I agree with some of the discussions that have been on here recently that reconciliation is an important theme in the Bible. I think, however, it may just be a subset of a larger, grander theme in Scripture... Restoration.

Let me preface my explanation by saying that I was recently listening to some audio (free at the link) from N. T. Wright. Wright is currently the Bishop of Durham in the Anglican Church but is also one of the foremost authorities of the historical Jesus and historical Paul.

One theme that runs throughout is the theme of restoration, ultimately ending up in, not heaven but the restoration of a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21 & 22).

This theme is shown through types and shadows in the Bible. For instance, Jesus in the Garden after his resurrection shouts of restoration of the fallen Garden of Eden.

Restoration is a theme as well, but for humanity itself, reconciliation has to come first. Restoration is the result of reconciliation. We are reconciled for restoration (taking broken humanity and restoring it through reconciliation)

If you restored a city to it's former glory, but have not reconciled to the people of that city, it is just patching the world, but not the relationships. War will continue, and the city will be destroyed again.

Reconciliation is about relationship. Restoration is the result of good reconciliation.

1Cor. 13:1-3 "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains (restore cities), but have not love (reconciliation), I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames (to works), but have not love, I gain nothing."

1 John 4:20 "If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother (not willing to reconcile), he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen."

*(parenthesis are my additions for subject clarity)*

Jesus in the garden was a sign of restoration of all things, which is true, but reconciliation came first from the moment the holy spirit took Mary and impregnated her, then the garden.

Everything Jesus did was an act of reconciliation, thus restoration. "God with us" (Restoration) or "Emanuel" is the result of the act reconciliation.

Boyd