Now to Him who is able to do far beyond all that we ask or imagine, by means of His power that works in us, to Him be the glory in the community of believers and in Messiah Yeshua throughout all generations forever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21, TLV

The context of today’s verse(s) of the day is fascinating. Paul is writing from prison, “for the sake of you, Gentiles” (3:1). I love the book of Ephesians because Paul gives unique insights into the Great Mystery–what Jew and Gentile one in Messiah, looks like in the heavenlies and here in the practical sense.

When Yeshua prayed in the Garden before His arrest, torture, and death, His focus in part, was on the great “mystery” that Paul speaks of in this chapter. Yeshua’s prayer:

“I pray not on behalf of these [His followers] only, but also for those who believe in Me through their message, that they all may be one. Just as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You, so also may they be one in Us, so the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory that You have given to Me I have given to them, that they may be one just as We are one—I in them and You in Me—that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me and loved them as You loved Me.” John 17:20-23, TLV [Emphasis Mine]

The Great Mystery: This mystery is that the Gentiles are joint heirs and fellow members of the same body and co-sharers of the promise in Messiah Yeshua through the Good News. (3:6, TLV) [Emphasis Mine]

For thousands of years, the nations–the Goyim, the Gentiles–were considered pagans. Well, after a certain part of history, yeah, they were really pagans. Orgies in their temples. Sacrifices of children to their gods. Pagan rituals that would make our eyes melt. Which is why ADONAI set the Jewish people apart from the rest of the world. When they tried to mingle–marry–outside the Jewish tribes, God punished them. I mean really punished them.

But, in all this throughout the TANAKH–a.k.a. to the church, the Old Testament–there were prophecies that one day, the Jewish people would be a light to the nations (Isaiah 42:6). One day, the nations would humble themselves to realize their beliefs were wrong. And when they realized their folly, they would grab hold of the fringes of their tallit–prayer shawl–and say … Let’s hear it from the LORD Himself:

Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot [LORD of Hosts], “In those days it will come to pass that ten men from every language of the nations will grasp the corner of the garment of a Jew saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’” Zechariah 8:23, TLV [Emphasis Mine]

The Great Mystery? Yeshua’s prayer for unity. Pure and simple. Yet, seemingly impossible. Especially today.

Now, within this context of chapter 3, read today’s verses.

Now to Him who is able to do far beyond all that we ask or imagine, by means of His power that works in us, to Him be the glory in the community of believers and in Messiah Yeshua throughout all generations forever and ever! Amen.

What was most important, and what Paul said was so important, was unity. To ensure that the non-Jewish people knew they belonged. Not as second-citizens. And, not as a replacement for Israel, but grafted into the Jewish olive tree (Romans 11:16-24).

Paul’s prayer is not just about all God will do for us individually, but it is agreeing with Jesus’ fervent prayer in John 17. Can we agree, my friends? To pray like Paul, that God would be glorified in a united community of believers, because of the Messiah Yeshua? Can we?

Shabbat shalom!