1, 2. Khawuchaze ukuba lwalunjani uhambo lukaMariya nokuba yintoni eyalwenza lwanzima.

 UMARIYA wehla kwiesile awayekhwele kulo kangangeeyure eziliqela. UYosefu wayehamba phambi kwakhe esingise eBhetelehem. UMariya waphinda weva usana lushukuma esiswini sakhe.

² UMariya wayesele eza kubeleka; iBhayibhile ide isebenzise igama elithi ‘wayenzima.’ (Luka 2:5) Njengoko babedlula emasimini, mhlawumbi abalimi ababebabona babezibuza ukuba ngumfazi otheni lo usendleleni ekhulelwe ngolu hlobo. Kwakutheni ukuze uMariya abe kude nekhaya lakhe iNazarete?

 3. Wafumana siphi isabelo uMariya, yaye siza kufunda ntoni ngaye?

³ Yonke le nto yaqala kwiinyanga ezingaphambili xa ibhinqa eliselula elingumYuda lafumana esona sabelo sikhethekileyo kuyo yonke imbali yoluntu. Laliza kuzala umntwana owayeza kuba nguMesiya, uNyana kaThixo! (Luka 1:35) Njengoko lalisele lisondele ixesha lokuba libeleke, kwanyanzeleka ukuba lithabathe olu hambo. Ngoxa wayekolu hambo, ukholo lukaMariya lwavavanywa ngokuqatha. Makhe sibone ukuba yintoni eyamncedayo wahlala omelele ngokomoya.

4, 5. (a) Kwakutheni ukuze uYosefu noMariya baye eBhethelem? (b) Umyalelo kaKesare wakhokelela ekuzalisekisweni kwasiphi isiprofeto?

⁴ YayingengoYosefu noMariya kuphela ababekolu hambo. UAgasto Kesare wayesandul’ ukukhupha umyalelo wokuba abantu babhaliswe, ngenxa yoko kwafuneka abantu babuyele kwiidolophu ababezalelwe kuzo. Wenza ntoni uYosefu? Ingxelo ithi: “KwanoYosefu wenyuka evela eGalili, ephuma kwisixeko saseNazarete, esiya kwelakwaYuda, kwisixeko sikaDavide, esibizwa ngokuba yiBhetelehem, ngenxa yokuba elilungu labendlu nentsapho kaDavide.”—Luka 2:1-4.

⁵ UKesare akazange nje asuke awise lo mthetho ngeli xesha. Kwisiprofeto esabhalwa malunga neenkulungwane ezisixhenxe  ngaphambili kwathiwa uMesiya wayeza kuzalelwa eBhetelehem. Kwakukho idolophu ebizwa ngokuba yiBhetelehem eyayikumgama oziikhilomitha ezili-11 ukusuka eNazarete. Noko ke, esi siprofeto sacacisa ukuba uMesiya wayeza kuzalelwa ‘eBhetelehem Efrata.’ (Funda uMika 5:2.) Ukuze bafike kuloo dolophana besuka eNazarete, kwakuza kufuneka bagqithe eSamariya baze bahambe ezindulini iikhilomitha ezimalunga ne-130. Yile Bhetelehem ke awayalelwa ukuba eze kuyo uYosefu, kuba yayilikhaya likaKumkani uDavide—uYosefu nomfazi wakhe babephuma kulo mlibo.

6, 7. (a) Yintoni eyayinokwenza uhambo oluya eBhethelehem lube lucelomngeni kuMariya? (b) Ukuba ngumfazi kaYosefu kwazisa luphi utshintsho ebomini bukaMariya? (Funda nombhalo osemazantsi.)

⁶ Ngaba uMariya wayeza kusixhasa isigqibo sikaYosefu sokuya eBhetelehem? Ngaphezu koko, olu yayiza kuba luhambo olunzima kuye. Kuyabonakala ukuba kwakusaqala ukwindla ngoko kwakusenokuna imvula nanini na. Ukongezelela koko, ibinzana elithi “wenyuka evela eGalili” lifanelekile, kuba iBhetelehem yayimalunga neemitha ezingama-760 ukuphakama—ngoko babeza kunyuka eqhineni iintsuku eziliqela. Mhlawumbi babeza kuhamba ixesha elide kakhulu kuba kwakuza kufuneka bahambe bephumla ngenxa kaMariya. Ngoku umele ukuba wayefuna ukuba kufuphi nekhaya, apho wayeza kuncedwa yintsapho nabahlobo  bakhe xa efikelwa yinimba. Akuthandabuzeki ukuba kwakufuneka inkalipho ukuze athabathe olu hambo.

⁷ Sekunjalo, uLuka uthi uYosefu ‘waya kubhaliswa noMariya.’ Kwakhona uthi uMariya ‘wayenikelwe kuYosefu ngokwesithembiso somtshato.’ (Luka 2:4, 5) Ukuba ngumfazi kaYosefu kwaba negalelo elikhulu kwizigqibo ezazisenziwa nguMariya. Umyeni wakhe wayemjonga njengokhokelayo kwizinto zokomoya, esamkela indima ayinikwe nguThixo yokuba ngumncedi wakhe nokuxhasa izigqibo azenzayo. a Ngoko waloyisa olu vavanyo lokholo ngokuthobela.

 8. (a) Yintoni enye eyenza uMariya waya eBhetelehem noYosefu? (b) UMariya ungumzekelo omhle njani kubantu abathembekileyo?

⁸ Kumele ukuba yintoni enye eyamenza wathobela? Ngaba wayesazi isiprofeto esasisithi uMesiya wayeza kuzalelwa eBhetelehem? IBhayibhile ayitsho. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba wayesazi, kuba sasisaziwa ziinkokeli zonqulo nangabantu ngokubanzi. (Mat. 2:1-7; Yoh. 7:40-42) UMariya wayezazi iZibhalo. (Luka 1:46-55) Noko ke, enoba wathabatha olo hambo kuba ethobela umyeni wakhe, umthetho karhulumente, okanye isiprofeto  sikaYehova—okanye ngenxa yazo zonke ezi zizathu—waba ngumzekelo obalaseleyo. UYehova uyawaxabisa amadoda nabafazi abathobekileyo. Ekubeni ukuthobela kujongelwa phantsi namhlanje, uMariya wabamisela umzekelo omhle bonke abantu abathembekileyo.

9, 10. (a) Yintoni ekusenokwenzeka ukuba uYosefu noMariya babecinga ngayo ngoxa babesondela eBhetelehem? (b) UYosefu noMariya balala phi yaye ngoba?

⁹ Umele ukuba wavuya kakhulu uMariya akubona iBhetelehem. Njengoko babesenyuka iinduli, bedlula kwimithi yeminquma—ezinye zezityalo ezivunwa mva—mhlawumbi uMariya noYosefu babecinga ngembali yale dolophana. Yayincinane kakhulu ukuba ibalwe phakathi kwezixeko zakwaYuda, kanye njengokuba uMika waprofetayo; kodwa kulapho wazalelwa khona uBhohazi, uNahomi noDavide, kwiminyaka engaphezu kwewaka eyadlulayo.

¹⁰ UMariya noYosefu bafika kukho inyambalala yabantu kuloo dolophana. Abanye babefike ngaphambi kwabo ukuza kubhalisa, ngoko babengenandawo abaza kulala kuyo. b Kwafuneka baye kulala esitalini. Sinokuyithelekelela indlela awayekhathazeke ngayo uYosefu njengoko ebona umfazi wakhe esezintlungwini awayengazange abe nazo ngaphambili. Kulapho waqala khona ukuba nenimba.

11. (a) Yintoni eyenza amabhinqa abe novelwano ngoMariya? (b) UYesu “wayelizibulo” ngaziphi iindlela?

¹¹ Abafazi banokuvelana noMariya. Kwiminyaka engama-4000 ngaphambili, uYehova wathi abafazi babeza kuba nenimba xa bezala ngenxa yesono abasizuz’ ilifa. (Gen. 3:16) Abukho ubungqina obubonisa ukuba uMariya akazange abe nayo inimba. ULuka akathethi nto ngenimba awayenayo, kodwa uthi: “Wazala unyana wakhe, izibulo.” (Luka 2:7) Ewe, uMariya wazala “izibulo” lakhe—kubantwana bakhe ababeza kuba sixhenxe. (Marko 6:3) Lo ke yena wayeza kwahluka. Wayengelozibulo lakhe nje kuphela, kodwa ‘wayelizibulo likaYehova kwindalo yonke,’ okuphela koNyana amzeleyo!—Kolose 1:15.

12. UMariya walubeka phi usana, yaye oko kwakusenzeka kwahluke njani koko kudla ngokuvezwa kwimidlalo nemizobo?

¹² Kukweli lixa apho sifumana la mazwi adumileyo: “Wamsongela ngezithandelo zelaphu waza wambeka emkhumbini.”  (Luka 2:7) Imidlalo nemizobo engokuzalwa kukaYesu, imenza abonakale elusizana. Kwenzeka ntoni kanye kanye? Umkhumbi sisitya esikhulu ezazisondlelwa kuso izilwanyana. Khumbula ukuba le ntsapho yayihlala esitalini, indawo engacocekanga nenomoya omdaka. Akakho umzali owayenokuzalela usana lwakhe kwindawo enjalo ngaphandle kokuba yayingekho enye indawo. Inkoliso yabazali iba nebhongo neqhayiya ngabantwana babo. UMariya noYosefu bamele ukuba babenebhongo ngakumbi ngalo Nyana kaThixo!

13. (a) UMariya noYosefu bakwenza njani konke okusemandleni abo kwimeko ababekuyo? (b) Abazali abalumkileyo namhlanje bamxelisa njani uYosefu noMariya ekukhuliseni abantwana babo?

¹³ Noko ke, abazange basong’ izandla; benza konke okwakusemandleni abo. Ngokomzekelo, uMariya walunyamekela usana lwakhe, walusongela ngamalaphu, waza walubeka emkhumbini ukuze lulale, eqinisekisa ukuba lufudumele yaye lukhuselekile. Akazange avumele imeko awayekuyo ngelo xesha ukuba imphazamise ekunyamekeleni usana lwakhe. Yena noYosefu babesazi ukuba eyona nto ibalulekileyo abanokumenzela yona lo mntwana kukumnyamekela ngokomoya. (Funda iDuteronomi 6:6-8.) Namhlanje, abazali abalumkileyo benza okufanayo njengoko bekhulisa abantwana babo kweli hlabathi lingamkhathalelanga uThixo.

14, 15. (a) Yintoni eyenza abelusi baba nomdla ekuboneni usana? (b) Benza ntoni aba belusi emva kokubona uYesu esitalini?

¹⁴ Ngequbuliso kwenzeka isiphithiphithi esiphazamisayo. Kwafika abelusi esitalini, belangazelela ukubona le ntsapho, ngokukhethekileyo usana. Aba belusi babenemincili, bengakwazi ukuzibamba luvuyo. Beza begxalathelana bebuya ezindle, apho babesalusa khona imihlambi yabo. c Baxelela aba bazali ababemangalisiwe ngento eyayisandul’ ukubehlela. Ngoxa babesezindle kwafika ingelosi ezinzulwini zobusuku. Yonke loo ndawo yazaliswa bubuqaqawuli bukaYehova, yaye ingelosi yabaxelela ukuba eBhetelehem kusandul’ ukuzalwa uKristu, okanye uMesiya. Babeza kulufumana olo sana lulele emkhumbini, lusongelwe ngezithandelo zelaphu. Emva koko kwenzeka eyona nto imangalisayo—kwabonakala umkhosi weengelosi, udumisa uThixo!—Luka 2:8-14.

 ¹⁵ Ayimangalisi ke ngoko into yokuba la madoda athobekileyo agxalathelane ukuya eBhetelehem! Amele ukuba avuya ngokwenene akubona olu sana lusandul’ ukuzalwa kwindawo ebichazwe yingelosi. Awazange azifihle ezi ndaba. ‘Alibhengeza ilizwi . . . Yaye bonke abo bevayo bamangaliswa zezi zinto babezixelelwa ngabalusi.’ (Luka 2:17, 18) Kubonakala ukuba iinkokeli zonqulo zelo xesha zazibajongela phantsi abelusi. Kodwa uYehova wayewaxabisa la madoda athobekileyo nathembekileyo. Umele ukuba wavakalelwa njani uMariya ngolu tyelelo?

16. Sazi njani ukuba uMariya wayecinga nzulu, yaye yintoni eyamnceda ukuba ahlale enokholo?

¹⁶ Ngokuqinisekileyo uMariya wayediniwe, kodwa waphulaphula ngenyameko. Wenza okungakumbi, kuba sifunda oku: “UMariya wawagcina onke la mazwi, ezenzela izigqibo entliziyweni yakhe.” (Luka 2:19) Kuyabonakala ukuba eli bhinqa lalicinga nzulu ngezinto. Lalisazi ukuba esi sigidimi sengelosi sibalulekile. UThixo walo uYehova, wayefuna limazi lize limxabise unyana walo. Alizange lanele nje kukuphulaphula, kodwa lawagcina loo mazwi entliziyweni ukuze licamngce ngawo kwiinyanga nakwiminyaka eyayiza kulandela. Le yeyona nto ibalaseleyo kukholo lukaMariya ukutyhubela ubomi bakhe.—Funda amaHebhere 11:1.

17. Singawuxelisa njani umzekelo kaMariya ekufundeni iinyaniso zeBhayibhile?

¹⁷ Ngaba uza kuwulandela umzekelo kaMariya? ILizwi likaYehova lizaliswe ziinyaniso ezibalulekileyo. Noko ke, ezo nyaniso azinakusinceda nganto ukuba asinikeli ngqalelo kuzo. Oko sikwenza ngokufunda iBhayibhile rhoqo—singalifundi njengencwadi nje yamabali kodwa njengeLizwi likaThixo eliphefumlelweyo. (2 Tim. 3:16) Ngoko nathi njengoMariya kufuneka sizigcine entliziyweni izinto zokomoya ukuze sikwazi ukwenza izigqibo. Ukuba siyacamngca ngezinto esizifunda eBhayibhileni nangendlela esinokusisebenzisa ngayo isiluleko sikaYehova, ukholo lwethu luya komelela.

18. (a) UMariya noYosefu bawuthobela njani uMthetho owawunikwe uMoses kwiintsuku zokuqala zikaYesu? (b) Umnikelo wabo etempileni ubonisa ntoni ngemeko yabo yezoqoqosho?

¹⁸ Ngosuku lwesibhozo usana luzelwe, uMariya noYosefu  bamalusa umntwana ngokoMthetho kaMoses, baza bamthiya igama elinguYesu njengoko babeyalelwe. (Luka 1:31) Emva kweentsuku ezingama-40 bamthatha eBhetelehem bamsa etempileni eYerusalem, emalunga neekhilomitha ezilishumi ukusuka apho baza benza idini lokuhlanjululwa ngokuvisisana nelungiselelo loMthetho kaMoses wentsapho engathathi ntweni—amahobe amabini asendle okanye amavukuthu amabini. Enoba babeneentloni ngokungakwazi ukunikela ngemvana nehobe ababenikela ngazo abanye abazali, bazibekela bucala ezo mvakalelo. Ukuba lapho kwabakhuthaza.—Luka 2:21-24.

19. (a) Ngawaphi amazwi uSimeyon awawathethayo nekwakufuneka uMariya awagcine entliziyweni? (b) Wasabela njani uAna akubona uYesu?

¹⁹ Enye indoda esele ikhulile egama linguSimeyon yeza kubo yaza yaxelela uMariya ezinye izinto awayemele azigcine entliziyweni. Yayithenjiswe ukuba yayiza kumbona uMesiya ngaphambi kokuba ife, yaye umoya oyingcwele kaYehova wambonisa ukuba uYesu unguMsindisi ekwakuprofetwe ngaye. Waphinda walumkisa uMariya ngentlungu ekwakuza kufuneka ayinyamezele ngenye imini. Wathi uza kuva intlungu ngathi uhlatywa ngekrele. (Luka 2:25-35) Loo mazwi amele ukuba amnceda uMariya wakwazi ukunyamezela lakufika elo xesha linzima emva kwamashumi amathathu eminyaka. Emva kukaSimeyon, uAna ongumprofetikazi  wambona uYesu owayesengumntwana waza waqalisa ukuthetha ngaye kuye wonk’ ubani owayekuxabisa ukuhlangulwa kweYerusalem.—Funda uLuka 2:36-38.

20. Kwaba sisigqibo esifanelekileyo njani ukuzisa uYesu etempileni?

²⁰ UYosefu noMariya benza isigqibo esifanelekileyo ngokuzisa usana lwabo kwitempile kaYehova eseYerusalem! Olu yayiluhambo lokuqala lukaYesu lokuya kwitempile kaYehova nolwaluza kuqhubeka ubomi bakhe bonke. Ngoxa babelapho, bazibhokoxa enkonzweni kaYehova baza bafundiswa yaye bakhuthazwa. Ngokuqinisekileyo uMariya umele ukuba wemka etempileni ukholo lwakhe lomelele nentliziyo yakhe iphuphuma ziinyaniso zokomoya awayeza kucamngca aze abelane nabanye ngazo.

21. Sinokwenza ntoni ukuze ukholo lwethu lukhule luze lomelele njengolo lukaMariya?

²¹ Kuyinto entle namhlanje ukubona abazali bexelisa loo mzekelo. Abazali abangamaNgqina kaYehova bahamba nabantwana babo xa besiya ezintlanganisweni zamaKristu. Aba bazali benza konke okusemandleni abo enkonzweni kaThixo, bekhuthaza amanye amakholwa. Babuya bomelele, bonwabile, yaye befunde izinto ezininzi abanokwabelana ngazo nabanye. Kuba mnandi ngokwenene ukuba kunye nabo kwiintlanganiso. Ukuba senjenjalo, ukholo lwethu luya komelela njengolukaMariya.