The Feast of Dedication

John 10:22-23 NIV

22Then came the Feast of Dedication^[a] at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade.

[a. John 10:22 That is, Hanukkah]

I love to study the Word of God and I love HIStory! Tonight is the first night of the eight day Feast of Dedication or the Feast of Hanukkah. This festival begins each year on the 25^th day of Kislev, which is a lunar month on the Hebrew calendar. It usually falls in November or December on the Gregorian calendar.

This festival commemorates the victory the Hebrews had over Antiochus a.k.a. “The Madman.” He was the bad of the bad. He took power over the Seleucid throne in 175 BCE. It was prophesied in Daniel about this “Madman.” After being defeated by the Romans in Egypt, he turned north and took the land of Israel. He sacked the city, and slaughtered thousands of citizens publicly and disgracefully. He stole gold and silver from the Holy Temple and desecrated the Temple with pagan idols.

However, there was a band of Freedom Fighters lead by Judah Maccabee who rose up and overthrew this “Madman.” This complete story is told in the apocryphal book of 1 Maccabees. The Maccabees recaptured Jerusalem and purified and rededicated the Holy Temple. After this, they established a memorial to remember this anniversary and to celebrate the restoration.

Legend has it that during the restoration phase of the Temple that they only found enough oil to light the menorah for only one day. It would take eight days before more oil could be obtained. They lit the menorah and miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days. Therefore, some say that this is the reason Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days. Each night of the celebration another light is light. Let’s remember that Jesus is the Light of the World. (John 9:5).

Well the history records the Maccabees victory over the “Madman” in the apocrypha. Jesus observed the Feast of Dedication. There is so much more to this part of HIStory.

I just want to wish all my Jewish friends and Messianic believers out there –

Happy Hanukkah!

Genesis 12:2-3

2 "I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you."

Source: Light in the Darkness; Hanukkah and the Disciples of Yeshua, A First Fruits of Zion Anthology