The Jews remembered the purification of the Jerusalem Temple that was defiled by the Syrian King Antiochus Epiphanes in 169 B.C. The defiled Temple was purified and dedicated in 165 B.C by Judas Maccabeus. This event was celebrated every year thereafter. This is the popular festival of lights of the Jewish community called “Hanukkah”. It is also known as the Feast of the Lights. This 8-day event was established by King Hezekiah as seen in 2 Chr 29:17.
At the time of our Lord Jesus, the Temple of Jerusalem had in it a seven branched lamp (Menorah), and also an eight branched lamp called the chanukan lamp. During the eight day festival, the first candle of the eight branched lamp would be lit on the first day. Two candles lit in the second day and so on until the eigth day when all the candles would be lit.
At the purification of the temple, jewish tradition states that a miracle took place. Only a small amount of sacred oil was available to light and keep alight the lamps. The miracle was that the lamps kept going until new oil was consecrated. The small amount lasted eight days.
Hanukkah is briefly mentioned in the Gospel and only it seems in passing. “And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication and it was winter” (John 10:22).
We do not have much to go on. Perhaps the reason for this maybe that the real miracle that brought deliverance so often to the people of Israel had for the first time their Messiah, their Saviour in their midst. But for now he was passing through on his way to the place waiting for him, a place only he could go for you and for me to the Cross. It is here for Jew and Gentile that Jesus took our place and judgement for our sins.
Hanukkah reminds us that God is with us in a miraculous way and that after 2000 years the oil of the Holy Ghost has not dried up. The glow of eight candles burning together is much brighter than one. It also reminds that though we may not fully understand all that God is doing we know that one day “All the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord”.
Perhaps there is another reference to Hanukkah in the Gospel of St. John 20: 26 that, when the Apostle Thomas desperate and wants to believe but found things so tough. We read that Jesus came to his rescue after eight days. If at this time we too are finding things tough Hanukkah gives us encouragement to keep going through our struggles for Jesus will surely come. Amen.
Hanukkah celebrates during the month of December and it is the Feast of the Lights. Christmas also consider as the feast of the lights, for it is the remembrance of the birth of the Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.
Article by:–
Pastor Paul Ciniraj,
Salem Voice Ministries,
Devalokam (P.O), Kottayam,
Kerala-686038, India.
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Paul Ciniraj said,
Please correct the mistake at the last sentence of the first paragraph. In this article it is mentioned, “This 8-day event was established by King Hezekiah as seen in 2 Kings 29:17″.
I am really sorry. The reference 2 Kings 29:17 is mentioned by mistake. The actual reference is 2 Chronicles 29:17.
Please make it clear as 2 Chr 29:17.
in Jesus
Pastor Paul Ciniraj
Salem Voice Ministries
http://salemvoice.org
December 16, 2006 at 12:14 am