Jesus Brings it All Together
This is the reflection on the text I'm preaching on this Sunday. It went out in our weekly e-ministry to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church.Ephesians 2:11-22
11Remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called “the uncircumcision” by those who are called “the circumcision”—a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands—12remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. 15He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. 17So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; 18for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.
When Paul wrote this, there was a big debate going on in the early church. Since Jesus and his first followers were all Jewish, many thought that those who were not born Jewish, needed to become Jewish in order to become Christians. Jewish males were circumcised and gentile males were not, therefore, some expected them to be.
BUT NOW…this is the turning point in this passage. God has intervened and brought the outsiders, the gentiles, in. Most of us are in that gentile camp. Jesus not only makes peace between the two groups that were so at odds with each other, but he is our peace.
It seems that today everyone is at each other’s throat. Our society is filled with tension and division. Can we let Jesus, our peace, break down the walls of division between people because of race, immigration status or political affiliation? Just as we are no longer strangers and aliens from God and God’s people, don’t you think that may be the case for others? All of us are made in the image of God.
We know how to welcome at St. Timothy! May we be a light for the darkness in our world. May we demonstrate God’s attitude and love for all.
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