Kwainda myaka iili 17 kuzwa ciindi Jesu naakali mwana wamyaka iili 12 kabuzya bamayi mutempele. Lino ncilimo camwaka wa 29 C.E. Bantu banji baide kwaamba zya Johane musazinyina Jesu, walo uukambauka mucisi coonse mutala lya Mulonga wa Jordano nkouli kujwe.

Johane muntu uulamya, mbwaboneka alimwi ambwaambaula. Zisani zyakwe nzyaboya bwankamela alimwi usama lutambo lwacipaya mucibuno cakwe. Zilyo zyakwe ncikwikwi alimwi abuci. Ino Johane ujisi mulumbe nzi? Ngwakuti, “Amweempwe, nkaambo Bwami bwakujulu bwaswena afwaafwi.”​—Matayo 3:2.

Mulumbe ngwajisi Johane wabakonda aabo ibaboola kumuswiilila. Ibanji babona kuti bayandika kweempwa, nkokuti kucinca mbobayeeya alimwi azintu nzyobacita, kuleka buumi mbobakali kupona kaindi ibutali kabotu. Aabo ibaboola kulinguwe bazwa ku “Jerusalemu amu Judaya moonse amuminzi yoonse yeengelede Jordano.” (Matayo 3:5) Bunji bwabaabo ibaboola kuli Johane beempwa. Aboobo wababbapatizya naa kubabbizya mumeenda aa Mulonga wa Jordano. Nkaambo nzi?

Johane ubbapatizya bantu kacili citondezyo cakuti bazumina kuti beempwa ncobeni kuzibi zyabo nzyobakacita kwiinda mukutyola cizuminano ca Mulawo wa Leza. (Milimo 19:4) Pele tabali boonse pe ibeelela. Ciindi basololi bamwi babukombi, nkokuti ba Farisi aba Saduki bamwi nobaboola kulinguwe, Johane wabaita kuti “nobana babacipile.” Waamba kuti: “Amuzyale micelo yeendelana akweempwa kwanu. Mutalyeeni kwiinda mukwaamba kuti, ‘Abrahamu ngutaateesu.’ Nkaambo ndimwaambila kuti Leza ulakonzya kumupa bana Abrahamu kuzwa kumabwe aaya. Keembe kali kale kumiyanda yazisamu. Aboobo cisamu cili coonse citazyali micelo mibotu cilagonkwa akusowelwa mumulilo.”​—Matayo 3:7-10.

Akaambo kakuti Johane waduma kapati, ujisi makani mapati alimwi ubbapatizya bantu banji, ba Juda batuma bapaizi aba Levi kulinguwe kuti bamubuzye kuti: “Ino nduwe ni?”

“Johane walyaambilila kuti: “Mebo tandili Kristo pe.”

“Bamubuzya ategwa: “Ino nduwe ni? Sena nduwe Elija?”

Waingula kuti: “Tandili nguwe.”

“Babuzya kuti: “Sena ndonduwe Musinsimi?” Nkokuti Musinsimi mupati Musa ngwaakasinsima kuti uyakuboola.—Deuteronomo 18:15, 18.

“Johane wavwiila kuti: “Peepe!”

Bamuzumanana balaamba: “Ino nduwe ni? Kotwaambila kutegwa tukabape bwiinguzi aabo batutuma. Ino waamba kuti nduwe ni?” Johane waamba kuti: “Ndime jwi lyayooyo woongolola munkanda kuti, ‘Amululamike nzila ya Jehova,’ mbubonya bwakaamba musinsimi Isaya.”​—Johane 1:19-23.

Bayanda kuzyiba balaamba: “Ino nkaambo nzi ncobbapatizya ikuti kotali Kristo naa Elija antela Musinsimi ooyo?” Wabapa bwiinguzi bumvwika ategwa: “Mebo ndibbapatizya mumaanzi. Akati kanu kwiimvwi muntu ngomutazyi, ooyo uuboola musyule lyangu.”—Johane 1:25-27.

Inzya, Johane wazuminizya kuti ubamba nzila kwiinda mukugwasya bantu kuti babe amyoyo mibotu kutegwa bakamutambule Mesiya iwakasinsimwa, ooyo uuyooba Mwami. Kujatikizya nguwe, Johane waamba kuti: “Ooyo uuboola munsi lyangu ulaanguzu kwiinda ndime, walo ngonditeeleli kusamununa mpato.” (Matayo 3:11) Mubwini, Johane alimwi waamba kuti: “Ooyo uuboola musyule lyangu waunka kumbele lyangu, nkaambo wakaliko mebo kanditanaba.”—Johane 1:15.

Aboobo uleelela ncobeni mulumbe wa Johane wakuti: “Amweempwe, nkaambo Bwami bwakujulu bwaswena afwaafwi.” (Matayo 3:2) Mulumbe ooyu waba cizyibyo kubuleya cakuti mulimo wa Mwami uusalidwe aa Jehova, Jesu Kristo ulaafwaafwi kutalika.