Walls That Divide
Ephesians 2: 11- 22
Under the disguise of night on Aug. 13, 1961, a wire barricade was stretched the middle of an ancient city. This barrier ended up 28 miles long and became one of the most controversial boundary lines of the 20th century. It not only divided an ancient city in half but also divided a country in half. It not only divided a country in half but was a symbol of a divided way of life. I t was a political division, a economic division and a way of life division.
The barrier eventually became known as the Berlin Wall. It was the symbol of the border between Communism and Capitalism; oppression and freedom; control vs. creativity.
The west side of the city was controlled by what was called the Allied forces, which included France, Great Britain and the US. The east side was controlled by the Communist, the Soviet Union being the main force. (Map)
After the wall was built, a mine field was place on the east side. This was not to keep people from entering the east side as much as it was to keep people from leaving. On the west side of the wall large signs were posted that read, “ Warning! You Are Now Leaving W. Berlin!
People by the 10’s of 1000’s were leaving the east and heading west because it was sensed that the east was oppressive and freedom laid to the west. This move of people caused embarrassment to the Communists and a horrible labor shortage.
East Berlin became the capital of East Germany and West Berlin became an unincorporated state completely surrounded by E. Berlin. W.Berlin sat 110 mi. within it’s border. Those who tried the journey from E. to W. were beaten, jailed even shot. Some successful attempts had to be creative: tunnels, hot air balloons, special vehicles with secret compartments.
The wall itself was a symbol of something much bigger; different ideologies that separated those who were free from those that were in bondage.
Winston Churchill popularized the phrase, “Iron Curtain.” It was his attempt to describe the Soviet Union’s attempt to isolate their people from ideas in the west that would challenge the leadership’s control and power.
Some have described China’s attempt at isolation as the Bamboo Curtain. In our own culture the term glass ceiling has been used to describe the barrier to woman to move up the political or economic ladder and gain success and positions of power.
Today in our text from Ephesians we read about words that come from the background of another wall and another barrier. Paul will actually be describing a wall that separated the Jewish world from the rest of the world.
Paul speaks to a barrier that Christ had symbolically but in a very real way- torn down. Note vs. 14
Eph. 2: 14 “For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall.”
The dividing wall was both a real wall and an attitude that was expressed in religious, cultural and social ways.
Some of this makes sense if you realize how the Jewish temple was built. The temple of Jesus’ time was actually the 3rd Babylonians. The 2nd temple was built by Zerubbabel with the encouragement of Ezra and later the prophets Haggi and Zechariah. The 3rd temple was actually a restoration or reconstruction of the 2nd temple. It was larger, possessed more splendor and beauty than the previous.
The entire complex was about 250 yards square. (Area 12,13) Parts of the roof were 37 ½ ft. high and the halls created by the columns were 45 ft wide. The closer you walked toward the center of the complex the higher the elevation.
One of the outer courts, which had no roof, was called the Court of the Gentiles. (Area 11) It was open to all people, Jew and non-Jews. As one would look to the center of the complex from this court, the first thing you would see in front of you was a wall about
4 ½ feet high (area 10). This was the cut off point for all non-Jews. You could not approach toward the temple any further.
Just so there was no doubt about this, large signs made of white limestone slabs were placed on the wall. The signs read,
“ No foreigner may enter within the barrier and enclosure round the Temple. Anyone who is caught doing so will have himself to blame for his ensuing death.”
To put this in plan terms – If you are not a Jew and are caught past the wall you will be executed. To enforce this and other rules, the Temple had its own police force.
(Temple) Jewish women could go beyond this wall but only into the next court and then no further. (area 7) This area was the general a place of public worship at the time of the sacrifices.
Jewish men were allowed to go into the next court which was a terrace a bit higher into an area called the Court of the Israelites. (area 6)
Next was a terrace 15 steps higher and separated from the Court of the Israelites by a low fence. This was called the Court of the Priests. (Area 5) Only those who could trace their lineage back to the tribe of Lev and were serving as a Priests at the time could enter this area. As you can tell the closer one would approach the inner parts of the Temple the fewer people were allowed.
The Temple itself stood 12 steps higher still about 9 feet above the Court of the Priests (Area 5). Only certain priests could go into the actual temple building (area 3&2) The inner most portion was the Most Holy Place also called the Holy of Holies.
At the time of Jesus there was nothing in this most holy area except 1 stone. The ark of the covenant had disappeared during the time of Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of the first Temple. The room was a cube equal on all sides. Only the High Priest could go in there and only once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), for the purpose of sprinkling blood on the stone as an act of forgiveness for all the Jewish people. (next Temple pic.)
Much of the splendor of the Temple could only be enjoyed from a distance by all non-Jews. The dividing wall was a constant reminder of division and separation that existed between the Chosen Nation and the rest of the World.
Paul knew well the prejudice and exclusive clannishness of the Israelities. He was himself arrested and thrown in jail being falsely accused of taking a Gentile Christian beyond the Wall of Separation.
The essence of his appeal to the church in our text from Ephesians is that when one comes into Christ, the walls of prejudice and division are to be broken down. All Christians are now a part of a greater Temple. A Temple, not of stone but of flesh. The new temple is what Paul calls the Body of Christ – it is the church – people- those of you who have become followers of Christ. A building is not a temple- you are the temple!
Eph 2:20-22 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,
21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
We might think this does not relate to us but what Paul says is as relevant to us now as ever. What kind of walls do we have up? What kind of walls do we need to tear down? Paul says Jesus broke down the old wall of separation. Jesus did not do that literally, that wall was still there after Jesus ascended into heaven. Jesus’ teachings broke that wall down in people’s hearts. These were invisible walls of the heart.
What wall do we need to bring down? Maybe not tear it down. Maybe we can reuse the material in a different way or on a different project. Is our wall a tradition that is not effective any more? Is our wall an attitude that keeps people alienated? (faces)
Do we have a heart sign up that says- no ethnics allowed, blue collars only welcome; no poor need attend; tattoos and piercing report for interrogation; no broken English in this building; tie and suit a necessity; divorce and single parents are second class; kids are too loud; reserved seat, you better move; this is my church and it ain’t going to change; and on & on- we go-here’s your sign!
Paul encourages the Gentile Christians by reminding them in vs. 19 that when they accepted Christ they were, Eph 2:19“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens but you are fellow citizens with the saints and are of God’s household.”
We are God’s temple and there is to be no dividing walls between us once we come into Christ.
If we have erected walls that keep us from achieving God’s mission and vision for us then lets us start to dismantle things. We may need to dismantle some things slowly, we may need to bring in a wreaking ball and smash things to bits. The purpose is not just change for change sake, the purpose is not just to remodel, the purpose is not just to be trendy or to be like another church- The Purpose is to achieve God’s will for our church at any given time in moment. Stone wall & cross
The walls were brought down because of God’s love for us. That love for us from God should also motivate us to love each other and try to break down barriers that divide us. The wall can be our pride, petty opinions, mistakes, even sins committed between us.
Jesus broke down the wall by His death on the cross. His very body became the tool used to bring love and peace between people.
Eph. 2:15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace,
These walls can exist in our marriages, between parent & child, with other workers, between races, between personalities. (wall slide)
Would you help us rearrange, tear down, demolish, redesign, rebuild, the walls according to God’s will for us? This may start with some reconstruction that needs to occur in your own heart. This may need to begin in your own home, in your own business or between you and God. Tear down the bad bricks in your own backyard before you try to rearrange the pebbles in another person’s life or for that fact the church’s life.
This must first happen in your heart first. Work on yourself, then pray for others. Let God’s love mend your heart and ask Him to fill your heart with His love for others. Then you can become a great construction tool in the hand of the Master Builder.
Jesus is the Master Builder. Will you learn at His feet? Will you allow Him to use you? Will you open your heart to His love?
