Jesus Seen in Chanukah - The Festival of Lights

As we celebrate the birth of Christ Jesus this Christmas season, our Jewish friends will be celebrating CHANUKAH (pronounced Hanukkah).Chanukah, or the Festival of Lights, is a time for families to remember the historic victory of the Maccabees, orthodox Jews loyal to God and the Torah, following a three-year uprising to overthrow the heathen ruler Antiochus. It is a time to celebrate God’s mighty miracles and the victory of the Jewish people.

As part of the Jewish families’ remembrance and celebration, they speak eight blessings over their families. Each night the family takes the Shammash candle, in the center of their menorah, usually slightly elevated over the others, and lights one additional candle per night. As each candle is lit, a blessing is spoken over their family and gifts are often given. Generally, the Chanukah Menorah will be displayed in a window or other place for others to see. Even though we appreciate the historical significance of Chanukah, it’s not normally considered a Christian holiday. If we take a closer look, however, can we see Christ Jesus in this celebration?

A Brief History of the Chanukah Story

Antiochus overtook and ruled Jerusalem for three years with the help of traitor Hellenist Jews (Jews who favored Greek culture) and the self-appointed High Priest, Jason. Antiochus determined to remove all traces of orthodox Jewish faith. He identified Jehovah God with Jupiter .He erected a pagan idol on the altar of the Temple of God and offered swine sacrifices on the altar. He refused the people the right to practice circumcision, Sabbath worship, and even to celebrate Jewish holidays under penalty of death. All copies of the Holy Scriptures were ordered destroyed. These pagan laws were enforced with great cruelty.

In the village of Modin a devout elderly priest, Mattathias, was called to offer a pagan sacrifice on the altar of God, but he refused. Instead, he slew both the weak Jew who stepped forward to do it for him and the representative of Antiochus. His five sons joined Mattathias immediately, destroyed the pagan idol sitting on the altar of God and then fled to the hills. Mattathias died shortly after, but his third son Judas (Hebrew – Judah), known as the Maccabee, or the Hammer, formed guerilla forces to “hammer” away at the pagan occupation forces for the next three years.

The Maccabees recaptured Jerusalem in 165 BC, cleansed the Temple of God and restored traditional Jewish services. All of this was done with a ridiculously small military force and the supernatural help of God. Many stories of miracles are told during the eight-day celebration describing the wonders of God imparted to Jews as they suffered and sometimes died nobly for God as they supernaturally won the victory. Chanukah means dedication, because after the Temple was reclaimed, it had to rededicated back to God.

The Lighting of the Menorah

A large Menorah (meaning light), or lampstand, normally stood in the temple symbolizing the eternal covenant between God and the Jewish people and was to never stop burning. The light had been extinguished during the pagan occupation of the Temple, however. Upon reclaiming the temple, Judas and his soldiers wanted to relight the Menorah but were not able to find the container of oil bearing the seal of the High Priest required to fuel the flames. As a quick fix, the soldiers used unconsecrated oil found lying outside the Temple, pouring it on the tips of eight spears. They lit the spears and used them as the light for the altar. Their makeshift light was a symbol that life and the presence of God had returned to the temple.

Someone later found enough consecrated oil to light the Menorah for one day .After it was lit, the oil supernaturally burned for eight days. At the end of the eight-days, enough oil had been produced to keep the Menorah on the altar burning continually.

How is Christ Jesus Seen in this Wonderful Jewish Celebration?

The traditional Menorah on the altar of the temple was a sevenfold lampstand. In John’s revelation of Jesus, we see the son of man standing in the middle of the seven golden lampstands.

Revelation 1:12-18; “Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” (NASB)

The Shammash Brings Light to Others

In the Chanukah celebration, the Shammash (the special center candle) sets the other candles aflame. The eight, rather than seven, candles are lit each night after dark (except on the Sabbath) and placed near a window for all to see. Each candle represents one of the days the Menorah burned supernaturally. Just like Christ Jesus, the Shammash brings light to others.

Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be a light to us.

Isaiah 42:6-8 “I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, 7 to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. 8 “I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.

When Jesus was dedicated to the Lord as a baby, Simeon prophesied over Him calling him a light of revelation to us the Gentiles.

Luke 2:30-32 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.

Jesus the True Light

John 1:6-9 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

As Christ Jesus is the Light… May We All Let the Light of Jesus Shine Through Us!

Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

The Shammash Serves the Others

The Shammash candle serves the others. In scripture, Jesus is referred to as God’s Holy Servant.

Acts 4:29-30 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

Matthew 20:26-28 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

As Christ Jesus is the Servant, Let Us Serve Others!

1 Peter 4:10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

As our Jewish friends celebrate Chanukah every year, they may or may not realize that Jesus is the one who stands in the middle of the golden candlestick. Jesus is the one who brings us light and life .Jesus is the one who has come to be a servant of all. Christ Jesus is clearly seen in the celebration of Chanukah.

Celebrating Chanukah in Your Church or Ministry

One of the most anticipated services at our church during the holiday season is the celebration of Chanukah. We celebrate it on the first Wednesday night after Thanksgiving to prepare our hearts for Christmas. It is an extremely sweet and warm time together as a church family and an incredibly special night for all.

• We normally begin by telling the history of the Maccabees, the great supernatural victory, and the rededication of the temple.
• We then show from scripture that Jesus, like the Shammah, is the true light and the holy servant of God who serves and brings light to us all.

The most impactful part of the service comes at the end of the evening. Following the example of our Jewish friends, we also speak eight blessings over the families of our church for the upcoming year.

We pray for the eight blessings that we would like to come upon us as a church, and then we speak them over our church family. We assign eight leaders within the church to light a candle and speak a blessing. We choose the leaders from our staff, ministry leaders, or life group leaders. Each person speaking the blessing is assigned the topic of blessing but is responsible for finding supporting scriptures, writing the blessing, and, by faith, speaking it over our church families.

When the time comes to speak each blessing, the leader announces the blessing he or she is about to speak, shares the scriptures, lights their candle, speaks the blessing, and the church responds to the blessing saying, “By faith, we receive.”

Allow me to share how we do the eight blessings. Of course, this is just an example. You can and should tailor the format to fit your church.

Instructions for those speaking the blessing:

The speaker of the blessing will speak a blessing for an assigned topic over the Church. (1-3 minutes)

1. Introduce your blessing topic. Example: “We are blessing you with a Spirit of Unity”.

2. Scripture and/or exhortations. Example: The Word of God states in Ps 133:1

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” (NIV)We are to walk in unity… etc.

3. Using the center candle, light your one candle, working from the outside in, alternating from the left to the right.

4. Lift your right hand of blessing and speak the blessing. Say, “Please lift your right hand to signify you are receiving the blessing.”

5.Speak your blessing. Example: “We bless you and the members of Believers Church with a Spirit of Unity. In Jesus’ name, we pray and bless. Amen.”

6. Lead the people in responding by saying, “By faith, we receive.”

Other Interesting Facts

The Dreidel. During the celebration of Hanukkah, children play a game with a four-sided top called a dreidel. There is a different Hebrew letter on each side. The letters stand for the words: “A Great Miracle Happened There.”

Maoz Tzur. A traditional song of praise sung for the rededication of the Temple. This is sung after the candles are lit. Maoz Tzur is translated “Rock of Ages.”

I encourage you to try a Chanukah blessing service in your church or organization. We have seen God do wonderful things in our church as a result of the blessings spoken and received in faith.

As we celebrate Chanukah, let the flame of God burn bright within us, fueled by the oil of the Holy Spirit, and let us rededicate ourselves today to be a light to the word and servant to all.

Pastor Scott Moore 11-16-23

Believers Church of Statesboro

www.believersstatesboro.com / scott.moore@believersmail.com

Special Thanks: I want to give a special thank you to Reverend Bill Ligon who taught me the power of the blessing in the eighties. He also taught me how to do a blessing service. For more information concerning praying and speaking blessings over your family and ministry, I recommend his book, Imparting the Blessing, by William T. Ligon, Sr.