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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 #911

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911. Send Thy sickle and reap, for the hour for Thee to reap is come, for the harvest of the earth is dried up, signifies that it is the time for collecting the good and separating them from the evil, because this is the end of the church. This is evident from the signification of "sending the sickle," as being to collect the good and separate them from the evil (of which presently); also from the signification of "the hour to reap is come," as being the time for doing this; also from the signification of "for the harvest of the earth is dried up," as being the last state or the end of the church, for "harvest" signifies the last state or the end, and "the earth" signifies the church. From this it is clear that "Send Thy sickle and reap, for the hour to reap is come, for the harvest of the earth is dried up," signifies that it is the time for collecting the good and separating them from the evil, because this is the end of the church. "To send the sickle and reap" means to collect the good and to separate them from the evil, because "the harvest of the earth" signifies the last state of the church, when the Last Judgment takes place and the evil are cast into hell and the good raised up into heaven, and thus they are separated.

[2] That the collecting, separation, and Last Judgment do not take place before can be seen in the work on The Last Judgment, and will be more fully explained in the appendix to this book. This is briefly set forth in the Lord's words in Matthew:

Jesus spake this parable: The kingdom of the heavens is like unto a man that sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept his enemy came and sowed tares, and went away. But when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. The servants of the father of the family came and said unto him, Lord, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it tares? And he said unto them, An enemy hath done this. But the servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that going we collect them? But he said, Nay, lest haply while ye collect the tares ye root up at the same time the wheat with them. Rather let both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Collect first the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn. And His disciples came unto Him, saying, Explain unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answering said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world; and the seed are the sons of the kingdom; but the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy that soweth them is the devil; while the harvest is the consummation of the age; and the reapers are angels. As then the tares are collected and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the consummation of the age. The Son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall collect out of His kingdom all things that cause stumbling and them that do iniquity, and shall send them into a furnace of fire; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the just shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of the Father (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43).

The Lord by this parable illustrates all that is said in this chapter of Revelation (in verses 14 to 19) respecting the Son of man having a sickle in His hand and reaping, and that the earth was reaped by Him and the angels. For this parable teaches that the "sower" means the Lord, who is here called "the Son of man;" that the "reapers," or "those that reap," mean the angels; also that "the tares shall be cast into a furnace of fire and the good seed gathered into the barn;" and that this could not be done until "the consummation of the age" (which signifies the last state of the church), "lest the wheat should be rooted up at the same time with the tares."

[3] As this parable of the Lord contains arcana respecting the separation of the evil from the good, and the Last Judgment, it is important that its particulars should be explained. "The kingdom of the heavens" signifies the Lord's church in the heavens and on earth; for the church is in both. "The man who sowed good seed in his field" means the Lord as to the Divine truth, which is the Word, in the church; "the man," who is called in the following verses "the Son of man," is the Lord as to the Word; "good seed" is Divine truth; and "field" the church where the Word is. "While men slept his enemy came and sowed tares, and went away," signifies that while men are living a natural life, or the life of the world, evils from hell secretly, or while they are unconscious of it, introduce and implant falsities, "to sleep" signifying to live a natural life or the life of the world, since such a life is sleep as compared with spiritual life, which is wakefulness. The "enemy" signifies evils from hell, which influence that life when it is separated from spiritual life; "to sow tares" signifies to insinuate and implant falsities; "and went away" signifies that it was done secretly and when they were unconscious of it. "But when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also," signifies that when truth increased and brought forth good, falsities from evil were mingled with it; "the blade springing up" signifying truth such as it is when it is first received, "fruit" signifying good, and "tares" falsities from evil, here these mingled with truths.

[4] "The servants of the father of the family came and said unto him, Lord, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it tares?" signifies those who are in truths from good perceiving that falsities from evil have been mingled with them, and complaining, "the Lord's servants" signifying those who are in truths from good, "the father of the family" signifying the Lord as to truths from good ("father" the Lord as to good, and "family" the Lord as to truths); the "good seed," the "field," and the "tares," having the same signification as above. "And he said unto them, An enemy hath done this," signifies that such falsities were from evil in the natural man. "But the servants said to him, Lord, wilt thou then that going we collect the tares?" signifies the separation and casting out of falsities from evil before truths from good are received and increase. "But he said, Nay, lest haply while ye collect the tares ye root up at the same time the wheat with them," signifies that thus truth from good and its increase would also perish; for truths are mingled with falsities with the men of the church, and these cannot be separated and the falsities cast out until they are reformed.

[5] "Rather let both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Collect first the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn," signifies that the separation and casting out of falsities from evil cannot be effected until it is the last state of the church; since it is then that the falsities of evil are separated from the truths of good, and the falsities of evil are delivered up to hell, and the truths of good are conjoined with heaven, or what is the same, the men who are in them. This takes place in the spiritual world, where all who are of the church from its beginning to its end are in this way separated and judged. The "harvest" signifies the end or the last state of the church; "to bind into bundles" signifies to conjoin together particular kinds of falsities from evil; "to burn" signifies to deliver up to hell; and "to gather into the barn" signifies to conjoin with heaven.

[6] "He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man" signifies the Divine truth from the Lord. "The field is the world" signifies the church everywhere. "The seed are the sons of the kingdom" signifies that the Divine truth is with those who are of the church. "The tares are the sons of the evil one" signifies falsities with those who are in evil. "The enemy that soweth them is the devil" signifies that their falsities are from evil, which is from hell. "The harvest is the consummation of the age" signifies the last time and state of the church. "The reapers are angels" signifies that the Divine truth from the Lord is what separates. "The Son of man shall send forth angels, and they shall collect out of His kingdom all things that cause stumbling," signifies that the Divine truth from the Lord will remove those things that hinder the separation. "They that work iniquity" signifies those who live wickedly. "And shall send them into a furnace of fire" signifies into the hell where those are who are in love of self and in hatred and revenge. "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" signifies where there is what is direful from evils and falsities. "Then shall the just shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of the Father" signifies that those who have done the Lord's commandments shall live in heaven in heavenly loves and their joys; those are called "just" who acknowledge the Lord and do His commandments. Such was to be the state of the angels after the Last Judgment, because the superior power which had before been on the side of hell was then restored to heaven, which was a source of joy to the angels with unceasing increase.

[7] It remains to give some explanation of the Lord's words respecting the separation of the evil from the good, namely, "Rather let both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Collect first the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn." This signifies the separation of the evil from the good when the Last Judgment is at hand. Why they were not separated before may be seen in the work on The Last Judgment 59, 70), to which I will here add, that it is according to Divine order for things that must in the end be separated to grow in connection; and that when the end is reached separation is easily and as it were spontaneously effected. This might be illustrated by a thousand lessons of experience in both worlds, and also from correspondences in the animal and vegetable kingdom; from which it can be seen as in a general mirror why the evil were not separated from the good until near the time of the Last Judgment; and this is the signification of the things in Revelation here explained, that the angel said to Him that sat upon the cloud, "Reap, for the hour for Thee to reap is come, for the harvest of the earth is dried up."

[8] Also in the following passages the "harvest" signifies the last state of the church, when the old church has been laid waste, that is, when there is no longer any truth or good left in it that has not been falsified or cast aside. In Joel:

At the valley of Jehoshaphat will I sit to judge all the nations round about. Send forth the sickle, for the harvest is ripe; come, get ye down, for the wine-press is full, the vats overflow, for their wickedness is great (Joel 3:12, 13).

This chapter treats of the falsification of the truth in the Word, and the devastation of the church by it; and this verse treats of the last state of the church, when judgment takes place; and this state is described, as in Revelation, by "sending forth the sickle, for the harvest is ripe," the "harvest" being that last state; also by "the wine-press is full and the vats overflow," as in this chapter of Revelation, Revelation 14:19-20. That judgment then takes place is plainly declared, "the valley of Jehoshaphat," where judgment is executed, signifying the falsification of the Word.

[9] In Jeremiah:

Cut off him that soweth in Babylon and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest (Jeremiah 50:16).

And in the same:

The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing-floor; it is time to thresh her; yet a little while and the time of her harvest shall come (Jeremiah 51:33).

Here, too, "the time of harvest" means the last state of the church, when there is no longer any good or any truth; its devastation is described by "cutting off him that soweth and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest;" also by "threshing as on a threshing-floor," "Babylon" meaning those who seek dominion by means of the holy things of the church.

[10] In Isaiah:

I will bewail for Jazar, the vine of Sibmah; I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh; for upon thy vintage and upon thy harvest the battle shout hath fallen (Isaiah 16:9).

Here again, "harvest" signifies the last state of the church, for "the battle shout" signifies the end, because it was a custom to exult and call out when the vintage was finished and the harvest was gathered in; but here it signifies to lament, because it is said to have fallen. "Jazar, the vine of Sibmah," and "Heshbon and Elealeh," signify men of the external church who explain the Word to favor worldly loves, for these places had been given for an inheritance to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and these, because they dwelt beyond the Jordan, represented the external church. "The vine of Sibmah" signifies the church of such; and their destruction when the Lord should come and accomplish judgment is also described in that chapter.

[11] In Jeremiah:

The harvest is past, the autumn is ended, and we have not been saved; because of the bruising of my daughter I am bruised (Jeremiah 8:20, 21).

Here again the "harvest" signifies the last state of the church. "Because of the bruising I am bruised" signifies grief that there is no longer any good and truth, "daughter" signifying the affection of truth, and thus the church, for that affection is of the church and the church is from it.

[12] In Isaiah:

It shall come to pass when the harvest, the standing corn, is gathered, and his arm reapeth ears, and there shall be left in it gleanings, as in the shaking of an olive tree, three berries in the top of the bough, four or five in the branches of the fruit-bearing one. In the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to blossom; the harvest shall be a heap in the day of possession, and desperate sorrow (Isaiah 17:5, 6, 11).

This chapter treats of the knowledges of truth and good belonging to the church, and of their destruction. These are here signified by "Damascus," of which this chapter treats, and by "Aroer." Their destruction is described by "there shall be left in it gleanings, as in the shaking of an olive tree, three berries in the top of the bough, four or five in the head 1 of the fruit bearing one," also by "the harvest shall be a heap in the day of possession," that is, that there shall be no more than a single heap; therefore it is added, "and desperate sorrow." This makes clear that "harvest" signifies here the last state of the church. That state is signified also by "morning," for when the last state of the church is at hand it is morning to those who are to be of the New Church, and evening and night to those who are of the old church. That this is what "morning" here means is evident from the last verse of this chapter, where it is said:

About the time of evening behold terror; before the morning it is not (Isaiah 17:14).

"Terror" signifies destruction.

[13] In Joel:

The husbandmen were ashamed, the vine-dressers howled for the wheat and for the barley, because the harvest of the field hath perished (Joel 1:11).

The devastation of the church as to good and truth is here meant by "the harvest of the field hath perished;" "husbandmen" mean those who are in the good of the church, and "vine-dressers" those who are in its truths; "wheat and barley" mean good itself and truth itself; grief on account of devastation is signified by "they were ashamed and howled."

[14] "Harvest" signifies the last state of the church, because "corn," which is the harvest, signifies the good of the church and truth from good, and "field" the church itself. That all things pertaining to natural nourishment, such as wheat, barley, oil, wine, and the like, signify such things as pertain to spiritual nourishment has been shown above in many places; and the things that pertain to spiritual nourishment have reference in general to good and truth and knowledges of them, thus to doctrine and to a life according to these knowledges. Therefore it is said in Jeremiah:

A nation from afar shall eat up thy harvest and thy bread, it shall eat up thy sons and thy daughters, it shall eat up thy flock and thy herd, it shall eat up thy vine and thy fig-tree; it shall impoverish thy fortified cities, in which thou dost trust, with the sword (Jeremiah 5:17).

"A nation from afar" means the falsity of evil destroying; "from afar" signifying what is far away from good and truth. "Harvest" and "bread" signify nourishing truths and goods of the church; "sons and daughters" goods and truths generating; "flock and herd" goods and truths spiritual and natural, "vine and fig-tree" the internal spiritual church, and the external natural church; the "fortified cities in which they trust" signify doctrinals from self-intelligence; "to be impoverished with the sword" signifies to be destroyed by falsities of evil.

[15] As "harvest" signifies all things that spiritually nourish man, and these have reference to the truths of doctrine and the goods of life, so "harvest" signifies the church in general and in particular; in general, in these words in the Gospels:

Jesus said to His disciples, The harvest is plenteous but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that He send laborers into His harvest (Matthew 9:37, 38; Luke 10:2).

The "harvest" here means all with whom the church was to be established by the Lord, thus also the church in general; and "laborers" mean all who will teach from the Lord.

[16] Likewise in John:

Jesus said to the disciples, Say ye not there are yet four months and then cometh the harvest? Behold I say unto you, Lift up your eyes and look on the fields that they are white already for harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth reward and gathereth fruit unto life eternal. For herein is the saying true, that there is one who soweth and another who reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye have not labored; others have labored, but ye have entered into their labor (John 4:35-38).

This was said by the Lord of a New Church to be established by Him. That the establishment of that church was then at hand is meant by "Lift up your eyes and look on the fields that they are white already for harvest." To teach those who were to be of that church, or as the Lord says elsewhere, "to collect and gather into the barn," is signified by "reaping." That it is the Lord who teaches, thus who collects and gathers, and not themselves (for it was the Lord, by means of the angels, that is, by means of Divine truths from the Word, who prepared for reception those whom the disciples converted to the church), is meant by "there is one who soweth and another who reapeth; I sent you to reap that whereon ye have not labored; others have labored, but ye have entered into their labor."

[17] The increase of the church with man in particular, and with men in general by the Lord, is also described by "harvest" in Mark:

Jesus said, So is the kingdom of God as if a man should cast seed upon the earth, and should then sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow up he knoweth not how. For the earth beareth fruit of herself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit hath come forth straightway he putteth forth the sickle, because the harvest is ready (Mark 4:26-29).

"The kingdom of God" means the church of the Lord in the heavens and on the earth; and the implantation of it with all who receive truths and goods from the Lord, not from self, is described by these words, every particular of which corresponds to spiritual things and signifies them; as that "a man casts seed upon the earth, that he then sleeps, and rises night and day, that the seed springs up and grows up he knows not how;" for "seed" signifies the Divine truth, "to cast seed into the earth" signifies the work of man, "to rise day and night" and finally "to put in the sickle" signifies in every state. The rest signifies the Lord's work; and the "harvest" the implantation of the church in particular and in general. For it is to be known, that, although the Lord works all things, and man nothing from self, yet He wills that man should work as if from self in all that comes to his perception. For without man's cooperation as if from self there can be no reception of truth and good, thus no implantation and regeneration. For to will is the Lord's gift to man; and because the appearance to man is that this is from self, He gives him to will as if from self.

[18] Such being the signification of "harvest" two feasts were instituted with the sons of Israel, one of which was called the feast of seven weeks, which was that of the harvest of firstfruits; and the other the feast of tabernacles, which was the feast of ingathering of the fruits of the earth. Of these the first signified the implantation of truth in good, and the other the bringing forth of good, thus regeneration. But the feast of unleavened bread, or the Passover, which preceded, signified deliverance from the falsities of evil, which is the first thing of regeneration.

Bilješke:

1. The photolithograph has "capite" "head" for "ramis" branches." In the text just above.

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