1, 2. Shano kutsi belunjani luhambo lwaMariya, uchaze nekutsi yini lebeyilwenta lungajabulisi.

MARIYA abetama kuhlala kahle kulelitfole lembongolo. Besekuphele ema-awa lamanyenti agibele kulo. Ngembikwakhe bekunaJosefa labesolo ahamba kancane, futsi ahola njengobe batsetse luhambo loludze loluya eBhetlehema. Mariya waphindze weva lomntfwana anyakata.

² Emalanga ekutsi Mariya abeleke abesasondzela, ngobe liBhayibheli lichaza lesikhatsi labekuso ngemavi lacacile latsi “abesatawubeleka.” (Luk. 2:5) Njengobe boJosefa naMariya bendlula emasimi lamanyenti, kungenteka kutsi labanye balimi bebambuka Mariya futsi batibute kutsi kungani atsetse luhambo akulesimo lakuso. Yini vele leyenta Mariya watsatsa luhambo loludze kangaka lolusuka eNazaretha?

3. Ngumuphi umsebenti Mariya lawutfola, futsi yini lesifuna kuyifundza ngaye?

³ Konkhe loku kwacala etinyangeni letendlulile ngesikhatsi lomfati losemusha longumJuda atfola umsebenti lobewungakavami emlandvweni webantfu. Bekufanele abeleke umntfwana labetawuba nguMesiya, iNdvodzana yaNkulunkulu. (Luk. 1:35) Njengobe emalanga ekutalwa kwalomntfwana abesondzela, kwadzingeka batsatse luhambo. Kuloluhambo, kukholwa kwaMariya kwavivinyeka kakhulu. Asesibone kutsi yini leyamsita kute acinise kukholwa kwakhe.

4, 5. (a) Kungani boJosefa naMariya batsatsa luhambo loluya eBhetlehema? (b) Umyalo waKhesari wasita ekugcwalisekeni kwasiphi siphrofetho?

⁴ BoJosefa naMariya bekungasibo bodvwa lebekufanele bahambe. Khesari Agustusi abesandza kukhipha umyalo kuleyo ndzawo wekutsi kubhaliswe, futsi bantfu bekufanele baye emadolobheni akubo kute bente njalo. Wenta njani Josefa? LiBhayibheli litsi: “Josefa naye wesuka eNazaretha yaseGalile, waya eBhetlehema yaseJudiya, lobekulidolobha laDavide, ngobe abewemndeni waDavide.”​—Luk. 2:1-4.

⁵ Akuzange kumane kucondzane kutsi Khesari akhiphe lomyalo  ngalesikhatsi. Siphrofetho lesabhalwa emakhulwini lasikhombisa eminyaka ngaphambili sabiketela kutsi Mesiya abetawutalelwa eBhetlehema. Lapho bekukhona nalelinye lidolobha lebelibitwa ngekutsi yiBhetlehema lebelikhashane ngemakhilomitha langu-11 kusuka eNazaretha. Nobe kunjalo, lesiphrofetho sasho ngalokucacile kutsi ‘bekuyiBhetlehema Efratha’ lebeyitawuveta Mesiya. (Fundza Mikha 5:2.) Kute tihambi tifike kulelidolobhana natisuka eNazaretha betihamba emakhilomitha langaba ngu-130 etintsabeni futsi tendlule eSamariya. Lena bekungiyo iBhetlehema Josefa lebekufanele aye kuyo, ngobe umndeni weNkhosi Davide bewuhlala lapho​—lokungumndeni boJosefa naMariya lebebavela kuwo.

6, 7. (a) Kungani loluhambo loluya eBhetlehema lwaba matima kakhulu kuMariya? (b) Kuba kwakhe ngumfati waJosefa kwayishintja njani indlela lebekenta ngayo tincumo? (Fundza nembhalo longentansi.)

⁶ Mariya abetamsekela yini Josefa esincumeni labesitsetse? Phela loluhambo belutawuba matima kakhulu kuye. Bekusandza kucala likwindla langalowo mnyaka, ngako bekungenteka kutsi kube netimvula letincane njengobe besesiphela sikhatsi sekungani kwemvula. Lokunye kutsi emavi latsi ‘wesuka eGalile’ wenyuka, ayafaneleka ngobe iBhetlehema beyisendzaweni lephakeme ngemamitha langetulu kwalangu-760​—bekunemicansa futsi bewuhamba ngetinyawo emalanga lamanyenti. Kungenteka kutsi loluhambo lwabo belutawutsatsa emalanga lamanyenti kakhulu, ngobe simo Mariya labekuso besitawudzinga kutsi ahle aphumula tikhatsi letinyenti. Esikhatsini lesinjengalesi,  lomsikati losemusha abengafisa kuba sekhaya, lapho umndeni kanye nebangani bakhe bebangamsita nasekucala imihelo. Asingabati kutsi kwadzingeka kutsi abe nesibindzi kute atsatse loluhambo.

⁷ Nangetulu kwaloko, Lukha watsi Josefa “wahamba naMariya bayewubhaliswa.” Waphindze watsi Mariya “abesangumkakhe” njengobe kwakutsenjisiwe. (Luk. 2:4, 5) Kuba kwakhe ngumfati waJosefa kwayishintja kakhulu indlela lebekenta ngayo tincumo. Mariya abetsatsa Josefa njengenhloko yakhe, futsi wayemukela indzima yakhe labeyinikwe nguNkulunkulu yekuba ngumsiti waJosefa ngekutsi asekele tincumo takhe. * Ngako wakhombisa kukholwa kwakhe ngekutsi alalele.

8. (a) Yini lenye lokungenteka yakhutsata Mariya kutsi ahambe naJosefa eBhetlehema? (b) Sibonelo saMariya sibakhutsata njani bantfu labetsembekile?

⁸ Yini lenye lokungenteka yakhutsata Mariya kutsi alalele? Bekati yini ngesiphrofetho lesimayelana nekutsi Mesiya abetawutalelwa eBhetlehema? LiBhayibheli alisitjeli ngaloko. Kodvwa singaphetsa ngekutsi bekati, ngobe lendzaba beyatiwa baholi benkholo, nangibo bonkhe bantfu. (Mat. 2:1-7; Joh. 7:40-42) Mariya abeyati  kahle imiBhalo. (Luk. 1:46-55) Ngisho nobe kungenteka kutsi Mariya wakhetsa kutsatsa loluhambo kute alalele indvodza yakhe, umyalo waKhesari, kugcwalisa siphrofetho saJehova​—nobe kutsi walalela ngenca yaletinye tizatfu—​wasibekela sibonelo lesihle kakhulu. Jehova ubatsatsa njengalababalulekile bantfu labadvuna nalabasikati labatfobekile nalabalalelako. Lamuhla kulalela kutsatfwa njengentfo lengakabaluleki, kodvwa sibonelo saMariya siyabakhutsata bonkhe bantfu labetsembekile.

9, 10. (a) Yini lokungenteka kutsi boMariya naJosefa bebacabanga ngayo njengobe basondzela eBhetlehema? (b) Kungani boJosefa naMariya bahlala kulendzawo lebebakuyo?

⁹ Kungenteka kutsi Mariya wakhululeka nakabona kutsi sebatawufika eBhetlehema. Njengobe bebakhuphuka kuletintsaba, futsi bendlula tihlahla temncuma​—lobekunguletinye lebetivunwa ekugcineni—​kungenteka kutsi boMariya naJosefa bacabanga ngemlandvo walelidolobha lelincane. Belilincane kakhulu kutsi lingabalwa ngaphansi kwemadolobha akaJuda, njengobe umphrofethi Mikha abeshito; nobe kunjalo boBhowazi naNawomi batalelwa kulo, futsi ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi naDavide watalelwa lapho, eminyakeni lengetulu kwaleyinkhulungwane lebeseyendlulile.

¹⁰ BoMariya naJosefa befika kunebantfu labanyenti kulelidolobhana. Labantfu bebafike kucala kunabo kute batewubhaliswa, ngako besekute indzawo yekuhlala endlini yekungenisa tihambi. * Ngesizatfu saloko kwadzingeka kutsi bahambe bayohlala esitebeleni ngalobo busuku. Singase sicabange kutsi Josefa abekhatsateke kangakanani njengobe abona umfati wakhe eva buhlungu langakake asabuve, nalobachubeka bukhula. Imihelo yakhe yacala kuyo lendzawo.

11. (a) Kungani bantfu labasikati labakuyo yonkhe indzawo babucondza buhlungu lebebuviwa nguMariya? (b) Jesu ‘abelitibulo’ ngatiphi tindlela?

¹¹ Bantfu labasikati kuyo yonkhe indzawo bayabucondza buhlungu lebebuviwa nguMariya. Eminyakeni lengaba ngu-4 000 lebeseyendlulile, Jehova abebiketele kutsi bonkhe labasikati bebatawuva buhlungu nababeleka ngenca yesono labasitfola kubatali babo bekucala. (Gen. 3:16) Kute bufakazi lobukhombisa kutsi Mariya akazange abuve lobo buhlungu. LiBhayibheli kuLukha alisitjeli ngaloko lokwenteka, kodvwa limane litsi: “Watala indvodzana, yaba litibulo lakhe.” (Luk. 2:7) “Litibulo” lakhe beselifikile​—lendvodzana yaMariya yaba yekucala kubo bonkhe bantfwana bakhe, lokungenteka kutsi bebasikhombisa. (Mak. 6:3) Kodvwa yona beyitawehluka kunabo bonkhe. Lendvodzana yakhe beyingeke igcine ngekuba litibulo lakhe kodvwa  beyitawuba “litibulo layo yonkhe indalo” yaJehova, iNdvodzana yaNkulunkulu lekuphela kwayo!​—Khol. 1:15.

12. Mariya wambekaphi umntfwana wakhe, futsi loko lokwenteka mbamba kwehluke ngani kuloko lokuvetwa yimidlalo, yimidvwebo nemifanekiso lemayelana nekutalwa kwaJesu?

¹² LiBhayibheli libese lichaza lomunye umniningwane lowatiwako lotsi: “Wayiphutsetela ngendvwangu wayibeka emkhombeni.” (Luk. 2:7) Emhlabeni wonkhe, imidlalo, imidvwebo nemifanekiso lemayelana nekutalwa kwaJesu ivame kwecisa nayichaza loko lokwenteka. Kodvwa-ke, asewucabange ngaloko lokwenteka mbamba. Umkhombe yindzawo lapho kuphakelwa khona tilwane futsi tidlele khona. Khumbula kutsi boJosefa naMariya bebahleli esitebeleni, lokuyindzawo leyatiwa ngekuba bete kahle umoya nangekungahlanteki. Ecinisweni, bakhona yini batali lebebangakhetsa indzawo lenjena kute batalele khona umntfwana wabo, kube beyikhona lenye? Batali labanyenti babafunela lokuncono bantfwana babo. BoMariya naJosefa nabo bebayifunela lokuncono kakhulu iNdvodzana yaNkulunkulu.

13. (a) Nguyiphi indlela boMariya naJosefa labenta ngayo konkhe lokusemandleni abo ngaloko lebebanako? (b) Batali labahlakaniphile lamuhla bangacabanga njani ngetintfo letibalulekile njengaJosefa naMariya?

¹³ Nobe kunjalo, abazange bavumele lesimo sabo kutsi sibavise buhlungu, esikhundleni saloko, benta konkhe lokusemandleni abo ngaloko lebebanako. Sibonelo saloko kutsi Mariya walunakekela loluswane, waluphutsetela ngetindvwangu, wase ulubeka kahle emkhombeni kute lulale futsi waciniseka kutsi lufutfumele nekutsi luphephile. Mariya abengafuni kuvumela timo labekuto timente ehluleke kuyinakekela kahle indvodzana yakhe. Yena naJosefa bebati kutsi kufundzisa lomntfwana kutsi atsandze Nkulunkulu bekuyintfo lebaluleke kakhulu lebebangamentela yona. (Fundza Dutheronomi 6:6-8.) Lamuhla, batali labahlakaniphile bacabanga ngetintfo letibalulekile letinjengaleti nabakhulisa bantfwana babo kulelive lelingamtsandzi Nkulunkulu.

14, 15. (a) Kungani belusi bebafuna kubona lomntfwana? (b) Yini labelusi labayenta ngemuva kwekubona Jesu esitebeleni?

¹⁴ Kwatsi kusenjalo, kwenteka intfo leyabaphatamisa. Ngekushesha kwangena belusi kulesitebele, bafuna kubona lomndeni, futsi ikakhulukati lomntfwana. Lamadvodza abefile yinjabulo, futsi beyibonakala nasebusweni bawo. Abesuka etintsabeni lapho abehleti khona nemihlambi yawo. * Atjela labatali labamangele mayelana  nentfo lemangalisako lebebasandza kuyibona. Ngesikhatsi lamadvodza asentsabeni ekhatsi nebusuku, abona ingilosi. Inkhatimulo yaJehova yagcwala yonkhe lendzawo lebewakuyo futsi lengilosi yawatjela kutsi Khristu nobe Mesiya abesandza nje kutalwa eBhetlehema. Yatsi bebatawutfola lomntfwana alele emkhombeni, aphutsetelwe ngetindvwangu. Ngemuva kwaloko, kwenteka intfo leyamangalisa kakhulu​—babona tingilosi letinyenti tidvumisa Nkulunkulu.​—Luk. 2:8-14.

¹⁵ Akumangalisi kutsi lamadvodza latfobekile agijima ngekushesha angena eBhetlehema. Kungenteka kutsi amangala nawabona loluswane lulele emkhombeni njengobe lengilosi beyichazile. Ngako awazange atigodle letindzaba letimnandzi. ‘Akhuluma ngaloko labetjelwe kona . . . Bonkhe labeva bamangala kakhulu ngaletintfo lebetikhulunywa ngulabelusi.’ (Luk. 2:17, 18) Baholi benkholo bangaleso sikhatsi bebababukela phansi belusi. Kodvwa kuyacaca kutsi Jehova bekawatsatsa njengalabalulekile lamadvodza latfobekile futsi letsembekile. Mariya wativa njani ngalokufika kwalabelusi?

16. Mariya waveta njani kutsi abecabangisisa ngetintfo, futsi nguyiphi intfo lebalulekile leyamenta waba nekukholwa?

¹⁶ Asingabati kutsi Mariya abedziniwe ngemuva kwebumatima bekubeleka, kodvwa wakulalelisisa konkhe lebebakusho. Wenta nalokungetulu kwaloko: “Mariya watigcina engcondvweni tonkhe letintfo, futsi wazindla ngato.” (Luk. 2:19) Abengumuntfu locabangisisako ngetintfo. Bekati kutsi lomlayeto wengilosi bewubalulekile. Nkulunkulu wakhe Jehova abefuna kutsi ati futsi acondze kutsi ingubani indvodzana yakhe nekutsi ibaluleke ngani. Ngako akazange agcine ngekulalela. Wagcina lamavi enhlitiyweni yakhe kute achubeke azindla ngawo etinyangeni naseminyakeni lebeyitawulandzela. Lena yintfo lebalulekile leyenta Mariya wachubeka anekukholwa kuko konkhe kuphila kwakhe.​—Fundza Hebheru 11:1.

17. Singasilingisa njani sibonelo saMariya nakutiwa emacinisweni laseBhayibhelini?

¹⁷ Utasilingisa yini sibonelo saMariya? Jehova ugcine emaciniso labalulekile eVini lakhe. Nobe kunjalo, lamaciniso angeke asisite kangako ngaphandle kwanasiwanaka. Loko singakwenta ngekufundza liBhayibheli njalo​—hhayi njengencwadzi levamile kodvwa njengeliVi laNkulunkulu leliphefumulelwe. (2 Thim. 3:16) NjengaMariya, kufanele sigcine lamaciniso etinhlitiyweni tetfu bese sizindla ngawo. Nasizindla ngaloko lesikufundza eBhayibhelini futsi sicabangisisa ngendlela lesingasisebentisa ngayo seluleko saJehova, sitakwenta kukholwa kwetfu kukhule.

18. (a) BoMariya naJosefa bawulalela njani uMtsetfo waMosi ngesikhatsi Jesu asandza kutalwa? (b) Umnikelo boMariya naJosefa labawunikela ethempelini wavetani ngesimo sabo semnotfo?

¹⁸ Ngelilanga lesiphohlongo lomntfwana atelwe, boMariya naJosefa bamsoka ngekuvumelana neMtsetfo waMosi futsi bametsa libito batsi nguJesu, njengobe bebayaliwe. (Luk. 1:31) Kwatsi ngelilanga lesi-40, bamtsatsa besuka eBhetlehema baya ethempelini eJerusalema, lebelikhashane ngemakhilomitha langaba lishumi, bafike banikela iminikelo yekuhlanjululwa, leyo uMtsetfo lobewuvumela labeswele kutsi bayinikele​—ematuba lamabili nobe emavukutfu lamabili. Ngisho nobe bekubavisa buhlungu kutsi bayehluleka kunikela ngengcama nelituba njengalabanye batali, bachubeka balalela. Kunobe kunguphi, batfola sikhutsato lesikhulu ngesikhatsi basethempelini.​—Luk. 2:21-24.

19. (a) Simeyoni wamtjela njani Mariya lamanye emavi lebekufanele awagcine enhlitiyweni yakhe? (b) Yini Ana layenta nakabona Jesu?

¹⁹ Indvodza lekhulile lokutsiwa nguSimeyoni yeta kubo futsi yatjela Mariya lamanye emavi lebekufanele awagcine enhlitiyweni yakhe. Simeyoni abetsenjiswe kutsi abengeke afe angakamboni Mesiya, futsi umoya longcwele waJehova wamembulela kutsi Jesu abenguMsindzisi lowetsenjisiwe. Simeyoni waphindze wecwayisa Mariya ngebuhlungu labetawuhlangabetana nabo ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi. Watsi utawuva shengatsi uhlatjwa ngenkemba lendze. (Luk. 2:25-35) Nanobe lamavi abebuhlungu, kungenteka asita Mariya kutsi abeketele  lapho sesifika lesikhatsi lesimatima eminyakeni lengaba ngemashumi lamatsatfu leyalandzela. Nabesuka kuSimeyoni, Ana longumphrofethikati wabona Jesu futsi wacala kukhuluma ngaye kubo bonkhe lebebalindzele litsemba lekukhululwa kweliJerusalema.​—Fundza Lukha 2:36-38.

20. Kuletfwa kwaJesu ethempelini eJerusalema kwabonakala njani kusincumo lesihle?

²⁰ BoJosefa naMariya bebente sincumo lesihle kakhulu ngekuletsa umntfwana wabo ethempelini laJehova eJerusalema. Ngaleyondlela, lesi kwaba sicalo ekuphileni kwendvodzana yabo sekuya ngekwetsembeka ethempelini laJehova. Ngesikhatsi balapho, batinikela ngawo onkhe emandla abo futsi batfola ticondziso kanye netikhutsato. Akungabateki kutsi Mariya wesuka ethempelini akhekile ekukholweni, inhlitiyo yakhe igcwele emaciniso labalulekile lebekufanele azindle ngawo futsi awatjele labanye.

21. Yini lesingayenta kute siciniseke kutsi kukholwa kwetfu kutawukhula kakhulu njengekwaMariya?

²¹ Kuyintfo lenhle lamuhla kubona batali balandzela lesibonelo. Batali lababoFakazi BaJehova, baya nebantfwana babo emihlanganweni yebuKhristu ngekwetsembeka. Batali labanjalo banikela ngaloko labanako futsi bakhutsata labanye labakholwa nabo. Nababuya emihlanganweni, basuke bakhekile, bajabula futsi sebanetintfo letinyenti labangaticocela labanye. Kujabulisa kakhulu kutihlanganisa nabo. Nasichubeka senta njalo, sitawutfola kutsi njengaMariya, kukholwa kwetfu kutawukhula kakhulu.