David Bahn – Reflections

Ephesians 2:13-18

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ 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 expressed in 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. ¹⁷ And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

We didn’t see it coming, but it surely did have an impact. We were in the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem. We had just sung two stanzas of “A Mighty Fortress” (you can’t sing just the first stanza, it ends with “on earth is not his [the devil’s] equal.”). We were enjoying the moment when a woman marched down the center aisle of the church, went to the altar, threw the Bible and Bible stand onto the floor, moved candle and the cross, and began to try to light the candle – an act of defiance, if not potential vandalism. When church officials came to the altar, replaced the Bible and stand, candles and flowers, and quieted her. She then turned to us and made motions with her hands indicating that we were crazy, and that we were going to hell. All this during a week in Jerusalem celebrating and praying for Christian unity! So it’s interesting that my devotions have me here in Ephesians where that topic of Christian unity is so clearly established.

Our unity is a gift from God through the blood of Christ. This is not something for which we strive. Unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace is something which we are to be eager to maintain – as Paul expresses in 4:3. Because of Christ, and in connection to him walls have been broken down and we all have been reconciled to God. That, Paul says, kills the hostility.

Jesus’ message is one of peace to all as shown by the announcement of his birth by angels, “Peace on earth…” as well as Jesus’ initial greeting at his resurrection, “Peace be with you.” If that’s so, why are we still fighting? Why, then, did this woman intrude into our time of celebration? Why is there such sharp dispute over the “ownership” of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher that no improvements (even replacing a broken window!) are allowed to happen because one group might take credit and gain an upper hand in claiming that space? Why do churches have fights over carpet colors, worship practices, and any number of other issues?

The obvious answer is sin. And the answer to sin is Jesus’ shed blood, repentance and faith. If we were to live in a state of true humility, seeking God’s favor and seeking to serve him in his kingdom, we would be less likely to bicker and more likely to express the unity that is such a precious gift. I don’t know where that woman came from or where she went (they told us later that she was a troubled woman who had caused trouble before). But I do know that God’s desire is for her to embrace with us the peace of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.