Jesus Is Our Peace 耶稣使人和睦
Dexu Xia
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. Ephesians 2:14
A monk named Telemachus lived a quiet life, but his death at the end of the fourth century changed the world. Visiting Rome from the East, Telemachus intervened in the blood sport of the gladiatorial arena. He jumped over the stadium wall and tried to stop the gladiators from killing each other. But the outraged crowd stoned the monk to death. The emperor Honorius, however, was moved by Telemachus’ act and decreed the end of the 500-year practice of gladiator games.
When Paul calls Jesus “our peace,” he refers to the end of hostility between Jews and gentiles (Ephesians 2:14). God’s chosen people Israel were distinct from the nations and enjoyed certain privileges. For instance, while gentiles were allowed to worship at the Jerusalem temple, a dividing wall restricted them to the outer court—on punishment of death. Jews regarded gentiles unclean, and they experienced mutual hostility. But now, because of Jesus’ death and resurrection for all, both Jew and gentile can worship God freely through faith in Him (vv. 18–22). There’s no dividing wall. There’s no privilege of one group over the other. Both are equal in their standing before God.
Just as Telemachus brought peace to warriors through his death, so Jesus makes peace and reconciliation possible for all who believe in Him through His death and resurrection. So, if Jesus is our peace, let’s not let our differences divide us. He’s made us one by His blood.
How do you reveal you’re at peace with all people? What issues—such as race, status, or privilege—sometimes get in the way? Why?
Dear God of peace, You’ve made us one in Jesus. Help me to know it and live it.
因祂使我们和睦，将两下合而为一，拆毁了中间隔断的墙。—以弗所书2章14节
特勒马科斯（Telemachus）原是一位默默无闻的修士，但他在第四世纪末的牺牲，却为当时的世界带来改变。当他从东方到访罗马时，因无法忍受竞技场内的血腥活动，就翻墙进入场区，企图阻止两名格斗者自相残杀，结果暴怒的观众拿石头把他打死。当时的罗马皇帝霍诺留被他的义行感动，随即下令废止这项已有五百年历史的血腥角斗活动。
当保罗说耶稣“使我们和睦”时，他指的是犹太人与外邦人之间不再存有敌意（以弗所书2章14节）。上帝的选民以色列人不同于其他国家的百姓，并享有特权。例如，外邦人虽可参加耶路撒冷圣殿的崇拜，但却被一道墙阻隔，只能留在外院，违者可被处死！犹太人认为外邦人是不洁净的，而与外邦人相互敌视。但如今，因耶稣为全人类流血舍命，且从死里复活，所以不论犹太人或外邦人，皆可透过信靠祂，自由地敬拜上帝（18-22节），再没有隔断的墙，再没有任何人可享特权，大家在上帝面前的地位都是平等的。
正如特勒马科斯牺牲自己将和睦带给那些格斗者一样，耶稣藉着受死和复活，为所有信靠祂的人缔造了和睦，使人能与上帝和好。耶稣已使我们和睦，就让我们不再因彼此不同而互相排斥。祂流出宝血使我们合而为一！
你要如何与所有人和睦共处呢？
有时，哪些因素（例如种族、地位、特权）会令你难以做到？
为什么？
使人和睦的上帝啊，祢已使我们在基督里合而为一，
求祢帮助我明白并实践这个真理。