I began this series on Ephesians
months ago. Now we are at the end. Paul has driven home his message: Through
Christ, a gracious God has created one new people to live for him and work for
him in the real world.
Even as he wrote—or more likely
dictated—the final words of the letter (6:21-24), this message must have been on his
mind.
Of course, the people in the
churches were on his mind as well. For
this reason he sent Tychicus. One of
those individuals we would love to know more about, Tychicus was a gentile from
the province of Asia, so Paul was sending him back home with this letter and a
report on the apostle’s situation.
In so doing Paul was modeling the
new relationship that should mark God’s people: Paul, a Jew, regards Tychicus,
a gentile, as “a beloved brother.”
Moreover, he trusts this “faithful servant” to carry the letter to the
Ephesians (and with letters to the Philippians and the Colossians) and to
accurately report on what Paul faced.
Some scholars suggest Tychicus may have been sent to Crete to relieve
Titus (Titus 3:12) so he could join the imprisoned Paul. It isn’t clear that happened but Paul does
mention plans to send him to Ephesus (2 Timothy 2:12); again, this was so
Paul’s protégé could join him, bringing some crucial supplies: “the cloak … left
with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.” (It isn’t clear if Timothy was able to reach
Paul before the apostle’s execution.)
This leaves us to speculate about the number of visits Tychicus made to
Ephesus.
What is less open to speculation is
the purpose of Tychicus’s visit to Ephesus.
He came to inform them about Paul’s situation and to encourage
them. Certainly he had more to say
thank, “Well, Paul is still in
jail.” No, the likely report went
something like this, “Yes, Paul is still in prison but he is still rejoicing,
still witnessing, still overcoming right there in the jail.” (cf. Phil.
1:12-14) Such a report testifies to the
sustaining power of faith.
If that at all represents the
report Tychicus brought, it models how we might answer the simple question,
“How are you?” Of course, when someone
is just offering a traditional greeting it isn’t necessary to give a list of
all the challenges we might be facing.
That can be weird. But, sometimes
people ask the question and we know they want more than a superficial, clichéd
response. How good when we can balance
an honest recognition of the tough things and a joyous testimony of the good
things.
Paul now turns to his final
benediction. While it contains elements
found in other benedictions, the order is different. Peace precedes grace and both precede love.
Above all, Paul wanted the Ephesian
Christians—and all Christians—to know “peace,” the harmony that transcends
differences. He longed to see Jews and
Gentiles functioning as one new people; reconciled in such a way that the past,
though not really forgotten, can no longer drive a wedge between them. Such peace is rooted in “love with faith,”
love born out of their common faith in Christ, a faith which sees God’s great
purpose to make one new people.
In a world filled with divisions,
social, economic, political, racial, and cultural this vision cannot become a
reality without God’s “grace” in the hearts of “all … who love our Lord Jesus
Christ with love that never ends, an imperishable/undying love.” Where such love exists, Christian people can
live in harmony; where such love withers, Christian people are divided and
spoil their testimony.
As I think about this benediction,
I recall the indictment made against the Ephesian church in letters to the
seven churches of Asia Minor found in the opening chapters of the
Revelation. Though he praised their hard
work, passion for purity, commitment to the faith, and willingness to face
hardship, the Lord declared the church had one great deficit.
“‘I know your works, your toil and your
patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have
tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be
false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and
you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have
abandoned the love you had at first.”
Each of the elements Paul mentions
in this benediction is important but, perhaps, none is more important to a church
that wishes to last than love.
The vision Paul embraces in this
benediction is one that changes so much.
If taken seriously, it would end much division in the world. Unfortunately, the church has often failed to
take the vision of Ephesians seriously.
Too often, the church has allowed
anti-Semitism to flourish.
Too often, the church has divided
over trivial matters, failing to remember there is “one faith, one Lord, one
baptism….”
Too often, the church has failed to
demonstrate the love that makes us brothers and sisters to fellow Christians
regardless of their race or cultural background.
In short, we have failed to live
like new people. But, recognizing this,
we can repent and allow Christ to make us his “workmanship,” his “masterpiece,”
his “poetry.” (2:10)
Thank you for reading this
far. If you are a regular visitor to the
blog, you know I haven’t posted in a few weeks.
There were some technical problems that I won’t detail but I do
appreciate your faithfulness.
As I bring this study to an end, I want
to announce an important decision I have made about my blog. There will be
fewer sermons and more essays and observations on a variety of topics. Sometimes I will look back and comment on
what happened years ago, sometimes I will look around and comment on what is
happening now. Sometimes I may even look
inside and comment on what is happening in me—but not too often. Please stay with me and, if you like what you
read, tell your friends.
