ZIMBABWEAN EDWIN and German Michael are sharing Jesus with people on the streets of Oxford in the UK. They’re brothers, joined in one cause. It’s what Jesus came to bring about: people from every nation, race and colour joined together.

Jesus wasn’t white like Michael. Nor was He black like Edwin. As a middle-eastern Jew, Jesus could have been coffee brown.

But colour isn’t the issue. By dying on the cross Jesus abolished all the divisions of race and culture. He broke down “the wall of hatred that separated us” – that’s how the Bible puts it. “On the cross Christ did away with our hatred for each other. He also made peace between us and God” (Ephesians 2:14,16).

How? Because when Jesus died on the cross He soaked up all of the wrongdoing of us all – human history with its hatred and unspeakable tragedies. Jesus carried it all. He represented the whole human race. All of us: our sin died with Him.

And when Jesus rose again, three days later, sin was left behind in the grave. That’s why those who follow Jesus today – Christians – have the chance of a new life, freed from all the old mess. And that’s why Christians like Edwin and Michael are brothers. Divisions are ended: Jesus has set us free to be Jesus People ­­– loving people.

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