KWA NINI YOHANA MBATIZAJI ALIULIZA, “WEWE NDIWE YULE AJAYE, AU TUMTAZAMIE MWINGINE?” MATHAYO 11:3.

Yohana Mbatizaji aliuliza swali hilo kana kwamba hamjui Yesu Kristo na hakuwahi kumuona bali alizisikia habari za ujio wake tu.

Lakini ukisoma maandiko utaona kuwa Yohana mbatizaji alikuwa akimjua Yesu Kristo na aliwahi kukutana naye;

Mathayo 3:11. Kweli mimi nawabatiza kwa maji kwa ajili ya toba; bali yeye ajaye nyuma yangu ana nguvu kuliko mimi, wala sistahili hata kuvichukua viatu vyake; yeye atawabatiza kwa Roho Mtakatifu na kwa moto. 

Mstari huo wa Biblia unatueleza kuwa Yohana Mbatizaji aliutambua ujuo wa Yesu Kristo hata kabla hajaonana na Yesu Kristo mwenyewe.

Mathayo 3:13-14. Wakati huo Yesu akaja kutoka Galilaya mpaka Yordani kwa Yohana ili abatizwe. Lakini Yohana alitaka kumzuia, akisema, Mimi nahitaji kubatizwa na wewe, nawe waja kwangu?

Mstari huo wa Biblia unathibitisha kuwa Yohana Mbatizaji aliwahi kukutana na kuongea na Yesu Kristo, na alimtambua kuwa ndiye Masihi wa Mungu kwa sababu alitaka kumzuia asimbatize bali yeye Yohana ndiyo abatizwe na Yesu. Pia sauti ya uthibitisho ilisikika kutoka mbinguni, na mkutano wote waliisikia (Mathayo 3:17).

Sasa iwaje Yohana Mbatizaji alipokuwa gerezani na alipozipata habari za Yesu Kristo na matendo ya miujiza aliyoifanya (alizijua nguvu zake pia, Mathayo 3:11b), aliwatuma wanafunzi wake wakamuulize Yesu Kristo swali hili; “Wewe ndiwe yule ajaye, au tumtazamie mwingine?” Mathayo 11:3.

Yohana Mbatizaji aliuliza swali hili kwa sababu; alitegemea Yesu Kristo angeenda kumuona gerezani, na alitegemea kupata kipaumbele kutoka kwa Yesu katika kipindi alichokuwa kizuizini, lakini Yesu Kristo aliwapa kipaumbele wenye dhambi na watoza ushuru (Luka 15:2).

Yesu Kristo alitambua makusudi ya Yohana Mbatizaji kuuliza swali hilo, ndipo alipowajibu wanafunzi wa Yohana Mbatizaji;

(a). “Nendeni mkamueleze Yohana mnayoyasikia na kuyaona; vipofu wanapata kuona, viwete wanakwenda, wenye ukoma wanatakaswa, viziwi wanasikia, wafu wanafufuliwa, na maskini wanahubiriwa habari njema.” Mathayo 11:4, 5. 

Hapa Yesu Kristo alikuwa akimthibitishia Yohana Mbatizaji kuwa yeye ndiye.

(b). baada ya wanafunzi wa Yohana Mbatizaji kuondoka Yesu Kristo akaongezea, “Lakini nitakifananisha na nini kizazi hiki? Maana Yohana alikuja, hali wala hanywi, wakasema, Yuna pepo. Mwana wa Adamu alikuja akila na kunywa, wakasema, Mlafi huyu, na mlevi, rafiki yao watoza ushuru na wenye dhambi!” (Mathayo 11:16-19). 

Ukiangalia pia Luka 5:30-32. Ikawa mafarisayo na waandishi wao kuwanung’unikia wanafunzi wake, wakisema, Mbona mnakula na kunywa pamoja na watoza ushuru na wenye dhambi? Yesu akajibu akawaambia, wenye afya hawana haja na tabibu, isipokuwa walio hawawezi. Sikuja kuwaita wenye haki, bali wenye dhambi, wapate kutubu.

Hapo Yesu Kristo alitaka kutufundisha kuwa anachokipa kipaumbele zaidi ni kile kilichomleta duniani; kuutangaza ufalme wa Mungu na kuziokoa roho zinazopotea dhambini. Ndipo aliposema mfano huu, “ni nani kwenu aliye na kondoo mia, akipotewa na mmojawapo, asiyewaacha wale tisini na kenda nyikani, aende akamtafute yule aliyepotea hata amwone?”, “Nawaambia, vivyo hivyo kutakuwa na furaha mbinguni kwa ajili ya mwenye dhambi mmoja atubuye, kuliko kwa ajili ya wenye haki tisini na kenda ambao hawana haja ya kutubu”. Luka 15:3-7.

Yesu Kristo anazidi kufafanua kuwa, yeye kuwa karibu na wenye dhambi ni ili aziokoe roho zao. Hawapi kipaumbele zaidi wenye haki, bali wenye dhambi.

HII NDIYO DAWA YA AMANI YA TANZANIA.

   Amani ni hali ya ukosefu wa inayohusu au kusababishwa na vurugu au mapigano ya aina fulani au uwepo wa vurugu au mapigano ya namna yoyote ile katika sehemu fulani. Kunapotea vuguvugu ya uwepo wa vurugu au mapigano baina ya pande mbili, watu wakiingiwa na hofu kuhusiana na kutegemewa kuwepo kwa vurugu au mapigano hayo, watu hao husemekana wamekosa amani. Hali kadhalika uwepo wa vurugu au mapigano yenyewe ndiyo kabisa watu hukosa amani.

Tunaposema mtu au watu wana amani ni lazima uwepo usawa baina ya watu hao katika nyanja mbali mbali kama; usawa kwa mambo ya kijamii, kiuchumi, kisiasa, kikabila, kiitikadi au kiimani za dini. Pasiwepo na mwenye kujiona ni bora na anafaa zaidi ya mwengine. Na pia ni lazima yawepo mahusiano mazuri baina ya mtu mmoja na mwengine.

Kunapotekea kutokuwepo kwa usawa na kuvumiliana katika siasa, manufaa ya mgawanyo wa faida zitokanazo na rasilimali za nchi, ukabila na hata tofauti za dini, amani huvunjika.

Amani inapovunjika husababisha mapigano ya wenyewe kwa wenyewe, yajulikanayo kama vita ya wenyewe kwa wenyewe. Ni tofauti ndogo tu, ambazo huonekana hazina matokeo hasi kwa jamii ndizo zilizopelekea ukosefu wa amani na vita ya wenyewe kwa wenyewe katika mataifa mengi tunayoyajua yana vita.

Na ili machafuko yatokee, ni lazima kuwepo na watu wanaosukuma na kuchochea machafuko hayo. Ni lazima awepo mtu mwenye kupindisha ukweli wa mambo au kama siyo kupindisha basi ni kufikisha ujumbe au ombi lake kwa njia yenye uchochezi wa machafuko yanayopelekea ukosefu wa amani.

Na wachochezi wa machafuko na uvunjifu wa amani ni watu wenye ushawishi mkubwa kwa kundi kubwa la watu, na watu wanaotumiwa ni wale ambao mara nyingi huwa hawafikirii matokeo ya kile wanachokwenda kukifanya.

Kumekuwa na kutokuelewana na kutovumiliana baina ya dini mbili hapa nchini kwetu, vurugu zinazoweza kusababisha machafuko na hata vita kama tu hatua za makusudi za kuitafuta amani na maelewano baina ya pande hizi hazitafanyika. Kwa sababu mataifa yaliyopo katika vita kutokana na tofauti za dini, yalianza hivi hivi na wahusika wakazifumbia macho chachu hizo kwa sababu waliziona ni kitu kidogo sana.

MATOKEO YA UVUNJIFU NA UKOSEFU WA AMANI.

Vifo. Machafuko ya aina yoyote, huambatanisha uwepo wa chuki baina ya pande mbili. Chuki hiyo hupelekea mapigano ya kutumia silaha aidha za jadi au silaha za moto. Na kama ilivyo ada, silaha inapotumika husababisha majera au kifo. Na idadi kubwa ya watu wanaokufa ni watoto na wanawake. 

Hivyo basi, kabla hatujaingia katika uvunjifu wa amani ni lazima tujue kuwa miongoni mwa watakao uwawa ni mama zetu, wake zetu, watoto wetu na hata wapendwa wetu.

Uharibifu wa miundo mbinu. Miundo mbinu tuliyoijenga kwa miaka mingi na fedha za madeni kutoka mataifa tajiri, tutakwenda kuiharibu ndani ya muda mfupi tu wa mapigano yasiyo na tija. Na katika kipindi chote cha vita na machafuko, uchumi wa nchi nao utakuwa unaporomoka. 

Njaa. Taifa lolote linaloingia katika mapigano ya wenyewe kwa wenyewe ni lazima litakumbwa na njaa, hii ni kutokana na hofu inayowakalia watu wake na kuwafanya wawe wakimbizi ndani ya nchi yao wenyewe. Na hii husababisha ukosefu wa ujasiri wa kwenda mashambani, masokoni na hata kufanya shughuli yoyote ya kujiingizia kipato, hivyo hukaribisha njaa. Na matokeo ya njaa ni kifo, hata wale walionusurika kufa kwa silaha za mapigano hufa kwa njaa.

Ubakaji. Tumekuwa tukisikia kutoka katika nchi zenye vita kuwa wanawake, mabinti na hata watoto walio chini ya umri wa miaka 18 wamekuwa wakibakwa hovyo pasipo msaada wowote. Na kitu cha kujiambia na ndiyo ukweli wenyewe ni huu; asipobakwa mama yako, atabakwa dada yako, kama sivyo basi mke wako au hata binti yako. Fikiri kabla ya kutenda!

Wakimbizi. Tumezoea kuitwa kisiwa cha amani na kuwapokea wakimbizi wanaozikimbia nchi zao kutokana na machafuko na vita ya wenyewe kwa wenyewe, kwa nini sasa tunajaribu kuivuruga amani yetu? Tunatamani kuwa miongoni mwa nchi zinazozalisha wakimbizi duniani? Labda ni fahari!?

Soko la viwanda vya kutengeneza silaha. Kuna mataifa makubwa yanayomiliki viwanda vya kutengeneza silaha, silaha za kila aina ambazo hazitumiki na haziuziki sana wakati wa amani. Taifa lolote linaloingia katika machafuko ya kivita hugeuzwa kuwa soko la mataifa hayo yanayotengeneza silaha. Ndiyo sababu utasikia wapiganaji wa serikali wanapata silaha kutoka taifa Fulani na waasi wanapata silaha kutoka taifa Fulani. Siyo kwamba wanapatiwa silaha hizo bure, wanazinunua iwe serikali au waasi na kama siyo kuzinunua ni kwa njia ya mabadilishano na rasilimali za nchi husika mfano mafuta, madini n.k. Tusikubali kuingia katika vita.

NINI CHA KUFANYA.

Dawa ya amani ya Tanzania ipo! Hatuhitaji kuyaita mataifa au chombo chochote cha kimataifa cha amani kutupa dawa, dawa tunayo sisi wenyewe. Haya yafuatayo ndiyo dawa ya amani yetu.

Vyombo vya dini. Hapa namaanisha dini zote mbili ni lazima zijiulize, miaka yote iliyopita ziliishi kwa amani na maelewano kuna nini sasa hata maelewano yale na kuvumiliana kule kukaondoka kirahisi hivyo? Lazima dini zote mbili zisimame imara kuhakikisha zinaitetea na kuidumisha amani ya Taifa letu kwa kuihubiri amani na upendo baina ya wafuasi wake na kati ya wafuasi wa dini nyingine.

Wanasiasa na viongozi wa serikali. Hawa nao ni watu wenye ushawishi mkubwa kwa wafuasi wa vyama vyao vya siasa na jamii kwa ujumla. Wanasiasa na viongozi wa serikali ni lazima wachunge ndimi zao, kwani kulopoka maneno yenye uchochezi wa uvunjifu wa amani haifai na sisi wananchi mwasiasa yoyote au kiongozi yoyote anayechochea uvunjifu wa amani yetu huyo hatufai leo wala kesho, hapaswi kuchaguliwa kabisa kuwa kiongozi wetu.

Wananchi na wafuasi wa dini. Sisi tusikubali kutumika kama chombo cha kutimiza matakwa ya wengine kwa manufaa yao binafsi, kama tuliweza kuishi kwa amani na upendo kama ndugu na tuendelee kuishi hivyo. Hatukupungukiwa na chochote na hatutapungukiwa na chochote, zaidi tutapata hasara na madhara yatokanayo na vita kama tulivyoona hapo juu. Tuiheshimu na kuitunza amani yetu kwa manufaa yetu binafsi na kizazi kijacho.

WAKRISTO.

“Mwanzo 1:27 Mungu akaumba mtu kwa mfano wake, kwa mfano wa Mungu alimwumba, mwanamume na mwanamke aliwaumba”. Ikiwa sote tuliumbwa kwa mfano wa Mungu basi sisi sote tu ndugu pasipo kuzingatia tofauti ya dini zetu.

“Warumi 12:18 mkae katika amani na watu wote “. Tunasisitizwa kuishi kwa amani na kila mtu pasipo kuzingatia tofauti ya dini yake kwetu, na ili tuishi kwa amani ni lazima tuitunze na kuilinda amani tuliyonayo na kuidumisha zaidi.

Kila Mtanzania ni lazima atafakari athari na matokeo ya uvunjifu wa amani mapema kabla hajakubali kutumika katika uvunjifu wa amani.

“MUNGU IBARIKI TANZANIA, MUNGU WABARIKI WATANZANIA, AMINA”.

DO NOT BE AFRAID OF PHYSICAL MEASURES OF PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES YOU ARE FACING.

  It happens sometimes in our life that we are facing huge and threatening problems and challenges, that seems to close doors that we once saw as important for us to reach our destinies. Once these doors are closed we find no alternative door, and here comes a feeling of giving up, thoughts of quitting.

  There was a brilliant student, his father died years ago left him with his only crippled mother who cannot afford his education cost. His uncle took over the responsibility, but unfortunately his uncle died also in a bad car accident few years later. This boy felt so confused, his dreams were about to fail as he saw his uncle as the only door.

  But here comes Jehovah, God who once promise you, He provide you with an opportunity to keep you moving towards your destiny no matter what challenges are coming on your way.

  God always instructs us to see Him as the God of impossibilities, who can brightens our darkness days. Here God is telling you, do not be afraid of the physical measurements of challenges and problems coming onto your way.

1 Samuel 17:1-54. This chapter is telling the story of David and Goliath.

  When the Philistines and Israelites gathered their armies for a battle, came the so called a champion of Philistines, Goliath with physical measurements of; height of six cubit and a span, wearing brass helmet on his head, armed with a coat of mail weighed five thousands shekels of brass, greaves of brass on his legs, spear like a weaver’s beam, and the spear’s head weighed six hundreds shekels of iron (1 Samuel 17:4-7). And the man, Goliath was insulting the armies of Israelites and their God (1 Samuel 17:8-10). 

These were the physical measurements of Israelites challenge that time.

  On verse 11 (1 Samuel 17:11), Bible says; Saul and all Israel were dismayed and greatly afraid. Saul and his armies were not dismayed and afraid because of the battle they were to fight, but they were afraid because of the physical measurements and insults of Goliath. They did not saw God fighting on their side, instead they saw the great and well-armed Goliath.

  This applies to you, you are watching the problems and challenges coming onto your way on their sides of physical measurements, instead of seeing God providing you an opportunity through that challenge.

“For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”_1 Samuel 17:26 (read this verse again).

  That was David, seeing Goliath as nothing before his God. He did not consider Goliath by his physical measurements and insults, but he considered how God is great and was there fighting on his side with historical conquer.

  From now on, tell the problems and challenges coming on your way this; “who are you standing on my way, I have a conqueror God who is about to smash you”. Do not be afraid of their physical measurements and insults they are making on your ears.

  Sometimes, problems and challenges makes us see ourselves as already defeated (Numbers 13:31), this happens when we keep God aside and start considering the physical measurements and insults of the problems and challenges facing us (Numbers 13:33).

  But God is there promising you something about the battle you are facing, He is the covenant keeping God (Deuteronomy 4:31).

  There is someone there, you are confused of doctor report, diagnosed having cancer and told you will die, infertile and told you will never have your own child, having incurable disease and told it is your end, and there is you there dismayed by others declarations about your success and plans, they says you cannot afford huge business because there is no one in your family tree holding and controlling even a small business. These all are physical measurements and insults from challenges and problems facing you, they are your opportunities towards your destiny, do not feel defeated.

  Today let me tell you this; there is God fighting on your side, do not be dismayed and afraid, because He is the God who keeps His words (Psalms 89:34).

  You who is infertile, next year this session you will have your own child (Psalms 128:3, 6). You with incurable disease, be healed in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ (Jeremiah 30:17). You who need to hold and control huge businesses, let it be as you wish and be blessed abundantly and become wealthy (Genesis 24:35).

  Every pray you are praying and every wish you are wishing, let it be given to you through the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ, no matter problems and challenges you are facing (Isaiah 43:26 KJV). AMEN.

“IF YOU ARE BLESSED, SHARE IT TO BLESS OTHERS”

GLORY BE TO JEHOVAH.