Ephesians 2:14-17 — Jesus is MY peace...no He's MINE...?

READ THIS: Ephesians 2:14-17

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 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, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?

Yesterday, we learned about a fancy word called reconciliation (if you missed it, check here). Jesus reconciles us to God AND to each other, because HE is our peace! You know those things that happen that are so powerful that it stops disunity/arguments altogether? An example of that is two little kids bickering over a toy until their dad comes home after a month-long business trip. Suddenly, the argument is forgotten and both kids are happy just to be with their dad. That's kind of what happens with Jesus. He creates peace between people who believe in Him. We are united in our love of Him, which leads us to a new kind of relationship with one another (a new humanity, you might say). Arguments kind of fizzle out when you both see the other person as someone worth dying for—and if you believe in Jesus, you know that Jesus died for that person. That logic extends to anyone we meet, both here in Houston, and anywhere else. 

THINK ABOUT IT:

1. When is a time when you suddenly had peace with someone because of something that happened? (Like the two little kids in the example)

2. What "two groups" is Paul talking about in v14? (The answer is in yesterday's Scripture)(Yes, this is a pop quiz)
 
TRY THIS:
 
Read the quote below that came from Jesus in Matthew 10:34-36. Think about how Jesus could possibly bring peace and yet also NOT bring peace. 

34 Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.

Comments

  1. AnonymousMay 4, 2023 at 10:42 AM

    Jesus came to bring unity with those who LOVE HIM- those who love satan spend eternity with him in hell.

    ReplyDelete

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