Inyoka Yethusi

Ekhuluma noNikhodemu, uJesu wachaza ukufana okuthakazelisayo phakathi kwenyoka ogwadule naye ngokwakhe: “Njengoba uMose waphakamisa inyoka ehlane, kanjalo iNdodana yomuntu kumelwe iphakanyiswe, ukuze yilowo nalowo okholwa yiyo abe nokuphila okuphakade. " (UJohane 3,14-enye).

Wayesho ukuthini uJesu ngalokho? Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli basuka eNtabeni yaseHori baya ngaseLwandle Olubomvu ukuze badlule izwe lakwa-Edomi. Bacasuka endleleni futhi bakhuluma kabi ngoNkulunkulu nangoMose: «Nisikhipheleni eGibhithe ukuze sifele ehlane? Ngokuba akukho sinkwa namanzi lapha, futhi lokhu kudla okuncane kuyasenyanya.”4. UMose 21,5).

Bakhala ngakho ngoba amanzi ayengekho. Balidelela imana uNkulunkulu ayebanike lona. Babengayiboni indawo uNkulunkulu ayebahlelele yona - izwe lesithembiso - ngakho bakhononda. Izinyoka ezinobuthi zangena ekamu futhi zaphumela ekufeni kwabantu abaningi. Lesi simo senza abantu babona isono sabo, bacela uMose ukuba abacelele, futhi bathembele kuNkulunkulu. Esabela kulokhu kuncenga, uNkulunkulu wayala uMose: ‘Zenzele inyoka yethusi uyibeke esigxotsheni. Olunyiweyo ayibhekile uyakuphila. Ngakho uMose wenza inyoka yethusi, wayiphakamisa. Uma inyoka iluma umuntu, wabheka inyoka yethusi, waphila.”4. UMose 21,8-enye).

Abantu babecabanga ukuthi banelungelo lokwahlulela uNkulunkulu. Babengakuthandi okwakwenzeka futhi babeyizimpumputhe kulokho uNkulunkulu ayebenzele kona. Ayesekhohliwe ukuthi wayewakhulule ebugqilini baseGibhithe ngezinhlupho ezimangalisayo nokuthi ngosizo lukaNkulunkulu akwazi ukuwela uLwandle Olubomvu egqoke izicathulo ezomile.

USathane ufana nenyoka enobuthi elokhu isiluma. Asikwazi ukumelana nobuthi besono obuzungeza emizimbeni yethu. Ngokwemvelo sibhekana nathi, ngobuthi besono, futhi sizame ukuzithuthukisa noma siwele ekuphelelweni yithemba. Kodwa uJesu waphakanyiswa esiphambanweni futhi wachitha igazi lakhe elingcwele. Lapho uJesu efa esiphambanweni, wanqoba udeveli, ukufa nesono futhi wasivulela indlela yensindiso.

UNikodemu wazithola esesimweni esifanayo. Wayesebumnyameni obungokomoya mayelana nezenzo zikaNkulunkulu: “Sikhuluma esikwaziyo, sifakaza ngesikubonileyo, kepha anibamukeli ubufakazi bethu. Uma ningakholwa, uma nginitshela okusemhlabeni, niyakukholwa kanjani, uma nginitshela okwasezulwini na? (Johane 3,11-enye).

Isintu sasiquliswe icala ensimini kaNkulunkulu futhi sasifuna ukuzimela ngaphandle kwakhe. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, ukufa kwangena ekuhlangenwe nakho kwethu (1. mose 3,1-13). Usizo lwama-Israyeli, uNikodemu kanye nesintu luvela entweni uNkulunkulu ayimisile futhi ayinikezayo. Okuwukuphela kwethemba lethu lisekulungiselelweni okuvela kuNkulunkulu, hhayi kokuthile esikwenzayo - kwenye into ephakanyiswa esigxotsheni, noma ikakhulukazi kumuntu ophakanyiswe esiphambanweni. Inkulumo ethi “uphakeme” eVangelini likaJohane iwukubonakaliswa kokubethelwa kukaJesu esiphambanweni futhi iwukuphela kwekhambi lesimo sesintu.

Inyoka yayiwuphawu olwanikeza ama-Israyeli ukuphulukiswa okungokwenyama futhi ibhekisela koPhezukonke, uJesu Kristu, ophulukisa sonke isintu ngokomoya. Okuwukuphela kwethemba lethu lokuphunyuka ekufeni lixhomeke ekulaleleni lesi siphetho esenziwe uNkulunkulu. Okuwukuphela kwethemba lethu ukubheka kuJesu Kristu ephakanyiselwe esigxotsheni. “Futhi mina, lapho ngiphakanyiswa emhlabeni, ngiyodonsela bonke kimi. Kodwa wakutsho lokhu ukuze abonise ukuthi hlobo luni lokufa azakufa.” ( UJohane 12,32-enye).

Kufanele sibheke futhi sikholwe eNdodaneni yomuntu, uJesu Kristu, “eyaphakanyiswa” uma sizosindiswa ekufeni futhi sibe nokuphila okuphakade. Lona umlayezo wevangeli owawukhomba njengesithunzi kokwangempela endabeni yokuzulazula kukaIsrayeli ogwadule. Noma ubani ongafuni ukulahleka futhi ofuna ukuthola ukuphila okuphakade kufanele abheke eNdodaneni yoMuntu ephakanyisiwe esiphambanweni eKalvari ngomoya nangokholo. Lapho wafeza ukubuyisana. Kulula kakhulu ukusindiswa ngokuzamukela wena mathupha! Kodwa uma ufuna ukukhetha enye indlela ekugcineni, nakanjani uzolahleka. Ngakho-ke bheka kuJesu Kristu owaphakanyiswa esiphambanweni futhi manje uphile ukuphila Naye kuze kube phakade.

nguBarry Robinson