Ephesians 2:13-18 (NIVUK)
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 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, 16 and in 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.
Sitting down to write this Thursday night I had Michael Palin’s documentary on his visit to North Korea on the TV. It features a tense moment when he is escorted into the DMZ, the demilitarised zone between the two countries. This is one of the most sensitive areas in the world, the ‘no-man’s land’ keeping these two nations apart from each other. He was allowed to cross into South Korea and then back again, the opposite journey to that he undertook in a different documentary 22 years ago. Maybe one day this divide will be shattered and the two countries find peace with each other again. This echoes the division that there once was between the Jews and Gentiles, shattered not by Michael Palin crossing the divide, but Jesus the King, God’s own son. His purpose is to bring peace to all who are divided, uniting them in himself, not only to each other but also to his Father.
Spirit, help us to be Peacemakers in a divided world, reflecting Jesus’ uniting actions in our own.
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