1, 2. (a) UJesu wabalandisela yiphi imizekeliso abangane bakhe? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.) (b) Yiyiphi imibuzo esingazibuza yona mayelana lomzekeliso wezimvu lezimbuzi?

UJESU wayekade ekhuluma labangane bakhe, uPhetro, u-Andreya, uJakhobe kanye loJohane. Babesanda kuzwa ebalandisela umzekeliso wenceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo lowezintombi ezilitshumi kanye lowamathalenta. UJesu wathi esephetha ingxoxo yakhe wabatshela omunye futhi umzekeliso. Wakhuluma ngesikhathi lapho “iNdodana yoMuntu” eyayizakwahlulela ngaso “zonke izizwe.” Kumele ukuthi abafundi bakhe babengafuni ukweqiwa layibala elilodwa ngesikhathi ebalandisela. Emzekelisweni lo, uJesu wakhuluma ngamaqembu amabili, elezimvu kanye lelezimbuzi. Kanti njalo waphinda wakhuluma ngeqembu lesithathu eliqakathekileyo alibiza ngokuthi ‘ngabazalwane’ ‘beNkosi.’—Bala uMathewu 25:31-46.

² Sekuleminyaka umzekeliso lo uyindaba esegudwini ebantwini bakaJehova ngoba kuwo uJesu wakhuluma ngokuzakwenzakala ebantwini. Waveza ukuthi kungani abanye bezathola impilo engapheliyo lokuthi kungani abanye bezabhujiswa. Ukuthi sizaphila loba sizakufa kuzakuya ngokuthi siyawuzwisisa na umzekeliso kaJesu lokuthi siyakwenza yini ayekutsho. Yikho-ke nanku esingazibuza  khona: UJehova usincedise njani ukuthi siqhubeke siwuzwisisa umzekeliso lo? Kungani singathi umzekeliso lo usifundisa ukuthi umsebenzi wokutshumayela uqakatheke kakhulu? Ngobani okumele batshumayele? Kungani lesi kuyisikhathi sokuthi siqhubeke sincedisa “iNkosi” kanye ‘labazalwane bayo’?

3, 4. (a) Kuyini okumele sikwazi ukuze siwuzwisise kuhle umzekeliso wezimvu lezimbuzi? (b) Ngo-1881, iNqabayokulinda yawuchaza njani umzekeliso lo?

³ Okungasinceda ukuthi siwuzwisise kuhle umzekeliso wezimvu lezimbuzi yikuthi sikwazi izinto ezintathu eziqakathekileyo ezikuwo: ukuthi ngobani okukhulunywa ngabo, abantu bazakwahlulelwa nini, kanye lokuthi yisiphi isizathu esizakwenza ukuthi abanye bathiwe bayizimvu loba izimbuzi.

⁴ Ngo-1881, iNqabayokulinda isabizwa ngokuthi yi-Zion’s Watch Tower kwachazwa ukuthi emzekelisweni lo, “iNdodana yoMuntu” loba “iNkosi” nguJesu. Ngaleso sikhathi aBafundi beBhayibhili babesithi umutsho ohunyutshwe ngokuthi “abazalwane bami” ku-King James Version utsho abazabusa loKhristu kanye labantu bonke abazaphila emhlabeni bengaselasono. Babecabanga ukuthi ukwahlukaniswa kwezimvu lezimbuzi kwakuzakwenzakala ngesikhathi sokubusa kukaKhristu kweminyaka eyinkulungwane. Babekholwa lokuthi abazakwahlulelwa ukuthi bayizimvu yilabo ababezabe betshengisa ukuthi balothando njengoNkulunkulu kukho konke abakwenzayo.

5. Ngeminyaka yabo-1920 abantu bakaNkulunkulu basebewuzwisisa njani umzekeliso wezimvu lezimbuzi?

⁵ Ekuqaliseni kweminyaka yabo-1920, uJehova wancedisa abantu bakhe ukuthi baphinde bawucacise umzekeliso wezimvu lezimbuzi. INqabayokulinda ka-October 15, 1923, yachaza ukuthi “iNdodana yoMuntu” nguJesu. Kodwa yaphinda yachasisa leMibhalo eyayitshengisa ukuthi ngobani abazalwane bakaKhristu. Yathi yilabo kuphela abazabusa laye ezulwini njalo yaphinda yathi izimvu yilabo abalethemba lokuphila emhlabeni bebuswa nguMbuso kaKhristu. Ukwahlukaniswa kwezimvu lezimbuzi khona kwakuzakwenziwa nini? Isihloko leso sachaza ukuthi abazalwane bakaKhristu babezabe sebebusa laye ezulwini ngesikhathi sokubusa kwakhe kweminyaka eyinkulungwane. Yikho-ke babengasoze bancediswe liqembu lasemhlabeni bona sebesezulwini. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi ukwahlukaniswa kwezimvu lezimbuzi kwakuzamele kwenzakale ukubusa kweminyaka eyinkulungwane kungakaqalisi. Kanti njalo kwaphethwa ngokuthi isizathu esasizakwenza ukuthi umuntu athiwe yimvu yikukholwa ukuthi uJesu uyiNkosi kanye lokuba lethemba lokuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu yiwo kuphela ozakwenza ukuthi izinto zibe ngcono emhlabeni.

6. Ngabo-1990, umzekeliso wezimvu lezimbuzi waphinda wacaciswa njani?

⁶ Ngemva kokucaciswa lokhu, abantu bakaJehova basebecabanga ukuthi abantu babesahlulelwa kulesisikhathi sokucina. Nxa umuntu engafuni ukulalela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kwakuthiwa yimbuzi, nxa elalela kuthiwe yimvu. Kodwa phakathi kwabo-1990, umzekeliso lo wacaciswa. KuNqabayokulinda ka-October 15, 1995, izihloko ezimbili zacacisa ukuhambelana okukhona phakathi kwamazwi kaJesu abhalwe kuMathewu 24:29-31 (bala) lalawo akuMathewu 25:31, 32. (Bala.) * Kwaphethwa ngokuthini? Isihloko sokuqala kulezi ezimbili sachaza ukuthi: “Ukwahlulelwa kwezimvu kanye lezimbuzi kuzakwenzakala esikhathini esizayo?” Nini? Kwachazwa ukuthi “kuzakwenzakala ngemva kokuqalisa “kokuhlupheka” okukhulunywa ngakho kuMathewu 24:29, 30 ngesikhathi iNdodana yoMuntu ‘isiza ilobukhosi.’ . . . Nxa umumo wezinto  omubi lo ususemaphethelweni, uJesu uzakwahlulela abantu.”

7. Khathesi sesiwuzwisisa njani umzekeliso wezimvu lezimbuzi?

⁷ Khathesi sesiwuzwisisa ngendlela ecacileyo umzekeliso wezimvu lezimbuzi. Sesikwazi ukuthi ngobani okwakukhulunywa ngabo. UJesu nguye “iNdodana yoMuntu” loba iNkosi njalo labo okuthiwa ‘ngabazalwane bami’ ngamadoda labesifazana abagcotshwe ngomoya abazabusa loKhristu ezulwini. (Rom. 8:16, 17) ‘Izimvu lezimbuzi’ ngabantu abavela ezizweni zonke. Laba abagcotshwanga ngomoya ongcwele. Abantu bazakwahlulelwa nini? Bazakwahlulelwa ukuhlupheka okukhulu sekusiyaphela. Yisiphi isizathu esizakwenza ukuthi abantu bahlulelwe ngokuthi bayizimvu loba izimbuzi? UJesu uzakwahlulela abantu kusiya ngokuthi bebewaphatha njani amaKhristu agcotshwe ngomoya ngesikhathi esesemhlabeni. Kuyasithokozisa kakhulu ukuthi uJehova ubelokhu eqhubeka esicacisela umzekeliso lo kanye leminye ebhalwe kuMathewu 24 lo-25 ngoba sekuseduze kakhulu ukuthi kususwe bonke ububi emhlabeni.

8, 9. Kungani izimvu zichazwa ngokuthi ‘zilungile’?

⁸ Emzekelisweni wezimvu lezimbuzi, akula lapho esibona khona uJesu eqamba umsebenzi wokutshumayela. Manje kungani kuthiwa umzekeliso lo usifundisa ukuthi umsebenzi wokutshumayela uqakathekile?

⁹ Okokuqala okumele sikunanzelele yikuthi uJesu wayefundisa esebenzisa umzekeliso. Kuyazicacela ukuthi lapho ekhuluma ngokwahlukaniswa kwezimvu lezimbuzi wayengakhulumi ngezifuyo. Kanti njalo ayisikho ukuthi wayesithi umuntu munye ngamunye kumele aphe abazalwane bakhe ukudla, abanathise, abagqokise, abonge nxa begula lokuthi ayebabona besentolongweni. Kodwa wayesebenzisa umzekeliso lo ukuze atshengise ukuthi bonke abafaniswa lezimvu kumele babaphathe njani abazalwane bakhe. Wathi izimvu ‘zilungile’ ngoba ziyakunanzelela ukuthi uKhristu uleqembu labazalwane bakhe abagcotshiweyo abalokhu besesemhlabeni njalo ziqhubeka zibancedisa abagcotshiweyo kulezi zinsuku zokucina ezinzima.—Mat. 10:40-42; 25:40, 46; 2 Tim. 3:1-5.

10. Izimvu zingabancedisa njani abazalwane bakaKhristu?

¹⁰ Okwesibili, asikhangeleni ukuthi uJesu wayevele ekhuluma ngani. Wayekhuluma ngesiboniso sokuba khona kwakhe lesokucina komumo wezinto. (Mat. 24:3, NW) Enkulumeni yakhe, uJesu watshengisa ukuthi isiboniso lesi sasizakhanya langomsebenzi oqakatheke kakhulu wokutshumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso ‘kuwo wonke umhlaba.’ (Mat. 24:14) Kanti njalo engakakhulumi ngezimvu lezimbuzi waqala walandisa umzekeliso wamathalenta. Esihlokweni esidlulileyo sibonile ukuthi uJesu walandisa umzekeliso wamathalenta ukuze atshengise “abazalwane” bakhe, okutsho abalandeli bakhe abagcotshwe ngomoya, ukuthi kumele batshiseke emsebenzini wokutshumayela. Kulesisikhathi sokuba khona kukaJesu, abagcotshiweyo abalutshwana abasasemhlabeni balomsebenzi omkhulu kakhulu wokutshumayela “kuzo zonke izizwe” ukucina kungakafiki. Umzekeliso wezimvu lezimbuzi utshengisa ukuthi kulabanye ababezancedisa abagcotshiweyo. Yikho-ke indlela eqakathekileyo esingancedisa ngayo abazalwane bakaKhristu yikubambisana labo emsebenzini wokutshumayela. Kodwa yiziphi ezinye izindlela zokubancedisa? Kungaba yikubakhuthaza kanye lokunikela ngemali yini, kumbe kulokunye okukhangelelwe ukuthi sikwenze?

11. Yiwuphi umbuzo esingazibuza wona, futhi kungani?

¹¹ Lamuhla phakathi kwabalandeli  bakaJesu abayi-8 miliyoni kulabalutshwana kakhulu abagcotshwe ngomoya. Bonke abangekho eqenjini labagcotshiweyo kabawatholanga amathalenta uJesu awanika izinceku zakhe ezigcotshiweyo. (Mat. 25:14-18) Yikho-ke nanku umbuzo ongaba khona, ‘Abangagcotshwanga kumele bawenze yini umsebenzi wokutshumayela?’ Kumele bawenze sibili. Ake sibone ukuthi kungani kumele batshumayele.

12. Amazwi kaJesu akuMathewu 28:19, 20 asifundisani?

¹² UJesu walaya bonke abafundi bakhe ukuthi batshumayele. Wathi esevusiwe watshela abalandeli bakhe ukuthi benze abafundi, babafundise ukulalela “konke” ayebalaye ngakho. Ngakho-ke okunye ayebalaye khona kwakuyikuthi benze umsebenzi wokutshumayela. (Bala uMathewu 28:19, 20.) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi bonke abafundi bakaKhristu kumele batshumayele, kungelani lokuthi balethemba lokuyabusa ezulwini kumbe elokuphila emhlabeni.—ImiSeb. 10:42.

13. Umbono kaJohane usifundisani?

¹³ Ibhuku leSambulo litshengisa ukuthi umsebenzi wokutshumayela wawuzakwenziwa ngabagcotshiweyo kanye labanye abantu. UJesu wanika umphostoli uJohane umbono ‘womlobokazi,’ enxusa abantu ukuthi ‘bathathe isipho esingabhadalelwayo samanzi okuphila.’ Umlobokazi lo liqembu labangu-144 000 abagcotshiweyo abazabusa loKhristu ezulwini. (Isam. 14:1, 3; 22:17) Amanzi la amela lokho okwenziwa nguJehova ukuze akhulule abantu esonweni lasekufeni esebenzisa umhlatshelo wenhlawulo kaKhristu. (Mat. 20:28; Joh. 3:16; 1 Joh. 4:9, 10) Nxa sisekutshumayeleni kuqakatheke kakhulu ukuthi sitshele abantu ngenhlawulo njalo abagcotshiweyo bayakhokhela emsebenzini wokuncedisa abantu ukuthi bafunde ngayo ukuze ibancede. (1 Khor. 1:23) Kodwa embonweni wakhe, uJohane wabona abanye futhi abangekho eqenjini lomlobokazi. Lalaba bayatshelwa ukuthi bathi, “Woza!” Bayakulalela lokhu njalo baqhubeka benxusa abanye ukuthi bathathe amanzi  okuphila. Iqembu leli ngelalabo abalethemba lokuphila emhlabeni. Siyabona-ke ukuthi umbono lo utshengisa ngendlela ecacileyo ukuthi bonke abavumayo nxa betshelwa ukuthi “woza” kumele batshumayeze abanye.

14. Kuyini esingakwenza ukuze sitshengise ukuthi siyawulalela “umthetho kaKhristu”?

¹⁴ Bonke abangaphansi ‘komthetho kaKhristu’ kumele batshumayele. (Gal. 6:2) Imithetho kaJehova isebenza ngendlela efananayo emuntwini wonke. Ngokwesibonelo, watshela abako-Israyeli wathi: “Umthetho lo ugoqela bonke abantu—abanini belizwe labemzini abahlala phakathi kwenu.” (Eks. 12:49; Levi. 24:22) AmaKhristu kawakho ngaphansi koMthetho kaMosi. Kodwa sonke, kungelani lokuthi singabagcotshiweyo kumbe singabezinye izimvu, kumele siwulalele “umthetho kaKhristu.” Umthetho lo ugoqela konke okwafundiswa nguJesu. Okuqakatheke kakhulu phakathi kwezinto ezafundiswa nguJesu yikuthi abalandeli bakhe kumele babe lothando. (Joh. 13:35; Jak. 2:8) Ukutshumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso ngenye indlela eqakatheke kakhulu esingatshengisa ngayo ukuthi siyamthanda uNkulunkulu, uKhristu kanye lomakhelwana wethu.—Joh. 15:10; ImiSeb. 1:8.

15. Kungani sisithi umlayo kaJesu uyasebenza kubo bonke abalandeli bakhe?

¹⁵ Amazwi uJesu awatshela iqembu elincane angasebenza laseqenjini elikhulu. Ngokwesibonelo uJesu wenza isivumelwano soMbuso labafundi bakhe abangu-11 kuphela, kodwa isivumelwano leso sisebenza kubo bonke abangu-144 000. (Luk. 22:29, 30; Isam. 5:10; 7:4-8) Kanti njalo uJesu wathi elaya abalandeli bakhe ukuthi bayetshumayela wakhuluma labalutshwana kuphela ayebonakale kubo ngemva kokuvuswa kwakhe. (ImiSeb. 10:40-42; 1 Khor. 15:6) Kodwa bonke abafundi bakaJesu bekhulu lokuqala ababethembekile bananzelela ukuthi kwakumele bawulalele sibili umlayo lo, lanxa babengekho ngesikhathi uJesu ekhuluma. (ImiSeb. 8:4; 1 Phet. 1:8) Lalamuhla abatshumayeli boMbuso abakhutheleyo abangu-8 miliyoni abazange bamuzwe ngezabo uJesu ebatshela ukuthi batshumayele. Kodwa bonke bayananzelela ukuthi kumele babelokholo kuKhristu njalo batshumayele ukuze ukholo lwabo lukhanye ngezenzo.—Jak. 2:18.

16-18. Abalethemba lokuthi bazathola isibusiso sokuba yizimvu bangabancedisa njani abazalwane bakaKhristu, njalo kungani kumele benze njalo khathesi?

¹⁶ USathane ulokhu elwisana labazalwane bakaKhristu abagcotshwe ngomoya abasemhlabeni njalo uzabahlasela ngazo zonke izindlela ngoba ‘isikhathi sakhe esifitshane’ sesidliwe ngumangoye. (Isam. 12:9, 12, 17) Lanxa besehlelwa yizilingo ezinengi, abagcotshiweyo baqhubekela phambili bekhokhela emsebenzini omkhulu kakhulu wokutshumayela. UJesu uzaqhubeka elabo, ebakhokhela kukho konke abakwenzayo.—Mat. 28:20.

¹⁷ Abalethemba lokuthi bazathola isibusiso sokuba yizimvu bayathokoza kakhulu ngokuncedisa abafowabo bakaKhristu emsebenzini wokutshumayela lakwezinye izinto ezitshiyeneyo. Ngokwesibonelo banikela ngezimali, bancedise nxa kusakhiwa amaWolu oMbuso, amaWolu eMihlangano eMikhulu, amawofisi amagatsha njalo baqhubeka belalela labo abakhokhelayo ababekwe ‘yinceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo.’—Mat. 24:45-47; Heb. 13:17.

¹⁸ Sekuseduze ukuthi izingilosi zivumele ukuthi imimoya yokuhlupheka okukhulu etshabalalisayo ivunguze emhlabeni. Lokhu kuzakwenzakala nxa bonke abazalwane bakaKhristu abazabe besesemhlabeni sebebekwe uphawu okokucina. (Isam. 7:1-3) Abagcotshiweyo bazakuya ezulwini i-Amagedoni ingakaqalisi. (Mat. 13:41-43) Sesibonile-ke ukuthi lesi yisikhathi sokuthi abalethemba lokuthi bazathola isibusiso sokuba yizimvu baqhubeke bencedisa abazalwane bakaKhristu.