It began with the Star of Bethlehem, God’s divine guidepost to the wise seekers who followed it to the Christ Child:
“And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy” (Matt. 2:10). Thirty years later, when He was ready to be revealed as Messiah, John the Baptist, His announcer, declared “He is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (Jn. 1:9). For the next three years Jesus ministered to His Jewish brethren to whom He was sent (Matt. 10:5-6) and to Gentiles who sought Him out (Matt. 8:5, 15:22). He did the works that no man could do except he was sent from God (Jn. 3:2), and many gladly embraced the light, while others clung to the darkness to conceal their sins (Jn. 3:19-21).
One of the Messianic signs Jesus fulfilled was to heal one born blind. Jesus made it clear that this healing was to manifest the works of God, and He said, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Then He spat on the ground and made clay and anointed the blind man’s eyes, and sent him to wash them in the pool of Siloam, and he returned seeing (Jn. 9:4-7). This miracle was even more significant, because it took place during the feast of the dedication. A 9-lamp candlestand would have been burning brightly in the temple, when Jesus made this startling declaration.
The Festival of Lights
It takes place in winter, usually December and lasts for 8 days (begins 12/12 this year). Although not one of the feasts of the Lord given to Moses, Jesus kept the feast as we have seen. The reason it is not in the Bible is that it occurred during the intertestmental period. Israel had become sinful, rebellious, and about half-way through this period, Alexander the Great conquered the world of the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Hellenization began (secularization into Greek culture). Upon his early death, his empire was divided up by his 4 generals. Israel was under the control of Antiochus Epiphanes. Rather than exterminate the Jews, he tried to force them to accept Greek culture: He forbade the honoring of the Torah, the Sabbath, the Feasts, Circumcision, and all Jewish observances. Women were killed for circumcising their sons, and their infants were hanged. People were put to death for refusing to eat pork and other unclean animals forbidden under Mosaic law.
Even worse, the Holy Temple was desecrated, defiled: A statue of Zeus was erected in the Holy of Holies, and a pig was sacrificed on the holy altar! This was the coup de gras! Yet because of their Hellenization, many Jews did nothing. They had become assimilated into the pagan culture.
Finally, some Jews revolted. Led by a family of father and sons, they formed an army of guerilla warriors who resisted the Greeks. They were greatly outnumbered, but they fought courageously and drove them out of the city and the temple! Their motto was: “WHO IS LIKE YOU O LORD, AMONG THE MIGHTY.” When you take the first letter of each word in the Hebrew, they spell MACCABEE. Thus they became known as the Maccabees.
Having driven the heathen out, they needed to repair and re-dedicate the temple right away. Dedication was an 8-day process and required the use of sanctified oil for the Lampstand, the 7-stick Menorah that stood in the first room of the sanctuary. They only had a one day supply of holy oil, and it would take 8 days to make more, but they lit the menorah anyway and began the sanctification process. Miraculously, the oil burned for 8 days!
This began the Feast of Dedication or Hanukah. (Hanukah means dedication).
Today the Jews celebrate the festival with a 9 stick mennorah, one for each day the oil burned, and the center one is the “servant candle” which is used to light the others. (Jesus came a servant and the light that lights every man.) Everyday, for 8 days, the candles are lit–one on the first day, two on the second, etc., until on the last day, all are lit. This is why it is also called the Festival of Lights. The Jewish People have been set apart by God for a unique purpose upon the earth, and Satan has always sought to destroy them through annihilation and/or assimilation. But as with the Maccabees, God has always raised up a valiant remnant to maintain His light to the world.
We are also called to be LIGHTS IN THE WORLD, and we can only shine as we are continually filled with God’s Holy Oil. He is the Source, and in Him there is a limitless supply. We have this anointing in our earthen vessels, and we must stay Spirit-filled so we can allow the excellency of His power to shine through us (2 Cor. 4:7, Eph. 5:18).
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