3
Ukushumayela KukaJohane UMbhabhadisi
(Mak. 1:1; Luk. 3:1; Joh. 1:6,19)
1 Ngaleyo mihla kwavela uJohane uMbhabhadisi eshumayela ehlane eJudiya, 2 ethi: “Phendukani, ngokuba umbuso wezulu ususondele! 3 Nguye lo umphrofethi u-Izaya akhuluma ngaye, ethi:
“ ‘Izwi lomemeza ehlane, lithi:
“Lungisani indlela yeNkosi,
nenze imikhondo yayo iqonde!” ’ ”
4 UJohane wayenengubo yoboya bekameli noqhotho lwesikhumba okhalo lwakhe. Wayedla izinkumbi noju lwasendle. 5 Kweza kuye iJerusalema, nalo lonke iJudiya, nazo zonke izifunda ezizungeze iJordani, 6babhabhadiswa nguye emfuleni iJordani, bevuma izono zabo.
7 Kepha kwathi lapho ebona abaFarisi nabaSadusi abaningi beza embhabhadisweni, wathi kubo: “Nzalo yezinyoka, ngubani onixwayise ukuba nibalekele intukuthelo ezayo na? 8 Ngakho-ke vezani izithelo ezifanele ukuphenduka. 9 Ningacabangi ukuthi nizakuthi phakathi kwenu: ‘Sinobaba u-Abhrahama,’ ngokuba ngithi kini: uNkulunkulu angamvusela abantwana u-Abhrahama kulawa matshe. 10 Izembe selibekiwe empandeni yemithi, ngakho-ke yonke imithi engatheli izithelo ezinhle iyanqunywa, iphonswe emlilweni.
11 “Mina nginibhabhadisa ngamanzi, kube ngukuphenduka. Kepha oza emva kwami, unamandla kunami, engingafanele ukuthukulula izicathulo zakhe. Uzakunibhabhadisa ngoMoya oNgcwele nangomlilo. 12 Yena ombenge yakhe yokwela isesandleni sakhe; uzakushanelisisa isibuya sakhe, abuthele amabele enqolobaneni yakhe, kodwa amakhoba uzakuwashisa ngomlilo ongacimekiyo.”
Ukubhabhadiswa KukaJesu
(Mak. 1:9; Luk. 3:21)
13 Kwafika uJesu evela eGalile, weza kuJohane eJordani ukuze abhabhadiswe nguye. 14Kepha uJohane wazama ukumenqabela, ethi: “Yimi engidinga ukubhabhadiswa nguwe, kepha Wena uza kimi na?”
15UJesu waphendula, wathi kuye: “Vuma manje, ngokuba kusifanele ukugcwalisa kanjalo ukulunga konke.”
Ngakho-ke wamvumela.
16 UJesu esebhabhadisiwe, waphuma masinyane emanzini; bheka, izulu lavuleka, wabona uMoya kaNkulunkulu ehla njengejuba, ehlela phezu kwakhe. 17 Kwase kuzwakala izwi ezulwini, lithi: “Lo uyiNdodana yami ethandekayo, engithokozile ngayo.”