📖 Injili ya Mathayo — Somo la Kina — Sehemu ya 13: Ufufuo na Agizo Kuu📖 Matthew Intensive — Unit 13: Resurrection & Great Commission

Andiko: Mathayo 28:6Text: Matthew 28:6

Kaburi TupuThe Empty Tomb

Kaburi lilikuwa limetiwa muhuri na walinzi walikuwa wamewekwa, lakini neno la mwisho lilikuwa bado halijasemwa. Siku ya kwanza ya juma ilipoanza kupambazuka, Mariamu Magdalene na yule Mariamu mwingine walikuja kulitazama kaburi. Kukawa na tetemeko kuu la nchi, kwa maana malaika wa Bwana alishuka, akalivingirisha lile jiwe, akaketi juu yake; sura yake ilikuwa kama umeme, na mavazi yake meupe kama theluji. Walinzi wakatetemeka, wakawa kama wafu. Malaika akawaambia wale wanawake, "Msiogope ninyi; kwa maana najua ya kuwa mnamtafuta Yesu aliyesulibiwa. Hayupo hapa; kwa maana amefufuka, kama alivyosema. Njoni, mpatazame mahali alipolazwa Bwana" (Mathayo 28:5-6). Jiwe halikuvingirishwa ili Yesu atoke, kwa maana alikuwa amekwisha kufufuka; lilivingirishwa ili mashahidi waingie. Wanawake wale wale waliomtazama akifa na kuona mahali alipozikwa sasa walisimama ndani ya kaburi tupu.The tomb was sealed and the guard was set, but the last word had not been spoken. As the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. There was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended, rolled back the stone, and sat on it, his countenance like lightning and his clothing white as snow. The guards shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay" (Matthew 28:5-6). The stone was not rolled away to let Jesus out, for He was already risen; it was rolled away to let the witnesses in. The same women who had watched Him die and seen where He was buried now stood in an empty tomb.

AmefufukaHe Is Risen

Wanawake wakaondoka upesi kaburini kwa hofu na furaha kuu, wakaenda mbio kuwapasha wanafunzi wake habari. Nao walipokuwa wakienda, Yesu mwenyewe akakutana nao, akasema, "Salamu!" Wakakaribia, wakamshika miguu, wakamsujudia. Akawaambia wasiogope, bali waende wakawaambie ndugu zake waende Galilaya, ndiko watakakomwona. Ujumbe wa Pasaka ni kwamba ufufuo hubadilisha maisha, na huanza kuyabadilisha papo hapo: huzuni ya Ijumaa inakuwa furaha ya Jumapili. Katika siku arobaini zilizofuata aliwatokea tena na tena, na Paulo anaandika kwamba wakati mmoja zaidi ya watu mia tano walimwona kwa pamoja, ambao wengi wao walikuwa bado hai na wangeweza kuulizwa. Huu si mkusanyiko wa hekaya; ni tukio lenye ushahidi bora kuliko yote katika ulimwengu wa kale.The women departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. And as they went, Jesus Himself met them, saying, "Rejoice!" They came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. He told them not to be afraid, but to go and tell His brethren to go to Galilee, where they would see Him. The message of Easter is that the resurrection changes lives, and it begins to change them in that very moment: the grief of Friday becomes the joy of Sunday. Over the next forty days He appeared again and again, and Paul records that on one occasion more than five hundred saw Him at once, many of whom were still living and could be asked. This is no tissue of fable; it is the best-attested event of the ancient world.

Walinzi na UongoThe Guards and the Lie

Wanawake walipokuwa wakikimbia na ukweli, baadhi ya walinzi waliingia mjini, wakawaeleza wakuu wa makuhani mambo yote yaliyotukia. Viongozi wakakusanyika, wakafanya shauri, wakawapa askari fedha nyingi, wakiwaambia waseme kwamba wanafunzi wake walikuja usiku wakamwiba walipokuwa wamelala. Basi wakazitwaa zile fedha, wakafanya kama walivyofundishwa, na neno hilo likaenea kati ya Wayahudi. Ni ushuhuda wa ajabu: maadui wa Yesu hawakukana kwamba kaburi lilikuwa tupu. Hawakuweza kuuonyesha mwili. Waliweza tu kubuni hadithi, tena dhaifu, kwa maana watu waliolala ni mashahidi wabaya wa wizi uliotokea walipokuwa usingizini. Uongo ule ule walioulipia ni ushahidi wa kaburi tupu ambalo hawakuweza kulieleza.While the women ran with the truth, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. The leaders assembled, took counsel, and gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them to say that His disciples came by night and stole Him while they slept. So they took the money and did as they were instructed, and that saying was spread among the Jews. It is a strange testimony: the enemies of Jesus did not deny that the tomb was empty. They could not produce a body. They could only invent a story, and a poor one, for sleeping men make poor witnesses to a theft they slept through. The very lie they paid for is a witness to the empty tomb they could not explain away.

Ufufuo Unashinda DhikiThe Resurrection Defeats Distress

Wanawake walikuja kaburini wakiwa na huzuni nzito, wakileta manukato ili kumfanyia Bwana waliyempenda huduma moja ya mwisho, nao wakaondoka hapo wakikimbia kwa furaha kuu. Ufufuo hugeuza huzuni kuwa furaha kwa sababu unajibu dhiki yetu kubwa kuliko zote, yaani mauti yenyewe. Mara yangu ya kwanza kukutana na msiba katika familia ilikuwa nilipokuwa na umri wa miaka kumi na minne hivi. Nilikuwa na mpwa mdogo wa kike, mtoto mchanga mzuri, aliyezaliwa na maji kichwani; nakumbuka nikibonyeza kile kimrija kidogo shingoni mwake kilichoyatoa maji hayo. Alipokuwa na umri wa mwaka mmoja na nusu hivi alihitaji upasuaji mwingine, na jambo fulani likaenda vibaya, akafariki. Nakumbuka mama yangu, tulipokuwa tukirudi nyumbani kutoka hospitali, akinikumbatia na kulia, "Kwa nini Mungu alimwacha mtoto wetu afe?" Sikuwa na jibu wakati huo, na hata baada ya miaka mingi ya masomo bado sina jibu kamili la swali hilo. Lakini naamini kwa moyo wangu wote kwamba nitamwona tena, kwa sababu kaburi ni tupu na Kristo amefufuka. Hivyo ndivyo ufufuo unavyoitendea dhiki yetu: haujifanyi kwamba kaburi si kitu, bali unaahidi kwamba kaburi si mwisho.The women came to the tomb in deep grief, carrying spices to do one last service for the Lord they loved, and they left it running with great joy. The resurrection turns sorrow into joy because it answers our deepest distress, which is death itself. My first encounter with family grief came when I was about fourteen. I had a little niece, a beautiful baby, born with fluid on the brain; I remember pressing the small tube in her neck that drained it. When she was about a year and a half she needed another operation, and something went wrong, and she died. I remember my mother on the drive home from the hospital throwing her arms around me and crying, "Why did God let our baby die?" I had no answer then, and after years of study I still have no full answer to that question. But I believe with all my heart that I will see her again, because the tomb is empty and Christ is risen. That is what the resurrection does to our distress: it does not pretend the grave is nothing, but it promises that the grave is not the end.

Ufufuo Unashinda ShakaThe Resurrection Defeats Doubt

Yesu alipowatokea mara ya kwanza katika chumba cha juu, wanafunzi waliamini, lakini Tomaso hakuwepo, naye hakukubali kuamini kwa neno lao tu. Alisema hataamini isipokuwa aone alama za misumari na kutia kidole chake mahali misumari ilipokuwa, kwa maana alijua kwamba wafu hawafufuki. Baada ya juma moja Yesu aliwatokea tena, na safari hii Tomaso alikuwepo, na Bwana akamwonyesha mikono yake na ubavu wake. Tomaso akajibu, "Bwana wangu na Mungu wangu!" (Yohana 20:28). Nitakuwa mkweli kwenu: nimewahi kuwa na mashaka. Nimewahi kushuku kama Mungu yupo, kushuku kama Ukristo ni kweli, kushuku kama Mungu hujibu maombi, kushuku upendo wake, na kushuku kama nilikuwa na karama za kuhubiri. Mwishowe ni ufufuo unaoshinda mashaka yangu, kwa maana ikiwa Kristo amefufuka basi Mungu yupo kweli, injili ni kweli, na mauti yameshindwa. Bwana hakumkemea Tomaso kwa kuhitaji kuona; alikutana naye katika shaka yake na kuigeuza kuwa ibada.When Jesus first appeared in the upper room, the disciples believed, but Thomas was not there, and he would not take their word for it. He said he would not believe unless he saw the nail scars and put his finger where the nails had been, for he knew that dead men do not rise. A week later Jesus appeared again, and this time Thomas was present, and the Lord showed him His hands and His side. Thomas answered, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). I will be honest with you: I have had doubts. I have doubted whether there is a God, doubted whether Christianity is true, doubted whether God answers prayer, doubted His love, and doubted whether I had the gifts to preach. In the end it is the resurrection that conquers my doubts, for if Christ is risen then God is real, the gospel is true, and death is defeated. The Lord did not rebuke Thomas for needing to see; He met him in his doubt and turned it into worship.

Ufufuo Unashinda KukanaThe Resurrection Defeats Denial

Petro alikuwa ameapa kwamba hata wote wengine wakimwacha, yeye hatamwacha kamwe, na katika muda wa saa chache alimkana Bwana wake mara tatu, mara ya mwisho akilaani, akisema hata hamjui mtu huyo. Lakini Yesu hakumwacha Petro azame katika hatia yake. Kando ya bahari Bwana aliyefufuka alimwuliza mara tatu, "Wanipenda?" — swali moja kwa kila kukana — na mara tatu akamrudishia wito wake: "Lisha kondoo zangu" (Yohana 21:17). Na yule Petro aliyemkana Kristo uani alisimama siku ya Pentekoste akamhubiri kwa ujasiri katika barabara ya wazi. Lazima nikiri kwamba mimi pia nimewahi kumkana Kristo, si kama Petro alivyofanya, bali kwa njia ya hila zaidi ya ukimya; kumekuwa na nyakati ambapo Mungu alinipa nafasi nami sikusema lolote. Ufufuo unajibu kushindwa huko, kwa maana Bwana yule yule aliyemrejesha Petro anaturejesha sisi, na Roho aliyempa ujasiri mtu aliyemkana anaweza kutupa ujasiri wa kusema.Peter had sworn that though all others fell away he never would, and within hours he denied his Lord three times, the last time with cursing, saying he did not even know the man. But Jesus did not leave Peter to drown in his guilt. On the seashore the risen Lord asked him three times, "Do you love Me?" — one question for each denial — and three times He gave him back his calling: "Feed My sheep" (John 21:17). And the Peter who had denied Christ in a courtyard stood up on the day of Pentecost and preached Him boldly in the open street. I must confess that I too have denied Christ, not as Peter did, but in the subtler way of silence; there have been times God gave me an opening and I said nothing. The resurrection answers that failure, for the same Lord who restored Peter restores us, and the Spirit who emboldened a denier can embolden us to speak.

Ufufuo Unashinda ChukiThe Resurrection Defeats Disgust

Sauli wa Tarso alikuwa mtu aliyejaa chuki dhidi ya kanisa, akienda nyumba kwa nyumba kuwaburuta waumini na kuwatia gerezani. Katika njia ya kwenda Dameski nuru kutoka mbinguni ikamwangaza kotekote, akaanguka chini, akasikia sauti ikimwambia, "Sauli, Sauli, mbona waniudhi?" Alipouliza ni nani, jibu likaja, "Mimi ndimi Yesu unayeniudhi" (Matendo 9:4-5). Kukutana na Kristo aliyefufuka kulimbadilisha kabisa hata yule mtesaji mkuu akawa mmisionari mkuu, na mtu aliyewawinda Wakristo akatumia maisha yake kumhubiri Kristo. Ufufuo unaweza kuuvunja hata moyo uliojaa chuki au uliogeuka kwa uchungu, kwa maana Bwana aliye hai bado hukutana na watu katika njia zao na kugeuza chuki yao kuwa ibada.Saul of Tarsus was a man filled with hatred for the church, going from house to house to drag off believers and put them in prison. On the road to Damascus a light from heaven flashed around him, and he fell and heard a voice say, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" When he asked who it was, the answer came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting" (Acts 9:4-5). The encounter with the risen Christ so transformed him that the great persecutor became the great missionary, and the man who had hunted Christians spent his life proclaiming Christ. The resurrection can break even a heart set in hatred or turned away in bitterness, for the living Lord still meets people on their road and turns their disgust into worship.

Agizo KuuThe Great Commission

Wale kumi na mmoja walikwenda Galilaya, mpaka mlima ule aliowaagiza Yesu, nao walipomwona walimsujudia, lakini wengine walishuku. Yesu akaja akasema nao maneno ambayo Mathayo anamalizia nayo Injili yake: "Nimepewa mamlaka yote mbinguni na duniani. Basi, enendeni, mkawafanye mataifa yote kuwa wanafunzi, mkiwabatiza kwa jina la Baba, na Mwana, na Roho Mtakatifu; na kuwafundisha kuyashika yote niliyowaamuru ninyi; na tazama, mimi nipo pamoja nanyi siku zote, hata ukamilifu wa dahari" (Mathayo 28:18-20). Mfalme aliyefufuka anadai mamlaka yote, anawatuma watu wake kwa mataifa yote, na anaamuru si waongofu tu bali wanafunzi — waliobatizwa katika jina la Mungu wa Utatu na kufundishwa kutii yote aliyoamuru. Agizo Kuu si pendekezo kwa wachache wenye vipawa, bali ni amri ya kuandamana kwa kanisa zima.The eleven went to Galilee, to the mountain Jesus had appointed, and when they saw Him they worshiped Him, though some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them the words with which Matthew ends his Gospel: "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:18-20). The risen King claims all authority, sends His people to all nations, and commands not merely converts but disciples — baptized into the triune name and taught to obey everything He commanded. The Great Commission is not a suggestion for the gifted few but the marching order of the whole church.

Uchambuzi wa Agizo la KristoAn Anatomy of Christ's Commission

Mojawapo ya mahubiri ya Mathayo yaliyopatikana tena linatoa uchambuzi wa kukumbukwa wa amri hizi za kuandamana. Utume wa Yesu unadai kitu kutoka kwa midomo yetu, miguu yetu, vichwa vyetu na mioyo yetu. Anaweka maneno midomoni mwetu kwa kutupa ujumbe tunaouamini kweli na njia inayojumuisha kuhubiri na kufundisha pia: mpiga mbiu haubuni ujumbe wa Mfalme, na mwalimu huwasaidia waumini kujifunza yote aliyoamuru Kristo. Anaweka mwendo miguuni mwetu kwa neno moja — "Enendeni." Injili haingoji tu watu waitafute; huenda mahali watu walipo. Anaweka maono vichwani mwetu: "mataifa yote" maana yake ni kwamba hakuna kabila, lugha, watu wala mahali palipo nje ya kujali kwa Mfalme. Na anaweka mzigo mioyoni mwetu, kwa sababu wale wanaouona ulimwengu kama Kristo anavyouona watakubali wajibu wa ama kwenda au kusaidia kuwatuma wanaokwenda kwa njia ya maombi, kujitambulisha nao, na msaada wa mali. Kwa hiyo Mathayo hamalizii kwa watazamaji wanaomstaajabia Kristo aliyefufuka, bali kwa wanafunzi walio chini ya amri. Mfalme ana mamlaka yote; watu wake wana ujumbe, mwelekeo, maono, na mzigo.One of the recovered Matthew sermons gives a memorable anatomy to these marching orders. The mission of Jesus makes demands on our lips, our feet, our heads, and our hearts. He puts words on our lips by giving us a message we actually believe and a method that includes both preaching and teaching: the herald does not invent the King's message, and the teacher helps believers learn all that Christ commanded. He puts movement in our feet with one word — "Go." The gospel does not merely wait for people to find it; it goes where people are. He puts a vision in our heads: "all nations" means that no race, language, people, or place lies outside the King's concern. And He puts a burden on our hearts, because those who see the world Christ sees will accept responsibility either to go or to help send those who go through prayer, identification, and material support. Matthew therefore ends not with spectators admiring a risen Christ but with disciples under orders. The King has all authority; His people have a message, a direction, a vision, and a burden.

Mungu Pamoja Nasi, Hata MwishoGod With Us, to the End

Mathayo alianza Injili yake kwa kutuambia kwamba mtoto huyo angeitwa Imanueli, yaani, "Mungu pamoja nasi" (Mathayo 1:23), na anaimalizia kwa ahadi ya Bwana aliyefufuka mwenyewe, "Mimi nipo pamoja nanyi siku zote, hata ukamilifu wa dahari." Kitabu kizima kimeshikwa kati ya maneno hayo mawili. Mungu aliyekuja kuwa pamoja nasi horini, aliyekuwa pamoja nasi katika mafundisho na miujiza, aliyekuwa pamoja nasi hata katika giza la msalaba, sasa yu pamoja nasi kama Mfalme aliyefufuka na anayetawala, na atakuwa pamoja nasi mpaka dahari itakapokamilika. Yesu yu hai. Alifufuka kutoka kwa wafu, nasi tu mashahidi wake. Ufufuo huondoa dhiki yetu, shaka yetu, kukana kwetu, na chuki yetu, na hututuma tutoke chini ya mamlaka ya Mfalme aliye hai ambaye ameahidi kutotuacha kamwe. Kila kaburi lingine katika historia lina nyayo zinazoingia tu; kaburi la Yesu lina nyayo zinazotoka, na kwa sababu yeye yu hai, wote walio ndani ya Kristo wataishi pia. Injili iliyofunguliwa na Mfalme horini inafungwa na Mfalme juu ya mlima, akiwatuma watu wake ulimwenguni kote; na Bwana yule yule aliyekuwa Imanueli mwanzoni bado anatembea pamoja nasi, kila siku, hata ukamilifu wa dahari.Matthew began his Gospel by telling us that the child would be called Immanuel, which means "God with us" (Matthew 1:23), and he ends it with the risen Lord's own promise, "I am with you always, even to the end of the age." The whole book is held between those two words. The God who came to be with us in a manger, who was with us through the teaching and the miracles, who was with us even into the darkness of the cross, is now with us as the risen and reigning King, and will be with us until the age is ended. Jesus is alive. He rose from the dead, and we are His witnesses. The resurrection removes our distress, our doubt, our denial, and our disgust, and sends us out under the authority of a living King who has promised never to leave us. Every other grave in history has only footsteps leading in; the grave of Jesus has footsteps leading out, and because He lives, all who are in Christ shall live also. The Gospel that opened with a King in a manger closes with a King on a mountain, sending His people into all the world; and the same Lord who was Immanuel at the beginning walks with us still, every day, until the end of the age.

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