May 2 Made One in Peace

Ephesians 2:14-16 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

ONE of the great challenges in the early church was that Jews and Gentiles were both called to be one with Jesus. We may look back now and say, “What’s the problem? Of course, Jesus is for all.” But God’s story of salvation doesn’t begin with God coming to all people. The Bible clearly tells us how he established the Jews as his particular people. God formed a nation out of Abraham. One of many places we read this is in Exodus 6:7 “I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God.” This is extraordinary!
    Furthermore, God continually prohibited his people to intermingle and intermarry with Gentiles. Scripture repeatedly shows how the Gentiles’ gods drew away God’s people into great sin. To the true Jews, the Gentiles were the Jews’ enemies. The Jews were cursed. They had no hope of receiving God’s blessing.
    This was even demonstrated in the temple. The “walls of hostility” to which Paul refers here was a literal wall in the courts of the temple. This wall separated Jews from Gentiles. The Jews posted signs there excluding Gentiles from participating in the sacrifices to atone for sins. In this sense, the Gentiles could not be forgiven.
    But then came Jesus. Then came the cross. Through Jesus, the cross became God’s battering ram to destroy the separating hostile wall. The cross became the bridge of all nations to travel to be one in Jesus’ saving, eternal peace. In Jesus’ blood peace reigns in the heart of each person who confesses, “I believe in Jesus. He is the atoning sacrifice for my sin. I believe Jesus is my peace forevermore.”
    We see God promised this would happen. He declared to Isaac in Genesis 26:4 “I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.” Yes, God promised he would not isolate his salvation to one particular people, but he would offer his eternal blessing to the entire world.
    Out of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, then, God would form the Jews. Out of the Jews he would form the Savior. Out of the Savior, he would form the entire world to be at peace in Jesus. In Jesus, hostility is dead! In Jesus, peace is alive!
    How’s your attitude toward God and others? Do you feel some hostility toward our Lord because God does not do as you please? Are you wondering, “How could God love that person?” Perhaps you think, “There are too many people in church I don’t like.” Let go, then, of your self-important, hostile view. Do not be as the first-century Jews who thought, “The Gentiles are unworthy!” Jesus came to transform the old law into the new promise of grace. Be a Christian. Love all as Jesus has loved you. Be one in Jesus’ peace.
 
Prayer: Father, forgive me for the ways I draw dividing lines between myself and you. Break down my hostility toward those you command me to love. Draw me near them in Jesus’ peace. Amen.