It’s interesting to me that the only place Hanukkah is mentioned is in the New Testament.
John 10:22 refers to it as “The Feast of Dedication,” and it is here that JESUS, the Son of God, is described as walking in the Temple of Solomon.
Unveiling the Mystery of Hanukkah
Why did Jesus, God in the flesh, observe Hanukkah? To unravel this, we delve into the heart of Hanukkah, an eight-day jubilation commemorating The Maccabees — resilient Hebrew militants who defied the oppressive Seleucid Emperor Antiochus, liberating Jerusalem from Greek dominion.
Antiochus, self-styled as “Epiphanes” or “God manifest,” incurred the disdain of the Jews. His sacrilegious sacrifice of pigs in the Temple, his abominable statue of Zeus and forbidding circumcision, sparked a rebellion led by the indomitable priest Mattathias and his sons, aptly named the “Macabees” or “hammers.”
The legend of the golden Menorah, miraculously lit for eight days with only a day’s worth of oil, adds a touch of divine intervention to their triumphant recapture of Jerusalem, rededication of the Temple, and restoration of religious liberty.
Jesus in the Temple
Now, envision Jesus walking in the Temple during Hanukkah. As inquisitive Jews surround Him, demanding clarity about His identity, Jesus responds with a profound revelation. Despite His miracles and signs, the people struggle to believe. “I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE!” (John 10:30) declares Jesus, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation.
Consider the audacity of Jesus standing in the very Temple where Antiochus once proclaimed himself God. Unlike Antiochus though, Jesus actually is God. He is the Temple. The Temple rededicated by the Macabees, now houses the divine presence of Jesus, who is rejected by His own people. The Jews pick up stones to stone Jesus because Jesus made Himself God.
Hanukkah’s Deeper Significance
Hanukkah becomes a profound celebration of Jesus revealing Himself as the light of the Menorah, the God of Mattathias, and the embodiment of the real Epiphanes — God manifested. His mission is to liberate humanity from the beastly spirit that was at work in Antiochus, a blueprint of the Anti-Christ.
In the book of Revelation, the symbolism of the Menorah is profound. Jesus, amidst seven golden lampstands, representing the Church, reinforces the enduring presence of God among His people.
The Menorah – A Symbol of Victory
As the Menorah represents God’s presence, His eyes, His spirit, and His people, it becomes evident that Jesus is the new Macabean general. He stands amidst His menorah, leading a victorious march against the forces of darkness symbolized by the beast and the serpent, echoing the triumph over Antiochus.
Quoting Matthew 5:14–15, Jesus declares, “You are the light of the world.” In Christ, we become the miraculously kindled light that testifies to God’s triumph and the victory bestowed upon His people.
Why celebrate Hanukkah? Because it is a poignant reminder that we are the Menorah of Christ, an unextinguishable light in a spiritual guerilla war where our victorious general has conquered. Hanukkah, then, is not just a festival; it is a beacon of hope, signifying the reign of Christ the King.
Happy Hanukkah everyone, Christ is King!!!
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