Ephesians 2:14-18 NIV
{14} For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, {15} by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, {16} and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. {17} He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. {18} For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Usually, in the Old Testament, when the Bible mentions walls, it is speaking from strength and protection. A city without walls was considered weak and vulnerable. But the draw back to having these great walls of protection to keep the enemy out was that they also trapped the inhabitants in and made them prisoners in their own city. While in Israel, this past June, I visited the fortess of Masada. It was here that Jewish Zealots held against the might of the Roman army for several years. As one last act of defiance, the defenders drew lots to see who would put everyone to death and then commit suicide. Rather than surrender they chose death at their own hands.
I see the same thing happening today. People do the same thing spiritually, relationally and emotionally. Many of God’s people have erected walls to protect themselves from others (enemies). These walls have not been built with hammer and nails or brick and mortar. Instead these walls are built out of hurts, ideas, traditions, prejudices and fears. These walls imprison us. Worst yet, they keep us from reaching out to the very people God has called us to.
Walls separate. Walls divide. While visiting Israel, I prayed at the Wailing Wall (Western wall). It was partitioned into areas for man and women.
The Jewish Temple in Jesus' day was divided or partitioned. There was the inner Court of the Priests and the Temple Proper containing the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant stood. Access was limited. There were other divisions: the Women’s Court, and the outer Court of the Gentiles, granting limited access to the sacred places. Walls limit vision, expression and growth.
Walls isolate. They keep people out. When we want to be alone we put up a wall. When we don’t want to be bothered, we put up walls. We isolate ourselves. We can be in a crowd and be alone. These walls may be invisible, but they are real enough to separate us from everyone. The problem is that these walls isolate us from the ones we are suppose to be getting close to.
Walls insulate. Insulation is used to hold in heat or keep out the cold. We insulate ourselves in order to avoid conflict and hurts. The church was never intended to live in an insulated environment. We were never meant to be a private club that simply holds on to and protects its own membership.
Jesus destroyed these barriers and walls. He brings peace. He reconciles people. Reconcile means “to bring together.” "In Christ" we become one (v.15). Authentic relationships occur as we become reconciled to Christ. The media has been portraying the insensitive and degrading remarks by Imus regarding the Rutger's girls basketball team. I am not defending what Imus said. It was absolutely inaprropriate. But I have also heard Jesse Jackson in the past refer to Jews in an insensitive way. In fact, we all have said something inappropriate or hurtful to someone in the course of our lives. However, in order for us to move beyond the barriers and walls of our prejudices, we must reconcile ourselves to Christ, then will we be able to reconcile with one another, and become one, regardless our race or ethnicity. The Jews and Gentiles of Paul's day were learning how to get along with one another after centuries of animosity toward each other.
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