DAILY DEVOTION: EPHESIANS 2:17

By Stan Brown

Ephesians 2:17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; 
Paul points back to verse fourteen where he declared He Himself is our peace. Jesus not only is our peace but He preached peace to both Gentiles (you who were far away) and Jews (those who were near).  He preached peace to everyone.  He continues to preach peace to the world through us today.  The message of peace is the message that Jesus has brought to all who would place their faith in Him.  In the midst of a pandemic, in the midst of a culture where folks are brawling with each other in many different forms, the peace that Jesus offered remains available to all.  When Jesus proclaimed the coming gift of the Holy Spirit, the gift included peace; Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful (John 14:26).  When Jesus entered the upper room after His resurrection through doors that were closed, He said to His fearful disciples, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19).  He then tells them of their mission of peace; Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” (John 20:21).  We are not only God’s message of His love to the world, we are also the message of His peace.  God’s message of reconciliation proclaims peace with God as we accept through faith His message of grace.  God’s message of reconciliation proclaims peace with one another as we are united together in one body.  God’s message of reconciliation proclaims peace as we labor together in one body. The message in this verse is written regarding the uniting of Jews and Gentiles into one body.  Paul wrote this in light of the fact that they were struggling with it at the time.  As believers, we are united together in one body to proclaim the message that Jesus preached; that is the message of peace; that is the message of love; that is the message of ‘grace through faith salvation’.

Ellicott adds, “For since the ‘peacemakers’ are ‘called the children of God,’ He, the Son of God, must be emphatically the Peacemaker.”  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God (Matt. 5:9).  Both the peace of God and peace with God are present in this magnificent gift from the Savior that is available to all.  He is the only one who can bring peace to a troubled world.  Jesus is the Peacemaker.