The story of the Israelites is marked by hardship—not only because Pharaoh was a cruel oppressor, but also because many among the Israelites themselves were not truly eager for freedom. After enduring slavery for so long, they had grown accustomed to their harsh conditions. At one point they even longed to return to Egypt, saying, “We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic” (Numbers 11:5).
Slavery is one of the most degrading conditions a person can suffer, yet when people endure terrible circumstances for an extended time, they can become strangely comfortable with them. This is why leading people out of bondage is never easy. According to God’s image, all human beings are meant to be part of God’s family.
Sadly, many have lost sight of this truth and find themselves trapped in degradation. Jesus faced strong opposition from the Jews, who struggled to accept the idea of being likened to God. They believed the Messiah would come to liberate them from physical suffering, but their understanding of prophecy was limited to this earthly perspective. They assumed to understand what they did not fully comprehend.
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father” (John 8:31–38 NIV).
Jesus delivered the most compellingly sweet truth ever shared: “A slave has no permanent place in the family.” Who among us can claim to be permanently free? Not a single one, for everyone knows that death awaits us all. Those who boast of enviable possessions may mock, yet they remain enslaved just like the poor, for death is inevitable for both. The hour of death is a source of great dread for all.
It does not matter whether one belongs to a royal family or not; death levels rich and poor alike. Jesus stated unequivocally, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” But how free can human beings truly become? The answer lies in this: true freedom means no longer facing death. Yet when Jesus revealed this truth, the Jews were already growing emotionally agitated, making it difficult for them to properly examine the information he presented, regardless of its validity.
“I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you do what you have heard from your father” (John 8:37–38 NIV).
Jesus had always enjoyed the privilege of being in God’s presence. Had the Jews grasped this truth, they would not have opposed him. There is a vast difference between truth and assumption. The most dangerous posture is to find comfort in assumptions rather than in certainty. When we are uncertain about any information, the safest course is to adopt a discerning skepticism until a clear understanding is reached. The greatest barrier to learning is the assumption that one already knows, even without full comprehension.
“Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do the things Abraham did” (John 8:39 NIV).
Abraham was a devout man who separated himself from his relatives in Ur in obedience to God’s call. At one point he even offered to sacrifice his only son Isaac as an act of loyalty to God. This profound commitment set Abraham apart from worldly concerns. Unlike some of his Hebrew contemporaries, Abraham was free; he focused more on his spiritual relationship with his Father in Heaven than on the condition of his physical body. If the Jews had truly understood what it meant to be Abraham’s children, they would not have behaved violently—as Paul later explained:
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:28–29 NIV).
The Jews were asserting their identity as genealogical descendants of Abraham. Jesus, however, highlighted that Abraham was not an ordinary figure. Speaking from a spiritual perspective differs radically from a physical one. Abraham, whose promises sustained the Jewish community, possessed something truly special. Unfortunately, those Jews could not recognize the unique blessings tied to Abraham that reached far beyond mere physical existence.
“As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the works of your own father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself” (John 8:40–41 NIV).
Unlike other Jews, this group had at least shown a desire to follow Jesus, demonstrating a commitment to believe in him. Yet he gave them a litmus test they could not face. They claimed not to be illegitimate, failing to recognize that existence in physical flesh implies a kind of illegitimacy. Like all humans, they were indeed born into a fallen state. If they were truly created in God’s image, why would they identify so exclusively with their worldly nature?
They did not understand that, as descendants of Abraham, they were considered God’s children in a much deeper sense. Their level of understanding did not extend beyond the physical lineage of Abraham. While they took pride in their connection to the legendary patriarch, they failed to grasp the deeper significance of that relationship. They rejected the Son of God, who had come directly from God. Their denial of Jesus revealed their estrangement from God, despite their claims of being his children—even though they had initially believed in Jesus’ teachings.
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God” (John 8:42–47 NIV).
The Jewish people had initially shown a willingness to believe in Jesus. However, the conversation exposed a lack of sincerity. Were they truly God’s children, or were they merely pretending? At this point, they were caught in the act of wanting to kill the very man they had claimed to believe in. They displayed a dangerous tendency to mix knowledge with ignorance.
Jesus may have intentionally provoked them with this topic to challenge their half-hearted commitment to being his followers. Truth is often uncomfortable, much like positive and negative electric currents cannot coexist. The Jews could no longer hold on to their ambiguous beliefs; they began to mock the man they once professed to follow.
In fits of rage, they retorted, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” Jesus replied, “I am not possessed by a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. I am not seeking glory for myself; there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death” (John 8:48–51 NIV).
Now they felt confident declaring Jesus demon-possessed, even though he used the very Scriptures they claimed to follow. Jesus had managed to push them away, discouraging their half-hearted attempt to become his followers. It is important to remember that Jesus taught in parables to conceal the truth from those with dishonest intentions. This serves as a reminder that those who desire to follow him must be willing to give up everything. True commitment to being children of God does not allow for divided attention.
Jesus fought against the pretenders, successfully revealing them for what they were. He proclaimed that anyone who obeys his word would never taste death—a statement far beyond their comprehension. Although the Jews struggled to understand his message, Jesus articulated a fundamental truth that they should have already recognized from Scripture.
Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. It is my Father, whom you claim is your God, who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not know him, I would be a liar like you; but I do know him and obey his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad” (John 8:54–56 NIV).
The mockery Jesus endured may seem unfair, but it served an important purpose: to protect those Jews who were unaware of the danger of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31–32). They claimed to be descendants of Abraham, but did they truly understand what set Abraham apart from the world? Their misguided beliefs were shattered. As they struggled with frustration, Jesus achieved a victory that safeguarded the naïve pretenders from a greater spiritual peril.
“You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. (John 8:57–59 NIV).
Though they had declared their intention to follow Jesus, they became disappointed and unsure of their next steps. They may even have tried to convince their fellow Jews about their beliefs regarding Jesus. But Jesus presented truths that repelled them, so that they no longer wished to follow him. He claimed to have existed before Abraham, yet they could not see beyond the man standing before them, because they were ensnared in sinful bondage.
The creation of humanity in God’s image must not be confused with the physical formation of Adam from the dust of the ground. Adam’s physical body is not inherently divine; being created in God’s image is divine. As John 4:24 states, “God is spirit.” Therefore, understanding God’s image must be framed within the spiritual context. This includes the ability to create, for God—the Creator in whose image humans were made—creates. These were crucial points that the Jews struggled to accept.
Jesus addressed their concerns directly: “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’? If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside—what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?” (John 10:34–36 NIV).
Jesus referenced Scripture that the Jews held dear, indicating that humans are originally part of the God family (Psalm 82:6). Yet they either misinterpreted or misunderstood this passage. Where did their confusion lie? It is difficult to fully grasp a concept when it is obscured by misunderstood words. For physical humans, there can indeed be a certain comfort in accepting limitations rather than confronting the truth.
On several occasions, Jesus criticized humanity’s lack of faith. He emphasized that nothing would be impossible for those who have faith as small as a mustard seed. Although many claim to believe in Jesus, very few seem to truly believe that nothing is impossible for humanity. Like the Jews who sought to follow Jesus, many who identify as Christians struggle to accept this truth. They often take for granted possibilities they cannot fully comprehend, clinging to the notion that they are mere humans who cannot achieve what God can. This mindset can appear pious and has underpinned much of global Christianity. But shouldn’t Christianity be sustained by fully embracing everything that Jesus taught?
Like many who claim to be dedicated Christians, some are easily offended by those who promote the full teachings of Jesus. They are comfortable in the belief that a mere human cannot be like God, even though this belief stands in stark opposition to God’s word. How can such individuals be rescued from their spiritual poverty? As long as they remain attached to this world, they cannot access the freedom they claim to desire so desperately.
The willingness to surrender everything in order to follow Jesus is key, but this challenge cannot be faced by pretenders. The sin that has enslaved humanity throughout the ages makes it difficult for people to imagine being likened to God. Surrendering everything can make a person feel insignificant, and it is this very pride that often serves as the greatest obstacle to true freedom. Jesus came to illuminate the path, and his teachings are recorded in the Scriptures. Yet many self-proclaimed dedicated Christians prefer to cherry-pick verses that suit their agendas, using them to manipulate the gullible.
Confronting the truth has always been one of life’s most challenging realities. Blessed are those willing to face it, for they are the only ones who can attain true freedom. The allure of falsehood can be irresistible for degraded humanity. This situation will persist until the second coming of Jesus, who used the truth to challenge Jewish pretenders. It is earnestly hoped that these pretenders will also be confronted, so that only those who embrace the truth may experience genuine freedom.
Humans are creators, just as God, in whose image we were made, is a Creator. There is no value in misrepresenting Christ’s teachings, which are designed to restore our relationship with our Father. The Scriptures clearly state that humans are originally God’s children. It is only the comfort found in slavery that keeps humanity trapped in falsehood, rather than facing the truth. May the Almighty God bless those who are sincere in seeking the truth.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilisation, 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, relieving those who have witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions that have led to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book to be a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
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