1, 2. (a) Ziintoni ezibonisa ukuba ihlabathi liya lingavisisani? (b) Yiyiphi imibuzo eza kuphendulwa kweli nqaku?

OMNYE udade wasemzantsi Yurophu uthi: “Ndisemncinci, ndandibona ukuba abukho ubulungisa. Loo nto yabangela ukuba ndingayithandi indlela urhulumente welizwe lam awayezenza ngayo izinto. Ndacinga njengoophuma-silwe. Ndathandana nomnqolobi iminyaka emininzi.” Omnye umzalwana okumazantsi eAfrika naye owayekhe wathand’ ukulwa, uthi: “Ndandikholelwa ekubeni uhlanga lwam lolona lubhetele, ibe ndangena kwelinye iqela lepolitiki. Kwakusithiwa masibulale abantu beminye imibutho ngomkhonto, nkqu nabo bohlanga lwethu.” Udade ohlala kumbindi Yurophu uthi: “Ndandinobuhlanga ibe ndibacaphukela abantu abasuka kwamanye amazwe okanye abakhonza kwezinye iicawa.”

² Kule mihla, baya besanda abantu abacinga ngendlela ababekade becinga ngayo aba bazalwana. Baninzi abantu abalwela inkululeko, imibutho yeepolitiki iya ingavani, ibe kumazwe amaninzi abantu abavela kwamanye amazwe abathandwa. Kule mihla yokugqibela zonke iintlobo zabantu ‘aziyifuni imvisiswano,’ kanye njengokuba iBhayibhile yaprofetayo.  (2 Tim. 3:1, 3) Ekubeni eli hlabathi lisiya lingavisisani, amaKristu anokuhlala njani emanyene? Sinokufunda kwindlela uYesu awenza ngayo ngexesha lakhe xa kwakukubi elizweni ngenxa yokungavisisani kweepolitiki. Ngoku siza kuphendula le mibuzo mithathu: Kwakutheni ukuze uYesu angafuni ukuba kulo naliphi iqela leepolitiki? Wabonisa njani ukuba abakhonzi bakaThixo akufuneki bathathe cala kuyo nayiphi na into edibene neepolitiki? Wasifundisa njani ukuba akufuneki silwe?

3, 4. (a) Ngoxa uYesu wayesemhlabeni, amaYuda ayelindele ukuba uza kwenza ntoni? (b) Bona abafundi bakaYesu babelindele ntoni?

³ AmaYuda amaninzi awayeshumayela kuwo uYesu ayefuna ukukhululeka kumaRoma. AmaYuda angabavukeli ayewufak’ ebantwini lo moya. Abaninzi kwaba bavukeli babelandela uYudas umGalili. Lo Yudas wayengumesiya wobuxoki owalahlekisa abantu abaninzi. Umbhali-mbali ongumYuda uJosephus uthi uYudas “wayekhuthaza amadoda elizwe lakhe ukuba avukele, egxeka lawo avumayo ukubhatala irhafu yamaRoma esithi ngamagwala.” AmaRoma ambulala uYudas. (IZe. 5:37) Abanye kwaba bavukeli bade bazama ukufumana izinto abazifunayo ngobundlobongela.

⁴ Kanti wona amaYuda angengobavukeli ayelindele ukufika kukaMesiya. Ayecinga ukuba ukufika kwakhe wayeza kulwenza lukhulu uhlanga lwawo aze awakhulule kwidyokhwe yamaRoma. (Luka 2:38; 3:15) Amaninzi ayekholelwa ukuba wayeza kulawula kwaSirayeli, aze onke amaYuda ahlala kwamanye amazwe abuyele ekhaya. NoYohane umBhaptizi wakha wabuza uYesu esithi: “UnguLowo Uzayo na, okanye ngaba simele silindele omnye owahlukileyo na?” (Mat. 11:2, 3) Mhlawumbi uYohane wayefuna ukwazi ukuba ukhona na omnye uMesiya ozayo, oza kwenza zonke ezi zinto zilindelwe ngamaYuda. Nabafundi ababini abadibana noYesu endleleni eya e-Emawusi babecinga ukuba uYesu wayeza kusindisa uSirayeli. (Funda uLuka 24:21.) Kungekudala emva koko, abapostile bakhe bambuza: “Nkosi, ububuyisela ngeli xesha na ubukumkani kuSirayeli?”—IZe. 1:6.

5. (a) Kwakutheni ukuze abantu baseGalili bafune uYesu abe ngukumkani wabo? (b) Wabaxelela ntoni uYesu?

⁵ Ezi zinto zazilindelwe ngamaYuda kuMesiya zabangela ukuba abantu baseGalili bafune uYesu abe ngukumkani wabo. Kuyabonakala ukuba babecinga ukuba uYesu wayeza kuba ngoyena mlawuli ufanelekileyo. Wayesisithethi esiphum’ izandla, ephilisa abagulayo futhi esondla abantu abalambileyo. Emva kokuba uYesu ephe amadoda amalunga ne-5 000 ukutya, wayiqonda into ababefuna ukuyenza abantu. “Esazi ukuba babesele beza kuza, bambambe bamenze ukumkani, wemka kwakhona waya entabeni eyedwa.” (Yoh. 6:10-15) Ngosuku olulandelayo, kwelinye icala loLwandle LwaseGalili, uYesu wafika abantu bezolile. Wabaxelela owona msebenzi awuzeleyo. Wayengazelanga kupha abantu ukutya, kodwa wayeze kubafundisa ngoBukumkani BukaThixo. Wathi: “Sebenzelani, kungekhona ukutya okutshabalalayo, kodwa ukutya okuhlala kuse ebomini obungunaphakade.”—Yoh. 6:25-27.

6. UYesu wayenza yacaca njani into yokuba wayengafuni ukuba ngumlawuli wepolitiki? (Jonga umfanekiso osekuqaleni.)

⁶ Ngaphambi nje kokufa kwakhe, uYesu wabona ukuba abalandeli bakhe babelindele ukuba alawule eYerusalem. Walungisa  indlela ababecinga ngayo ngokubenzela umzekeliso wemina. Wazifanisa ‘nomntu othile osisidwangube’ owayeza kumka ixesha elide. (Luka 19:11-13, 15) UYesu wayenza yacaca nakwirhuluneli yaseRoma uPontiyo Pilato into yokuba yena akakhethi cala kwipolitiki. UPontiyo Pilato wabuza uYesu wathi: “Unguye na ukumkani wamaYuda?” (Yoh. 18:33) Mhlawumbi le rhuluneli yayisoyika ukuba uYesu wayeza kwenza abantu bavukele ulawulo lwamaRoma. UYesu wayiphendula wathi: “Ubukumkani bam abuyonxalenye yeli hlabathi.” (Yoh. 18:36) Zange avume ukungena kwiipolitiki kuba uBukumkani bakhe babuza kuba bobasezulwini. Waxelela uPilato ukuba owakhe umsebenzi emhlabeni ‘kukungqinela inyaniso.’—Funda uYohane 18:37.

7. Yintoni enokubangela kube nzima ukungazixhasi nangaphakathi iipolitiki?

⁷ Ukuba siwuqonda kakuhle njengoYesu umsebenzi esiwuthunyiweyo, siya kukuphepha nokuthethela ngaphakathi sixhasa iipolitiki. Isenokungabi lula le nto. Omnye umveleli ohambahambayo uthi: “Kwindawo esihlala kuyo abantu baya belufuna ngenkani utshintsho. Umoya wokuthand’ izwe uya uqatsela, ibe abanye bacinga ukuba ngabantu beepolitiki abaza kuyilungisa indlela abaphila ngayo. Sekunjalo, ngenxa yokuba bexakeke ngumsebenzi wokushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani, abazalwana baye bahlala bemanyene. Bayazi ukuba nguThixo oza kulungisa zonke iingxaki esinazo.”

8. Yeyiphi eyona ngxaki eyayikho ngexesha likaYesu?

⁸ Ngenxa yokungabikho kobulungisa, abantu baya bengena nzulu kwiipolitiki. Ngexesha likaYesu, eyona ngxaki yayinkulu yayikukubhatala irhafu. Ukuvukela kukaYudas umGalili ekuthethwe ngaye ngaphambili kwakubangelwa kukuba amaRoma ayebhalisa abantu kuba efuna babhatale irhafu. Abantu ababelawulwa yiRoma, kwanabo babemamela uYesu, kwakufuneka babhatale iirhafu ezininzi, njengeyezinto anazo umntu, eyomhlaba neyezindlu. Ukurhwaphiliza kwabaqokeleli berhafu kwayenza yankulu le ngxaki. Ngamanye amaxesha babeye banyobe abasebenzi bakarhulumente ukuze babanike izikhundla, baze ezo zikhundla bazisebenzisele ukufumana imali eninzi. UZakeyu, owayengumphathi wabaqokeleli berhafu eYeriko, waba sisityebi ngenxa yokubhatalisa abantu imali eninzi.  (Luka 19:2, 8) Nabanye abaqokeleli berhafu babesenza njengaye.

9, 10. (a) Iintshaba zikaYesu zazama njani ukumbambisa kwingxaki yerhafu? (b) Sifunda ntoni kwindlela awaphendula ngayo uYesu? (Jonga umfanekiso osekuqaleni.)

⁹ Iintshaba zikaYesu zazama ukumbambisa ngokufuna ukuqonda ukuba yena uthini ngokubhatalwa kwerhafu. Eyona rhafu zazimbuza ngayo ‘yayiyirhafu yentloko,’ idenariyo ekwakufuneka ibhatalwe ngabo bonke abantu abalawulwa ngamaRoma. (Funda uMateyu 22:16-18.) AmaYuda ayengafuni nokuyibona le rhafu kuba yayibonisa ukuba alawulwa ngamaRoma. ‘Iqela labalandeli bakaHerode’ elalibuza uYesu ngerhafu yentloko lalinethemba lokuba, xa uYesu eyigxeka, kusenokuthiwa uyavukela. Kanti xa esithi iyafuneka, abantu abaninzi basenokuyeka ukumlandela.

¹⁰ UYesu waqiniseka ukuba akathathi cala kule ngxaki yerhafu. Wathi: “Buyiselani izinto zikaKesare kuKesare, kodwa izinto zikaThixo kuThixo.” (Mat. 22:21) Wayesazi ukuba abaqokeleli berhafu bayarhwaphiliza. Wayengafun’ ukulungisa loo nto aze ayilibale eyona nto ibalulekileyo, uBukumkani BukaThixo obuza kulungisa iingxaki zabantu. Ngoko wababonisa indlela abamele benze ngayo bonke abalandeli bakhe. Abamele bangene kuyo nantoni na edibene neepolitiki, nokuba sekutheni. AmaKristu afuna uBukumkani BukaThixo nobulungisa bakhe. Ngenxa yoko, akagxeki okanye athethe kakhulu ngokungenziwa kobulungisa kwezinye izinto.—Mat. 6:33.

11. Amava odade waseBritani abonisa ukuba yintoni enokusinceda silwe nokungabikho kobulungisa?

¹¹ AmaNgqina KaYehova amaninzi awayezithanda kakhulu iipolitiki aye akwazi ukuziyeka. Omnye udade waseBritani uthi: “Emva kokuba ndifunde ngezentlalo eyunivesithi, ndafuna ukulungisa izinto. Ndandifuna ukulwela amalungelo abantu abantsundu, kuba sasiphethwe kakubi kakhulu. Nangona ndandiphumelela kwiingxoxo, kodwa ndandinganeliseki. Ndandingayiqondi into yokuba ubuhlanga kufuneka buncothulwe ezintliziyweni zabantu. Xa ndafunda iBhayibhile, ndaqonda ukuba kufuneka ndiqale ngale yam intliziyo, ibe ndancedwa ngudade omhlophe. Ngoku ndinguvulindlela othe ngxi kwibandla lentetho yezandla, ibe ndizama ukushumayela kuzo zonke iintlobo zabantu.”

12. Leliphi “igwele” awathi uYesu abafundi bakhe mabalilumkele?

¹² Ngexesha likaYesu, iicawa zazisoloko zixhasa iipolitiki. Enye incwadi ithi “iicawa zamaYuda zazibufana namaqela eepolitiki anamhlanje.” UYesu walumkisa abafundi bakhe esithi: “Amehlo enu mawahlale evulekile, lilumkeleni igwele labaFarisi negwele likaHerode.” (Marko 8:15) Kusenokwenzeka ukuba uHerode awayethetha ngaye liqela labalandeli bakaHerode. Bona abaFarisi babefuna ukuba amaYuda akhululeke kulawulo lwamaRoma. Incwadi kaMateyu ibonisa ukuba uYesu walumkisa abafundi bakhe nangabaSadusi. Bona abaSadusi babengafuni tshintsho kuba bengafuni ukulahlekelwa zizikhundla zabo. UYesu waphinda walumkisa abafundi bakhe ukuba balumkele iimfundiso okanye igwele elalikhuthazwa ngala maqela mathathu. (Mat. 16:6, 12) Eyona nto ibangel’ umdla kukuba uYesu wayithetha le nto kungekudala emva kokuba abantu befune ukumenza ukumkani.

13, 14. (a) Yintoni eyabangela ukuba abantu beepolitiki nabeecawa bafune ukubulala uYesu? (b) Kutheni singamele sikulwele ngokwethu ukungabikho kobulungisa? (Jonga umfanekiso osekuqaleni.)

 ¹³ Xa iicawa zidibene neepolitiki, kuvela uqhushululu. UYesu walumkisa abafundi bakhe ukuba bangathath’ icala nokuba sekutheni. Yiloo nto eyabangela ukuba ababingeleli abakhulu nabaFarisi bafune ukumbulala. Babecinga ukuba ulwa neepolitiki neecawa zabo, kwaye ufuna ukubathathela izikhundla. Bathi: “Ukuba siyamyeka ngale ndlela, bonke baya kukholwa kuye, aze amaRoma eze ayithabathe indawo yethu nohlanga lwethu.” (Yoh. 11:48) Ngoko, uMbingeleli Omkhulu, uKayafa weza necebo lokubulala uYesu.—Yoh. 11:49-53; 18:14.

¹⁴ UKayafa wathumela amajoni ukuba aye kubamba uYesu ebusuku. UYesu wayeyazi le nto, ngoko kwisidlo sasebusuku sokugqibela ekunye nabapostile bakhe, wabacela ukuba beze namakrele. Amabini ayeza kwanela ekubafundiseni isifundo esibalulekileyo. (Luka 22:36-38) Ngobo busuku uPetros wahlasela enye yamadoda awayezobamba uYesu ngelinye laloo makrele. Wayecatshukiswa kukubanjwa kukaYesu engenzanga nto. (Yoh. 18:10) UYesu wathi kuPetros: “Buyisela ikrele lakho endaweni yalo, kuba bonke abathabatha ikrele baya kutshabalala ngekrele.” (Mat. 26:52, 53) Esi sifundo sasingqinelana nomthandazo uYesu awawenza kwangobo busuku esithi, abafundi bakhe mabangabi yonxalenye yehlabathi. (Funda uYohane 17:16.) NguThixo kuphela oza kulungisa ukungabikho kobulungisa.

15, 16. (a) ILizwi LikaThixo libancede njani abanye abazalwana bayeka ukuxhasa umlo? (b) Yintoni emvuyisayo uYehova xa ejonge eli hlabathi?

¹⁵ Udade ohlala kumazantsi eYurophu ekuthethwe ngaye ekuqaleni wayifunda le nto. Uthi: “Ndiye ndabona ukuba ubulungisa abusoze bubekho ngokulwa. Abantu abalungisa izinto ngokulwa, ekugqibeleni bayafa. Abanye bahlala benenzondo. Yandivuyisa kakhulu into endayifunda eBhayibhileni yokuba nguThixo kuphela oya kubangela kubekho ubulungisa kulo mhlaba. Bendishumayela kanye loo nto kule minyaka iyi-25 idlulileyo.” Umzalwana okumazantsi eAfrika uye wasebenzisa ‘ikrele lomoya’ eliliLizwi LikaThixo endaweni yomkhonto. (Efe. 6:17) Ushumayela kubantu beentlanga zonke ngokuba kuza kubakho uxolo. Emva kokuba eliNgqina LikaYehova, udade wakumbindi Yurophu watshata umzalwana wolunye uhlanga awayelucaphukela. Bobathathu aba bazalwana batshintsha kuba babefuna ukuba njengoKristu.

¹⁶ Kubalulekile ukuba silwenze olu tshintsho. IBhayibhile ifanisa abantu abangenaluxolo nolwandle olungazolanga. (Isa. 17:12; 57:20, 21; ISityhi. 13:1) Ngoxa iipolitiki zibangela abantu bangazoli, bangavani futhi balwe, thina sihlala sinoxolo kwaye simanyene. UYehova umele ukuba uyavuya xa ebona abantu bakhe bemanyene kweli hlabathi lingamanyananga.—Funda uZefaniya 3:17.

17. (a) Zeziphi iindlela ezintathu ezinokubangela ukuba sihlale simanyene? (b) Siza kufunda ngantoni kwinqaku elilandelayo?

¹⁷ Sifunde ngeendlela ezintathu ezinokubangela ukuba sihlale simanyene: (1) Sikholelwa ukuba buBukumkani BukaThixo kuphela obuza kuphelisa ukungabikho kobulungisa, (2) asithathi cala kwiipolitiki futhi (3) asilwi. Kodwa ngamany’ amaxesha ukumanyana kwethu kusenokuphazanyiswa lucalucalulo. Kwinqaku elilandelayo siza kufunda indlela yokulwa nale ngxaki.