I bless thee that I know thee. I once lived in the world, but was ignorant of its Creator, was partaker of thy providences, but knew not the Provider, was blind while enjoying the sunlight, was deaf to all things spiritual, with voices all around me, understood many things, but had no knowledge of thy ways, saw the world, but did not see Jesus only. O happy day, when in thy love’s sovereignty thou didst look on me, and call me by grace. Then did the dead heart begin to beat, the darkened eye glimmer with light, the dull ear catch thy echo, and I turned to thee and found thee, a God ready to hear, willing to save. Then did I find my heart at enmity to thee, vexing thy Spirit; Then did I fall at thy feet and hear thee thunder, ‘The soul that sinneth, it must die’, But when grace made me to know thee, and admire a God who hated sin, thy terrible justice held my will submissive. My thoughts were then as knives cutting my head. Then didst thou come to me in silken robes of love, and I saw thy Son dying that I might live, and in that death I found my all. My soul doth sing at the remembrance of that peace; The gospel cornet brought a sound unknown to me before that reached my heart — and I lived — never to lose my hold on Christ or his hold on me. Grant that I may always weep to the praise of mercy found, and tell to others as long as I live, that thou art a sin-pardoning God, taking up the blasphemer and the ungodly, and washing them from their deepest stain.
–“The Great Discovery” from The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions
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 and 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.
(Ephesians 2:11-22)
In this passage, the apostle Paul addressed the most persistent and virulent hostility in his culture: that between Jews and Gentiles. He said that the gospel takes these enemies and makes them not just friends but brothers and sisters. A family.
The animosity between Jews and Gentiles in the Middle East today (particularly between Palestinians and Israelis and their supporters) is just one kind of hostility that, sadly, is currently a “normal” part of our fractured world. Protesters at Columbia, NYU and Yale are not just expressing their views on foreign policy. They are flinging hateful epithets, mocking individuals and blocking them from attending classes. Racial animus seems to be degenerating, not improving. On Sunday I addressed the issue of interracial marriage and how it has offended both White and Black communities at different times. I just read about a high school baseball team in Florida that was ripped apart by racial tensions, resulting in the cancellation of their season (which is devastating for many seniors offered college scholarships), federal discrimination lawsuits, and the termination of coaches, teachers and administrators. And these tensions originated primarily with parents and coaches, not players.
The vitriolic language we hear hurled to and from both sides of the political aisle, particularly in the blogosphere and on social media, is either a source or a result of the division we’re seeing in our country today, depending on your perspective. Debates over policy seem too often to devolve into personal attacks. From the highest levels of government, there is little to no restraint in addressing those who hold contrasting opinions about government. Politicians from the highest levels on down have resorted to schoolyard tactics, and they are trickling down to ground level. We may know in part how we got here, but it’s difficult to chart a path back. The genie is out of the bottle.
What do Paul’s words in Ephesians 2 have to say to the Body of Christ today? Is real unity even possible?
Absolutely it is. After all, Christ through his blood took us, people who were completely cut off from God, and brought us near (v. 13). He pursued us and made people who hated each other to be one in him (v. 14). How did he do it? He “abolished the law of commandments expressed in ordinances (v. 15).” That does not mean that he abolished the law itself; it means that he destroyed the misuse of the law to enslave people. He fulfilled the law so that sinners, religious and irreligious alike, could be one in Christ (v. 16).
It took Jesus’ violent death and resurrection to accomplish this, and it includes radically transforming the hearts of those who believe the gospel. That gospel not only preaches peace; it actually brings peace (v. 17). It brings peace because the Holy Spirit grants us access to the Father (v. 18). That relationship with God the Father makes us true brothers and sisters (v. 19). We are God’s House, and we have a bond that nothing on earth can break.
That unity with other believers is the fruit of the union we have with Christ. It is a necessary, definitional unity. And it requires us to put to death the divisions that come between people in the world. We choose to love the family of God in spite of what would otherwise divide us.
People of God, we have the delightful opportunity (and terrifying responsibility) to model before a watching world how gospel unity can destroy human divisiveness. We know it from God’s word. We’re experiencing it in the body of Christ at CTR right now. Let’s encourage this unity–cultivate it and see it explode into full flower–for the transformative impact that it can have on the people who walk through our doors and into our lives. That kind of unity can bring radical transformation in a very dark place.
13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. (Luke 24:13-35)
Some people are highly observant. They notice new hairstyles, wedding rings on a person’s finger, new items of clothing, front porch furniture…things like that. While I’m liable to notice when someone gets a new car, the other things can often pass me by without a second glance. It’s easy to miss the obvious thing.
But we all missed the obvious thing when it comes to identifying Jesus as he truly is. None of us could see him as the Savior He has revealed himself to be until God opened our eyes. Cleopas and his friend should be near and dear to our hearts, because we know how they felt.
What’s curious to me about this passage as I read it today is this: just what “Scriptures concerning Himself” did Jesus talk about with them? Isaiah 52 and 53 alone provide us so many options:
“…his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance…” (52:14)
“…he had no form or majesty that we should look at him…” (53:2)
“He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief…” (53:3)
“…as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised…” (53:3)
“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows…” (53:4)
“But he was pierced for our transgressions…with his wounds we are healed.” (53:5)
“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth…” (53:7)
“By oppression and judgment he was taken away…” (53:8)
“And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence…” (53:9)
And possibly the most striking verse, in light of the fact that these disciples knew that the tomb had been found empty:
“…by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.” (53:11)
Here, on the other side of the resurrection, yet on this side of our own resurrection, let’s thank God that He opened our eyes just as He did for these our “slow of heart” brothers with whom we have more in common than we care to admit.
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