Sekudlule iminyaka engu-17 kusukela esikhathini uJesu owayeneminyaka engu-12 ayesethempelini ebuza abafundisi imibuzo. Manje sekusentwasahlobo ka-29 C.E. Abaningi bakhuluma ngoJohane isihlobo sikaJesu, oshumayela kulo lonke izwe elisentshonalanga yoMfula iJordani.

UJohane uyindoda ephawulekayo ngenxa yendlela abukeka ngayo nezinto azishoyo. Izingubo zakhe zenziwe ngoboya bekamela futhi ufaka ibhande lesikhumba okhalweni. Udla amaqhwagi—uhlobo oluthile lwentethe—kanye noju lwezinyosi zasendle. Uthini umyalezo wakhe? “Phendukani ngoba uMbuso wamazulu ususondele.”—Mathewu 3:2.

Umyalezo kaJohane uyabajabulisa labo abamlalele. Abaningi bayaqaphela ukuthi kudingeka baphenduke, okuwukuthi, bashintshe indlela abacabanga ngayo nabaziphatha ngayo futhi balahle indlela yabo yokuphila yangaphambili engathandeki. Labo abeza kuye bavela ‘eJerusalema nakulo lonke iJudiya nezwe lonke elizungeze iJordani.’ (Mathewu 3:5) Abantu abaningi kulabo abeza kuJohane bayaphenduka. Uyababhapathiza, ngokubacwilisa emfuleni iJordani. Kungani?

Labo ababhapathizwayo babonisa ukuthi baphenduka ngokusuka enhliziyweni ezonweni zabo zokwephula isivumelwano soMthetho kaNkulunkulu. (IzEnzo 19:4) Nokho, akubona bonke abafanelekela ukubhapathizwa. Lapho abanye abaholi benkolo, abaFarisi nabaSadusi, beza kuye, uJohane ubabiza ngokuthi ‘inzalo yezinyoka.’ Uthi: “Thelani izithelo ezibonisa ukuphenduka. Ningazitsheli ukuthi, ‘Ubaba wethu ngu-Abrahama.’ Ngoba ngithi kini uNkulunkulu uyakwazi ukuvezela u-Abrahama abantwana kula matshe. Imbazo isibekiwe empandeni yezihlahla. Ngakho zonke izihlahla ezingatheli izithelo ezinhle zizogawulwa ziphonswe emlilweni.”—Mathewu 3:7-10.

Ngenxa yokuthi uJohane uqashelwa abantu abaningi, unomyalezo onamandla futhi ubhapathiza abantu abaningi, kuthunyelwa abapristi namaLevi kuye bafike bambuze: “Ungubani wena?”

UJohane uphendula athi, “Angiyena uKristu.”

Bayambuza: “Khona-ke, ungubani? Ingabe ungu-Eliya?”

Uyaphendula: “Angiyena.”

Bayambuza, “UngumProfethi?” beqonde umProfethi omkhulu uMose ayethe uyofika.—Duteronomi 18:15, 18.

UJohane uyaphendula, “Cha!”

Bayaphikelela: “Ungubani? Sitshele ukuze siphendule labo abasithumile. Uzibiza ngokuthini wena?” UJohane uthi: “Mina ngiyizwi lothile omemeza ehlane ethi, ‘Yenzani indlela kaJehova iqonde,’ njengoba nje umprofethi u-Isaya asho.”—Johane 1:19-23.

Bafuna ukwazi okwengeziwe, ngakho bathi: “Pho kungani ubhapathiza uma ungeyena uKristu noma u-Eliya noma umProfethi?” UJohane ubaphendula athi: “Mina ngibhapathiza ngamanzi. Kukhona eningamazi omi phakathi kwenu, lowo oza emva kwami.”—Johane 1:25-27.

UJohane uyavuma ukuthi ulungisa indlela ngokwenza abantu balungise izinhliziyo zabo ukuze bamukele uMesiya owayebikezelwe, lowo ozoba yiNkosi. UJohane uthi: “Lowo oza emva kwami, engingakufanelekeli ukukhumula izimbadada zakhe, unamandla kunami.” (Mathewu 3:11) Empeleni uJohane uze athi: “Lowo oza emva kwami uvele ngaphambi kwami, ngoba waba khona kuqala kunami.”—Johane 1:15.

Ngakho umyalezo kaJohane othi “Phendukani ngoba uMbuso wamazulu ususondele,” uyafaneleka ngempela. (Mathewu 3:2) Uyisaziso esiya emphakathini sokuthi inkonzo kaJesu Kristu, iNkosi ekhethwe uJehova, isizoqala.