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

Ephesians 2:14 – 18

How can it be possible for Jews and Gentiles, or other groups or tribes to live together in peace, a chore that has perplexed people from the beginning of time?  All experiments have been tried, some rather successful, others not.  I think of forging a unity by political means, like in ancient Greece.  Try as they will, they ended up fighting one another (Athens vs Sparta, for example) until they ceased to exist as a unified nation.

How about a common philosophy?  Athens was the center of this hope.  What happened?  The Greek philosophers were helpful in laying bare the issue but no one came up with an answer that suited everyone.  Philosophy produces many answers, few ways to live!

Then Jesus arrives on the scene.  He did not teach self-help or philosophical statements.  He destroyed the enmity that is the base of all strife and opened an entirely new way to walk with God together.   Paul’s description of how Jesus accomplished that is not at all easy for our minds to grasp.  He wrote, “Jesus set aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations.”  To be honest, I have never felt that I had fully grasped the meaning of this expression, set aside in flesh the law.  I can try to explain many things to satisfy myself, but I have never fully grasped the depth of the meaning of this, in my own mind.

Could it be that Jesus absorbed into his own self, his mind and flesh, the enmity and fear and hate that people groups or individuals have toward one another and then, by absorbing these dreads into his own being, slaying them or taking them away, actually erasing them completely?   How true it is if that which divides us is removed from us, we can live in peace with one another, as pleases God.

Now, For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.  Equal access to the Father!  All in one Spirit!  Here lies the answer to all human hostility.  Jesus is the way.  What he paid to take away our hostile feeling is there for all who believe.   ALL!

We need only bow, repent, and receive the new life of God by faith.  So simple. So profound!