The Festival of Lights: Hanukkah
Throughout the holidays we have spent time understanding some of the Jewish Holidays that were incorporated during Old Testament times. These feasts and festivals were but a shadow of the reality that pointed to the coming of Christ. This holiday will be a bit different. Instead of finding it’s beginnings in the Old Testament, it originates during the time between the Old and New Testaments. The story itself can be found in 1 & 2 Maccabbees, which is a book that is in the Apocrypha of the Catholic Bible. If you are interested in learning more about it’s history, this site will give you more history.
The word Hanukkah means “dedication” and this holiday is in remembrance of the rededication of the Temple of God about 150 years before Christ was born. They Syrians had overrun Israel and forced the Jews to blaspheme the temple by sacrificing pigs in it and bowing down to the Syrian idols. One priest, Mattathias, along with his five sons (good number, huh!), refused and formed a band of rebels that fought three years of guerrilla warfare in the mountains and caves around Jerusalem. After three years, the Syrians were finally driven away and the temple was rebuilt and cleansed. In the restoration of the temple, the candlestick of the temple was found (which should always be lit), but only one days worth of purified oil was found. It takes eight days to make the oil that was required for the candlestick. The Jewish people believe a miracle took place as the days worth of oil lasted eight days – long enough to make more and keep the candlestick burning. This is why, during Hanukkah, a minorah with eight candles is a significant symbol of God’s presence among His people.
Jesus celebrated the Festival of Lights and it is just prior to the celebration that Jesus makes this claim. It is during this festival that He makes this claim.
What do you think Jesus’ purpose was in saying these things surrounding this festival? (I guess you have to read the links 
)
I love observing how God announces His purpose in pictures that He has painted years and years before the “reality” takes place.
December 14th, 2006 at 12:25 pm
…it is interesting that Jesus was not the only one to have made claims to the Messiah-ship…in fact some Jews believed that Judas the Hammer, no not the WWE wrestler, but the Maccabean, was the Messiah…and he was only one in a long line of would be Saviors to appear during the intertestamental period…in each of these cases the man claimed or others claimed for him the possibility that he was the Messiah based on military/political prowess…Jesus did not fit in this box…could it be that there was more to the unbelief of the religious establishment…maybe Jesus didn’t fit neatly into their Messiah box…maybe Jesus doesn’t fit neatly into our Messiah box…maybe this is how we ignore so many of Jesus’ claims and instructions and de-claw his gospel…oh the humanity!!…this Jewish holiday is a dedication to military and political victory…one that only lasted a tumultuous and corrupt 100 years…could this be a key point of discussion between Jews and Christians in terms of Jesus as Messiah…as you have pointed out this was a festival that was not enacted by the command of God…does this set it apart from the ones found in the Torah…not to take away its importance, but the consider its place…as far as the verses…Jesus is the master of his environment and brings any message he is conveying directly into the faces of his audience…wonderful stuff on his part…can’t wait to be with your community in a few weeks…graceandpeace…805 OUT!!!