1, 2. Yiwuphi umkhosi okumele amaKhristu wonke acabange ngawo, njalo kungani?

 NXA usizwa ngamalanga ahlala enanzwa, ucabanga ngaliphi? Otshadileyo angahle athi, “Ngikhumbula ilanga engatshada ngalo.” Abanye bangacabanga ilanga elinanzwa yilizwe lonke, ngokwesibonelo ilanga abathola ngalo uzibuse. Kodwa uyawazi yini umkhosi owawunanzwa minyaka yonke okweminyaka edlula-3 500?

² Umkhosi lo yiPhasika. Kwaba lilanga lokukhululwa kwabako-Israyeli basendulo ebugqilini baseGibhithe. Kungani umkhosi lo uqakathekile kuwe? Ngoba uthinta ukuphila kwakho ngendlela eqakatheke kakhulu. ‘Kodwa’ omunye angathi, ‘Lanxa amaJuda ayenanza iPhasika mina angisuye wosendo lwakoJuda. Kungani kumele ngiwukhumbule umkhosi lo?’ Impendulo ingatholakala emazwini la aqakathekileyo athi: “UKhristu, iwundlu lethu lePhasika, lihlatshiwe.” (1 Khor. 5:7) Ukuze sibone ukuqakatheka kweqiniso leli, kumele sifunde ngePhasika lamaJuda njalo sibone lokuthi lihambelana njani lomlayo owanikwa amaKhristu wonke.

3, 4. Kwenzakalani iPhasika lokuqala lingakaqalisi?

³ Abantu abayizigidi emhlabeni wonke abangayisibo bosendo lwakoJuda balolwazi oluthile mayelana lesehlakalo esabangela ukuthi kube lalokho okungabizwa ngokuthi liPhasika lokuqala. Bangabe babala ngaso eBhayibhilini ku-Eksodusi, engxenye bezwa silandiswa ngabanye kumbe basibona ezinhlelweni ze-TV.

⁴ Ngesikhathi abako-Israyeli sebeleminyaka eminengi beyizigqila eGibhithe, uJehova wathuma uMosi lomnewabo u-Aroni ukuthi bayetshela uFaro ukuthi akhulule abantu bakhe. Umbusi lo waseGibhithe owayezikhukhumeza wala ukukhulula abako-Israyeli, yikho uJehova wavuthela ilizwe lelo ngezinhlupho ezibuhlungu ezazilandelana. Ekucineni uNkulunkulu wathumela uhlupho lwetshumi, ukufa kwamazibulo aseGibhithe, olwenza ukuthi uFaro efuna engafuni awakhulule ama-Israyeli.​—Eks. 1:11; 3:9, 10; 5:1, 2; 11:1, 5.

5. Abako-Israyeli kwakumele benzeni ukuze balungiselele ukukhululwa kwabo? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)

 ⁵ Kodwa kuyini okwakumele abako-Israyeli bakwenze bengakakhululwa? Kwakuyisikhathi sentwasa ngo-1513 B.C.E. ngenyanga yesiHebheru u-Abhibhi, eyacina isibizwa ngokuthi nguNisani. * UNkulunkulu wathi ngoNisani-10 abako-Israyeli kwakumele baqalise ukulungiselela lokho okwakuzakwenzakala ngoNisani-14. Usuku lolu lwaluqalisa ilanga litshona, ngoba ngokubala kwamaHebheru usuku lwaluqalisa kusukela ilanga litshona luze luyephela ngokutshona kwelanga lakusisa. NgoNisani-14 imuli yinye ngayinye kwakumele ihlabe imvu enduna (kumbe imbuzi) njalo igcobe elinye igazi emaceleni laphezu kwemigubazi yalezozindlu. (Eks. 12:3-7, 22, 23) Kwakumele idle inyama eyosiweyo kanye lesinkwa esingelamvubelo lemibhida ebabayo. Ingilosi kaNkulunkulu yayizangenela ibulale wonke amazibulo aseGibhithe, kodwa abako-Israyeli ababelalela babezavikelwa njalo bakhululwe.​—Eks. 12:8-13, 29-32.

6. Abantu bakaNkulunkulu endulo kwakumele balibone njani iPhasika?

⁶ Yikho kanye okwenzakalayo, njalo abako-Israyeli kwakumele bakhumbule ilanga lokukhululwa kwabo eminyakeni eyayizalandela. UNkulunkulu wathi kubo: “Leli akube lilanga lesikhumbuzo, kuthi zonke izizukulwane ezizayo ziligcine ngomkhosi omkhulu kuJehova, kube yisimiso sanini lanini.” Umkhosi welanga lesi-14 kwakumele ulandelwe lidili lamalanga ayisikhombisa. Lanxa uNisani-14 kwakuyilo kanye ilanga lePhasika, ibala elithi iPhasika lingasebenza kuwo wonke amalanga edili angu-8. (Eks. 12:14-17; Luk. 22:1; Joh. 18:28; 19:14) IPhasika kwakungomunye wemikhosi emisiweyo okwakumele amaHebheru ayinanze minyaka yonke.—2 ImiLan. 8:13.

7. UJesu wasungula wuphi umkhosi ngemva kokunanza iPhasika lokucina?

⁷ UJesu labaphostoli bakhe babengamaJuda ayengaphansi koMthetho kaMosi yikho babenanza iPhasika minyaka yonke. (Mat. 26:17-19) Ngesikhathi belinanza okokucina, uJesu wasungula umkhosi omutsha okwakuzamele abalandeli bakhe bawunanze minyaka yonke, obizwa ngokuthi yiSidlo seNkosi Santambama. Kodwa babezawunanza ngaliphi ilanga umkhosi lo?

8. Yiwuphi umbuzo obakhona mayelana lePhasika kanye leSidlo seNkosi Santambama?

⁸ Umkhosi lo omutsha wawuzakwenziwa ngelanga elalizaqondana losuku lwePhasika ngoba uJesu wasungula iSidlo seNkosi Santambama esanda kuqeda ukunanza iPhasika okokucina. Kodwa kungenzeka uyake unanzelele ukuthi ilanga esikhumbula ngalo ukufa kukaKhristu liyake litshiyane losuku lwePhasika yamaJuda ngelanga elilodwa kumbe edlula lapho kwamanye amakhalenda alamuhla. Kungani kunjalo? Esinye isizathu sitholakala kulokho uNkulunkulu akutshela abako-Israyeli. Ngemva kokutshela ‘sonke isizwe sako-Israyeli ukuthi kumele liqunywe’ nini izinyane, uMosi wakucacisa ukuthi kwakumele kwenziwe sikhathi bani ngoNisani-14.​—Bala u-Eksodusi 12:5, 6.

9. Ngokutsho kuka-Eksodusi 12:6, kwakumele lihlatshwe nini izinyane lePhasika?(Bona ibhokisi elithi  “Ngasiphi Isikhathi?”)

⁹ Ngokutsho kuka-Eksodusi 12:6, izinyane kwakumele lihlatshwe “kuhwalala.” IBhayibhili lamaJuda okuthiwa yi-Tanakh lihumutsha lisithi “kusihlwa.” Amanye ahumutsha esithi “sekumnyama” kumbe “sekunqunda amehlo” loba “lisanda kutshona.” Yikho-ke izinyane kwakumele lihlatshwe ilanga lisanda kutshona kusakhanya, lapho kuqalisa uNisani-14.

10. Abanye bathi lalihlatshwa nini izinyane kodwa lokhu kwenza kube lawuphi umbuzo?

 ¹⁰ Ngemva kwesikhathi, amanye amaJuda ayesecabanga ukuthi kwakungabe kuthatha isikhathi eside ukuhlaba wonke amazinyane ayelethwe ethempelini. Ngenxa yalokhu, ayesithi u-Eksodusi 12:6 wayesitsho ekupheleni kukaNisani-14 ngesikhathi ilanga selikhotheme (selibantubahle) kuze kuyefika ekutshoneni kwalo. Nxa kuyikuthi lokhu kwakuliqiniso, manje sasidliwa nini isidlo sePhasika? Usikhwicamfundo uJonathan Klawans owayeyingcitshi yokholo lwesiJuda lwasendulo wathi: “Usuku olutsha luqalisa ilanga litshona yikho umhlatshelo usenziwa mhlaka-14, kodwa ukuqala kwePhasika kanye lokudliwa kwalo kwenziwa mhlaka-15, lanxa ukulandelana kwamalanga la kungachazwa ebhukwini lika-Eksodusi.” Waphinda wabhala ukuthi: “Amabhuku aboRabi . . . awasitsheli lutho mayelana lokuthi iSeder [ukudliwa kwePhasika] yayisenziwa njani iThempeli lingakabhidlizwa” ngo-70 C.E.

11. (a) UJesu wenziwani ngelanga lePhasika ngo-33 C.E.? (b) Kungani uNisani-15 ngo-33 C.E. wabizwa ngokuthi yiSabatha “eqakathekileyo”? (Khangela amabala angaphansi.)

¹¹ Yikho-ke, lokhu kwenza sibuze ukuthi, iPhasika lananzwa njani ngo-33 C.E.? NgoNisani-13 selusondele usuku “okwakusenziwa ngalo umhlatshelo wezinyane lePhasika,” uKhristu watshela uPhetro loJohane ukuthi: “Hambani liyosilungisela ukuthi siyokudla iPhasika.” (Luk. 22:7, 8) “Kwathi isikhathi sesifikile” kwenziwa iPhasika ilanga selitshonile ngoNisani-14 kungoLwesine ntambama. UJesu wadla isidlo leso labaphostoli bakhe wasesungula iSidlo seNkosi Santambama. (Luk. 22:14, 15) Ngobusuku bonalobo wabotshwa futhi wathonisiswa. Wabethelwa ngezikhathi zantambama ngoNisani-14 futhi wafa mhlalokho. (Joh. 19:14) Yikho-ke ‘uKhristu, iwundlu lethu lePhasika, lahlatshwa’ ngelanga okwahlatshwa ngalo izinyane lePhasika. (1 Khor. 5:7; 11:23; Mat. 26:2) Njengoba ukuphela kwelanga lamaJuda leli kwakusondela, uJesu wangcwatshwa kungakaqalisi uNisani-15. *​—Levi. 23:5-7; Luk. 23:54.

12, 13. Abantwana bamaJuda babengena njani ekunanzweni komkhosi wePhasika?

¹² Asibuyeleni kulokho okwenzakala eGibhithe. UMosi wathi ngesikhathi esizayo  abantu bakaNkulunkulu kwakumele bagcine iPhasika kube yisimiso ‘sanini lanini.’ Ukulinanza kwakuzahlanganisa lokuthi abantwana babuze abazali babo ukuthi wawungowani umkhosi lo. (Bala u-Eksodusi 12:24-27; Dute. 6:20-23) Yikho iPhasika lalizaba ‘yisikhumbuzo’ esilezifundo ezinengi ebantwaneni.​—Eks. 12:14.

¹³ Abantwana ababekhula babezathola izifundo eziqakathekileyo ezazigcizelelwa ngoyise emadodaneni abo. Esinye sasiyikuthi uJehova uyenelisa ukuvikela izikhonzi zakhe. Abantwana babefunda ukuthi unguNkulunkulu uqobo hatshi omunye umoya nje ongazwisisekiyo. UJehova unguNkulunkulu ophilayo onakekela abantu bakhe futhi abalwele. Wakutshengisa lokhu ngesikhathi evikela amazibulo ako-Israyeli “mhla egongoda amaGibhithe.” Walondoloza amazibulo ako-Israyeli.

14. Abazali abangamaKhristu bangabafundisani abantwababo endabeni yePhasika?

¹⁴ Abazali abangamaKhristu namuhla abahlali belandisela abantwababo minyaka yonke ukuthi iPhasika lalisitshoni. Kodwa uyabafundisa yini abantwabakho ngesifundo sePhasika, ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyabavikela abantu bakhe? Uyakugcizelela yini ezinhliziyweni zabo ukuqiniseka olakho mayelana lokuthi uJehova ulokhu ebavikela sibili abantu bakhe? (Hubo. 27:11; Isaya 12:2) Kanti njalo lokhu kumele ukwenze kube yingxoxo emnandi phakathi kwakho labantwabakho hatshi ukuphongulandisa nje. Zama ngezindlela zonke ukuthi wenze isifundo lesi sikhwabitheke ukuze imuli yakho iqine ekukhonzeni.

15, 16. IPhasika kanye lomlando oku-Eksodusi kusifundisani ngoJehova?

¹⁵ IPhasika alisifundisi ngamandla kaJehova okuvikela abantu bakhe kuphela. Waphinda wabakhulula ‘ngokubakhupha eGibhithe.’ Akucabange ukuthi lokhu kwakugoqelani. Babeqondiswa yinsika yeyezi kanye leyomlilo. Bahamba emhlabathini woLwandle Olubomvu bephahlwe zindonga zamanzi kwesokudla lakwesenxele. Sebechaphile babona amabutho aseGibhithe egalula emanzini. Yikho-ke abako-Israyeli sebekhululiwe bahlabela ngomdumo omkhulu besithi: ‘Ngizamhlabelela uJehova. Uphosele olwandle ibhiza lomgadi walo. UJehova ungamandla ami lehubo lami; Useyikusindiswa kwami.’​—Eks. 13:14, 21, 22; 15:1, 2; Hubo. 136:11-15.

¹⁶ Bazali, liyabancedisa yini abantwabenu ukuthi bathembe ukuthi uJehova unguMhlengi? Bayakubona yini ukuthi limthemba ngenhliziyo yonke endleleni elikhuluma ngayo kanye lasezintweni elizikhethayo? Ekukhonzeni kwenu kwemuli, lingabala u-Eksodusi izahluko 12-15 beseligcizelela indlela uJehova akhulula ngayo abantu bakhe. Kwezinye izikhathi, lingahluzisisa umcijo lo ngokukhangela ImiSebenzi 7:30-36 loDanyeli 3:16-18, 26-28. Kuyacaca-ke ukuthi bonke, abadala labancane kumele bathembe ukuthi uJehova ulokhu enguMhlengi lalamuhla. Uzasikhulula  esikhathini esizayo, njengoba wakhulula abantu bakhe ngesikhathi sikaMosi.​—Bala u-1 Thesalonika 1:9, 10.

17, 18. Ukusetshenziswa kwegazi ngePhasika kumele kusikhumbuzeni?

¹⁷ AmaKhristu eqiniso kawalinanzi iPhasika lamaJuda. Umkhosi lo wawungaphansi koMthetho kaMosi, kodwa thina kasikho phansi kwawo. (Rom. 10:4; Kol. 2:13-16) Kodwa kulomunye esiwuqakathekisa kakhulu, umkhosi wokufa kweNdodana kaNkulunkulu. Lanxa kunjalo, kulokunye esingakufunda emkhosini wePhasika owaqaliswa eGibhithe.

¹⁸ Igazi lemvu elaligcotshwa emaceleni laphezu kwemigubazi laliyindlela yokulondoloza ukuphila. Khathesi kasisanikeli ngemihlatshelo yezinyamazana kuNkulunkulu lanxa kulilanga lePhasika kumbe elinye nje. Kodwa kulomunye umhlatshelo ongcono kakhulu ongenza abantu bathole ukuphila okungapheliyo. Umphostoli uPhawuli wabhala ‘ngebandla lezibulo, elilamabizo alotshwe ezulwini.’ Izimpilo zamaKhristu la agcotshiweyo zilondolozwa ‘ngegazi elicheliweyo,’ igazi likaJesu. (Heb. 12:23, 24) AmaKhristu alindele ukuphila kuze kube nini lanini emhlabeni athembele egazini lelo ukuthi liwalondoloze. Kumele ahlale ezikhumbuza ngalokhu: “Kuye silokuhlengwa ngegazi lakhe, lokuthethelelwa kwezono, ngokumayelana lengcebo yomusa kaNkulunkulu.”—Efe. 1:7.

19. Indlela imvu yePhasika eyayiphathwa ngayo iliqinisa njani ithemba lethu eziphrofethweni?

¹⁹ Ngesikhathi imvu isihlatshiwe ngesidlo sePhasika, ama-Israyeli kwakungamelanga ephule amathambo ayo. (Eks. 12:46; AmaN. 9:11, 12) “IMvana kaNkulunkulu” eyabuya ukuzosihlawulela kwakuzakwenzakalani kuyo? (Joh. 1:29) Yabethelwa lezigangi emaceleni ayo. AmaJuda acela kuPhilathu ukuthi kwephulwe amathambo abo bonke ababebethelwe. Lokhu kwakuzakwenza ukuthi bafe masinya ukuze bangalengi ezigodweni kuze kufike uNisani-15, iSabatha eliqakathekileyo. Amasotsha ephula izinyawo zezigangi ezimbili, “kodwa athi efika kuJesu ebona ukuthi wayevele esefile, kawasazephulanga izitho zakhe.” (Joh. 19:31-34) Lokhu kwakufanana lokwakusenziwa ngemvu yePhasika, yikho imvu le ‘yayiyisithunzi’ salokho okwakuzakwenzakala ngoNisani-14, 33 C.E. (Heb. 10:1) Kanti njalo, indlela okwenzakala ngayo lokhu yagcwalisa amazwi akuHubo 34:20. Lokhu kumele kusenze sizithembe kakhulu iziphrofetho.

20. Yiwuphi umehluko omkhulu phakathi kwePhasika kanye leSidlo seNkosi Santambama?

²⁰ Lanxa kunjalo, iPhasika lehlukene leSidlo seNkosi Santambama. Umehluko lo utshengisa ukuthi iPhasika elalinanzwa ngamaJuda lalingayisiso sithunzi salokho uKhristu alaya abalandeli bakhe ukuthi bakwenze nxa sebekhumbula ukufa kwakhe. EGibhithe, ama-Israyeli ayesidla inyama yemvu kodwa engalinathi igazi layo. Lokhu kwehlukene lalokho uJesu alaya abafundi bakhe ukuthi bakwenze. Wathi labo ababezabusa “embusweni kaNkulunkulu” kwakumele badle isinkwa banathe lewayini, izinto ezimela inyama yakhe legazi lakhe. Sizaxoxa okunengi ngalokho esihlokweni esilandelayo.​—Mak. 14:22-25.

21. Kusinceda ngani ukulazi iPhasika?

²¹ Kodwa-ke, kuyacaca ukuthi iPhasika lalingumkhosi oqakatheke kakhulu ebudlelwaneni bukaNkulunkulu lo-Israyeli njalo lisinika izifundo ezingasinceda sonke. Yikho-ke, lanxa iPhasika kwakumele ‘kube lilanga lesikhumbuzo’ kumaJuda kuphela, thina amaKhristu kumele silazi njalo sizisebenzise izifundo esizithola kulo ‘eziseMibhalweni eyaphefumulelwa nguNkulunkulu’ eziqakatheke kakhulu.—2 Tim. 3:16.