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Without Hanukkah
there could be no Christmas
continued from page 1
On the 25th of Kislev (a Hebrew month which coincides with December),
165 BCE, they eventually recaptured the Temple in Jerusalem. Antiochus
had viciously desecrated it. He had sacrificed pigs on the Holy
Altar to Zeus and other Greek deities and poured pig's broth all
over the sacred scrolls and vessels. This was a prophetic picture
of what is described in Daniel 9:27 and Matthew 24:15, as the Abomination
of Desolation standing in the Holy Place. The Ner
Tamid (Eternal Light), the candelabra that perpetually burned
in the Holy Place, had been snuffed out. Legends has it, that as
the Temple was being cleansed, enough consecrated oil was found
to last only one day. As they rededicated
the Temple to G-d in faith, lighting the Menorah
(the Candelabra) in the Holy Place, they marveled as the
oil lasted and the light kept burning for 7 more days, until more
holy oil could be consecrated. This is how long they celebrated
their victory. They also celebrated for 8 days to commemorate the
Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles), which takes place in Tishri (a Hebrew
month which coincides with September & October). Sukkot has
a ceremony where great menorahs are lit in the courtyard of the
Temple. That's when Y'shua (Jesus) said, "I am the Light of
the world." John 10:22 reveals to us that Y'shua went to Jerusalem
during the Feast of Dedication (Hannukah)
Today, Hannukah, which means Dedication,
is celebrated for 8 days by lighting candles and retelling the story
of how G-d miraculously delivered His people from tyranny and also
caused the oil to supernaturally keep burning for 8 days and nights.
We need to understand that if there had been no Hannukah, there
could be no miraculous birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem to a young
Jewish virgin named Miryam (Mary) and thus, there would be no Christmas.
Proverbs 20:27 instructs us that, "the spirit of man is the
candle of the L-RD. There are 9 candles on a Hannukah menorah. The
9th candle is called the Shammash (or Servant), which lights all
the others. John 1:9 says that, "He was the True Light, that
lights everyone that comes into the world." We can also rededicate
ourselves to G-d as we are reminded in Matthew 5:14-16 that we are,
"the Light of the world, not to hide our light under a bushel
and to let our light shine so others might give glory to our Father
in Heaven."
The nine candles also speak to us of the nine gifts & fruit
of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit),
which need to be rekindled in us through rededication of our lives
as a living sacrifice to G-d. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 teaches us that
our bodies are the Temples of the Holy Spirit,
we are to therefore glorify G-d in our body and our spirit. The
Shammash, or servant candle is used to kindle the others. In the
same way, each of us is used to ignite faith, hope and love in the
hearts of those whose lives are touched by ours. Isaiah, the Prophet,
called Y'shua, G-d's Servant (Isaiah 52:13). Y'shua declared that
He came not be served, but to serve (Matthew 20:28). Y'shua calls
upon all who follow Him to be the servants of all (Mark 10:44).
This Hannukah may we DEDICATE our lives, as Temples of the Holy
Spirit, to be holy for His glory and to be bright lights, shining
in a dark world, holding for the Word of Life. (Philippians 2:15).
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