Festival of Dedication - Hanukkah

It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication. -John 10:22

This week is the Feast of Dedication, the Festival of Lights, commonly known as Hanukkah. Our Lord Himself celebrated the Festival of Dedication, so let us consider what significance it could hold for us as we follow Him in the obedience of faith.

Let’s start with a quick background recap on Hanukkah, which originally took place about 165 years before Christ was born, in the time between Malachi and Matthew, the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament.

Prior to the events of Hanukkah, Antiochus IV of Syria had bargained with the Jewish Ruling Council, the Sanhedrin, to "Hellenize" Jerusalem and the Temple area, even selling the High Priesthood to the highest bidder. Greek culture was incorporated into the city and the Temple area so that God's people and the region could attract more trade and participate in the global marketplace.

The faithful among God’s people resisted this Hellenization and rose up against it to defend their religious freedom and right to rule themselves autonomously. When they heard a rumor that Antiochus had been killed on the battlefield in Egypt, they rejoiced, but when Antiochus passed through town to find them celebrating his death, he crushed their rebellion against him with rage and fury. The Syrians took over Jerusalem, killed many Jews, looted the Temple of God, forbid circumcision, abolished daily offerings and sacrifices, set up an altar to Zeus in the Temple of God, and offered unclean pigs as sacrifices on the altar to deliberately defile and desecrate it. The practice of Judaism was essentially outlawed, and abominations took place in God’s Temple. On the Temple Mount, he set up an idol statue of himself and declared Himself to be God. His name, Antiochus Epiphanes, literally means “manifestation of God.”

Then, in a series of wars, the five sons of a faithful priest, Mattathias Maccabee, led by his son, Judah Maccabee, revolted against Antiochus IV, reclaimed the Temple area, and re-dedicated it to God. Hanukkah literally means “Dedication.” The Maccabean Revolt successfully resulted in an independent Jewish kingdom, called the Hasmonean Dynasty, which lasted for about 100 years until the Roman Empire spread throughout the world.

But, what happens next in the Hanukkah story is only legend. Once the Temple was reclaimed, the first and most important thing to do in dedicating it to God was to light the lamp of the Lord, the eternal flame, which symbolized God’s presence in the Temple and with His people. It was a permanent ordinance of Jewish law that this light should never go out. They searched through the Temple for oil that had not been defiled by the Syrians but found only enough pure oil to last for one night. The legend says that God caused this oil to last for eight days and nights, which was exactly the length of time it took the priests to prepare and consecrate pure, holy oil to fulfill the command of keeping the Temple lamp burning. Jews celebrate Hanukkah each year for eight days and nights to celebrate the Temple’s rededication and remember the story of the miraculous oil.

But again, this story is only legend. This is because once the Jewish people were again subjected to Gentile oppressors, the Jewish leaders wanted to celebrate God’s Hanukkah victory for His people but did not want to glorify an example of uprising against Gentile authorities. Stirring up dreams of resistance and rebellion in the hearts of Jewish men, women, and children could be dangerous and self-defeating. (Ultimately, revolts like this were crushed conclusively in 66AD, 70AD, and 132AD.) Therefore, so as to not foster or ignite unnecessary conflicts or untimely uprisings every time Hanukkah is celebrated, the legend of Hanukkah was created to highlight God’s miraculous power and glorious presence with His people as the light of the world. It is often called the Festival of Lights.

When Jesus walked on earth, Hanukkah was called the Feast of Dedication, and He observed it. While He was in the Temple area during Hanukkah, the Jews gathered around Him and asked Him point blank if He was the Messiah. Essentially, they were asking Him if He was going to be the next Judah Maccabee to lead them into rebellion against Rome and restore Jewish independence. In response, Jesus plainly stated that His works testify about Him, and that He and the Father are one, which is an absolute claim of deity. Like Antiochus IV in the Hanukkah story, Jesus was on the Temple Mount declaring Himself to be God (except that Jesus was telling the truth). For this, the leaders immediately sought to stone Jesus for blasphemy. But, Jesus defended His claim by quoting Psalm 82, making it clear that His miraculous works prove that He is a divine being, not just a man. (In the prior chapter, He had opened the eyes of the blind, something a mere man could not do.) Jesus also referred to Himself as “the one whom the Father dedicated and sent” which, because He was speaking Hebrew, means He literally said, “the one whom the Father Hanukkah-ed and sent.” Jesus is the Dedicated One, He is the Hanukkah Temple. So, He doubled down by stating that God is in Him and He is in God, making them inseparably united as one. In no uncertain terms, Jesus is claiming to be God contained in human form as a messenger, and that His miraculous works prove that this is true. Of course, for this, they again sought to arrest Him.

Interestingly, it was during the Festival of Dedication that Jesus was conceived in His mother's womb. Nine months later, He was born during the Fall Feasts (i.e. Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles) indicating His purpose to sound the alarm calling all people to repentance before the day of judgment, to provide forgiveness of sins to all who believe in Him, and to dwell among His people in a “tent” of flesh as the true Temple of God and the Light of the world.

Until Jesus returns, His followers are God's Temple and the light of the world. We are God’s people, His children, and He is with us. Jesus speaks about this while He is attending the Hanukkah celebration. He says He knows who His followers are, and His followers know Him. No one can be snatched out of His hand. His Spirit burning within us is the assurance of His presence and through this, He fulfills the Temple ordinance of everlasting light because He never leaves us or forsakes us. In fact, nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Not calamity, persecution, hunger, destitution, danger, or even death. God is with us, and we are more than conquerors, for He has already overcome all of our real oppressors.

The events of Hanukkah also serve as a historical example which foreshadows a day still yet to come. When the antichrist is raised up to power, he will set up the abomination that causes desolation, stand in the temple and declare himself to be God, and attest to himself with false signs and wonders. But then, Jesus will return to deliver His people and rededicate the whole world back to God. We wait joyfully and expectantly for this.

Every year, the Jews celebrate the light of God’s presence with them, and remember the story of their victory over evil oppression and the Temple’s rededication. Even after the Temple was defiled by unclean, abominable pagan practices of worshipping the gods of this world, it could be restored to God through faithful devotion and obedience of God’s people, and through the light of God’s presence burning within it again.

In light of this, (pun intended) let us hold a Festival of Dedication during this time of Hanukkah. Let us dedicate and re-dedicate ourselves, our temples, our bodies, our lives, and everything we have to God for His Kingdom and glory. Let us clean out any and all forms and traces of pagan worship, and any uncleanness, worldliness, or ungodliness, and let us be restored and renewed by the purity of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. Let us consecrate ourselves to God’s service and walk in the obedience of faith because Jesus is the eternal flame within us, and His flame will never go out.

Happy Hanukkah! 

Scriptures for Hanukkah Reflection

 Traditional Reading: The Apocryphal Books of 1-2 Maccabees