Naazwa mu Jeriko, Jesu wagama ku Betaniya. Musinzo ooyu uulampa makkilomita aasika ku 20 ujatikizya kukkwezyeka mulundu munyika yamaguguunya. Munzi wa Jeriko uli kunselelo imamita aatandila ku 250 kuzwa atala aalwizi, mpoonya munzi wa Betaniya uli kumulundu imamita aasika ku 610 kuzwa atala aalwizi. Lazaro abacizyi bakwe bobilo bakkala mumunzi musyoonto wa Betaniya, ooyo uuli kubusena kulampa makkilomita otatwe kuzwa ku Jerusalemu alimwi uuli kumungenyu wakujwe wa Cilundu ca Maolifa.

Ba Juda banji basika kale ku Jerusalemu ku Pobwe Lyakwiindilila. Bafwambaana kuboola kutegwa ‘balisalazye kweelana acilengwa cabo’ kucitila kuti ambweni bakajata mutunta naa cintu cimbi cili coonse cikonzya kubapa kusofwaala. (Johane 11:55; Myeelwe 9:6-10) Bamwi babaaba ibafwambaana kusika babungana kutempele. Balabuzyanya akwaamba kuti ccita naa Jesu ulaboola ku Pobwe Lyakwiindilila.—Johane 11:56.

Kuli kukazyanya kapati kujatikizya Jesu. Basololi bamwi babukombi bayanda kumujata kuti bamujaye. Kumane buya balailila kuti kufwumbwa uutiizyibe nkwabede Jesu, abaambile “kutegwa bamujate.” (Johane 11:57) Basololi aaba bakalisolede kale kumujaya Jesu ciindi naakabusya Lazaro. (Johane 11:49-53) Aboobo, cilalimvwisya kuti bamwi tabasyomi kuti Jesu ulaboolelalyo buya mubuleya.

Jesu wasika ku Betaniya muli Bwasanu, “kakusyeede mazuba aali cisambomwe kuti litalike Pobwe Lyakwiindilila.” (Johane 12:1) Buzuba bumbi (bwa Sabata, Nisani 8) bulatalika lyabbila zuba. Aboobo, wamanizya lweendo lwakwe kaitanatalika Sabata. Tanaali kukonzya kweenda kuzwa ku Jeriko mu Sabata, nkokuti kuzwa mangolezya aamuli Bwasanu kusika kumangolezya aamu Mujibelo, nkaambo mulawo waba Juda ulakasya kweenda aciindi eeci. Kulangilwa kuti Jesu waunka kuŋanda nkwakkala Lazaro, mbubonya mbwaali kucita lyoonse.

Simoni, ooyo uukkala mu Betaniya awalo, waita Jesu abeenzinyina, antoomwe a Lazaro, kucakulya mu Mujibelo mangolezya. Simoni wiitwa kuti “sicinsenda,” ambweni akaambo kakuti musyule oomu wakali sicinsenda Jesu ngwaakaponya. Akaambo kabunkutwe bwakwe, Marta watalika kubakutaukila beenzu. Mariya uubikkide maano kuli Jesu, alimwi aciindi eeci wacita cintu cimwi icapa kuti bantu bamwi batalike kutongooka.

Mariya wajalula nsazi iikkwana ‘mafwuta aanunkilila aasika kumagilamu aali 327, nardo iini-ini.’ (Johane 12:3) Mafwuta aaya aladula kapati, muulo wangawo (madinari aali 300) uleelene amali ngavwola mubelesi iwabeleka mwaka omwe! Mariya watila mafwuta aayo amutwe wa Jesu alimwi akumaulu aakwe mpoonya wapukuta maulu aa Jesu amasusu aakwe. Ŋanda yoonse yaile kuzula camafwuta aanunkilila.

Basikwiiya banyema akubuzya kuti: “Nkaambo nzi ncaanyonyoonwa mafwuta aanunkilila aaya?” (Marko 14:4) Mane buya Judasi Isikariote watongooka  kuti: “Nkaambo nzi mafwuta aaya aanunkilila ncaatasambalwa madinari aali 300 akupa mali aayo kubacete?” (Johane 12:5) Masimpe ngakuti Judasi tayeeyeli bacete pe. Wali kubba mali kuzwa muciyobwedo camali ncayobweda basikwiiya.

Jesu wamwiiminina Mariya, wati: “Ino mumupenzyela nzi mukaintu ooyu? Wandicitila cintu cibotu. Nkaambo bacete munooli limwi lyoonse, pele mebo tamunooli andime lyoonse pe. Imukaintu ooyu naatila mafwuta aaya amubili wangu, wacita oobo kutegwa ndilibambile kuzikkwa. Ncobeni ndimwaambila kuti, kufwumbwa makani mabotu aaya nkwaayookambaukwa munyika yoonse, ncaacita mukaintu ooyu acalo ciyakwaambwa mukwiibaluka nguwe.”—Matayo 26:10-13.

Lino kwainda buzuba bomwe Jesu kali mu Betaniya, alimwi makani aakuti nkwali amwaika. Ba Juda banji baboola kuŋanda ya Simoni ikutali buyo kuzyikubona Jesu, pele alimwi baboolela kuzyikubona Lazaro, “ooyo [Jesu] ngwaakabusya kuzwa kubafwu.” (Johane 12:9) Lino basilutwe babapaizi bapangana kuti bamujaye Jesu alimwi a Lazaro. Basololi babukombi aaba bayeeya kuti ikaambo bantu banji ncobamusyoma Jesu nkakuti Lazaro wakabusyigwa. Eelo kaka basololi aaba babukombi mbabi myoyo!