To The Word – Day 95

₁Nanku umlibo wokuzalwa kukaYesu Krestu, unyana kaDavide, unyana ka-Abraham.

₂UAbraham wazala uIsake; uIsake wazala uYakobi; uYakobi wazala uJuda nabantakwabo; ₃uJuda wazala uPerezi noZera, abanina wabo unguTamare; uPerezi wazala uHezeron; uHezeron wazala uAram; ₄uAram wazala uAminadabhi; uAminadabhi wazala uNashon; uNashon wazala uSalman; ₅uSalman wazala uBhowazi, onina unguRahabhi; uBhowazi wazala uObhedi, onina unguRute; uObhedi wazala uJese; ₆uJese wazala uDavide ukumkani.

UDavide wazala uSolomon, onina wayengumka-Uriya; ₇uSolomon wazala uRewobhowam; uRewobhowam wazala uAbhiya; uAbhiya wazala uAsa; ₈uAsa wazala uYoshafati; uYoshafati wazala uYoram; uYoram wazala u-Uziya; ₉u-Uziya wazala uYotam; uYotam wazala uAhazi; uAhazi wazala uHezekiya; ₁₀uHezekiya wazala uManase; uManase wazala uAmon; uAmon wazala uYosiya; ₁₁uYosiya wazala uJoyakin nabantakwabo ngemihla yokufuduselwa kwabo eBhabheli.

₁₂Emva kokufuduselwa kwabo eBhabheli uJoyakin wazala uShalatiyeli; uShalatiyeli wazala uZerubhabheli; ₁₃uZerubhabheli wazala uAbhihudi; uAbhihudi wazala uEliyakim; uEliyakim wazala uAzore; ₁₄uAzore wazala uZadoki; uZadoki wazala uAkim; uAkim wazala uElihudi; ₁₅uElihudi wazala uElazare; uElazare wazala uMatan; uMatan wazala uYakobi; ₁₆uYakobi wazala uJosefu, umyeni kaMariya, unina kaYesu, lo kuthiwa *nguKrestu.

₁₇Izizukulwana bezilishumi elinane ukususela kuAbraham kuye kuDavide; zilishumi elinane ukususela kuDavide kuye ekufuduselweni kwabo eBhabheli; zikwalishumi elinane ukususela ekufuduselweni kwabo eBhabheli kuye ekuzalweni kukaKrestu.

₁₈Ukuzalwa kukaYesu Krestu kwakungolu hlobo: UMariya, unina, wayesendela kuJosefu, bengekatshati, kwabonakala ukuba uMoya oyiNgcwele wenze ukuba abe nzima. ₁₉Ke uJosefu, umyeni wakhe, wayelilungisa, engafuni ukumhlaza uMariya, waza wazimisela ukumala ngasese. ₂₀Esazicinga ezi zinto, naso isithunywa seNkosi sibonakala kuye ephupheni, sisithi: “Josefu, nyana kaDavide, sukoyika ukumthatha uMariya abe ngumfazi wakho, kuba oko akukhawuleyo kungoMoya oyiNgcwele. ₂₁Úya kuzala unyana, ùmthiye igama *elinguYesu, kuba nguye oya kubasindisa abantu bakhe ezonweni zabo.”

₂₂Konke oku kwênzeka ukuze lizaliseke ilizwi leNkosi elathethwa *ngumshumayeli, esithi: ₂₃“Niyabona, intombi le iya kumitha, izale unyana, abizwe ngokuba nguImanuweli” (oko kukuthi “uThixo unathi”).

₂₄Akuvuka ebuthongweni uJosefu, wênza njengoko isithunywa seNkosi besitshilo kuye, wamthatha uMariya, waba ngumfazi wakhe; ₂₅kodwa akahlangananga naye de wamzala unyana wakhe. UJosefu ke wamthiya igama elinguYesu.

₁Kwathi akuba uYesu ezelwe eBhetelehem kwaJuda, ngemihla kakumkani uHerode, kwabonakala kufika iingcali zeenkwenkwezi eJerusalem, zivela empumalanga, ₂zisithi: “Uphi na lo kumkani wamaJuda uzelweyo? Sibone inkwenkwezi yakhe empumalanga; ke size kumnqula.”

₃Akukuva oku ukumkani uHerode, wakhathazeka, nayo yonke iJerusalem. ₄Ebahlanganisile ke bonke ababingeleli abaziintloko nabachazi-mthetho balapho, wabuza kubo ukuba uKrestu ubeya kuzalelwa phi na. ₅Bathi kuye: “EBhetelehem kwaJuda, kuba kubhaliwe *ngumshumayeli kwathiwa:

₇UHerode ke uzibizele ngasese iingcali ezo, waqondisisa kakuhle kuzo ixesha lokubonakala kwenkwenkwezi leyo. ₈Wazithumela eBhetelehem, esithi: “Hambani niye kubuzisa kakuhle ngomntwana lowo. Ze nithi ke, nakumfumana, nindixelele, ukuze nam ndiye kumnqula.”

₉Zakuba zimvile ukumkani, iingcali zahamba; nantso inkwenkwezi leyo zayibonayo empumalanga, izikhokela, de yaya kuma phezu kwendawo abekuyo umntwana lowo. ₁₀Zathi ke, zakuyibona inkwenkwezi, zavuya gqitha. ₁₁Zingenile endlwini, zambona umntwana enoMariya unina, zaqubuda, zamnqula; zaza zathi, zivule iingxowa zazo, zanikela kuye ngezipho: igolide, intlaka yokuqhumisa, nentlaka yokuqhola.

₁₂Zathi ke, ziyalelwe nguThixo ephupheni ukuba zingabuyi ziye kuHerode, zemka ngandlela yimbi ukuya kwelakowazo.

₁₃Zakuba zimkile iingcali, kwabonakala isithunywa seNkosi kuJosefu ephupheni, sisithi: “Vuka, uthathe umntwana nonina, ubalekele eJiputa, uhlale apho de ndikuxelele, kuba uHerode uzimisele ukumbulala umntwana.” ₁₄Wavuka ke uJosefu, wamthatha umntwana nonina ebusuku, wabalekela eJiputa, ₁₅wahlala khona de wabhubha uHerode.

Oku kwênzeka ukuze lizaliseke ilizwi leNkosi elathethwa *ngumshumayeli, lisithi: “Ndambiza unyana wam waphuma eJiputa.”

₁₆Ke kaloku uHerode, akubona ukuba iingcali zeenkwenkwezi zimkhohlisile, waba nomsindo kakhulu, wayalela ukuba kubulawe bonke abantwana abangamakhwenkwe abaseBhetelehem nakuwo wonke loo mmandla, abaminyaka mibini bezelwe nangaphantsi, elungelelanisa nexesha abeliqondisise kakuhle kwiingcali.

₁₇Kwazaliseka ke ngoko okwathethwayo *ngumshumayeli uJeremiya esithi:

₁₉Akuba ebhubhile uHerode, nâko kubonakala isithunywa seNkosi kuJosefu ephupheni eseJiputa, ₂₀sisithi: “Vuka, uthathe umntwana nonina, uye kwelakwaSirayeli, kuba bafile abo babefuna ukumbulala umntwana.” ₂₁Wavuka, wamthatha umntwana nonina, waya kwelakwaSirayeli.

₂₂UJosefu akuva ukuba uArkelawo ungukumkani kwelakwaJuda esikhundleni sikayise uHerode, woyika ukuya khona; wathi, eyalelwe nguThixo ephupheni, wemka waya kwiphondo laseGalili, ₂₃waya kuhlala kwidolophu ekuthiwa yiNazarete. Oku kwênzeka ukuze kuzaliseke okwathethwayo *ngabashumayeli, besithi wobizwa ngokuba ngumNazarete.

₁Ke kaloku ngaloo mihla kwafika uYohane umbhaptizi eshumayela entlango yelakwaJuda, ₂esithi: “Guqukani, kuba ulawulo lukaThixo lusemnyango!” ₃Ngulo ke wayexela yena *umshumayeli uIsaya xa wayesithi:

₄UYohane lo wayesambatha ingubo yoboya benkamela, abhinqe ngethwathwa. Ukutya kwakhe kwakuziinkumbi nobusi. ₅Babephuma besiya kuye abantu baseJerusalem, nabakulo lonke elakwaJuda, nabommandla wonke waseJordan. ₆Babezixela izono zabo, aze ababhaptize emlanjeni iJordan.

₇Ke kaloku, akubona into eninzi *yabaFarasi *nabaSadusi besiza ekubhaptizeni kwakhe, uYohane wathi kubo: “Nzalandini yamarhamba, ngubani na onilumkisileyo ukuba niyibaleke ingqumbo ezayo? ₈Ke ngoko velisani iziqhamo ezifanele inguquko. ₉Ze ningafane nithi: ‘Siyinzala ka-Abraham.’ Ndiyanixelela mna, uThixo unako kuwo la matye ukumvelisela abantwana uAbraham. ₁₀Kanti ke izembe selikulungele ukuyinqumla ezingcanjini imithi. Ngoko ke wonke umthi ongavelisi siqhamo sihle uyagawulwa utshiswe. ₁₁Mna okunene ndinibhaptiza ngamanzi, ndibonisa ukuguquka kwenu; kodwa lowo uzayo emva kwam unamandla kunam. Andikufanelanga nokukhulula izihlangu ezi zakhe. Yena uya kunibhaptiza ngoMoya oyiNgcwele nangomlilo. ₁₂Ingobozi isesandleni sakhe. Uya kukwela kuthi tu okusesandêni, ayigalele kuvimba ingqolowa. Ke wona umququ uya kuwutshisa ngomlilo ongacimiyo.”

₁₃Wafika eJordan uYesu, evela eGalili, eze kubhaptizwa nguYohane. ₁₄UYohane ke wayengavumi, esithi: “Indim nje ofanele ukubhaptizwa nguwe, nguwe na oza kum?”

₁₅Waphendula uYesu wathi kuye: “Vuma okwangoku, kuba kusifanele thina ukwenjenjalo, ukuze senze konke okufunwa nguThixo.” Wavuma ke uYohane.

₁₆Ebhaptiziwe uYesu, waphuma kwangoko emanzini. Lasuka izulu lavuleka, wabona uMoya kaThixo enjengehobe esihla esiza kuye. ₁₇Kwavakala izwi, livela ezulwini, lisithi: “Lo nguNyana wam endimthandayo; ndikholisiwe nguye.”

₁Ekuqaleni, kungekadalwa, wayeselekho uLizwi. ULizwi lo wayekunye noThixo, naye ngokwakhe enguThixo. ₂Yena wayekunye noThixo kwasekuqalekeni. ₃Izinto zonke zadalwa ngaye; ngaphandle kwakhe akubangakho nto idaliweyo. Indalo yonke ₄yaba nobomi ngaye, baza obo bomi baba lukhanyiso eluntwini. ₅Olu khanyiso lukhanya ebumnyameni; kwaye ubumnyama abuzange bukoyise ukukhanya kwalo.

₆UThixo wathuma mntu uthile, ogama linguYohane. ₇Yena weza kungqina, engqinela ukukhanya, ukuze bonke bakholwe ngenxa yobungqina bakhe. ₈Yena uYohane ngokwakhe wayengelulo ukhanyiso, koko weza kungqina ngalo. ₉Lowo ulukhanyiso lwenene olukhanyisela wonke umntu, wayesiza ehlabathini.

₁₀Wafika ke yena ehlabathini; kanti, nangona ihlabathi labakho ngaye nje, alimqondanga. ₁₁Weza kwelakowabo, aza amawabo akamamkela. ₁₂Kodwa bonke abâmamkeláyo, bezinikele kuye ngokupheleleyo, wabanika igunya lokuba ngabantwana bakaThixo. ₁₃Ababanga ngabantwana bakaThixo ngokuzalwa bengabomlibo othile, okanye ngokuzalwa ngendlela yemvelo; nguThixo ngokwakhe obazeleyo.

₁₄ULizwi ke waba ngumntu, waza wahlala phakathi kwethu. Sabubukela ubungangamsha bakhe awabunikwa nguYise, njengoko ekukuphela koNyana wakhe; ubungangamsha ke obuphuphuma ububele nenyaniso.

₁₅UYohane wangqina ngoLizwi; wavakalisa esithi: “Lo ngulowo bendithetha ngaye xa bendisithi: ‘Lowo uza emva kwam mkhulu kunam, kuba wayeselekho ndingekabikho mna.’ ”

₁₆Ngokuphuphuma kobubele bukaLizwi, thina sonke saphiwa iintsikelelo ezingenasiphelo. ₁₇Nakuba uThixo wasinika umthetho ngoMosis, ubabalo nenyaniso wasinika ngoYesu Krestu. ₁₈Akukho namnye umntu owakha wambona uThixo. Abantu bamazi uThixo ngokumaziswa nguNyana okukuphela kwakhe, yena okwanguThixo, ohlala ehleli esenyongweni kuYise.

₁₉Nabu ke ubungqina bukaYohane, oko amaJuda aseJerusalem athumela ababingeleli *nabaLevi kuye, okokuba ambuze athi: “Ungubani na?”

₂₀Watsho ngokuphandle, engafihlisi, wathi: “Mna andinguye *uKrestu.”

₂₁Bambuza besithi: “Ungubani ke? Ngaba unguEliya?”

Yena wathi: “Hayi andinguye.”

Bona bathi: “Ngaba unguye laa Mshumayeli?”

Waphendula wathi: “Hayi, andinguye.”

₂₂Ke ngoko bathi kuye: “Sixelele okokuba ungubani na, ukuze sibe nokubaphendula abo basithumileyo. Ngaba uthini na wena ngawe ngokwakho?”

₂₃Waphendula uYohane, ecaphula kumazwi *omshumayeli uIsaya, esithi:

₂₄Kwakukho nababethunywe *ngabaFarasi. ₂₅Bona bambuza uYohane besithi: “Ungáthini ke ukubhaptiza, ungenguye uKrestu, okanye uEliya, okanye laa Mshumayeli?”

₂₆Wabaphendula uYohane wathi: “Mna ndinibhaptiza ngamanzi. Kambe ke phakathi kwenu kumi eningamaziyo. ₂₇Yena uza emva kwam, kodwa mna andifanele kukhulula nomtya lo wezihlangu zakhe.”

₂₈Oku kwênzeka eBhetani, ngaphesheya kweJordan, apho uYohane wayebhaptiza khona.

₂₉Ngengomso uYohane wabona uYesu esiza kuye, wathi: “Nâlo ixhwane likaThixo lokungxengxezela isono sehlabathi. ₃₀Nguye lo bendixela yena xa bendisithi: ‘Emva kwam kuza umntu omkhulu kunam, kuba wayekho ndingekabikho mna.’ ₃₁Nam ngokwam bendingamazi; koko ndize kubhaptiza ngamanzi ngenjongo yokuba ndimazise kubantu bakwaSirayeli.”

₃₂UYohane wangqina esithi: “Ndibone uMoya oyiNgcwele esihla enjengehobe, evela ezulwini, waza wahlala phezu kwakhe. ₃₃Ke nam bendingamazi, kodwa lowo wandithumayo ukuba ndibhaptize ngamanzi, nguye owathi kum: ‘Lowo ùbone uMoya esihla phezu kwakhe, ahlale kuye, nguye obhaptiza ngoMoya oyiNgcwele.’ ₃₄Ke mna, ndikubonile nje oku, ndiyangqina okokuba lo nguye uNyana kaThixo.”

₃₅Ngengomso uYohane wayelapho kwakhona, enababini kubafundi bakhe. ₃₆Waza wabona uYesu edlula apho, wathi: “Nâlo ixhwane likaThixo lokungxengxezelela isono.”

₃₇Abafundi abo bamva esitsho, baza bamlandela uYesu. ₃₈Akubheka uYesu, wabona ukuba bayamlandela, waza wathi kubo “Ngaba nifuna ntoni na?”

Baza bathi kuye: “Mfundisi, uhlala phi na?”

₃₉Wathi kubo: “Yizani, nibone.” Bahamba kunye naye ke, bayibona indawo awayehlala kuyo, baza bahlala naye loo mini. Ixesha lalimalunga nentsimbi yesine emva kwemini.

₄₀YayinguAndreya, umntakwabo-Simon Petros, omnye wâbo bafundi babini beva ngoYohane, baza bamlandela uYesu. ₄₁Kwangoko uAndreya wabona umntakwabo uSimon, wathi kuye: “Simfumene uMesiya.” (Oko kukuthi “*uKrestu.”)

₄₂Wamsa kuYesu ke; waza uYesu wamjonga, wathi: “Wena unguSimon, unyana kaYohane. Igama lakho loba *nguKefas.” (Oko kukuthi “Lwalwa.”)

₄₃Ngengomso uYesu wabona ukuba makaye eGalili; waza wadibana noFilipu, wathi kuye: “Ndilandele.” ₄₄Ke uFilipu wayengowaseBhetesayida, idolophu yakuloAndreya noPetros. ₄₅UFilipu wadibana noNataniyeli, wathi kuye: “Simbonile lowo uMosis wabhala ngaye *emthethweni, ekwâbhalwa ngaye *nangabashumayeli. NguYesu, unyana kaJosefu waseNazarete.”

₄₆UNataniyeli wathi kuye: “Uthini! Kungákho nto ilungileyo inokuphuma eNazarete?”

UFilipu wathi kuye: “Yiza, uzibonele.”

₄₇UYesu akumbona uNataniyeli esiza kuye, wathi ngaye: “Ngenene nanko umSirayeli ekungekho nkohliso kuye.”

₄₈UNataniyeli wathi kuye: “Ùndazela phi na?”

UYesu wamphendula wathi: “Wena ndakubona usephantsi komkhiwane, engekakubizi uFilipu.”

₄₉UNataniyeli wamphendula wathi: “Mfundisi, inene unguNyana kaThixo; unguKumkani wakwaSirayeli.”

₅₀UYesu wathi kuye: “Ùkholwa ngokuba ndithe kuwe ndikuboné uphantsi komkhiwane? Uya kubona izinto ezingaphezulu lee kunezi.” ₅₁Wahambisa wathi kuye: “Ndithi kuni, inene, niya kulibona izulu livulekile, nezithunywa zikaThixo zinyuka zisihla phezu kwakhe *uNyana woLuntu.”

₁Kwathi ngomhla wesithathu kwabakho umtshato eKana kwelaseGalili, ekho nonina kaYesu. ₂UYesu nabafundi bakhe babemenyiwe nabo kuloo mtshato. ₃Yakuphela iwayini, unina kaYesu wathi kuye: “Baphelelwe yiwayini.”

₄Wathi kuye uYesu: “Mama, khawuyeke. Ixesha lam alikafiki.”

₅Waza unina wathi kwizicaka: “Kwenzeni konke anixelelayo.”

₆Apho ke kwakukho imiphanda yelitye emithandathu eyayisetyenziswa ngamaJuda kwisiko lawo lokuhlambulula. Umphanda ngamnye wawumkhulu kangangokuba wawungena iilitha ezimalunga namashumi alithoba ukuya kwikhulu. ₇UYesu ke wathi kwizicaka: “Zalisani le miphanda ngamanzi.” Izicaka zayizalisa, ₈wathi kuzo: “Yikhani ngoku, nise kwinjoli.” Zenjenjalo ke, ₉yaza injoli yawangcamla amanzi ajikwe aba yiwayini, koko ingazi apho ivela khona le wayini. Yayizizicaka kuphela ezazisazi, kuba ayekhiwe zizo amanzi. Injoli ke yambiza umyeni, ₁₀yathi kuye: “Idla ngokukhutshwa kuqala iwayini elungileyo, kuthi zakuba zisele zanela iindwendwe, kukhutshwe enganeno. Kodwa wena uyigcine kwada kwangoku eyona wayini ilungileyo.”

₁₁Lo mqondiso wakhe wokuqala uYesu wawenza eKana kwelaseGalili, ebonakalisa ubungangamsha bakhe; baza abafundi bakhe bakholwa kuye.

₁₂Emva koko uYesu, nonina, nabantakwabo, nabafundi bakhe, baya eKapernahum, bahlala khona iintsukwana.

₁₃Yayiselisondele *iPasika yamaJuda, waza uYesu waya kuyo eJerusalem. ₁₄*Endlwini kaThixo wafika kukho abathengisi beenkomo, neegusha, namahobe; kukho nabatshintshi-mali behleli ezitafileni zabo. ₁₅Wenza isabhokhwe ngentambo, wabakhupha bonke endlwini kaThixo, ezikhupha nezo gusha nezo nkomo. Wayichitha imali yabatshintshi, wabhukuqa nezo tafile zabo. ₁₆Waza wathi kwabathengisa amahobe: “Zikhupheni apha ezi zinto. Indlu kaBawo sanukuyenza indawo yokuthengisela.” ₁₇Bakhumbula ke abafundi bakhe okokuba *iziBhalo zithi: “Ukuzondelela indlu yakho, Thixo, kundongamele.”

₁₈Zambuza ke iinkokheli zamaJuda zisithi: “Ùngenza mqondiso mni na wokusibonisa ukuba unalo igunya lokwenza ezi zinto?”

₁₉Waphendula uYesu wathi: “Yidilizeni le ndlu. Mna ndoyakha kwakhona ngeentsuku ezintathu.”

₂₀Aza athi amaJuda: “Ukwakhiwa kwale ndlu kwaba yiminyaka emashumi mane anesithandathu. Ngaba wena ungayivusa na ngeentsuku ezintathu?”

₂₁Yona indlu uYesu awayethetha ngayo yayingumzimba wakhe. ₂₂Kwathi akuvuka kwabafileyo, bakhumbula abafundi bakhe okokuba wayekuthethile oku, baza bakholwa ziziBhalo nangamazwi awawathethayo uYesu.

₂₃Kwathi, xa uYesu wayeseJerusalem kwitheko *lePasika, abantu abaninzi bakholwa kuye bakubona imimangaliso ayenzayo. ₂₄Kodwa uYesu yena ebengathembelanga kubo, kuba ebazi bonke abantu. ₂₅Kwakungekho mfuneko yakuba kubekho bani umxelelayo ngomntu, kuba yena ezazi iintliziyo zabantu.

₁Kwakukho inkokheli yamaJuda, egama linguNikodimo. Yona yayiyeyehlelo *labaFarasi. ₂Ngabusuku buthile lo Nikodimo weza kuYesu, wathi: “Mfundisi, siyazi ukuba ungumfundisi ovela kuThixo, kuba akukho bani unako ukuyenza le miqondiso uyenzayo wena, ukuba uThixo akanaye.”

₃UYesu waphendula wathi kuye: “Ndithi kuwe, inene, akukho namnye unokuxhamla ukulawulwa nguThixo, engathanga azalwe ngokutsha.”

₄UNikodimo wathi kuye: “Angáthini na ukuzalwa umntu oselemdala? Kaloku akangekhe aphindele esizalweni sikanina, aze azalwe kwakhona.”

₅Waphendula uYesu, wathi: “Ndithi kuwe, inene, ukuba umntu akathanga azalwe ngamanzi nanguMoya kaThixo, akanakulawulwa nguThixo. ₆Okuzalwa yinyama negazi kuyinyama negazi; okuzalwa nguMoya kunguMoya. ₇Sukumangaliswa kukuba ndithe kuwe: ‘Nimelwe kukuzalwa ngokutsha.’ ₈Umoya uphephezela apho uthanda khona, ùsive isandi sawo, kodwa ùbe ungawazi apho úvela khona nalapho úya khona. Bakwanjalo ke bonke abazelwe nguMoya kaThixo.”

₉Waphendula uNikodimo esithi: “Ingenzeka njani le nto?”

₁₀Waphendula uYesu wathi: “Ungumfundisi omkhulu nje wakwaSirayeli, ungathini ukungazazi ezi zinto? ₁₁Ndithi kuwe, inene, sithetha esikwaziyo, singqine esikubonileyo, kanti noko nisuka ningabamkeli ubungqina bethu. ₁₂Ukuba ndinixelele izinto zasehlabathini naza anakholwa, nothini ke ukukholwa ndakunixelela izinto zasezulwini? ₁₃Akukho namnye wakha wenyuka waya ezulwini, ngaphandle kwalowo wehlayo evela ezulwini, *uNyana woLuntu.

₁₄“Njengokuba uMosis wayiphakamisayo inyoka entlango, umelwe kukuphakanyiswa kwangokunjalo naye uNyana woLuntu, ₁₅ukuze bonke abakholwayo kuye babe nobomi obungonaphakade. ₁₆Kaloku uThixo ihlabathi ulithande kangangokuba ude wancama uNyana okuphela kwakhe, ukuze wonke umntu ozinikele kuye ngokupheleleyo angatshabalali, koko abe nobona bomi bungenasiphelo. ₁₇Kuba kaloku uThixo akamthumanga uNyana wakhe ehlabathini ukuze aligwebe, koko wamthuma ukuze abe nguMsindisi walo.

₁₈“Lowo uzinikelayo kuNyana kaThixo akagwetywa; kodwa lowo ungazinikeliyo selegwetyiwe, kuba engakholwa kuNyana kaThixo okuphela kwakhe. ₁₉Imbangi yesi sigwebo nantsi: Ukukhanya kufikile ehlabathini, baza abantu bathanda ubumnyama ngaphezu kokukhanya, kuba izenzo zabo zikhohlakele. ₂₀Kakade wonke umenzi wenkohlakalo ukuthiyile ukukhanya. Akasondeli nokusondela ekukhanyeni, hleze izenzo zakhe zivele. ₂₁Ke lowo ungowenyaniso uyeza ekukhanyeni, ukuze abonakale ngezenzo zakhe ukuba umthobele uThixo.”

₂₂Emva koko uYesu nabafundi bakhe baya kummandla wakwaJuda; waza uYesu waba nexesha ekunye nabo apho, ebhaptiza. ₂₃UYohane naye wayebhaptiza e-Enon, kufuphi neSalem, kuba amanzi ebemaninzi apho. Abantu babesiya kuye, ababhaptize. ₂₄Ngelo xesha wayengekafakwa entolongweni.

₂₅Abafundi bakaYohane bâphikisana nomJuda othile malunga nokuhlanjululwa. ₂₆Baya kuYohane ke, bathi kuye: “Mfundisi, laa mntu wayekunye nawe phesheya kweJordan, lowa umngqineleyo, úyabhaptiza, kwaye baya kuye bonke abantu.”

₂₇Waphendula uYohane wathi: “Lonke ilungelo analo umntu ulinikwa nguThixo. ₂₈Nani ngokwenu ningandingqinela okokuba ndathi: ‘Andinguye mna *uKrestu, koko ndingothunywe ngaphambi kwakhe.’ ₂₉Kaloku umtshakazi ngowomyeni. Ke yena umkhaphi womyeni ulindela ukufika komyeni, aze avuye kunene akuliva izwi lakhe. Ngokukwanjalo luphelele ngoku uvuyo lwam. ₃₀Makabaluleke yena, ndinciphe mna.”

₃₁“Lowo uvela phezulu unewonga kunabantu bonke. Lowo uvela ehlabathini ungowasehlabathini, kwaye uthetha okwehlabathi. Lowo uvela ezulwini unewonga kunabantu bonke. ₃₂Yena ungqina ngako oko akubonileyo nakuvileyo, kanti noko akukho bani ubamkelayo ubungqina bakhe. ₃₃Othe wabamkela ubungqina bakhe uqinisekisa okokuba uThixo uyinyaniso. ₃₄Kaloku ethunyiwe nje nguThixo, uthetha amazwi kaThixo, kuba uThixo umnika uMoya wakhe ngokungenamlinganiselo. ₃₅UYise uyamthanda uNyana; zonke izinto uzinikele esandleni sakhe. ₃₆Othe wakholwa kuNyana, unobomi obungonaphakade. Othe akamthobela uNyana, akayi kubona bomi; ingqumbo kaThixo ihlala ihleli phezu kwakhe.”