The great truth that we...
Illustration
The great truth that we are all one in Christ Jesus was dramatically illustrated many years ago on the baseball field. In his first seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Jackie Robinson, the first black man to play major league baseball, faced venom nearly everywhere he traveled -- fast balls at his head, spikings on the bases, brutal epithets from the opposing dugouts and from the crowds.
During one game, in Boston, the taunts and racial slurs seemed to reach a peak in the midst of this, another Dodger, a Southern white Christian, called time out. Slowly he walked from his position at shortstop toward Robinson at second base. Then, with the eyes of every fan on him, Reese put his arm around Robinson's shoulder, and stood there with him for what seemed like a very long time. The gesture spoke more eloquently than words ever could, because it said simply, "This man is my brother in Christ."
The noise slowly ceased until one could almost hear a pin drop in that stadium. Reese walked back to his position and the game continued. But every fan present had experienced the truth of Paul's words, "You are all one in Christ Jesus."
During one game, in Boston, the taunts and racial slurs seemed to reach a peak in the midst of this, another Dodger, a Southern white Christian, called time out. Slowly he walked from his position at shortstop toward Robinson at second base. Then, with the eyes of every fan on him, Reese put his arm around Robinson's shoulder, and stood there with him for what seemed like a very long time. The gesture spoke more eloquently than words ever could, because it said simply, "This man is my brother in Christ."
The noise slowly ceased until one could almost hear a pin drop in that stadium. Reese walked back to his position and the game continued. But every fan present had experienced the truth of Paul's words, "You are all one in Christ Jesus."
