Friday, December 3, 2010

Yeshua is the Light of Hanukkah

Let the candle-lighting begin!  Yes, Hanukkah started Wednesday night at sundown...and a delightful holiday it is. 



I am so blessed to be able to celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas.  Granted I don't celebrate Christmas like most people do, but it is a joyful time for me as a Jewish believer in Yeshua (Jesus) as the Messiah. 

As Messianic Jewish believers, we celebrate this holiday in remembrance of a great miracle God performed for the Jews.   Each night for eight days, my husband and I place colorful candles in a Hanukkah menorah in remembrance of God’s miracle working power. 

The holiday originated when Judah the Maccabee and his followers reclaimed the temple from Syrian King Antiochus IV. The temple was cleansed and prepared for rededication. The Hebrew word Hanukkah means "dedication." When the sacred temple Menorah (candelabra) was relit, there was only enough sacred oil to burn for one day. Yet,  the oil miraculously lasted eight days until more purified oil could be found.  Hence, the expression: “A Great Miracle Happened There”. 

Yeshua observed Hanukkah, as recorded in John 10: 22-23:  “Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter.  And Jesus walked in the Temple, in Solomon’s porch.”  He was there, in His Father’s House, to observe the Feast of Hanukkah.  It is also significant that in John 8:12  Yeshua declared, “I am the Light of the World”.  This statement would have great impact during the Feast of Dedication.  The Jews knew exactly what He was saying.  He was declaring Himself to be G-d. 

This week,  my husband, Rabbi Jem and I along with the members of our congregation, celebrate Hanukkah together with  singing, dancing, food, drink, and much talking together.  We remember that our God is a miracle working God. Not just in the Bible, but in our own lives today.   It is traditional to sing the song Rock of Ages.  Most Christians don’t know this Jewish song which commemorates Hanukkah.  As we sing it, we also remember that Yeshua is our Rock of Ages who saves us from sin’s power:

Rock of Ages let our song
Praise thy saving power
Thou amidst the raging foes
Was our sheltering tower.
Furious, they assailed us,
But thine armour veiled us.
And thy word broke their sword
When our own strength failed us

The light (Yeshua) has come into the world, and that flame never dies in the hearts of believers.  That holy oil continues to burn and give hope to those of us who have accepted Yeshua into our hearts.  I can testify that a great miracle happened in my life when Yeshua came in.  In spite of trouble or hardship or conflict, my hope never dies.  That oil just keeps on burning, just as it did at the first Hanukkah. 

As we remember the traditions of this Feast of Dedication, we have also added a new one:  to take this time to rededicate our lives to let the “Light” shine through us.  We possess the message so needed by the world. 

Tonight, during our service, we will also sing the song "Yeshua is the Light"  by Zemer Levav.  I hope you will take the time to listen and to remember that His Light can overcome any darkness in your life.  


Linked to Spiritual Sundays (Thanks, Charlotte and Ginger!)
Also linked to Sunday Song, and Seasonal Sundays


16 comments:

  1. I loved reading your post, I learned a lot about Hanukkah. I've always been curious about it. You have such a rich heritage and so much to celebrate. Your comments about Jesus being the light of the world reminded me of my favorite scripture -

    For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts. To bring the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6

    Have a blessed Hanukkah and Christmas!

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  2. Thank you for helping us to make a really important connection.

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  3. Happy Chanukah...He is the true light of the world...and the amazing thing...He shines in the dark and the dark cannot comprehend it.

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  4. Thank-you for sharing this song,the words a perfect. His lights shines 100%
    Blessings,
    Ginger

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  5. What a beautiful post! I especially love the line from this song...His Light now shines...the darkness must flee

    Thanks for sharing the history of this celebration along with the song. Happy Sunday! :o)

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  6. Beautiful and meaning post. When I was growing up I was forunate to have been raised in a church that had a pastor that was a friend of a rabbi. Often the choir would perform music associated with the festivals, and we were taught how the festivals were a foretelling of our Messiah. Our children looked forward to our reading the story of Hanukkah and playing with the dreidel. We still put chocolate coins in their stockings.

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  7. You wrote a beautiful post and helped me learn more about your celebrations. Have a blessed week

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  8. Pretty menorahs! Happy Hanukkah!

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  9. well happy chanukah to you, and how nice it is to hear the story. at our family party we sing a bunch of songs, like light one candle, which is one i very much enjoy!

    thank you so much for coming by the cape on the corner, and for your sweet comment on my christmakkah! i truly appreciate it!

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  10. This is beautiful - both the post and the music. Thank you for sharing this enlightenment of Hanukkah. For sure Yeshua is the light of the world. Thank you for sharing.
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

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  11. Nice to 'meet' a fellow Jewish believer!! Am now following! Would love for you to check out my blog and follow back!

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  12. We have sung this song in our church. I go to a Four Square Gospel Church. I'm happy to meet a Jewish Believer. Happy Hanukkah and have a blessed Christmas.

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  13. Thanks for commenting on my blog!! I would love to think that there is a Griner- Greiner connection!!

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  14. Happy Hanukkah! I'm very excited to learn more about this very special holiday!

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  15. Happy Hanukkah. Thanks so much for being a part of Seasonal Sundays. Sorry it's taken me so long to get to visit. It's such a busy time of year.

    - The Tablescaper

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  16. A lovely song, indeed. And such sweet encouragement. Blessings! :)

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