Jesus, hidden in the greater glory that is in you
““For this is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: In just a little while I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the oceans and the dry land. I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will be brought to this Temple. I will fill this place with glory, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”” (Haggai 2:6-9, NLT)
The glory that is spoken of here cannot be bought with money, stature or influence as it is vested in one Person, Jesus.
The description of events in Haggai 2 is a picture of what happened when Jesus was crucified and when He finally gave up His Spirit on the cross. Jesus’ death was announced by a shaking, I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land. The sun was darkened as the earth shook. in a similar fashion, Jesus’ kingdom came as a shock to the nations (Hebrews 12:27).
Jesus further came as the desire of all nations, the long awaited Messiah. In Him and through Him, all the families of earth shall be blessed with the best of the blessings available. Many prophecies were in expectation of Christ’s kingdom to come. All the nations that are brought in to Christ, that are grown in Him, and that have called upon Him, will also call Him their salvation and desire.
The Temple they were building was said to be filled with a greater glory than ever before, even greater than Solomon’s temple. It is God’s prerogative to fill with glory and His glory is always satisfying.
God does not need silver or gold to adorn His temple as He says, “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine”. Everything belongs to God, the heaven above, the earth belongs and everything it contains. David acknowledges this truth:
“But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us! “O LORD our God, even this material we have gathered to build a Temple to honor your holy name comes from you! It all belongs to you!” (1 Chronicles 29:14, 16 NLT)
The lesser amount of gold could not prevent God from filling the temple with the greatest glory. The promise was that the glory of this latter house shall be greater than the glory of the former. The glory does not refer so much to an outward glory but to a divinity that could only be fulfilled through the presence of Jesus. The splendor and purity of a temple is not so much measured by the outside glory but more through the purity of hearts and attitudes toward God.
Jesus also plated a vital role in teaching His followers how to share His story with the world and when Christ returned to His Father, His gospel was preached by His apostles in the temple and as His words of life was spoken and daily preached.
““Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!…And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”” (Acts of the Apostles 5:20, 42 NLT)
The righteousness of life that was brought forth through Jesus’ gospel of grace was much more glorious than the law which was a ministration of death and condemnation (2 Corinthians 3:9-10). We are living temples of Christ in which He dwells in His full glory to eternity.
We are not only God’s dwelling but we also have His peace. If God is with us, we have nothing to fear as peace is with us. The promise God gives in Haggai 2 has it fulfillment in the inner peace which Christ Jesus has purchased through His blood on the cross (John 14:27). The peace He bequeathed to all believers through Christ.
Jesus is not only found in the glory with which our temples are filled, but He is also our peace. God will give peace in this place; He will give his Son to be the peace (Ephesians 2:14).
Seek Jesus for the splendor your desire in life instead of looking for it in fallible worldly things. He is everlasting and always available to us.
Maretha Retief
Illustration by Jeanne de Villiers