For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him, we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

"Destroying the barrier"? "Dividing the wall of hostility"? I don't know about you, but as I reflect today, I recognize our world's immense division. There are so many barriers that we can encounter in our daily lives. Whether we experience it in our relationships or see it around us, the walls of hostility can be burdensome, disheartening, and leave us weary. But when I read this text, there is good news, and hope arises; I'm reminded that God sent his only son, Jesus, to bring a spirit of peace to the world.

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The barrier and wall refer to the separation between the Gentiles and the Jewish population of the day. Hostility and tension between the two groups were always present because of ceremonial laws that God instituted during the Old Testament times to keep Israel a separate nation. The ceremonial law, which the sacrificial system was part of, foreshadowed the coming Messiah. The ceremonial law only applied to the Jewish people.

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Jesus began his ministry on earth, died, and rose again, no longer needing to carry out the previous ceremonial law and animal sacrifices to atone for sin. The writer of Ephesians, Paul, tells us that Christ "destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility" between the Jews and Gentiles. The sacrificial laws would be eternally fulfilled by Christ's death on the cross. Christ brought peace to the world!

Paul begins with what peace truly is. "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one…" Jesus is our peace and redeemer. Peace is not the complete absence of conflict or hostility but being one. Christ broke down the walls of division and hostility through his death, forming a new humanity that unified Israel and the Gentiles. Both the Jewish and Gentile people were unified, but this doesn't mean uniformity; equality doesn't mean sameness, and the killing of hostility doesn't mean removing identities.

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The unity that Paul is talking about doesn't involve blurring boundaries or making everyone the same, but he is talking about peace and reconciliation. More importantly, he is talking about reconciliation between humans and God himself. Christ achieved this by dying on the cross, and because of this reconciliation between us and God, it can also happen with one another.

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God sent Jesus to bring peace and be peace for us.

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The prophets spoke of this, too. Isaiah 9:6 says, "His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." God sent Jesus to be the peace of his people, to be our peace with others and our peace with God. As I reflect on the words Paul speaks to us, I think about the barriers in my own life that I have put up that have made me far from peace. How can I start taking steps to break those barriers down to live in unity and peace? What barriers or walls might you have put up in your own life, too?

Jesus, you are our light that shines through the darkness. Where there is sadness, you bring everlasting joy. Our identity is not driven by the world but by your Word alone. Let us remember that no man or woman centers us, but you are at the center of our community. Help us continue to be instruments of your peace as we break down barriers in our relationships and community so we can see it be in Alaska as it is in Heaven.