The prophet Haggai speaks of the rebuilding of the temple after the remnant of Israel returned from the Babylonian captivity. Solomon’s temple had been destroyed by the invading armies of Babylon and this new temple paled in comparison to the splendor of the original. In the sight of Israel, they had failed to recover the way things were when, in their minds, things were better. Into this disappointment, God speaks through His prophet, “…I will shake all the nations so that the desires (treasures, precious things) of all the nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory…” (Haggai 2:7).

At Christmas, we celebrate the coming of the One who filled the earth with His glory. Isaiah 9:6 foretells of a child who would be born, a Son who would be given, and among many names for this Messiah would be Prince of Peace. Places filled with the glory of Jesus are places that know peace, no matter how simple or grand they appear. Indeed, people filled with the glory of Jesus are people who know peace, no matter their ethnicity, race, gender, wealth, or any other dividing characteristic. We read in Ephesians 2 that Jesus gives us peace with God (Ephesians 2:13, 16-18), and when we are at peace with God, we can be at peace with one another (Ephesians 2:14-15, 18-22).

It's easy to look around today and feel like the Israelite remnant of Haggai’s day: things aren’t as good as they should be. But such despair betrays a poor understanding of the Messiah we celebrate, who pronounced that the kingdom of God is at hand (here and now, Matthew 4:17). And, maybe, today’s despair cues us into a lack of imagination for what is surely to come: a day when “a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, stand[s] before the throne and before the Lamb [who is Jesus]” (Revelation 7:9). A day when the whole world—including all of the people in it—will be filled with heaven’s peace.

“Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!”