Tazama chanzo cha Ubatizo

[[Picha:Baptism - Marcellinus and Peter.jpg|thumb|right|200 px|Mchoro wa kale wa Ubatizo huko [[Roma]], [[Italia]].]]
[[Picha:Benin baptism2.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Ubatizo wa [[mkatekumeni]] huko [[Benin]].]]
[[Picha:Act of baptizing.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Ubatizo wa mtoto mchanga huko [[Odessa]], [[Ukraina]].]]
{{Ukristo}}
'''Ubatizo''' ni [[sakramenti]] ya kwanza ya [[Ukristo]]. Unaitwa "mlango wa sakramenti", kwa sababu ni lazima kuupokea kabla ya kupokea nyingine yoyote, hasa [[ekaristi]].

==Sakramenti ya kwanza==
Sakramenti ya kwanza daima ni ubatizo, kwa kuwa ndio kupata [[uzima mpya]] kwa kushiriki [[kifo]] na [[ufufuko wa Yesu]], inavyodokezwa wazi zaidi mtu akizamishwa na kutolewa majini. “Je, hamfahamu ya kuwa sisi sote tuliobatizwa katika Kristo Yesu tulibatizwa katika mauti yake? Tulizikwa pamoja naye kwa njia ya ubatizo katika [[mauti]] yake, kusudi kama [[Kristo]] alivyofufuka katika wafu kwa njia ya [[utukufu]] wa [[Baba]], vivyo hivyo na sisi tuenende katika upya wa [[uzima]]. Kwa maana kama tulivyounganika naye katika mfano wa mauti yake, kadhalika tutaunganika kwa mfano wa kuunganika naye; tukijua nano hili, ya kuwa utu wetu wa kale ulisulubishwa pamoja naye, ili mwili wa dhambi ubatilike, tusitumikie dhambi tena” ([[Rom]] 6:3-6). 

Sakramenti nyingine zote ama zinastawisha ama zinafufua uzima huo wa Kimungu ambao ni sharti la kuingia mbinguni. “Amin, Amin, nakuambia: Mtu asipozaliwa kwa [[maji]] na kwa Roho, hawezi kuuingia [[ufalme wa Mungu]]” ([[Yoh]] 3:5).

Kwa hiyo kubatizwa ni kuzika utu wa kale "maana ninyi nyote mliobatizwa katika Kristo mmemvaa Kristo" ([[Gal]] 3:27).

Ubatizo huonyesha mambo muhimu matatu:
# Kuifia dhambi.
# Kuzaliwa upya katika Kristo.
# Kumpokea Kristo milele.

Ubatizo ni lazima uendane na imani ya kweli. Maana wote wenye imani ya kweli ni watoto wa Mungu: “Kwa maana kilichozaliwa na Mungu huushinda ulimwengu; na huko ndiko kuushinda ulimwengu, hiyo imani yetu” ([[1Yoh]]. 5:4).

== Jina ==
Jina la [[Kiswahili]] na la [[lugha]] nyingine nyingi linatokana na kitenzi cha [[Kigiriki]] βαπτίζω (''baptizo'', maana yake ''nazamisha (nazika, nafunika) majini'', ''naosha'', lakini pia ''nanawa'').

Maana ya kwanza inadokeza lengo la kumzika mtu ili afufuke pamoja na [[Yesu Kristo]] katika uzima mpya.

Maana ya pili na ya tatu zinadokeza lengo la kumtakasa mtu kutoka [[dhambi]] zake.

Ibada zinazotumia maji zinapatikana katika [[dini]] nyingi, kutokana na kitu hicho kumaanisha wazi uzima na [[usafi]]. 

Ubatizo unafanyika kwa maji kwa kuwa ndiyo [[ishara]] ya usafi na ya uhai unaotupatia kwa uwezo wa [[Roho Mtakatifu]]. “Nami nitawanyunyizia maji safi, nanyi mtakuwa safi; nitawatakaseni na uchafu wenu wote, na [[vinyago]] vyenu vyote. Nami nitawapa ninyi [[moyo mpya]], nami nitatia [[roho mpya]] ndani yenu” ([[Ez]] 36:26-27). “Kisha akanionyesha [[mto]] wa [[maji ya uzima]], wenye kung’aa kama [[bilauri]], ukitoka katika [[kiti cha enzi]] cha [[Mungu]], na cha [[Mwanakondoo]]” ([[Ufu]] 22:1).

Ubatizo unatolewa pia kwa maji machache tangu mwanzo wa [[Kanisa]]. Kutokana na umuhimu wa sakramenti hiyo [[Yesu]] ametuagiza twende kubatiza watu duniani kote. Kitabu cha [[Matendo ya Mitume]] kinaonyesha waamini walivyotekeleza agizo hilo katika [[mazingira]] mbalimbali, si tu yalipopatikana maji mengi. Hivyo [[Mtume Paulo]] alipokuwa ndani ya [[nyumba]] “akasimama akabatizwa” ([[Mdo]] 9:18). Kumbe [[Yohane Mbatizaji]] hakusogea mbali na [[mto Yordani]], akisubiri watu wamuendee kutoka maeneo yote ya nchi ile kame. “Alikuwa akibatiza huko [[Ainoni]], karibu na [[Salimu]], kwa sababu huko kulikuwa na maji tele” (Yoh 3:23).

== Ubatizo wa Yohane ==
[[Yohane Mbatizaji]] alipotikisa [[Wayahudi]] wenzake kwa kuhubiri [[toba]] kandokando ya mto Yordani aliwadai wapokee "ubatizo wa maji" kama ishara ya kuongoka na ya kuwa tayari kumpokea [[Masiya]] ajaye, atakayebatiza "kwa [[Roho Mtakatifu]] na [[moto]]" ([[Math]] 3:11).

Ubatizo uliotolewa na Yohane Mbatizaji haukuwa sakramenti, kwa sababu yeye alikuwa mtangulizi tu wa Yesu, [[mwanzilishi]] wa sakramenti zote. “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]]” (Math 3:11). Paulo aliuliza watu, “‘Mlibatizwa kwa ubatizo gani?’ Wakasema, ‘Kwa ubatizo wa Yohane’. Paulo akasema, ‘Yohane alibatiza kwa ubatizo wa toba, akiwaambia watu wamwamini yeye atakayekuja nyuma yake, yaani, Yesu’. Waliposikia haya wakabatizwa kwa jina la Bwana Yesu” (Mdo 19:3-5).

Tofauti kubwa kati ya ubatizo wa Yohane na ule wa Yesu ni kwamba sakramenti inategemea [[imani]] kwa Kristo na kutushirikisha kifo na ufufuko wake. “Maana ninyi nyote mliobatizwa katika Kristo mmemvaa Kristo” ([[Gal]] 3:27). Ndivyo inavyoondolea dhambi zote na kuingiza katika uzima wa [[Utatu Mtakatifu]]. Kwa sababu hiyo Yesu aliagiza tubatize “kwa jina la Baba, na [[Mwana]], na Roho Mtakatifu” (Math 28:19). Maneno hayo ndiyo muhimu zaidi katika sakramenti hiyo. Maji peke yake, hasa yakiwa mengi, yanaweza kuosha [[mwili]], lakini si [[roho]]. Kumbe ubatizo unaotuokoa “siyo kuwekea mbali uchafu wa mwili, bali jibu la [[dhamiri]] safi mbele za Mungu” ([[1Pet]] 3:21).

== Ubatizo alioupokea Yesu ==
[[Yesu]] alibatizwa na Yohane akiwa na umri wa miaka 30 hivi akithibitisha ubora wa kazi ya mtangulizi wake na utayari wa kubeba [[dhambi]] za [[ulimwengu]] kama [[mwanakondoo]] wa [[sadaka]] ya [[upatanisho]]. 

Hapo Roho Mtakatifu alimshukia kwa sura ya [[njiwa]] na [[Mungu Baba]] alimshuhudia kuwa ndiye [[Mwana]] wake mpendwa, aliyempendeza kwa [[utiifu]] wake ([[Mk]] 1:11).

== Ubatizo uliotolewa na Yesu ==
[[Injili ya Yohane]] inashuhudia kwamba Yesu pia alianza kubatiza, tena watu wengi kuliko Yohane, ingawa kwa njia ya wanafunzi wake (Yoh 3:22; 4:1-2). Ubatizo huo ulifanana kabisa na ule wa Yohane na kulenga Wayahudi.

==Ubatizo ulioagizwa na Yesu==
Kumbe baada ya kufufuka aliwaagiza wanafunzi wake wakabatize mataifa yote akifafanua watumie maneno yapi katika ibada hiyo: "Nimepewa [[mamlaka]] yote mbinguni na duniani. Basi, enendeni, mkawafanye mataifa yote kuwa wanafunzi, mkiwabatiza kwa jina la Baba, na Mwana, na Roho Mtakatifu" (Math 28:19).

==Mambo muhimu kabla ya mtu mzima kubatizwa==
# Mtu mzima huanza kwa kulisikia [[neno la Mungu]]; kwa maana "imani huja kwa kusikia" (Rum 10:17).
# Ni lazima kujifunza mambo unayopaswa kuyafanya ili kuikuza imani hiyo. "Enendeni mkayafanye mataifa yote kuwa wanafunzi, mkiwabatiza ... na kuwafundisha kuyashika yote niliyoyaamuru mimi" (Math 28:19,20).
# Kisha fanya uamuzi sahihi wa kumfuata Kristo kimaisha.
# Ni lazima kupata toba na msamaha wa dhambi. “Tubuni mkabatizwe kila mtu kwa jina lake Yesu Kristo, mpate ondoleo la dhambi” (Mdo 2:38).

== Ubatizo wa watoto wachanga ==
Kadiri ya [[madhehebu]] mengi, watoto wachanga wanaweza kubatizwa kwa sababu hawakatai [[neema]] ya Mungu. Wanafunzi wa Yesu walipotaka kuwazuia wasiletwe kwake “alichukizwa sana, akawaambia, ‘Waacheni watoto wadogo waje kwangu, msiwazuie; kwa maana watoto kama hawa [[ufalme wa Mungu]] ni wao. Amin, nawaambieni: Yeyote asiyeukubali ufalme wa Mungu kama mtoto mdogo hatauingia kabisa” (Mk 10:14-15). [[Yeremia]] aliambiwa, “Kabla hujatoka tumboni, nalikutakasa; nimekuweka kuwa [[nabii]] wa mataifa” ([[Yer]] 1:5). Yohane Mbatizaji alitabiriwa “atajazwa Roho Mtakatifu hata tangu tumboni mwa mamaye” ([[Lk]] 1:15).

Ingawa watoto wachanga hawawezi kuelewa kinachofanyika, Mungu anaweza kuwamiminia rohoni mwanga wa imani. “Vinywani mwa watoto wachanga na wanyonyao umeiweka misingi ya nguvu” ([[Zab]] 8:2). “[[Elisabeti]] aliposikia kule kuamkia kwake [[Bikira Maria|Mariamu]], kitoto kichanga kikaruka ndani ya tumbo lake... kwa shangwe” (Lk 1:41,44). “Nakushukuru, Baba, Bwana wa [[mbingu]] na [[nchi]], kwa kuwa mambo haya uliwaficha wenye [[hekima]] na [[akili]], ukawafunulia watoto wachanga. Naam, Baba, kwa kuwa ndivyo ilivyopendeza mbele zako” (Math 11:25-26).

Hata watu wazima hawawezi kuelewa sakramenti kwa dhati, kwa kuwa zote ni ma[[fumbo]] yanayotuzidi. Basi, kama [[Mtume Petro]] alipooshwa miguu, tumuachie [[Bwana]] atufanyie kazi anavyojua yeye. “Nifanyalo wewe hujui sasa; lakini utalifahamu baadaye” (Yoh 13:7). Kisha kuoshwa tuzidi kuchimba mafumbo hayo kwa mwanga wa [[Neno]] na wa Roho Mtakatifu. “Je, mmeelewa na hayo niliyowatendea?... Kwa kuwa nimewapa kielelezo; ili kama mimi nilivyowatendea, nanyi mtende vivyo” (Yoh 13:12,15).

Kumbe, imani ya watu wazima inaweza kufaidisha watoto kama wengine pia. Walimletea Yesu “mtu mwenye kupooza, anachukuliwa na watu wanne... Yesu, alipoiona imani yao, akamwambia yule mwenye kupooza, ‘Mwanangu, umesamehewa dhambi zako” (Mk 2:5). Kwa ubatizo watoto wanaunganishwa naye na kuanza kuponywa madonda ya dhambi ya asili. “Tazama, mimi naliumbwa kati hali ya [[uovu]], mama yangu alinichukua [[mimba]] hatiani” (Zab 51:5). “Ikiwa kwa kukosa mtu mmoja mauti ilitawala kwa sababu ya yule mmoja, zaidi sana wao wapokeao wingi wa neema, na kile kipawa cha [[haki]], watatawala katika uzima kwa yule mmoja, Yesu Kristo” (Rom 5:19).

Ubatizo wa watoto wachanga unafanyika tangu mwanzo, usipingwe na yeyote kwa miaka elfu na zaidi. Ni kwamba [[Wayahudi]] walipokea watoto katika dini yao kwa [[tohara|kuwatahiri]] siku ya nane baada ya kuzaliwa. “Hata zilipotimia siku nane za kumtahiri, aliitwa jina lake Yesu” (Lk 2:21). Watu wa mataifa walipoongokea dini hiyo, walioshwa na kutahiriwa pamoja na watoto wao. [[Mitume]] pia walipokea katika Kanisa [[familia]] nzima, si wazazi tu. Walibatizwa “yeye na nyumba yake”, “yeye na watu wake wote” (Mdo 16:15,33); “watu wa nyumbani mwa [[Stefana]]” ([[1Kor]] 1:16).

== Ubatizo na sakramenti nyingine ==
{{Sakramenti}} 
Kadiri ya [[Kanisa Katoliki|Wakatoliki]] na [[Waorthodoksi]], ubatizo hautoshi, bali unahitaji kukamilishwa na [[kipaimara]] na [[ekaristi]], kama vile baada ya kuzaliwa tunahitaji kukomaa na kudumisha uhai wetu kwa [[chakula]]. Sakramenti hizo tatu kwa pamoja ni msingi wa maisha ya Wakristo wote, kumbe nyingine zinahitajika tu katika hali na nafasi maalumu. Mitume waliwaendea [[Wasamaria]] “wakawaombea wampokee Roho Mtakatifu; kwa maana bado hajawashukia hata mmoja wao, ila wamebatizwa tu kwa jina lake Bwana Yesu. Ndipo wakaweka mikono yao juu yao, nao wakampokea Roho Mtakatifu” (Mdo 8:15-16). “Amin, amin, nawaambieni: Msipoula mwili wake Mwana wa Adamu na kuinywa damu yake, hamna uzima ndani yenu” (Yoh 6:53).

==Marejeo==
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{{mbegu-Ukristo}}
[[Jamii:Liturujia]]
[[Jamii:Sakramenti]]