Jesus Celebrated Hanukkah


Wednesday night begins the celebration of Hanukkah. Many may not realize that Jesus, a Jew, also celebrated this festival. In John 10:22 - 23 [International Standard Version]  it states, "Now Hanukkah (Feast of Dedication)  was taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking around in the temple inside the open porch of Solomon."

Why is this festival celebrated? Why did Jesus celebrate this festival? The following excerpt from Barnes' Notes on the Bible explains -

The Feast of Dedication - Literally, the feast of the renewing, or of the renovation. This feast was instituted by Judas Maccabaeus, in the year 164 b.c. The temple and city were taken by Antiochus Epiphanes in the year 167 b.c. He killed 40,000 inhabitants, and sold 40,000 more as slaves. In addition to this, he sacrificed a sow on the altar of burnt-offerings, and a broth being made of this, he sprinkled it all over the temple. The city and temple were recovered three years afterward by Judas Maccabaeus, and the temple was purified with great pomp and solemnity. The ceremony of purification continued through eight days, during which Judas presented magnificent victims, and celebrated the praise of God with hymns and psalms (Josephus, Ant., b. xii. ch. 11). "They decked, also, the forefront of the temple with crowns of gold and with shields, and the gates and chambers they renewed and hanged doors upon them:" 1 Macc. 4:52-59. On this account it was called the feast of renovation or dedication. Josephus calls it the feast of lights, because the city was illuminated, as expressive of joy. The feast began on the 25th day of Chisleu, answering to the fifteenth day of December. The festival continued for eight days, with continued demonstrations of joy.

The Hanukkah menorah has eight candles and one servant candle, the shamash. The shamash lights the other eight candles. Jesus is like the shamash. He is the suffering servant who came to bring light to the world. Jesus commands his followers to let their light shine (Matthew 5:16). He promises those who walk in the light shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life (John 8:12).

We are also part of God's temple, His body. As stated in 1 Corinthians 6:19, "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? During this season of Hanukkah and Christmas I will take time to rededicate myself to His purposes. With the Spirit's help I want to resist compromises and temptations that lead me away from the Lord.

You can read more about Hanukkah at http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Winter_Holidays/Chanukah/chanukah.html

Enjoy the following video by Marty Goetz -


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