What Christians Should Know About Hanukkah 12/13 Wednesday Wisdom

Hanukkah began Tuesday evening, December 12, and continues for eight days.  Here is an article for those of you who are interested in the Jewish roots of Christianity and are willing to read something longer my usual posts.

WHAT CHRISTIANS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HANUKKAH 
by Micheal Rydelnik

https://www.moodyglobal.org/stories/global/2017/the-festival-of-lights-what-christians-should-know-about-chanukah/?utm_campaign=Reach%20-%20December%202017&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

A young Messianic Jewish couple sent their first child to a Christian school for kindergarten. The teacher asked several moms to help with the class Christmas party by bringing cookies. So the Messianic mom volunteered, saying she would also like to bake and bring Chanukah cookies.
This makes perfect sense since Jewish followers of Jesus generally observe both the festival of Chanukah (or Hanukkah) and the birth of the Messiah. But after the sign-up was complete, the kindergarten teacher sent the mom an email, writing that since this was a Christian school, only Christian holidays were allowed to be observed.
Even after the mom tried to explain the significance of Chanukah for Christians, the teacher and school administration remained adamant. They felt the children should not learn about Chanukah, nor should they eat Chanukah treats.
What Christians don’t know about Chanukah
Unfortunately, this well-intentioned teacher is emblematic of what is all too common among Christians: we often fail to understand the Jewish roots of our faith and remain ignorant about the Jewish people. And you might wonder as well: Why would Chanukah cookies be appropriate for a Christian school? Why should Christians learn about or even celebrate Chanukah?
Find out what every Christian should know about Chanukah
To begin with, the events of Chanukah were predicted in the Bible. In Daniel 8, the prophet predicted the rise of “a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue” who will “cause astounding devastation” and “destroy those who are mighty, the holy people” (vv. 23–24).
Additionally, he will “stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power” (v. 25). This passage was written about Antiochus IV, who attempted to destroy the Jewish people and the observance of their biblical faith in 167 BC. He was opposed not just to the people but to their future king, the Messiah Himself.
Daniel 11:31 also speaks of Antiochus, saying that he and “his armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.” This refers to Antiochus’s offering of a swine to Zeus on the altar of the Temple and his prohibition against worship of the true God of Israel.
Daniel 11:32 says that “the people who know their God will firmly resist him.” This refers to the Maccabees, who rose up and, by the hand of God, defeated Antiochus’s army and rededicated the Temple for worship, resulting in the establishment of the festival of Chanukah. In fact, the word Chanukah means “dedication” and commemorates this rededication of the Temple.
Chanukah shows how God preserved the Jewish people
But that’s not the only reason that Christians should know about and honor this traditionally Jewish celebration. The festival of Chanukah reminds us that without it, there would be no Christmas. Antiochus was a genocidal maniac who wanted to destroy the Jewish people. He’s not the first, nor is he the last. If he succeeded, then Jesus—the son of David and the son of Abraham (Matthew 1:1)—would not have been born.
Chanukah reminds us that God preserved the Jewish people so that the Jewish Messiah could be born. The angel told Mary, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:32–33).
Jesus attended a Chanukah celebration
Beyond these reasons, one more significant reason remains. We often ask ourselves, What would Jesus do? Well, John 10:22–23 tells us what Jesus actually did. It says, “Then came the Festival of Dedication (Chanukah) at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts . . .”  Jesus left Galilee to celebrate Chanukah in Jerusalem. It was there He revealed His own deity, declaring, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).
Certainly there are good reasons for followers of Jesus (even those who are not Jewish) to learn about Chanukah, to celebrate it, and yes, even to have five-year-old children in a Christian school enjoy some crunchy and sweet Chanukah cookies.
May you and your loved ones enjoy both Chanukah and Christmas this December.