A person may occupy the spotlight through notoriety rather than acts of heroism, leading others to mistakenly equate this visibility with greatness. True greatness, however, resides in humility and the openness to embrace new ideas. It is not the defence of one’s prejudiced views that define greatness, but rather the ability to adapt and change when errors are revealed. This is in stark contrast to those who believe greatness stems from omniscience and the domination of their peers. All humans were created with greatness, as envisioned in the image of God.
The observed disparities among humans fail to capture the true nature of original humanity as an emanation of a cognitive deity. Focusing on the concept of sin has fostered a misguided sense of grandeur that has turned Earth into a hellish realm. If one were to envision hell, the current state of Earth would be an apt representation. When questioned about the greatest country, most people refer to the one with the most formidable nuclear capabilities, an answer that would suffice in an academic test. To argue otherwise would render one an outsider to this world.
Individuals aim to achieve greatness, psyched according to the condition of dominating other fellows. It is all about how other people perceive one and not the reality of who the person would be. It is about how one is perceived, not how one would actually be. Each person seen walking on earth is commonly a product of how others perceive that person. When Jesus brought in the aspect of being born again, He spoke from the vantage of the awareness of the existence of this fallacy. The difference between God and humanity stems from humans being reactive, rather than causative. To illustrate this point, we can analyse a conversation Jesus had, with His disciples.
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 lose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:13-19 NKJV).
The text above reflects that individuals had distinct perceptions of Jesus, shaped by their observations of his miraculous deeds. For humans, a miracle is an unprecedented event, sign, or experience on earth, ascribed to divine intervention. Yet, it is uncommon for people to consider their own existence as a miracle. They remain unaware that every individual on this planet is unique. While one can trace a person’s genetic lineage, it is still challenging to attribute greatness to such ancestry. A child is born from sexual intercourse, a natural process devoid of human cleverness. Thus, it would be absurd to attribute greatness to genetic lineage without any evident ingenuity.
Some individuals have accomplished more significant feats than others in life. The question then arises: how should we acknowledge their achievements if we cannot ascribe greatness to them? This query is expected from anyone in this world. In the debate over His identity, it was assumed that Jesus was one of the great prophets. A prophet’s greatness was judged by the unique knowledge believed to be given by God. Consequently, ordinary people deemed Jesus as great, owing to His profound knowledge and the miracles He performed.
Thus, if one truly believes that Jesus merited recognition as great, due to His unique qualities, then the same principle applies universally. Consider any child born into this world; how could one compare that child to another? The essence of life within that infant is incomparable to any other existence, globally. This truth is timeless and can be supported by scientific evidence. If one holds miracles in high regard as described, then the birth of a child in this world is the greatest miracle of all time. When Jesus inquired about how others saw Him, He highlighted the significance of human identity rather than His own.
The Church’s foundation lies in understanding human identity, which is not defined by one’s capacity to create a nuclear arsenal. Regrettably, every child is assessed based on their birth circumstances. Some are deemed fortunate due to their heritage, while others are seen as less fortunate, particularly if born to those deemed unwise. These judgments are constrained by circumstantial backgrounds rather than actual reality. It is important to remember that individuals are often moulded more by others’ perceptions than by the truth of their potential.
Human failure frequently originates from a deficit in self-awareness. Many people place others’ approval above their own potential. Seeking guidance, they are often advised to mimic those deemed successful, leading to greater despair. This is due to the impossibility of becoming someone else; as each person is fundamentally unique and irreplaceable. Thus, it’s unsurprising that our society witnesses many tragedies, including suicide. The prevalence of flawed advice from those considered wiser plays a role in these failures.
It is truly disheartening when someone, after receiving flawed advice, walks away believing they have gained insightful counsel. This resembles the proverbial blind leading the blind, where inevitably both will fall into a pit, yet one still claims to be more enlightened. In our world, today, the affirmation of knowledge frequently comes from the misinformed, who find themselves in leadership roles. Coupled with a culture of reverence and compliance, this phenomenon causes individuals to abandon their own sound judgment. Consequently, the crucial question arises: how and from where can one emerge to assist those caught in such a dilemma?
Jesus emerged directly from God as a bearer of light, yet the world rejected Him due to prevailing misinformation. The primary reason for Jesus’ rejection was His call for humility as the path to greatness. Vanity prevents individuals from accepting a diminished status. People naturally prefer recognition of their significance over being considered insignificant. This issue is central to the problems plaguing the world. How does one succeed in enlightening someone who considers themselves wise, especially if it exposes their wisdom’s deficiencies? When one recognizes their lack of wisdom; that is the moment they begin to grow wiser.
This assertion can be regarded as fundamental and relevant across various fields. It applies to all humans, irrespective of their high-ranking positions. It ought to represent the sole bond that enlightens humanity. The only path to liberation from deception is through embracing humility and acknowledging ignorance until genuine understanding emerges. This concept is the cornerstone of Jesus’ teachings during His ministry. Jesus embodied this precept in His earthly existence, aiming for humanity to emulate Him. The apostles consistently echoed this in all their instructions.
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:5-11 NKJV).
Paul’s assertion that Christ’s mind should be within us remains not fully grasped by a sinful humanity. Jesus was not separate from God, yet how much did He humble Himself in His human form? We recognize that people are not treated equally in this world. Could His humility be comparable to the papacy or some renowned Bishop? Are we to accept the Scripture’s implications as they are, or should we interpret them, only to gain acceptance among the clergy?
These profound questions necessitate a reassessment of one’s Christian faith, with honesty as the cornerstone. Why do people choose pretence over reality in their pursuit of elusive greatness? Jesus took on the mantle of utmost humility, surpassing all who have ever lived on Earth. Paul’s counsel that we should adopt the mindset of Christ remains as timely and significant as it is to the essence of Christianity. An individual who sees themselves as a child of God no longer acts like the worldly but starts to adopt the thoughts of Christ.
“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For everyone practising evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:17-21 NKJV).
The prevailing societal belief is that children should attend school and receive education in line with the world’s standards. Those who subscribe to the notion of educational success argue that a child must be competitive in today’s society. It often boils down to one’s accomplishments and the prestige of the educational institution from which one graduates which determines acceptable competitiveness. Those without education are frequently dismissed as less than human, and deemed incapable of making meaningful contributions. Only a few tenacious celebrities, who have achieved fame and can captivate public admiration, are exceptions to this rule.
It might be surprising to many that formal education does not shape most celebrities. While they may possess a basic education, it often contributes little to their achievements. In some cases, formal education may even hinder rather than help individuals in reaching their goals. Many of the great achievers in information technology, facilitating the widespread dissemination of information today, do not hold prestigious educational degrees. Their stories are frequently filled with challenges from educational protocols rather than a reflection of their abilities.
Many envy the uniqueness of others, often without understanding their own identities. No miracle is greater than the birth of a person into this world. An individual’s genetic makeup is inconsequential, provided they do not compare themselves to others. A child may not recognize themselves as a child of God, constrained only by the genetics assigned by their parents. If the parents were to disown the child, yet acknowledge God as the true Father; that would tell a different tale on that child. Such a child may embrace their authentic identity from the beginning. However, such an acknowledgement is unlikely from parents adhering to secular cultural standards.
It seems there is no alternative to escape the quagmire except for ideas attributed to Jesus. The greatness of humans is equated with the greatness of God, based on the belief that humans are created in God’s image. Persuading people in this world that they are created in God’s image is undoubtedly challenging. Jesus himself once narrowly escaped being stoned by the Jews who were offended by such a claim. He was merely proclaiming a pure truth, affirmed by the Scriptures they held dearly. Nevertheless, the state of the world casts doubt on the possibility of physical humans ever being compared to God. This concept was often viewed through the lens of human imagination rather than the word of God.
“My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?” The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”
Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods” ’? If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.” Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand (John 10:29-39 NKJV).
The emotional arousal stemmed from the dismissal of Jesus, simply because they considered themselves superior to Him. Had Jesus’ teachings been delivered by someone of esteemed status, they likely would have been accepted. Sadly, their belief in their greater wisdom compared to Jesus kept them ignorant. In contrast, those created directly by God, have the potential for greatness that equals God’s own. Jesus taught that even with faith as small as a mustard seed, humans can accomplish what is considered impossible. To achieve such greatness, one must emulate Jesus’ humility to access knowledge that is ultimately attainable.
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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