Prophecy holds great importance for true Christians because it serves as a means of divine communication between God and humanity. It stands as a testament to God’s sovereignty and His active involvement in the world. True prophecy is essential for guiding, correcting, and encouraging God’s people. It is a gift from God, intended to edify, exhort, and comfort the church. Yet because prophecy is a spiritual gift, no one should assume that understanding it is necessary for Christian completeness.
In 1 Corinthians 13:2, Paul states, “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing”. The desire to understand prophecy matters, especially amid the many deceptions around us, because we must distinguish truth from error. Such discernment is crucial, since wrong interpretations can lead to deception and spiritual danger.
The Apostle Paul emphasizes prophecy’s importance in the church, saying, “Pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy” (1 Corinthians 14:1). Prophecy builds up the body of Christ and guides His followers. Through prophecy, we can understand our current position in relation to biblical prophecy as we await the second coming of Jesus. The entire Old Testament consists of history, the Law, and the Prophets.
Much of this content is presented in a way that requires revelation from God for understanding. Some prophetic narratives recount events that have already been fulfilled, while others may find significant fulfillment in our time or remain unfulfilled. Experts who analyze prophetic Scriptures contribute valuable insights by revealing the fulfillments of these recorded Old Testament prophecies.
The birth of Jesus, for instance, was the fulfillment of a long-held prophecy. However, many Jews struggled to connect His birth, teachings, and the events surrounding His death and resurrection. This disconnect led them to overlook what the prophecies had foretold. Even today, many significant world events appear to point toward the fulfillment of biblical prophecies.
Analyzing these prophetic fulfillments can be a valuable endeavor, but it should not be mistaken for the gospel itself. Regardless of whether prophecies have been fulfilled or remain pending, both the Major and Minor Prophets accomplished their missions. Ultimately, whether people believe or not, all prophecies find their fulfillment in Jesus and the Kingdom of God.
“The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing their way into it. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law” (Luke 16:16–17 NIV).
The Law and the Prophets, which comprise the word of God, serve as God’s communication with humanity and should be taken seriously, as they reveal His mysteries. Apart from some possible typographical errors in various translations, the content in the Books of Prophecy is as true as the existence of creation. Many of God’s prophets faced brutal treatment and were often murdered. This mistreatment of God’s people culminated in the crucifixion of Jesus.
To understand the prophetic mysteries of the Bible, an open mind is essential. It is impossible to denounce false prophets and guard against misconceptions without first evaluating all things thoroughly. Some individuals may claim to be God’s servants while actually serving the devil and lacking a true understanding of the God they profess to serve. This is especially so if they align more closely with worldly interests, thereby exposing themselves as charlatans. While prophecies can be fascinating, their significance is often diminished if treated too literally.
Prophecy serves as evidence of divine inspiration and authority regarding specific events. These prophecies hold value, particularly in drawing nonbelievers to Christianity. However, some have focused excessively on prophecy rather than on preaching the gospel. While these interpreters can be informative for those beginning to explore the importance of Christianity, it is crucial for those drawn to prophecy to recognize that prophecy is not an end in itself.
“Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:8–12 NIV).
Paul stated a reality that may seem insignificant but actually magnifies the significance of Christianity: “Love never fails.” When we exercise the greatest gift—love—everything falls into place, and any concern about prophecy loses its value. Since His resurrection and ascension, preachers have speculated about Jesus’ Second Coming. At one point, Paul even speculated that Jesus would come while he and some of his audience were still alive.
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 NIV).
It would be wrong to regard Paul as a false prophet, because he didn’t accurately predict the second coming of Jesus. What he said applies to those who will be alive at His second coming, as Paul’s message remains alive. His writings were directed to a specific audience, but God used them as directed even to those of our time and future. Timing is irrelevant to God, whose communication remains alive as it was during Adam. However, Jesus said the timing of the end is God’s prerogative. Paul’s prophetic statements extended to future generations.
“But where there are prophecies, they will cease” (1 Corinthians 13:8).
The significance of Christianity lies in the application of a love that never fails. Most prophecies were relevant before Jesus came. The supreme knowledge revealed by Jesus encompasses everything necessary for salvation, but it requires both understanding and practical application. The world eagerly awaits the second coming of Jesus. Yet those who live up to all that Jesus taught have already attained a perpetual relationship with their Master.
Key teachings of Jesus emphasize the importance of humility and often challenge our attachment to the physical body. The spirit triumphs whenever we endure persecution for doing God’s will, not when we are venerated for achievements that ordinary people consider great. However, for those who have Jesus within them, the idea of marveling at His physical presence carries no fascination, as they are with Jesus at all times. In contrast, those who do not have Jesus in their hearts find it impossible to grasp the concept of love as described by Him: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13 NIV).
For many people, love is interpreted as a source of physical comfort or mistaken for mere affinity. This understanding can lead some individuals to justify causing harm to those they claim to love. A troubling manifestation of this is domestic violence, which is prevalent in our country and reveals how misunderstood true love is. Additionally, there is politically motivated violence that has harmed many people. When the state President declares, “We want peace and unity!” he is actually referring to a form of enforced peace and unity.
Those who position themselves as representatives of God’s authority often believe that anyone who disagrees with the establishment deserves punishment or even death. At one point, the President stated that anyone who criticizes the government would have their life “shortened.” While this behavior may be repugnant to some, others find it acceptable and justifiable. In contrast, those who privately disapprove but publicly show respect for such a government may protect their physical lives, yet they become candidates for losing eternal life.
Some individuals consider the state President to be acting on behalf of God. This includes certain Christians who quote Romans 13 to support their views. Unfortunately, such believers can become complicit in condemning innocent people, using Scripture to justify hatred instead of holding the President accountable for violating godly principles. True love never fails because it is not self-seeking. When personal interests take precedence, genuine love is absent.
It is impossible for those who truly understand God’s principles to misinterpret prophecies. Knowledge in general, including prophecies, leads to Jesus, in whom everything is assured. However, Scripture and prophecy are not a precondition for becoming a Christian. One needs to apply the principle of love to be a Christian. The most essential component is to understand the meaning of love. Due to confusion, love has been wrongly defined by most people.
For instance, faithfully giving tithes at church services is not applying the kind of love taught by Jesus. Such givers are commonly appreciated and assumed to be expressing love. However, such love is misplaced if giving is done to be appreciated or blessed. Love that is not self-seeking does not boast about giving. Instead, it delights in graciously benefiting others without craving admiration. The principle of foot washing must be understood because, physically, human feet are the dirtiest part of the body.
In His teaching, Jesus demonstrated another example of love by washing His disciples’ feet. The purpose was to reveal the significance of love from a godly perspective. Jesus knew that, ordinarily, people could not understand the significance of love, which they assumed to be how people look after themselves. A person feels good when properly groomed and presentable before others. Nothing appears amiss in such conduct. But how do we view those who are not as presentable as we think they should be?
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:12–15).
Jesus had extensively taught about the principle of love. However, that evening He took time to demonstrate the significance of His teachings. Foot washing, when practiced ceremonially by some Christian groups, may be intended to demonstrate Christian love, but a religious foot-washing ceremony has very little to do with what Jesus taught. Jesus practically demonstrated a principle of service. Among His followers, there is no ranking of personalities.
One should not feel good merely because one is presentable before others. Rather, one should feel good when others are more presentable than oneself, which highlights the principle of servitude. One fully understands why Jesus took the time to demonstrate the significance of love through foot washing. His demonstrated conduct was not intended for ordinary people out in the world. It was strictly for those who had left everything to follow Him.
There is no other record of those disciples practicing foot washing after Jesus’ ascension. The lesson was that the disciples were supposed to serve one another, similar to how servants served their masters. Their relationships were expected to be marked by mutual service towards one another. Inward-looking behavior leaves no time for other people. Ordinary humans have time only for themselves, which disqualifies them from being Christians.
A person with dirty feet, having walked long distances, can appear very awkward before others. There were no paved roads in Jesus’ time. People commonly traveled on foot through dusty terrain. The foot-washing service was commonly performed by slaves for their masters. That kind of service was done by slaves because it was considered demeaning. As their Master, why did Jesus not instruct them to wash one another’s feet before dinner, instead of taking that responsibility upon Himself?
Of importance in that episode is that Jesus never instructed anyone to wash His feet, a job that was done unsolicited by a woman using expensive oil, at the home of Simon the Leper (Matthew 26:6–10). However undignified the washing of feet was considered, Jesus instructed His disciples to practice washing one another’s feet after His departure. Bear in mind that Jesus had stated: “The greatest among you will be your servant” (Matthew 23:11 NIV). Generally, the greatest is not the one assumed to be spiritually more adept or prophetically discerning, but the one who serves, which implies carrying another person’s burdens.
For instance, as Jesus washed their feet, He demonstrated being their servant. Foot washing demonstrated the significance of servitude, as taught by Jesus. It portrayed a spiritual application of true love, which seeks to add value to others more than to oneself. A person practicing the love that Jesus taught would be willing to be as undignified as washing other people’s feet. Foot washing is meant to express an attitude of daily service to others without expecting reward.
Jesus knew how the duty of foot washing was commonly regarded in terms of personal dignity and decorum. Who does not want to be given respect in this world? Who would not feel ashamed of being viewed as cleaning other people’s soiled feet? The true consideration of foot washing is different from a ceremonial practice in some religious church services.
The things said to be embarrassing can be the very things that describe acceptable Christian conduct. If this assertion does not discourage many people from Christianity, then this article will not have been influential. There were times during Jesus’ teachings when some people stopped following Him, even though they should have remained committed.
On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before? The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit, and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.” From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him (John 6:60–66 NIV).
From a human perspective, one might assume that Jesus felt disturbed by the massive walkout from His audience. His mission had not necessarily been to please people, but to present the uncomfortable truth to those sincerely desiring to follow Him. This meant doing so, leaving it open for those willing to accept it, but discouraging those unwilling. The fallout actually pleased Him rather than disturbed Him, because Jesus sought true commitment. He even encouraged His disciples to leave as well, if they were similarly affected.
“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him (John 6:67–71 NIV).
The disciples’ challenge was not primarily a failure to understand prophetic fulfillments, but the application of everything Jesus taught. The principle of humbling oneself to the point of washing other people’s feet is not easy for those who hold positions of honor in Christian hierarchies to assimilate. Understanding prophecy and possessing in-depth knowledge of the Scriptures may excite some. But the idea of washing other people’s feet cannot be acceptable to those who find their value in physical existence. True Christianity has nothing to do with show-off in this world.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilisation, which lays out standards for lifting Zimbabwe out of its current economic depression and 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, offering relief to those who have witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions leading 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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