April 12, 2017 – Ephesians 2:12-14

But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. Ephesians 2:12-14

United in Christ Jesus.  Jesus made peace between two groups of people.  Jesus died on the cross, and was raised again. Why? Because Jesus loves us beyond all measure.

He ended the system of law with regulations and commandments. Peace between groups of people cannot be legislated, it is not an accord agreed to by heads of state in some precarious way of ‘do nots’.

It is only through these two commandments from Matthew 22:37-40.  Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

We celebrate Easter because of the Resurrection of Jesus, once a year! We celebrate His Love, never ending! This Love reaches from the moment we belong to Jesus into Eternity. This Love is attended by peace, forgiveness, trust, and joy. Each time we partake communion, remembering his broken body and spilled blood, we prayerfully celebrate the Love of Jesus!

There is no greater love, than being loved  or loving like Jesus loves. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13.