinye izitsha ngaphandle kwamaqiniso angempela, ngoba ayahambelana nomunye nomunye.” Bhekafuthi I-Arcana Coelestia 3703:5: “Ngomqondo ongaphakathi, ‘uBaba’ ufanekisela okuhle.” Bhekafuthi Inkomba 1 ku-Arcana Coelestia 1104: “UYise muhle ngokwaphezulu, futhi iNdodana iyiqiniso laphezulu. Ubuhle bukaJehova bubizwa ngokuthi uBaba.”

20I-Apocalypse Ichazwe 1069:2: “Ngesikhathi esezweni, uthando lwaphezulu lwalukuye njengoba umphefumulo usenyameni.” Bhekafuthi I-Arcana Coelestia 2500:2: “Okungaphakathi kweNkosi, okukaBaba, kuwuthando lwaphezulu uqobo, oluyisifiso Sayo sokusindisa uhlanga lwesintu lomhlaba wonke.”

21I-Apocalypse Ichazwe 911:17: “Nakuba iNkosi isebenza zonke izinto, futhi abantu bengenzi lutho ngokuzimela, nokho Ifisa ukuthi abantu basebenze sengathi basuka mathupha kukho konke okufika ekuboneni kwabo. Ngoba ngaphandle kokubambisana komuntu njengokungathi kuvela kuyena angeke kube khona ukwamukela iqiniso nokuhle, ngaleyo ndlela akukho ukutshalwa kanye nokuzalwa kabusha. Ngokuba ukuthanda kuyisipho seNkosi kubantu; futhi ngenxa yokuthi kubonakala kubantu ukuthi lokhu [kuthanda] kuvela kuye siqu, ubapha intando njengokungathi ivela kuye siqu.” Bhekafuthi I-Charity 203: “Abantu kufanele bagweme ububi njengezono sengathi ezethu kodwa nokho ezivela eNkosini…. Ubani ongazi ukuthi akekho ongagwema okubi njengezono ngaphandle kokuthi azenzele yena? Ubani ongaphenduka ngenye indlela? Umuntu akasho yini ngaphakathi kwakhe ukuthi, ‘Ngeke ngikwenze lokhu. ngizokugwema ukwenza lokhu. Yebo, noma nini lapho ububi bubuya, ngizolwa nabo futhi ngibunqobe’? Nokho labo abakholwa kuNkulunkulu bathi ngaphakathi kwabo, ‘NgoNkulunkulu ngizonqoba.’”

22I-Arcana Coelestia 8403:2: “Abantu abangenalo ulwazi ngokuzalwa kabusha komuntu bacabanga ukuthi umuntu angavuselelwa ngaphandle kwesilingo, futhi abanye bathi umuntu uvuselelwe ngemva kokubhekana nesilingo esisodwa. Kodwa makwazeke ukuthi akekho ongazalwa kabusha ngaphandle kwesilingo, futhi umuntu uhlushwa izilingo eziningi kakhulu, zilandelana. Isizathu salokhu siwukuthi ukuzalwa kabusha kwenzeka kuze kube sekugcineni ukuze ukuphila komuntu omdala kufe futhi kugxiliswe ukuphila okusha kwasezulwini.” Bhekafuthi Izimfihlakalo Zezulu 2033: “Ukuhlanganiswa Kwengqikithi YeNkosi Yomuntu Nengqikithi Yayo YobuNkulunkulu akwenziwanga kanyekanye, kodwa kuyo yonke inkambo yokuphila Kwayo, kusukela ebuntwaneni kuze kube sekugcineni kwempilo Yakhe emhlabeni. Ngakho, wenyukela ngokuqhubekayo ekukhazimulweni, okungukuthi, ekuhlanganisweni; ngokwalokho okushiwo kuJohane: ‘UJesu wathi, Baba, khazimulisa igama lakho; kwavela izwi ezulwini, lithi: Ngilikhazimulisile, ngobuye ngilikhazimulise.’”

23Izimfihlakalo Zezulu 10828: “INkosi yeza emhlabeni ukuze isindise isintu, ebesiyobhubha phakade; futhi Wayisindisa ngalokhu: ukuthi Wanqoba izihogo ezazigcwele wonke umuntu owafika emhlabeni futhi owaphuma ezweni; futhi ngesikhathi esifanayo ngalokhu: ukuthi wakhazimulisa uMuntu Wakhe, ngoba ngale ndlela Angazibamba izihogo zibe ngaphansi kwaphakade…. Ukuthi iNkosi yanqoba izihogo, Yona ngokwaYo ifundisa kulesi siqephu esilandelayo: ‘Manje sekukhona ukwahlulelwa kwalomhlaba; manje umbusi waleli zwe uzakuphonswa ngaphandle.’”

24I-Arcana Coelestia 9807:2: “Abantu abaziyo ukuthi amaqiniso ahloswe ‘ngamadodana’ kanye nezinhlobo zokuhle ‘ngamadodakazi’ bangabona ama-arcana amaningi eZwini, ikakhulukazi ingxenye yesiprofetho, eyayiyobe icashile ekubonakaleni. Ngokwesibonelo, bayakwazi ukubona lokho okushiwo iNdodana yomuntu ngokuqondile, leyo iNkosi evame ukuzibiza ngayo EZwini, okungukuthi IQiniso LobuNkulunkulu eliphuma kuMuntu Wakhe WobuNkulunkulu, njengoba kusobala ezindaweni lapho leso sihloko sivela khona…. Kusobala ukuthi inkulumo ethi ‘iNdodana yomuntu’ inencazelo efanayo neyenkulumo ethi ‘ukukhanya.’ Ngokwesibonelo, lapho isixuku sibuza, ‘Ingubani le Ndodana yomuntu?’ INkosi yaphendula ngokuthi ‘iwukukhanya.’ ' okufanele bakholwe kukho. ‘Ukukhanya’ kusho iqiniso laphezulu.”

25Zulu nesi Hogo 375: “Omuhle uthanda iqiniso, futhi othandweni ulangazelela iqiniso nokuhlangana kweqiniso nalo ngokwalo, futhi kulokhu basemzamweni ongapheli wokuhlanganiswa.” Bhekafuthi Izimfihlakalo Zezulu 8604: “Iqiniso laphezulu elivela eNkosini ligelezela kokuhle kumuntu, futhi ngalo lidonsela umuntu kuye; ngoba ukuphila okuvela eNkosini kunamandla okuheha, ngoba kuvela othandweni, njengoba lonke uthando lunalawa mandla kulo, njengoba luthanda ukuhlanganiswa ukuze lube munye. Ngakho-ke, umuntu olungile, futhi emuhle eqinisweni, udonswa iNkosi, futhi uhlangene nayo.

26I-Arcana Coelestia 8099:3: “‘Ingalo kaJehova’ ifanekisela iNkosi ebuntwini Bayo bobunkulunkulu.” Bhekafuthi Izimfihlakalo Zezulu 1736: “Amazwi athi ‘Uyokuza enamandla,’ nathi ‘Ingalo Yakhe iyobusa esikhundleni Sakhe,’ abonisa ukuthi wayeyozinqoba izihogo ngamandla Akhe siqu.”

27I-Arcana Coelestia 3398:2: “Iqiniso laphezulu alinakungcoliswa ngaphandle kwalabo abaqale balivuma; ngokuba lapho labo abaqale bangena eqinisweni ngokuvuma nangokukholwa, futhi kanjalo bangeniswa kulo, kamuva behlehla kulo, kuhlale kusala umqondo walo ugxivizwe phakathi kwabo, obuye ukhunjulwe kanyekanye ngamanga nobubi. . Uma iqiniso lixutshwe namanga nobubi liyangcoliswa. Uma kunje, abantu bahlala benakho ngaphakathi kubo lokho okubalahlayo, leso yisihogo sabo…. Ngakho-ke, labo abangcolisa iqiniso bahlala njalo nalokho okubahluphayo, futhi lokhu ngokwezinga lokungcoliswa. Ngalesi sizathu, ikakhulukazi kuhlinzekwa yiNkosi ukuthi ubuhle boBunkulunkulu neqiniso kungangcoliswa; futhi lokhu kunikezwa ikakhulukazi yizimo zokuthi abantu abanjalo abakwazi ukuzibamba ngaphandle kokuhlambalaza bagodliwe ngangokunokwenzeka ekuvumeni nasekukholelweni kweqiniso nokuhle. Futhi, okuwukuphela kwabantu abangangcolisa into ethile yilabo abake bayivuma futhi bayikholelwa.”

28I-Arcana Coelestia 3704:2: “Ubuhle baphezulu yilokho okuseZwini okubizwa ngokuthi ‘uYise,’ futhi iqiniso laphezulu yilokho okubizwa ngokuthi ‘iNdodana.’ Lena i-arcanum ecashe eqinisweni lokuthi iNkosi ngokwayo ivame ukukhuluma ngoYise njengohlukile. , futhi sengathi omunye ngaphandle kwakhe; futhi kwezinye izindawo uyagomela ukuthi umunye Naye…. Lokhu kubonakala kuzo zonke lezo zindima lapho iNkosi ikhuluma ‘ngoYise,’ futhi izibiza ngokuthi ‘iNdodana.’

29I-Arcana Coelestia 3195:2: “Mayelana nemvelaphi yokukhanya, lokhu bekulokhu kuvela ephakadeni kuvela eNkosini kuphela; ngokuba okuhle kukaNkulunkulu uqobo neqiniso laphezulu, okuvela kukho ukukhanya, nguJehova…. Futhi nakuba lokhu kukhanya kwakungeke kusathinta isintu, esasizisusile kude kangaka ebuhleni naseqinisweni, kanjalo ekukhanyeni, futhi saziphonsa ebumnyameni, ngakho-ke uJehova wathanda ukwembathisa umuntu ngokuzalwa ... Angase futhi abe ukukhanya kwabasebumnyameni obunjalo.

30I-Arcana Coelestia 8604:3: “INkosi ifisa ukuphakamisela bonke ezulwini, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bangaki, futhi ngempela, uma kungenzeka, nakuYo uqobo; ngokuba uJehova uyisihe nobuhle uqobo. Isihe ngokwaso kanye nokulunga ngokwako akusoze kwalahla muntu; kodwa abantu bayazilahla ngoba belahla ubuhle bukaJehova. INkosi phela ingahlala ebuhleni kuphela. Uhlala eqinisweni, futhi, kodwa hhayi eqinisweni eligodliwe ebuhleni.”

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Apocalypse Explained #239

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239. And blind and naked, signifies that they are without the understanding of truth, and without the understanding and will of good. This is evident from the signification of "blind," as being those who are without the understanding of truth (of which presently); and from the signification of "naked," as being those who are without the will of good, and thus without the understanding of it (of which presently). That those who are in the doctrine of faith alone and of justification by faith are without the understanding of truth, can be seen from this, that faith alone, or faith apart from charity, has its seat altogether in the memory, with nothing of it in the understanding; those, therefore, who are in it withdraw the understanding from matters of faith, saying that these must be believed, and that the understanding has nothing to do with matters of faith; thus they can say whatsoever they wish, even if most false, provided they know how to adduce something in proof of it from the sense of the letter of the Word, the spiritual sense of which they know nothing about; in this there lurks something like the decree of the popes, which is that all should hang on their mouth; thus persuading the people that they know and see, when yet they see nothing. Those, therefore, who do not see, that is, understand the things they believe, are "blind." And in consequence of this also they are unable to perfect the life by means of the things pertaining to faith; for the understanding is the way to man's life; by no other way can man become spiritual. All who are in heaven see truths with the understanding, and thus receive them; but what they do not see with the understanding they do not receive; and if anyone says to them that they must have faith, although they do not see or understand, they turn away, saying, "How can this be? I believe what I see or understand; but I am unable to believe what I do not see or understand; such things may be falsities that destroy spiritual life."

[2] That those who are in the doctrine of faith alone and justification by faith are without the understanding of good, because they are without the will of good, can be seen from this, that they know nothing whatever about charity towards the neighbor, consequently nothing about good; for all spiritual good is from charity, and there is nothing without charity; consequently those who separate faith from charity, saying that charity contributes nothing to salvation, but only faith, are altogether ignorant of what good is because they are ignorant of what charity is, and yet spiritual good and the affection of it that is called charity is the spiritual life of man, and without it there is no faith. From this it is clear that such are without the understanding of good. And this is in consequence of their being without the will of good, for the reason that they declare themselves to be righteous [just] or to have been made righteous [justified] when they have faith; and by "justified" they mean not to be condemned on account of anything that they think and will, since they have been reconciled to God; consequently they believe, because it follows by connection with their principle, that the evil equally with the good are saved if only they receive faith, even if this should be in the last hours of life. The mysteries of this doctrine consist in this, that they speak of progressive steps of justification that are not from anything of man's life, or from his affection of charity, but are from mere faith in the reconciliation of God the Father through the Son, which faith they call confidence or trust, and saving faith itself; not knowing that where there is nothing of charity there can be nothing of spiritual life. That which is interiorly perceived or is manifest in their confidence, still has nothing in it derived from spiritual affection, but only from natural thought about happiness or about escape from damnation.

[3] Moreover, those who know nothing about the good of charity have no will of good, and those who know nothing about this good know nothing about evil, for good discloses evil, consequently such persons cannot examine themselves, see their evils, and thus shun them and reject them. They therefore relax all restraints on their thought and their will, only being careful on account of the laws, the loss of fame, of honor, of gain, and of life, to avoid evil doings. And for this reason when such persons become spirits and these fears are taken away from them, they associate themselves with devils, for they think and will as devils do, because they so thought in the world; for it is the spirit in man that thinks. But it is otherwise with those who have lived a life of charity.

[4] Again, those who believe that they have been justified by faith alone, are of the opinion that they are led by God, and therefore that what they do is good, saying, that all good is from God, and nothing from man, and that otherwise good would be meritorious. They do not know that there ought to be reception on man's part, and that reception is not possible unless man gives heed to his thoughts and intentions, and thence to his deeds; and then refrains from evils and does good, which is done when he has regard for the truths that he knows from the Word, and lives according to them. Unless man does this, there is nothing reciprocal, and therefore no reformation: and of what other use are the precepts of the Lord in the Word? That man is able to do this is also from the Lord, for every man has this faculty from the Lord's Divine presence, and His will that there be reception. In a word, unless man receives in the understanding and will, that is, in the thought and affection, or what is the same, in faith and love, there is no reception on his part, consequently no conjunction with the Lord. Everyone knows that the Lord is continually present with good, and desires to be received, but He cannot flow in when all restraints on the thoughts are cast off; He can flow in only when the thoughts and intentions which are from lust are held in check by truths from the Word.

[5] That the Lord is continually present with good, and desires to be received, He teaches in the following words of this chapter, where he says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone will hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me" (Revelation 3:20). "Opening the door" is reception on man's part, as has just been said. The Lord teaches the same elsewhere in the Word.

As in John:

He that loveth Me keepeth My words; and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him. He that loveth Me not keepeth not My words (John 14:23-24).

In Matthew:

He that is sown in the good earth, this is he that heareth the Word and understandeth it, who beareth fruit and bringeth forth (Matthew 13:23).

In Mark:

Those are they that were sown upon the good ground, such as hear the Word and receive, and bear fruit (Mark 4:20).

As it is reception by man that conjoins him to the Lord, and thus makes him spiritual, so when the Lord said these things He cried saying:

He that hath ears to hear let him hear (Matthew 13:9; Mark 4:9; Luke 8:8).

[6] That "the blind" signify those who are in no understanding of truth, and that "the naked" signify those who are in no understanding of good, because they are in no will of good, is evident from many passages in the Word, which I will here cite, so also that it can be seen that the Word in its bosom is spiritual, while in the letter it is natural, consequently that the sense of the letter of the Word, which is natural, has a spiritual sense treasured up within it. That "the blind" signify those who are in no understanding of truth, is clear from the following passages in Isaiah:

And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of thick darkness, and out of darkness (Isaiah 29:18).

In this passage, the restoration of the church is treated of, and "the deaf who shall hear the words of the book" mean those who are willing to obey truths, and thus to live a life of good, but are not able because they have not the Word, and "the blind whose eyes shall see in thick darkness, and in darkness," means that those who are in no understanding of truth because in ignorance, are then to understand. It plainly does not refer to the deaf and blind.

[7] In the same:

Behold your God will come for vengeance, for the retribution of God will He come, and will save you; then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be opened; waters shall break out in the wilderness, and rivers in the plain of the desert (Isaiah 35:4-6).

These things are said of the Lord's coming, that then those will be saved who believe in Him. That those who are in no understanding of truth will then understand, is signified by "the eyes of the blind shall be opened;" and that those who are in no perception and will of good shall then obey and live in good, is signified by "the ears of the deaf shall be opened;" therefore it is said "waters shall break out in the wilderness, and rivers in the plain of the desert;" "wilderness" signifying where there is no good because there is no truth, "waters" truths, and "rivers" intelligence derived from truths.

[8] In the same:

I will give thee for a covenant to the people, for a light of the nations, to open the blind eyes, to lead forth him that is bound out of prison. I am Jehovah; that is My name; and My glory will I not give to another (Isaiah 42:6-8).

These things also are said of the Lord, and of the establishment of a church by Him among the Gentiles. That those who before have been in ignorance are then to understand truths is signified by "the blind eyes which He will open;" and that they are to be led out of ignorance and falsities is signified by "He will bring him that is bound out of prison." That the Divine Itself would assume a human is meant by "I am Jehovah; that is My name: and My glory will I not give to another."

[9] In the same:

I will cause the blind to go in a way that they have not known; I will lead them into paths that they have not known; I will make their darkness light (Isaiah 42:16).

Here also "the blind" are those who are in no understanding of truth; the truths and goods of truth that they are to receive are signified by "they will be caused to go a way and into paths that they have not known;" the dispersion of the falsity of ignorance and illustration are signified by "I will make their darkness light."

[10] In the same:

I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back; bring My sons from far, and My daughters from the end of the earth; everyone that is called by My name. I have created him; I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears (Isaiah 43:5-8).

These things also are said of the establishment by the Lord of a church among the Gentiles; "to bring seed from the east, the west, the north, and the south," means all of whatsoever religion; for "east" and "west" signify where the good of love is clear and obscure; and "north" and "south" where the truth of faith is in obscurity and where it is in clearness. Here those who are in obscurity from ignorance are meant, for it is said, "Bring My sons from far, and My daughters from the end of the earth;" those who receive truths are called "sons" and those who receive goods are called "daughters;" "from far," and "from the end of the earth," signify those who are remote from the truths and goods of the church. That all will be received and reformed by the Lord who acknowledge Him, is signified by "I have created, have formed, and have made everyone called by My name." These are here meant by "the blind who have eyes," and by "the deaf who have ears."

[11] In the same:

Hoping 1 for light, but we behold darkness; in thick darkness we walk, we grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as they that have no eyes, we stumble in the noonday as in twilight, among the living we are as dead (Isaiah 59:9, 10).

Here likewise "the blind" stand for those who are in no understanding of truth; "darkness" and "thick darkness" mean falsities; "to stumble in the noonday as in twilight" is to go astray in falsities, although able to be in light from the Word.

[12] In the same:

His watchmen are all blind; and they are shepherds who know not to understand (Isaiah 56:10, 11).

Here again "the blind" stand for those who do not understand truths, although they have the Word; "the blind" evidently signify such, for it is said "they know not" and "know not to understand."

[13] In Jeremiah:

I bring them from the land of the north, among them the blind and the lame; with weeping they shall come, and with prayers I will bring them; I will lead them to the fountains of waters in the way of straightness (Jeremiah 31:8, 9).

"The land of the north" is where the falsity of ignorance prevails; those who are in it are called "blind;" that these are to be led to truths is meant by "I will lead them to fountains of waters in the way of straightness."

[14] In Lamentations:

Jehovah hath kindled a fire in Zion, which hath devoured the foundation's thereof, because of the sins of her prophets, the iniquities of her priests; they have wandered as blind men in the streets, they were polluted with blood, the things that they cannot, they touch with their garments (Lamentations 4:11, 13, 14).

"Zion" is the church; the "fire that will devour her foundations" is the love of self which will disperse all the knowledges of truth; the sins of the prophets," and "the iniquities of the priests," are the perversions of those who teach what is true and good; that they will on this account understand nothing of truth is signified by their "wandering as blind men in the streets." The "blood with which they were polluted" is the falsification of the truth and the adulteration of the good in the Word; the profanation of good and of truth therefrom by evils and falsities is meant by "the things that they cannot, they touch with their garments."

[15] In Zechariah:

In that day I will smite every horse with astonishment and the horseman with madness; I will smite every horse of the peoples with blindness (Zechariah 12:4). "Horse" signifies the intellectual "horseman" one that is intelligent. This makes clear what is signified by "smiting every horse with astonishment," "every horse of the peoples with blindness," "the horseman with madness." (That "horse" signifies the intellectual, in The small work on The White Horse 1-6.)

[16] In David:

Jehovah looseth the bound, Jehovah openeth [the eyes of] the blind (Psalms 146:7-8).

Those are called "bound" who are in falsities and long to be loosed from them; "the blind" are those who on this account are not in the understanding of truth; "to open their eyes" is to make them understand.

[17] In John:

Isaiah said, He hath blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, that they may not see with their eyes and understand with the heart (John 12:39-40).

"To blind the eyes that they may not see with their eyes" signifies evidently not to understand truths.

[18] In the same:

Jesus said, For judgment came I unto this world, that they who see not may see, and that they who see may become blind. They said, Are we blind then? Jesus said, If ye were blind ye would not have sin; but now ye say, We see, therefore your sin remaineth (John 9:39-41).

"They who see not" mean those who are outside of the church and do not know truths because they have not the Word, thus the Gentiles; but "they who see" mean those who are within the church and have the Word, thus the Jews; of these it is said that "they shall become blind;" but of the former, that "they shall see." It is said that "their sin remaineth" because they say that they are not blind but see, for the reason that they are in the church where the Word is, and yet are not willing to see and acknowledge truths, nor, consequently, the Lord. On this account the Scribes and Pharisees among the Jews were called by the Lord:

Blind guides of the blind (Matthew 15:14; Luke 6:39).

Also blind guides, fools, and foolish (Matthew 23:16-17, 19, 24).

[19] In John:

Jesus seeth a man blind from birth. He said to the disciples, while I am in the world I am the light of the world. When He had thus spoken, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, and said, Go and wash thee in the pool of Siloam. He went away therefore and washed himself, and came seeing (John 9:1, 5-7).

Why the Lord did this no one understands unless he knows the internal or spiritual sense of the Word; in that sense, by "a man blind from birth" those are meant who are born outside of the church and who therefore could not know anything about the Lord, or be taught out of the Word. "The clay that the Lord made from spittle on the ground" signifies reformation by means of truths from the sense of the letter of the Word; "the ground" is the church where the Word is; "clay" is the ultimate Divine forming; "anointing the eyes of the blind with it" is to give thereby the understanding of truth; "the pool of Siloam" also signifies the Word in the letter; "to be washed there" is to be purified from falsities and evils. That this is what is meant by it has been hitherto concealed. (That "ground" signifies the church, see Arcana Coelestia 566, 10570; that "clay" signifies good from which is truth, thus good forming, n. 1300, 6669; that "the pool of Siloam" signifies the Word in the sense of the letter, is evident in Isaiah 8:6; and that "the pools" that were in Jerusalem in general signify this, Isaiah 22:9, 11)

[20] In Mark:

Jesus cometh to Bethsaida; where they bring to Him a blind man and beseech Him to touch him. And He took hold of the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and spitting on his eyes, He asked him if he saw aught. And looking up, he said, I see trees as men 2 walking. After that He put His hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up; then he was restored, and saw all clearly (Mark 8:22-27).

What these words involve cannot be known except from the internal or spiritual sense of the Word; he who does not understand this sees nothing except that these things were done, and his thought about it will perhaps be merely sensual; but all things that the Lord spoke and all things that He did in the world contained spiritual things in order from things highest to the ultimates, thus in fullness as do all miracles and the accounts of them. The "blind" whom the Lord restored to sight signified the spiritually blind, who are those that do not know and understand truths. The blind man here was "led out of the town" of Bethsaida, because "Bethsaida" signified damnation, on account of its not receiving the Lord; "spitting on his eyes" has the same signification as "making clay of the spittle," before; that He then touched his eyes signifies that he was illustrated from the Divine; then the blind man at first "saw trees as men walking," which signifies common and obscure perception of truth from the sense of the letter, "trees" signifying knowledges, and "to walk" signifying to live. "His seeing all clearly" after he was touched by the Lord, signifies that after instruction and illustration from the Lord he understood truths; this meaning is in these words and this meaning is perceived by the angels. (That the town "Bethsaida" signifies damnation on account of its not receiving the Lord, is clear from Matthew 11:21, and Luke 10:13; that "touch" signifies communication and transference, but here illustration, because the eyes were touched, see above, n. 79. That "trees" signify knowledges, see Arcana Coelestia 2722, 2972, 7692; that "to walk" signifies to live, see n. 519, 1794, 8417, 8420; and above, n. 97.)

[21] Moreover, by all "the blind" whom the Lord healed those were meant who are in ignorance, and who receive Him and are illustrated by Him through the Word; and in general all the Lord's miracles signify such things as are of heaven and the church, thus spiritual things; from this it is that His miracles were Divine, for it is Divine to act from firsts and to present these in ultimates. From this it is clear what was signified by "the blind" whom the Lord healed (about whom see Matthew 9:27-31; 12:22; 20:29-34; 21:14; Mark 10:46-52 to end; Luke 7:21-23; 18:35-43).

[22] As "the blind" signify those who are not in the knowledges of truth, and who therefore are not in any understanding of truth, therefore it was among the laws and statutes given to the sons of Israel:

That no one blind of the sons of Aaron or of the Levites should approach to offer the bread of his God, that is, to offer sacrifice (Leviticus 21:18).

Also that anything blind should not be offered (Leviticus 22:22; Deuteronomy 15:21).

Likewise that a stumbling-block should not be placed before one blind (Leviticus 19:14).

And that he should be cursed who made the blind to go astray from the way (Deuteronomy 27:18).

These laws were enacted because the church instituted among the sons of Israel was a representative church, in which all things represented spiritual things because they corresponded to them. Therefore also the following curse is pronounced upon those who do not keep the commandments, in Moses:

If thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of thy God, to observe to do all His commandments. Jehovah shall smite thee with madness and blindness and astonishment of heart; that thou mayest grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in thick darkness (Deuteronomy 28:15, 28-29).

This also means that those shall be smitten with spiritual blindness and astonishment who do not hearken to the voice of the Lord by doing those things that He has commanded in the Word. Spiritual blindness of the eyes and spiritual astonishment of the heart mean no understanding of the truth and no will of good; "to grope at noonday" is to be such in the church, where the light of truth is given through the Word. (That "noonday" signifies where truth is in light, see Arcana Coelestia 9642; and in the work on Heaven and Hell 148, 149, 151.)

Bilješke:

1. For "hoping" the Hebrew has "we hope."

2. For "trees as men" the Greek has "men as trees."

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for their permission to use this translation.