For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.

Ephesians 2:14

From time immemorial, we humans have sought permanent peace but it has eluded us.  As we pick up history books we are reminded of the tale of woe – innumerable battlefield deaths, and rancor that irritates the soul.  Our story is punctuated with bouts of killing one another.  Is this to be endlessly repeated, year after year, decade after decade, millennia after millennia?  Human history is dominated by one story – conquer or be conquered.

To our weary ears come these startling, unexpected words, For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. Who would have thought that this is the only way of peace? If this is true it is an entirely new way to understand who we are and the history we seem to repeat.  Peace has nothing to do with armies, navies, war chariots or superior swords.  None of these ways result in peace that Paul is talking about.

No, there is only one possible solution – for a person to be “our peace.”  A person who can and does destroy the barriers that divide mankind.

Who can break down the barriers that we have carefully and painstakingly erected to keep people apart?   We hear a sure word from heaven, “He himself is our peace.”  This sounds so preposterous that it is hard to believe, very hard, indeed.  This is God’s way, not man’s way.  That is why it is so difficult.

The voice of God himself is heard – Jesus has made the two groups one and has destroyed he barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.

The answer is Jesus!  Let’s digest this for a day or so, really try!