Hey friends, did you know the gift-giving seasons of Hanukkah and Christmas intersect this year? As Christians, we celebrate the birth of Jesus our Lord this coming Wednesday as families gather, gifts are given and received, and a joyous time will be had by all. Meanwhile, on that very same day, the 8-day Jewish feast of Hanukkah begins at sundown! Our Jewish friends around the world will celebrate with gifts, dancing and singing!

One of my favorite experiences in Israel was celebrating Hannukah several years ago. The 8-day celebration is not a moedim (Appointed Time, major feast), nor is it mentioned in the Tanakh (Old Testament, Hebrew Scripture). However, John 10:22-23 tells us Jesus and His family made aliyah to Jerusalem to observe the Feast of Dedication (aka Hannukah or Feast of Lights).

In Hebrew, Hanukkah means “dedication,” and the celebration is in honor of a miraculous happening in the Temple when a Jewish group called the Maccabees revolted against the Seleucids in about 165 BC. During the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes, a decree was announced, ending traditional Jewish religious practices. Instead, Temple funds were used for evil, Jews were massacred, and idols were set up in the holy place. Even the menorah (7-candle light stand) was removed from the Temple and replaced with an image of Zeus.

Jews were having none of that, so the Maccabean Revolt began, and upon victory, the Jews returned back to the Temple and rededicated it to its intended use. Thus, Hanukkah is known as the Feast of Dedication. According to Exodus 27:20-21, the menorah in the Temple was to burn continually. Yet, when they recaptured the Temple, there was only enough oil to keep the light burning for one day. Miraculously, the menorah burned for 8 days, giving them time to process more oil to continue their tradition of keeping the light burning continually!

Jesus and His family celebrated the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem (John 10:22-23). As a Jew, Jesus most certainly understood the significance of the celebration, and how the Maccabean Revolt preserved the land and the religious traditions of the Jewish people. As the Son of God, He understood He was the Light of the world.

Just as God’s presence was represented by that inextinguishable flame, Jesus became the living expression of His Father. Furthermore, the Light of the world who dwelt among men, gave us eternal Light.

So, as you celebrate Hanukkah, put your Jewish glasses on and consider the miracle of that menorah light. God meant for it to be a sign that the eternal Light of God shining forth would bring us the victory of salvation, just as He brought victory to the Jewish people. Jesus, our Light of the world, remains a shining representation of the Father, and He intends us to reflect His light to all those around us.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
~Matthew 5:14-16

Upon whom will the light of Jesus shine through your life today?