1-3. Khuyini uPitrosi ayibonako ngelanga lezenzakalweli, begodu kwenzekani ebusukobo?

 UBUSUKU boke uPitrosi ugagadlhele isigodo esikhambisa iskepe. Kghani umkhanywanyana ebekawubona kude le epumalanga bewutjho bona sekuyasa? Imisipha yentamakhe namahlombe bekufutha ngebanga lokuphehla isikhathi eside. Umoya ebewuphembetha iinhluthu zakhe wenza iLwandle leGaleliya laba bukhali. Amagagasi bekabetha ingaphambili leskepe sokuthiya, begodu wathamba arhatjhwa mamanzi amakhaza. Waragela phambili nokuphehla.

² Khonapho magega nelwandle, uPitrosi nabangani bakhe batjhiya uJesu yedwa. Khona mhlokho, babona uJesu asuthisa iwoma labantu abalambileko abaziinkulungwana ngemigadango embalwa kwaphela nefesi. Abantu basabela ngokufuna ukwenza uJesu ikosi, kodwana bekangafuni ukuzibandakanya kwezombanganarha. Godu bekafuna ukufundisa abalandeli bakhe bona bangazibandakanyi kwezombanganarha. Atjhiya iwoma, watjela abafundi bakhe bona bakhwele eskepeni baye ngakelinye ihlangothi lelwandle yena waya entabeni ayedwa ukuyokuthandaza.—Mar. 6:35-45; funda uJwanisi 6:14-17.

³ Abafundi baphehla iskepe ubusuku boke. Nokho, bakghona ukukhamba amakhilomitha ambalwa. Ukusebenza ngamandla netjhada lomoya namagagasi kwenza kwaba budisi ukukhuluma. UPitrosi gade adla amathambengqondo.

4. Kubayini uPitrosi asibonelo esihle sokulingiswa?

⁴ Qala bona kunengi kangangani ebekangacabanga ngakho! UPitrosi wahlangana noJesu weNazareda kokuthoma ngaphezu kwezenzakalo zeminyaka emibili zangaphambili. Wafunda likhulu, kodwana gade kusesekunengi okufuze akufunde. Ukuzimisela kwakhe  ukwenza njalo—ukulwisana neenqabo ezinjalo ezifana nokuzaza nokusaba—kwamenza isibonelo esiveleleko sokulingiswa. Asiboneni bonyana kubayini kunjalo.

5, 6. Bekunjani ukuphila kwakaPitrosi?

⁵ UPitrosi angekhe alikhohlwe ilanga ahlangana ngalo noJesu. Umfowabo, u-Andrisi, nguye wokuthoma owamlethela iindaba ezimnandezi: “Simfumene uMesiya.” Ngamezwi la, ukuphila kwakaPitrosi kwatjhuguluka. Bengekhe kusafana nekuthomeni.—Jwa. 1:41.

⁶ UPitrosi bekahlala eKapernomi, indawo engetlhagwini yelwandle lelitsha elinamanzi amnandi elibizwa bona liLwandle LeGaleliya. Bano-Andrisi bebahlanganyele ibhisinisi lokuthiya iimfesi noJakobosi noJwanisi, amadodana kaZebediya. UPitrosi bekangahlali nomkakhe kwaphela, kodwana nomkhwekazakhe nomfowabo u-Andrisi. Ukondla umndeni onjalo ngokuthiya iimfesi bekutlhoga ukusebenza nzima, ngamandla namakghono. Ungacabanga ngokusebenza ubusuku obunengi obude—amadoda la arhorhela ngaphandle nanyana ngiyiphi ifesi ayibambe elitshenelo. Godu ungacabanga ngamalanga amanengi wokusebenza nzima njengombana iimfesi zihlukaniswa, zithengiswa, kulungiswa amanede begodu ahlanzwa.

7. UPitrosi wezwa njani ngoJesu, begodu kubayini iindabezi bezithabisa?

⁷ IBhayibhili isitjela bona u-Andrisi bekamfundi kaJwanisi uMbhabhadisi. Ngokuqinisekileko uPitrosi walalelisisa ngekareko imibiko yomfowabo malungana noJwanisi umbhabhadisi. Langelinye, u-Andrisi wabona uJwanisi akhomba uJesu weNazareda athi: “Nasiya iMvana kaZimu!” Khonokho u-Andrisi waba mlandeli kaJesu begodu ngetjiseko watjela uPitrosi umlayezo othabisako naku: UMesiya ufikile! (Jwa. 1:35-40) Ngemva kokuhlubuka e-Edeni, iminyaka ezi-4 000 eyadlulako, uJehova uZimu wathembisa bona umuntu othize okhethekileko uzokuza anikele abantu ithemba lamambala. (Gen. 3:15) U-Andrisi wahlangana noMphulusi lo, uMesiya ngenyama! NoPitrosi naye warhaba wayokuhlangana noJesu.

8. Belitjho ukuthini ibizo uJesu alithiya uPitrosi, begodu kubayini abanye kungabanelisi ukuthiywa kwakhe ibizwelo?

⁸ Bekube mhlokho, uPitrosi bekaziwa ngoSimoni. Kodwana uJesu wamqala wathi: “‘Ibizo lakho nguSimoni, indodana kaJwanisi, uzabizwa bona unguKhefasi.’ (Kuyafana noPitrosi, kutjho bona ‘Idwala’).” (Jwa. 1:42) Ngokukhanyako, amezwi kaJesu bekasiporofido. Wabona kusesengaphambili bonyana uPitrosi uzokufana nedwala—onzinzileko, onamandla, nonokuthenjelwa hlangana nabalandeli bakaKrestu. Kghani uPitrosi naye bekaziqala njalo? Akubonakali  kunjalo. Ngitjho nabantu abafunda amaVangeli namhlanje abacabangi bona uPitrosi bekafana nedwala. Abanye bathi ubuntu bakhe njengombana buvezwe emlandweni weBhayibhili bubonakala kwanga bekangakanzinzi begodu amumuntu otjhentjhantjhentjhako.

9. Khuyini uJehova neNdodanakhe abayiqalako, begodu kubayini ucabanga bona kufuze sithembe umbonwabo?

⁹ UPitrosi bekanemitjhaphwakhe. UJesu bekakwazi kuhle lokho. Kodwana uJesu, njengoYise uJehova, bekasolo aqala okuhle ebantwini. UJesu wabona okunengi okuhle kuPitrosi, begodu Bekafuna ukumsiza bona athuthukise iimfanelo ezihlezi. Nanamhlanje uJehova neNdodanakhe basaqala okuhle kithi. Kungenzeka kube budisi ukukholelwa bona bangafumana okunengi okuhle kithi. Nokho, kufuze siwuthembe umbonwabo begodu sizimisele ukubandulwa nokulungiswa njengoPitrosi.—Funda 1 Jwanisi 3:19, 20.

10. UPitrosi kungenzeka wafakaza ngani, nokho wabuyelaphi?

¹⁰ UPitrosi kungenzeka wakhamba noJesu ekhambweni lokutjhumayela elilandelako. Kungenzeka wabona uJesu enza ikarisomrarwakhe yokuthoma, yokwenza amanzi aba liwayini emtjhadweni eKana. Okuqakatheke khulu, wezwa umlayezo kaJesu omuhle noletha ithemba malungana nomBuso kaZimu. Nanyana kunjalo, akhenge aragele phambili akhamba noJesu, wabuyela ebhizinisinakhe yokuthiya. Nokho, ngemva kweenyanga ezimbalwa, uPitrosi wahlangana noJesu godu—nje, uPitrosi bekufuze asebenzise isikhathi sakhe esinengi atjhumayela naye.

11, 12. (a) Msebenzi onjani uPitrosi awukghodlhelelela ubusuku boke? (b) Ukulalela uJesu kungenzeka kwamlethela miphi imibuzo uPitrosi?

¹¹ UPitrosi bekakghodlhelelele umsebenzi oqeda amandla ubusuku boke. Ngokubuyelelweko, abathiyaba behlisa amanedabo, kodwana nebawadosako bekanganalitho. UPitrosi wasebenzisa loke ikghono lakhe ukubamba iimfesi, alinga iindawo ezihlukahlukeneko elitsheni bona athole lapho zidla khona. Akunakuzaza, bekunesikhathi lapho yena, njengabo boke abathiyi, ebekakhanuka ukulahlela inedakhe lapho zizinengi khona namtjhana bona azenze zivele zingene ngenedeni. Liqiniso, imicabango enjalo beyingamane imenze ahlangahlangane kokugcina. Umsebenzi lo bewungasiwo wokuzithabisa kwaphela kuPitrosi; bekondla ngawo umndenakhe. Ekugcineni, waya magega nelwandle alengise izandla. Bekufuze kuhlanzwe amanede. UJesu nekaya kuye bekatinazela ahlanza amanede.

¹² Bekunewoma labantu elibhode uJesu, ngetjiseko balalele woke amezwakhe. Njengombana bekunabantu abanengi kangakangaka,  uJesu wangena eskepeni sakaPitrosi, begodu wambawa bona bangene ngemanzini. Ilizwi lakhe lizwakala kuhle ngemanzini, uJesu wafundisa iwoma labantu. UPitrosi walalelisisa, njengombana kwenza nabantu ebebamagega nelwandle. Bekangadinwa ukuzwa uJesu akhulisa indaba eyihloko yokutjhumayela kwakhe—umBuso kaZimu. Qala bona bekuyilungelo elingangani kuye ukusiza uKrestu ukurhatjha umlayezo wethemba lo ephasini mazombe! Kodwana lokho bekubonakala kungakghoneka na? Bekazowondla ngani umndenakhe? Mhlamunye godu uPitrosi bekacabanga ngobusuku obude angafumani litho.—Luka 5:1-3.

13, 14. Ngiyiphi ikarisomraro uJesu ayenzela uPitrosi, begodu uPitrosi wasabela njani?

¹³ UJesu nekaqeda ukukhuluma, watjela uPitrosi: ‘Sunduzela iskepe sakho phakatjhana, wena nabangani bakho niphosele amanede wenu nizakubamba.’ UPitrosi wazaza khulu. Wathi: ‘Kosi, sisebenze budisi ubusuku boke akhange khesibambe litho, kodwana nawutjho njalo, ngizawehlisa amanede.’ UPitrosi bekaqeda ukuhlanza amanede. Kodwana kubonakala kwanga akasafuni ukuwaphosela godu—khulukhulu njenganje njengombana kungasiso isikhathi sazo sokudla! Nanyana kunjalo, walalela, wabiza nabangani bakhe ebebaseskepeni sesibili bona babalandele.—Luka 5:4, 5.

¹⁴ Nekadosa amanede, uPitrosi wezwa ubudisi ebekangakabulindeli. Angakholwa, wadosa ngamandla, begodu kungakabiphi wabona iimfesi ezinengi khulu ziphenduphenduka ngaphakathi kwenede! Atatazela, wakhwaya amadoda aseskepeni sesibili bona azokusiza. Njengombana benza, msinyana kwabonakala bona iskepe esisodwa angekhe sikwazi ukuthwala zoke iimfesezi. Bazizalisa zombili iinkepe, kodwana bezisesezinengi—iinkepe zathoma ukucwila ngebanga lokudisibezwa. UPitrosi wagajwa lithabo. Ngaphambili wawabona ngamehlo amandla kaKrestu asebenzako, kodwana nje khona wazuzisa yena nomndenakhe. Nasi indoda ekwazi ukwenza iimfesi zingene ngenedeni! UPitrosi wathoma ukusaba. Waguqa ngamadolo wathi: “Suka kimapha, Kosi Jesu; ngombana ngimumuntu osisoni.” Bekangazibonakalisa njani afaneleka ukuzihlanganisa Naloyo onegunya lokusebenzisa amandla kaZimu ngeendlela ezinjalo?—Funda uLuka 5:6-9.

15. UJesu wamfundisa njani uPitrosi bona ukuzaza kwakhe nokusaba bekunganasisekelo?

¹⁵ Ngomusa uJesu wathi: ‘Ungasabi. Kusukela namhlanjesi uzakubamba  abantu.’ (Luka 5:10, 11) Lesi bekungasiso isikhathi sokuzaza nokusaba. UPitrosi bekufuze adzimelele emsebenzini wokutjhumayela oqakathekileko kunokuzaza bona uzokwazi na ukutlhogomela umndenakhe namtjhana bona uyafaneleka. UJesu bekanomsebenzi omuhle, ikonzo ebeyizokutjhugulula woke umlando. Wakhonza uZimu ‘olibalela ngendlela ekulu.’ (Isa. 55:7) UJehova bekazozitlhogomela iintlhogo zakaPitrosi, kokubili ngokwenyama nangokomoya.—Mat. 6:33.

16. UPitrosi, uJakobosi, noJwanisi basamukela njani isimemo sakaJesu, begodu kubayini kusinqunto esihle khulu ebebangasenza?

¹⁶ UPitrosi wasabela msinyana njengombana kwenza uJakobosi noJwanisi. ‘Bakhuphela iinkepe zabo eqabazini batjhiya koke khonapho  balandela uJesu.’ (Luka 5:11) UPitrosi waba nekholo kuJesu nakiLoyo omthumileko. Bekusiqunto esingcono khulu ebekangasenza. AmaKrestu ahlula ukuzaza nokusaba kwawo namhlanje bona akhonze uZimu nawo ngendlela efanako atjengisa ikholo. UJehova uhlala abatlhogomela abathembela kuye.—Rha. 22:4, 5.

17. UPitrosi bekanamiphi imikhumbulo yeminyaka emibili solo ahlangana noJesu?

¹⁷ Pheze eminyakeni emibili ngemva kokuhlangana noJesu, uPitrosi waphehla ubusuku boke obunomoya eLwandle leGaleliya, njengombana kutjengiswe ekuthomeni kwesahlukwesi. Liqiniso, angekhe sazi bona bekacabangani. Zinengi izinto esingazicabanga! UJesu wapholisa umkhwekazi kaPitrosi. Wanikela iTjumayelo yeNtabeni. Ngokubuyelelweko, ngefundiswakhe nemisebenzakhe yamandla, watjengisa bona ungoKhethiweko kaJehova, uMesiya. Njengombana iinyanga zikhamba, uPitrosi wafunda ukulawula ukusaba kwakhe nokuzaza. UJesu wabe wakhetha uPitrosi bona abe ngomunye wabapostoli bakhe abali-12! Nanyana kunjalo, uPitrosi akhenge asuse ukusaba kwakhe nokuzaza njengombana sizokufunda.

18, 19. (a) Yitjho bona uPitrosi wabonani eLwandle leGaleliya. (b) UJesu wasabela njani esibaweni sakaPitrosi?

¹⁸ Ngomlindo wesine wobusukobo, namtjhana hlangana ne-awara lesi-3:00 ekuseni, uPitrosi walisa ukuphehla wahlala kuhle. Lapho—hlangana namagagasi—bekunento ekhambako! Kghani bekumagagasi akhanyiswa yinyezi? Awa, bekuyinto enzinzileko, ejame rwe. Bekumumuntu! Kwamambala, umuntu, bekakhamba phezu kwamanzi! Njengombana indoda le itjhidela, bekubonakala kwanga izobadlula. Bathukiwe, abafundi badlumbana bona sipuku. Indoda le yakhuluma: “Yibani nesibindi, ngimi, ningasabi!” BekunguJesu!—Mat. 14:25-28.

¹⁹ UPitrosi wathi: “Kosi, nengabe kwamambala nguwe, ngibiza ngikhambe phezu kwamanzi ngize kuwe.” Isenzo sakhe besitjengisa isibindi. Agcwele ithabo ngemikarisomraro eveleleko le, ikholo lakaPitrosi beliqinisiwe godu. Bekafuna ukuba yingcenye yesenzakalwesi. Ngomusa, uJesu watjela uPitrosi bona eze kuye. UPitrosi akakarele ehlangothini leskepe weqela ngemanzini. Cabanga bona uPitrosi wazizwa njani nekajame phezu kwamanzi. Kungenzeka bekakhambela phezulu njengombana aya kuJesu. Nokho, msinyana wazizwa ngenye indlela.—Funda uMatewu 14:29.

20. (a) UPitrosi waphelelwa njani lithemba, begodu umphumela waba yini? (b) Ngisiphi isifundo uJesu asigandelela kuPitrosi?

²⁰ UPitrosi bekufuze atjheje uJesu. BekunguJesu, asebenzisa amandla kaJehova, owenza uPitrosi wakhamba phezu kwamagagasi  aphembethwa mumoya. UJesu wenza lokho ngebanga lekholo uPitrosi ebekanalo kuye. Kodwana uPitrosi wathikaziseka godu. Siyafunda: “Kuthe bonyana abone umoya obukhali, wasaba.” UPitrosi wathoma ukuqala woke amagagasi abetha iskepe layo, aphephulela amagwebu emoyeni, watatazela. Wazicabanga acwila elitshenelo, atjhingela. Njengombana agcwala ukusaba, ikholo lakhe labogaboga. Indoda ebeyibizwa ngeDwala ngebanga lokubonakala inzinzile yathoma ukucwila njengelitje ngebanga lekholo elibogabogako. UPitrosi bekakwazi tle ukududa, kodwana okwanje akhenge athembele ekghonwenelo. Walila wathi: “Kosi, ngiphulusa!” UJesu wambamba ngesandla wamphakamisela phezulu. Ngemva kwalokho, asesephezu kwamanzi, wagandelela iphuzu eliqakathekileko nanti kuPitrosi: ‘Maye, ikholo lakho lincani kangangani! Uzazeleni na?’—Mat. 14:30, 31.

21. Kubayini kuyingozi ukuzaza, begodu singalwisana njani nakho?

²¹ “Uzazeleni na”—igama elifaneleka kangangani! Ukuzaza kungaba yingozi, amandla adukisako. Nengabe siyawavumela, kancanikancani ikholo lethu lingabogaboga begodu liphele. Kufuze sikulawule! Njani? Ngokuhlala siqinile. Nesisolo sihlezi eentweni ezisithusako, ezisiqeda amandla, ezisisusa kuJehova neNdodanakhe, sizozifumana sesinokuzaza okukhulu. Nesidzimelela kuJehova neNdodanenakhe, kilokho abakwenzileko, abakwenzako, nalokho abazokwenzela labo ababathandako, sizokubeka ukuzaza endawenakho.

22. Kubayini ikholo lakaPitrosi lingelokulingiswa?

²² Njengombana uPitrosi alandela uJesu, wabona umoya usaga. ILwandle leGaleliya azange lisaba bukhali. UPitrosi wahlanganyela nabanye abafundi ekurhuweleleni: “Kwamambala uyiNdodana kaZimu!” (Mat. 14:33) Njengombana sekuzokusa, kungenzeka uPitrosi wathokoza kwamambala. Akhenge asavumela ukusaba kumenze azaze uJehova neNdodanakhe. Kuyavunywa, bekunamatjhuguluko amanengi ebekufuze awenze ngaphambi kobana abe mKrestu ofana nedwala uJesu alibona kusesengaphambili. Kodwana bekazimisele ukuragela phambili alinga, aragele phambili athuthuka. Inga-kghani nawe uzimisele ukwenza njalo? Uzokufumana bona ikholo lakaPitrosi ngelokulingiswa.