Jesus, the Resolution to Prejudice
“Christ himself is our peace. He made both Jewish people and those who are not Jews one people. They were separated as if there were a wall between them, but Christ broke down that wall of hate by giving his own body. The Jewish law had many commands and rules, but Christ ended that law. His purpose was to make the two groups of people become one new people in him and in this way make peace. It was also Christ’s purpose to end the hatred between the two groups, to make them into one body, and to bring them back to God. Christ did all this with his death on the cross.” – Ephesians 2:14-16
People who are God’s children are made up of one body. That one body is Christ. His body is made up of different kinds of people (1 Corinthians 12:12). God created people unique, hand crafted them in their mother’s womb and in His image (Psalm 139:13, Genesis 1:26-27). So who are we to hate someone based on skin color, nationality or ethnic group if God created that person a certain way?
Sadly, racism is a big problem, but thanks to God, Jesus’ death and obedience put an end to discrimination. He became the solution to the problem by breaking down the wall that used to separate people based on their race, nationality, or ethnic group. It was not a literal wall, but an invisible barrier set up by the Mosaic Law which separated the people of Israel from other nations. Christ’s death abolished the enmity that used to lurk between the Jews and Gentiles and also between God and man.
There will be racism and tension between people on earth because it is a fallen world with sinful people. However, we can remember that Jesus put an end to hate that is caused by sin. We need to focus everything on the life to come. In heaven, there will be no more hate among people despite their race, nationality, or ethnic group.
John witnessed it in Revelation 7:9,
“After the vision of these things I looked, and there was a great number of people, so many that no one could count them. They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language of the earth. They were all standing before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.”
Prayer of the day:
Dear God,
You are the creator of people. Who are we to hate them because of the color of their skin or where they were born? You designed them special, in their mother’s womb. This shows how important Your creation means to You. Help us to see others the way You see them, a broken person that is in need of a Savior and in need of Your grace. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!
