1, 2. (a) Nguluphi lushintjo Josefa nemndeni wakhe labahlangabetana nalo? (b) Ngutiphi tindzaba letingajabulisi lokwadzingeka kutsi Josefa atitjele umkakhe?

JOSEFA wabeka lomunye umtfwalo emhlane wembongolo. Mcabange njengobe acalata ebusuku kulelidolobhana laseBhetlehema futsi abhambatsa lembongolo. Abesolo acabanga ngaloluhambo loludze lobelubahlalele lwekuya eGibhithe. Kungenteka abetibuta kutsi lomndeni wakhe lomncane bewutawulwetayela yini lolushintjo, kuhlala nebantfu labangabati, labakhuluma lolunye lulwimi futsi labanemasiko labangakawetayeli.

² Bekungasimelula ngaJosefa kutjela Mariya umfati wakhe lamtsandzako ngaletindzaba letingajabulisi, kodvwa waba naso sibindzi sekwenta njalo. Wamtjela ngeliphupho lapho ingilosi beyimnike khona umlayeto lovela kuNkulunkulu, lobewutsi: Inkhosi Herodi beyifuna kubulala indvodzana yabo! Kwadzingeka bahambe ngekushesha. (Fundza Matewu 2:13, 14.) Mariya abekhatsateke kakhulu. Abetibuta kutsi kungani umuntfu angafuna kubulala lomntfwanakhe lote licala, longakoni lutfo. BoMariya naJosefa behluleka kukucondza loko. Betsembela kuJehova base balungela kuhamba.

3. Chaza indlela Josefa nemndeni wakhe labasuka ngayo eBhetlehema. (Buka nesitfombe.)

³ Bangati ngaloko lebekutakwenteka, bantfu baseBhetlehema bebalele ngesikhatsi Josefa, Mariya naJesu babaleka ebusuku kulelidolobhana. Njengobe bebaya ngaseningizimu futsi nesibhakabhaka sesicala kukhanya emphumalanga, kungenteka Josefa abetibuta ngaloko lebekutawukwenteka. Umuntfu longumbati njengaye abengawuvikela njani umndeni wakhe etintfweni letiyingoti? Abetawukhona yini kuhlale awondla umndeni wakhe? Abetawukwati yini kuphikelela njengobe enta lomsebenti lomatima lawunikwe nguJehova Nkulunkulu, wekunakekela lomntfwana loligugu aphindze amkhulise? Josefa wahlangabetana netinsayeya leticedza emandla. Njengobe sicabanga ngendlela lawenta ngayo ngekwetsembeka umsebenti wakhe, sitawubona kutsi kungani bobabe lamuhla, kuhlanganise natsi sonkhe, kudzingeka balingise kukholwa kwaJosefa.

4, 5. (a) Kuphila kwaJosefa kwashintja njani ngalokuphelele? (b) Ingilosi yamcinisekisa njani Josefa kutsi emukele umsebenti lomatima?

⁴ Etinyangeni letingaphambili ngesikhatsi Josefa asedolobheni lakubo iNazaretha, wabona kutsi kuphila kwakhe besekushintje ngalokuphelele ngemuva kwekutsembisana kwakhe umshado nendvodzakati yaHeli. Josefa bekati kutsi Mariya uyintfombi leyetsembekile futsi lemsulwa. Kodvwa wase uva kutsi utetfwele! Abetimisele kumdivosa ngasese kute angamfakeli emehlo ebantfu. * Nobe kunjalo, ingilosi yakhuluma naye ephusheni, yamchazela kutsi Mariya abetetfwele ngenca yemoya longcwele waJehova. Lengilosi yaphindze yamtjela kutsi lomntfwana latambeleka ‘abetawukhulula bantfu etonweni tabo.’ Ngetulu kwaloko, yacinisekisa Josefa yatsi: “Ungesabi kutsatsa Mariya umente umkakho.”​—Mat. 1:18-21.

⁵ Njengobe Josefa abeyindvodza lelungile futsi lelalelako, wakwenta loko. Wawemukela lomsebenti lomatima wekukhulisa aphindze anakekele lendvodzana lebeyingasiyo yakhe kodvwa lebeyiligugu kuNkulunkulu. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, kute balalele umyalo waKhesari, boJosefa nemkakhe lotetfwele, baya eBhetlehema kuze bayobhaliswa. Lomntfwana watalelwa lapho.

6-8. (a) Ngutiphi tintfo letenteka letaphindze tashintja kuphila kwaJosefa nekwemndeni wakhe lomncane? (b) Ngubuphi bufakazi lobuveta kutsi lenkhanyeti beyitfunyelwe nguSathane? (Fundza nembhalo longentansi.)

⁶ Josefa nemndeni wakhe abazange babuyele eNazaretha. Esikhundleni saloko, bahlala eBhetlehema lengemakhilomitha langaba lishumi nawusuka eJerusalema. Nanobe bebaphuyile, Josefa wenta konkhe lokusemandleni akhe kute boMariya naJesu bangesweli futsi bangahlupheki. Ngemuva nje kwesikhashana batfola indzawo lencane yekuhlala. Kwatsi ngesikhatsi Jesu asakhulakhulile, mhlawumbe angetulu kwemnyaka budzala, kuphila kwabo kwaphindze kwashintja.

⁷ Kwafika emadvodza latati tetinkhanyeti labevela eMphumalanga, lokungenteka kutsi abevela eBhabhulona. Abesolo alandzela inkhanyeti leyagcine iwafake emtini waJosefa naMariya futsi abefuna umntfwana labetawuba yinkhosi yemaJuda. Lamadvodza abenehlonipho lenkhulu.

⁸ Ngisho nobe bekati nobe angati, abeka kuphila kwaJesu engotini lenkhulu. Lenkhanyeti labeyibonile yacale yawaholela eJerusalema hhayi eBhetlehema. * Nawefika lapho atjela inkhosi lembi Herodi kutsi afuna kubona umntfwana labetawuba yinkhosi yemaJuda. Lendzaba yenta lenkhosi yaba nemona lomkhulu.

9-11. (a) Kungatiphi tindlela bekunemandla lamakhulu lasebenta kwendlula aHerodi nobe aSathane? (b) Luhambo lwekuya eGibhithe belwehluke njani kuloko lokuchazwa tindzaba letingemanga?

 ⁹ Lokujabulisako kutsi bekunemandla lamakhulu labesebenta kwendlula aHerodi nobe aSathane. Kwenteka kanjani loko? Phela ngesikhatsi letivakashi tifika ekhaboJesu futsi timbona anenina, tamupha tipho, futsi atizange ticele lokutsite kubo. Kufanele kutsi kwabamangalisa boJosefa naMariya kutikhandza ‘sebaneligolide nemakha esihlahla semphepho newemure,’ lokutintfo lebetidulile. Letati betifuna kubuyela emuva kute titjele iNkhosi Herodi kutsi timtfole kuphi lomntfwana. Nobe kunjalo, Jehova wangenela. Ngeliphupho, watjela letati kutsi tihambe ngalenye indlela nasetibuyela ekhaya.​—Fundza Matewu 2:1-12.

¹⁰ Ngekushesha ngemuva kwekuhamba kwato, Josefa watfola secwayiso lesivela engilosini yaJehova, lesitsi: “Vuka, utsatse umntfwana nenina niye eGibhithe, nihlale khona ngite nginitjele kutsi nihambe, ngobe Herodi ufuna lomntfwana kute ambulale.” (Mat. 2:13) Njengobe sibonile ekucaleni kwalesehluko, Josefa walalela ngekushesha. Abekhatsateka ngekuphepha kwalomntfwana kwendlula nobe ngabe yini lenye, futsi watsatsa umndeni wakhe waya eGibhithe. Njengobe letati letikhonta bonkulunkulu bemanga betibaphe tipho letidulile, Josefa abengakhona kunakekela umndeni wakhe nabasachubeka neluhambo.

¹¹ Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, tindzaba letingemanga kanye netinganekwane tenta loluhambo lwekuya eGibhithe lwatsandzeka, tatsi Jesu labesasemncane walunciphisa ngalokusimangaliso loluhambo lwabo, wenta tigebengu tangabi yingoti, futsi wenta tihlahla telusundvu tagoba kute unina akhone kukha titselo tato. * Kodvwa ecinisweni lolu bekuluhambo loludze, lolucedza emandla futsi loluya eveni labangalati.

12. Batali labakhulisa bantfwana kulelive leliyingoti bangafundzani kuJosefa?

¹² Batali bangafundza lokunyenti kuJosefa. Wabekela eceleni imisebenti yakhe futsi washiya imphilo lenhle kute avikele umndeni wakhe engotini. Kuyacaca kutsi abetsatsa umndeni wakhe njengesipho lesiligugu lesivela kuJehova. Batali lamuhla bakhulisa bantfwana babo eveni leliyingoti, leligcwele tintfo letingabalimata, tibonakalise nobe tibabulale. Kuyintfo lenhle kakhulu lapho bomake nabobabe benta tincumo ngekushesha futsi bavikela bantfwana babo kuletintfo letiyingoti, njengobe kwenta Josefa!

13, 14. Kungani boJosefa naMariya bagcine bakhulisa bantfwana babo eNazaretha?

¹³ Kubonakala shengatsi lomndeni awuzange uhlale sikhatsi  lesidze eGibhithe, ngobe ngekushesha ingilosi yatjela Josefa kutsi Herodi besekafile. Josefa watsatsa umndeni wakhe wabuyela edolobheni lakubo. Siphrofetho sasendvulo sasibiketele kutsi Jehova abetawubita iNdvodzana yakhe “kutsi iphume eGibhithe.” (Mat. 2:15) Josefa wasenta sagcwaliseka lesiphrofetho, kodvwa nyalo abetawuhlala kuphi nemndeni wakhe?

¹⁴ Josefa abengumuntfu lotinakako tintfo. Abeyesaba iNkhosi Akhelawusi leyalandzela Herodi, ngobe nayo beyinelunya futsi ingumbulali. Ngekwesicondziso saNkulunkulu, Josefa watsatsa umndeni wakhe baya enyakatfo, khashane neJerusalema netintfo tayo letiyingoti, babuyela eNazaretha yaseGalile. BoJosefa naMariya bakhulisa bantfwana babo kuleyo ndzawo.​—Fundza Matewu 2:19-23.

15, 16. Bewunjani umsebenti waJosefa, futsi nguwaphi emathulusi lokungenteka abewasebentisa?

¹⁵ Bebaphila imphilo lemelula, kodvwa lenetinsayeya. LiBhayibheli litsi Josefa abengumbati, lokuligama lelifaka ekhatsi tindlela letehlukene tekusebenta ngetingodvo, njengekujuba tihlahla, kutihudvula, kutomisa kute tisetjentiswe ekwakheni tindlu, tikebhe, emabhuloho lamancane, tinkalishi, emasondvo, emajoka, kanye nato tonkhe tintfo tekulima. (Mat. 13:55) Lona kwakungumsebenti lomatima kakhulu. Etikhatsini teliBhayibheli, umbati abevame kusebentela edvute nemnyango welikhaya lakhe, nobe kulenye indzawo leseceleni kwendlu yakhe.

¹⁶ Josefa abesebentisa emathulusi lamanyenti, futsi kungenteka kutsi lamanye awo wawaphiwa nguyise. Mhlawumbe abesebentisa sikwele, silinganiso, ishoki, lizembe, lisaha, ingelo, sandvo, sandvo selukhuni, lishizolo, lithulusi lekubhobhoza lebelisetjentiswa ngekudvonsa intfo iye emuva nasembili, kwekunamatsisela lokwehlukahlukene, mhlawumbe netipikili nanobe nje betidulile.

17, 18. (a) Yini Jesu layifundza kuyise? (b) Kungani Josefa kwadzingeka asebente kamatima emsebentini wakhe?

¹⁷ Asewumcabange Jesu asengumfana lomncane futsi abuka uyise njengobe asebenta. Ungambona avule emehlo futsi abukisisa konkhe lokwentiwa nguJosefa; akungabateki kutsi ammangalisa emandla eyise, tikhwepha nemisipha yakhe kanye nelikhono nekuhlakanipha kwakhe. Mhlawumbe Josefa wacala kukhombisa indvodzana yakhe leseyincane indlela yekwenta imisebenti lemelula njengekusebentisa sikhumba senhlanti leyomisiwe kute alungise tindzawo letinemaguludla kuletingodvo.  Kungenteka nekutsi wafundzisa Jesu umehluko emkhatsini wetingodvo letehlukahlukene labetisebentisa, njengemkhiwa, um-okhi nobe umncuma.

¹⁸ Jesu waphindze wabona kutsi letandla teyise lebetinemandla ekugawula tihlahla, kusaha tingodvo nekutishayela, betiphindze tibe nemusa, timnakekele yena nenina kanye nebantfwana bakubo. BoJosefa naMariya baba nalabanye bantfwana lokungenteka bagcine basitfupha ngaphandle kwaJesu. (Mat. 13:55, 56) Josefa bekufanele achubeke asebenta kamatima kute abanakekele futsi abondle.

19. Josefa wabunakekela njani buhlobo umndeni wakhe lobewunabo naNkulunkulu?

¹⁹ Nobe kunjalo, Josefa bekati kutsi kunakekela buhlobo umndeni wakhe lonabo naNkulunkulu bekubaluleke kakhulu. Ngako wacitsa sikhatsi afundzisa bantfwana bakhe ngaJehova Nkulunkulu nangemitsetfo yaKhe. Bobabili banaMariya bebahlale babatsatsa baye nabo esinagogeni, lapho bekufike kufundvwe khona uMtsetfo uphindze uchazwe. Mhlawumbe Jesu bekaba nemibuto leminyenti ngemuva kwaloko, futsi Josefa abetama kamatima kuyiphendvula leyo mibuto. Josefa abephindze atsatse umndeni wakhe aye nawo emikhosini lebeyiba seJerusalema. Kute aye emkhosini weliPhasika lwaminyaka yonkhe, kungenteka Josefa abedzinga emaviki lamabili kute ahambe luhambo lolungemakhilomitha langu-120, agubhe lomkhosi futsi abuyele emuva ekhaya.

20. Tinhloko temindeni letingemaKhristu tingasilandzela njani sibonelo saJosefa?

²⁰ Lamuhla, tinhloko temindeni letingemaKhristu tilandzela sibonelo lesifanako. Tiyatidzela ngenca yebantfwana bato, futsi kubafundzisa ngaNkulunkulu kuyintfo lebaluleke kakhulu kuto, kwendlula ngisho nekubanakekela ngetintfo tenyama. Tenta konkhe lokusemandleni ato kute tibe nekukhonta kwemndeni futsi titsatse bantfwana bato tiye nabo emihlanganweni yebuKhristu, lemikhulu nalemincane. NjengaJosefa, tiyati kutsi kute lenye intfo lencono kwendlula lena letingayentela bantfwana bato.

21. Besiba njani sikhatsi seliPhasika emndenini waJosefa, futsi boJosefa naMariya babona nini kutsi Jesu abelahlekile?

²¹ Ngesikhatsi Jesu asaneminyaka lengu-12 budzala, Josefa watsatsa umndeni wakhe waya nawo eJerusalema njengobe nje abevame kwenta njalo. Bekusikhatsi semkhosi weliPhasika, futsi imindeni leminyenti beyihamba ndzawonye ngeticumbi kulendzawo lebeyiluhlata njengobe bekusentfwasahlobo. Nasebasondzela etindzaweni letiphakeme taseJerusalema labanyenti bebahlabelela tihlabelelo tekwenyuka  letetayelekile. (Hla. 120-134) Kungenteka kutsi kulelidolobha bekugcwala tinkhulungwane tebantfu. Nasewuphelile lomkhosi, imindeni kanye neticumbi tebantfu bebabuyela emuva etindzaweni tabo. Njengobe boJosefa naMariya bebanalokunyenti lebekufanele bakwente, bacabanga kutsi Jesu abehambisana nalabanye bantfu, mhlawumbe emalunga emndeni wabo. Nasebahambe libanga lelitsatsa lilanga lonkhe, kwaba ngukhani babona kutsi Jesu abelahlekile.​—Luk. 2:41-44.

22, 23. Yini boJosefa naMariya labayenta nababona kutsi indvodzana yabo ilahlekile, futsi watsini Mariya ngesikhatsi sebayitfola?

²² Ngekukhatsateka, babuyela emuva eJerusalema kute bafune Jesu. Ungacabanga kutsi njengobe besebambalwa bantfu kulelidolobha, boJosefa naMariya bebatfukile nabasahamba bamemeta libito lendvodzana yabo. Abekuphi Jesu? Ngelilanga lesitsatfu solo bamfuna kungenteka  Josefa wacala kucabanga kutsi mhlawumbe wehlulekile kunakekela lomntfwana labemphatsiswe nguJehova. Ekugcineni baya ethempelini. Nabefika lapho, bachubeka bafuna bate befika ekamelweni lelikhulu lebelinemadvodza lafundzile nalawati kahle uMtsetfo​—Jesu abelapho ahleti nawo. Kufanele kutsi boJosefa naMariya bakhululeka nabambona.​—Luk. 2:45, 46.

²³ Jesu abewalalele lamadvodza futsi abesolo awabuta imibuto. Kwawamangalisa kubona lwati lwalomntfwana nekuva timphendvulo takhe. Kodvwa boMariya naJosefa betfuka nababona loko. EBhayibhelini akushiwo kutsi Josefa wakhuluma. Kepha lamavi aMariya ayiveta kahle indlela labebativa ngayo bobabili: “Mntfwanami, kodvwa usentani? Mine neyihlo besikhatsateke kakhulu, sisolo sikufuna.”​—Luk. 2:47, 48.

24. LiBhayibheli likuchaza ngayiphi indlela kuba ngumtali?

 ²⁴ Lokulandzisa kweliBhayibheli kukuchaza kahle kuba ngumtali. Kungumsebenti lomatima ngisho nobe ukhulisa umntfwana lote sono. Kukhulisa bantfwana eveni lalamuhla leliyingoti kungabangela ‘kukhatsateka kakhulu,’ kodvwa bobabe nabomake bangadvudvuteka ngekwati kutsi liBhayibheli liyakhuluma ngetinsayeya labahlangabetana nato.

25, 26. Jesu wabaphendvula njani batali bakhe, futsi kungenteka kutsi Josefa wativa njani ngemavi endvodzana yakhe?

²⁵ Jesu abesendzaweni lebeyimenta ative asondzelene naBabe wakhe wasezulwini longuJehova, futsi atfola nelitfuba lekufundza ngaye. Wabaphendvula ngendlela lemelula batali bakhe, watsi: “Beningifunelani? Beningati yini kutsi kufanele ngibe sendlini yaBabe?”​—Luk. 2:49.

²⁶ Asingabati kutsi Josefa wacabangisisa ngalawo mavi tikhatsi letinyenti. Kungenteka kutsi amenta watigcabha ngendvodzana yakhe. Phela nguye labesebente kamatima kute ayifundzise kutsi itsandze Jehova Nkulunkulu. Nanobe abesemncane, Jesu abesavele ati kutsi kusho kutsini kutsi “babe”​—lokuyintfo layifundza njengobe Josefa amkhulisa.

27. Nawungubabe, nguliphi lilungelo lonalo, futsi kungani kufanele ukhumbule sibonelo saJosefa?

²⁷ Nangabe ungubabe, uyalibona yini lilungelo lelikhulu lonalo lekusita bantfwana bakho babone kutsi kunjani kuba nababe lonelutsandvo nalobavikelako? Ngendlela lefanako, nangabe ukhulisa bantfwana longabatali, khumbula sibonelo saJosefa futsi bonkhe ubaphatse njengalabaligugu nalababalulekile. Basite kutsi basondzelane naBabe wabo wasezulwini, longuJehova Nkulunkulu.​—Fundza  Efesu 6:4.

28, 29. (a) Emavi latfolakala kuLukha 2:51, 52 avetani ngaJosefa? (b) Nguyiphi indzima Josefa layidlala ekusiteni indvodzana yakhe kutsi ikhule ihlakaniphile?

²⁸ LiBhayibheli lisitjela ngetintfo letimbalwa letenteka kuJosefa ngemuva kwaloko, kodvwa tonkhe kufanele sitinakisise. LiBhayibheli litsi Jesu “wachubeka abalalela” batali bakhe.  Siphindze sitjelwe nekutsi “Jesu wachubeka ahlakanipha, akhula, futsi atsandvwa nguNkulunkulu kanye nabantfu.” (Fundza Lukha 2:51, 52.) Lamavi asitjela tintfo letinyenti ngaJosefa. Sifundza kutsi Josefa wachubeka ahola emndenini wakhe, ngobe indvodzana yakhe yalihlonipha ligunya lakhe futsi beyisolo ititfoba kulo.

²⁹ Siphindze sifundze nekutsi Jesu wachubeka akhula ngekuhlakanipha. Kuyacaca kutsi Josefa wayisita kakhulu indvodzana yakhe kutsi ihlakaniphe. Ngaleto tikhatsi, bekunesaga lesidzala futsi lebesihlonishwa ngemaJuda. Nalamuhla sisekhona. Lesaga besitsi emadvodza latsandza injabulo ngiwo kuphela langahlakanipha mbamba, kodvwa bantfu labenta imisebenti lenjengekubata, kulima nekusebenta ngensimbi “ngeke bakwati kusho lokulungile baphindze behlulele; kantsi futsi bebangeke batfolakale etindzaweni lapho kwentiwa khona imifanekiso.” Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi Jesu waveta kutsi lesaga besingasho lutfo. Ngesikhatsi asengumfana, abevame kuva babe wakhe labengumbati lophuyile afundzisa ngesibindzi mayelana ‘nekulunga nekwehlulela’ kwaJehova. Asingabati kutsi loko wakwenta tikhatsi letinyenti.

30. Josefa watibekela njani sibonelo tinhloko temindeni lamuhla?

³⁰ Lokunye lesiphindze sikubone bufakazi bekutsi Josefa wamsita Jesu kutsi akhule kahle. Njengobe abenakekeleke kahle, Jesu wakhula waba yindvodza lenemandla futsi lephilile. Ngetulu kwaloko, Josefa wayicecesha indvodzana yakhe kutsi ibe nelikhono emsebentini wayo. Jesu abengagcini nje ngekwatiwa ngekutsi uyindvodzana yembati, kodvwa bekatiwa nangekutsi ‘ngumbati.’ (Mak. 6:3) Kuyacaca kutsi Josefa waphumelela ekufundziseni Jesu. Tinhloko temindeni tingamlingisa Josefa ngekutsi tinakekele inhlalakahle yebantfwana bato futsi ticiniseke kutsi bayakwati kutisekela.

31. (a) Bufakazi buvetani mayelana nekutsi Josefa wafa nini? (Fundza  nelibhokisi.) (b) Ngusiphi sibonelo Josefa lasibekela sona kutsi sisilingise?

³¹ LiBhayibheli nalilandzisa ngesikhatsi Jesu labhajatiswa ngaso asaneminyaka lengaba ngu-30 budzala, libese alisakhulumi ngaJosefa. Bufakazi buveta kutsi Mariya abesangumfelokati ngesikhatsi Jesu acala umsebenti wakhe. (Fundza libhokisi lelitsi  “Wafa Nini Josefa?”) Nobe kunjalo, Josefa washiya intfo latawuhlala akhunjulwa ngayo​—sibonelo sakhe lesihamba embili sekuba ngubabe lovikela umndeni wakhe, lowondlako futsi lophikelela ngekwetsembeka kute kube sekugcineni. Bonkhe bobabe, tonkhe tinhloko temindeni nawo onkhe emaKhristu, benta kahle ngekulingisa kukholwa kwaJosefa.