When hope fails us – 8 December 2020

₁₆“Ndiya kubafanisa nantoni na ke abantu besi sizukulwana? Bafana nabantwana abahleli ebaleni lembutho, abanye bebhekisa kwabanye besithi:

₁Ngelo xesha uYesu wacanda emasimini *ngoMhla wokuPhumla baza bathi abafundi bakhe belambile, bakha izikhwebu zengqolowa, batya. ₂*AbaFarasi, bekubona oko, bathi kuye: “Khangela, abafundi bakho benza okungavumelekanga ngoMhla wokuPhumla.”

₃Wathi kubo: “Anizange nikufunde na awakwenzayo uDavide mhla walamba yena neqela lakhe? ₄Kaloku wangena endlwini kaThixo, wazitya izonka ezazinikelwe kuThixo. Kanti ngokomthetho ezi zonka yena neqela lakhe babengamelwe kuzitya. Ngababingeleli kuphela ababenelo lungelo. ₅Khona, anifundanga na *emthethweni kaMosis okokuba ababingeleli bayawaphula umthetho woMhla wokuPhumla endlwini kaThixo, bangabi natyala noko? ₆Ke ndithi kuni, lo ulapha mkhulu kunendlu. ₇Ukuba benisazi okokuba ithetha ukuthini na le ndawo ithi *eziBhalweni: ‘Ndithanda inceba, andithandi mbingelelo,’ ngeningabagwebanga abangenatyala. ₈Kaloku *uNyana woLuntu uyiNkosi yawo noMhla wokuPhumla.”

₉Emkile apho uYesu, waya kungena *kwindlu yesikhungo. ₁₀Apho babona umntu owome isandla. Abantu abathile, benenjongo yokummangalela uYesu, bambuza besithi: “Ngaba kuvumelekile na ukuphilisa *ngoMhla wokuPhumla?”

₁₁Waza wathi kubo: “Ukuba ngaba kukho ubani kuni enegusha, yaza loo gusha yeyela emngxunyeni ngoMhla wokuPhumla, akayi kuyirhola na? ₁₂Ubeke phi ke umntu ukuxabiseka kunegusha? Ngoko ke kulungile ukwenza inceba ngoMhla wokuPhumla.” ₁₃Wathi ke kuloo mntu: “Solule isandla sakho.”

Wasolula, saza saphila isandla sakhe, safana nesinye. ₁₄Baphuma ke abaFarasi, babhunga ukumbulala uYesu. ₁₅Ekwazile oko, uYesu wemka apho.

UYesu walandelwa ngabantu abaninzi, waza wabaphilisa bonke, ₁₆ebayala ukuba bangaxeleli bani ngaye, ₁₇ukuze lizaliseke ilizwi likaThixo elathethwa *ngumshumayeli uIsaya lisithi:

₂₂Kwathi kwaziswa kuYesu umntu ophethwe yindimoni, eyimfama, esisimumu. UYesu wamphilisa loo mntu, wathetha, wabona nokubona. ₂₃Samangaliswa sonke isihlwele, sathi: “Akungebi nguNyana kaDavide lo?”

₂₄Kodwa bona *abaFarasi, bakukuva oku, bathi: “Iindimoni ezi uzikhupha ngoSathana, umphathi weendimoni.”

₂₅UYesu, ezazi iingcamango zabo, wathi kubo: “Bonke uburhulumente obuvukelana bodwa buyabhanga; nedolophu, nokuba ngumzi, ovukelana wodwa, awunakuba nankqubela. ₂₆Ke ukuba uSathana ukhupha uSathana, evukelene kwayedwa nje, lothini na ukungawi ulawulo lwakhe? ₂₇Ukuba iindimoni ndizikhupha ngoSathana, bazikhupha ngabani bona oonyana benu? Mabaphendule, nigwetywe ngabo. ₂₈Ukuba ke ndizikhupha ngoMoya kaThixo iindimoni, ulawulo lukaThixo aluthwasanga, lugalelekile kuni.

₂₉“Angathini umntu ukungena endlwini yegorha, ahluthe impahla yalo, engathanga kuqala alibophe igorha elo, aze ke andule ukuyiphanga indlu leyo.

₃₀“Lowo ungekho kwicala lam, uchasene nam, nalowo ungandincedisiyo ukuqokelela, uyachitha. ₃₁Ke ngoko, ndithi kuni, zonke izono nezinyeliso baya kuzixolelwa abantu, kodwa kona ukunyelisa uMoya oyiNgcwele akuyi kuxolelwa. ₃₂Othe wathetha ilizwi elichasene naye *uNyana woLuntu uya kuxolelwa, kodwa othe wathetha elichasene noMoya oyiNgcwele akayi kuxolelwa kweli phakade nakwelizayo.”

₃₃“Ukuba nithi umthi ulungile, mawuvelise iziqhamo ezilungileyo; ukuba ke nithi ngumthi ombi, mawuvelise iziqhamo ezibi. Kaloku umthi uqondwa ngeziqhamo zawo. ₃₄Nzalandini yamarhamba, ningáthini na ukuba nako ukuthetha okulungileyo, nikhohlakele nje? Kaloku umlomo womntu uphuphuma oko intliziyo izele kuko. ₃₅Umntu olungileyo uvelisa ukulunga okukuye. Ke okhohlakeleyo uvelisa inkohlakalo ekuye.

₃₆“Ke, ndithi kuni, ngomhla womgwebo abantu baya kuziphendulela ngelizwi ngalinye eliphuthileyo abathe balithetha. ₃₇Umntu uya kugwetywa, okanye akhululwe, ngokwamazwi akhe.”

₃₈Abathile kubachazi-mthetho *nabaFarasi bathi kuYesu: “Mfundisi, sicela ukuba usibonise umqondiso.”

₃₉Wabaphendula wathi kubo: “Sisizukulwana esikhohlakeleyo, esikrexezayo ngokunganyaniseki kuThixo, esifuna umqondiso; kanti asiyi kunikwa mqondiso, ingenguwo umqondiso kaJona; ₄₀kuba njengokuba uJona wayemihla mithathu nabusuku buthathu esiswini sesilo esikhulu solwandle, wothi naye *uNyana woLuntu abe mihla mithathu nabusuku buthathu emathunjini omhlaba. ₄₁Ngomhla womgwebo abantu baseNiniva bophakama babamangalele abantu besi sizukulwana, kuba bona bâguquka ngentshumayelo kaJona, kanti ke omkhulu kunoJona nanku phakathi kwenu. ₄₂Ngomhla womgwebo ukumkanikazi wasezantsi wophakama abamangalele abantu besi sizukulwana, kuba wavela eziphelweni zomhlaba, esiza kuva ubulumko bukaSolomon, kanti ke omkhulu kunoSolomon nanku phakathi kwenu.”

₄₃“Xa indimoni ithe yaphuma emntwini, icanda ezinkqantosini, ifuna indawo yokuphumla; ize yakuba ingayifumani, ₄₄isuke ithi: ‘Ndiya kubuyela endlwini yam endaphuma kuyo.’ Ithi yakufika, iyifumane izé, itshayelwe, ilungisiwe; ₄₅ize ke ijike iye kuphuthuma ezinye iindimoni ezisixhenxe ezikhohlakeleyo kunayo, zingene ke zihlale khona; ize imeko yamva yaloo mntu ibe mbi kuneyakuqala. Kuya kuba njalo nakwesi sizukulwana singendawo.”

₄₆Kwathi uYesu esathetha nesihlwele, kwafika abantakwabo nonina, bema phandle, befuna ukuthetha naye. ₄₇Kwaza kwakho othi kuye: “Nanku unyoko nabantakwenu phandle, befuna ukuthetha nawe.”

₄₈Waphendula wathi kulowo wayesitsho: “Ngubani umama? Ngoobani bona abantakwethu?” ₄₉Esalatha abafundi bakhe ngesandla, wathi: “Nanku umama, naba abantakwethu. ₅₀Kaloku lowo uyenzayo intando kaBawo osezulwini nguye ongumntakwethu, nodade wethu, nomama.”

₁Kwangaloo mini uYesu waphuma endlwini, waya kuhlala ngaselwandle. Sahlanganisana ngakuye isihlwele, ₂saba sikhulu kangangokuba yena waya kukhwela esikhitshaneni, wahlala kuso. Isihlwele sona sema elunxwemeni.

₃UYesu ke wasifundisa isihlwele izinto ezininzi ngemizekeliso, esithi: “Kwakukho umhlwayeli owaphuma waya kuhlwayela. ₄Ekuhlwayeleni kwakhe inxenye yembewu yawa endleleni, zeza iintaka zayichola zayigqiba. ₅Enye imbewu yawa endaweni elulwalwa, apho ibingenamhlaba waneleyo; yantshula ke kwangoko, ngenxa yokungabi nabunzulu bamhlaba. ₆Kuthe ke, lakuba shushu ilanga, yatsha, yathi ngenxa yokuba ingenazingcambu zendeleyo, yoma kwaphela. ₇Enye yawa endaweni enokhula, olwathi lwakukhula lwayiminxa. ₈Enye yawa kumhlaba olungileyo, yavelisa isiqhamo: enye yanika ikhulu, enye amashumi amathandathu, nenye amashumi amathathu. ₉Oneendlebe zokuva makeve.”

₁₀Beza kuYesu abafundi bakhe, bathi kuye: “Kutheni na ukuba uthethe nabo ngemizekeliso?”

₁₁Waphendula wathi: “Kungenxa yokuba nina nikunikiwe ukuzazi iimfihlelo ezingolawulo lukaThixo, kodwa bona abakunikwanga. ₁₂Lowo unako uya kunikwa, abe nako nangaphezulu; kodwa lowo ungenako uya kuhluthwa kwanoko anako. ₁₃Ngenxa yoko ndithetha nabo ngemizekeliso. Kaloku bebona nje, ababoni; besiva nje abeva, bengaqondi nakuqonda. ₁₄Kwenzeka kubo njengoko *umshumayeli uIsaya walithethayo ilizwi likaThixo esithi:

₁₈“Nina ke, yiveni ingcaciso yomzekeliso ngomhlwayeli. ₁₉Ukuba ubani uthi azive iindaba ezingolawulo lukaThixo, angàziqondi, uyeza ongendawo akuhluthe oko kwakuhlwayelwe entliziyweni yakhe. Yiyo leyo imbewu ehlwayelwe endleleni. ₂₀Imbewu eyahlwayelwa elulwalweni ifanekisa lowo uzivayo iindaba ezi, athi kwangoko azamkele ngovuyo. ₂₁Onjalo akanazingcambu zendeleyo; uma okomzuzwana kuphela, athi kwakufika imbandezelo okanye intshutshiso ngenxa yeendaba ezi, oyisakale kwangoko. ₂₂Eyahlwayelwa endaweni enokhula izekelisa lowo uzivayo iindaba ezi, aze ke amaxhala eli phakade, nokulukuhla kobutyebi, kuziminxe iindaba, kungabikho siqhamo. ₂₃Eyahlwayelwa emhlabeni olungileyo ifanekisa lowo uzivayo aziqonde iindaba ezi, aze avelise isiqhamo, omnye ikhulu, omnye amashumi amathandathu, nomye amashumi amathathu.”

₂₄Wabenzela nomnye umzekeliso uYesu, esithi: “Ukulawula kukaThixo kunokufaniswa, nomntu owahlwayela imbewu elungileyo entsimini yakhe. ₂₅Kwathi ke, xa baleleyo abantu, kwafika utshaba lwakhe, lwahlwayela ukhula phakathi kwengqolowa, lwemka. ₂₆Yakudubula ke ingqolowa, iqala ukuba neenkozo, lwabonakala ukhula. ₂₇Zaza izicaka zaya kumnini-mzi, zathi kuye: ‘Nkosi, ibingeyombewu ilungileyo na oyihlwayeleyo entsimini yakho? Ngaba luvela phi na ke ukhula?’ ₂₈Wathi kuzo: ‘Le nto yenziwe lutshaba.’ Zaza izicaka zathi kuye: ‘Ngaba ufuna siye kuluncothula na ukhula?’ ₂₉Kodwa yena wathi: ‘Hayi, hleze kuthi xa nincothula ukhula, nincothule kwanengqolowa. ₃₀Luyekeni ukhula, lukhule kunye nengqolowa, kude kube lixesha lokuvuna. Xa kuvunwayo ke, ndothi kubavuni: “Kuqala qokelelani ukhula, nilubophe izithungu, nilutshise, nize ke ingqolowa niyiqokelelele esiseleni sam.” ’ ”

₃₁Wabenzela nomnye umzekeliso uYesu, esithi: “Ukulawula kukaThixo kunokufaniswa nokhozo lwembewu yemostade, athe ubani waluthatha, waluhlwayela entsimini yakhe. ₃₂Ukhozo lwemostade lolona luncinane kunazo zonke iintlobo zembewu, kanti lwakukhula luba lukhulu kunayo yonke imifuno, lube ngumthi omkhulu kangangokuba neentaka zifike, zakhele emasebeni awo.”

₃₃UYesu wabenzela nomnye umzekeliso, esithi: “Ukulawula kukaThixo kunokufaniswa negwele awalithathayo umfazi, walixovulela kumgubo ozizitya ezithathu, laza layinyusa intlama.”

₃₄Zonke ezi zinto uYesu wazithetha kwizihlwele ngemizekeliso. Akathethanga nto kuzo kungengamizekeliso. ₃₅Ngokwenjenjalo wakuzalisekisa okwathethwayo *ngumshumayeli esithi:

₃₆Wazindulula ke izihlwele uYesu, wangena endlwini. Beza kuye abafundi bakhe, bathi: “Khawusicacisele umzekeliso ngokhula olusentsimini.”

₃₇Waphendula wathi: “Lowo uhlwayela imbewu elungileyo *nguNyana woLuntu. ₃₈Intsimi le lihlabathi. Yona imbewu elungileyo ngabantu abalawulwa nguThixo. Ke lona ukhula ngabantu bongendawo. ₃₉Utshaba oluluhlwayelayo ngumtyholi. Ukuvuna kukupheliswa kweli phakade. Abavuni zizithunywa zezulu. ₄₀Njengoko luqokelelwayo ukhula, lutshiswe, koba njalo ekuphelisweni kweli phakade. ₄₁UNyana woLuntu wozithuma izithunywa zakhe, zibaqokelele bangabikho apho alawula khona bonke abalahlekisayo, nabo bonke abenza okuchasene nomthetho, ₄₂zibaphose kwiziko elivutha umlilo, apho kuya kubakho ukulila nokungcungcutheka. ₄₃Bothi ke abangamalungisa baqaqambe ngokwelanga bekwikomkhulu likaYise. Oneendlebe zokuva makeve.”

₄₄“Ukulawula kukaThixo kunokufaniswa nobutyebi obufihlwe entsimini, waza ubani wabubhaqa, wabugqumelela kwakhona, wathi, evuya kakhulu, waya kuthengisa konke anako, wayithenga loo ntsimi.”

₄₅“Kananjalo ukulawula kukaThixo kunokufaniswa nomrhwebi ohamba efuna *iiperile ezintle, ₄₆othi akubhaqa perile ithile ixabisekileyo, aye kuthengisa konke anako, ayithenge loo perile.”

₄₇“Kananjalo ukulawula kukaThixo kunokufaniswa nomnatha owaphoswa elwandle, wabambisa iintlobo ngeentlobo zeentlanzi; ₄₈ekuthe, wakuzala, watsalelwa elunxwemeni, kwahlalwa phantsi, ezilungileyo zaqokelelwa esityeni, ezimbi zalahlwa. ₄₉Kuya kuba njalo ekuphelisweni kweli phakade. Zophuma izithunywa zezulu, zibakhethe abakhohlakeleyo kwabalungileyo, ₅₀zibaphose kwiziko elivutha umlilo, apho kuya kubakho ukulila nokungcungcutheka.”

₅₁UYesu wathi: “Ngaba nikuqondile na konke oku?”

Baphendula bathi: “Ewe.”

₅₂Waza wathi kubo: “Ke ngoko, umchazi-mthetho ngamnye othe waba ngumfundi wezolawulo lukaThixo, ufana nomninimzi onokukhupha izinto ezintsha kwanezindala kuvimba wakhe.”

₅₃Kwathi, uYesu akugqiba ukuyenza le mizekeliso, wemka apho. ₅₄Efikile kowabo, wafundisa endlwini yesikhungo. Bâmangaliseka kakhulu abo bamváyo, besithi: “Ngaba ubufumene phi na obu bulumko? Le mimangaliso yona? ₅₅Akanguye na unyana womchweli? Unina akanguye na uMariya? Abantakwabo asingabo na ooYakobi, noYose, noSimon, noJuda? ₅₆Noodade wabo àbahlali apha bonke na? Ngaba lo mntu uzifumene phi zonke ezi zinto?” ₅₇Ngenxa yale nto ke bambukula.

Waza uYesu wathi kubo: “Kakade umshumayeli uyayinikwa imbeko; kukwelakowabo kuphela, ekhayeni lakhe, apho angayifumani khona.” ₅₈Ngenxa yokungakholwa kwabo akenzanga mimangaliso mininzi apho.

₁Ngelo xesha uHerode, owayephethe, waziva iindaba ezingoYesu, ₂waza wathi kwizicaka zakhe: “Lo nguYohane umbhaptizi. Uvukile kwabafileyo; yiyo le nto anamandla okwenza ezi zinto.”

₃Kaloku uHerode wambamba uYohane, wamkhonkxa, wamfaka entolongweni. Oku wakwenza ngenxa yokuba yena Herode wayehlalisana noHerodiya umka-Filipu, umninawe wakhe. ₄UYohane wasola uHerode, wamxelela ukuba akuvumelekanga ukuba ahlalisane naye. ₅UHerode wafuna ukumbulala uYohane, kodwa wayesoyika abantu, kuba babesithi ungomnye *wabashumayeli bamandulo.

₆Ngomhla wesikhumbuzo sokuzalwa kukaHerode, intombi kaHerodiya yangqungqa phambi kwababekho kwelo theko, yamkholisa uHerode, ₇waza wayithembisa efunga okokuba woyinika nantoni na esukuba iyicela. ₈Ke yona, iqhutywe ngunina, yathi: “Ndinike ngoku ngesitya intloko kaYohane umbhaptizi.” ₉Waba buhlungu ukumkani, kodwa ngenxa yesifungo, nangenxa yâbo babesethekweni kunye naye, wathi mayiyinikwe; ₁₀wathumela okokuba uYohane anqunyulwe intloko entolongweni apho. ₁₁Yeziswa ke ngesitya intloko yakhe, yanikwa intombi leyo, eyathi yona yayisa kunina. ₁₂Beza ke abafundi bakaYohane, basithatha isidumbu sakhe, basingcwaba; baza baya kuxelela uYesu.

₁₃UYesu, evile ngokufa kukaYohane, wemka ngesikhitshana, waya kwindawo engenabantu eyedwa. Bekuvile oku abantu, baya kuye ngeenyawo, bevela ezidolophini. ₁₄Ehlile ke esikhitshaneni, uYesu wabona isihlwele sabantu, wavelana naso, wabaphilisa abagulayo ababekuso.

₁₅Kwakuhlwa abafundi bakaYesu beza kuye, bathi: “Le ndawo ayinamizi, nexesha selimkile; bandulule abantu bemke, baye ezidolophaneni, bazithengele ukutya.”

₁₆Kodwa uYesu wathi kubo: “Akukho mfuneko yakuba bemke. Bapheni nina ukutya.”

₁₇Bathi ke kuye: “Asinakutya apha. Sinezonka ezihlanu neentlanzi ezimbini kuphela.”

₁₈Wathi: “Ziziseni apha.” ₁₉Esiyalele isihlwele ukuba sihlale phantsi engceni, wazithatha ezo zonka zihlanu nezo ntlanzi zimbini, wathi ekhangele ezulwini, wabulela, waziqhekeza izonka, wazinika abafundi bakhe, baza bazabela abantu. ₂₀Batya ke bonke bahlutha, kwaza kwaqokelelwa iingobozi ezilishumi elinambini zokutya okuseleyo. ₂₁Amadoda atyáyo aba kumawaka amahlanu, bengekho kwelo nani abafazi nabantwana.

₂₂Kwangoko ke uYesu wabanyanzela abafundi bakhe ukuba bakhwele esikhitshaneni, bamandulele baye ngaphesheya koLwandle lwaseGalili, ngeli xa yena asindululayo isihlwele. ₂₃Akuba ke esindulule isihlwele, wenyuka intaba eyedwa, esiya kuthandaza. Kwahlwa eyedwa khona apho. ₂₄Ngelo xesha isikhitshana sasesiphakathi elwandle, sintlithwa ngamaza, kuba umoya wawuvela ngaphambili.

₂₅Kwathi ke, kungekasi, uYesu weza kubo, ehamba phezu kwamanzi olwandle. ₂₆Abafundi bakumbona ehamba phezu kwamanzi, bankwantya, bathi: “Ngumhlola lo!” Batsho bakhala kukoyika. ₂₇Kwangoko ke wathetha nabo uYesu, esithi: “Yomelelani; ndim; musani ukoyika.”

₂₈Wavakala uPetros esithi: “Nkosi, ukuba ngaba nguwe ngenene, yitsho ndize kuwe ndihamba phezu kwamanzi.”

₂₉UYesu wathi: “Yiza.” Wehla ke esikhitshaneni uPetros, wahamba phezu kwamanzi, waya kuYesu. ₃₀Kodwa akuva amandla omoya, usuke woyika, wathi, esaqala ukutshona, wakhala esithi: “Nkosi, ndisindise!”

₃₁Kwangoko uYesu wasolula isandla sakhe, wambamba, wathi: “Wena ulukholo luncinane, bekutheni na ukuba uthandabuze?”

₃₂Bakhwela ke esikhitshaneni, wadamba umoya; ₃₃baza abo basesikhitshaneni baqubuda kuYesu, besithi: “Inene, ùnguNyana kaThixo.”

₃₄Beluwelile uLwandle lwaseGalili, bâfika ezweni laseGenesarete. ₃₅Amqonda amadoda alapho ukuba nguYesu, athumela kuwo wonke loo mmandla, azisa kuye bonke abagulayo, ₃₆ambongoza okokuba abagulayo bachukumise nokuba ngumqukumbelo nje wesambatho sakhe. Bathi ke abo bawuchukumisáyo baphila mpela.

₁Kwafika *abaFarasi nabachazi-mthetho kuYesu, bevela eJerusalem, bambuza besithi: ₂“Kutheni abafundi bakho bengasilandeli nje isithethe samanyange, le nto batya isonka ngezandla ezingahlanjwanga?”

₃Wabaphendula wathi: “Nina, kutheni ukuba nithi ngenxa yesithethe senu, ningawenzi umthetho kaThixo? ₄Kaloku uThixo wathi: ‘Beka uyihlo nonyoko,’ watsho nokuthi: ‘Othuka uyise, nokuba ngunina, makabulawe.’ ₅Kanti nina nithi ukuba ubani unento angamnceda ngayo uyise nokuba ngunina, kodwa asuke athi loo nto ingumnikelo kuThixo, ₆akasavumelekanga ukumenzela nto ngaloo nto uyise nokuba ngunina. Ngokwenjenjalo nithi ngenxa yesithethe senu, nilenze into engento ilizwi likaThixo. ₇Bahanahanisindini, uIsaya wayenyanisile ukushumayela ngani, esithi:

₁₀UYesu, eyibizele kuye indimbane, wathi: “Phulaphulani niqonde. ₁₁Umntu akangcoliswa yiloo nto ingena kuye ngomlomo; zizinto azithetha ziphume kuye ngomlomo ezimngcolisayo.”

₁₂Basondela kuYesu abafundi bakhe, bathi kuye: “Uyazi nje ukuba *abaFarasi bakhutyekisiwe yintetho yakho?”

₁₃Waphendula wathi: “Zonke izityalo ezingatyalwanga nguBawo osezulwini ziya kuncothulwa. ₁₄Bayekeni; baziinkokheli eziziimfama. Ke ukuba imfama ikhokela enye imfama, ziya kweyela zombini ezindongeni.”

₁₅Waza uPetros wathi: “Khawusicacisele lo mzekeliso.”

₁₆UYesu wathi kubo: “Kanti nani nikwanje na ukungaqondi? ₁₇Aniqondi na ukuba konke okungena emlonyeni, kuya esiswini, kuze kulahlwe ngasese? ₁₈Ke zona izinto ezithethwa ngomlomo, zisuka entliziyweni. Zezo zinto ke ezimenza angcole umntu. ₁₉Kaloku ziphuma entliziyweni iingcamango ezimbi. Kusentliziyweni apho kuphuma khona ukubulala, ukukrexeza, ubuhenyu, ubusela, ukungqina ubuxoki, nokunyelisa. ₂₀Zezi zinto ezimenza angcole umntu; kodwa ukutya ngezandla ezingahlanjwanga akumenzi angcole umntu.”

₂₁Emkile apho uYesu, waya kummandla waseTire naseSidon. ₂₂Kwathi thu umKananekazi, evela kuloo mimandla, ekhala esithi: “Nkosi, Nyana kaDavide, yiba nenceba kum. Intombi yam iphethwe kakubi yindimoni.”

₂₃Kodwa uYesu akamphendulanga tu. Basondela abafundi bakhe, bambongoza besithi: “Mvumele, kuba nanku ekhwaza emva kwethu.”

₂₄Waphendula wathi: “Ndithunyelwe kuphela kwiigusha ezilahlekileyo zakwaSirayeli.”

₂₅Weza ke, waqubuda kuye, wathi: “Nkosi, ndincede.”

₂₆Yena waphendula wathi: “Akufanelekanga ukuba ukutya kuthathwe kubantwana, kunikwe iinjana.”

₂₇Waphendula yena wathi: “Kunjalo, Nkosi, kodwa noko iinjana ziyatya kwimvuthuluka ewayo etafileni yabaninizo.”

₂₈Ke ngoko uYesu waphendula wathi kuye: “Mfazindini, lukhulu ukholo lwakho. Makwenzeke kuwe ngokomnqweno wakho.” Yaphiliswa ke intombi yakhe kwangelo xesha.

₂₉Akumka apho, uYesu wafika ngakuLwandle lwaseGalili, wenyuka intaba, wahlala phantsi. ₃₀Kweza kuye ke izihlwele zabantu, zizisa iziqhwala, neemfama, nezilima, nezimumu, nabanye abaninzi ababeyimilwelwe, zababeka phambi koYesu, waza yena wabaphilisa. ₃₁Zamangaliswa ke izihlwele ezo, zakubona izimumu zithetha, izilima ziphilile, iziqhwala zihamba, neemfama zibona; zaza zamdumisa uThixo kaSirayeli.

₃₂UYesu, ebabizele kuye abafundi bakhe, wathi: “Ndiyasivela esi sihlwele saba bantu bangakanana, kuba sekuziintsuku ezintathu bekunye nam, yaye ke àbasenanto ityiwayo. Andifuni ukubandulula bengatyanga, hleze baphelelwe endleleni.”

₃₃Baza bathi kuye abafundi: “Zingafumaneka phi na entlango apha izonka ezinokubanela abantu abangaka?”

₃₄Waza wathi kubo uYesu: “Zingaphi izonka eninazo?”

Bathi ke bona: “Zisixhenxe, neentlanzi ezimbalwa.”

₃₅UYesu ke wasiyalela ukuba sihlale phantsi isihlwele; ₃₆wazithatha ezo zonka zisixhenxe nezo ntlanzi, wabulela, waziqhekeza, wazinika abafundi bakhe, baza bona banika isihlwele. ₃₇Batya bonke, bahlutha, kwaza kwaqokelelwa iibhaskiti ezisixhenxe zizele yintsalela. ₃₈Amadoda atyáyo aba kumawaka amane, bengekho kwelo nani abafazi nabantwana.

₃₉Wasindulula ke uYesu isihlwele, wakhwela esikhitshaneni, wafika kummandla waseMagadan.

₁*AbaFarasi *nabaSadusi beza kuYesu, bathi bemlinga bacela okokuba ababonise umqondiso ophuma ezulwini. ₂Waphendula ke wathi kubo: [“Ukutshona kwelanga nithi: ‘Liya kuba lihle, kuba amafu abomvu.’ ₃Kusasa nithi: ‘Namhlanje liza kuna, kuba lisibekele.’ Niyayahlula ke imo yezulu. Kutheni na phofu ningayahluli nje imiqondiso yeli xesha sikulo?] ₄Sisizukulwana esikhohlakeleyo, nesikrexezayo ngokunganyaniseki kuThixo, esifuna umqondiso; kwaye asiyi kunikwa mqondiso ngaphandle komqondiso kaJona.” Wabashiya ke wemka.

₅Ekuluweleni kwabo abafundi bakaYesu uLwandle lwaseGalili, bâlibala ukuphatha isonka; ₆waza uYesu wathi kubo: “Ligqaleni nililumkele igwele *labaFarasi *nabaSadusi.”

₇Bona ke babesithi omnye komnye: “Útsho ngokuba singaphathanga zonka.”

₈UYesu, ekwazi oko bakuthethayo, wathi kubo: “Yini na ukuba nithethe ngokungabi nazonka, nina balukholo luncinane? ₉Anikaqondi na? Anikhumbuli na ukuba zazingaphi iingobozi ezazizele yintsalela okuya ndandiqhekezela amawaka amahlanu izonka ezihlanu? ₁₀Anikhumbuli na ukuba zazingaphi iibhaskiti ezazizele yintsalela okuya ndandiqhekezela amawaka amane izonka ezisixhenxe? ₁₁Yini na okokuba ningaqondi ukuba bendingathethi sonka xa bendisithi kuni: ‘Lilumkeleni igwele labaFarasi nabaSadusi’?” ₁₂Baqonda ke ngoko ukuba uYesu ubengàtsho ukuthi mabalumkele igwele lesonka, koko wayesithi mabalumkele imfundiso yabaFarasi nabaSadusi.

₁₃UYesu efikile kummandla waseKhesariya-Filipi, wababuza abafundi bakhe, esithi: “Ngaba abantu bathi ùngubani na *uNyana woLuntu?”

₁₄Bamphendula besithi: “Abathile bathi ùnguYohane umbhaptizi. Abanye bathi ùnguEliya; babe abanye besithi ùnguJeremiya, okanye ùngomnye *wabashumayeli bamandulo.”

₁₅Wathi kubo: “Ke nina nithi ndingubani?”

₁₆Waphendula uSimon Petros wathi: “Wena unguye *uKrestu, uNyana kaThixo ophilayo.”

₁₇Waphendula uYesu wathi kuye: “Unethamsanqa wena, Simon nyana kaJona, kuba le nto akuyityhilelwanga ngumntu, uyityhilelwe nguBawo osezulwini. ₁₈Nam ke, ndithi kuwe: UnguPetros, igama elithetha ulwalwa; ndiya kulakhela kolu lwalwa ke ibandla lam, kwaye namandla okufa akayi kuloyisa. ₁₉Ndiya kukunika igunya kulawulo olutsha lukaThixo. Kuya kuthi okubophileyo emhlabeni, kubotshwe nasezulwini; kuthi nokukhululeyo emhlabeni, kukhululwe nasezulwini.” ₂₀Wabayala ke abafundi bakhe ukuba bangaxeleli bani ukuba yena unguye uKrestu.

₂₁Waqala ke ngoko uYesu ukubacacisela abafundi bakhe ukuba umelwe kukuya eJerusalem, aviswe ubunzima obukhulu ngamadoda amakhulu, nangababingeleli abaziintloko, nangabachazi-mthetho, abulawe, aze avuke ngomhla wesithathu. ₂₂UPetros ke, emse bucala uYesu, wamkhalimela esithi: “Wanga uThixo angakunceda, Nkosi; oku kungàze kwenzeke kuwe.”

₂₃Wajika uYesu, wathi kuPetros: “Hamb' umke kum, Sathana. Uyandikhubekisa, kuba akuzinyamekeli izinto zikaThixo, unyamekela ezabantu.”

₂₄UYesu ke wathi kubafundi bakhe: “Ofuna ukuba ngumlandeli wam makazincame, athwale umnqamlezo wakhe, andilandele; ₂₅kuba othe wafuna ukusindisa ubomi bakhe, wolahlekelwa bubo, kodwa othe wabuncama ubomi bakhe ngenxa yam, wobusindisa. ₂₆Kaloku komnceda ntoni na umntu, ukuba uthe walizuza ihlabathi liphela, kodwa walahlekelwa bubomi bakhe? Okanye umntu angakhupha ntoni na exabisekileyo ukuze angàlahlekelwa bubomi bakhe? ₂₇Kaloku *uNyana woLuntu selesiza, esebuqaqawulini boYise, enezithunywa zakhe. Akufika uya kubabuyekeza bonke ngabanye ngokwezenzo zabo. ₂₈Ndithi kuni, inene, kwabakhoyo apha bakho abangayi kubonana nokufa bade bambone uNyana woLuntu efika engukumkani.”

₁Emva kweentsuku ezintandathu uYesu wathatha uPetros noYakobi noYohane, banyuka intaba ephakamileyo bebodwa. ₂UYesu wênziwa kumila kumbi phambi kwabo, ubuso bakhe babengezela ngokwelanga, izambatho zakhe zaqaqamba njengokukhanya. ₃Nâko kubonakala uMosis noEliya bethetha noYesu. ₄Wasuka ke uPetros wathi kuYesu: “Nkosi, kulungile ukuba sibe lapha. Ukuba uyafuna masakhe apha amaphempe abe mathathu: elinye libe lelakho, elinye libe lelikaMosis, elinye libe lelikaEliya.”

₅Esathetha kwabakho ilifu elibengezelayo, labasibekela; kwavakala nelizwi livela efini apho, lisithi: “Lo nguNyana wam endimthandayo; yivani yena.”

₆Bakukuva oko abafundi bawa phantsi ngobuso, besoyika kakhulu. ₇Waya kubo uYesu, wabavusa esithi: “Phakamani! Musani ukoyika!” ₈Bawaphakamisa ke amehlo abo, àbabona mntu ngaphandle koYesu.

₉Xa babesihla entabeni, uYesu wabayala esithi: “Ze ningawuxeleli bani lo mbono, ade *uNyana woLuntu avuke kwabafileyo.”

₁₀Bambuza ke uYesu abafundi, besithi: “Kungani na ukuba abachazi-mthetho bathi uEliya umelwe kukufika kuqala?” ₁₁Waphendula wathi: “Ewe, okunene nguEliya omelwe kukufika kuqala, azilungise zonke izinto. ₁₂Mna ke ndithi kuni: uEliya selefikile, baza abantu àbamazi, koko bênza kuye konke abakuthandayo. Ngokukwanjalo naye uNyana woLuntu seleza kuviswa ubunzima ngabo.” ₁₃Baqonda ke abafundi okokuba wayethetha ngoYohane umbhaptizi.

₁₄Bakubuyela esihlweleni, kweza indoda kuYesu, yaguqa phambi kwakhe, ₁₅yathi: “Nkosi, menzele inceba unyana wam. Uphethwe kakubi sisithuthwane. Usoloko esiwa emlilweni okanye emanzini. ₁₆Ke bendimzisile kubafundi bakho, kodwa àbaba nako ukumphilisa.”