Preacher of Peace

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 2:17-18) Jesus is our peace.  He has done it.  He has destroyed the barriers and dividing walls of hostility, putting them to death in his cross.  And not only the barriers that stand between us people who are often harboring hostile feelings toward one another—but also the barriers between us and God.  In his flesh he set aside the law with its commands and regulations, forged all of us into one single, new humanity, and reconciled us to God through the cross.   Through this work of our Prince of Peace, we have been brought near both to God and to one another—no matter the diversity or hostility that might still separate us.  Progressives and conservatives, foreigners and citizens, Catholics and Protestants, estranged family members—no matter: all who are in Christ have been made one and the most significant word about our relationships is spoken by him—"Peace."  There is peace.  This too is a grace God has worked into us that we must ever be working out.   Interestingly though—Jesus does not force us into this peace that he has made.  He just comes and preaches it.  Offers it.  And like a Sunday sermon—no one is obligated to take it, agree, or do anything with it.  Jesus will not coerce us into working out what he has worked in by his grace.  Otherwise it wouldn't be grace, just another form of slavery.   Remember that Jesus did not create peace in Jerusalem by overthrowing the Roman occupiers and taking control of the city, enforcing his kingdom and its peace on the population.  Jesus created peace by taking all their violence and hostilities upon himself as they cursed, condemned, whipped, and crucified him.  In Luke's telling, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, saying "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes" (Lk 19:42).   But note what Jesus did do: he came to Jerusalem and preached his kingdom of peace.  They rejected it and killed him.  But peace was made all the same—it happened through the cross, through the putting to death of these hostilities.  And on the other side—a possibility for a new, peace-laden resurrection life arose with this same Jesus who again came and preached his kingdom of peace, even to those who had betrayed and abandoned him.  Paul declares that nothing has changed.  Jesus came and continues to come to preach peace to all those both far away and near.   The peace of Christ is on offer.  Will you accept it?  If we receive and believe that Jesus really has accomplished a peace between God and us and everyone else—then by the Spirit, the working out of this peace that has been worked in cannot but transform us and all our relationships.   And, because the source of this peace is in Christ, it is an inexhaustible gift.  It can continually flow from his life into our lives through the power of the Spirit, and from there into the lives of others—enough of it always, to cover every new hostility and division.  As Isaiah puts it in some of our favourite Advent verses: "Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end" (Isaiah 9:7).   Won't you accept this good sermon of good news preached by our Lord?  May his peace transform you by the Spirit.  And through you, the world. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)