You're Not You

Snickers to the Rescue

You’re not you when you’re hungry. 

We’ve all seen those hilarious Snickers commericals. You know the ones. Some cranky celebrity is whining about their situation. They use folks like Betty White, Abe Vigoda, Danny Devito, Aretha Franklin, Liza Minelli, Joe Pesci, Don Rickles, and Roseanne Barr.

That’s when a friend comes to the rescue with a candy bar. After a quick bite of Snickers, the crab suddenly calms down and transforms back into the friend they all know and love.

A Cranky Christ?

What in the world does THAT have to do with Mark 11:12-14? Well, I’m so glad you asked. 

At first glance, it looks like a hungry and cranky Christ calls down a heavenly curse on a poor little fig tree just because it fails to have any fruit. Seems like this is where one of His guys should rush in to offer our Savior a Snickers.

Hangry

I can just hear Peter saying, “Jesus, You’re not You when You’re hungry!”

At first glance, you may think the Son of God is simply hangry when He doesn’t get the snack He needs. But a deeper dive reveals that we’re not the real us when we’re pretending to be something we’re not.

The Hero from Heaven

It’s the Monday of the last week of Jesus’ life. The day before, He rolled into Jerusalem as Messiah riding a borrowed burro (Mk 11:1-10). The crowd goes absolutely crazy for the humble Rabbi/Carpenter as long awaited Hero from heaven.

This is major deal since Mark’s bio of the Lord opens with a long series of folks trying to figure out who He is (Mk 1:1-8:26). Could He REALLY be the Christ? Could He be the One?!?

Not the Messiah They’re Expecting

Eventually Jesus tells His team that He is the One whom God has promised to send (Mk 8:27-10:52). Not once (Mk 8:31). Not twice (Mk 9:31). But three times (Mk 10:33-34). 

There’s just one catch. He’s NOT the kind of Messiah they’re expecting. He’s come to bring victory through His own death and resurrection. Whatever you do, do NOT forget the resurrection part!!

Sunday ends with the Son of God getting a good look at what’s going down on the temple grounds (Mk 11:11). He just gets the lay of the land and leaves town to spend the night with the Twelve.

The Big Week ahead

We pick up the action on Monday morning of Passion week. Christ and His crew are commuting back into Jerusalem after spending the night in the ‘burbs. “The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry” (v12).

Put it this way. It’s Monday morning and the Lord is heading to work. I don’t have to tell you that this is gonna be a BIG week. It’s not just the biggest week of His ministry. This is the biggest week in history!!

We need to understand that work isn’t punishment but a precious gift from God. Our Creator gives Adam his assignment to take care of Eden BEFORE the fall (Gen 2:15). Let’s not see our job as a hard slog for the man but as an act of worship to God (Col 3:22-24).

100% God, 100% Human

With a big day ahead, Christ needs something to eat. Mark points out that “Jesus was hungry” (v12). You know what they say. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. 

It would be easy to blow right past the fact that Jesus needs something to eat. Remember, He’s not only 100% God but 100% human as well. He gets hungry when He fasts in the desert (Mk 4:2). He gets tired and thirsty after a long day on the road (Jn 4:6-7).

He Faced It All

Why is this a big deal? Simply, Jesus knows what it’s like to live life here on the Third Rock from the Sun. He’s not Superman disguised as Clark Kent. He laughs. He cries. He gets hungry. He gets tired. He sleeps. 

We can trust that He’s faced every flavor of trouble this world has to offer. The writer of Hebrews puts it like this. “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all the same testings we do, yet He did not sin” (Heb 4:15).

The Humble Fig

Looking for quick snack, Jesus spots the First Century version of a drive-thru. “He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so He went over to see if He could find any figs” (v13).

A couple thousand years before our friends at Nabisco will invent the Fig Newton, the humble fig is a common food around the Mediterranean Rim. Fig trees produce their fruit twice during the growing season. Once in late spring and later in early autumn.

The Ol’ Bait and Switch

There’s just one problem with particular fig tree. “But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit” (v13). The funny thing is that these trees produce new figs right after they leaf out. Green figs should be growing.

Because of the leaves, the tree looks great. But the fig count is a disappointing zero. It’s a case of fig false advertising. A serious case of the ol’ bait and switch.

Spoiler Alert!

So what’s going on? Christ certainly would know that there would be no figs. Spoiler alert! This little factoid should tip us off that this what’s about to happen has NOTHING to do with figless fig trees. Hmm, I wonder what it could be. Hang tight. We’ll get there.

The first clue is the word the NLT translates as “season.” This is the Greek term καιρος/kairos. Biblical scholars point out that this is NOT the agricultural term for the growing season. It describes a fixed or definite point in time.

Right on Time

This is the very same word John the Dunker drops when He prepares the way for the coming Messiah. “The time (Gr. καιρος/kairos) promised by God has come at last!” (Mk 1:15). 

It reminds us that God is never early, never late, and always right on time. And in this case, Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem at just the right time in history. God had this date circled on His calendar for eternity.

Talking to a Tree

That’s when something rather weird happens. Our Savior has something to the figless fig tree. “Then Jesus said to the tree…” (v14). Huh? He talks to the fig tree? I can just picture the Twelve wondering what’s going on.

But this isn’t the first time the Lord talks to creation. Remember when He commands the violent storm on the lake to stop? “He rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Silence! Be still!’ Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was great calm” (Mk 4:39).

When you create something, you have the right to talk to it. You may not realize it but Jesus is THE Creator. I love how Paul describes our Redeemer’s role. “For though Him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth…Everything was created through Him and for Him” (Col 1:16).

An Object Lesson

So what does the Savior say? “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” (v14). Why does Christ call down a curse on some poor tree for not having figs before fig season? Is Mark’s point that we shouldn’t mess with Jesus when He’s hungry?

He’s turning the figless fig tree into an object lesson about people who say one thing but really do another. Specifically, the figless fig tree is playing the role of Israel in this story. 

A Symbol of Israel

Did you know that the prophets in the Old Testament love to use the fig tree as a metaphor for God’s chosen people (Jer 8:13; Hos 9:10, 16; Joel 1:7; Zech 3:10)? Confession time. Neither did I. 

So Jesus curses the figless fig tree as a symbol of God’s frustration with the fruitless Jewish people. In the ESV Study Bible, Hans Bayer says the Lord is on the look out “for the true fruit of worship, prayer, and righteousness” among the Hebrew people.

Context Is Key

This is where context is key to understanding Scripture. What a particular passage means is directly connected to what’s around it. It provides the lens for us to see what’s really going on.

We do it all the time when we’re not reading the Bible. We don’t simply look at one sentence of an email and try to figure it out what’s going while ignoring everything else in the note. 

A Fig Sandwich

Here Mark sandwiches two passages about the figless fig tree (here and again in Mk 11:20-25) around his account of Christ cleansing the temple (Mk 11:15-24). Jesus curses the tree, clears out the house of God, and then walks by the withered tree the next day.

That tips us off that everything that happens in and around the fig tree has absolutely nothing to do with the fig tree. It has everything to do with what’s going on at the temple.

Fruitless Trees and Prayer-less Temples

In the NIV Application Commentary, David Garland writes that the empty tree represents the empty worship of the temple that is totally not ready to accept Jesus as the God-promised Hero who’s coming through Abraham and David. 

Garland goes onto say, “Time can run out for fruitless trees and prayer-less temples. Fruitlessness now when the Messiah comes means fruitlessness forever.” That’s because EVERYTHING is shifting from the temple to Jesus. From ritual religion to personal relationship.

Shutting Down the Assembly Line

The sinless Lamb of God will die as the sacrifice for our sin, rebellion, and disobedience once and for all (Heb 9:26-28; 10:10-12). Once He gives His life for us, they can shut down the bloody assembly line of sacrifice at the temple.

That’s why when Christ dies on the cross, God rips the curtain separating the Holy of Holies (Mk 15:38). How do we know it’s God that does the tearing? Notice how it the tear starts at the top!

What the Disciples Heard

The author then includes a curious little detail at the end of the Lord’s one-way chat with the figless fig tree. “And the disciples heard Him say it” (v14). You have to wonder what’s going on in their heads at all this.

How does Mark know they’re hearing it all since he wasn’t personally there? Peter told him. The earliest followers of Christ were convinced that the second Gospel could actually be called Peter’s Story of Jesus as told to John Mark.

Connecting the Dots

So what do WE do with this weird little story? Should we start talking to our plants? Are we supposed to stop eating Fig Newtons? 

Bear with me while I attempt to connect a few dots. As Christ and His crew approach the temple, the incredible activity they see is like the leaves on the fig tree. It looks fantastic. There’s just one problem. There’s no fruit. 

Fig Leaf Speedos

Let’s flip back to the opening pages of God’s story in Genesis. What clothing did our first parents throw on to hide their shame of disobeying the Creator? Yup, fig leaves (Gen 3:7). 

They thought their fig leaf Speedos will cover their sin. Not so much. Could it be that we do the same thing? Do we try and use our religious activity as fig leaves to camouflage our lack of real fruit?

Foliage with No Fruit

Going to church, serving others, reading Scripture, and praying are great. But they are NOT the goal. They’re just the means to an end. And just to be sure, the goal is love God and love others. 

If all of those activities are drawing you into a deeper relationship with Jesus and allowing you to love and serve others better, you’re just wasting your time. Or as we see from this passage in Mark, they’re just foliage with no fruit.

Texans call this big hat and no cattle. You look really good but there’s no real substance to back it up. Let’s just call it big leaves and no figs.

An Ansel Adams Photo

We don’t need to just repent from the sinful bad things we do but our sinful GOOD things too! If we’re attempting to please God by piling up a sweet religious resume´, Isaiah lets us know, “They are nothing but filthy rags” (Is 64:6).

In other words, why don’t we just drop our leaves and admit our need for God? Face facts. Without Jesus we’re nothing more than one of those empty trees in winter from an Ansel Adams photo.

True Fruit

So what’s the fruit that the Lord is looking for in our lives? Paul describes what that is to his friends in Galatia. “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Gal 5:22-23).

Jesus tells His team the only way that happens is when we stay closely connected to Him. “Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5).

We DON’T Need a Snickers

Let’s stop playing the game. Let’s stop trying to cover our barren branches with the leaves of counterfeit religious busyness. You do know our Savior won’t be fooled by our smoke and mirrors, don’t you?

When I put up a fake front, I’m pretending to be something that I’m not. Our to paraphrase the commercial, you’re not you when you’re phony. We DON’T need a Snickers. What we REALLY need is Jesus.

©2020

Jay Jennings

Timing Is Everything

Timing is everything.  A successful comedian knows the value of the right moment.  A great punch line delivered in the wrong rhythm gets no laughs.  Timing is everything.  

I might do something outstanding but if I do it at the wrong time, then it is a waste of time.  Timing is everything.  

But God’s timing is perfect.  Every time.  As the song says, He’s never early and He’s never late.  And that’s exactly what Paul tells us here at the beginning of chapter four.  

The apostle begins by fleshing out his inheritance analogy he has just dropped on the Galatians.  Jesus has broken down all the barriers between races, gender and social status so that everyone is eligible for adoption into God’s family (Gal 3:26-28).  

As a result of adoption into God’s family, we are now heirs to the royal estate that God promised to Abraham millennia ago (Gal 3:29; Gen 12:3).

Paul compares us as infants under the care of a nanny.  “The heir, as long as he is a child is no different from a slave, though he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father” (v1-2).  

We’re fully rightful heirs to the family fortune but we just don’t realize it yet.  This may be an inference to divine election.  We’re assured inclusion into God’s family through Jesus.  We just don’t realize it yet.  

In Roman culture, families would place their children under the care of household servants and slaves.  Paul alluded to that in Galatians 3:24.  

In verse two, he uses two other Greek terms that describe servants that the parents place over their young children to ensure their upbringing and safety.

The apostle tells us that this nanny arrangement has an end date, “until the date set by the father” (v2).  In ancient Roman, Greek and Jewish cultures, there was a particular moment set by the dad when a boy would step into manhood.  

For Jews, that’s the bar mitzvah.  The caregivers knew that they had a deadline to have the boy’s training complete.  They had an appointed day or a fixed time.  A date had been circled on the calendar.  Because timing is everything.

Paul draws the comparison to our status before coming to faith in Jesus.  “In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world” (v3).  

What in the world are these “elementary principles of the world?”  He uses the very same phrase in verse nine.  He dusts off the same words when he writes to the folks in Colossae (Col 2:8, 20).  It simply means rudimentary elements.  

He may be talking about the elementary truths of natural religion, the elementary rules and regulations or even the elementary spirits (the spiritual forces behind the world).  According to MacArthur, it’s probably best understood as “the basic elements and rituals of human religion.”  

Man developed religion and myth to explain the unexplainable.  But since there is no divine revelation involved, it’s just a guess.  We need God to free us from the slavery of this futile teaching.

God sets us free at just the right time.  That’s because His timing is perfect.  “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son” (v4).  The Greek here uses the term πλερομα/pleroma.  It means a space or a hole that has been filled up.  

That particular hole in this case is time or χρονος/chronos.  God had prepared the entire universe for the arrival of His Son at this very specific moment in history.  

Everything was ready.  He didn’t show up early.  He didn’t arrive late.  He was right on time.  His timing is absolutely perfect.

Timing is everything.

And God’s timing is still spot on to this very day.  He’s right on time in my life as well.  I need to trust Him to be on time.  I might think I need Him to do something now.  I’m desperate for Him to move.  For Him to do something.  Yet, all I get are crickets when I call.  

That’s because His timing is perfect.  He knows just the right moment to move.  He knows just the right moment to act.  He knows just the right moment to step in.  He knows just the right moment to speak.  His timing is perfect.

Timing is everything.

©2012 

Jay Jennings

Religion and Politics

“for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1Tim 2:2).

If you want to stir up a boring conversation, toss these two handy dandy grenades that are guaranteed to get folks fired up. Politics and religion. If you’re like me (and that’s not necessarily a good thing!), your Facebook and Twitter feeds are chockfull of one or the other, if not BOTH. And it’s coming from both sides. (Insert elected official’s name here) is the antichrist and has a secret plan to steal all your money and give it to (insert a demographic group you’re not a part of here) and turn our country over to the (insert your worst nightmare nation here). If that’s not bad enough, everybody you know is more than happy to tell you who’s headed straight for heaven or hell. Sometimes I feel like Stealers Wheel got it right. “Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right.” 

Well, our old buddy Paul wasn’t afraid to toss BOTH at the SAME TIME! In his first letter to Timothy, the apostle fires both barrels. He tells Tim that we should pray “for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (v2). He’s encouraged his spiritual son that we should use every kind of prayer to pray for every person we can think of (1Tim 2:1). Now he gets more specific. Pray for those who are in charge. The purpose? So that we can give God glory by being good citizens. Let that sink in for a minute.

Our prayer list of political leaders starts at the top. We’re to pray “for kings and all who are in high positions” (v2). Chances are if you’re reading this, you don’t live under the reign of a king or queen (if you do, I’m pretty stoked that someone from another country actually took the time to read this!). Here in the good ol’ U.S. of A., the President is our highest elected official. It’s no tough stretch to understand that Paul call us to pray for the POTUS. But wait just a New York minute. Am I saying we should pray for our President even if you didn’t vote for him? If that’s the case…ESPECIALLY if you didn’t vote for him! 

This is where you try to argue with the apostle that he really doesn’t have a clue what kind of Commander-in-Chief we have right now. Pray for him? You’ve GOT to be kidding me! If I’m praying anything, it’s that God will supernaturally impeach the Prez. Here’s the dealio. We’ve got a little problem. It’s called the Bible. According to Scripture, it doesn’t matter. Conservative. Liberal. Republican. Democrat. Red state. Blue state. Pray for your President. No exceptions. No loopholes. 

Here’s the little fact-a-rooni that shuts up any argument you throw Paul’s way. The apostle calls his Ephesian brothers and sisters to pray for Nero. Yes, THAT Nero. One of the most corrupt and bloodthirsty dictators in human history. The ruler of the Roman Empire didn’t exactly have a soft spot in his heart for the followers of Jesus either. At more than one instance, Nero slaughtered countless Christians. Yet, the man from Tarsus tells his readers to pray for their king. 

Nero may have been ruthless and wicked but he rules over Rome because God has placed him there. As a result, we’re to do what our government leaders tell us to do. “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Rom 13:1). Again, Paul writes these words to the followers of Jesus who are living in the capital of the empire. If anyone knew how awful Nero is, it’s the church in Rome. So here’s the deal. If first century believers can pray for this vicious emperor, I’m pretty sure can ask God to bless whoever is in the Oval Office. Besides, we place our trust in the King of ALL kings!

So how do we pray for our President and other governmental leaders? Pray that God would bless them. Pray that He would provide them with the wisdom needed to make difficult decisions. Pray that He would keep them healthy. Pray that He would provide them with level heads. And of course, pray that He would save them. We see in the very next couple of verses how our Savior “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1Tim 2:3-4). It’s happened before. Ever heard of Constantine? If not, take a moment to Google the guy. We’ll wait for you.

The point in praying for kings and other leaders in authority is so we can lead a “peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (v2). Peaceful. Quiet. Godly. Dignified. THIS is what good citizenship looks like for believers. It’s another way of describing the life Paul states back in chapter one. “The aim of our charge is love, that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1Tim 1:5). The bottom line is that God’s people should be a pleasure to govern. They shouldn’t be loud, annoying, obstinate, and a pain in the neck.

Check out the adjectives the apostle uses to describe Jesus’ followers as citizens. Peaceful. Quiet. Godly. Dignified. Who wouldn’t love neighbors who are like that? “Peaceful” (Gr. eremos) describes a lack of external disturbances. All is calm on the outside. He’s talking about someone who isn’t loud and obnoxious. Nobody’s calling the cops because the party’s still cranking at 3am. Are you living in a constant state of drama and continually dragging others into your hot mess? This doesn’t mean believers don’t need others to come alongside when life gets tough. And be sure that God’s people know how to party. Oh, we can celebrate with the best of them. But God calls us to be peaceful people.

Upstanding citizens of Christ’s kingdom should also be “quiet” (v2). No, this isn’t somebody who always talks in a whisper or thinks life should be like a library. While the previous word described what’s going on outside, hesuchios pulls the curtain back on an inward tranquility and rest. We’re “peaceful” on the outside because we’re “quiet” on the inside. Once we place our trust in who Jesus is and what He has done for us, a supernatural calm. We’re not continually anxious and constantly freaking out…especially when it comes to politics! 

An important characteristic for every Jesus follower everywhere is to be “godly” (v2). Paul uses a compound word here (Gr. eusebeia) that literally means “good worship.” It’s reverence toward God in all that we do. Everything we do is an act of worship to Jesus. It’s living life with our eyes on heaven. You’ve probably heard about someone who was so heavenly minded that they were no earthly good. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We become effective spreaders of His salt and shiners of His light when we remember all that He’s done for us that we could never do for ourselves. We need to pray for those in authority so that we can continue to be a blessing to our neighbors and coworkers.

The idea of godliness is one of the really big ideas in this letter. Women who love Jesus should “profess godliness” (1Tim 2:9-10). Even Paul can’t wrap his brain around the “mystery of godliness” (1Tim 3:16). As followers of Christ, you should “train yourself for godliness” because “godliness is of value in every way” (1Tim 4:7-8). The adult children and grandchildren of widows are “to show godliness” to these ladies (1Tim 5:4). What we learn about Jesus must always encourage us with a lifestyle “that accords with godliness” (1Tim 6:3). Spiritual hucksters have cook up a scheme to make a fast buck because they think that “godliness is a means of gain” (1Tim 6:5). What they’ve missed is “godliness with contentment” is the key to true success and satisfaction in life” (1Tim 6:6). Instead chasing the almighty dollars, we should be sprinting after “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness” (1Tim 6:11).

Paul also tells Tim that we’re to be “dignified (Gr. semnotes)” (v2). It’s the idea of being honest, honorable, and respectable. Before you think you need to wear a monocle and start acting all snooty, think again. The Pharisees nailed the whole holier-than-thou deal and it went very badly for them. The apostle is describing someone who doesn’t take themselves seriously but takes Jesus VERY seriously. A little later, Paul applies this idea as a key trait for an elder. “He must manage his own household well, with all dignity (Gr. semnotes)” (1Tim 3:4). He tells Titus to be a teacher who demonstrates “integrity, dignity (Gr. semnotes), and sound speech that cannot be condemned” (Titus 2:7-8). Do you treat those around you with dignity and respect? Remember, EVERYONE you meet is made in the image of our Creator. As hard as it is to believe at times, that includes politicians and our elected officials.

God calls us to be good citizens. Jesus’ church isn’t to be a team of agitators who make life miserable for our fellow citizens. We’re to be God’s firehose of blessing to our neighborhood, our community, our state, and our nation. That’s independent of what kind of government ruling over us. Do you follow the laws and ordinances? Are speed limits simply a suggestion? Do you fudge on your taxes? Remember, how we live is a direct reflection of the One we worship. 

Maybe living under what you consider to be a godless government gives you a free pass. Folks like Joseph, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego all thrived under governments who didn’t exactly fit the label of Christian nations (whatever THAT means!). Were there times they had to take a stand to follow God when a law was leading them into sin? You betcha. But you didn’t see them going off the grid and living in some remote compound to keep themselves far from the filth of the fallen world.

As a matter of fact, God specifically tells His people to be good citizens while they’re prisoners in Babylon. “Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jer 29:4-7). Did you catch that last part? Seek your city’s welfare. Pray for your city. When things go well for your city, they will go well for you.

While Paul mixes religion and politics, he never tells Tim to force anyone to follow God’s rules. There’s no ramming of godliness down the throat of a nation. That’s just not how the kingdom of Christ works. In the same way that God changes us from the inside out, He does the same with society. When He changes our hearts, our lifestyle will follow. But that’s another discussion for another day.

In the meantime, let’s make a point of praying for our governmental leaders. Yes, that means the President, whether you voted for him or not. Pray that God blesses them. Pray that God saves them. Pray that He uses them to bring glory to His name. At the same time, let’s be a blessing to our friends and neighbors. Being citizens of God’s kingdom means being good and godly citizens of your city, state, and nation. See, you CAN mix politics and religion.

Jesus the Wall Buster

For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility (Eph 2:14).

Knocking down walls is a big part of any renovation project.  Open things up.  Make rooms bigger.  Whether it's with a sledgehammer or a wrecking ball, walls are coming down.  

Paul lets us know that Jesus is busting down the walls of race, culture and religion in our lives.  "For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility" (v14).  

In order for Christ to bring enemies together, He has to knock down the walls that separate us first.  The fall of the Berlin Wall is nothing compared to the wrecking ball Jesus uses on our prejudice and discrimination.

The walls are coming down.

From a Roman prison, Paul writes to a church in Ephesus that's predominantly made up of Gentiles.  On his first visit to the big port city, the apostle first reached out to Jews at the synagogue with the Good News of Messiah Jesus but was soon given the boot (Acts 19:9-10).  He moved to a local convention center called the Hall of Tyrannus and expanded his outreach to non-Jews (Acts 19:11).  

Ephesus was a crossroads of cultures, races and religions.  The new church there was a perfect reflection of it.  Call it a melting pot.  Call it a mutt.  And it would be the birth of arguably the most important church in the entire New Testament.  Paul started it.  Timothy pastored it.  John taught it.  Jesus wrote to it.

Paul reminds his Ephesian friends how the radical and risen Rabbi has brought together one-time enemies in a brand new way.  "For He Himself is our peace" (v14).  Only Jesus could pull this off.  He brings the end of fighting with each other and fighting with God.  

But the writers of the Bible mean so much more than the lack of war when they talk of peace.  This is the equivalent to Hebrew word "shalom."  Sure, it means peace.  But it's SO much more.  It's a picture of perfect order.  God's intended rhythm for life that we destroyed with sin at the fall.  Jesus is bringing shalom back.

There's no doubt that He's the God-Man for the job.  Isaiah called Him "Prince of Peace" (Is 9:6) about 700 years before Jesus was born.  Right before His crucifixion, He made sure to let His posse know that His peace was like no other.  "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you" (Jn 14:27).  

Christ made it clear that those who act as agents of God's shalom have a special place in His kingdom.  "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God" (Mt 5:9).  He is the source of the peace so deep, so rich, that we can't wrap our brains around it (Phil 4:6).  Jesus is our peace.  The bumper stickers are right.  Know Jesus, know peace.  No Jesus, no peace.

Jesus is the ultimate Unifier.  He's the One "who has made us both one" (v14).  The "both" he's talking about are Jews and Gentiles.  Christ transforms two longtime enemies into one family.  He's transforms two opponents into teammates.  He's transforms two completely different groups into one new entity.  

We see this all throughout the New Testament.  It's His specialty.  He's the Reconciler (2Cor 5:16-20).  Like the divine Botanist, He's grafting us together into one organism (Rom 11:11-24). 

Jesus is the ultimate Wall Buster.  He "has broken down in HIs flesh the dividing wall of hostility" (v14).  This "dividing wall" is the Greek noun mesotoichon, which describes a barrier that separates, fence, obstacle or partition.  

There's another word in the original text that doesn't show up in the ESV: phragmos.  A hedge, fence, something that blocks up or enclosure.  It's where we get our word fragment.  These walls of prejudice had fragmented mankind.

These walls are coming down.

Back in first century Palestine, landowners put up fences or walls to protect their property.  This is the hedge that separates the Master's vineyard (Mt 21:33).  In Jesus' story of the big party, folks were to beat the bushes along the highway to invite people (Lk 14:23).  

Here Paul is talking about an obstacle to interpersonal relationships.  Specifically, Jews and Gentiles.  At the temple in Jerusalem, there was a wall that separated an area call the Court of the Gentiles.  Non-Jews were restricted from the rest of the temple complex.  In many ways, it symbolized the racial, religious, social and cultural divide between Hebrews and everyone else.

These walls are coming down.

The level of tension between Jews and Gentiles at that time is hard to fathom.  Paul uses the Greek word echthra.  It describes an active hostility between people.  Racial hatred was expressed openly and actively.  

God originally handpicked Abe's descendants as a source of blessing to the entire world (Gen 12:3-4; 18:18).  One day, He would use them to bring forth His long promised Messiah (Gen 22:18; Is 49:6).  

But there was one big problem.  His chosen people had grown arrogant.  They hated the filthy and disgusting non-Jews.  And Gentiles returned the favor.  Racial discrimination.  Prejudice.  Hatred.

These walls are coming down.

Dr. King's dream is Jesus' reality.  He's knocking down the walls of racial discrimination and creating one new race.  Something brand new, something radically different is happening.  Only Christ could take one of the proudest and most arrogant Jews on the planet and transform him into His "chosen instrument" to non-Jews (Acts 9:15).  

This same Paul wrote to folks over in Colossae that Jesus is creating an entirely new people.  "Here here is not Greek or Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Schythian, slave, free; but Christ is all and in all" (Col 3:11).  

And just so you know that wasn't a slip of Paul's pen during a weak moment, he told the Galatians the same thing.  "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal 3:27).  

These walls are coming down.

So where are these walls in my life?  In your life?  Is there a group of people you have "issues" with?  Who are the folks that you simply don't like?  It doesn't matter if it's another race, a different culture, folks on the other side of tracks, people who work in another department, your competition in business.  

You may want to step back.  Jesus is the ultimate Wall Buster.  These walls are coming down.