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- Apr 25, 2006
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11 May 2007
Ephesians 2:14-15
Christ himself is our peace. He made both Jewish people and those who are not Jews one people. They were separated as if there were a wall between them, but Christ broke down that wall of hate by giving his own body. The Jewish law had many commands and rules, but Christ ended that law. His purpose was to make the two groups of people become one new people in him and in this way make peace.
There's an ancient Hebrew word "Shalom", which is generally translated as "peace". But "peace" is just a small part of the meaning of this word. It also means completeness, wholeness, health, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquillity, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, and the absence of agitation or discord. When Paul writes here about Jesus being "our peace", he would have almost certainly been writing with an understanding of the "Shalom" with which the people of God had been blessed.
The story of Christ's death on the cross ends in a dramatic climax - remember the curtain of the Temple torn in two from top to bottom? The Temple curtain was a symbol of the separation of "unholy" people from a "holy" God.
When Jesus died, this "wall" was removed. Suddenly, God's love, grace and protection became available not only to the Jewish people who worshipped in the Temple - but to everyone!
Those who found themselves trying to follow God's laws and getting themselves tied up in knots trying to "do the right thing" could now have a new focus. All laws aside, Jesus came to make a way for every human being to have a relationship with God. We really can have "Shalom".
Lord, you are all that I need. Help me to feel your peace on every aspect of my life. Amen.
Written by Richard Prescott
Ephesians 2:14-15
Christ himself is our peace. He made both Jewish people and those who are not Jews one people. They were separated as if there were a wall between them, but Christ broke down that wall of hate by giving his own body. The Jewish law had many commands and rules, but Christ ended that law. His purpose was to make the two groups of people become one new people in him and in this way make peace.
There's an ancient Hebrew word "Shalom", which is generally translated as "peace". But "peace" is just a small part of the meaning of this word. It also means completeness, wholeness, health, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquillity, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, and the absence of agitation or discord. When Paul writes here about Jesus being "our peace", he would have almost certainly been writing with an understanding of the "Shalom" with which the people of God had been blessed.
The story of Christ's death on the cross ends in a dramatic climax - remember the curtain of the Temple torn in two from top to bottom? The Temple curtain was a symbol of the separation of "unholy" people from a "holy" God.
When Jesus died, this "wall" was removed. Suddenly, God's love, grace and protection became available not only to the Jewish people who worshipped in the Temple - but to everyone!
Those who found themselves trying to follow God's laws and getting themselves tied up in knots trying to "do the right thing" could now have a new focus. All laws aside, Jesus came to make a way for every human being to have a relationship with God. We really can have "Shalom".
Lord, you are all that I need. Help me to feel your peace on every aspect of my life. Amen.
Written by Richard Prescott
