1. Cishe kunini lapho uPetru azizwa khona kabi kunanini ngaphambili?

UPETRU wayengasoze awukhohlwa lowo mzuzu obuhlungu lapho amehlo abo ehlangana. Ingabe wabona indumalo noma ukusolwa okuthile emehlweni kaJesu? Ngeke sazi; umbhalo ophefumulelwe ugcina nje ngokuthi “iNkosi yaphenduka yambheka uPetru.” (Luka 22:61) Kulokho kujeqezwa kanye, kwamcacela uPetru ukuthi wayenze iphutha elikhulu kangakanani. Wabona ukuthi wayeqeda kwenza yona kanye into uJesu ayeyibikezele, yona kanye into uPetru ayegomele ngokuthi wayengasoze ayenza—wayeyiphikile iNkosi yakhe ayithandayo. Kungenzeka ukuthi uPetru wayengakaze azizwe kabi njengangaleso sikhathi.

2. Isiphi isifundo okwakudingeka uPetru asifunde, futhi singazuza kanjani endabeni yakhe?

² Nokho lalisekhona ithemba. Ngenxa yokuthi uPetru wayeyindoda yokholo olukhulu, wayenalo ithuba lokulungisa amaphutha akhe futhi afunde esinye sezifundo ezibaluleke kunazo zonke kuJesu. Isifundo sokuthethelela. Ngamunye wethu uyasidinga lesi sifundo, ngakho masihambisane noPetru njengoba efunda kanzima.

3, 4. (a) Imuphi umbuzo uPetru awubuza uJesu, futhi kungenzeka ukuthi wayecabangani? (b) UJesu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi uPetru wayethonywe umoya owawudlangile ngaleso sikhathi?

³ Ezinyangeni ezingaba isithupha ngaphambili emzini wakubo eKapernawume, uPetru wayeye kuJesu wambuza: “Nkosi, umfowethu kumelwe angone kangaki ngimthethelela? Kuze kube kasikhombisa na?” Kungenzeka wayecabanga ukuthi lokhu kwakuwukuthethelela okukhulu. Phela, abaholi benkolo bangaleso sikhathi babefundisa ukuthi umuntu kudingeka athethelele kathathu kuphela! UJesu waphendula: “Angisho kuwe ukuthi, Kuze kube kasikhombisa, kodwa, Kuze kube izikhathi ezingamashumi ayisikhombisa nesikhombisa.”—Math. 18:21, 22.

⁴ Ingabe uJesu wayesikisela ukuthi uPetru kumelwe abale isono ngasinye esenziwa umuntu? Cha; kunalokho, ngokushintsha u-7 abe  ngu-77, wayethi uthando alusivumeli ukuba sikubekele umngcele ongadingekile ukuthethelela. (1 Kor. 13:4, 5) UJesu wabonisa ukuthi uPetru wayethonywe ukuba nhliziyo-lukhuni nokungathetheleli okwakudlangile ngaleso sikhathi, okwakwenza abantu babale ukuthi sebebathethelele kangaki abanye. Nokho, intethelelo kaNkulunkulu inkulu futhi akayigodli.—Funda eyoku- 1 Johane 1:7-9.

5. Kunini lapho singase sisifunde kangcono khona isifundo sokuthethelela?

⁵ UPetru akazange aphikisane noJesu. Kodwa ingabe wayesifundile ngempela lesi sifundo sokuthethelela? Ngezinye izikhathi sisifunda kangcono isifundo sokuthethelela lapho siqaphela ukuthi thina ngokwethu sikudinga kakhulu kangakanani ukuthethelelwa. Ngakho masibuyele ezenzakalweni zangaphambi nje kokufa kukaJesu. Kulawo mahora anzima, uPetru wenza amaphutha amaningi ayedinga ukuba iNkosi yakhe imthethelele wona.

6. UPetru wenzenjani njengoba uJesu ayezama ukufundisa abaphostoli isifundo sokuthobeka, kodwa uJesu wamphatha kanjani?

⁶ Kwakuwubusuku obuyingqopha-mlando—ubusuku bokugcina uJesu ephila emhlabeni. Kwakusekuningi uJesu ayesadinga ukukufundisa abaphostoli bakhe—ngokwesibonelo, kwakusafanele bafunde ukuthobeka. UJesu wabeka isibonelo ngokuba athobeke abageze izinyawo, umsebenzi owawabelwa isisebenzi esiphansi kunazo zonke. Ekuqaleni, uPetru wasingabaza lesi senzo sikaJesu. Wayesenqaba ukugezwa izinyawo. Kamuva wathi uJesu makangamgezi izinyawo zodwa kodwa nezandla nekhanda! UJesu akaphelelwanga isineke, kunalokho wachaza ngomoya ophansi ukuthi kwakubaluleke ngani futhi kusho ukuthini lokhu ayekwenza.—Joh. 13:1-17.

7, 8. (a) UPetru wabuye wasivivinya kanjani isineke sikaJesu? (b) UJesu waqhubeka kanjani ebonisa umusa nokuthethelela?

⁷ Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, uPetru waphinda wasivivinya isineke sikaJesu. Abaphostoli baqala ukuphikisana ngokuthi ubani kubo owayemkhulu, futhi akungabazeki ukuthi uPetru wayekhona kuleyo mpikiswano ebanga amahloni neyembula ukuqhosha. Noma kunjalo, uJesu wabalungisa ngomusa waze wabatusa ngalokho ababekwenze kahle; babebonise ukwethembeka ngokunamathela eNkosini yabo. Nokho, wabikezela ukuthi bonke babezomshiya. UPetru waphika wathi yena wayezonamathela kuJesu ngisho noma engabhekana nokufa. UJesu waprofetha ukuthi ngabo kanye lobo busuku iqhude lingakakhali kabili uPetru wayezoyiphika kathathu iNkosi yakhe. Ngemva kwalokho uPetru akagcinanga ngokumphikisa uJesu kodwa wazishaya isifuba wathi yena wayezothembeka ngaphezu kwabo bonke abanye abaphostoli!—Math. 26:31-35; Marku 14:27-31; Luka 22:24-28; Joh. 13:36-38.

 ⁸ Ingabe kwase kusele kancane uJesu aphelelwe isineke ngoPetru? Eqinisweni, kuso sonke lesi sikhathi esinzima uJesu wayelokhu efuna okuhle kubaphostoli bakhe abangaphelele. Wayazi ukuthi uPetru wayezomdumaza, noma kunjalo wathi: “Wena ngikunxusele ukuba ukholo lwakho lungapheli; futhi wena, lapho nje usubuyile, uqinise abafowenu.” (Luka 22:32) Ngaleyo ndlela uJesu wabonisa ukuthi wayeqiniseka ukuthi uPetru wayezolulama ngokomoya aphinde akhonze ngokwethembeka. Yeka umusa nokuthethelela!

9, 10. (a) Ikuphi ukulungiswa uPetru akudinga ensimini yaseGetsemane? (b) Amaphutha akhe angase asikhumbuzeni?

⁹ Kamuva, ensimini yaseGetsemane, uPetru wadinga ukulungiswa izikhathi ezingaphezu kwesisodwa. UJesu wamcela ukuba yena noJakobe noJohane bahlale belindile ngesikhathi ethandaza. UJesu wayecindezeleke kakhulu ngokomzwelo edinga ukusekelwa, kodwa uPetru nabanye babelokhu belala. Ebazwela futhi ebathethelela, uJesu washo la mazwi: “Yebo, umoya uzimisele, kodwa inyama ibuthakathaka.”—Marku 14:32-41.

¹⁰ Kungakabiphi kwafika isixuku, siphethe izimbaqa sihlome ngezinkemba nemishiza. Lesi kwase kuyisikhathi sokusebenzisa ukuqapha nokuhlakanipha. Kodwa uPetru, ngokuxhamazela wahosha inkemba wagalela ekhanda likaMalkusi, inceku yompristi ophakeme, wamsusa indlebe. Ngomoya ophansi uJesu wamlungisa uPetru, welapha inxeba, wayesechaza isimiso sokungabi nabudlova esiqondisa abalandeli baKhe kuze kube namuhla. (Math. 26:47-55; Luka 22:47-51; Joh. 18:10, 11) Ayesemaningi kakade amaphutha uPetru ayesewenzile eNkosini yakhe okwadingeka imthethelele wona. Amaphutha akhe angase asikhumbuze ukuthi sonke siyona kaningi. (Funda uJakobe 3:2.) Ubani phakathi kwethu ongadingi ukuthethelelwa uNkulunkulu usuku ngalunye? Nokho, uPetru wayesalindelwe lukhulu ngalobo busuku.

11, 12. (a) UPetru wasibonisa kanjani isibindi esithile ngemva kokuboshwa kukaJesu? (b) UPetru wahluleka kanjani ukwenza lokho ayethé uzokwenza?

¹¹ UJesu wabonisana nesixuku ukuthi uma sifuna yena, kufanele sibadedele abaphostoli bakhe bahambe. Engenakwenza lutho, uPetru wabukela isixuku sibopha uJesu. Ngemva kwalokho yena kanye nabanye abaphostoli babaleka.

¹² UPetru noJohane bayeka ukubaleka bema, mhlawumbe eduze komuzi ka-Anase owayekade engumPristi Ophakeme, lapho uJesu aqale wayiswa khona eyophenywa. Njengoba uJesu esuswa lapho, oPetru noJohane balandela kodwa ‘bekujana impela.’ (Math. 26:58; Joh. 18:12, 13) UPetru wayengelona igwala. Nakho nje ukulandela kwakudinga isibindi. Lesi sixuku sasihlomile, futhi uPetru wayesemlimazile omunye waso. Noma kunjalo, asiluboni loluya thando  oluqotho uPetru ayethe unalo—ukuzimisela ukufa kanye neNkosi yakhe uma kudingeka.—Marku 14:31.

13. Iyiphi indlela okuyiyona yona yokulandela uKristu?

¹³ NjengoPetru, abaningi namuhla bazama ukulandela uKristu ‘bekujana impela’—bengabonwa. Kodwa njengoba uPetru ngokwakhe abhala kamuva, yinye kuphela indlela okuyiyona yona yokulandela uKristu—ukunamathela kuye kangangokunokwenzeka, silandele isibonelo sakhe ezintweni zonke, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kwenzekani.—Funda eyoku-1 Petru 2:21.

14. UPetru wabuchitha kanjani ubusuku okwakuqulwa ngabo icala likaJesu?

¹⁴ Elandela ngokuqapha kanjalo, uPetru waze wafika esangweni lesinye sezithabathaba zemizi yaseJerusalema. Kwakusemzini kaKayafase, umpristi ophakeme ocebile futhi onegunya elikhulu. Ngokuvamile imizi enjalo yayakhiwa izungeze igceke, ibe nesango ngaphambili. Lapho efika esangweni uPetru wanqatshelwa ukungena. UJohane, owayazana nompristi ophakeme futhi owayesevele engaphakathi, weza watshela umlindimnyango ukuba angenise uPetru. Kubonakala sengathi uPetru akabange esahambisana noJohane; futhi akazamanga ukungena ngaphakathi endlini ukuze abe seceleni kweNkosi yakhe. Waphelela egcekeni lapho izigqila ezithile nezinceku zazotha khona umlilo ngalobo busuku obubandayo, zibukele njengoba ofakazi bamanga bephuma bengena befakaza amanga ngoJesu.—Marku 14:54-57; Joh. 18:15, 16, 18.

15, 16. Chaza ukuthi sagcwaliseka kanjani isiprofetho sikaJesu sokuphika kathathu.

¹⁵ Njengoba uPetru ayesekhanyiswe ilangabi, intombazane eyayimngenise esangweni yabe isikwazi ukumbona kahle. Yathi: “Nawe, futhi ubunoJesu waseGalile!” Engakulindele lokhu, uPetru waphika walala ngomhlane ukuthi uyamazi uJesu—esho nokuthi akazi ukuthi le ntombazane ikhuluma ngani. Ezama ukucasha, wasuka lapho wayokuma ngasesangweni, kodwa wabonwa enye intombazane, nayo yasho okufanayo: “Lo muntu ubenoJesu umNazaretha.” UPetru wafunga, wathi: “Angimazi lo muntu!” (Math. 26:69-72; Marku 14:66-68) Mhlawumbe kungemva kwalokhu kuphika kwesibili lapho uPetru ezwa khona iqhude likhala, kodwa ngendlela ingqondo yakhe eyayiphazamiseke ngayo, akasikhumbulanga isiprofetho uJesu ayesishó emahoreni ambalwa ngaphambili.

¹⁶ UPetru waqhubeka isikhashana ezama ukucasha. Kodwa kwasondela iqembu labantu ababemi khona egcekeni. Omunye kubo wayehlobene noMalkusi, inceku uPetru ayeyigence indlebe. Wathi kuPetru: “Ngikubonile ensimini ukanye naye, akunjalo?” UPetru wazizwa ephoqelekile ukuba abaqinisekise ukuthi babenza iphutha. Ngakho wafunga, ngokusobala ethi makehlelwe isiqalekiso uma kungukuthi uqamba amanga. Kwase kuwukuphika kukaPetru kwesithathu  lokho. Engakaligwinyi, iqhude lakhala—ukukhala kwesibili uPetru akuzwa ngalobo busuku.—Joh. 18:26, 27; Marku 14:71, 72.

17, 18. (a) Wenzenjani uPetru lapho kumkhanyela ukuthi wayeyidumaze kakhulu kangakanani iNkosi yakhe? (b) Yini okungenzeka ukuthi uPetru wazibuza yona?

¹⁷ UJesu wayesanda kuphuma endlini, emi kuvulandi ophezulu ebuka phansi egcekeni. Ngalowo mzuzu, ochazwe ekuqaleni kwalesi sahluko, amehlo akhe ahlangana nakaPetru. Kwamkhanyela uPetru ukuthi wayeyidumaze kakhulu kangakanani iNkosi yakhe. Ezwa iminjunju yokudliwa isazela, waphuma egcekeni waphumela kunyezi ngaphandle ezitaladini zomuzi. Amehlo acweba izinyembezi, waphubuka wakhala kalusizi.—Marku 14:72; Luka 22:61, 62.

¹⁸ Ngemva kokwenza iphutha elinjengaleli, kulula kakhulu ngomuntu ukuphetha ngokuthi isono sakhe sibi kakhulu ukuba singathethelelwa. Kungenzeka noPetru wazibuza ukuthi wayesengathethelelwa yini. Ingabe wayesengathethelelwa?

19. Kumelwe ukuba uPetru wazizwa kanjani ngephutha lakhe, kodwa sazi ngani ukuthi akavumanga ukuphelelwa ithemba?

¹⁹ Kunzima ukuqonda ubuhlungu obazwiwa uPetru njengoba kusa ngakusasa futhi esebona ukuthi kwenzekeni kuJesu. Yeka indlela okumelwe ukuthi wazisola ngayo lapho uJesu efa ntambama ngalolo suku ngemva kokuhlushwa amahora amaningi! Kumelwe ukuba wathuthumela nalapho ecabanga ukuthi wayenezele kanjani ebuhlungwini beNkosi yakhe—nanokwenza ngosuku lwayo lokugcina ingumuntu! Nakuba ayedabuke kakhulu, uPetru akavumanga ukuphelelwa ithemba. Lokhu sikwazi ngoba ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho simthola esekanye nabafowabo abangokomoya. (Luka 24:33) Akungabazeki ukuthi nabanye abaphostoli bazizwa kabuhlungu ngenxa yalokho ababekwenzile ngalobo busuku obunzima ngakho baduduzana.

20. Yini esingayifunda esinqumweni sikaPetru esihle kakhulu?

²⁰ Lapha sibona uPetru enza isinqumo esihle kakhulu. Lapho inceku kaNkulunkulu iwa, okusemqoka akukhona ukuthi iwe kakhulu kangakanani kodwa ubukhulu bokuzimisela kwayo ukuvuka, ilungise izinto. (Funda izAga 24:16.) UPetru wabonisa ukholo lwangempela ngokuhlangana nabafowabo naphezu kokudangala kwakhe. Lapho umuntu ecindezelwe ukudabuka noma ukuzisola, angase afune ukuzihlukanisa kodwa lokho kuyingozi. (IzAga 18:1)  Kuwukuhlakanipha ukusondelana namanye amakholwa ukuze uthole amandla.—Heb. 10:24, 25.

21. Ngenxa yokuthi wahlangana nabafowabo abangokomoya, zindaba zini uPetru azizwa?

²¹ Ngenxa yokuthi wayekanye nabafowabo abangokomoya, uPetru wezwa izindaba ezethusayo zokuthi isidumbu sikaJesu sasingekho ethuneni. Yena noJohane bagijima baya ethuneni uJesu ayengcwatshwe kulo futhi lavalwa. UJohane, okungenzeka wayemncane kunoPetru wafika kuqala. Lapho ethola ithuna livulekile, wanqikaza ukungena. Ehefuzela enjalo, uPetru washo phakathi. Ithuna lalingenalutho!—Joh. 20:3-9.

22. Yini eyakuqeda konke ukudabuka nokungabaza enhliziyweni kaPetru?

²² Ingabe uPetru wakholelwa ukuthi uJesu wayevusiwe? Waqale wangakholwa, ngisho nangemva kokuba abesifazane abathembekile bebike ukuthi izingelosi zazibonakale kubo zathi uJesu uvusiwe kwabafileyo. (Luka 23:55–24:11) Kodwa lathi lishona ngalolo suku, kwase kuphele konke ukudabuka nokungabaza enhliziyweni kaPetru. UJesu wayephila, eseyisidalwa somoya esinamandla! Wabonakala kubo bonke abaphostoli bakhe. Nokho kukhona umuntu aqale abonakala kuye eyedwa ngasese. Ngalolo suku abaphostoli bathi: “Ngempela iNkosi ivusiwe futhi ibonakele kuSimoni!” (Luka 24:34) Umphostoli uPawulu naye wabhala ngalolo suku olungenakulibaleka mhla uJesu ‘ebonakala kuKhefase, kwase kuba kwabayishumi nambili.’ (1 Kor. 15:5) Elithi Khefase nelithi Simoni amanye amagama kaPetru. Kusobala ukuthi uJesu wabonakala kuPetru ngalolo suku—eyedwa.

23. Kungani amaKristu awela esonweni namuhla kudingeka akhumbule indaba kaPetru?

²³ Imininingwane yalokho kubonana okuthinta inhliziyo ayilotshwanga eBhayibhelini. Yaziwa uJesu noPetru kuphela. Singacabanga nje ukuthi wathinteka kanjani uPetru lapho ebona iNkosi yakhe ayithandayo ivusiwe futhi ethola ithuba lokubonisa ukudabuka nokuphenduka kwakhe. Ayekufuna ngaphezu kwakho konke uPetru, kwakuwukuthethelelwa. Ubani ongangabaza ukuthi uJesu wamthethelela ngokuphelele? Namuhla amaKristu awela esonweni kudingeka akhumbule indaba kaPetru. Akufanele neze siphethe ngokuthi uNkulunkulu akasenakusithethelela. UJesu umbonakalisa ngokuphelele uYise, ‘othethelela ngendlela enkulu.’—Isaya 55:7.

24, 25. (a) Chaza ubusuku uPetru ayedoba ngabo oLwandle LwaseGalile. (b) UPetru wenze njani lapho ebona isimangaliso sikaJesu ngakusasa ekuseni?

²⁴ UJesu watshela abaphostoli bakhe ukuba baye eGalile lapho babezophinde bahlangane naye khona. Uma befika lapho, uPetru wanquma ukuya kodoba oLwandle LwaseGalile. Nabanye bahamba  naye. UPetru waphinda wazithola esechibini ayekhulele kulo. Umsindo wokunyakaza kwesikebhe, ukugubha kwamagagasi, ukuthinta amanetha amaqhuzuqhuzu—konke lokhu kumelwe ukuba kwamkhumbuza izinsuku ezedlule futhi kwamduduza. Ababambanga lutho ubusuku bonke.—Math. 26:32; Joh. 21:1-3.

²⁵ Nokho ekuntweleni kokusa, bamenyezwa umuntu othile esogwini ebakhuthaza ukuba baphonse amanetha ngakolunye uhlangothi lwesikebhe. Benza kanjalo babamba izinhlanzi ezingu-153! UPetru wavele wazi ukuthi wayengubani lo muntu. Wagxuma waphuma  esikebheni wabhukuda waya ogwini. Ogwini, uJesu wapha laba bangane bakhe abathembekile isidlo senhlanzi eyosiwe. Wabe esegxila kuPetru.—Joh. 21:4-14.

26, 27. (a) Ithuba lani uJesu alinika uPetru izikhathi ezintathu? (b) UJesu wanikeza buphi ubufakazi bokuthi wayemthethelele ngokuphelele uPetru?

²⁶ UJesu wabuza uPetru ukuthi iNkosi yakhe wayeyithanda ‘ngaphezu kwalezi’ yini—ngokusobala ekhomba indunduma yezinhlanzi ezazidotshiwe. Ingabe enhliziyweni kaPetru uthando lokudoba lwaluzobangisana nothando lwakhe ngoJesu? Njengoba nje uPetru ayeyiphike kathathu iNkosi yakhe, manje uJesu wayemnika ithuba lokuba aluvume kathathu uthando lwakhe phambi kozakwabo. Njengoba uPetru eluvuma, uJesu wamtshela ukuthi kufanele alubonise kanjani lolo thando: ngokwenza inkonzo engcwele ize ngaphambi kwakho konke okunye, ondle, aqinise futhi eluse umhlambi kaKristu, abalandeli bakhe abathembekile.—Luka 22:32; Joh. 21:15-17.

²⁷ Ngokwenza lokho uJesu waqinisekisa uPetru ukuthi yena noYise babesamdinga. UPetru wayezobamba iqhaza elibalulekile ebandleni eqondiswa uKristu. Yeka ubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda bokuthi uJesu wayemthethelele ngokuphelele! Lowo musa wamthinta nakanjani uPetru futhi wafunda ephutheni lakhe.

28. UPetru walilandela kanjani igama lakhe?

²⁸ UPetru wasifeza ngokwethembeka isabelo sakhe iminyaka eminingi. Wabaqinisa abafowabo, njengoba nje uJesu ayemyalile ngosuku olungaphambi kokufa kwaKhe. Wabelusa futhi wabondla ngomusa nangesineke abalandeli bakaKristu. Ngokuba umuntu ozinzile, othembekile ebandleni, le ndoda ebizwa ngokuthi uSimoni yalilandela igama eyalinikwa uJesu—elithi Petru noma iDwala. Ubufakazi obuningi obubonisa lokho butholakala ezincwadini zakhe ezimbili ezinothando ezaba ingxenye ebalulekile yeBhayibheli. Lezo zincwadi zibonisa nokuthi uPetru akazange asikhohlwe isifundo asifunda kuJesu mayelana nokuthethelela.—Funda eyoku-1 Petru 3:8, 9; 4:8.

29. Singalulingisa kanjani ukholo lukaPetru nomusa weNkosi yakhe?

²⁹ Sengathi nathi singasifunda leso sifundo. Ingabe siyamcela nsuku zonke uNkulunkulu ukuba asithethelele amaphutha ethu amaningi? Ingabe sibe sesiyamukela intethelelo bese sikholelwa ukuthi inamandla okusihlanza? Ingabe siyabathethelela abanye? Uma sikwenza lokho, siyobe silingisa ukholo lukaPetru—nomusa weNkosi yakhe.