All About Jesus, Volume 1

Chapter 200

Caste and Christianity

Christianity annihilates caste. Jesus Christ came from the throne of God to the station of the lowliest man of earth, and in this He broke down every barrier between them. He was "meek and lowly in heart," (Matthew 11:29) and so poor that He had not where to lay His head. "[He] took upon Him the form of a servant," (Philippians 2:7) and was among men as one that serves, and not as a lord or a "gentleman": "For whether is greater, he that sits at meat, or he that serves? is not he that sits at meat? but I am among you as he that serves." (Luke 22:27)

Yet in all this He retained His Divinity; for God was in Him, doing the works that He did. "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwells in me, He does the works." (John 14:10)

And therefore there is not a barrier that God has erected or that He upholds between the lowliest station upon earth and His own throne.

Men have made barriers between themselves and those they deem their inferiors; and certain distinctions and classes are recognized by "society;" but we are plainly told that: "There is no respect of persons with God." (Romans 2:11)

Jesus Christ bore down every "middle wall of partition", and left for every man a straight, clear path to the place He himself occupies upon the throne of the Infinite. "For He is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us." (Ephesians 2:14) "To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne." (Revelation 3:21)

Not even cherubim and seraphim bar our way; they are no higher caste. The angel that brought the revelation of Christ to John, said, when John fell at his feet to worship him, "See you do it not; for I am your fellow-servant; and of your brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book; worship God." (Revelation 22:9)

Any man therefore who puts a barrier between himself and his fellow-men must at the same time barricade himself away from God; for it must be outside of that path which God has opened from earth to himself; and he will never get into that path until he takes his barrier down.--Present Truth, June 13, 1895--Timeline: IV-32 (Jesus' Eulogy of John)--Matthew 11:29.