Messianic Moments Devotional Series—Haggai

The book of Haggai is a call to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, a prophetic message that not only encourages physical restoration but also points forward to the ultimate work of Jesus, the Messiah, in restoring God’s presence among His people. Haggai challenges the people of Israel to prioritize God’s house, saying that the glory of the latter temple will be greater than the former (Haggai 2:9). While this was true for the physical temple, it foreshadows the coming of Jesus, who would be the fulfillment of God’s presence on earth, embodying the very temple of God (John 2:19-21). Just as Haggai urged the people to rebuild with a renewed focus on God, Jesus, in His earthly ministry, calls us to rebuild our lives with Him as the center, bringing spiritual restoration and a renewed relationship with the Father. Haggai also speaks of a shaking of the heavens and the earth, which finds its ultimate fulfillment in the coming of Jesus, whose first advent shakes the foundations of the world, and whose second advent will bring complete transformation and renewal. Through Haggai, we see the prophetic call for a greater temple—Jesus, who will bring God’s presence to dwell within us and establish His eternal kingdom.

Fulfillment in Jesus:
Haggai 2:6-9 is often interpreted as a messianic prophecy concerning the rebuilding of the Temple and the coming of the Messiah. This passage speaks of a future time when God will shake the heavens and the earth and bring the “desired of all nations” to the temple, filling it with greater glory than the former temple. Christians interpret this prophecy as pointing to the coming of Jesus Christ, who is the “desired of all nations,” and through His presence, the temple (which is now the body of believers) is filled with greater glory than the physical temple ever had.

1. The “Desired of All Nations”:

1. • In Haggai 2:7, the phrase “what is desired by all nations will come” is often understood to refer to the Messiah. Christians believe this prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus, who is the One sought by all nations. He is the hope of all the peoples of the earth, and His coming brings salvation and restoration to all who believe in Him (Luke 2:30-32; John 12:32).
   • Jesus Himself speaks of being the one who draws all people to Himself (John 12:32), fulfilling this prophecy as the one desired by all nations.

2. The Glory of the Latter Temple:

1. • Haggai 2:9 speaks of the glory of the latter temple being greater than the former. While this could be referring to the physical rebuilding of the Second Temple after the Babylonian exile, Christians believe this is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Jesus speaks of Himself as the true temple, declaring, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” (John 2:19-21). His resurrection and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in believers mark the fulfillment of this prophecy, where the spiritual temple (the body of believers) surpasses the glory of the physical Temple.

3. Peace in the Temple:

1. • God declares in Haggai 2:9, “And in this place I will grant peace.” Jesus is understood by Christians to be the ultimate bringer of peace, as He Himself is called the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Through Jesus’ atoning death and resurrection, He establishes peace between God and humanity (Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:14-18), and this peace extends to all who are in Christ, making the spiritual temple a place of peace and reconciliation.

1. Jewish Understanding of Haggai 2:6-9:

1. • In Jewish tradition, this passage is often seen as a promise of the physical restoration of the Second Temple, which was rebuilt after the exile and would later be renovated by King Herod. The “glory of the latter house” is understood to refer to the physical grandeur of the Second Temple, with the hope that the coming of the Messiah will usher in a time of peace and divine presence.
   • Rashi, a famous Jewish commentator, connects the promise of greater glory to the expectation that the Messianic age will bring an unparalleled spiritual renewal, one where God’s presence will be felt more intensely than ever before. However, the exact identification of the “desired of all nations” is typically not linked to Jesus in Jewish commentary.

2. Talmudic Reflection on the Temple and the Messiah:

1. • The Talmud discusses the coming of the Messiah and the rebuilding of the Temple in several places, particularly in Sanhedrin 98a and Berakhot 5b. It speaks of the Messiah restoring the Temple and bringing peace to Israel and the world. Jewish tradition holds that the Messiah will rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, but this has not been linked to the Christian understanding of Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophecy in Haggai.

1. Haggai’s Historical Context:

1. • Haggai prophesied during the time of the return from Babylonian exile, around 520 BCE. The Jewish people were rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem after the exile, but they were discouraged by the lack of resources and the modesty of the rebuilt Temple compared to Solomon’s Temple. Haggai’s message was one of encouragement, urging the people to continue their work and promising that God would bless the efforts and fill the Temple with glory.
   • This prophecy, therefore, had a dual fulfillment in the historical rebuilding of the Second Temple but was also seen as having a prophetic fulfillment in the coming of the Messiah, who would bring ultimate restoration and glory to God’s house.

2. The Messianic Hope for Restoration:

1. • The Jewish people were longing for the coming of the Messiah who would restore Israel to its former glory. The rebuilding of the Temple was an important aspect of this hope, and many Jews believed that the Messiah would bring about the Temple’s ultimate fulfillment. Christians see the “glory of the latter house” being fulfilled in the person of Jesus, who, through His life, death, and resurrection, established a new temple, one not made with hands but indwelt by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

1. Early Christian Fulfillment:

1. • In the early Christian church, this passage in Haggai was understood to be a prophecy of the coming of Jesus Christ. Christians interpreted the “desired of all nations” as Jesus, who came to bring salvation not only to Israel but to the Gentiles as well. The glory of the new Temple, the body of Christ, was seen as surpassing the glory of the physical Temple.
   • The early Christians believed that Jesus’ resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit marked the true fulfillment of Haggai’s prophecy. They viewed the Church as the new Temple, where God’s presence dwells among His people in a more profound way than in the physical Temple.

2. Irenaeus and Messianic Fulfillment:

1. • Irenaeus, an early church father, wrote extensively about the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies in Christ. In his work Against Heresies, Irenaeus argued that the prophecies of the Temple and the Messianic restoration pointed directly to Jesus. He emphasized that the Church, as the body of believers in Christ, was the fulfillment of the Temple imagery, and that the peace promised by God was found in the peace brought by Christ.

1. The Messianic King as the “Desired of All Nations”:

1. • The phrase “what is desired by all nations” is interpreted by Christians as a reference to the Messiah, Jesus, who is the hope of all people, not just Israel. His coming is the fulfillment of God’s promise to bring blessing to all nations through the seed of Abraham (Genesis 12:3). Jesus’ universal appeal as the Saviour of the world fulfills the expectation of the Messiah who would be the desire of all nations.

2. The Glory of the New Temple:

1. • Haggai’s prophecy speaks of a glory greater than the former Temple, which Christians understand as fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The physical Temple in Jerusalem was only a shadow of the true and greater reality found in Christ. The Church, as the body of believers, is now the dwelling place of God’s presence through the Holy Spirit, making it the true Temple where God’s glory is revealed.

3. Peace through the Messiah:

1. • The promise of peace in Haggai 2:9 is fully realized in Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) and brings peace between God and humanity. Jesus’ death and resurrection reconcile humanity to God, fulfilling the peace promised in Haggai and bringing lasting spiritual peace to all who believe in Him.

Haggai’s prophetic words challenge us to reflect on the centrality of God’s presence in our lives, urging us to rebuild with Him as the foundation. Just as Haggai called the Israelites to focus on restoring the temple, we, as followers of Jesus, are called to rebuild our lives, placing Christ at the center of all we do. The “desired of all nations” has come in the person of Jesus, and through Him, God’s presence no longer dwells in a physical temple, but in the hearts of believers. This powerful truth calls us to live as the new temple, carrying His peace, His glory, and His presence wherever we go. As we walk in this realization, we are invited to reflect on the peace that Jesus brings—peace between God and man—and to allow His glory to shine through us, transforming our lives and the world around us. May we live with a renewed focus on His presence, rebuilding not just our physical surroundings but also our spiritual lives, so that the glory of the latter temple—Christ in us—shines even brighter than what came before.