Hannukah
"Hannukah, or "The Feast of Dedication," stands out among the celebrations of the Bible. This is because it does not appear among the Feasts of the Lord in Leviticus 23. Despite the fact that Hannukah is not spoken of by Moses, we should not assume that it is therefore non-biblical."
- Barney Kasdan, God's Appointed Times
Where is it mentioned?
"Then came Hannukah in Yerushalayim. It was winter, and Yeshua was walking around inside the Temple area, in Shlmo's Colonnade." (John 10:22-23) The vision given to the prophet Daniel is an amazingly detailed decription of the events surrounding Hanukkah. As he describes the coming kingdoms that would have impact on Israel, Daniel writes: "The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes is the first king. The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power" (Daniel 8:21-22). This is a graphic description of the rise of the Hellenistic empire with its strong central leader (the large horn). Alexander the Great was indeed broken by his early death. His four generals (the four horns) split the kingdom between themselves. Yet there were even more specific details given by Daniel: "In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy mighty men and the holy people. He will cause deceit to power, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power (Daniel 8:23-25). According to the word given Daniel, the focal point of this Hellenistic kingdom would be a leader who, by a power not his own, would persecute the Jewish people. He would magnify himself through his brutal attacks and words, as was the case with Antiochus who called himself Epiphanes ("God manifest")! Yet God promised that this evil ruler would be broken without human agency. What an important time of history to understand! What a great celebration Hanukkah should be!
What does it look like?
In seeking a practical expression for this holy day, believers in Messiah Yeshua can incorporate many beautiful traditions. The observance is centered on the menorah and what it represents. Each evening during Hanukkah the family and friends can gather to light the menorah with the appropriate number of candles. The branches of the hanukkiyah represent the eight days of Hanukkah, plus one shamash, "servant," candle used to light the others. ​ On the first night of Hanukkah, after sundown, the shamash candle is lit, which in turn is used to kindle one other candle in the Menorah. The second night, we light the shamash again and use it to light two candles. This continues through the eight nights of the Hanukkah. It should be noted that the appropriate numbers of candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, yet they are kindled by the shamash from left to right. ​ During the lighting of the shamash and the appropriate number of candles, the following blessings are chanted: ​ Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has set us apart by your commandments and commanded us to kindle the light of Hanukkah. This is the traditional blessings used by Jewish people. Some believers in Messiah adapt some of the words to reflect their messianic faith. For example, "...in the name of Yeshua, the light of the world." ​ Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has done miracles for our fathers in the days at this season. ​ First Night Only Add: ​ Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has kept us in life, sustained us and brought us to this season. ​ After lighting the candles and singing the blessings, a rousing chorus of one of the Hanukkah songs is appropriate. Then its time to sit down to a festive meal. As you enjoy these wonderful customs, remember the important lessons associated with the Feast of Dedication.
Why should I care?
The people who normally celebrate this holy day, the Jewish people, have scant biblical references for it; yet the people who do not normally celebrate Hanukkah have the most explicit reference to it, in the New Testament! This brings us to the first reason believers in Messiah might want to understand and celebrate this holy day. The Messiah celebrated it. Not only did Yeshua celebrate Hanukkah, but he observed it in the same Temple that had been cleansed and redidicated just a few generations earlier under the Maccabees. Because Hanukkah is a celebration of deliverance, it has also become a time to express messianic hope. Just as the Maccabees were used by God to redeem Israel, perhaps the greatest redeemer, the Messiah, would also come at this time! With this understanding, we more fully appreciate the scenes that unfolded as Yeshua celebrated the feast 2000 years ago in Jerusalem where He clearly reiterates his claim and the proofs of his Messiahship (John 10:25-39). Hanukkah recalls a military victory of Israel, and the implications are vast. If Antiochus had succeeded in his campaign of anti-Semitism and destruction, there would have been no Jews by the time of Yeshua. The miracle of Christmas could only take place after the miracle of Hanukkah! Certainly all believers in Jesus Christ have important reasons to remember this Feast of Dedication. Messiah, our deliverer, has come! As with all the biblical holy days, there are spiritual lessons to be learned from Hanukkah - light, courage, and faith, to name a few. Perhaps the most vital one is seen in its name. This festival commemorates a time when the true worship of God was restored in Jerusalem. The Temple in Jerusalem no longer stands today. The heart of each true believer in Yeshua the Messiah and savior is the temple where the Spirit of God dwells. Too often believers endanger the cleanliness of this Temple by allowing idolatry into their lives. Hence the timeless exhortation from Scripture: ​ "Run from sexual immorality! Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the fornicator sins against his own body. Or don't you know that your body is a Temple for the Holy Spirit who lives inside you, whom you received from God? The fact is, you don't belong to yourselves; for you were bought at a price. So use your bodies to glorify God." (1 Corinthians 6:18-20) ​ May we indeed be temples for the Messiah, cleansed and dedicated for the Master's use!
