A Favorite Story, Once Again

Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ

Ephesians 2:11-13

When I was young, I loved superheroes. (Okay, I still do. I'll admit it.) I would sit entranced in front of my family's black and white Motorola television, watching the Adventures of Superman, starring George Reeves as the Man of Steel. During commercials, I'd leap up, wrap a towel around my neck, and "fly" around the house, "faster than a speeding bullet." Almost every episode had the same basic storyline: something bad happens; things are desperately wrong; Superman shows up to save the day. That same basic storyline played out whether I was watching Superman, Mighty Mouse, Astro Boy, Spider-Man, or Batman.

A similar basic story shows up in Ephesians 2—twice in fact. In the first half of the chapter, we are dead in our sins, in bondage to sinful desires and the devil, and deserving God's judgment. But God intervenes, giving us new life and freedom through Christ. The second half of Ephesians 2 begins in like manner. Here, we Gentiles are separated from God's people (Israel) and their blessings (the Messiah, covenants of promise, hope, God). But God does not abandon us. We read, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ" (2:13).

This verse makes us wonder: What is the significance of the far away—near imagery? And how has the blood of Christ brought us near? As we work our way through Ephesians 2, we'll answer the second question. The first question is answered, in part, by the way the Old Testament sometimes speaks of the Gentiles. They are people "far away" from Israel in a literal as well as a spiritual sense (Deut. 28:49). More poignantly, the Gentiles are distant from God because they are not among the "faithful servants of Israel, the people close to [God's] heart" (Ps. 148:14).

The good news for Gentiles—including most of us—is that we "have been brought near by the blood of Christ" (2:13). We have been gathered into the people of God, a people, as we shall soon see, that includes both Jews and Gentiles. Also, we have been brought near to God because of what Christ has done for us. The story that begins with our separation from God and his people ends with a unity forged by Jesus Christ through his death.

QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: What are some of your favorite stories? Do they include a basic storyline similar to that of Superman and Ephesians 2? Have you experienced being brought near to God and his people through Christ?

PRAYER: Gracious God, thank you for not abandoning me when I was far away from you. Thank you for reaching out to me with your love, for drawing me near to you in Christ. Thank you for making me a member of your people, so that I might receive the blessings of fellowship with them as well as with you. May I live today in this fellowship, with gratitude and joy. Amen.

Image courtesy of Laity Lodge, one of our sister programs in the Foundations for Laity Renewal.