We live in a world of perceived hierarchies—where intelligence, talent, or status often becomes a measure of worth. Yet true survival and harmony have never depended on a single gift, but on mutual support. The greater the gift, the greater the responsibility to uplift those without the greater gift we have. This is a truth we frequently forget, trapped in cycles of comparison that breed either insecurity or pride.
True wisdom lies in balance: trusting in one’s own abilities while humbly recognizing the indispensable value in others. It is found in those who listen as intently as they speak, who use their strength not for dominance but for service. Our world’s deep trouble stems, in part, from a collective failure to master this—where the desire to be heard drowns out the call to listen, and where power is linked to destruction rather than to the knowledge that heals.
This discord reflects a deeper spiritual rupture. Humanity was created in God’s image and likeness (Genesis 1:26–27), designed for communion with Him. Yet through Adam’s sin, that divine birthright was fractured. We became a race marked by sin, and “the soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20). No claim of lineage, no act of repentance alone could mend this, for the law’s demand was just and final. We were, in effect, orphaned from our Father.
Consider the human body. If the eye, jealous of the hand, boasted of its superior vision, would the hand then covet the eye’s sight? Such discord would cripple the whole. Each part exists to serve the others, for the good of the one body. This is the tangible meaning of “do to others as you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12)—the very principle that resolves humanity’s oldest conflicts. Yet it remains elusive, often shouted down and despised by those defending their own fragment of the whole.
This sets the stage for the essential role of Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. He had to be the only one to prevent any competing voices that might confuse people. For the sake of redeeming all humanity, He alone could fulfill this role. His coming as the only begotten Son was meant to show the true significance of being God’s Son, offering help in God’s way, rather than following the ways of the world.
After the Fall, God’s redemptive plan was first whispered in Genesis 3:15—a promise that the offspring of the woman would crush the serpent’s head. The serpent, Satan, sows the division and sin that leads to death. The offspring is Jesus, anointed to redeem humanity. But, we have to answer the question: why only Jesus? And how?
God’s love for humanity is unwavering (John 3:16), but His justice is immutable. The law demanded a consequence for sin, yet He longed to bring His children home. The solution required one who could bear the full weight of human sin, yet who was not himself born of Adam’s sinful lineage. He had to be fully human, yet unstained by the inherited breach.
It was a miracle—a child born of a woman, yet not conceived by man, carrying an innate divinity within Him, given to us. Isaiah foretold, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given… and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus wasn’t God in disguise, but the ultimate gift of God fully revealed in the Son. Conceived by the Holy Spirit in the Virgin Mary, He stepped into our human experience free from its curse, setting the standard our ancestor Adam could never meet.
In Jesus, we see the true “image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15) brought to life. He lived as humanity was meant to—walking in perfect obedience, humility, and love. His example stood against Satan’s pride-driven pursuit of self-promotion. As he said, “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). To the proud, this kind of selflessness may seem foolish, but it’s in this generosity that our salvation is found. Jesus’ unique sonship wasn’t for His own glory, but to make a way for ours.
Although not part of humanity, Jesus called Himself the “Son of Man” to be understood and accepted within the human world. He was the only begotten Son, and by following His example, we can also become beloved children of God through adoption. By living a perfect life and offering Himself as a sacrifice, He met the law’s demands and opened the door for us to receive grace. Rising from the dead, He defeated death, and by ascending to heaven, He made way for the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2), allowing His victorious life to be shared with all who believe.
This is the glorious inversion: the Only Begotten Son died so that no child of God need remain an orphan. He told His followers, “Whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do” (John 14:12). His mission was to replicate His sonship in us; hence He declared being the way, the truth, and the life.
Seeing Jesus only as a far-off figure to worship, or as the focus of doctrinal battles between denominations, completely misses the point. That kind of division is just another form of tribalism, reflecting the very sin He came to defeat. Jesus showed us a way of life—a call to let go of our pride, our divisions, and ourselves to serve one another.
Revelation 19:16 describes Him as the King of kings and Lord of lords, leading the redeemed to their thrones. Before the cross, He was the only begotten Son, but after His resurrection, He became the firstborn among many born-again brothers and sisters, as stated in Romans 8:29.
Our calling is not to argue over who understands Him best, but to follow Him most closely—to embody the same love that led Him to the cross. Righteousness is measured not by how many serve us, but by how many we serve. This is what describes the Law of Love fulfilled.
In Jesus, we find the way back to our Father. He is the gift, the model, and the doorway. By embracing His mind, His servanthood, and His sacrifice, we step into our true inheritance: no longer slaves to sin, but children of God, called to live and love as He did. The unchanging truth is that we can’t hold on to worldly things and still be God’s children at the same time.
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, 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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