Kumfuata Yesu

Sisi tulio na “MACHO YANAYOONA” NA “MASIKIO YANAYOSIKIA” ( Mt. 13:16 ), ujumbe ambao Yesu aliwaletea wafuasi Wake; ujumbe wa “habari njema ya furaha kuu itakayokuwa kwa watu wote” ( Luka 2:10, 11 ), pamoja na toleo lisiloaminika la kumfuata; kuiga kielelezo Chake, na kuwa mshiriki wa Bibi-arusi na Ukuhani Wake, bado wanaona ni vigumu kuamini kwamba toleo kama hilo limetolewa kwetu.

Those of us who have “EYES THAT SEE” AND “EARS THAT HEAR” (Matt. 13:16), the message that Jesus brought to His followers; a message of “good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10, 11), plus an unbelievable offer to follow Him; copying His pattern, and becoming a member of His Bride and Priesthood, still find it difficult to believe such an offer is made to us.

Labda ndio maana tumepewa uhakikisho wa ahadi hizi na mitume katika maandishi yao. Tazama 2 Wakorintho 15:51-54; 2 Petro 1:4; Ufunuo 5:9, 10; 14:1-5, nk.

Perhaps that is why we are given assurance of these promises by the apostles in their writings. See 2 Corinthians 15:51-54; 2 Peter 1:4; Revelation 5:9, 10; 14:1-5, etc.

Kwa kuwa mwaliko huu umetolewa kwetu, hebu tupitie kile kinachotarajiwa kutoka kwetu ambacho Mwalimu, Kiongozi na Mwalimu wetu ametoa kama maagizo yake wazi. Katika Mathayo 10:37-39 Yesu alisema:

Since this invitation has been extended to us, let us review what is expected of us that our Teacher, Guide and Master has given as His clear instructions.  In Matthew 10:37-39 Jesus said:

“Yeyote ampendaye baba yake au mama yake kuliko Mimi, hanistahili; yeyote anayempenda mwanawe au binti yake kuliko Mimi, hanistahili; na mtu ye yote asiyeuchukua msalaba wake na kunifuata, hanistahili. Yeyote anayeipata nafsi yake ataipoteza, na yeyote anayeipoteza nafsi yake kwa ajili yangu ataipata.”

“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.  Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

Mtume Paulo alisema, “Nimesulubiwa pamoja na Kristo na si hai tena, bali Kristo yu hai ndani yangu” (Wagalatia 2:20). Hilo lazima liwe lengo letu. "Kristo ndani yenu, tumaini (pekee) la utukufu" (Wakolosai 1:27). Je, hii inafanyikaje? Yesu anatupa jibu katika Yohana 14:23, “Mtu akinipenda, atayashika mafundisho yangu, na Baba yangu atampenda; nasi tutakuja kwake na kufanya makao kwake.”

The Apostle Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).  That must be our goal.  “Christ in you, the (only) hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). How does this take place?  Jesus gives us the answer in John 14:23, “If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching, My Father will love him and We will come to him and make our home with him.”

Hivyo basi, ni “mafundisho” gani haya ambayo Yesu alitupa? Alipoulizwa, “Ni amri gani iliyo kuu kuliko zote?” tunajua jibu lake linapatikana katika Mt. 22:37-40 na Marko 12:28-31. Kisha, kwenye karamu ya mwisho akawapa amri nyingine, “Amri mpya nawapa! Mpendane kama nilivyowapenda ninyi, vivyo hivyo lazima kupendana. Hivyo watu wote watajua ya kuwa ninyi mmekuwa wanafunzi wangu, mkiwa na upendo ninyi kwa ninyi.” ( Yohana 13:34, 35 ) Ili kukazia jambo hili, Alilirudia katika Yohana 15:12, 13 akisema, “Amri yangu ni hii:  Mpendane kama nilivyowapenda ninyi. Hakuna aliye na upendo mwingi kuliko huu, wa mtu kuutoa uhai wake kwa ajili ya rafiki zake.”

So then, what is this “teaching” that Jesus gave us?  When He was asked, “What is the greatest commandment of all?” we know His reply is found in Matt. 22:37-40 and Mark 12:28-31. Then, at the last supper He gave them another commandment, “A new commandment I give you!  Love one another, as I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34, 35). To emphasize this point, He repeated it in John 15:12, 13 saying, “My command is this:  Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends.”

Hii lazima iwe kanuni inayoongoza maishani ikiwa tungekuwa wafuasi wa kweli wa Yesu. UPENDO, si nomino tu; lazima kiwe kitenzi, katika maisha yetu, kinachoonyeshwa katika matendo yetu!

This must be our life’s guiding principle if we would be true followers of Jesus.  LOVE, is not merely a noun; it must be a verb, in our lives, shown forth in our actions!

Msikilize Mtume Yohana katika Waraka wake wa kwanza: “Tunajua kwamba tumepita kutoka kifo kuingia uzimani kwa sababu tunawapenda ndugu zetu. Yeyote asiyependa hukaa katika kifo. Hivi ndivyo tunavyojua upendo ni nini. Yesu Kristo aliutoa uhai wake kwa ajili yetu nasi tunapaswa kuyatoa maisha yetu kwa ajili ya ndugu zetu. Mtu akiwa na mali na akamwona ndugu yake akiwa na uhitaji lakini hamhurumii, upendo wa Mungu unawezaje kuwa ndani yake? Watoto wapendwa, tusipende kwa maneno au kwa ulimi, bali kwa matendo na kweli na jinsi tunavyotulia mioyo yetu mbele zake.” 1 Yohana 3:14, 16-19

Listen to the Apostle John in his first Epistle: “We know we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers.  Anyone who does not love remains in death. This is how we know what love is. Jesus Christ laid down His life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.  If anyone has material possessions and see his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence.” 1 John 3:14, 16-19

Katika Yakobo 2:8, 14, na 17 anasema, “Ikiwa kweli mnaishika sheria ya kifalme inayopatikana katika Maandiko, “Mpende jirani yako kama nafsi yako,” unafanya haki. Kisha anauliza, “Ndugu zangu, yafaa nini, mtu akisema anayo imani, lakini hana matendo? Je, imani hiyo inaweza kumwokoa? Tuseme kwamba ndugu au dada hana nguo na chakula cha kila siku, mmoja wenu akiwaambia, ‘Nendeni, nawatakieni heri; weka moto na kushiba.’ Lakini haifanyi chochote kuhusu mahitaji yao ya kimwili, yana faida gani? Vivyo hivyo na imani yenyewe, isipokuwa ina matendo, imekufa yenyewe.”

In James 2:8, 14, and 17 he states, “If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself” you are doing right.”  Then he asks, “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?  Can such faith save him?  Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food, if one of you says to them, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed.’ But does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

Katika miaka ya mwanzo ya kanisa, ndugu huko Yerusalemu walipatwa na nyakati ngumu, kifedha na mateso (Mdo 8). Katika barua yake ya kwanza kwa kanisa la Korintho (yapata mwaka 55 BK) Paulo anahimiza kuchukua mchango kwa ajili ya kusanyiko la Yerusalemu (1 Kor. 16:1-4). Anafuatilia ombi hili katika barua yake ya pili. Tazama 2 Kor. 8, 9.

During the early years of the church, the brethren in Jerusalem fell upon hard times, both financially and with persecution (Acts 8). In his first letter to the Corinthian church (about AD 55) Paul encourages taking a collection for the Jerusalem congregation (1 Cor. 16:1-4).  He follows up on this request in his second letter.  See 2 Cor. 8, 9.

Kwa hiyo, tuna mifano ya wazi ya jinsi tunavyopaswa kuyatoa maisha yetu kwa ajili ya ndugu zetu, kibinafsi na kwa makutaniko. Kwa kweli hatufi kwa kufanya hivyo, lakini tunasulubishwa kama dhabihu iliyo hai (Warumi 12:1).

We, therefore, have clear examples of how we are to lay down our lives for our brethren, both individually and to congregations.  We are not actually dying by so doing, but we are being crucified as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1).

“Basi, kwa njia ya Yesu, na tumpe Mungu dhabihu ya Sifa, tunda la midomo iliungamayo Jina Lake, wala msisahau kutenda mema na kushirikiana na wengine; maana dhabihu za namna hii Mungu hupendezwa nazo.” 13:15, 16).

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of Praise, the fruit of lips that confess His Name, and do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased”  (Hebrews 13:15, 16).

Hatimaye, “Tena tusichoke katika kutenda mema, maana tutavuna kwa wakati wake tusipozimia roho. Kwa hiyo kadiri tupatavyo nafasi na tuwatendee watu wote mema, hasa jamaa ya waaminio” (Wagalatia 6:9, 10).

Finally, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:9, 10).

D. Anas  ©CDMI