4th Sunday of Easter – Sermon 30
Prayer to start
May the words of my lips and the thoughts of our hearts be graciously received for the Glory and Honour of our Lord Jesus Christ
AMEN
Introduction
“A city where no one rests in peace”
just one of the newspaper headlines used to describe “Pristna” the capital city of Kosova after Kosovan Albanians had been forced out of their homes – under the banner of ethnic cleansing –
the imposition of predjudice, discrimination and even violence – on others because of their race, colour or culture
A new name – but an old problem
in the first century AD someone from another race was regarded as a natural enemy – and – racism was one of the most difficult barriers to overcome in the growing Christian community –
First Point
In our NT reading Paul speaks of the situation the Gentiles found themselves in the city of Ephesus – before Christ came –
Ephesus was a huge city with an international port – full of foreign visitors – but there was only one Christian congregation – many of them had been Jews – but there were also some Gentiles – and it is clear from Paul’s letter – that some polarisation of the two had developed – so Paul addresses the question of equality head on –
he contrasts the life of the “uncircumcised” Gentile with that of the Jew – the Gentile was excluded from the community – became an object of contempt – no self respecting Jew would talk to let alone meet with a Gentile and – to go to a Gentile house would render a Jew unclean – the barriers between them was absolute
The Israelites regarded themselves as the chosen people – their history proved it – the calling of Abraham and his journey to the promised land – the promises made to Moses and their safe conduct through the wilderness –– they had a covenant relationship with God – which gave them privilege – and an obligation to keep God’s law – and this gave them a unique consciousness of their destiny
the Gentiles were going nowhere – they were “without hope and without God” – aliens in a society of Holy people – but the Jews believed they had the promise of a better life and salvation in the Kingdom of God
The fault wasn’t all with the Jews – the Gentiles had become so accustomed to thinking themselves as second class citizens – that they had not played a full part in the church –
someone once said
“ There is just enough room in the world for all the people to fit in, but there is no room for the fences which separate them”
there is something very deep in our human nature which causes us to suspect strangers – prevents us from exposing our vulnerability and these suspicions and fears seem to find a focus in our differences – of skin, language, race, age and status in society – we put up fences and barriers up to keep people out – and develop false assumptions about their attitudes and intentions
A Dutch proverb reads “Unknown is unloved” – because of this self inflicted separation we fail to love our neighbour as God intended – and are forced into sin
Point 2
But Paul tells us that these barriers and fences can be destroyed and our differences overcome – through Jesus Christ –
as we sang in our Psalm 29 this evening
“ The Lord shall give strength unto His people;
The Lord shall give His people the blessing of peace”
through the common love of Jesus we can come to love one another and overcome our prejudices
Paul tells us that
“Jesus Himself is our peace!”
we tend to think of peace as belonging to a particular situation or circumstance – the dictionary definition includes things like – freedom from war or civil disaster – keeping order or preventing strife – ratification of a treaty – or to become reconciled with – someone or something –
most of us are affected by circumstances around us – we think that whatever is happening outside – is destined to determine what is going on inside us – But Jesus says this isn’t so – even when things around us are very turbulent, painful or troublesome – He can give us peace – the peace that comes from God –
throughout His time on earth Jesus was always at peace – even at the time of His death – it was the disciples who were fleeing, denying and hiding –
– in the middle of all the horror and confusion – Jesus was actually praying – He knew He was completely in God’s care – and that God’s will – will be done –
To have peace we must first be at peace with God – which is not a matter of circumstance – but built on a foundation of faith – knowing that our needs are know by the Father –
Jesus can transform us into a new people –
In Jesus – we are no longer Jew and Gentile, Albainian and Serb, black and white, rich and poor – but all members of the brotherhood of Christ –
As in Jesus’ parable of “the Lost Son” – we have all been welcomed home by the Father through Christ –
“once you were far off, but now in union with Jesus Christ you have been brought near through the shedding of Christ’s blood”
Jesus has reconciled every one of us to God – Jesus died on the cross – so that our sins can be forgiven – and we can have a unique access to God
Through Jesus we all have the right to disturb Him – to take our troubles to Him – to bring our sorrows and feelings of loneliness – into His presence – Jesus has made us all one through the one Spirit – and with one God –
No one is left outside who wants to come in – we are all invited to become part of God’s family –
and when we are at peace with God – we can be at peace with ourselves –
In his letter to the Philipians (chp 4 v 6-7) Paul gives us a three stage plan for dealing with our inner anxieties –
“do not be anxious, but in everything make your requests known to God in prayer and petition and thanksgiving. Then the peace of God which is beyond all understanding will guard your hearts and thoughts in Jesus Christ”
First – don’t worry
Second – do everything by prayer and petition and trust Him –
Third – give thanks
We may say “ If it was only that simple”
Well it really is – and when we are at peace with God – and at peace with ourselves – we begin to experience peace with others –
Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, young or old – we know that life is not just about physical survival – true happiness is to thirst for hope – hunger for justice and to be right with God
We must seek peace and pursue it in the power of the Spirit – no matter what happens in our lives – the spirit of God can bring us peace
Point 3
In this passage – Paul marvels at the Grace of God which brought into being a united church of Jews and Gentiles – in spite of the barriers of race and colour – he likens every Christian as a stone built into the church – and the building goes on and on – and each part of the building is fitted to Christ
Our churches and cathederals have been constructed over many centuries – and contain many types of architecture – a Roman pillar, a Saxon crib, a Norman arch or early English and Gothic decorations – Some of it may even have been added in our own lifetimes –
– but the building is in unity because through it all – and in it all – it has been used for the worship of God – and for meeting with Jesus Christ –
– God’s church is based on “the corner stone that the builders rejected” – on the death and resurrection of its founder – and the testimony of all those that follow Him are important building blocks in the churches foundation
but as stones we all have rough edges – and we are all shapes and sizes – every individual comes to God in a different way – yet under the skill of a master craftsman they can be pieced together to build a house – that is firm and secure – longlasting and beautiful –
Conclusion
In many ways the letter to the Ephesians is Paul’s summing up book – the same subjects appear in greater detail elsewhere in Romans, Philipians or Corinthians – its also a book that expands Jesus’ parable of “the lost Son” –
In Ephesians – Paul gives us an overall view of the grand scheme of the Gospel – only now – says Paul – has God’s hidden plan for all of history come to light – Paul wants his readers to grasp how wide, how long and how deep is the love of Christ – and that the riches of Christ is available to all –
When interviewed by a TV reporter one Kosovan refugee said “ It is as if God has forgotten us” – well we know that that can never be – that through all the suffering and persecution – Jesus is right there with them offering His love to those who will accept it – and seeking to bring peace and salvation back to a city at war –
Through God’s grace we have all been brought near – because of our faith in Jesus as our saviour and redeemer – on Him the whole structure of the church depends – and through Him we can all grow into a Holy Temple in the Lord
Prayer to Finish
May the peace of the Lord be always with you
AMEN