1, 2. (a) Isivakashi sambingelela sathini uMariya? (b) UMariya wayesempambana-ndlela ngayiphi indlela?

UMARIYA waphakamisa ikhanda emangele njengoba isivakashi sifika kubo. Asizange sicele uyise noma unina. Sasize kuye! Wayeqiniseka ukuthi sasingaveli eNazaretha. Emzaneni omncane njengowakubo, izivakashi zazisheshe zibonakale. Lesi sasingaphawuleka noma kuphi. Sabingelela uMariya ngendlela ayeqala ngqa ukuyizwa, sathi: “Sawubona, wena oboniswe umusa omkhulu, uJehova unawe.”—Funda uLuka 1:26-28.

² Yileyo indlela iBhayibheli elisethulela ngayo uMariya, indodakazi kaHeli, wasemzini waseNazaretha eGalile. Simthola esempambana-ndlela ngomqondo othile. Wayethembisene umshado noJosefa umbazi, owayengeyona indoda ecebile kodwa indoda yokholo. Ngakho kwakungase kubonakale sengathi wayesenqunyelwe kakade inkambo yakhe yokuphila—ukuphila okulula kokusekela uJosefa njengomkakhe, bakhulise umndeni ndawonye. Nokho, kungazelelwe wazithola ephambi kwalesi sivakashi esasimlethele isabelo esivela kuNkulunkulu wakhe, umthwalo wemfanelo owawuzoshintsha ukuphila kwakhe.

3, 4. Ukuze simazi kangcono uMariya, yini okudingeka siyibekele eceleni futhi sigxile kuphi?

³ Abaningi kuyabamangaza ukuthi iBhayibheli alisitsheli okuningi ngoMariya. Lisitshela okuncane ngesizinda sakhe, lisitshele okuncane nakakhulu ngobuntu bakhe, lingasitsheli lutho nhlobo ngokubukeka kwakhe. Kodwa lokho iZwi likaNkulunkulu elikushoyo ngaye kwembula lukhulu ngempela.

⁴ Ukuze simazi kangcono uMariya, kudingeka sibheke ngale kwemibono eminingi eshiwo ngaye yizinkolo eziningi. Ngakho masikubekele eceleni esiye sikubone emifanekisweni kaMariya edwetshiwe, yemabula noma kakhonkolo. Asizibekele eceleni nezimfundiso zenkolo ezilukhuni nezimfundiso ezingaphikiswa ezinika lona wesifazane othobekile iziqu ezifana nokuthi “uNina kaNkulunkulu” nesithi “iNdlovukazi Yezulu.” Kunalokho masigxile kulokho iBhayibheli elikwembulayo ngempela. Lisinika ulwazi olubalulekile ngokholo lwakhe nendlela esingalulingisa ngayo.

5. (a) Yini esingayifunda ngoMariya endleleni asabela ngayo lapho uGabriyeli embingelela? (b) Isiphi isifundo esibalulekile esingasifunda kuMariya?

⁵ Isivakashi sikaMariya sasingeyena nje umuntu. Kwakuyingelosi uGabriyeli. Lapho sibiza uMariya sithi ‘ungoboniswe umusa omkhulu,’ lawo mazwi ‘amphazamisa kakhulu’ wazibuza ngalolu hlobo lokubingelela olungavamile. (Luka 1:29) Ubani owayembonise umusa omkhulu? UMariya wayengalindele ukuba abantu bambonise umusa omkhulu. Kodwa ingelosi yayikhuluma ngomusa kaJehova uNkulunkulu. Kwakubalulekile lokho kuye. Noma kunjalo, akazange aqhoshe azitshele ukuthi uthole umusa kaNkulunkulu. Uma sizama ukuthola umusa kaNkulunkulu, singalokothi siqhoshe siphethe ngokuthi sesiwutholile kakade, sizofunda isifundo esibalulekile intombi enguMariya eyayisiqonda kangcono. UNkulunkulu umelene nabazidlayo, kodwa uyabathanda futhi uyabasekela abaphansi nabathobekile.—Jak. 4:6.

6. Ingelosi yamtshela ngaliphi ilungelo uMariya?

⁶ UMariya kwakuzodingeka athobeke ngaleyo ndlela, ngoba ingelosi yayidlulisele kuye ilungelo elimangalisayo. Yachaza ukuthi wayezobeletha umntwana owayezobaluleka kakhulu kunabo bonke abantu. UGabriyeli wathi: ‘UJehova uNkulunkulu uyomnika isihlalo sobukhosi sikaDavide uyise, futhi uyobusa njengenkosi phezu kwendlu kaJakobe kuze kube phakade, nombuso wayo ngeke uphele.’ (Luka 1: 32, 33) Ngokuqinisekile uMariya wayesazi isithembiso uNkulunkulu ayesenze kuDavide eminyakeni engaphezu kweyinkulungwane ngaphambili—esithi omunye enzalweni yakhe wayeyobusa kuze kube phakade. (2 Sam. 7:12, 13) Ngakho indodana yakhe yayizoba uMesiya okwase kungamakhulu eminyaka abantu bakaNkulunkulu bemlindile!

7. (a) Umbuzo kaMariya wembulani ngaye? (b) Yini abasha namuhla abangayifunda kuMariya?

⁷ Ngaphezu kwalokho, ingelosi yatshela uMariya ukuthi indodana yakhe ‘yayizobizwa ngokuthi iNdodana yoPhezukonke.’ Kwakungenzeka kanjani ukuba owesifazane ongumuntu azale iNdodana kaNkulunkulu? Empeleni, uMariya wayengayizala kanjani nje indodana? Wayesathembisene umshado noJosefa, babengakashadi. UMariya wabuza lo mbuzo ngokungagunci: “Lokhu kuyokwenzeka kanjani, njengoba ngingayazi indoda na?” (Luka 1: 34) Phawula ukuthi uMariya wakhuluma ngobuntombi bakhe engenawo nakancane amahloni. Wayeziqhenya ngobumsulwa bakhe. Namuhla intsha eningi ijaha ukulahla ubuntombi bayo futhi iyashesha ukubahleka usulu labo abangenzi kanjalo. Izwe selishintshe ngempela. Kodwa uJehova akashintshile. (Mal. 3:6) Njengasosukwini  lukaMariya, uyabazisa labo abanamathela ezimisweni zokuziphatha.—Funda eyamaHebheru 13:4.

8. Njengoba uMariya ayengaphelele, kwakuzokwenzeka kanjani ukuba azale umntwana ophelele?

⁸ Nakuba uMariya ayeyinceku ethembekile kaNkulunkulu, wayengaphelele. Pho, wayengamzala kanjani umntwana ophelele oyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu? UGabriyeli wachaza: “Umoya ongcwele uzokwehlela phezu kwakho, amandla oPhezukonke akusibekele. Ngenxa yaleso sizathu, lokho okuzelwe kuyobizwa ngokuthi kungcwele, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu.” (Luka 1:35) Ubungcwele busho “ukuhlanzeka” “nobumsulwa.” Ngokuvamile, abantu badlulisela isimo sabo sokungahlanzeki nesesono enzalweni yabo. Nokho, kulokhu uJehova wayezokwenza isimangaliso esingavamile. Wayezodlulisela ukuphila kweNdodana yakhe esibelethweni sikaMariya kusuka ezulwini bese esebenzisa amandla akhe asebenzayo, noma umoya ongcwele, ukuze ‘asibekele’ uMariya, avikele ingane kunoma imiphi iminonjana yesono. Ingabe uMariya wasikholwa isithembiso sengelosi? Wasabela kanjani?

9. (a) Kungani kungekona ukuhlakanipha ngabagxeki ukuba bangabaze indaba kaMariya? (b) UGabriyeli waluqinisa ngayiphi indlela ukholo lukaMariya?

⁹ Abagxeki, kuhlanganise nezazi ezithile zeLobukholwa, bakuthola kunzima ukukholelwa ukuthi intombi nto ingaba nomntwana. Nakuba befundile, bahluleka ukuqonda iqiniso elilula. Njengoba uGabriyeli ayeshilo, “kuNkulunkulu akukho simemezelo esiyoba yinto engenakwenzeka.” (Luka 1:37) UMariya wawamukela njengayiqiniso amazwi kaGabriyeli ngoba wayengowesifazane osemusha onokholo. Kodwa lolo kholo kwakungelona olokuthatheka. Njenganoma imuphi umuntu ocabanga kahle, uMariya wayedinga ubufakazi ayezosekela kubo ukholo lwakhe. UGabriyeli wayekulungele ukumnika obunye ubufakazi. Watshela uMariya ngesihlobo sakhe esesikhulile u-Elizabethe, okwase kuyisikhathi eside saziwa ukuthi siyinyumba. UNkulunkulu wayemenze wakhulelwa ngokuyisimangaliso!

10. Kungani kungafanele siphethe ngokuthi ilungelo likaMariya alimbangelanga ukwesaba noma ubunzima?

¹⁰ Manje yini uMariya ayezoyenza? Wayenesabelo okwakufanele asifeze futhi enobufakazi bokuthi uNkulunkulu uzokwenza konke lokhu uGabriyeli ayekushilo. Akufanele siphethe ngokuthi leli lungelo alimbangelanga ukwesaba nobunzima. Okokuqala, kwakufanele acabange ngokuthembisana kwakhe umshado noJosefa. Ingabe umshado wabo wawuzoqhubeka lapho ethola ukuthi ukhulelwe? Okwesibili, isabelo ngokwaso sasibonakala siwumthwalo ongaphezu kwamandla. Wayezothwala ukuphila kwesidalwa sikaNkulunkulu  esibaluleke kunazo zonke—iNdodana yakhe ethandekayo! Kwakuyodingeka ayinakekele lapho isewusana olungenakuzisiza futhi ayivikele ezweni elibi. Umthwalo onzima isibili!

11, 12. (a) Amadoda aqinile nathembekile aye asabela kanjani ngezinye izikhathi ezabelweni eziyinselele ezivela kuNkulunkulu? (b) Yini uMariya ayembula ngaye lapho ephendula uGabriyeli?

¹¹ IBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi ngisho namadoda aqinile nathembekile ngezinye izikhathi aye angabaza ukwamukela izabelo eziyinselele ezivela kuNkulunkulu. UMose wakhala ngokuthi akalona iqaphuqaphu ukuba angaba umkhulumeli kaNkulunkulu. (Eks. 4:10) UJeremiya wathi ‘ungumfana nje,’ mncane kakhulu ukuba angathatha isabelo uNkulunkulu ayemnike sona. (Jer. 1:6) UJona-ke yena wasibalekela isabelo sakhe! (Jona 1:3) Kuthiwani ngoMariya?

¹² Amazwi akhe agcwele intobeko nabonisa ukulalela aziwa abantu bonke abanokholo. Wathi kuGabriyeli: “Bheka! Incekukazi kaJehova! Kwangathi kungenzeka kimi njengokwesimemezelo sakho.” (Luka 1:38) Incekukazi yayiyisikhonzi esiphansi kunazo zonke; ukuphila kwayo konke kwakusezandleni zomniniyo. Yileyo ndlela uMariya azizwa ngayo ngoMnikazi wakhe uJehova. Wayazi ukuthi ulondekile ezandleni zakhe, ukuthi uqotho kulabo abaqotho kuye, futhi wayezombusisa lapho enza konke okusemandleni akhe ukuze afeze isabelo sakhe esiyinselele.—IHu. 18:25.

13. Singazuza kanjani esibonelweni sikaMariya uma uNkulunkulu esicela ukuba senze okubonakala kunzima noma kungenakwenzeka?

¹³ Ngezinye izikhathi uNkulunkulu usicela ukuba senze okuthile esingase sikubone kunzima noma kungenakwenzeka. Kodwa eZwini lakhe usinika izizathu eziningi zokumethemba, zokubeka ukuphila kwethu ezandleni zakhe njengoMariya. (IzAga 3: 5, 6) Ingabe siyokwenza lokho? Uma sikwenza, uyosivuza, asinike izizathu zokwakha ukholo oluqine nakakhulu kuye.

14, 15. (a) UJehova wambusisa kanjani uMariya lapho evakashele u-Elizabethe noZakariya? (b) Inkulumo kaMariya elotshwe kuLuka 1:46-55 yembulani ngaye?

¹⁴ Amazwi kaGabriyeli ngo-Elizabethe asho lukhulu kuMariya. Kubo bonke abesifazane emhlabeni, ubani owayengasiqonda kangcono isimo sakhe? UMariya waphuthuma waya ezweni lakwaJuda elinezintaba, uhambo oluthatha cishe izinsuku ezintathu noma ezine. Njengoba engena emzini ka-Elizabethe noZakariya umpristi, uJehova wabusisa uMariya ngobunye ubufakazi obuqinile ukuze aqinise ukholo lwakhe. U-Elizabethe wezwa uMariya ebingelela, ngokushesha nje wezwa usana lugxuma ngenjabulo esibelethweni sakhe.  Wagcwala umoya ongcwele futhi wabiza uMariya ngokuthi “umama weNkosi yami.” UNkulunkulu wayembulele u-Elizabethe ukuthi indodana kaMariya yayizoba iNkosi yakhe, uMesiya. Ngaphezu kwalokho, waphefumulelwa ukuba ancome uMariya ngokulalela kwakhe ngokwethembeka, ethi: “Uyajabula futhi owesifazane oye wakholwa.” (Luka 1:39-45) Yebo, konke uJehova ayekuthembise uMariya kwakuzofezeka!

¹⁵ UMariya naye wakhuluma. Amazwi akhe alondolozwe ngokucophelela eZwini likaNkulunkulu. (Funda uLuka 1:46-55.) Lena inkulumo kaMariya ende kunazo zonke ezinkulumweni zakhe ezilotshwe eBhayibhelini, futhi yembula okuningi ngaye. Ibonisa ukubonga nomoya wakhe wokwazisa njengoba edumisa uJehova ngokumbusisa ngelungelo lokuba unina kaMesiya. Ibonisa ukujula kokholo  lwakhe njengoba echaza uJehova njengothobisa abazidlayo nabanamandla nosiza abaphansi nabampofu abafuna ukumkhonza. Iphinde iveze ukuthi wayenolwazi olungakanani. Okunye ukulinganisela kuthi wabhekisela emiBhalweni yesiHebheru izikhathi ezingaphezu kwezingu-20! *

16, 17. (a) UMariya nendodana yakhe bawubonisa kanjani umoya okufanele siwulingise? (b) Ukuvakasha kukaMariya kwa-Elizabethe kusikhumbuza siphi isibusiso?

¹⁶ Kuyacaca ukuthi uMariya wayecabanga ajule ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu. Noma kunjalo, waqhubeka ethobekile, wakhetha ukuvumela imiBhalo ikhulume kunokuba akhulume okusuka kuye. Indodana eyayikhula esibelethweni sakhe ngelinye ilanga yayiyobonisa umoya ofanayo, ithi: “Lokho engikufundisayo akukhona okwami, kodwa kungokwalowo ongithumile.” (Joh. 7:16) Senza kahle ngokuzibuza: ‘Ingabe ngibonisa inhlonipho nokwesaba okunjalo ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu? Noma ngikhetha eyami imibono nezami izimfundiso?’ Isimo sengqondo sikaMariya sicacile.

¹⁷ UMariya wahlala no-Elizabethe izinyanga ezingaba ntathu, akungabazeki ukuthi babekhuthazana. (Luka 1:56) Ukulandisa kweBhayibheli okufudumele kwalokhu kuvakashelana kusikhumbuza indlela ubungane obungaba isibusiso ngayo. Uma sifuna abangane abamthanda ngeqiniso uNkulunkulu wethu uJehova, singaqiniseka ukuthi siyokhula ngokomoya futhi sisondele kuye. (IzAga 13:20) Noma kunjalo, ekugcineni kwase kuyisikhathi sokuba uMariya abuyele ekhaya. Wayezothini uJosefa lapho ezwa ngesimo sakhe?

18. Yini uMariya ayambulela uJosefa, futhi uJosefa wasabela kanjani?

¹⁸ Cishe uMariya akalindanga kwaze kwabonakala ukuthi ukhulelwe. Akungabazeki ukuthi kwakufanele atshele uJosefa. Ngaphambi kwalokho, kungenzeka wazibuza ukuthi le ndoda ethembekile neyesaba uNkulunkulu yayizosabela kanjani kulokhu ayezoyitshela kona. Noma kunjalo, waya kuye futhi wamtshela konke okwakwenzeke kuye. Njengoba ungase ucabange, uJosefa wakhathazeka kakhulu. Wayefuna ukuyikholwa le ntombi ayithandayo, kodwa wayebona sengathi ayizange ithembeke kuye. IBhayibheli alisho ukuthi yini eyamfikela engqondweni noma ayeyicabanga. Kodwa liyasho ukuthi wanquma ukuhlukanisa nayo, ngoba ngaleso sikhathi, imibhangqwana ethembisene yayibhekwa njengabantu abashadile. Nokho, wayengafuni ukuyenza umbukwane noma ukuyihlaza, ngakho wanquma ukuhlukanisa nayo ngasese. (Math. 1:18, 19) Kumelwe ukuba kwamzwisa ubuhlungu obukhulu uMariya ukubona le ndoda  elungile iphatheke kabi ngenxa yalesi simo eyayingasilindele. Kodwa uMariya akamthukuthelelanga.

19. UJehova wamsiza kanjani uJosefa ukuba athathe isinyathelo esihle?

¹⁹ UJehova wamsiza ngomusa uJosefa ukuba azi ukuthi yini okumelwe ayenze. Ingelosi kaNkulunkulu yamtshela ngephupho ukuthi ngempela uMariya wayekhulelwe ngokuyisimangaliso. Kumelwe ukuba lokho kwamkhulula! UJosefa manje wenza lokhu uMariya ayekwenzile kusukela ekuqaleni—wenza ngokuvumelana nesiqondiso sikaJehova. Wathatha uMariya njengomkakhe futhi wazilungiselela ukuthatha umthwalo oyingqayizivele wokunakekela iNdodana kaJehova.—Math. 1:20-24.

20, 21. Abantu abashadile nalabo abasacabangela ukushada yini abangayifunda kuMariya noJosefa?

²⁰ Abantu abashadile—nalabo abacabangela ukushada—benza kahle ngokufunda kulo mbhangqwana osemusha owaphila eminyakeni engu-2 000 edlule. Njengoba uJosefa ebona umkakhe efeza izabelo nemithwalo yokuba umama, ngokuqinisekile wayejabula ngokuthi ingelosi kaJehova yamqondisa. Kumelwe ukuba uJosefa wakubona ukubaluleka kokuncika kuJehova lapho enza izinqumo ezibalulekile. (IHu. 37:5; IzAga 18:13) Akungabazeki ukuthi waqhubeka ecophelela futhi ebonisa umusa lapho enza izinqumo njengenhloko yomkhaya.

²¹ Ngakolunye uhlangothi, singaphetha ngokuthini ngokuzimisela kukaMariya ukushada noJosefa? Nakuba kungenzeka ukuthi ekuqaleni uJosefa wakuthola kunzima ukuqonda indaba kaMariya, uMariya washiyela kuye ukuba anqume ukuthi kuzokwenziwa njani ngoba nguye owayezoba inhloko yomkhaya. Lokhu kwaba isifundo esihle ngempela kuMariya, njengoba kunjalo nakwabesifazane abangamaKristu namuhla. Ekugcineni, lezi zenzakalo cishe zafundisa uJosefa noMariya okukhulu ngokwethembeka nokukhulumisana ngokukhululekile.—Funda izAga 15:22.

22. Sasiyini isisekelo somshado kaJosefa noMariya, futhi imuphi umthwalo owawubalindile?

²² Ngokuqinisekile lo mbhangqwana osemusha waqala umshado wawo ngesisekelo esihle kakhulu. Ngaphezu kwakho konke, babethanda uJehova uNkulunkulu futhi belangazelela ukumjabulisa njengabazali abafeza umsebenzi wabo nabakhathalelayo. Yiqiniso, babelindelwe izibusiso ezinkulu—izinselele ezinkulu nazo zazibalindile. Babemelwe umthwalo wokukhulisa uJesu, owayeyokhula abe umuntu omkhulu kunabo bonke abake baba khona emhlabeni.