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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 #324

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324. And golden bowls full of incense, signifies confession from spiritual goods. This is evident from the signification of "golden bowls," which are also called "censers," and "incense pans," as being truths from good; for "bowls," like all containing vessels, signify truths, and "gold," of which they were made, signifies good, therefore "golden bowls" are truths from good. (That "vessels" signify truths, because truths serve good as recipient and containing vessels, see Arcana Coelestia 3068, 3079, 3316, 3318; also "the vessels of the altars," "of burnt offering," and "of incense," n. 9723, 9724; and that "gold" signifies good, above, n. 242 It is evident also from the signification of "incense," as being those things of worship that are done from spiritual good, or from the good of charity, and are therefore gratefully perceived. Such things are signified by "incense," because all things that are instituted in the Israelitish nation were representative of celestial and spiritual things; so also were the things relating to odor; things of pleasant odor represented pleasant perception, but those of unpleasant odor unpleasant perception. On this account incense was made of fragrant spices, myrrh, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense. Moreover, there is a correspondence between odor and perception, as can be seen from this, that in the spiritual world, where all things perceived by the senses correspond, the perceptive of good and truth is made sensible as fragrance from pleasant odors, and vice versa (respecting this see what is shown from experience, Arcana Coelestia 1514, 1517-1519, 1631, 4626, 4628, 4630, 4631, 5711-5717). From this it is that also in the common language of men, to smell means to perceive; for such expressions, like many others, have come into human discourse from correspondence; for the spirit of man is actually in the spiritual world, although man is not conscious of it. Moreover, the faculty of perception that man has, is what produces in his body the sense of smell, and this too from correspondence. But this is an arcanum that can with difficulty be credited, because it has been hitherto unknown. It is to be noted that this sweet smell or fragrance is produced by the good of love and charity, but by means of truth, not by good itself without truth, still less by means of the truth that is called truth of faith without good; for good without truth has nothing perceptive, neither has truth without good.

[2] "Incense" signifies those things of worship that are done from spiritual good, because spiritual good has its origin and existence from celestial good, which good is the good of love to the Lord from the Lord, and is therefore the very good of heaven, for that good is immediately from the Lord, and the Lord is with angels in that good as in what is His. This is even so far true that whether you say that the Lord is in them and they in the Lord, or that the Lord is with them in that good and they are in the Lord when in that good, it is the same. Spiritual good, which has its origin and existence from celestial good, is the good of charity towards the neighbor; worship from this good is what is signified by "incense." As all worship of the Lord comes from good, although through truths, and as there are two universal goods that make the heavens and distinguish them into two kingdoms, namely, celestial good, which is the good of love to the Lord, and spiritual good, which is the good of charity towards the neighbor, therefore with the sons of Israel there were two altars, one for burnt offerings, the other for incense-offerings; the altar of burnt offering signifying worship from the good of celestial love, and the altar of incense worship from the good of spiritual love; thence it is clear what was represented by "incense."

[3] That this is so can be seen from passages in the Word where the two are mentioned. As in Moses:

Thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon; and thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and thou shalt put it before the veil that is over the ark of the Testimony, before the mercy-seat. And Aaron shall burn thereon incense of spices every morning, when dressing the lamps he shall burn it, and in making the lamps to ascend between the evenings he shall burn it, a perpetual incense before Jehovah in your generations. Ye shall make no strange incense to ascend thereon, nor burnt-sacrifice, nor meal-offering, nor drink-offering (Exodus 30:1-10).

That this "altar," and the "burning incense" upon it, signified worship from spiritual good, is evident from its having been placed in the tent of meeting without the veil, where also were the lamps; and the tent signified the Lord's spiritual kingdom; while that part of the tent that was within the veil signified the Lord's celestial kingdom, as can be seen from what is shown in Arcana Coelestia 9457, 9481, 9485) respecting the tent, in which was the table for the bread of faces, and in which was the altar of incense and the lampstand, also respecting the ark, in which was the Testimony, and upon which was the mercy-seat (n. 9457, 9481, 9485, 10545). It is there shown that the things that were in the tent without the veil, namely, the lamp stand, the altar of incense, and the table for the bread, signified such things as are of the spiritual kingdom, all of which have reference to spiritual good and its truth. The "table, upon which was the bread of faces," signified the reception of celestial good in spiritual good (See n. 9527); the "lampstand" with the "lamps" signified the spiritual itself of that kingdom (n. 9548, 9551, 9556, 9561, 9572, 9783); the "altar of incense" signified worship from spiritual good; and because worship from spiritual good was signified by burning incense upon that altar, and the spiritual itself by the "lampstand," it was commanded that Aaron should burn incense upon it every morning and evening, when he dressed the lamps. (But these things are more fully explained in Arcana Coelestia 10176-10213, where these particulars are treated of.)

[4] And because spiritual good has its origin and existence from celestial good (as was said above), not only was that altar placed near the veil that was over the ark, but it was also commanded that when Aaron should make atonement for himself and for his house, he should bring the incense within the veil, which signified the influx, communication, and conjunction of celestial good and spiritual good. Of this it is written in Moses:

When Aaron shall make an atonement for himself and for his house he shall kill the bullock of the sin-offering; and he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before Jehovah, and his hands full of the incense of spices, and he shall bring it within the veil, that he may put the incense upon the fire before Jehovah; and the cloud of the incense shall cover the mercy-seat that is upon the Testimony, that he die not (Leviticus 16:11-13).

That "he should take fire from off the altar of burnt-offering," and "should put incense upon the fire," signified that spiritual good, which is the good of charity, has existence and proceeds from celestial good, which is the good of love to the Lord (that the "fire of the altar" signified that good, see Arcana Coelestia 4489, 6314, 6832, 9714, and elsewhere). This is why the fire for burning incense was not taken from anywhere else than from the altar of burnt-offering. When Aaron made atonement for himself and his house he was to burn the incense within the veil because Aaron as chief priest represented the Lord in respect to the good of love, and by his functions he represented the things that proceed from that good, all of which relate to spiritual good; spiritual good, unless it is from celestial good, is not good; except for this Aaron's function could not have been from the Divine, or could not have represented anything of the Divine; and this is why Aaron was threatened with death unless he did as he was commanded.

[5] For the same reason also Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, were consumed by fire from heaven because they burnt incense from other fire than the fire of the altar of burnt-offering, which is offering worship from a love other than love to the Lord; respecting which it is thus written in Moses:

Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer and put strange fire therein, and laid incense thereon. Therefore fire went out from before Jehovah and devoured them, and they died, afterwards they were carried without the camp (Leviticus 10:1-5).

"They were carried without the camp" signified that their worship was not from heaven, because not from love to the Lord; for "the camp of the sons of Israel" represented heaven and the (See Arcana Coelestia 4236, 10038).

[6] Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, with their company, were swallowed up by the earth, although they took fire from the altar and burnt incense, because "their murmuring against Moses and Aaron" signified the profanation of the good of celestial love; for "Moses" and "Aaron" represented the Lord and "to murmur" (that is, to rebel) against the Lord and at the same time to perform holy offices, is profanation; but as they took the fire from the altar, that fire was cast out, and their censers were made into a covering for the altar; respecting which it is thus written in Moses:

Moses said to them that they should take fire and put it into their censers which was also done; but they were swallowed up (Numbers 16).

But afterwards it was commanded:

That they should gather up the censers, and scatter the fire hitherwards; and of the censers, which were of brass, they should make broad plates, a covering to the altar, because they had been sanctified (Numbers 16:37-38).

The censers had been sanctified by the "fire of the altar," which signified Divine celestial love.

[7] Because spiritual good, which is the good of charity towards the neighbor, derives its essence and soul from celestial good, which is the good of love to the Lord, therefore also "frankincense," which signifies spiritual good, was put upon the "bread of faces," which signified celestial good; as can be seen from these words in Moses:

And frankincense shall be put upon the bread of faces which is upon the table in the tent of meeting, that the bread may be for a memorial (Leviticus 24:7).

"That the bread may be for a memorial" signifies that the Lord may receive and give heed; for all worship of the Lord which is truly worship comes from celestial good through spiritual good; for spiritual good, which is charity towards the neighbor, is an effect of celestial good, for charity towards the neighbor is the performance of uses, and living a moral life from a heavenly origin (respecting which see Heaven and Hell 390, 484, 529, 530-535; and The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 84-107), this, therefore, is spiritual good; while celestial good is looking to the Lord and acknowledging that every good and truth is from Him, and that from man, or from what is man's own, there is nothing but evil.

[8] That the incense was to be burned from no other fire than the fire of the altar of burnt-offering, which signified celestial good, which is the good of love to the Lord, is also evident from other passages, as in Moses:

When the congregation murmured against Moses and Aaron, and were attacked by the plague, then Aaron took fire from the altar, and put it in a censer, and placed incense on it, and he ran into the midst of them; and the plague was stayed (Numbers 16:41, 46-48, and also in Revelation 8:3-5).

[9] That "incense" and "frankincense" signify spiritual good, and "burning incense" worship acceptable because of that good, and therefore hearing and reception by the Lord, can be seen from the following.

In Isaiah:

A troop of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and of Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and frankincense; and they shall proclaim the praises of Jehovah (Isaiah 60:6).

Here the Lord's coming is treated of; the "troop of camels" and the "dromedaries of Midian and Ephah" signify the knowledges of truth and good in abundance; "all they from Sheba shall come" signifies from the knowledges of genuine truth and good (that "Sheba" signified such knowledges, see Arcana Coelestia 1171, 3240); "gold and frankincense," which they shall bring, signify worship from spiritual good that is from celestial good; "gold" signifying celestial good, and "frankincense" spiritual good. Because worship from these is signified it is said, "and they shall proclaim the praises of Jehovah;" "proclaiming the praises of Jehovah" signifying the proclamation of good tidings respecting the Lord, and worship of Him.

[10] In Matthew:

The wise men from the east opened their treasures, and offered gifts to the newborn Lord, gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11).

"The wise men from the east" also signified those who are in the knowledges of truth and good; the worship of such from celestial good, spiritual good, and natural good is signified by "they offered gold, frankincense, and myrrh;" for "gold" signifies celestial good, "frankincense" spiritual good, and "myrrh" natural good. That these had such a signification was still known to many in the east, therefore they were also called "sons of the east," by whom in the Word those who are in the knowledges of truth and good are meant (See Arcana Coelestia 3249, 3762), for the knowledge of correspondences had remained among them; therefore that they might testify their joy of heart they offered such things as signified every good from first to last; and this is what was predicted in Isaiah, that they "were to come from Sheba, and bring gold and frankincense, and proclaim the praises of Jehovah" (of which just above).

[11] In Malachi:

From the rising of the sun even unto its going down My name shall be great among the nations; and in every place incense shall be offered unto My name, and a clean meal offering (Malachi 1:11).

"From the rising of the sun even unto its going down My name shall be great among the nations" signifies that the church and worship of the Lord shall be everywhere with those who are in good; "from the rising of the sun to its going down" signifying every place where there is good; "My name shall be great" signifying the acknowledgment and worship of the Lord; and "nations" signifying those who are in good; "incense shall be offered unto My name, and a clean meal offering" signifies the worship of the Lord from spiritual good, which is the good of charity towards the neighbor, and from celestial good, which is the good of love to the Lord; worship from spiritual good is signified by "incense offering," and from celestial good by "meal offering." (That a "meal offering" signifies that good, see Arcana Coelestia 4581, 10079, 10137)

[12] "Incense" and "meal-offering" have a like signification in David:

Give ear unto my voice when I call unto Thee. Let my prayers be accepted as incense before Thee; the lifting up of my hands as the evening meal-offering (Psalms 141:1, 2).

And in Isaiah:

Thou hast brought to Me the small cattle of thy burnt-offerings, and thou hast not honored Me with thy sacrifices. I have not made thee to serve by a meal-offering, nor wearied thee by frankincense (Isaiah 43:23).

As all worship of the Lord comes from spiritual good that is from celestial good, therefore the two, "meal-offering" and "frankincense" are mentioned separately in the letter, yet in the internal or spiritual sense they are to be understood conjointly, but the one from the other.

[13] So in Jeremiah:

They shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the circuits of Jerusalem, bringing burnt-offering and sacrifice, and meal-offering and frankincense (Jeremiah 17:26).

Here "Judah" and "Jerusalem" do not mean Judah and Jerusalem, but the Lord's church, which is in the good of love and in the doctrine of charity therefrom; worship from these is signified by "burnt-offering and sacrifice," also by "meal-offering and frankincense."

[14] Because "meal-offering" signified the good of celestial love, and "frankincense" the good of spiritual love, upon the meal-offering of fine flour were put oil and frankincense, as appears in Moses:

When a soul would offer the offering of a meal-offering unto Jehovah, fine flour shall be his offering, upon which he shall pour oil, and shall put upon it frankincense; and the priest shall take out of it his handful of the fine flour and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof, and he shall burn it for a memorial upon the altar (Leviticus 2:1-2).

This meal-offering was instituted because "fine flour" signifies genuine truth (See Arcana Coelestia 9995); and since this truth is from good, namely, from celestial good, and from consequent spiritual good, "oil and frankincense" were put upon it; "oil" signifying the good of celestial love, and "frankincense" the good of spiritual love; in the internal sense, the one from the other. There were also other kinds of meal-offerings that were prepared with oil that had a like signification.

[15] In Ezekiel:

Thou hast taken the garments of thy embroidery, and hast covered the images of the male, with which thou didst commit whoredom; and didst set My oil and My incense before them (Ezekiel 16:18-19).

This is said of Jerusalem, which signifies the church in respect to doctrine, here doctrine altogether perverted. The "images of the male," which "she covered with the garments of her embroidery, and with which she committed whoredom," signify the falsities that they made, by perverse interpretations, to appear as truths, thus they signify falsified truths, "garments of embroidery" meaning the knowledges of truth from the Word, and "to commit whoredom" meaning to falsify; to set My oil and My incense before them" signifies to adulterate both the good of celestial love and the good of spiritual love; and these are adulterated when the Word is applied to the loves of self and of the world.

[16] In Moses:

They shall teach Jacob Thy judgments, and Israel Thy law; they shall put incense in Thy nostrils, and a burnt-offering upon Thine altar (Deuteronomy 33:10).

This is the prophecy of Moses respecting Levi, by whom the priesthood is signified, and because the priesthood was representative of the Lord in respect to the good of love, both celestial and spiritual, therefore it is said, "they shall put incense in Thy nostrils, and a burnt-offering upon Thine altar;" "incense" signifying worship from spiritual good, and "burnt offering upon the altar" worship from celestial good; "in the nostrils" signifying to the perception.

[17] In David:

I will go into Thy house with burnt-offerings; I will pay my vows unto Thee. I will offer unto Thee burnt-offerings of fatlings, rams with incense (Psalms 66:13, 15).

"To offer burnt-offerings of fatlings" signifies worship from the good of celestial love; "to offer rams with incense" signifies worship from the good of spiritual love; "incense" and "ram" signifying that good.

[18] In Revelation:

Another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he might offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar that was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up out of the angel's hand before God. Afterwards the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar and cast it into the earth (Revelation 8:3-5).

What this means will be told in the explanation of these words in what follows; here it need merely be said that "incense" signifies worship from spiritual good, which is the good of charity toward the neighbor. Such worship is signified also by "the prayers of the saints;" it is therefore said "that there was given unto him much incense, that he might offer it with prayers of the saints;" and then that "the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God." That the "prayers of the saints" signify worship from spiritual good will be seen in the next paragraph, so also what is meant by worship from spiritual good, or from the good of charity.

[19] In Isaiah:

A people that provoke Me to anger continually before My faces; that sacrifice in gardens, and burn incense upon bricks (Isaiah 65:3).

Here "sacrificing" and "burning incense" have the contrary signification, namely, worship from the falsities of doctrine that are from self-intelligence; "gardens" signify intelligence, here self-intelligence, and "bricks" falsities therefrom; "to sacrifice" and "to burn incense" signify worship. (That the ancients held Divine worship in gardens and groves in accordance with the significations of the trees therein, but that this was forbidden among the Israelitish nation, lest they should frame to themselves a worship from the selfhood [ex proprio], see n. 2722, 4552)

[20] In Hosea:

They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under the oak, and the poplar, and the terebinth, because the shadow thereof is good, therefore your daughters commit whoredom, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery Hosea 4:13).

This describes worship from the love of self and from the love of the world, and from the falsities of doctrine therefrom; worship from the love of self is meant by "sacrificing upon the tops of the mountains;" worship from the love of the world, by "burning incense upon the hills;" and worship from the falsities of doctrine, by "sacrificing and burning incense under the oak, the poplar, and the terebinth;" the "top of the mountains" signifying celestial love, here the love of self; "hills" spiritual love, here, the love of the world; for the love of self is the contrary of celestial love, and the love of the world is the contrary of spiritual love; "the oak, the poplar, and the terebinth," signify the lowest goods of truth and truths of good of the natural man, here the evils of falsity and the falsities of its evil; "because the shadow thereof is good" signifies complacence; the falsifications of spiritual good therefrom are signified by "therefore your daughters commit whoredom," and the adulteration of celestial good by "your daughters-in-law commit adultery."

[21] In Jeremiah:

[According to] the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number [of the streets] of Jerusalem have ye set up altars, altars to burn incense unto Baal (Jeremiah 11:13, 17).

"Cities" here do not mean cities, nor "gods" gods, nor the "streets of Jerusalem" streets there; but "cities" signify the doctrinals of falsity; "gods" the falsities themselves; and the streets of Jerusalem the falsities of the doctrine of the church. "To set up altars, altars to burn incense unto Baal," signifies worship from the love of self and from the love of the world (as above). This nation did set up altars and burn incense to Baal; but as all things of their worship were representative, the things that were done according to the statutes were representative of things celestial and spiritual; consequently the things that were done contrary to the statutes were representative of things infernal; therefore by "altars set up to the gods," and by "incense offered to Baal," these contrary things are signified.

[22] In the same:

I will speak with them judgments upon all their evil, in that they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods, and have bowed themselves down to the works of their own hands (Jeremiah 1:16).

"To burn incense to other gods," and "to bow themselves down to the works of their own hands," signifies worship from the falsities that are from self-intelligence; "other gods" meaning falsities, and the "works of their own hands" what is from self-intelligence.

[23] The like is signified by:

Burning incense to gods (Jeremiah 11:12; 44:3, 5, 8, 15, 18);

Likewise burning incense to graven images (Hosea 11:2);

And burning incense to vanity (Jeremiah 18:15);

The like as above is signified by burning incense to Baal (Jeremiah 7:9; Hosea 2:13);

Likewise by burning incense to Melecheth, or the queen of the heavens (Jeremiah 44:17-19, 21, 25).

"Melecheth of the heavens" signifies falsities in the whole complex.

[24] Moreover, "burning incense" signifies those things of worship that are perceived as grateful, and "incense" signifies spiritual good, because all things that were instituted in the Israelitish nation were representative of things celestial and spiritual; for the church with them was not as the church at this day, which is internal, but it was external; and the externals represented and thus signified the internal things of the church, such as were disclosed by the Lord in the Word of the New Testament; for this reason their church was called a representative church. The externals of that church consisted of such things in the world of nature as corresponded to the affections of good and truth in the spiritual world; consequently when those who were of that church were in externals in respect to worship, those who were in the spiritual world, that is, in heaven, were in the internals, and conjoined themselves with those who were in externals; it was in this way that heaven at that time made one with the men on the earth.

[25] From this it can be seen why there was a table for the bread in the tent of meeting, and why there was a lampstand with lamps, and an altar for incense. For "bread" represented and thence signified the good of love proceeding from the Lord, or celestial good; the "lampstand with lamps" represented and thence signified spiritual good and truth; and "incense" represented and thence signified worship; and because all Divine worship that is perceived as grateful is from spiritual good, therefore that good was signified by "incense." In order that this gratification might be represented the incense was made from fragrant spices, and this also from correspondence; for fragrant odors correspond to the pleasantnesses and delights that are in the thoughts and perceptions from the joy of spiritual love. For this reason incense corresponded to such things as are received as grateful by the Lord and perceived as grateful by angels. This gratification is solely from spiritual good, or from the good of charity towards the neighbor; for this good is celestial good, which is the good of love to the Lord in effect; for celestial good, which is the good of love to the Lord, is brought into effect solely through spiritual good, which is the good of charity toward the neighbor; consequently to be in this good and to exercise it is to love and worship the Lord. (What charity toward the neighbor is, and what it is to exercise it, see in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 84-107.)

[26] As the "oil" by which anointings were made signified celestial good or the good of love to the Lord, and "incense" signified spiritual good, or the good of charity towards the neighbor, and as the latter is from the former (as was said above), therefore in Exodus (chapter 30) the preparation of the anointing oil is first treated of, and immediately afterwards the preparation of the incense; the preparation of the anointing oil from verse 23 to 33, and the preparation of the incense from verse 34 to 38. And as the incense-offering is here treated of I will quote what is there commanded regarding the preparation of incense, namely:

Take unto thee fragrant spices, stacte, onycha, and galbanum; fragrant spices and pure frankincense, like quantity with like quantity shall it be. And thou shalt make it an incense, a perfume the work of the perfumer, salted, pure, holy; and thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the Testimony of the Tent of meeting, where I will meet thee; it shall be unto you the holy of holies. And the incense that thou makest ye shall not make in its quality for yourselves; it shall be unto thee holy to Jehovah. The man who shall make like unto it to smell thereof shall be cut off from his peoples (Exodus 30:34-38).

(But what these particulars signify, see Arcana Coelestia 10289-10310, where they are explained consecutively.) Here it may be said merely that frankincense was the primary ingredient, and the other three were added for the sake of their odor; therefore it is said of the frankincense, that "a like quantity with a like quantity it shall be," or as much of one as of the other; in like manner as with the anointing oil, in which the oil of the olive was the primary ingredient, and the other things in it were significative (Exodus 30:23-33). From this it is clear why frankincense has the same signification as incense when compounded, namely spiritual good.

[27] As the fragrances pertaining to odor correspond to spiritual pleasantnesses, or to the pleasantnesses arising from spiritual good, so also what is received by the Lord as most grateful is called an:

Odor of rest (Exodus 29:18, 25, 41; Leviticus 1:9, 13, 17; 2:2, 9, 12; 3:5; 4:31; 6:15, 21; 8:28; 23:8, 13, 18; Numbers 15:3; 28:6, 8, 13; 29:2, 6, 8, 13, 36).

In Ezekiel:

By the odor of rest I will be pleased with you (Ezekiel 20:41).

In Moses:

If ye will not walk in My precepts, but will go contrary to Me, I will not smell the odor of your rest (Leviticus 26:27, 31).

And in Hosea:

His branches shall spread, and he shall be as the honor of the olive, and his odor as that of Lebanon (Hosea 14:6).

This is said of Israel; "the honor of the olive" signifies celestial good, and "the odor of Lebanon" spiritual good, from its gratefulness. (That "honor" is predicated of celestial good, see above, n. 288; that the "olive" also signifies that good, see Arcana Coelestia 9277, 10261; that "odor" signifies what is perceived as grateful according to the quality of love and faith, n. 1514-1519, 3577, 4624-4634, 4748, 5621, 10292; that the "odor of rest" signifies the perceptive of peace, n. 925, 10054; what this is see in the work on Heaven and Hell 284-290.)

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