“You who once were far away.” You is me and you.
The Gentiles in Ephesus who believed in Jesus had been grafted into the vine of God’s chosen. They were once the enemies of all things the people of God stood for. But, because God was pleased to reveal the long-held mystery, the solution to peace on earth under the authority of Jesus (Eph. 1:9-10), these godless people were brought near. I was brought near.
How amazing is that?
Jesus destroyed what divides us. Yes, the Jews and Gentiles, but also you and me. We build walls of hostility not out of desire to hurt each other, but because of fear of being hurt, or marginalized, or rejected, or forgotten. We are both playing defense, thinking the other is playing offense. Is that ironic, or just tragic?
“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” (Ephesians 2:14-16)
The sacrifice of Jesus disempowered division. As you and I stand before that bloody cross, in gratitude for the amazing grace that is ours, we are together in what matters most…in eternal purpose…in partnership as recipients of undeserved grace. The law, that accurately informed us both cannot condemn either of us. Grace has eclipsed it. Therefore, the wall is gone. Hostility is dissipated. We are one people of God whether we like it (or each other) or not. God has reconciled you and me to himself through the cross.
That puts us both in the same space. Once far away from each other, but now together. At peace.
I love it.