It’s tempting to patronise and to be dismissive of a small, symbolic action, but we make a mistake when we think like that. Jesus knew the importance of such gestures which is why he chose to wash his disciples’ feet when they felt far too important to get involved in such a demeaning activity.

Abraham Lincoln understood it too. When he was campaigning for the presidency of the United States one of his arch enemies was a man named Stanton. Stanton did everything to discredit Lincoln seeking to embarrass him whenever he could and constantly saying unkind things about his physical appearance.

But when he was elected who do you think Lincoln chose as his Secretary of War? To everyone’s amazement he chose Stanton, and for one simple reason: Lincoln thought Stanton was the best man for the job.

Following Lincoln’s assassination many wonderful things were said about him but I would guess none more meaningful than those uttered by his former enemy Stanton who declared that Lincoln was one of the greatest men who ever lived.

And the power of this symbolic action was not confined to the nineteenth century because I first came across this story in a collection of sermons that were preached by Dr. Martin Luther King more than a hundred years later!

Now I am not sure if many of us will remember their actions in years to come, but two people did something hugely symbolic just over a month ago when they met in front of the Maryland State House and dealt with something that had been hanging over their families’ heads for more than 150 years.

To set the historical background back in March 1857 American Supreme Court Judge Chief Justice Taney ruled ‘that Blacks, enslaved or free, could not be citizens of the United States. He justified this by writing that, historically-speaking, Blacks had been regarded as beings of an inferior order, and altogether unfit to associate with the white race, either in social or political relations; and so far inferior, that they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect.’

It’s hard to believe that people can think like this but they have and as you might expect the scars can go deep. But just a few weeks ago, Charles Taney, a descendant of Roger Taney stood before the Maryland State House and apologised on his family’s behalf to the descendants of the slave known as Dred Scott whose cause he had so infamously denied.

And then, in an act of hugely symbolic forgiveness Scott’s great-great granddaughter, Lynne Jackson, accepted the apology on behalf of ‘all African Americans who have the love of God in their heart so that healing can begin.’

There are those who tell me that Christianity is irrelevant. I can’t see how they can say this given the power it has to bring former enemies together. And you don’t need me to tell you that we live in a bitter and a bitterly divided world. If ever people needed to hear this message of forgiveness, it is now. And not just on the international stage either. I come across countless church groups, family groups and former friends who have fallen out and have very little if anything to do with each other, although they often say horrible things about each other.

Martin Luther King understood all this which is why he said: “We should love our enemies because love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend. We never get rid of an enemy by meeting hate with hate: we get rid of an enemy by getting rid of enmity.”

Rob James is a Baptist Pastor broadcaster and writer who currently operates as a church and media consultant for the Evangelical Alliance Wales. He is available for preaching and teaching throughout Wales and can be contacted at [email protected]