Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

This fellow was on our milk-weed plant.  I have not identified it.  It is beautiful in its two-color coat.  The “horns” are also impressive.

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.  Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household.

Ephesians 2:17 – 19

Jesus preached peace to Jews and Gentiles alike.  That was disconcerting to the Jews who were steeped in their knowledge that they were the called-out ones!  To welcome Gentiles into their fold ran against their fundamental beliefs.  Yet, this is exactly what God was calling them to do.  The Gentiles had a daunting call as well, to love the Jewish believers in Jesus as they did their own.

Jews and Gentiles did not mix, in cultures.  Now, for those who believe, they embrace one another.  Is this not an impossibility?  Outside of Jesus, yes, in Him, no.

Today we live in a bewildering cultural mix, I speak of our total world.  The followers of Jesus from all cultures are all fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household.  Jews and Gentiles who love Jesus are now in the same house!  Sharing the same space, loving one another as members of the same family, household.

Now, friend.  You might agree with me that Jesus’ way of unity, there in Ephesus, is exactly the same as ours!  There is no other way.  We find one another in Jesus and go from there – in this new fellowship of love that pays no attention at all to cultural achievements or failures.

My wife, Anna Ruth and I lived for years in the midst of African brothers and sisters in Christ.  Talk of a challenge!  That is true, but what God taught us changed everything!  We do not choose our spiritual brothers and sisters, God does!

Joel has been on our roof many times, cleaning and repairing gutters and wind guage with the heron showing the direction of the wind.  Dear Joel, none quite like him.  A joy to us, that is for sure.  And a super, duper Dad!!

Sara, Joel, Isaac, Ben and Jack blessed us with a marvelous few days of joy.  Love them all.

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.

Ephesians 2:15 – 16

I am amazed when I begin to see the radical nature of the work of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  This is not some hidden personal piety.  It is as public as the noonday sun, if not brighter.  In Christ God is creating a new humanity of Jews and Gentiles, marked by peace between them, a miracle indeed.  That unity is possible only because the Cross of Christ.  Jews and Gentiles can not just shake hands and there is unity.  No, the unity spoken of here is an amazing phenomenon.

How about us, here and now, in the midst of pulling and tugging, trying to survive in a struggling, splintered world?  It is no different from there in Ephesus two thousand or so years ago.  The conflict is the same and the answer is the same, Jesus!  He came for many reasons, the one we are now considering is making a new humanity of competing humanities, making peace.  How is that possible?  The revelation is clear, it is possible because Jesus hung and died on that Cross where Jesus shed his blood to bring the war to an end.  How?  We are reconciled by the same blood, that of Jesus Christ.

I am a new creation!  You also.  It is in this that we rejoice and live our lives here on earth, new people in a new body, the Body of Christ.  Is that not the best possible news?  Yes, and it is true.  We have seen it happen and in Christ it continues throughout our world, today.

Every year about this time the ants herd the yellow aphids in order to extract milk from them.  Ant cows!  There are no ants in this picture but they will show up, I am sure.  I am not sure what the wee white creatures are.

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 4:17, 18

Even though Paul does not say it, I do believe he is citing the Gentile believers when he says they were far away.  It is true.  They were never in the Covenant that God revealed to the Jewish believers.  However, by embracing Jesus and allowing Him to save and change them, they who were far away are now near.

Those who were near, as I see it, were the Jewish believers who were then living in many places in Greece and beyond where they testified to the love of God.  Their base was the synagogue that could be established anywhere the Jews lived.  So it was in Ephesus.

Paul makes it clear that through Jesus both Jews and Gentiles have equal access to the Father by one Spirit.   That is the only way!  Culture can not bind them, nor language or history.  Christ binds them together as a new people, his followers from all cultures!

Yesterday Anna Ruth and I worshiped with our precious believers at Chestnut Hill Mennonite Church.  In some ways we resembled one another, all white, middle class, nicely dressed and happy.  We may not have given it a thought that we are part of the world-wide body of Jesus Christ!  No matter, that is true.

This is such an amazing miracle that we stand before it in amazement.  This was not our desire or our doing but God’s huge saving work.  Praise his name forever and ever.

Our milk weed is again hosting the monarch butterflies.  They are probably not as plentiful this year as in the past so that makes even more enjoyable those that live off the white sap of our milk weed now.  May thier numbers multiply!

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.

Ephesians 2:14 – 16

Groups fight, individuals fight, it seems as though war is the given.  But, not so.  When two persons love Jesus, no matter their background or identity, they love one another with a love that is a gift of God, not of their own choosing.  This sets the body of Christ on earth apart as unique, indeed.  Jesus knocks down the barrier that separates us humans.

Paul writes, 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. 

Peace through the Cross, Paul writes, it comes in no other way.  I am crucified, my wife is crucified, etc.  What is crucified?  My right to myself.  Behold our death to self makes us new in Christ who dwells in us, working out his good pleasure!

We Christians are known for many things, one is that we find it difficult to live together and therefore split, fight and defend our puny rights. Would it not be wonderful if we believers would be noted for our life together?  I believe this is the will of God in Christ.

We will share heaven, why not share that grace of Christ now, here on earth, in our congregations and communities?  I long for the day.

It seems like there are fewer butterflies this month but I did see this monarch butterfly egg at our place, on the milkweed, of course.  I love this patterned picture.  Something really special when you look up close!