1, 2. (a) UJosefa kanye lemuli yakhe kwasekumele bathuthele ngaphi? (b) Yiziphi indaba ezimbi uJosefa azitshela umkakhe?

UJOSEFA waqukula omunye umthwalo wawuthi qithi phezu kukababhemi. Kwasekukomnyama ubambile eBhethilehema. Akumbone uJosefa ethalathalaza, embambatha ubabhemi wakhe. Kufanele ukuthi wayecabanga ngohambo olude olwalubajamele. Yena lemuli yakhe kwasekumele baye khonale eGibhithe, ebantwini ababengabazi ngitsho, ababelamasiko ayetshiyene lawabo njalo ababekhuluma ulimi ababengalwazi. Kambe ukuthuthela elizweni lelo kwakungasoze yini kufane lokuziphosela esizibeni esimnyama esingakhali laxoxo?

² Kwakunzima ukuthi uJosefa ayibhoboze kuMariya linsindabaphenduli yendaba. Kodwa waqunga isibindi, wasitshela isithandwa sakhe. Wasilandisela ukuthi ingilosi kaNkulunkulu yayikhulume laye ephutsheni, yamtshela ukuthi uHerodi wayezingela indodana yabo efuna ukuyibulala. Yikho-ke kwasekumele bahle baphume baphele eBhethilehema! (Bala uMathewu 2:13, 14.) Indaba le yamudla uMariya. Engxenye wayezibuza ukuthi kambe indodana yakhe yayoneni baze bafune ukuyibulala yona ingazi lutho nje. LakuJosefa kwakunzima ukuliginya lelo. Kodwa bathemba uJehova, balungiselela ukuya eGibhithe.

3. Chaza ukuthi uJosefa lemuli yakhe basuka njani eBhethilehema. (Khangela lomfanekiso.)

³ Abantu baseBhethilehema babezitshayela isithongwana bengazi lutho. Kodwa uJosefa, uMariya kanye loJesu bathi nyelele emnyameni, ngale ngasempumalanga inyanga isikhanya. Baqonda eningizimu, mhlawumbe uJosefa ezibuza ukuthi babezahlangana lani phambili. Wayezayivikela njani imuli yakhe kuSathane kanye lasenkosini uHerodi njengoba yena wayengumbazi nje? Wayezakwenelisa yini ukondla imuli yakhe? Phela wayephiwe lomsebenzi omkhulu wokunakekela kanye lokukhulisa umntakaNkulunkulu owayeligugu. Pho uJosefa wayezakwenelisa yini ukuqhubeka ekwenza lokhu? Phela zinengi izinto ezinzima ezazizamehlela. Ngakho-ke ake sikhangele ukuthi kuyini okwamsizayo. Sizabona lokuthi kuqakatheke ngani ukuthi obaba kanye lathi sonke sibe lokholo njengoJosefa.

4, 5. (a) Impilo kaJosefa yantshintsha njani? (b) Ingilosi yamnceda njani uJosefa ukuthi abe lesibindi sokwamukela umsebenzi omkhulu ayesewuphiwe?

⁴ Zonke izinto ezantshintsha impilo kaJosefa zaziqalise nyakenye eseNazaretha lapho ayehlala khona. Yena loMariya indodakazi kaHeli basebethembisane ukuthi bazatshada. Wayekwazi ukuthi intombi le yayiyimvu yomuntu eyayimlalela uJehova. Kodwa izinto zathi phithi, wathola ukuthi yayisizithwele. Wayesefuna ukwehlukana layo nsitha ukuze angayiyangisi emphakathini. * Esanakana ngakho, ingilosi yafika yakhuluma laye ephutsheni yamtshela ukuthi nguJehova owayesebenzise umoya wakhe ongcwele ukuze uMariya azithwale. Ingilosi le yamtshela lokuthi indodana ayezayibeletha ‘yayizasindisa abantu ezonweni zabo.’ Yelula yathi: “Ungesabi ukuthatha uMariya umlethe ekhaya abe ngumkakho.” (Mat. 1:18-21) Ingilosi le yamnika isibindi sibili.

⁵ Lakanye uJosefa wenza njalo ngoba wayeyindoda elalelayo futhi wayelungile. Wavuma ukukhulisa lokunakekela umntwana owayengasiwakhe kodwa owayeqakatheke kakhulu kuNkulunkulu. Lo kwakungumthwalo onzima sibili. Ngemva kwesikhathi uKhesari wakhipha isimemezelo sokuthi abantu bayebhalisa. UJosefa walalela njengenhlalayenza, wahamba eBhethilehema lomkakhe owayesezithwele. Yikho lapho umntwana azalelwa khona.

6-8. (a) Kuyini okwabangela ukuthi impilo kaJosefa lemuli yakhe iphinde intshintshe? (b) Kuyini okuveza ukuthi uSathane nguye owayethume inkanyezi? (Khangela lamabala angaphansi.)

⁶ UJosefa lemuli yakhe kabazange babuyele eNazaretha. Bahlala eBhethilehema, eyayikhatshana leJerusalema ngamakhilomitha angaba ngu-10. Babengabayanga, kodwa uJosefa wayesenza konke ayengakwenza ukuze bangasweli njalo bangahlupheki. Ngemva kwesikhatshana, bathola umuzi owawubalingene. Kodwa uJesu wathi esekhulakhulile, mhlawumbe esedlulise umnyaka, izinto zaphonguthi phendu impilo yabo yaphinda yantshintsha.

⁷ Kwasekutheni? Kulamadoda ayeyizazi zezinkanyezi afika eBhethilehema. Kungenzeka ayevela khonale eBhabhiloni. Ayelandele inkanyezi, aze ayafika emzini kaJosefa loMariya. Ayedinga umntwana owayezakuba yinkosi yamaJuda. Amadoda la ayehlonipha kakhulu.

⁸ Kodwa ayesephosele uJesu emlonyeni wesilwane. Mhlawumbe wona ayengakwazi ukuthi ayesemthezele olulenkume. Phela inkanyezi leyo ayeyibonile yaqala yawakhokhela aya kuHerodi eJerusalema hatshi eBhethilehema. * Esekhonale, amadoda la atshela iNkosi le embi ukuthi  ayezobona umntwana owayezakuba yinkosi yamaJuda. Yathukuthela yabila ngoba kuyo kwasekungathi kuphume ilanga elinye lingakatshoni!

9-11. (a) Kwakhanya njani ukuthi uSathane loHerodi babengasilutho kuNkulunkulu? (b) Okutshiwo ezinganekwaneni mayelana lohambo lokuya eGibhithe kutshiyene njani lalokho okwenzakalayo?

⁹ USathane loHerodi babemfuna efile uJesu. Kodwa okuthokozisayo yikuthi babeyibunyonyo nje kuNkulunkulu. Lokhu kwakhanya njani? Izazi zezinkanyezi zathi zifika lapho uJesu ayekhona zimbona elonina, zabathi qithi ‘igolide, impepha lemure,’ zangababhadalisi lutho. Kumele ukuthi basala bengela lankani sebezibona belamagugu la amangalisayo. Izazi lezi zazifuna ukudlula eNkosini uHerodi nxa sezibuyela kibo ukuze ziyitshele ukuthi zazimthole ngaphi umntwana. Kodwa uJehova waziphambula, wazitshela ephutsheni ukuthi zihambe ngenye indlela.—Bala uMathewu 2:1-12.

¹⁰ Izazi zathi zisanda kusuka, ingilosi kaJehova yaxwayisa uJosefa yathi: “Vuka uthathe umntwana lonina libalekele eGibhithe. Lihlale khonale ngize ngilitshele, ngoba uHerodi uzamdinga umntwana efuna ukumbulala.” (Mat. 2:13) Esetshelwe lokhu wahle wasuka masinyane, njengoba sibonile ekuqaliseni kwesihloko lesi. Okwakuqakatheke kakhulu kuye kwakuyikuvikela umntanakhe. Yikho-ke wathatha imuli yakhe waya eGibhithe. Izipho ababeziphiwe zazizamnceda kakhulu uJosefa ukuthi anakekele imuli yakhe besemangweni langesikhathi sebeseGibhithe.

¹¹ Nxa abanye belandisa ezinganekwaneni basenga lezimithiyo besithi uhambo lolu lwaluluhle. Bathi uJesu wenza izimanga, umango waba mfitshane, wenza ukuthi izigebenga zingabahlaseli njalo wenza lokuthi izihlahla zelala zithele izithelo zize zilenge ukuze unina akhe adle. * Kodwa iqiniso elikhona yikuthi umango wawumude, bengazi lokuthi babezadibana lani khonale.

12. Abazali bangamlingisela njani uJosefa njengoba bekhulisa abantwababo emhlabeni lo olezinto ezinengi ezingabaxhwalisa?

¹² Abazali bangafunda okunengi kuJosefa. Wahle watshiya umsebenzi wakhe, wakhetha ukuphila nzima ukuze avikele imuli yakhe. Kuyakhanya ukuthi wayeyiqakathekisa, eyibona iligugu ayeliphathiswe nguJehova. Lamuhla abazali bakhulisa abantwababo emhlabeni olezinto ezinengi eziyingozi ezingaxhwalisa abasakhulayo kumbe zibaphambanisele impilo zabo. Kodwa kuyajabulisa ukuthi bakhona obaba labomama abenza kuhle njengoJosefa. Bazimisele ukwenza konke okusemandleni abo ukuze bavikele abantwababo ezintweni lezi eziyingozi.

13, 14. Kuyini okwabangela ukuthi uJosefa ayehlala lemuli yakhe eNazaretha?

¹³ Ngemva kwesikhatshana, ingilosi yatshela uJosefa ukuthi uHerodi wayesefile. Yikho-ke kungenzeka ukuthi yena lemuli yakhe bahlala isikhathi esifitshane eGibhithe. Wathatha imuli yakhe wabuyela layo kibo. Kwakuvele kuphrofethiwe kudala ukuthi uJehova wayezabiza iNdodana yakhe ukuthi “iphume eGibhithe.” (Mat. 2:15) Ngakho-ke okwenziwa nguJosefa kwagcwalisa isiphrofetho leso. Kodwa babezahlala ngaphi sebebuyele kibo?

¹⁴ UJosefa kazange alalise inkophe. Wayekwazi ukuthi kwabo kagwala akula sililo. Phela kwasekubusa indodana kaHerodi okwakuthiwa ngu-Akhelawu. Layo yayingumbulali njalo yayilolunya lwenyoka. Yikho-ke uJosefa wahlakanipha walalela umlayo kaJehova wokuthi aqonde enyakatho, aye edolobheni lakibo eNazaretha eyayiseGalile. Wayeyabe esekhatshana leJerusalema futhi esekude lezitha zakhe. Wazihlalela-ke eNazaretha loMariya, bakhulisa abantwababo.—Bala uMathewu 2:19-23.

15, 16. UJosefa wayesenza msebenzi bani, njalo yiwaphi amathuluzi ayengabe ewasebenzisa?

¹⁵ UJosefa loMariya babeziphilela impilo engamangalisiyo kodwa akusikho ukuthi izinto zazitshelela. Nxa iBhayibhili lisitshela ukuthi uJosefa wayengumbazi, lisebenzisa ibala elichaza umuntu owayegamula izihlahla, azidonse, azibande aphinde azichaye. Umbazi wayesakha izindlu, izikepe lamabholoho amancane, alungise izinqola, amavili, amajogwe njalo enze lamanye amathuluzi okulima. (Mat. 13:55) Kwakungumsebenzi oginqisa indoda! Ngalezo zikhathi umuntu ongumbazi wayesebenzela egumeni lakhe kumbe esakhiweni esasiseduze lomuzi wakhe.

¹⁶ UJosefa wayesebenzisa amathuluzi atshiyeneyo. Amanye wayengabe ewatshiyelwe nguyise. Kungenzeka ukuthi wayesebenzisa ihloka, itshizela, isando, isancele, isaha, isipanela, kanye lezipikili lanxa zazidula.

17, 18. (a) UJosefa wamfundisani umntanakhe? (b) Kungani kwakumele uJosefa asebenze gadalala kulakuqala?

¹⁷ Akumcabange uJesu esakhula ebukele uyise esebenza, emkhangele ngelihlo elibukhali efuna ukubona konke ayekwenza. Nxa wayebona amahlombe kayise abanzi lezingalo zakhe ezimisiphasipha, akuthandabuzwa ukuthi kwakummangalisa ukuthi uyise wayelamandla esambane.  Wayezibonela lokuthi uyise wayeleminwe futhi ekhaliphile. Engxenye uJosefa wayifundisa indodana yakhe isesencane ukuthi yenze imisebenzi elula njengokusebenzisa isikhumba senhlanzi esomileyo ukuze ilolonge izigodo zisale zibutshelezi. Kungenzakala lokuthi wayifundisa lemihlobo etshiyeneyo yezigodo ayezisebenzisa ezazigoqela ezesihlahla som-okhi, esomkhiwa wesikhamori kanye lesama-oliva.

¹⁸ UJesu wayekunanzelela lokuthi uyise wayengakhuthalelanga ukugamula izihlahla kuphela loba ukutshona elungisa izigodo kumbe ezibethela. Wabona ukuthi uyise wayelothando futhi ebaphatha kuhle. Imuli kaJosefa loMariya yaqhubeka ikhula, belamisa ngabanye abantwana abayisithupha loba abedlula lapho. (Mat. 13:55, 56) Yikho-ke kwasekumele uJosefa asebenze gadalala kulakuqala ukuze abanakekele bonke njalo abadingele okuya ethunjini.

19. UJosefa wayinceda njani imuli yakhe ukuthi ithande uJehova?

¹⁹ Lanxa kunjalo, uJosefa wayekuzwisisa ukuthi okwakuqakatheke kakhulu yikusiza imuli yakhe ukuthi ithande uJehova. Ngakho-ke wayesiba lesikhathi sokufundisa abantwabakhe ngoJehova uNkulunkulu langemithetho yakhe. Yena loMariya babehlala behamba labo esinagogeni lapho uMthetho owawubalwa khona uphinde uchasiswe. Mhlawumbe uJesu wayesuka lapho eselemibuzo, uJosefa abesezama ukumphendula ngendlela ezamsuthisa. Kanti njalo nxa kwakusiba lemikhosi eJerusalema, uJosefa wayehamba lemuli yakhe. Yikho ayekwenza langesikhathi sePhasika minyaka yonke. Babehamba amakhilomitha angu-120, bahlale khonale besebephenduka. Konke lokhu kwakungabathatha amaviki amabili.

20. Izinhloko zezimuli zingamlingisela njani uJosefa?

²⁰ Lamuhla izinhloko zezimuli ezingamaKhristu zenza njengoJosefa. Zidela ezinye izinto ukuze zisize abantwabazo. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi ziqakathekisa ukubafundisa ngoJehova ukwedlula ukudinga imali. Zenza konke okusemandleni azo ukuze kube lokukhonza kwemuli ngekhaya njalo zihamba labantwabazo emihlanganweni yebandla lasemihlanganweni emikhulu. Zilingisela uJosefa ngoba lazo ziyakwazi ukuthi ukufundisa abantwabazo ngoJehova yikho okungabasiza kakhulu ukuthi babe lekusasa elihle.

21. Imuli kaJosefa yayisenzani ngesikhathi sePhasika, njalo yena loMariya bakunanzelela nini ukuthi uJesu wayengahambi labo?

²¹ UJosefa wahamba lemuli yakhe eJerusalema njengenjayelo. Ngalesosikhathi uJesu wayeseleminyaka engu-12. KwakuyiPhasika, abantu bezikholisela njalo utshani buluhlaza. Izimuli ezitshiyeneyo zazihamba  ndawonye, zingamaqembu amakhulu. Abantu babesithi nxa sebeqansa endaweni engamagceke sebesiyafika eJerusalema, bahambe behlabela. (Hubo. 120-134) Kumele ukuthi edolobheni leli kwakusiba labantu abangamakhulu ezinkulungwane. Ngemva kwePhasika babebuyela emakhaya behamba bengamaqembu. UJosefa loMariya labo babephakathi kwamaxuku lawo. Engxenye babephatheke ngalokhu lalokhuya, bezitshela ukuthi uJesu laye wayekhona ehamba labanye loba lezihlobo zabo. Kodwa bathi sebehambe okwelanga lonke bethuka bethola ukuthi wayengekho!—Luk. 2:41-44.

22, 23. UJosefa loMariya benzani sebenanzelele ukuthi uJesu wayengasabonakali, njalo uMariya wathini sebemtholile?

²² Bahaluzela bebuyela eJerusalema. Kwakungasela siphithiphithi emigwaqweni, sekubetha umoya. Behla baqansa, behamba bememeza  ibizo lendodana yabo. Kumele ukuthi basebephethwe ngumhedehede bezibuza ukuthi kanti umntanabo wayenyamalele waya ngaphi. Engxenye bathi sebebhudule okwamalanga amathathu, uJosefa wayesezidla izibindi ezisola ngokuthi wayetshaphaze igugu ayeliphathiswe nguJehova. Ekucineni baya ethempelini. Bamzingela-ke umfana baze bayafika egumeni lethempeli lapho okwakulezazi zoMthetho ezinengi ezazibuthene samajuba esesizeni. UJesu laye wayethe kho phakathi kwazo! Kufanele ukuthi uJosefa loMariya bathi bembona bezwa kusithi hu!—Luk. 2:45, 46.

²³ UJesu wayethiye indlebe elalele izazi lezo njalo elokhu eziphosela imibuzo. Zamangala intshiya zabanga enweleni zisizwa izimpendulo zokungumfanyana lokhu futhi zibona ukuthi kwakulokuqedisisa. Kodwa uMariya loJosefa bona babephelelwe. UMariya wathi kuJesu: “Ndodana,  kungani usinqinekisa kangaka? Uyihlo lami besesikhathazekile sikudinga.” (Luk. 2:47, 48) Lanxa iBhayibhili lingasitsheli ukuthi uJosefa wathini, kumele ukuthi laye wayevumelana lomkakhe.

24. IBhayibhili livezani ngokukhulisa abantwana?

²⁴ Endatshaneni le, iLizwi likaNkulunkulu liyakuveza ukuthi ukukhulisa abantwana akulula. Kungalalisa abazali bekhangele. LabakaJesu bakhathazeka lanxa umntanabo wayengelasono. Labazali lamuhla ‘bangakhathazeka’ kakhulu ngoba bakhulisa abantwana emhlabeni lo olezingozi. Kodwa okuhle yikuthi iBhayibhili lisitshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyabazi ubunzima obaba labomama abaphakathi kwabo njalo lokhu kuyaduduza.

25, 26. UJesu wabaphendula wathini abazali bakhe, njalo uJosefa wayengabe esizwa njani enhliziyweni nxa ecabanga amazwi endodana yakhe?

²⁵ UJesu wayesele ethempelini ngoba nxa wayelapho wayezizwa eseduze kakhulu loJehova uYise osezulwini njalo wayezimisele ukufunda okunengi ngaye. Ngakho-ke waphendula abazali bakhe wathi: “Belivele lingidingelani kanti? Belingazi yini ukuthi bekumele ngibe sendlini kaBaba?” (Luk. 2:49) Kodwa lokhu akutsho ukuthi wayedelela.

²⁶ Kumele ukuthi uJosefa wayeke awacabange amazwi la, azwe echelesa enhliziyweni yakhe. Ngenxa yani? Wayesebenze gadalala efundisa indodana yakhe ukuthi imthande uJehova uNkulunkulu. UJesu wayezibonela ukuthi uJosefa wayemphatha kuhle njalo lokhu kwamsiza ukuthi akwazi ukuthi ubaba olothando ngonjani.

27. Kuyini okufanele obaba bakunanzelele, njalo kungani kumele bakhumbule okwakusenziwa nguJosefa?

²⁷ Bobaba, liyakunanzelela yini ukuthi nxa lingabaphatha kuhle abantwabenu, bazazwisisa ukuthi uJehova ngubaba wabo osezulwini kanye lokuthi uyabathanda futhi uyabavikela? Kanti njalo nxa lisondla abantwana abangasibenu, kufanele likhumbule okwakusenziwa nguJosefa, linanzelele ukuthi abantwana kabafanani lokuthi bonke baqakathekile. Bancediseni ukuthi basondele phansi kukaBaba wabo osezulwini, uJehova uNkulunkulu.—Bala u-Efesu 6:4.

28, 29. (a) Amazwi akuLukha 2:51, 52 asifundisani ngoJosefa? (b) UJosefa wayinceda njani indodana yakhe ukuthi iqhubeke isiba lenhlakanipho?

²⁸ IBhayibhili lisilandisela okunye okumayelana lempilo kaJosefa njalo kumele sikuhlolisise lanxa kukulutshwana. Lisitshela ukuthi uJesu “wahlala ebalalela” abazali bakhe, liphinde lithi “wakhula ngenhlakanipho, langomzimba langokuthandwa nguNkulunkulu labantu.” (Bala uLukha 2:51, 52.) Manje lokhu kusifundisani ngoJosefa? Kusifundisa ukuthi waqhubeka ekhokhela imuli yakhe ngoba sitshelwa ukuthi indodana yakhe eyayingelasono yahlala imhlonipha njalo imlalela.

²⁹ Okunye esikuthola emavesini la yikuthi uJesu waqhubeka esiba lenhlakanipho. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi uJosefa wamsiza ukuthi ahlakaniphe. Ngesikhathi leso kwakulesaga santolontolo amaJuda ayesithanda. Lalamuhla siyatholakala kwamanye amabhuku. Isaga leso sasisitsho ukuthi abantu ababengaba lenhlakanipho ejulileyo ngabadumileyo, kodwa abantukazana njengababazi, abalimi kanye labakhandi bensimbi “babengeke bahlulele kuhle kumbe bakhiphe izigwebo, njalo babengeke batholakale lapho okukhulunywa khona kusetshenziswa imizekeliso.” Kodwa uJesu wayejayele ukuzwa uyise uJosefa owayengumbazi ongumyanga efundisa ngokwahlulela kukaJehova okuhle kuze kuthophele enhliziyweni. Ngakho-ke uJesu esekhulile watshengisa ukuthi isaga leso sasilugebhezi nje.

30. Kuyini okwakusenziwa nguJosefa okufanele kwenziwe zinhloko zezimuli?

³⁰ UJesu wakhula waba yindoda eqine saka. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uJosefa wayemondla futhi emnakekela sibili. Kanti njalo wamfundisa umsebenzi wezandla ayewenza. Abantu babengabizi uJesu ngokuthi yindodana yombazi kuphela, kodwa babesithi ‘ngumbazi.’ (Mak. 6:3) Kuyacaca-ke ukuthi uJosefa wayemqeqetshe kuhle. Izinhloko zezimuli kufanele zimlingisele uJosefa, zondle abantwabazo njalo zibe leqiniso lokuthi bazakwenelisa ukuziphandela nxa sebekhulile.

31. (a) UJosefa angabe wafa nini? Chaza. (Khangela  lebhokisi.) (b) UJosefa wenzani okumele sikulingisele?

³¹ Nxa iBhayibhili selisilandisela ngokubhaphathizwa kukaJesu eseleminyaka engaba ngu-30, kalisitsheli lutho ngoJosefa. Kukhanya angathi uMariya wayesengumfelokazi ngesikhathi uJesu eqala inkonzo yakhe. (Khangela ibhokisi elithi “ UJosefa Wafa Nini?”) Loba kunjalo, uJosefa wayesebenzile sibili. Wavikela imuli yakhe, wayondla njalo waqhubeka ngomsebenzi ayewuphiwe. Kungaba kuhle ukuthi bonke obaba kanye lawo wonke amaKhristu alingisele ukholo lukaJosefa.