HANUKKAH: A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

Marcella Ward   December 6, 2023

Hanukkah, often referred to as the “Festival of Lights” is a Jewish holiday.  Hanukkah began at sunset, December 10 of this year and ends at nightfall on December 18. 

The Jewish people were oppressed under Antiochus Epiphanes.  He outlawed religious rites and massacred Jews who refused to bow.  He offered pigs and unclean sacrifices on the Temple altar.  He forced Jewish people into his own world view.  Everyone was ordered to worship Zeus as the supreme god. 

A small group of Jews led guerilla warfare against the Syrian army.  The leaders of the Jewish army were Matityahu and his son Judah Maccabee.  The Maccabbees supernaturally succeeded in driving the Syrian army from their land and when they arrived at the Holy Temple it was devastated and defiled.  They cleansed the Temple and re-dedicated it.  This happened on the 25^th day of Kislev on the Jewish calendar, which is in the winter.

When they came to relight the Temple Menorah (the seven-branched lampstand), they were only able to find one small jar of oil-bearing the required seal of purity by the High Priest.  The small jar of oil burned for eight days.  From then, on Jews around the world observe a holiday of lighting candles for eight days in honor of this miracle and historic victory.

Jesus is the light of the world.  When Jesus was born into the world there was a lot of darkness.  There is a lot of darkness in our world right now.  Jesus warned of someone called the anti-christ who will force his world view on the world and force everyone to acknowledge him as god.  (adapted from “The Message of Hanukkah for Christians” by Roy Bentley December 11, 2019)

 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”  ⁴ Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. ⁵ For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. ⁶ You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. ⁷ Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All these are the beginning of birth pains.  Matthew 24:3-8 (NIV)

While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”  John 9:5 (NIV)

⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

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.”  John 8:12 (NIV)

 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  I John 1:5-9 (NIV)

This month has the shortest days of the year.  There is not as much daylight as other months.  It is during this time that we celebrate Hanukkah or “The Festival of Lights” and Christmas in which the Light of the World was born.  Light dispels darkness.  In Genesis 1:3-5 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ⁴ God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness ⁵ God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. (NIV)

We need to let our lights shine before men.  No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.  Luke 11:33 (NIV)

So during this season of “light,” let your light shine because of Christ living in you.  Be a healer with that beautiful smile.  Choose words of compassion to mend a broken heart.  Be a helping hand and a listening ear.  Speak words of encouragement and whatever the Holy Spirit encourages you to do and be for others.  Remember that light dispels darkness and darkness cannot overcome light and JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD!

Marcella Ward     December 6, 2023   Author of "Stolen Identity: Plan of the Evil One"