But now in Christ Jesus, you who sometimes were far off are made near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
The little word “but” is so unassuming and unpretentious, yet it makes all the difference in the world. It signals that something monumental has happened, something so significant that what is true “now” stands in stark contrast to what Paul described in the previous verses.
The event that changed everything was Christ’s death on the cross. Thanks to his sacrifice, the Gentiles, who had been “far off” in that they had been excluded from the covenant relationship with God that Israel has enjoyed, have been “made near.” Jesus enabled what God had planned from the very beginning: to reconcile to himself people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. Everyone now has equal access to God.
Paul goes even further, calling Jesus “our peace.” From the context, it’s clear that the pronoun “our” refers to Jews and Gentiles. The Greek word “peace” derives from the verb “to join” and means “that which has been joined together.” It paints a picture of a harmonious relationship and the rest and contentment that result.
When God selected Israel as the nation through whom the Savior would come, the Mosaic Law, which set the requirements of God’s covenant with Israel, created a distinction between Jews and Gentiles. By dying on the cross, Jesus broke down the “wall of partition,” the dividing barrier that kept Jews and Gentiles apart. He united them as one entity in the church, removing any reason for hostility.
Unfortunately, this unity has not been part of our experience throughout history. Yet our human failure does not negate what Christ has done. All people, regardless of national origin or geographic location, have equal access to God through Christ and, as a result, become members of the family of God.
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Thank you, Carol.
You’re welcome 🙂