This year Hanukkah and Christmas coincide; as I grow in the knowledge of God’s word I love how they biblically relate. I’m not talking about Christmas as in the holiday but whats at the heart of it, the birth of Jesus (even though He was probably born in Autumn time- through speculations of scripture). To me the sharp differences between these two holidays were symbolic of the chasm between Judaism and Christianity. However, I have come to the profound realisation that without Hanukkah there would have been no incarnation of our Messiah, so obviously both are of profound importance.

In Hebrew, Hanukkah means “dedication”. The celebration is in honour of a miraculous happening in the temple when a Jewish group of Maccabee’s revolted against the Seleucids in about 165 BC. During the reign of Antiochus Epiphanies, a decree was announced, ending traditional Jewish religious practices. Instead, temple funds were used for evil, Jews were massacred, and idols were set up in the holy place. Even the menorah (seven-candle light stand) was removed from the temple and replaced with an image of Zeus. Upon victory in the Maccabean revolt, the Jews returned back to the temple and rededicated it to its intended use; thus Hanukkah is known as the feast of dedication.

Why is this important? Well, If Antiochus had been successful in destroying the culture, hopes and faith of the Jewish people, there would have been no family line for Jesus. God used the Maccabees to defeat the Syrian Greeks and prepare the way for the Jewish Messiah. This flows directly from the covenant matched by God with Abram in Genesis 12:1-3, and obviously God will ALWAYS be faithful to His covenant promises. We see this clearly in the way God has powerfully preserved the Jewish people until that appointed day in history and still continues to do so in order to prepare the way for the Lord Jesus’ second coming. We see the same pattern repeated again and again throughout history, satan is always attempting to thwart God’s plan, and in satan’s ignorance and pride, he thinks he can actually do just that. Laughable! Satan has tried to wipe out the Jews through the Babylonians, Persians, Hittites and the Nazis, and yes we still see this happening today and that’s because the Jewish people and His nation still have a vital role to play in the future. Romans 11:26 tells us someday all Isreal will be saved, this cannot come to pass if Isreal no longer exists; whatever God says, goes.

Hosea 5:14-15- “for i will be like a lion to Ephraim, and like a young lion to the house of Judah… i will go away and return to my place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face; in their affection they will earnestly seek me.

According to Exodus 27:20-21, the Menorah in the temple was to burn continually, however, there was only enough oil to keep the light burning for one day. Miraculously, the menorah burned for eight days, giving them time to process more oil to continue their tradition of keeping the light burning continually. Just as God’s presence was represented by an inextinguishable flame, Jesus became the living expression of His Father, the light of the world who dwelt among men and has given us eternal light. Just as He brought victory to the Jewish people, Jesus, our light of the world remains a shining representation of the Father. He is our light. He is our victory. 

Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life” (John 8:12).

Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

I just love the ways in which God chooses to reveal Himself throughout scripture, whether its through the pillar of cloud above the tabernacle, the voice of the prophets, the ark of the covenant, but never was God so clearly present with His people as He was through the virgin-born son, Jesus. It’s always been God’s intention to come and live among us is transcribed all throughout Scripture even from the very beginning. This plan that God would send Himself to live among us has been in place since the dawn of time. John 1:1-14- “in the beginning was the word, and the word was with God,and the word was God, He was in the beginning with God. verse 14 it states: “the word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only son, who came from the father, full of grace and truth.”

Jesus Christ is “the word” that was in the beginning. Jesus is the revelatory and actual eternal creator- not simply a representation of God, He is God. 

Therefore Adonai Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive. When she is giving birth to a son, she will call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)

Immanuel, עִמָּנוּ אֵל – God with us.

Yahweh makes His desire for closeness and connection abundantly clear all throughout scripture. “I will set my tabernacle among you, and and my soul will not abhor you. I will walk among you and will be your God and you will be my people” (Leviticus 26:11-12). Here we literally see God pitching up His tent right in the middle of the camps of Isreal with a fully functioning sin disposal system in order that He can be among them. He accompanies them with a pillar of cloud and fire.

But even more than a temporary tent, God had a greater plan:

“‘Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will live among you’—it is a declaration of Adonai. In that day many nations will join themselves to Adonai and they will be My people and I will dwell among you.’ Then you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent me to you. (Zechariah 2:10-11). 

God’s great plan to visit was in order to pave the way for unending togetherness. He dealt with sin once and for all, so that anyone who wanted could be cleansed of the sin that separates and restored in relationship with Him.

This is what we even celebrate, reflect upon and look forward to at sukkot- feast of tabernacles!

“Behold, the dwelling of God is among men,
    and He shall tabernacle among them.
They shall be His people,
    and God Himself shall be among them
    and be their God.
He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes,
    and death shall be no more.
Nor shall there be mourning or crying or pain any longer,
    for the former things have passed away.”
(Revelation 21:3-4)

Hanukkah is merely a foreshadowing, pointing us to the promises of God’s covenant, his faithfulness, His light and point us to Yeshua returning and bringing full deliverance of His kingdom, when we will quite literally dwell with Him in an even closer, unimaginably more tangible way that we do now! May we always be thankful to the Lord for HIs unmatched power and faithfulness throughout all generations!