did jesus celebrate hanukkah

That is the only biblical reference to a well-known winter holiday that Jesus celebrated, a holiday many will celebrate this month. Although not mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures, Hanukkah came to be widely celebrated and remains one of the most popular Jewish religious observances. Hanukkah is celebrated around the world, wherever there are Jewish people. Here's what you should know. It was prophesied in Daniel 8:14, also . His disciples were all Jewish. [37] If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. The jar contained only enough oil to burn for one day, but miraculously the oil burned for eight days until new consecrated oil could be found, establishing the precedent that the festival should last eight days. What is Hanukkah, and why is it celebrated? [1] Howard Jacobson, Behold! His extended family was also observant (Luke 1:6). Its not mentioned in Leviticus 23, where all the biblical feasts are described and their observance is commanded. Christmas Lights and the Lights of Hanukkah, The Incarnation from a Jewish Perspective, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jan/09/christianity-judaism, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jesus-and-hanukkah-john-10-22-23_b_2233251. In the first century, you can imagine the excitement and festive atmosphere in the land, as the Temple stood in Jerusalem. Jesus Celebrated Hanukkah Christmas as a holiday did not exist until centuries after Jesus was born. Before we understand the connection between Hanukkah and Jesus, we need to review the backstory of the holiday. This year Hanukkah starts on Sunday, December 18, and ends Monday, December 26. When we get out all the idols, cleanse our impurities, rededicate our vessels to Him, His anointing will fill us with His glory, and His glory will draw men to Him. Jesus answered them with a rebuke, I told you, and you do not believe (v.25). Did Jesus celebrate Hanukkah? - Christianity Stack Exchange On each successive night, one more candle is added and lit. Jesus Celebrated Hanukkah! | Preach It, Teach ItArticle Detail | Preach In the glow of twinkle lights and candle flame, Jen cooks latkes (potato pancakes), cranberry sauce, and homemade applesauce. They entered the Temple and cleared it of the idols placed there by the Syrians. The Seleucids exerted their influence through Hellenization, the spread of Greek art, architecture, and religion. So much fun-akah, to celebrate Hanukkah! 3:16-17). These are the biblical facts that define the context of John 10:22. Because God keeps His promises, He will save and keep all those who call upon His name through faith in Immanuel, our Messiah Jesus. Hanukkah reaffirms the ideals of Judaism and commemorates in particular the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem by the lighting of candles on each day of the festival. Through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Jewish people were set apart by God for a unique purpose upon the earth, and Satan has always sought to destroy them, either through assimilation or annihilation. What is this winter Feast of Dedication? No, my Jewish people will celebrate the Feast of Dedication, commonly known as Hanukkah. It is not one of the major feasts of the Lord that was given to Moses for the Jewish people to keep as part of their covenant with God. It is not the physical lights of the holiday that we are commemorating, but the restoration of the ancient temple practices that, thanks to the courage of the Maccabees, was again "brought to light." Yet, God is rarely silent and was still at work behind the scenes. Passover Will Come Again. Likewise, he appears as the foundation stone from which living water would flow, a hope specifically celebrated at the festival of Tabernacles. Often it is positioned higher than the rest. All rights reserved. This is so beautiful and symbolic: In the worlds darkest hour, the light comes! While Hanukkah practices have changed significantly since the time of Yeshua, His celebrating this holiday highlights His connection to Jewish traditions. On the walls of Jerusalem's Old City, a colorful menorah lights up the night during Hanukkah. In the Gospel of John, Yeshua visited the Temple during the Feast of Dedication (Jn 10:22), which is another term for Hanukkah. In the first century, you can imagine the excitement and festive atmosphere in the land, as the Temple stood in Jerusalem. This year (2017) it falls on December 12-20. The Wallaces are Messianic Jews, which means they are Jewish people who believe in Jesus. Jesus said that now we are called to be the light of the world and to Let our light so shine before men, that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father in Heaven (Matthew 5:14-16). Maria Baer lives in Columbus, Ohio with her husband and two children, who are Jewish believers in Jesus. As a Jewish man, Jesus knew the traditions and feasts. Published: NOVEMBER 26, 2021 14:06 RABBI LEVI DUCHMAN lights a candle to celebrate Hanukkah, in Dubai in December. This timeline covers the life and ministry of Jesus from late 29 A.D. to the end of the year. To learn more about CT Creative Studio, visit, Paid content for Jewish Voice Ministries International, Image: For Christians, this model should invite an appreciation for Jewish tradition. Is Hanukkah Prophetic? And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6). Where did this holiday originate? They all made sure to visit the temple too because that is where the miracle of . Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. 5Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,Says theLordof hosts. Zech.

Every night of Hanukkah, one more candle is lit in the menorah. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in Solomon's portico" (John 10:22-23). Julia is an author of several books on biblical topics. Nephilim? Maybe even Chanukah? Stack Exchange network consists of 182 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. When we do, we may often find that God only feels silent and distant. Schools are closed, and menorahs are displayed atop such prominent buildings as Israels parliament, the Knesset. To. If You are theChrist, tell usplainly. John 10:22-24. Jesus' Celebration of Hanukkah - Jews for Jesus Julia holds an MA degree. 2:20, 27). Indeed, the fact that the rabbis ask about it signals to us that it was not widely agreed in their day. In any case, it is still appropriate at Hanukkah to say, nes gadol haya sham, a great miracle happened there. The miracle of Hanukkah is the miracle of Gods preserving power. Interestingly, there is a reference in apocryphal writings concerning a feast of the dedication of the altar raised up by Methuselah after Enoch's departure Sivan 6. It meant forbidding the practice of the Jewish religion, including circumcision. This ancient society tried to stop El Niowith child sacrifice. He was drawing on their knowledge of all the Old Testament prophecies and the Hanukkah story to reveal who he was: the long-awaited Messiahthe divine messenger. They found only enough for one dayand it would take a full eight days to procure enough oil for Temple use. Something needed to be done to rally and refocus the people to the worship of the One true God, as instructed by Moses. Notice that John calls it the Feast of the Dedication and not the Festival of Lights. For many people in the diaspora both Jews celebrating Hanukkah and Gentiles observing this celebration Hanukkah is all about dreidels and latkes. It is not just a one-day celebration, but it lasts all 8 days. And, why Hanukkah mattered to Jesus. [7] Christian Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) And if He hadnt been who He claimed to be, they would have been absolutely right to do so. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. He said, Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. But you believe not, because you are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. Many legends surround this historic event, but the most famous is the miracle of the oil. It is said that when the Maccabees recaptured Jerusalem they immediately set out to rededicate the Temple. Do spelling changes count as translations for citations when using different english dialects? Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Then, you realize later that He was simply working behind the scenes. This content has been adapted from an earlier Jews for Jesus article. Don't take it personal. The story of Hanukkah: how a minor Jewish holiday was remade in the These Gettysburg maps reveal how Lee lost the fight, Who is Oppenheimer? It is a celebration of joy. Anyone can sign up for this free Hanukkah devotional. Without God's Spirit indwelling us, we will become desecrated temples where darkness invades. Dedicate yourself to God and His ways. This reminds us of the words of John about Yeshua:The light shines in the darkness,and the darkness has not overcome it. Everyone knows that, dont they?[1] The answer, as Jacobson points out, is not a simple yes or no. The holiday's popularity has surged in modern times, but its origins date back to the turbulent centuries following the death of Alexander the Great, the ancient Macedonian leader who conquered the Persian Empire. Illustration by Phil Schorr, Paid Content for Jewish Voice Ministries International. Have you ever had a season in your life when you thought, God is surely silent and distant? This is the traditional story but there is something more to be aware of. Bernis believes that the redemption of the world depended on Jewish survival. In memory of this, Hanukkah, an eight-day celebration, was established. So why do we celebrate Hanukkah for eight nights? And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomons porch. He is the author of the best-selling book ISRAEL RISING. Judah was called Maccabee a word composed of the initial letters of the four Hebrew wordsMi Kamocha BaeilimHashem, Who is like You, O Yahweh? and therefore it is called the Maccabean Revolt. [31] The Jews took up stones again to stone him. Because God keeps His promises, He will save and sustain Israel. Hanukkah is one of the most joyous of Jewish holidays. Blessings. Israel was under the control of Seleucus and then under his son Antiochus Epiphanes. It happened in the 2nd century BCE the intertestamental period which is why Hanukkah is not mentioned in the Tanach. First of all, every December someone starts the debate over how to properly spell the name of this joyful event is it Hanukkah or Chanuka? Shammai held that all eight candles should be lit the first night, with the number decreasing by one each night thereafter. A Syrian King named Antiochus invaded the Jewish nation and demanded that my people abandon the God of Israel and His ways. Gods chosen people had become idolatrous and rebellious which led to both Israel and Judah going into captivity to the Assyrians and Babylonians. Remember, Solomon himself had chosen that very same Feast of Tabernacles to dedicate the Temple when it was newly built. Centuries of antisemitism in the church have created massive rifts between Jewish and Christian communities. They celebrate the birth of a man whose earthly ministry overwhelmingly encompassed Jews. The journey from Hanukkah to Christmas sings the long refrain of the Old Testament: God sustains his people, in miracles of arks and plagues and a single oil lamp, and its through the Jewish people that he sends his Messiah. What Exactly Does Hanukkah Celebrate? | My Jewish Learning (photo credit: CHRISTOPHER PIKE/REUTERS) Advertisement The winter season. They followed the ways of the Lord, and they could no longer compromise with the oppressive Greek influence of idol worship. The tradition about Jesus observing Hanukkah is merely one of these, but it is one that invites our attention at this season.[1]. He loves the passionate devotion of those that follow Him. Despite John's theological interest, then, his account may also tell us something about Jesus' practice. Julia lives with her family in a small town, Mevasseret Zion, next to Jerusalem. Songs are sung, and gifts are exchanged to commemorate the miracle in the Temple more than 2,000 years ago. As you grow to appreciate both the miracle and metaphor, perhaps next winter your mantle will hold a scaly-backed Stegosaurus Hanukkiah, complete with nine candles to remember Gods faithfulness in your family, too. He worshiped at the actual second temple. When Jews celebrate the festival of Purim, commemorating Queen Esther's thwarting of an evil plot against the Jews of Persia, Jews gather in synagogues and joyfully read the biblical Book of Esther, which details the events being celebrated. The Feast of Hanukkah commemorates the victory God gave the Jewish people over Antiochus and his mighty army. Unauthorized use is prohibited. It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication. It was eternal and spiritualand it was based on faith in Him as the Holy One of God. John 10 tells us that Jesus was in the temple walking in Solomons colonnade as the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. Thats Hanukkahand Jesus traveled all the way from Galilee to Jerusalem to celebrate it. How do we celebrate Hanukkah today? But in the Jewish calendar, Hanukkah is of relatively minor religious significance compared with the biblical . Roughly 200 years before Jesus birth, Greek King Antiochus IV Epiphanes was on a bloody tour of world domination. Many, perhaps without knowing what they are doing, use Christ as if it were Jesus last name instead of a title meaning Jesus the Messiah.. Thus, the uprising began. Some scholars suggest that this passage depicts Jesus as consecrated or dedicated to God the way this festival celebrated the altar's rededication (cf. The reason it is not in the Jewish Bible? My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (John 10:22-25). Jews and Christmas | My Jewish Learning It is a time to be with family, remembering Gods deliverance of Israel in her time of need. Hanukkah commemorates the Maccabean (Hasmonean) victories over the forces of the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes (reigned 175164 bce) and the rededication of the Temple on Kislev 25, 164 bce. Thus, we have no explicit record of Jesus celebrating Hanukkah but neither do we know if he did not. Wildfire season is getting longer. For Christians, this model should invite an appreciation for Jewish tradition. of a group of Jewish people (the Maccabees) over the Syrian Greeks, who had been occupying the Land of Israel since before 167 B.C. When he demanded that the Jewish people worship the Greek gods and give up their Jewish identity, they revolted. Put on your yarmulke, here comes Hanukkah! 6), Tabernacles (7:1-10:21), and Dedication (10:22-42). The name of the town comes from the book of Isaiah (Isa 40:9) and means: Bringing Good News to Zion. Local communities, especially in Judea, resisted it. Hanukkah, which means dedication, commemorates the miracle of light that occurred when Judah rededicated the Temple to the Hebrew god. The story doesn't appear in the. But it burned for eight daysenough time for the victorious Judeans to secure more oiland the miracle became the foundation of a beloved holiday to thank God and celebrate the victory of light over darkness. We finally get to the significance of the Hanukkah candles. And then, He stated, I and the Father are one. (John 10:30). After it was purified, a new altar was installed and dedicated on Kislev 25. Jesus celebrated Hanukkah! - High Time to Awake While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. He was very Jewish. This common understanding, however, does not reflect the history of either holiday. We call the holiday Hanukkah (dedication), because the high point of our victory was rededicating the Temple in Jerusalem. On each day, an additional branch of the nine branchedHanukkiahis lit with theshamash(helper candle), which sits on the middle branch. This is why it is also called the Festival of Lights. The most famous person to ever celebrate this feast was Yeshua Ha NazriJesus of Nazareth. In II Maccabees the celebration is compared to the festival of Sukkoth (the Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of Booths), which the Jews were unable to celebrate because of the invasion of Antiochus. Were They Giants or Fallen Angels. He was widely considered an. Thus, they became known as the Maccabees. What's the meaning (qualifications) of "machine" in GPL's "machine-readable source code"? But they only had a one-day supply of holy oil, and it would take eight days to make more. The revolt of the Maccabees, as it came to be known, continued on and ultimately drove the Seleucids from Judea in 160. His plan: forced Hellenization. That meant imposing Greek customs, including idolatry, on the people. But in reality, He is very near, preparing us for multiplication. Psalm 22:1). For many people in the diaspora - both Jews celebrating Hanukkah and Gentiles observing this celebration - Hanukkah is all about dreidels and latkes. The rededication of the Temple was a reminder of Gods power to keep His promises and preserve His people Israel. The Talmud tells us that the large golden menorah with 7 lamps was found and returned to its place. The reaction of my people was predictable. Some Jews have chosen to adopt the Yuletide festivities. Copyright 2021, Oneplace.com. Photograph by Zev Radovan, Bible Land Pictures, Alamy Stock Photo, Josephus Flavius, "Jewish War," Alamy Stock Photo, Photograph by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette/AP, Colossal gravitational waves found for the first time. Jesus at the Temple on Hanukkah. Jews were put to death for refusing to eat pork and other unclean animals under Mosaic Law. Yet the zeal to rededicate the Temple was so strong that, despite the dilemma, they decided to light the candelabra. One day they arrived in the village of Modiin where an old priest, Mattityahu, lived. Gods claim by virtue of the redemption price paid by the shed blood of His Son: Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (ruach ha kodesh) which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own? I'll take your pointers into account in the future. Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of the lord is risen upon you. I dont believe the latter is wrong but perhaps dedication is where we should put our focus. He forbade the honoring of the Torah (the Jewish Scriptures), Shabbat (Sabbath), the Moed (Feasts of the Lord), circumcision, and all Jewish observances. It shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, Moses tells the Israelites when he shows them how to celebrate the Passover each year (Exodus 13:9). We need to be very careful with the text here - John 10:22 only says that Jesus was in Jerusalem at the feast Dedication which most understand to be "Hanukkah", the historic celebration of the Maccabean Revolt and rededication of the temple. Interested in an electric car? (Romans destroyed Jerusalem a quarter century before the probable time when John wrote his Gospel, so this setting was not likely an idea simply invented in his own day.). Hanukkah Hebrew for "dedication" is also known as Chanukah or the Festival . Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. And you can't just link to another page, you need to give a complete answer here, summarising what the linked page says. Please be respectful of copyright. The Talmud, Judaism's other central sacred text, asks this very question. . Santa, reindeer, and decorated evergreens obscure the fact that Christmas is about the birth of the Jewish Messiah. According to theologians, Jesus did not celebrate His own birthday. Perhaps this is the God that you recognize. I updated my question with it. Should they focus on a holiday that is not in the canon of Scripture, and happened in the silent years? Indeed, even the reported setting of Jesus' visit to the temple for Hanukkah fits: winter could be cool in the Judean hill country, including in Jerusalem; thus Jesus was walking in the colonnaded area of Solomon's portico, sheltered from the wind. Everyone recognizes that Jesus himself was never in a position to celebrate Christmas. But they faced a pressing problem; they needed consecrated oil to rekindle the sacred candelabra. Hanukkah: What is the Jewish festival all about? - BBC Newsround It is a wonderful time to reflect on the origin of the holiday. And He made an astounding claim. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct. The early date for this story or at least the practice of lighting eight candles is confirmed by the debate of the 1st-century-ce scholars Hillel and Shammai. In a word, it is re-dedication. Remote sleeps: Canada's best wilderness lodges, The destination drawing art lovers to Luxembourgs forests, Explore the world like Indiana Jones at these 11 destinations, Photograph by Yonatan Sindel, Flash90/Redux. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Mothers were killed for circumcising their sons, and their infants were hanged. Maybe a days worth of oil supernaturally burned for eight days and maybe it did not. Just as a heads up, sometimes short incomplete answers get deleted. Are electric bikes the future of green transportation? For more info, go to, Feasts of the Lord: Biblical Holidays & the Hebrew Calendar. YAHUSHA HA'MASHIACH CELEBRATED HANUKKAH! | by HoldOn | Medium Antiochus enacted a series of harsh decrees against the Jews. We shine as we are continually filled with the holy oil of Gods Spirit. 8:12). All Rights Reserved. The controversial man behind the atomic bomb, Discovering time-honored traditions in Texas, 4 French royal mistresses who made their mark on history. Also called the Festival of Lights or the Feast of Dedication, it speaks of God taking the little that we have and multiplying it. The ruling Syrian dynasty of the Seleucids required full assimilation in all aspects of life: language, arts, lifestyle everything was to conform to the Greek way of life. Not only had the. According to this legend, this is why we celebrate Hanukkah for eight nights and why the Hanukkiah (Hanukkah menorah) is lit for eight nights as well. 3Two olive treesareby it,one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.4So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, Whatarethese, my lord?. Jen Cohen Wallace has a Hanukkiah (a menorah with two extra candles) in the shape of a Stegosaurus. Jesus offers a bridge between what has historically evolved into two separate faiths, and an opportunity for deeper reconciliation and mutual appreciation. Antiochus Epiphanes, known in Jewish history as Antiochus the Madman, ruled the land of Israel when it was under Hellenistic Persian control in the second century BC. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon's Colonnade. He wasn't just painting. Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days beginning on the 25th day of the Hebrew month Kislev. John's Gospel is probably the fourth of the four extant first-century Gospels. Jewish Voice exists to bring the Good News to Jewish people still awaiting the Messiah and to help Christians discover the Jewish roots of their faith. Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of theTemple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean revolt against theSeleucid Empire. Did Jesus celebrate Hanukkah? In his Gospel, John again tells us that Jesus was at Jerusalem for the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. What are the benefits of not using private military companies (PMCs) as China did? According to the Talmud, when Judas Maccabeus entered the Second Temple of Jerusalem, he found only a small jar of oil that had not been defiled by Antiochus IV Epiphanes. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. And you shall command the sons of Israel that they bring youclear oil of beaten olives for thelight, to make a lampburn continually. During the lighting, people recite special blessings and prayers. Kislev mirrors that date. Wildfire smoke affects birds too. Hanukkah, therefore, emerged as a celebration of the dedication, as the word itself suggests. Yet because of their Hellenization, many Jews did nothing. Did Jesus celebrate Hanukkah in John 10:22? This has often been the traditional Christian view of Hanukkah. Horrified by the Temple desecration and cruelty toward the Jewish people, a priest named Mattathias and his sons rose up in rebellion. [ https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Maccabees+10&version=NRSV ]. They wanted to light Menorah, as it is commanded in the Torah:Bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually. Taking a leap of faith, they relit the Menorah , and by a miracle of God, it continued to burn for eight days, till new oil was made available. )Jesus the Jewish Messiah. [32] Jesus replied, I have shown you many good works from the Father. Solomon's dedication on the other hand of the altar of the temple occurred before the feast of the seventh month, which is, further away from 'winter' than the former. Julia writes Torah Portion commentaries for different sites, and has been doing Torah weekly lessons at Netiviah radio. In John 8, Jesus tells his followers that he is the "light of the world." When he spoke those words, his Jewish audience would have heard them like an alarm bell ringing. When my people rejected Antiochus, God kept His promises, miraculously preserving them. Updates? Do Christians need to celebrate a Jewish military victory? In order to understand it, lets turn to the history. Ask Question Asked 5 years, 5 months ago Modified 2 years, 5 months ago Viewed 8k times 7 John 10:22-24 (NIV) says: 22 Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was the season of remembering a victory of a righteous priestly deliverer. That was the coup de grace! You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Hanukkah, writes Tatjana Lichtenstein, director of the Schusterman Center for Jewish Studies at The University of Texas at Austin, offered an opportunity for Jews to participate in the holiday celebrations complete with gift-giving and merry-making without giving up their distinct religious and cultural identities. (Why Judaisms holiest day is actually Yom Kippur, the day of atonement.). How does John 10:22-23 relate to the surrounding text? He was the Deliverer they were looking for, but for a life far beyond the earthly troubles. John's Hanukkah passage might also make a similar point. It occurred less than 200 years before the life of Yeshua, between the time of Malachi and John the Baptist. Hanukkah, in short, becomes for some the Jewish Christmas." Ironically, by elevating Hanukkah as a Jewish alternative . Is it appropriate to ask for an hourly compensation for take-home interview tasks which exceed a certain time limit? Want to keep your memory sharp? The most famous person to ever celebrate this feast was Yeshua Ha Nazri Jesus of Nazareth. Writing in the first century A.D., Jewish historian Josephus recorded the brutal plundering of Jerusalem and treatment of Jewish dissidents who were whipped with rods, and their bodies torn to pieces, and were crucified, while they were still alive, and breathed. Jerusalem was ablaze in light, as each family burned candles at the doors of their houses. He usually lit a light on Hanukkah. When he came to Israel, he destroyed the Temple, declared himself god, and ordered his soldiers to murder anyone who refused to worship him. During Hanukkah, we celebrate how God provided light in the Temple for eight nights.

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