Witnessing humans struggle with seemingly insurmountable challenges can be disheartening. Jesus assured his disciples that nothing would be impossible to overcome with faith as small as a mustard seed. The ability to tackle all of humanity’s challenges lies within the structure of society, yet it often eludes humanity itself. Our physical existence is short-lived, yet it is often taken for granted, as if it were perpetual, especially by stubborn humanity.
The game of life seems trivial, even when viewed under the constraints of physical conditions. The desire to live longer in individuals is driven by the pursuit of success, which is often gauged by societal recognition. Yet, while physical barriers may lead to failure, in a spiritual sense, a human transcends all such limitations. This truth reveals that humanity’s greatest adversary is the ignorance of one’s true essence.
Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the child was cured from that very hour. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”
So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17-17-20 NKJV).
Exploring the aforementioned scriptural reference may provide insights into addressing the challenges that confront humanity. Faith involves trust in the teachings of Jesus, who came to illuminate a world entangled in ignorance. The question arises: why was the challenge that plagued the disciples not an issue for Jesus, but a stumbling block for them? Jesus attributed this to their lack of faith. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to scrutinize the text to understand precisely what led to their failure. What was it that the disciples failed to believe?
Jesus’ reprimand of the disciples suggests that He regarded them as not different from Him, but that they only lacked certain knowledge. Although Jesus had imparted this knowledge, they lacked belief. He had taught them numerous lessons, but paramount among these was the understanding that they were children of God, not constrained by the physical realm. Their failure to exorcise the troublesome demon implied its superiority over them, highlighting the true nature of physical human shortcomings.
Jesus expressed His frustration with their lack of faith. The disciples had not yet grasped the reality that they were God’s children. Their attempt to exorcise the demon was unsuccessful because of their inadequate faith. The pivotal aspect of their failure was their lack of confidence, which would have confirmed their identity as children of God. However, they were hindered by the fear that arises from seeing themselves as merely physical beings, thereby limited.
Jesus taught His disciples that with faith as small as a mustard seed, they could achieve the impossible in their endeavours. This implies that the root of humanity’s problems is a lack of faith. Identifying the cause of a problem is to solve half of it. The remaining task would be to face the cause; overcoming it would render the problem nonexistent. This suggests that the inability to confront is at the heart of all human challenges.
Understanding the subject of confrontation within its context is crucial. Otherwise, one may complicate matters instead of addressing the issue effectively. Here, confrontation does not imply combat or opposition but rather comprehending the approach to a problematic situation. Every problematic condition in the physical universe follows a sequential path that allows for resolution. Employing reason is typically the most suitable method.
A frequent human flaw is assuming we know enough, which obstructs our chance to learn more. Without such assumptions, one might be more receptive to gaining knowledge and insight. This was evident in the disciples’ hesitation to accept what Jesus had promised them they could achieve. They found it difficult to accept that they were not constrained by anything, clinging to their initial convictions as more concrete than the teachings of Jesus.
The disciples had been told by Jesus that they were the children of God. Yet, they failed to grasp what it meant to be God’s children, as they were fixated on the belief that they were bound by physical limitations. Jesus compared their inability to transcend this mindset to being part of a perverse generation. They did not recognize themselves as belonging to such a generation. However, until they understood the distinction between being God’s children and being children of the world, they remained in a state of ignorance.
Conversing with someone misinformed can be difficult, particularly when they are convinced of their understanding of concepts they actually do not grasp. The abandonment of unfounded preconceptions in favour of new information is often perceived as a threat to their identity. This concept aligns with the teachings of Jesus, who stated that one must possess the openness of a child to enter the Kingdom of God (Matthew 18:2-3).
Children, free from incorrect beliefs, possess an advantage. The capacity to learn depends on one’s willingness to accept new information without the interference of existing knowledge. Often, pride impedes adopting a childlike stance, as pride leads to the presumption of knowledge. Pride is identified as the primary barrier to overcoming the metaphorical enslavement, afflicting humanity. The physical condition rejects anything that brings discomfort.
The main reason an individual may reject new information is the unease or anxiety caused by opposition in their environment. Being branded a heretic by one’s own community, for instance, is an uncomfortable stance for anyone. It is simpler for them to conform and gain acceptance than to face rejection and isolation. Jesus’ teachings suggest that seeking solace and approval from the majority is, in fact, the most precarious position to be in.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:13-15 NKJV).
The teachings promoted by false prophets cater to the desires of the physical body, leading individuals to embody what Jesus described as a corrupt generation. The path of righteousness is not one of comfort but demands adherence despite the body’s resistance. Acceptance within one’s community offers comfort, yet strict adherence is necessary to truly follow Jesus.
Victory in spiritual matters is attained internally, not externally. It requires one’s own intellect to discern the truth. True embrace of the faith that Jesus advocated is possible only by rejecting what contradicts his teachings. Mere belief in Jesus is insufficient without adherence to his teachings, which are the core of the faith that can move mountains. This faith does not rely on the observable physical world.
Belief in what the physical eyes see does not define reality. For example, the most expensive Rolls-Royce Droptail, with a price tag of US$30 million, is not the essence of reality. The reality lies in the technology that facilitated its production and the manufacture of this iconic vehicle. The destruction of this costly Rolls-Royce does not negate the existence of the model, as the technology behind it endures. The reproduction of this Rolls-Royce model is merely a matter of time, representing the true existence of the Rolls-Royce model.
An individual who recognizes their identity as a child of God no longer behaves as though they are unaware of this truth. They cast aside the shackles of limitation, acknowledging their oneness with God. This awareness encapsulates the infiniteness that Jesus referred to regarding His disciples. Jesus triumphed over temptation by wholly accepting His divine connection when challenged by Satan. There was no doubt in His mind.
And when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, and set Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto Him,
“If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge concerning thee; and in their hands, they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.’” Jesus said unto him, “It is written again: ‘Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.’”
Again, the devil took Him up onto an exceeding high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, and said unto Him, “All these things will I give Thee if Thou wilt fall down and worship me.” Then said Jesus unto him, “Get thee hence, Satan! For it is written: ‘Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.’” Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered unto Him (Matthew 4:3-11 KJ21)
The first temptation arose because Jesus was extremely hungry after fasting for forty days and nights. He overcame this by understanding that human life is not sustained solely by food. He relied on God’s word to guide Him through. While other species may rely on earthly sustenance, the essence of humanity is nourished by the word of God. Without this knowledge, Jesus might have succumbed.
Satan’s deceptions were not over yet. At the temple’s highest point, he challenged Jesus to jump, testing if He was truly the Son of God. Jesus countered by asserting His authority over Satan, reminding him that He, Jesus, was his Lord and knew better. Satan was employing the same deceitful tactic he used on Adam, but he could not triumph over Jesus, who had a superior understanding of God’s word.
With his final tactic, Satan tempted Jesus with the lure of power, which often attracts physical humans. He presented this to Jesus, hoping to entice Him, as Satan was aware of the fallibility of physical humanity. Yet again, Jesus rebuked Satan, declaring it was Satan’s duty to worship Him, the Son of God. Defeated and out of tricks, Satan left Jesus alone, allowing God’s angels to care for Him after His monumental victory.
The triumphs of Jesus stemmed from His recognition of the spirit’s supremacy over the physical realm. Satan depended on objects sustained within the physical universe. Conversely, Jesus harnessed what transcended the physical universe. In essence, the physical universe was subject to His command, rather than He being subordinate to the physical universe. The root of all human failures lies in the misunderstanding of this truth.
The truth was within reach of His disciples, yet they could not cast out the demonic spirit. They grappled with comprehension and pretended to believe in what they had not genuinely embraced, thereby failing to meet Jesus’ expectations. Their shortfall was due to timidity, anchored in a reluctance to confront their own uncertainty. They believed in the image of Jesus but not in the core of His existence. One cannot believe in one thing and yet still believe in another.
The spiritual state is not discernible to the human eye, yet it is perceivable through spiritual vision. A person entrenched in the physical realm cannot perceive the spiritual realm. To develop the capacity to perceive spiritual states, one must have faith in Jesus. This means fully embracing Jesus’ teachings, not merely acknowledging His corporeal existence. Jesus sets the benchmark for what humanity can aspire to achieve.
This stands in contrast to the portrayal of Jesus as separate from humanity, where comfort is found in the belief of Jesus as a member of the Trinity, and therefore, beyond human comprehension. To embrace the teachings of Jesus is to use his life as a model for Christian values. Those who do so are not marked by timidity, but rather by a willingness to venture into the unknown and a constant eagerness to acquire new knowledge. They possess the fortitude to face any challenge or adversary at any moment.
“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:14-19 NKJV).
The Apostle John bears witness to the importance of Jesus’ mission to save humanity from a dire state. He emphasizes that love is devoid of fear, acknowledging the obstacle that prevents embracing Jesus’ faith. Without fear, one can delve deeper into Jesus’ teachings. This obviates the need to adhere solely to physical observations. It illustrates the situation of Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus counselled Thomas that those who believe without seeing are indeed more fortunate (John 20:29).
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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