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Hanukkah is an annual festival of the Jews celebrated on eight successive days to honor the restoration of divine worship in the Temple after it had been defiled by heathens. The return of their religious liberty was to them as life from the dead, in memorial, they kept an annual holiday on the twenty-fifth day of Kislev. Kislev is the third month of the Jewish calendar corresponding, approximately, to early December of the Gregorian calendar. The Bible speaks of Jesus keeping this holiday and going to the Temple on that day (John 10:22-23). The biggest lesson of Hanukkah was, and is, the power of the spirit, the ability of God's people to live by God's commands.
Here's how it all began...
During the inter-testament period (around 164 B.C.), the Maccabees,
led by Judah Maccabee, recaptured Judea from the rule of the Syrians
who were trying to spread the Greek religion and culture. The Syrians
also desecrated the Temple by offering unclean sacrifices and setting
up idols.
When the Jews had cleared out the temple idols, they found only one small vessel of oil with only enough to light their holy lamps for one day. *The process of oil making takes 7-8 days. Despite this, they agreed that even with this small amount, they would light the Menorah (the Temple candelabra). To the astonishment of all, the menorah burned miraculously for eight days until new oil was made.
During Hanukkah, Jesus spoke of His miracles: If I do not do the works
of My Father, do not believe me; but if I do, though you do not believe
Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father
is in Me, and I in Him. (John 10:37-38 NKJV)
The miracles of Christ point to the divine messianic message. Thus,
Jesus personifies the message of Hanukkah: God actively involved in
the affairs of His people. Hanukkah brings back to memory that our God
is a God of miracles, not just of religious ideals and concept.
Three different times Jesus proclaimed Himself to be the "Light of the World," and all three were during Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. Challenge: locate these three instances in the Bible.
As we begin our celebration of the birth of the Light of the World, let us also take a look at this festival in which God provided the light. The light of the menorah is the symbol of the light of our Lord. This light burned even when no supply was left. What a perfect symbol of the eternity of God's word.
The core of this festival speaks of rededication. Oil was used for and is symbolic of anointing and purity. Take the time to search your life for any areas that need to be rededicated to the Lord, and that need to be anointed by the oil of His Spirit.
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Article by Victoria Black
For more information contact Victoria at anointedyouth.org