Proper 11 (B), July 20, 2003

Ephesians 2:11-22

As a teenager I weighed approximately 300 pounds. During gym classes we would build a human pyramid of boys. Our goal was to get as many bodies on the pyramid as possible. I was usually in the center of the crowd on the bottom row. The higher the pyramid went the more difficult it was to remain stable. After a while my knees began to shake and my back began to hurt and the same thing was happening with all the other fellows on the bottom row. One by one we began to collapse from the weight and our human pyramid tumbled!

Human foundations in life tend to falter and fail, but God's foundations for life will not collapse.

I. God's Foundational Material includes the Blood of Jesus (v.13)

Paul uses the imagery of the walls of the temple in Jerusalem to dramatically demonstrate the concept that He chose only special people to love the most. The walls inside the temple blocked off sections or "courts" where these "special" people could enter. The Holy of Holies was the innermost court section where only the High Priest could go once a year for sacrificial offerings. However, before he could get to this holy place he had to travel through the various courts starting with the court of the Gentiles making it obvious that they were least in God's heart. Then came the court of women and once past there he entered the court of the Israelites (for Israeli men only), then the court of the priests and finally the holy of holies.

Jesus' death on the cross and the shedding of his blood crumbles the barriers keeping humanity from God. No longer are humans kept far away from God, but have immediate access to Him. No longer are there "special" people. The truth is there never were "special" people. That was a prejudicial concept put forth by people wanting to be special. John 3:17 says, "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through Him."

II. God's Foundational Material includes the Peace of Jesus (vv.14-15)

There is a strong possibility that Paul is referring back to a passage in Isaiah's prophecy that states, "Peace, peace, to the far and to the near, says the Lord" (57:19). Maxie Dunnam writes, "In its original context this word of Isaiah expresses God's offer of peace to all Jews, whether in dispersion or in Palestine near Jerusalem. The words ‘near' and ‘far,' however, came to refer to Jews who were near to God and Gentiles who were far from Him."1

Today, Jesus offers peace to anyone who will seek Him. An anonymous author wrote, "In some old castles are found deep wells meant to supply the garrison in time of siege. An aqueduct bringing water from without would be at the enemy's mercy; but over the well inside the foe has no power. The peace the world seeks depends on one's surroundings; in time of trouble its sources are cut off, like a spring outside the castle walls. But the peace Christ gives is that of the spring within, most precious in hours of need."2

How do you find that peace? Admit that you need God in your life. Believe that he will come into your heart through faith. Confess your sin that has separated you from God. Peace comes through the knowledge that we can be connected to a loving God through Jesus.

III. God's Foundational Material Includes Friendship with Jesus and Others (v.17-19)

According to William Barclay in his commentary on Galatians and Ephesians, Paul uses the Greek word apokatallassein which means that two estranged friends have been brought together. He writes, "The work of Jesus is to show all men that God is their friend, and because God is their friend, that they must be friends with each other. Reconciliation with God involves and necessitates reconciliation with man" (p.136-137).

How do you view God? Is He a friend or a foe? The Bible tells us that Jesus came all the way from heaven to be our friend. Today He reaches down to bring us to His side. Go ahead and take His hand! He wants to be your friend, today!

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1 Lloyd Ogilvie, Gen. Editor, The Communicator's Commentary Galatians-Philemon by Maxie Dunnam (Waco: Word Books, 1982), 174.

2 G.B.F. Hallock, Five Thousand Best Modern Illustrations (New York: Richard R. Smith, Inc., 1931), 558.

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Sermon brief provided by: Derl Keefer, Kansas City, MO