By Dr. Noreen Jacks

The Festival of Chanukah had its inception during the Intertestamental Period, an interval of approximately 400 years between the Old and New Testaments. The joyful celebration commemorates the miraculous deliverance of the Jews in 168 B.C. through the heroic efforts of Judas Machabeus and his five sons. This courageous family, along with a ragtime band of local zealots, matched wits against the military force of the Greco-Syrian invader, Antiochus Epiphanes. The Maccabean Revolt, as this event came to be known, waged a successful three-year war against Hellenism, the corrupting influence of Greek culture upon God’s chosen people.

Immediately following the momentous Jewish victory, the work of rebuilding, cleansing, and re-dedicating the temple began in earnest. It was soon discovered that only one vial of sacred oil, enough to light the temple menorah for one day, had survived the brutal destruction. Miraculously, the precious oil of anointing lasted for eight days, until an additional supply could be pressed and prepared according to the biblical mandate, a process that required a week.

The Feast of Chanukah, referred to as the Feast of Dedication in the New Testament, is also known as the Festival of Lights because of the miracle of the oil. Although this feast is not of divine origin, it was celebrated by Yeshua: Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem.  It was winter, and Yeshua was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s colonnade.  John 10:22

There is reason to believe that Yeshua, the Light of the World, was conceived during the Festival of Lights, and that His birth occurred in the fall of the year during the Feast of Sukkot, also a festival of lights.If this is so, the Feast of Chanukah commemorates the embryonic epiphany of the Light of the World and therefore, should be of keen interest to Christians as well as Jews.

The Jewish sages instituted an annual festival for all generations, mandating the people of God to light a special lamp known as the chanukiah. The nine-branch candleholder is used to commemorate the eight days of the feast. The ninth candle, the central taper, gives light to the others on eight consecutive nights, illuminating an additional candle each night until all are burning brightly on the final night. The candles are lit from right to left, just as the Hebrew language is written from right to left. The glowing chanukiah is then placed in the window of Jewish homes as a symbol of national pride and victory. Larger versions of the chanukiah are placed in public buildings, parks, and rooftops throughout Israel during this joyful season.

In Messianic circles, the central candle, known as the shamash, meaning “servant light” or “guiding light,” represents Yeshua, the humble servant who brought His glorious, heavenly light into a world of sin and darkness. Like Yeshua, the servant light bends down to impart its precious illumination. Those who carry the unquenchable light of the Messiah in their hearts must, in turn, share it with others, so that all may be blessed by the Light of the World and rejoice in the words of the psalmist: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear.” Ps. 27:1 Chag Sameach (Happy Feast)!

Please give us your thoughts on this article!

• Did you agree?  
• Did you disagree?
• Do you have something to add?
• Do you have a personal experience you would like to share?