The Peace of Christmas
Recently, in preparation for some teaching I have coming up, I’ve been studying the book of Malachi. Not a book people typically study this time of year, but why not? It’s the last thing word for God to his people before angels announce a baby born in a humble stable.
This particular prophet was sent to a people who were weary of worship—why? Because the presence of God wasn’t showing up as they expected.
They were the remnant who returned after the Babylonian captivity, a dark time where God allowed another nation to discipline them for their continual rejection of Him. Yet God is always faithful to His people and brought them back to rebuilt his temple, despite the presence of enemies who intended to put a stop to God’s people creating a place for God to be with them.
Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. Nehemiah 4:17–18
But unlike the temple in Solomon’s time, where the glory of the lord filled the new building with a cloud so dense the priests could not even perform their duties[1], or even the tent-sanctuary of Moses, transient, made of cloth, when the cloud covered the tent of meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the temple (Ex. 40:34), this temple beheld no supernatural sign. No tangible signal that God had showed up in the midst of their worship, even though the prophet Haggai had promised:
“The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace”, declares the LORD of hosts. Haggai 2:9
He claimed that God would announce this new temple with a sign greater than cumulous mist. Yet no miraculous event from heaven had occurred to give confidence to the people that their God was again dwelling with them.
Have you done the same with Christmas this year? Have you decorated the house, put up the tree, went shopping and wrapped gifts, daily enacted your advent rituals? At our house we have a wood box with cavities for candy (pun intended). I was late this year and the kids had to remind me that I hadn’t yet filled it for up for them.
In general, I’ve been late to the Christmas game. I talk to my sister-in-law several times per week and she was excited as early as October, to see neighbors with their lights up early, décor for purchase displayed on store shelves. Other friends started listening to Christmas songs right after Halloween. Many people I know decorated their homes mid-November, not even waiting for the yearly tradition of Thanksgiving to kick off their Christmas traditions.
We all know that 2020 has been one of the hardest years in living memory for all generations. Because of the pandemic, life has changed so much so fast, that our joy has seemingly disappeared. I think the rush to bring Christmas back early this year has been the unveiling of the true state of our hearts. A weary world rejoices. What about you? Have you been waiting for the Christmas spirit to arrive in the midst of all your preparations and has it fallen flat? Maybe you’ve been waiting for a feeling and forgotten that the point is making room for a person.
The people of Malachi were waiting for something greater to christen their restored temple. They didn’t see God come as He had historically, so eventually their devotion became religion, their sacrifices an afterthought, their expectation of encountering God despondent. God, who never leaves is people in despair encourages them to not give up hope. He is still coming.
“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming,” says the LORD of hosts. Malachi 3:1
Eventually the temple became used by Alexander the Great, the next conquer to come against the people of Israel. Under his leadership, the temple that was rebuilt by the freed captives of Ezra’s time, now housed the worship of a Greek deity. A place meant to worship the great I AM[2] was set up with empty idols. But God’s promises can be trusted, even when fulfilled in unexpected ways.
When Jesus’s parents brought their infant child to the temple, Simon recognized him, crying out:
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.” Luke 2:29–32
The better was here, the greater was among the people, the salvation of the world, the light to the nations was blessing the temple with the presence of the Lord. “This time he came not in the form of cloud and fire but in flesh and blood[3].”
Maybe you’ve gotten caught up in the secular elements of this season and forgotten the way to bring the baby is to look to the Savior. Have you lingered over the Christmas story? It isn’t just found in the gospels, but in every page of Scripture. The manger scene certainly ushers in the beginning of the climax of our redemption, the cross, where Jesus willingly gave His life for the dejected worshipers of Malachi time, yet also for you and I in such a time as this. He knew a pandemic was coming, and that you would need his hope and joy more than kitschy decorations this year.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27
I’m love being at home with the lights of the tree, the cinnamon smells wafting from my Scentsy warmer, catching the kids side-glance at the gifts with expectation…but more than that I want my heart to be awakened each morning with the gifts Jesus has given that I need to choose to receive. Much like the people of God who was waiting for the Messiah, I am longing for Jesus to come and rescue me. I am tired of what the world gives. I want an untroubled heart and the absence of fear. In increasing measure, I desire the peace Jesus left me, that strengthens me against so much uncertainty.
It’s within our grasp because He said He left it here with us. Trust and believe what He said. This season look deeper, push past the trappings and see the treasure. Worship, pray, and meditate on the One who is always enough, whose word never fails because He is the living Word, became flesh[4]. Take heart, you will behold His glory, and not just at Christmas, but every season of the soul.
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