1. Liliphi elona xesha ekunokwenzeka ukuba lalinzima ebomini bukaPetros?

UPETROS wayengasoze ayilibale into eyenzekayo xa uYesu wamthi ntsho emehlweni. Ngaba indlela awamjonga ngayo uYesu yayibonisa ukuba umdanisile? Asinakuqiniseka; iBhayibhile ayisixeleli zinkcukacha, kuphela ithi “iNkosi yajika yajonga kuPetros.” (Luka 22:61) Kodwa ke loo nto yenza uPetros wabona ukuba wonile. Wayeqonda ukuba wayekhanyele iNkosi yakhe—nto leyo uYesu wayemlumkisile ngayo, nangona uPetros wayemqinisekisile ukuba wayengasoze ayenze. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba eli yayilelona xesha lakhe lanzima ebomini bukaPetros.

2. Sisiphi isifundo ekwakufuneka asifunde uPetros, ibe sinokungenelwa njani kwibali lakhe?

² Kodwa ke, wayengamel’ alahle ithemba. Ekubeni uPetros wayeyindoda enokholo, wayesenalo ithuba lokuzilungisa iimpazamo zakhe aze afunde esinye sezona zifundo zibalulekileyo awayenokuzifunda kuYesu. Eso sifundo kukuxolela. Ngamnye wethu kufuneka afunde isifundo esifanayo, ngoko makhe sibone indlela awasifunda ngayo esi sifundo uPetros.

3, 4. (a) Nguwuphi umbuzo uPetros awawubuza uYesu, ibe yintoni ekusenokwenzeka ukuba uPetros wayecinga ngayo? (b) UYesu wambonisa njani uPetros ukuba wayephenjelelwa ngumoya wokuba nesixhiba nokungaxoleli owawugquba ngelo xesha?

³ Malunga neenyanga ezintandathu ngaphambili xa babekwidolophu yakowabo iKapernahum, uPetros wabuza uYesu esithi: “Nkosi, zingaphi izihlandlo umzalwana wam amele andone ngazo ndize ndimxolele? Ukusa kwizihlandlo ezisixhenxe na?” Mhlawumbi uPetros wayecinga ukuba wayenenceba. Ngapha koko abefundisi belo xesha babefundisa ukuba umntu wayefanele axolelwe kathathu kuphela. Kodwa uYesu waphendula wathi: “Kungekhona, Ukusa kwizihlandlo ezisixhenxe, kodwa, Ukusa kwizihlandlo ezingamashumi asixhenxe anesixhenxe.”—Mat. 18:21, 22.

⁴ Ngaba uYesu wayesithi kuPetros makabhale encwadini qho  esoniwa? Wayengathethi loo nto, kunoko ukuxelela kukaYesu uPetros ukuba wayefanele axolele kungekhona izihlandlo ezisixhenxe kodwa ezingama-77 kwakubonisa ukuba ukuxolela akunamda kubantu abanothando. (1 Kor. 13:4, 5) UYesu wabonisa uPetros ukuba wayephenjelelwe ngumoya wokuba nesixhiba nokungaxoleli owawugquba ngelo xesha. Noko ke, ukuxolela okukhuthazwa nguThixo kunenceba.—Funda eyoku- 1 kaYohane 1:7-9.

5. Kunini apho sinokufunda lukhulu ngokuxolela?

⁵ UPetros akazange amphikise uYesu. Kodwa ngaba wafunda bethu? Ngamanye amaxesha sifunda lukhulu ngokuxolela xa sibona indlela esikufuna ngayo nathi ukuxolelwa. Ngoko makhe sithethe ngezinto ezenzeka ngaphambi kokufa kukaYesu. Kwezo yure zobunzima, iNkosi kwafuneka imxolele kaninzi uPetros.

6. UPetros wasabela njani njengokuba uYesu wayezama ukufundisa abapostile ukuthobeka, ibe nangona kunjalo, uYesu wamphatha njani?

⁶ Yayibubusuku obuxakekileyo—obokugqibela uYesu esemhlabeni. UYesu wayenezinto ezininzi awayefuna ukuzifundisa abapostile bakhe, njengokuthobeka. Wabamisela umzekelo ngokubahlamba iinyawo abafundi bakhe, esenza umsebenzi owawudla ngokwenziwa sesona sicaka siphantsi. Ekuqaleni uPetros waqala wayithandabuza le nto yayisenziwa nguYesu. Wayengafuni ukuba amhlambe iinyawo. Kodwa kamva wathi uYesu makangamhlambi iinyawo nje kuphela, kodwa amhlambe nezandla kunye nentloko! UYesu akazange acatshukiswe yile nto kodwa wamchazela isizathu nokubaluleka kwale nto ayenzayo.—Yoh. 13:1-17.

7, 8. (a) Ziziphi ezinye iindlela uPetros awavavanya umonde kaYesu ngazo? (b) UYesu waqhubeka njani ebonisa ububele nokuxolela?

⁷ Kungekudala emva koko, uPetros waphinda wavavanya umonde kaYesu. Abapostile baxambulisana ngokuba ngubani oyena mkhulu, yaye ngokuqinisekileyo uPetros wayekho naye koko kuxambulisana okwakuqhutywa likratshi. Nakuba kunjalo, uYesu wabaluleka ngembeko wada wabancoma ngezinto ezintle ababezenzile njengokunamathela kwiNkosi yabo. Noko ke, wabaxelela kwangaphambili ukuba babeza kumshiya. UPetros wamphikisa esithi wayexolele ukufa kunokuba amshiye. Kodwa ke, uYesu waprofeta wathi wawuza kuthi ungekakhonyi kabini umqhagi, abe sele emkhanyele izihlandlo ezithathu. UPetros akazange aphelele nje ekumphikiseni uYesu kodwa waphinda waqhayisa esithi yena wayeza kuthembeka ngaphezu kwabanye abapostile.—Mat. 26:31-35; Marko 14:27-31; Luka 22:24-28; Yoh. 13:36-38.

⁸ Ngaba uYesu waphelelwa ngumonde ngoPetros? Akunjalo, kunoko nangona kwakunzima waqhubeka ekhangela izinto ezintle  kwabo bapostile bakhe bangafezekanga. Wayesazi ukuba uPetros wayeza kumphoxa kodwa wathi kuye: “Ndiye ndenza isikhungo ngenxa yakho ukuze ungatyhafi elukholweni; yaye nawe, wakubuya, bomeleze abazalwana bakho.” (Luka 22:32) UYesu waba nentembelo yokuba uPetros uza kuphinda omelele elukholweni aze aqhubeke nenkonzo yakhe. Wamisela umzekelo omhle wobubele nokuxolela!

9, 10. (a) Yintoni ekwafuneka alungiswe kuyo uPetros kumyezo waseGetsemane? (b) Zisikhumbuza ntoni iimpazamo zikaPetros?

⁹ Kamva kumyezo waseGetsemane, uPetros kwafuneka alulekwe izihlandlo eziliqela. UYesu wacela yena, uYakobi noYohane ukuba balinde ngoxa wayethandaza. UYesu wayengcungutheka emphefumlweni yaye efuna inkxaso yabo, kodwa uPetros nabanye balala. UYesu wathetha la mazwi abonisa ukuqonda: “Umoya, kambe ke, unentumekelelo, kodwa inyama ibuthathaka.”—Marko 14:32-41.

¹⁰ Kungekudala kwafika ihlokondiba liphethe izibane, amakrele kunye neentonga. Eli yayilixesha lokuba umntu achul’ ukunyathela. Kodwa uPetros watyhuthuzela, wakhuph’ ikrele waza waxabela uMalko, ikhoboka lombingeleli omkhulu endlebeni. UYesu wamluleka kakuhle uPetros, waphilisa inxeba lelo khoboka waza wachaza umgaqo wokungabheneli kwizigalo osasebenza nanamhla oku kubalandeli bakhe. (Mat. 26:47-55; Luka 22:47-51; Yoh. 18:10, 11) UPetros wayesele exolelwe izihlandlo ezininzi yiNkosi yakhe. Imeko yakhe inokusikhumbuza ukuba nathi siyona izihlandlo ezininzi. (Funda uYakobi 3:2.) Ngubani kuthi ongakufuniyo ukuxolelwa nguThixo yonke imihla? Kodwa ke kwakusanyelw’ iintambo kuba obo busuku babuseza kuba bude, ingakumbi kuPetros. Wayeseza kwenza iimpazamo ezingakumbi.

11, 12. (a) UPetros wayibonakalisa njani inkalipho ekubanjweni kukaYesu? (b) Yintoni awayeyithembisile uPetros angazange ayenze?

¹¹ UYesu waxelela elo hlokondiba ukuba ekubeni lalifuna yena, lalifanele libayeke bahambe abapostile bakhe. UPetros wabukela kungekho nto anokuyenza njengoko abo bantu babebopha uYesu. Emva koko uPetros wabelek’ abasicatyana njengoko benzayo nabanye abapostile.

¹² UPetros noYohane bakhe bee xha, mhlawumbi ngakumzi ka-Anas owayekade enguMbingeleli oMkhulu, apho uYesu waqala wasiwa khona ukuze ancinwe. Njengoko uYesu wayesisiwa apho, uPetros noYohane babemlandela, kodwa “kumgama othe qelele.” (Mat. 26:58; Yoh. 18:12, 13) UPetros wayengelogwala. Kwakufuneka abe nenkalipho ukuze akwazi ukulandela elo hlokondiba. Kaloku lalixhobile ibe uPetros wayesele enzakalise omnye wabantu ababehamba nalo. Kodwa ke ukuza kuthi ga ngoku asikakuboni okwaa kuzincama  ebethethe ngako ngaphambili—ukukulungela ukufa nenkosi yakhe.—Marko 14:31.

13. Yiyiphi ekuphela kwendlela esinokumlandela kakuhle ngayo uKristu?

¹³ Bakho nanamhlanje abantu abanjengoPetros, abalandela uKristu “kumgama othe qelele”—ukuze bangabonwa ngabanye abantu. Njengokuba uPetros wabhala kamva, ekuphela kwendlela yokulandela uKristu kakuhle kukunamathela ngokusondeleyo Kuye kangangoko kunokwenzeka, uxelisa umzekelo Wakhe kwizinto zonke enokuba kuza kuphumela entwenini na.—Funda eyoku-1 kaPetros 2:21.

14. Xa kwakuchotshelwe ityala likaYesu, wayephi uPetros?

¹⁴ UPetros walandela isihlwele esasibambe uYesu de waya kufika kwenye yezona zindlu zakha zankulu eYerusalem. Yayingumzi kaKayafa, umbingeleli omkhulu owayesisinhanha yaye enempembelelo. Imizi elolo hlobo yayidla ngokuba neyadi enkulu kunye nesango elingaphambili. UPetros wafika esangweni kodwa ke akazange avunyelwe ukuba angene. UYohane, owayesele engaphakathi yaye emazi umbingeleli omkhulu, wacela umgcini-sango ukuba amngenise. Kubonakala ngathi uPetros akazange eme ngakuYohane yaye akazange angene ngaphakathi endlwini ukuze aye kuma ecaleni kweNkosi yakhe. Wema eyadini apho amakhoboka nezinye izicaka zazothe umlilo yaye zibukele njengoko kwakusiziswa amangqina obuxoki ukuze anikele ubungqina nxamnye noYesu.—Marko 14:54-57; Yoh. 18:15, 16, 18.

15, 16. Khawuchaze indlela esazaliseka ngayo isiprofeto sikaYesu sokukhanyela kathathu.

¹⁵ Njengoko babeme ngasemlilweni, intombazana eyayingenise uPetros esangweni yatsho yambona kakuhle. Yayimazi. Yamtyhola yathi: “Nawe, ubukunye noYesu umGalili!” UPetros owayengayilindelanga noko le nto, wakhanyela wema ngomlenze omnye. Wada wemka nalapho waya kuma ngasesangweni ukuze angabonwa, kodwa ke nalapho wabonwa yenye intombazana eyamxelela into efanayo isithi: “Lo mntu wayekunye noYesu umNazarete.” UPetros wafunga wathi: “Andimazi lo mntu!” (Mat. 26:69-72; Marko 14:66-68) Mhlawumbi uPetros weva umqhagi ukhonya emva kokuba ekhanyele uYesu okwesibini, kodwa ke akazange asikhumbule nokusikhumbula isiprofeto esasithethwe nguYesu kwiiyure ezimbalwa ngaphambili.

¹⁶ Emva kwexesha elingephi, uPetros wayesazama ukubaleka amehlo abantu. Kodwa iqela labantu elalimi kuloo yadi leza kuye. Omnye wabo wayesisalamane sikaMalko, ikhoboka awayelixabele. Wathi kuPetros: “Ndikubonile emyezweni unaye, akunjalo?” UPetros waziva enyanzelekile ukubeyisela ukuba babephazama. Ngoko wafunga, kusenokwenzeka ukuba wathi ufanele aqalekiswe ukuba uyaxoka. UPetros wayephika okwesithathu ngoku. Akuzange kube kudala  emva kokuba ethethe loo mazwi, wakhony’ umqhagi—umqhagi wesibini awawuva ukhala ngobo busuku.—Yoh. 18:26, 27; Marko 14:71, 72.

17, 18. (a) Wenza ntoni uPetros akuqonda ukuba uyonile iNkosi yakhe? (b) Yintoni ekusenokwenzeka ukuba uPetros wayecinga ngayo?

¹⁷ Ngelo xesha uYesu wayemiswe kwivaranda. Kwakungeso sihlandlo kuthethwe ngaso ekuqaleni kweli nqaku apho wajongana khona noPetros. Lo mpostile watsho wayibona indlela awayeyidanise ngayo iNkosi yakhe. UPetros wemka apho edimazeke kakhulu ngenxa yesono sakhe. Waya kwizitrato zesixeko ezazikhanyiswe yinyanga. Wathi gwantyi iinyembezi. Wayedimazeke kakhulu. Le ndoda yatsho esofelweyo.—Marko 14:72; Luka 22:61, 62.

¹⁸ Xa umntu enze isono esinzulu kangako, uye acinge ukuba akanakuxolelwa. Mhlawumbi noPetros wayecinga ngaloo ndlela. Kodwa ngaba nyhani kwakunjalo?

19. Kumele ukuba wayevakalelwa njani uPetros ngobo busuku, nangona kunjalo, sazi njani ukuba akazange atyhafe?

¹⁹ Kunzima ukuyithelekelela intlungu awayekuyo uPetros njengoko kwakusithi qheke ukusa ngemini elandelayo yaye ekhumbula nezinto ezenzekileyo. Ufanele ukuba wayezisola kakhulu njengoko wayebona uYesu esifa emva kokungcungcuthekiswa ixesha elide! UPetros umele ukuba wayebuhlungu gqitha xa ecinga ngegalelo lakhe kwintlungu eyaviwa yiNkosi yakhe kusuku lwayo lokugqibela njengomntu. Nangona wayebuhlungu ngendlela engathethekiyo, uPetros akazange atyhafe. Loo nto siyazi ngenxa yokuba kungekudala simfumana ekunye nabazalwana bakhe kwakhona. (Luka 24:33) Akuthandabuzeki ukuba abapostile babezisola ngezinto ababezenzile ngobo busuku yaye bethuthuzelana.

20. Sifunda ntoni kwisenzo sikaPetros emva kokukhanyela uYesu?

²⁰ Singatsho sithi nalapha uPetros wazingqina ukuba wayeyindoda elumkileyo. Xa umkhonzi kaThixo ewela esonweni, eyona nto ibalulekileyo asibobunzulu beso sono kodwa kukuzimisela kwakhe ukuphakama azivuthulule aze alungise iindlela zakhe. (Funda iMizekeliso 24:16.) UPetros wabonisa ukholo ngokuhlanganisana nabazalwana bakhe nangona wayedimazekile. Xa umntu ebuhlungu ngenxa yesono, kunokuba lula ukuzahlula, kodwa ke kuyingozi. (IMize. 18:1) Ikhondo lobulumko kukuhlala namanye amaKristu ude uchache.—Heb. 10:24, 25.

21. Ekubeni wayekunye nabazalwana bakhe, ziziphi iindaba awazivayo uPetros?

 ²¹ Ekubeni wayekunye nabazalwana bakhe, uPetros weva ukuba umzimba kaYesu wawungekho engcwabeni. UPetros noYohane babaleka baya engcwabeni likaYesu. UYohane ekusenokwenzeka ukuba wayemncinane kunoPetros wafika kuqala. Wafika wema esakubona ingcwaba livuliwe. Kodwa uPetros akazange ayenze loo nto. Nangona wayediniwe, wafika wangena phakathi engcwabeni. Ingcwaba lalingenamntu!—Yoh. 20:3-9.

22. Yintoni eyasusa ukudimazeka namathandabuzo kuPetros?

²² Ngaba uPetros wayekholelwa ukuba uYesu wayevusiwe? Ekuqaleni akazange akholwe, nangona abafazi abanyanisekileyo bamxelela ukuba babebone ingelosi eyabachazela ngokuvuswa kukaYesu. (Luka 23:55–24:11) Kodwa lwathi luphela olo suku wabe uPetros eyekile ukudimazeka nokuthandabuza. UYesu wayephila yaye eyingelosi enamandla! Wabonakala kubo bonke abapostile bakhe. Kodwa ke kukho into awaqala wayenza ngaphambi kokuba abonakale kubo bonke. Abapostile bathi ngaloo mini: “Enyanisweni iNkosi ivusiwe yaye ibonakele kuSimon!” (Luka 24:34) Kamva nompostile uPawulos wabhala ngosuku uYesu ‘awabonakala ngalo kuKefas, nakwabalishumi elinesibini.’ (1 Kor. 15:5) UKefas noSimon ngamanye amagama kaPetros. UYesu wabonakala kuye ngaloo mini—ngexesha ekusenokwenzeka ukuba wayeyedwa ngalo.

23. Kutheni amaKristu awele esonweni emele akhumbule oko kwenzeka kuPetros?

²³ IBhayibhile ayisixeleli ukuba uYesu noPetros bathetha ngantoni ngaloo mini. Leyo iphakathi kukaYesu noPetros. Sinokuyithelekelela indlela amele ukuba wavuya ngayo uPetros xa wabona iNkosi yakhe ayithandayo kwakhona, waza wafumana nethuba lokucela uxolo kuyo. Ayikho into awayeyifuna ngaphezu kokuxolelwa. Akuthandabuzeki ukuba uYesu wazixolela zonke izono zakhe. Xa amaKristu ewela esonweni kufuneka akhumbule lo mzekelo kaPetros. Singaze sicinge ukuba uYehova akanakuze asixolele. UYesu wazibonakalisa kakuhle iimpawu zikaYise, ‘oya kuxolela ngokukhulu.’—Isaya 55:7.

24, 25. (a) Khawuchaze ukuba kwakunjani ngoxa uPetros wayeloba ebusuku kuLwandle lwaseGalili. (b) Wasabela njani uPetros xa uYesu wenza ummangaliso ngentsasa elandelayo?

²⁴ UYesu wayalela abafundi bakhe ukuba baye eGalili apho wayeza kudibana nabo khona. Ukufika kwabo apho uPetros waya kuloba kuLwandle lwaseGalili. Nabanye abapostile bamlandela. Kwakhona uPetros wabuyela kulwandle lwaseGalili awayechithe ubomi bakhe obuninzi eloba kulo. Kufanele ukuba waziva esekhaya kolo lwandle —iphenyane lindanda phezu kwamanzi, isandi esenziwa ngamaza, nokuphosa iminatha kwakhona. Phofu ke babuya nemband’ esikhova ngobo busuku.—Mat. 26:32; Yoh. 21:1-3.

²⁵ Kwathi xa kusithi qheke ukusa kwabonakala ndoda ithile elunxwemeni yaza yabayalela ukuba baphose iminatha kwelinye icala lephenyane. Bayiphosa baza babambisa iintlanzi ezili-153! UPetros wayeyazi ukuba ngubani loo ndoda. Watsiba esikhepheni waza wadada esiya elunxwemeni. Apho uYesu wabapha intlanzi awayeyosile. Wathetha noPetros—Yoh. 21:4-14.

26, 27. (a) UYesu wanika uPetros waphi amathuba amathathu? (b) UYesu wabonisa njani ukuba umxolele uPetros?

 ²⁶ UYesu wabuza uPetros enoba iNkosi yakhe wayeyithanda “ngaphezu kwezi” kusini na—ngokucacileyo esalatha kwinkitha yeentlanzi ababezibambisile. Ngaba kwakukho ukhuphiswano entliziyweni kaPetros phakathi kokuthanda ishishini lokuloba nokuthanda uYesu? UYesu wanika uPetros ithuba lokuba amqinisekise kathathu phambi kwabahlobo bakhe ukuba wayemthanda, kanye njengokuba wayemkhanyele kathathu. Njengoko uPetros wayevuma ukuba uyamthanda, uYesu wambonisa indlela yokulubonakalisa olo thando: ngokubeka inkonzo yakhe ngaphambi kwayo nantoni na enye, nangokondla okanye ukwalusa abalandeli okanye izimvu zikaKristu.—Luka 22:32; Yoh. 21:15-17.

²⁷ Ngaloo ndlela uYesu waqinisekisa uPetros ukuba wayesaxabisekile kuye nakuYise. UPetros wayeza kuba nendima ebalulekileyo kwibandla elalathiswa nguKristu. UYesu wamnika ubungqina obucacileyo bokuba wayemxolele! Ngokuqinisekileyo loo nceba yayichukumisa intliziyo kaPetros.

28. UPetros waba luLwalwa ngayiphi ingqiqo njengokuba igama lakhe lisitsho?

²⁸ UPetros wasenza ngokunyaniseka esi sabelo kangangeminyaka. Wabomeleza abazalwana bakhe kanye njengokuba noYesu wayemthumile kubusuku awafa ngabo. UPetros wabalusa enomonde yaye enobubele abalandeli bakaYesu. Indoda ekwakuthiwe nguSimon yalandela igama eyayilinikwe nguYesu—elithi Petros okanye uLwalwa—ngokomelela ingagungqi nangokuba nempembelelo entle ebandleni. Ubungqina obuninzi obuxhasa loo nto bubonakala kwiileta ezimbini ezabhalwa nguPetros nezaba yinxalenye yeencwadi zeBhayibhile. Ezo leta ziphinde zibonise ukuba uPetros akazange azilibale izifundo awazifundiswa nguYesu ngokuxolela.—Funda eyoku-1 kaPetros. 3:8, 9; 4:8.

29. Singaluxelisa njani ukholo lukaPetros nenceba yeNkosi yakhe?

²⁹ Ngamana nathi singasifunda esi sifundo. Ngaba sicela uThixo ukuba asixolele izono zethu imihla ngemihla? Ngaba siyakwamkela oko kuxolelwa yaye siyawakholelwa amandla ako okusihlambulula? Ngaba nathi siyabaxolela abanye? Ukuba senjenjalo, sixelisa ukholo lukaPetros—nenceba yeNkosi yakhe.