In our house we are enjoying Advent, but before we get all excited for Christmas there is a season that comes first, the eight days of Hanukkah. Oh Hanukkah. The Jewish festival of lights, of dedication, of God's provision. No, we are not Jewish. So, why do we celebrate this Jewish holiday? Many in our crazy culture could accuse us of "cultural appropriation" or some such silliness. No, it isn't that.
Jesus was a Jew. Jesus celebrate Hanukkah. In order to understand why I think Hanukkah is important, let's discuss what Hanukkah is. Back in the days before Jesus was born the Jews had a series of different cultures coming in and taking over. Babylonians, Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, and the list goes on. About a century before Jesus would be born some zealots from one of the big Jewish families (the Maccabees) had had enough provision. They revolted (to know more search Books of Maccabees online).
Hanukkah celebrates the time right after the revolt when the temple was cleaned and rededicated to God. There was very little oil, it should have only lasted for about 24 hours, but God allowed it to last for eight days (approximately 192 hours) while the Jews worked to clean, purify and rededicate the temple to God (before that it was unused or used by others to worship things that weren't the true God). A miracle indeed.
Hanukkah shows that God provides for His children. God knows what we need most and those Jews needed the oil to last, so God allowed it to last. It shows that God is beyond science and what is expected. God created oil, God created time and God can manipulate the little bit of oil to last for as long as He wants. Hanukkah shows God's love.
Back in a time before electricity was discovered and its power was harnessed, people all over the globe were dependent upon the sun, upon oil and fire for light. God showed that He is the Light of the World, He allows candles to burn as long or as short as He wants. The Jews of Jesus' time understood the dependence upon just a few sources of light, so when Jesus states, "I am the Light of the World." they got it. Light is vitally important and Jesus is that light.
For all these reasons and more my daughter and I celebrate Hanukkah. We celebrate God providing for daily needs. We celebrate God's love. We celebrate the Light of the World. It is a great lead up to Christmas when we celebrate God entering the world as a human. Just a few weeks before Christmas we celebrate God showing His dominion over light and oil, over conventional expectations, we celebrate God seeing a group of people with a specific need and providing. Then, at Christmas we celebrate God doing the unconventional and coming to earth, becoming our salvation, our sacrifice, tearing down the curtain and changing the world. The two go hand in hand.
So, happy Hanukkah to one and all! If you want to know more and incorporate Hanukkah into your family visit: Chabad.com and then go to Pintrest to find all the fun recipes and ways to celebrate God's provision and the re-dedication of the temple to God (now we can use the 8 days to re-dedicate our lives to our Savior as we prepare for Christmas and the annual celebration of what a gift Jesus provided).
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