We’ve been meditating this morning on the fact that Jesus is our peace, the one in whom all things are being reconciled to God and to one another. But when Paul says this, He has just finished saying that we have been brought near through the blood of Christ. To bring near is a technical term from the Old Testament. It litters the pages of Leviticus, the Old Covenant manual for sacrificial worship. In those days, you drew near by bringing an animal to the tabernacle or temple and it’s blood was shed, and when it was a peace offering, there was always a meal shared together as part of the sacrifice. Paul says that Jesus is our Peace Offering. His blood was shed to bring us near to God, and in so doing, He has brought us near to one another for a meal. Like the Passover, the blood of Jesus covers us, it shields us from the angel of death, from the full effects of our sin, from our guilt from our shame so that we can be reunited. The blood of Jesus is our righteousness both before God and for one another. The blood of Jesus is the blood of reunification. When we fail one another, when we offend one another, when we doubt one another, the blood of Jesus is our righteousness. It is what we stand on. We do not say we had good intentions. We do not say we are only human. We do not try to sweep the mess under the carpet. No, we say: what can wash away our sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. He is our peace.
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