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Chanukah
by Rev. Randy Felton
The word chanukah means dedication. This is applied to the holiday celebrating the dedication of the Temple after the Maccabean revolt.
Mattathias was a Hasmonean priest who rebelled against the Greek rule with it's desecration of the Temple and Judaism. After the Greek king Anticohus IV forcibly introduced the sacrifice of pigs in 167 BC, Mattathias had enough. In Modi'in he stabbed a Jew who sacrificed a pig , killed the
kings agent and pulled down the altar. He then fled to the hills along with his four sons. He and his family were now outlaws. Mattathias was an old man and died shortly after he fled. His son Judah took over the leadership of the group who set about to struggle against the Greek rule. Judah became known as Judah Maccabee, "Judah the hammer" and his band of followers were called the "Maccabees". The band of Jews began to grow and entered in to what we would call "guerrilla warfare" or "resistance fighters". Not so much an organized army as a group of religious rebels.
Finally after about 3 years in 165 BC the Jews recaptured the Temple Mount. They preceded to cleanse the area, tore down the desecrated altar and built a new one. The Great Menorah, the candelabra of gold was lit. The rededication lasted for 8 days. There are several explanations for this; Solomon's Temple was dedicated for 7 days and the pilgrims left on the 8th, Sukkot had not been celebrated and it was included even though out of season. The most romantic story deals with the miracle of the oil. When the Jews entered the store rooms they found only one vial of oil that was
not contaminated. It would last for one day....so they lit the Menorah. It would take 8 days to sanctify new oil to replenish the spent oil in the golden lamp but the one vial lasted the full 8 days. This today, is known as the miracle of Chanukah.
Today there is a nine branch Menorah called a Chanukiah. Eight branches for each of the eight days of the miracle. The ninth branch which is behind or off to the side, is the Shammash or servant candle. The Shammash is used to light the other candles. One candle or light, is lit on the first night
and then two on the second and so on for the eight days until on the last day, all eight lights are burning. This is not a Sabbath and there is no prohibition against work or other duties, except for the Sabbath that falls within the celebration. There are no special foods decreed or other rituals other than prayers and reflection on the miracle of God. Today, there are gifts given, usually coins or chocolate or, coins of chocolate called "Chanukah Gelt". Sometimes small gifts are given and in the USA this has become a counterpart to Christmas even though it was not originally so.
We know from John 10:22 that Jesus observed the feast of dedication, or Chanukah. It is called the feast of dedication, it was observed in Jerusalem, and it was winter. Earlier in John 8:12, Jesus makes this statement ; " I am the light of the world : he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." This is made the day after the "great hosanna" or Hoshana Rabbah which is at the end of Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles. Could this image linger in the minds of those who heard him as the Feast of Dedication began?
Jesus is truly the light of the world. We can use Chanukah to remind us of this fact. As we light the 9 branch candelabra each night for 8 nights, we can take the opportunity to remember the miracle of the birth, death and resurrection of our Messiah. There is a parallel in this.
1. Jesus is born, Temple worship is instituted.
2. Jesus dies on the cross, the Temple is desecrated and the worship stops.
3. Jesus is resurrected in glory, The light comes back into the Temple through a miracle of oil. Both by the power of the Holy Spirit. Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit and without it there is no fire or light!
Chanukah is not one of the ordained feasts from Torah, but we do see from scripture that Jesus observed it. Did it have special meaning to Him? Or, was it an opportunity to teach and find an audience in the Temple? I am reminded of Paul's words in I Corinthians 9:22 " To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some."
We need to be like Paul and use Jesus as our pattern. When you go back to the original pattern you are much closer to what the creator had in mind in the first place. As I look at the Menorah or Chanukiah I am reminded of Romans chapter 11. Branches coming out of the same trunk, taking nourishment out of the same root. I find it interesting that the lights rise to the same level no matter where they are grafted into the trunk of the tree and the Servant is set apart. Only the light of the Shammash rises higher and shines distinctly. I simply want to serve my Messiah accurately. The best way I know to do this is by following Him and doing what He said to do.
I will leave you with the charge I have been impressed with from Scripture. It is found in Matthew 28:19 -20. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
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The Rev.Randy Felton is founder of Potter’s Clay Ministries (405-528-7205) 417 NW 42nd St., OKC, OK 73118. Rev. Felton is the author of Jewish Roots of Christianity and Jewish Feasts and Festivals. Email: shalom2@cox.net and his website is located at http://www.haydid.org/potter.htm