NGEMUVA kweminyaka lemitsatfu nesigamu ashumayela futsi afundzisa, Jesu bekati kutsi sikhatsi sakhe sekuphila emhlabeni besesitawuphela. Bafundisi bemaJuda bebenta licebo lekumbulala, kepha bebesaba sicumbi sebantfu lesasiloku simemeta futsi sikholwa kutsi ungumphrofethi. Sathane wenta lomunye webaphostoli baJesu labangu-12 lokunguJudasi Skariyothi kutsi atsengise Jesu. Labaholi benkholo banika Judasi tinhlavu telisiliva letingu-30 kute amnikele kubo.

Ngebusuku bekugcina aphila, Jesu wahlangana nebaphostoli bakhe kute bente liPhasika. Ngemuva kwekucosha Judasi, Jesu wacala loko lokubitwa ngekutsi Sidlo SeNkhosi Sakusihlwa. Watsatsa sinkhwa, wase uyabonga, wasiniketa bafundzi bakhe labangu-11 lebebasele. Watsi kubo: “Loku ngumtimba wami lonikelwe esikhundleni senu. Yentani loku kuze kube sikhumbuto ngami.” Wenta kanjalo nangendzebe yeliwayini, watsi: “Lendzebe sivumelwane lesisha sengati yami lecitselwe nine.”—Lukha 22:19, 20.

Jesu washo tintfo letinyenti kubaphostoli bakhe ngalobo busuku. Wabaniketa umyalo lomusha wekutsi kufanele batsandzane. Watsi kubo: “Nanitsandzanako, bonkhe bantfu bayawunati kutsi nibafundzi bami.” (Johane 13:34, 35) Wabatjela kutsi bangavumeli tinhlitiyo tabo tikhatsatwe tintfo letibuhlungu lebetitakwenteka kuye. Wabathandazela ngalokusuka enhlitiyweni. Bahlabela tingoma tekudvumisa, base bayesuka ngalobo busuku baya ensimini yaseGetsemane.

Batsi nabefika lapho, Jesu waguca phansi wathandaza. Ngekushesha ngemuva kwaloko, sicumbi semasotja lahlomile, baphristi, kanye nalabanye bantfu befika batewumbamba. Judasi weta kuye wafika wamanga kute abonise kutsi nguye lona lebamfunako. Ngesikhatsi emasotja ambopha, baphostoli bakhe babaleka.

Ngesikhatsi asenkantolo lenkhulu yemaJuda, Jesu wativeta kutsi uyiNdvodzana yaNkulunkulu. Lenkantolo yambeka licala lekuhlambalata, futsi yatsi ufanelwe kufa. Base bayamtsatsa bamyisa kuPhilatu lobekanguMbusi waseRoma. Nobe Philatu amtfola angenacala, kepha wamnikela kulesicumbi lesasifuna kumbulala.

Jesu wase uyatsatfwa uyiswa eGolgotha, lapho emasotja aseRoma ambetsela khona esigodvweni. Emini kalahha, lilanga lafiphala, bumnyama bembesa lonkhe live. Ntsambama ngalelo langa, Jesu wafa futsi kwaba nekutamatama lokukhulu kwemhlaba. Sidvumbu sakhe safakwa ethuneni lelalimbiwe edvwaleni. Ngelilanga lelilandzelako, baphristi bavala lelithuna, base babeka bogadzi ngasemnyango walo. Ingabe Jesu abetawuhlala kulelothuna? Chake. Kwase kusedvute kutsi kwenteke simangaliso lesikhulu kunato tonkhe.

—Lendzaba itsetfwe encwadzini yaMatewu sehluko 26 na-27; Makho sehluko 14 na-15; Lukha sehluko 22 na-23; Johane sehluko 12-19.