Chanukah (Hebrew for dedication) is not one of the commanded
Feasts of the Lord, but is mentioned in the gospels and was celebrated by Jesus
(John 10:22-23). It commemorates a miracle which took place several thousand
years ago, in the historical period between the writing of the two Testaments.
Around 164 B.C. the Jewish people were ruled by a cruel Syrian king. Antiochus
Epiphanes tried to make the conquered Jewish people easier to rule by
neutralizing their Jewishness. He forced them to worship in a Greek manner as
the Syrians did and forbad Jewish customs such as circumcision and Sabbath observance.
Study of Torah, their Scriptures, was forbidden and pagan altars were built in every
town in Israel. Antiochus placed a statue of Zeus in the Temple in Jerusalem
and had pigs, a ritually unclean animal, sacrificed on its altar to desecrate
it. He insisted that all Jews show allegiance to him by worshipping idols
rather than the true God of Israel. Those who refused did so at risk to their
lives. Antiochus was a foreshadowing of
the Antichrist, one of many throughout the years who’ve hated and attempted to
eradicate the people of God.
Though many Jews did assimilate to a more Greek way
of living, the priest Matthias and his five sons flatly refused to worship as
Antiochus demanded. When the king’s officers came to their town to organize
pagan sacrifices, Matthias and his sons killed them, then fled into the
surrounding hills. Matthias is reported to have said, “Let everyone who is
zealous for the Torah and who stands by the covenant follow after me!” A
rebellion began, led by Matthias’ son Yehudah (Judah). He was a courageous and effective
leader and became known as Judah Maccabee (the hammer). Amazingly, within three
years his band of guerilla warriors defeated the much bigger Syrian army.
Jerusalem was retaken and the Temple cleansed. The defiled
altar was removed and a new one built. The priests made plans to rededicate the
Temple, but when they went to light the menorah, the large, seven branched
candelabra which stood in the sanctuary, there was a problem. Scripture commanded never to let the light go out, but there was only enough oil to burn for one day. Not just any olive oil could be used, and the process for preparing the oil took eight days to complete. In faith, the priests lit the menorah
anyway and were amazed when instead of burning one day, it burned for eight!
This allowed the priests enough time to prepare more oil for the menorah. So Hanukkah
celebrates the miracle of the oil when the Temple was
rededicated to the Lord. It honors the God of Israel who has faithfully and repeatedly kept
the Jewish people from extinction and assimilation.
The Chanukah story is definitely relevant to us today, with growing government intervention into previously protected speech and activities. We face tremendous pressure to assimilate to our culture in order to avoid disapproval--or even legal penalties. Hanukkah teaches that while government is in charge of many things and has power to make our lives uncomfortable or even dangerous, it is God who is in charge of His people. We can therefore take courage to maintain our Christian distinctive in the face of opposition, trusting His provision and protection.
Today Jewish families celebrate Chanukah by lighting special
nine branched menorahs, called hanukkiahs. Menorahs are usually lit just after
sundown and displayed in windows, so their light shines into the darkness
outside. Family and friends gather and eat special Hanukkah foods fried in oil,
like latkes (potato pancakes) and jelly doughnuts. Gifts are usually exchanged.
Children receive chocolate coins and play with a dreidel, a special top that
has on its sides the Hebrews letters for the phrase, “A great miracle happened
there!”
Some scholars have speculated that Jesus
was conceived during the Feast of Chanukah. Though we cannot be certain, it would be so like God to begin the salvation story--the incarnation of the Light of the
World during the Festival of Light. Like all the Feasts, Hanukkah is a reminder of God's faithfulness to His people as well as an opportunity to gather and celebrate His goodness to us.
This year Hanukkah begins at sundown on December 16 and ends at sundown on the 24th. This is a great time to pray that our Jewish friends and family members receive a greater revelation of our amazing God and the best gift of all—their Messiah. Just as the Temple was cleansed and rededicated, let's rededicate ourselves to the One who loved us enough to leave Heaven's glory and come to earth to be a light showing us the way through the darkness. Happy Hanukkah!
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