1, 2. Amupandulule lweendo lwa Mariya mbolwakabede alimwi acakapa kuti lube lweendo lukatazya kulinguwe.

MARIYA, akaambo kakuminwa kali amusana wambongolo, wakanyanyamuka asyoonto. Wakatantide aambongolo kwamawoola aali mbwaabede. Kumbele lyakwe, kwakali Josefa iwakali kuyabweenda kabotu-kabotu kuyakumbele, kasololela kuya ku Betelehemu ikwakali kulamfwu. Mariya alimwi wakamvwa mwana kasotoka mwida.

² Mariya wakalimitide lino kwamyezi minji; Bbaibbele aciindi aawa lyaamba kuti “wakali afwaafwi kutumbuka.” (Lk. 2:5) Ciindi banabukwetene aaba nobakali kwiinda myuunda, andiza balimi bamwi ibakali kulangilila kabali mumyuunda yabo bakali kugambwa kuti mukaintu uulaada lipati boobu wakali mulweendo. Nkaambo nzi Mariya ncaakali mulweendo kuzwa kwabo ku Nazareta?

3. Mulimo nzi Mariya ngwaakatambula, alimwi ncinzi ncotuyanda kwiiya kujatikizya nguwe?

³ Makani oonse akatalika myezi misyoonto musyule ciindi mukaintu ooyu mu Juda naakatambula mulimo waalubazu uutanabwenwe kuzwa kaindi. Wakali kuyakutumbuka mwana iwakali kuyakuba Mesiya, Mwana wa Leza. (Lk. 1:35) Ciindi cakutumbuka nocakaswena, kwakayandika kuti baunke ku Betelehemu. Ciindi nobakali mulweendo, Mariya wakaswaanganya zyintu zyakali kusunka lusyomo lwakwe. Atubone cakapa kuti azumanane kuba alusyomo luyumu.

4, 5. (a) Nkaambo nzi Josefa a Mariya ncobakali kuunka ku Betelehemu? (b) Ino malailile aa Kaisara akazuzikizya businsimi nzi?

⁴ Josefa a Mariya tiibakali balikke bakali mulweendo pe. Kwakaindide buyo ciindi cisyoonto kuzwa ciindi Kaisara Augusto naakalailide kuti bantu boonse mucisi bapiluke kwabo kutegwa bakalilembye. Ino Josefa wakacita buti? Cibalo caamba kuti: “Awalo Josefa wakazwa ku Galilaya, mumunzi wa Nazaleta akuya ku Judaya, mumunzi wa Davida uutegwa Betelehemu, mbwaanga wakali wamuŋanda alimwi wamukwasyi wa Davida.”—Lk. 2:1-4.

⁵ Taakwe nocakalicitikila buyo kuti Kaisara ape malailile aali boobu aciindi eeci. Ibusinsimi ibwakalembwa myaka iili 700 yakaindide  bwakaambide kuti Mesiya wakali kuyakuzyalilwa ku Betelehemu. Lino cakacitika kuti kwakali munzi umwi iwakali kwiitwa kuti Betelehemu makkilomita aali 11 kuzwa ku Nazareta. Nokuba boobo, businsimi bwakaamba cacigaminina kuti Mesiya wakali kuyakuzyalilwa ku “Betelehemu-Efrata.” (Amubale Mika 5:2.) Kutegwa basike ku munzi musyoonto ooyu kuzwa ku Nazareta, basilweendo bakali kweenda makkilomita aali 130 munzila zyamumalundu kwiinda mu Samariya. Ooyu ngo Betelehemu Josefa nkwaakali kuunka, nkaambo ngowakali munzi wabamasyaanyinakulu bamukwasyi wa Mwami Davida—mukwasyi boonse bobilo Josefa alimwi amukaakwe nkobakali kuzulilwa.

6, 7. (a) Nkaambo nzi lweendo lwakuya ku Betelehemu ncolwakali kukatazya kuli Mariya? (b) Akaambo kakuba muka Josefa, ino zyintu nzyaakali kusala Mariya zyakajatikizyigwa buti? (Amubone amajwi aamunsi.)

⁶ Sena Mariya wakali kuyakumugwasyilizya Josefa kutobela malailile aaya? Kayi lweendo lwakali kuyakumukatazya kapati. Kweelede kuti kwakali kumatalikilo aamupeyo, mvwula nsyoonto yamatalikilo yakali kulangilwa kuwa nkaambo cilimo cakali kuya kumamanino. Acimbi cakapa kuti lweendo oolu lumukatazye kapati Mariya ncakuti kumamanino aamusinzo wabo, bakeelede kutanta mulundu buya kuya ku Betelehemu. Ambweni cakali kuyakutola ciindi cilamfwu kwiinda ncobakali kuyeeyela, akaambo kakuti Mariya wakali afwaafwi kutumbuka ambweni bakali kuyaabupumuna kapati munzila. Pele lino, kwaambisya akaambo kakuti wakali afwaafwi kutumbuka, mukaintu ooyu wakali kulombozya kuba afwaafwi akuŋanda, kwalo bamukwasyi  naa balongwe nkobakali kukonzya kumugwasya ciindi atalika kumyongwa. Cakutadooneka, wakali kuyandika busicamba mulweendo oolu.

⁷ Nokuba boobo, Luka wakalemba kuti Josefa wakaunka “kutegwa bakalilembye a Maliya.” Alimwi wakaamba kuti Mariya ‘aciindi eeco wakali kale mukaakwe Josefa.’ (Lk. 2:4, 5) Akaambo kakuti lino wakali muka Josefa, zyintu nzyaakali kusala Mariya zyakajatikizyigwa kapati. Wakali kubona mulumaakwe kuti ngomutwe wakwe, aboobo wakabweza mukuli ngwaakapegwa a Leza wakuba mugwasyilizi kwiinda mukugwasyilizya mulumaakwe muzyintu nzyaakali kusala. * Aboobo wakazwidilila mubuyumuyumu oobu ibwakali kusunka lusyomo lwakwe kwiinda mukumvwida.

8. (a) Ncinzi cimbi cilangilwa kuti ncecakapa Mariya kuti aunke ku Betelehemu a Josefa? (b) Muunzila nzi cikozyanyo ca Mariya mocikulwaizya bantu basyomeka?

⁸ Ncinzi cimbi cilangilwa kuti ncecakapa kuti Mariya amvwide? Sena wakalibuzyi businsimi bwakali kwaamba kuti Mesiya wakeelede kuzyalilwa ku Betelehemu? Bbaibbele talitwaambili. Kulalangilwa kuti  Mariya wakalizyi kujatikizya businsimi oobu akaambo kakuti bantu banji bakalizyi. (Mt. 2:1-7; Joh. 7:40-42) Mariya wakalaazyi Magwalo kabotu-kabotu. (Lk. 1:46-55) Kufwumbwa mbocakabede, naa Mariya wakasala kuunka akaambo kakumvwida balumi, mulawo wacisi naa businsimi bwa Jehova—naa akaambo katwaambo tusiyene-siyene—wakatusiila cikozyanyo cibotu kapati. Jehova ulabakkomanina kapati bamaalumi abamakaintu balicesya alimwi bamvwida. Cikozyanyo ca Mariya cilatukulwaizya kapati nkaambo bantu banji mazuba aano bayeeya kuti tabeelede kulibombya.

9, 10. (a) Ncinzi Mariya a Josefa ncobakali kuyeeya ciindi nobakali afwaafwi a Betelehemu? (b) Ino Josefa a Mariya bakaakukkala kuli alimwi nkaambo nzi?

⁹ Kweelede kuti Mariya wakalimvwa kukatalukwa kapati ciindi naakabona munzi wa Betelehemu kakucili kulamfwu. Ciindi nobakali kweenda atala aamalundu, kwiinda myuunda yamaolifa—yalo yakali akati kazisyango zyakali kucaalizya kutebulwa—kweelede kuti Mariya a Josefa bakali kuyeeya makani aakaindi aajatikizya munzi ooyu musyoonto. Wakali musyoonto kapati kuba akati kaminzi ya Juda, mbubwenya mbwaakaamba musinsimi Mika, pele mbobwakali busena nkwaakazyalilwa Boazi, Naomi, alimwi a Davida myaka iinda ku 1,000 yakaindide.

¹⁰ Mariya a Josefa bakajana bantu banji mumunzi ooyu. Bamwi bakasaanguna kusika balo kabatanasika, aboobo bakajana kunyina busena bwakoona muŋanda yabeenzu. * Kwakanyina busena bumbi kwakukkala aboobo bakaakoona muluba. Tulakonzya kweezeezya kulibilika kwa Josefa naakali kubona mukaakwe kapenga akutalimvwa kabotu cintu catakaninga mucitikila mubuumi bwakwe alimwi cakali kuyaabwiindila buya. Kali muluba wakatalika kumyongwa.

11. (a) Nkaambo nzi bamakaintu kuli koonse nkobabede ncobakonzya kumufwida luse Mariya? (b) Muunzila nzi Jesu mwaakali “mutaanzi kuzyalwa”?

¹¹ Bamakaintu kuli koonse nkobabede balakonzya kumufwida luse Mariya. Myaka iili 4,000 yakaindide, Jehova wakaambila limwi kuti bamakaintu boonse banoopenga ciindi cakutumbuka akaambo kacibi ncobakakona. (Matl. 3:16) Cakutadooneka, awalo Mariya wakapenga. Luka taakwe naakapandulula kucisa nkwaakamvwa, pele wakaamba buyo kuti: “Wakatumbuka mwana musankwa, mutaanzi kuzyalwa.” (Lk. 2:7) Inzya, mwanaakwe “mutaanzi kuzyalwa” wakasika—mutaanzi akati kabana banji ba Mariya, boonse antoomwe bakali ciloba. (Mk. 6:3) Pele ooyu wakali kuyakwiindana abana bamwi. Tanaakali buyo mwana wa Mariya mutaanzi kuzyalwa pele alimwi iwa Jehova “imutaanzi kuzyalwa kuzilenge zyoonse,” Mwana wa Leza simuzyalwaalike.—Kol. 1:15.

12. Ino Mariya wakamulazika kuli mwana, alimwi busena oobo mbobwakabede bwiindene buti ambobabutondezya muzisobano zicitwa lya Kkilisimasi nobasekelela kuzyalwa kwa Jesu, muzyakuzekaula, alimwi amuzisobano zimwi buyo?

 ¹² Lino cibalo caamba makani aamwi aazyibidwe kapati aakuti: “Wakamuvwungaila muzisani akumulazika mucilido cabanyama.” (Lk. 2:7) Muzisobano zicitwa lya Kkilisimasi nobasekelela kuzyalwa kwa Jesu, muzyakuzekaula, alimwi amuzisobano zimwi zicitwa munyika yoonse, bantu balaciindizya kutondezya cakacitika alimwi munzila iitaluzi. Amubone cini cakacitika. Cilido cabanyama, ncibikkilo mwalo banyama baafaamu mobalida. Kamuyeeyede kuti mukwasyi ooyu wakali kukkala muluba, busena oobu tiibwakali busena buli kabotu kuciindi eeco naaba mazuba aano. Taakwe muzyali uukonzya kusala kuyakutumbukila mubusena buli boobu ikuti kakuli busena bumbi nkwakonzya kuunka. Bazyali banji bayanda kucitila bana babo zyintu zibotu. Abalo ba Josefa a Mariya bakali kuyanda kucitila Mwana wa Leza zyintu zibotu kapati.

13. (a) Mbuti Mariya a Josefa mbobakacita nzyobakali kukonzya kweelana azyintu nzyobakajisi? (b) Mbuti bazyali basongo mazuba aano mbobakonzya kucita zyintu ziyandika kapati mbuli mbobakacita ba Josefa a Mariya?

¹³ Nokuba boobo, taakwe nobakabikkila maano kubusena oobo butali kabotu, bakacita nzyobakali kukonzya kweelana azyintu nzyobakajisi. Mucikozyanyo, Mariya wakamulanganya mwana muvwanda ooyu, wakamuvwungaila muzisani akumulazika kabotu-kabotu mucilido cabanyama kutegwa aone, wakabikkila maano kubona kuti wakasaalilwa alimwi wakwabililwa. Nomuba mubukkale oobu butali kabotu, Mariya wakacita nzyaakali kukonzya kulanganya mwanaakwe. Boonse bobilo, walo a Josefa bakalizyi alimwi kuti kulanganya mwana ooyu munzila yakumuuya ncecintu cakali kuyandika kapati ncobakali kukonzya kumucitila. (Amubale Deuteronomo 6:6-8.) Mazuba aano, munyika eeyi iitabikkili maano kukukomba Leza, bazyali basongo beelede kucita zyintu ziyandika kapati ciindi nobakomezya bana babo.

14, 15. (a) Nkaambo nzi beembezi ncobakali kuyandisisya kubona mwana? (b) Ino beembezi bakacita nzi kujatikizya ncobakabona muluba?

¹⁴ Cakutayeeyela kwakaba coongo calo cakanyonganya luumuno lwakaliko abusena oobu. Kumane beembezi bakanjila muluba, bakali kuyandisya kubona mukwasyi ooyu kwaambisya kubona mwana. Baalumi aaba bakalikkomene kapati. Bakabindaana kuzwa kumbali aamalundu nkobakali kukkala ambelele zyabo. * Bakaambila bazyali ibakagambidwe kujatikizya cintu cakabacitikila. Akati kamasiku kumbali aamalundu, mungelo wakalibonya kulimbabo. Bulemu bwa Jehova  bwakamunikila abusena mpobakabede, alimwi mungelo wakabaambila kuti Kristo, naa Mesiya wazyalwa mu Betelehemu. Bakali kuyakumujana mwana kalede mucilido cabanyama kavwungailidwe azisani. Kumane, acimwi cintu cikkomanisya kapati cakacitika—bangelo banji bakalibonya kabatembaula Leza.—Lk. 2:8-14.

¹⁵ Nkakaambo kaako tacigambyi kuti bamaalumi aaba balicesya bakaboola cakufwambaana ku Betelehemu. Kweelede kuti bakakkomana kubona mwana muvwanda kalede mbubwenya mungelo mbwaakaamba. Makani mabotu aaya bakaambila bamwi. Bbaibbele lyaamba kuti: “Bakaluula makani . . . Alimwi boonse ibakamvwa bakagambwa kumakani ngobakabaambila beembezi.” (Lk. 2:17, 18) Nokuba kuti basololi bazikombelo tiibakali kubabikkila maano beembezi, Jehova wakali kubabona kuti balayandika baalumi aaba basyomeka alimwi balicesya. Pele ino Mariya wakajatikizyigwa buti akuswaya ooku?

16. Mbuti Mariya mbwaakatondezya kuti ncobeni wakali kuyeeya kapati, alimwi nkaambo nzi kapati kakapa kuti azumanane kuba alusyomo luyumu mubuumi bwakwe boonse?

¹⁶ Masimpe kuti Mariya wakalikatede akaambo kakutumbuka, nokuba boobo wakali kuswiililisya majwi woonse aakali kwaambwa. Alimwi wakacita zinji kwiinda waawo, Bbaibbele lyaamba kuti: “Maliya wakaayobola makani aaya mumoyo, kayeeya ncaakali kwaamba.” (Lk. 2:19) Masimpe mukaintu ooyu wakazinzibala kuyeeya makani aaya. Wakalizyi kuti mulumbe ooyu wamungelo wakali kuyandika kapati. Leza wakwe, Jehova, wakali kuyanda kuti azyibe akumvwisya mbwaakali kuyandika mwanaakwe alimwi akuti mubwini wakali ni. Aboobo, wakacita zinji kwiinda buyo kuswiilila. Wakaayobola majwi mumoyo wakwe kutegwa kaayeeya kapati mumyezi alimwi amyaka yakumbele. Aaka nkakaambo kapati kakapa kuti Mariya azumanane kuba alusyomo luyumu mubuumi bwakwe boonse.—Amubale Bahebrayo 11:1.

17. Mbuti mbotukonzya kutobela cikozyanyo ca Mariya caboola kumakani aakasimpe kakumuuya?

¹⁷ Sena muyakutobela cikozyanyo ca Mariya? Jehova wabikka kasimpe kayandika kapati mu Jwi lyakwe. Nokuba boobo, kutegwa tugwasyigwe akasimpe aaka tweelede kusaanguna kukabikkila maano. Tulacita oobo kwiinda mukubala Bbaibbele lyoonse—kutali kulibala buyo mbuli bbuku, pele mbuli Jwi lya Leza ilyakasololelwa amuuya. (2 Ti. 3:16) Mbubwenya mbuli Mariya, tweelede kwiiya alimwi akuzinzibala kuyeeya kasimpe kajatikizya Jehova. Ikuti twazinzibala kuyeeya nzyotubala mu Bbaibbele, akujana nzila motukonzya kubelesya lulayo lwa Jehova cakumaninina, lusyomo lwesu luyakukomena.

18. (a) Mbuti Mariya a Josefa mbobakautobela Mulawo wa Musa kumatalikilo aabuumi bwa Jesu? (b) Ino cipaizyo Josefa a Mariya ncobakapa kutempele cakayubununa nzi kujatikizya bukkale bwabo?

¹⁸ Mubuzuba bwalusele kuzwa mwana naakazyalwa, wakapalulwa kweelana a Mulawo wa Musa mbowakali kwaamba alimwi bakamuulika zyina lyakuti Jesu, kweelana ambobakalaililwa. (Lk. 1:31) Kumane, nokwakainda mazuba aali 40, bakazwa ku Betelehemu bakamutola kutempele lyaku Jerusalemu, musinzo uulampa makkilomita aali 10 alimwi bakapa cipaizyo cakulisalazya kweelana a Mulawo ncowakali kwaamba kubantu bacete—inziba zyobilo naa nkwilimba zyobilo. Nokuba kuti bakafwa nsoni akaambo kakwaalilwa kupa kabelele alimwi anziba bazyali bamwi nzyobakali kupa, bakautobela Mulawo kweelana ambobakali kukonzya kucita. Kufwumbwa mbocakabede, bakakulwaizyigwa kapati nobakali kokuya.—Lk. 2:21-24.

19. (a) Mbuti Simeoni mbwaakapa Mariya majwi aambi aakali kuyandika kumoyo wakwe? (b) Ncinzi Ana ncaakacita naakabona Jesu?

¹⁹ Mudaala wazyina lyakuti Simeoni wakaboola kulimbabo akwaambila Mariya majwi aambi aakali kuyandika mumoyo wa Mariya. Katanafwa, Simeoni wakasyomezyedwe kuti uyakumubona Mesiya, alimwi muuya uusalala wa Jehova wakamutondezya kuti Jesu ngo Mufwutuli wakasinsimwa. Simeoni alimwi wakacenjezya Mariya kujatikizya kuusa nkwaakeelede kuliyumya bumwi buzuba. Wakaamba kuti Mariya uyakumvwa mbuli kuti wayaswa ipanga damfwu. (Lk. 2:25-35) Nokuba kuti majwi aaya akali kumucenjezya kujatikizya cintu cimwi cibyaabi,  akamugwasya Mariya kuliyumya nokwakainda myaka iili 33, ciindi cikatazya nocakasika. Iwakatobela Simeoni, ngu Ana musinsimi mukaintu, awalo wakamubona Jesu akutalika kwaambila boonse aabo ibakajisi bulangizi bwakufwutulwa kwa Jerusalemu kujatikizya nguwe.—Amubale Luka 2:36-38.

20. Nkaambo nzi ncokwakali kusala kubotu kuleta Jesu kutempele mu Jerusalemu?

²⁰ Eelo kaka Josefa a Mariya bakasala kabotu kuleta mwanaabo kutempele lya Jehova ku Jerusalemu! Zyintu eezyi izyakacitika kumwanaabo akaba ngamatalikilo aabuumi bwakujanika lyoonse kutempele lya Jehova. Kabali kokuya, bakalyaaba kuli Jehova kusikila mpobagolela alimwi bakatambula malailile akukulwaizyigwa. Masimpe, Mariya wakazwa mutempele buzuba oobo kajisi lusyomo luyumu, moyo wakwe kauzwide majwi aakasimpe aayandika kuzinzibala kuyeeya alimwi akwaambila bamwi.

21. Mbuti mbotukonzya kuba masimpe kuti lusyomo lwesu luyakuzumanana kuyuma mbubwenya mbuli lwa Mariya?

²¹ Ncintu cikkomanisya mazuba aano kubona bazyali kabatobela cikozyanyo eeci. Akati ka Bakamboni ba Jehova, bazyali cakusyomeka balabaleta bana babo kumiswaangano ya Bunakristo. Bazyali bali boobu balapa nzyobakonzya, mbuli majwi aakulwaizya kubasyominyina. Alimwi ciindi nobazwa kumiswaangano balayumizyigwa, kabakkomene alimwi kabazwide zyintu zibotu zyakwaambila bamwi. Eelo kaka cilakkomanisya kuswaangana ambabo! Ikuti twacita oobo andiswe, lusyomo lwesu luyakuzumanana kuyuma mbubwenya mbuli lwa Mariya.