Humanity is first mentioned in Genesis 1:26-27, stating that God created humans in His image. Since God cannot be compared to any physical object, comparing humanity to anything tangible is incorrect. The difficulties faced by humanity often stem from a lack of understanding about our origins. It is wise to trace the issue back to its origin to resolve any confusion within a system. Jesus, in conversations with His disciples, seems to have unintentionally revealed crucial insights into His identity, thereby revealing human identity. Groping in darkness implies failure to grasp this mystery. This is quite fascinating for those unafraid of the revelation of truth.
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ (Matthew 16:13-20 NKJV).
Jesus was commonly known as the Son of Man, but Peter introduced a new aspect to His identity, previously unknown to those captivated only by His miracles. They recognized Jesus’ exceptional wisdom but failed to acknowledge its divine origin. When Peter revealed Jesus as the Son of God, Jesus affirmed that this revelation did not come from mortal understanding but from His Father. This acknowledgement would become the cornerstone of His Church, which comprises those having had a similar revelation.
This suggests that those who have not uncovered this mystery remain as children of men, rather than God’s children. In contrast, those who have discovered this truth become transformed into children of God, akin to Jesus. It is the recognition of oneself as a Child of God, rather than of man, that confers these divine filiations. However, this does not suggest that those who become children of God are then recognized as such by the world. This mystery remains incomprehensible to worldly minds. Jesus instructed His disciples to maintain its secrecy, as time was not yet ripe: Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ (Matthew 16:20 NKJV)
The foundation of this church is not solely Jesus’ identity as the Son of God but also encompasses those who recognize themselves as God’s children. Jesus instructed such individuals to call no one on Earth ‘father’ but rather call God their Father (Matthew 23:9). They are similar to Jesus, commonly identified as ‘sons of men.’ They consider Jesus a brother in a spiritual sense rather than a physical one. Although they live in the flesh, they are born of the Spirit and thus become children of God. Paul accurately described them as part of God’s family, together with Christ and the Apostles.
“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-22 NKJV).
The story of Adam in the Garden of Eden illustrates the origin of this confusion, causing humanity’s separation from God. This perceived separation made humans believe they were born of the soil, not as children of God. Jesus aptly depicted this state through the parable of the Prodigal Son. The parabolic father always hoped the errant son would eventually return to his senses. During his rebellious phase, the son associated himself with everything around him, unaware of his origin. However, something happened, during those days of his confusion. He experienced a shift in perspective, remembering his father’s affluence and the treatment of the servants, a stark contrast to his own current circumstances.
The parable illustrates the return of the prodigal son who was welcomed back into the family, apparently at his brother’s cost. Yet, in a gesture of compensation, his father granted authority over all his assets to the loyal son who felt wronged. The parable, as told by Jesus, unveils a mystery yet to be grasped by humankind. It suggests that forsaking one’s earthly state and embracing Christianity is the path back to God’s family. Being accepted as God’s child symbolizes the achievement of redemption, re-establishing the state of being akin to God.
The Biblical affirmation of humans having been created in God’s image is exemplified in Jesus alone. Although having been born again, as to qualify being God’s child, the fulfilment of that reality would be at death, for those remaining faithful. A human being remains unpredictable, as long as remaining in the physical flesh. This is why Paul describes death as gain. The most preferable condition is to die at the point of being baptized in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. It is for that reason that Jesus remains the only hope carrying God’s image.
“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they” (Hebrews 1:1-4 NKJV).
The Scripture indicates that Jesus is the sole express image of God, unveiling humanity’s original state. Jesus’ purpose was to endure punishment on our behalf, enabling us to reconnect with God’s image. Thus, Jesus sets the true standard for attaining God’s image. Accessing this state necessitates renouncing one’s perceived dignity. Jesus’ crucifixion demonstrates the process humanity must undergo to negate sinfulness, a feat beyond ordinary human capability. However, those submitting to Jesus, when undergoing similar experiences, are elevated to his stature.
“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, those who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:3-6 NKJV).
Paul reveals that the god of this world has blinded those perishing in sin, preventing them from seeing the glory of God in Jesus. Few seek to understand the importance of God’s image. The only path to this understanding is through Jesus. Yet, Jesus is often misrepresented, leading to confusion among those seeking the truth of God. Nonetheless, Jesus remains the sole beacon of human salvation. The greatest barrier to this is the physical state, which contrasts with God’s spiritual nature. The spiritual state may seem daunting to the average person, yet being the very condition that reinstates one in the likeness of God.
“And you, who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His fleshly body through death, to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before Him—if indeed you remain in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
“I now rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh, I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the divine office given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to His saints. To them, God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that powerfully works within me” (Colossians 1:21-29 NKJV).
Paul teaches that the greatest mystery of all time is unveiled in Christ. This revelation identifies Jesus as exemplifying the transcendence of our physical existence, enabling us to embrace the spirituality of Christ. This transformation is possible in our mortal state, as Christ assumed a physical form to sacrifice Himself for us. What had once been an irreversible human condition has now become reversible through the acts of Jesus. Thus, understanding Jesus is the most profound knowledge ever presented. If living a meaningful life is our aim, then nothing is more paramount than sharing the message of Jesus with every person within our reach. This allows humanity to ultimately achieve the state of being in God’s image.
“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him, all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist” (Colossians 1:13-17 NKJV).
Our approach to God should be one of acknowledgement, seeing God as our loving Father. He orchestrated a plan for our redemption from sin through Jesus. The power of darkness mentioned is ignorance masquerading as knowledge. Humanity’s description is often confined to its physical state, contrary to our creation in God’s image. The concealed truth is that humanity possesses a spiritual nature as profound as God’s. To embrace the likeness of God’s image, humanity must transcend beyond the physical realm.
The idea of neglecting to forsake physical attachments in favour of spirituality stems from a lack of understanding of Jesus’ importance. The invitation is to exalt Jesus’ name above all else, although not suggesting idolatrous worship. Truly valuing Jesus means embracing His teachings and mirroring the lifestyle that culminated in His crucifixion. However, valuing Jesus is unattainable without valuing humility and an eagerness to learn. Pride leads its bearers to be content with their scant knowledge, regardless of the absence of beneficial outcomes.
The concept that a person’s true essence lies not in their physical form but in the enduring consciousness beyond death grants freedom. Jesus suggested that renouncing the physical body could lead to a higher state of being. This is a challenging notion for those attached to physical existence. This perspective confounds those who consider the physical self as the essence of human identity. Redemption comes with the realization of the fallacy in such a belief. Many fail to achieve spirituality because they are entrenched in the material world, neglecting the potential for life beyond the physical realm.
Many are perplexed by humanity’s tendency to prefer the tangible and fleeting over the notion of eternity. This aversion arises from three elements: pride, deception, and fear. Certain individuals, deeming themselves superior, negate the necessity for anything beyond their present life. They listen solely to their conscience, which erroneously reassures them of their material security. Deception, often a consequence of both pride and fear, especially causes sorrow.
Pride and fear are both conduits to deception, where fear dominates. Fear persuades many to believe there would be prudence in fearfulness, mistaking it for vigilance. This aspect of fear incites them to mistrust all, including Jesus, when propelled by the terror of what would be unknown. This behaviour is akin to that of careless animals, which easily fall prey to predators, due to their absence of inherent wisdom.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
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