Happy Hannukah! 12/22 Thursday thoughts

I usually break from the traditional quotes on Jewish holidays to do some teaching on the meaning of Jewish holidays to Christians today.


Hannukah (Chanukah) began at sundown Tuesday, December 20, and continues for eight nights.

Chanukah is a beautiful holy day which was celebrated by Y’shua (Jesus) Himself. . . This holy day is prophetically mentioned in the book of Daniel.

Most surprising to both the Jewish and the Christian communities is that the clearest mention of Chanukah in the Bible... is in the Fulfilled Covenant (the New Testament) ! "Then came Chanukah in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Y’shua was walking around inside the Temple area, in Solomon’s Colonnade" (John 10:22–23). . . The people who do not normally celebrate Chanukah have the most explicit reference to it in the Fulfilled Covenant! This brings us to the core reason why Believers in Messiah Y’shua might want to understand and celebrate this holy day. The Messiah celebrated it!

Not only did Y’shua celebrate Chanukah, but He observed it in the same Temple that had been cleansed and rededicated just a few generations earlier under the Maccabee brothers.

Many Jewish scholars see a deeper spiritual meaning to Chanukah. . . Because Chanukah is a celebration of deliverance, it has also become a time to express Messianic hope. Just like the Maccabees were used by YHWH 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 Y’shua celebrated the feast 2,000 years ago in Jerusalem. Amidst the festivities, Y’shua was approached by some rabbis who asked a simple question: "How much longer are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us publicly" (John 10:24). The answer to this very appropriate question is contained in Y’shua’s fundamental Chanukah message. He clearly reiterates His claim and the proofs of His Messiahship as can clearly be seen in John 10:25–39.

(quoted from Hebrew Roots Teaching Institute, a Facebook group)

Hannukah celebrates the miracle of lights. Its enduring meaning is that God still does miracles!

The closing of the candle-lighting prayer reads: "We kindle these lights for the miracles and the wonders, for the redemption and the battles which You performed for our forefathers in those days at this season. . . During all eight days of Chanukah these lights are sacred and we are not permitted to make ordinary use of them but only to look at them in order to express thanks and praise to Your great Name for your miracles, your wonders, and your salvation.