At the moment of our need,
Christ died for us.
—Romans 5:6
Jackie Robinson was the first black to play major league baseball. When he botched a play on his home turf in Brooklyn, a trickle of boos quickly swelled into a roar.
Shortstop Pee Wee Reese walked over, draped his arm around Jackie’s shoulder, and icily glared at the crowd. Ebbets Field became quiet as a graveyard.
Jesus stood up for the abused. Samaritans were a hated race, but Jesus extended hope to a hopeless Samaritan woman (Jn 4:4–26, 39). When two of his disciples wanted to call down heavenly fire to torch a Samaritan village, he rebuked them (Lk 9:51–56)—and in the next chapter made a Samaritan the hero of a parable (Lk 10:30–37).
We, being Gentiles, were also outcasts without hope (Eph 2:11–12)—until he stood up for us (Eph 2:13).
There’s an arm around your shoulder.
It’s Jesus’ arm.