11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 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. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Isaiah 2:4 and Micah 4:3 both look forward to a day when peace comes, when swords are reshaped into ploughs and spears become pruning hooks. Those words are engraved on a wall in the plaza outside of the United Nations building in New York. I too look forward to that day when all wars will cease. Alas, that day has not come. We still train young men and women for combat. It is the wiser course of action to do so in this dangerous world. I wish it were not so.
The UN and before it the League of Nations have not vouchsafed our peace. At best they have mitigated some conflicts and brought help to suffering people. But real peace, the peace Isaiah saw, will have to come from somewhere else. Paul knows it in this passage. Jesus is our peace (vs. 14). Peace is the first word he speaks to his disciples after the resurrection in John 20 and Luke 24. In Paul’s day that peace meant that Jews and Gentiles no longer had to observe the distinctions which had obtained before. Christ had broken down the dividing wall. But Christ’s kingdom is still breaking down walls. He is still reconciling people through his cross and killing hostility.
I met a man a while ago who had hurt me years before. I had rather dreaded running into him, but I knew the day would probably come. The Synod is not that large. In those days between, when we were not given to see one another much, if at all, I regularly had to remind myself that Jesus had died for him too, had forgiven this sin, and I did not need to be burdened by it anymore. I could let Jesus take care of it. That was hard to do, but I am glad I did. We saw one another and spoke words of apology and embraced. We are not close. He is neither my friend today nor is he my enemy. He is another person for whom Jesus died. Together we are being built into one building, a temple for the Holy Spirit. I am glad to be joined with him in that building. We have peace.