MANNA FROM MESSIAH
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Pastor Ellen Mumper, Canada
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Yeshua the Light of the World and my
Gift for Him
We lived for 15 years in the Caribbean
and I thrived in the sunshine and constant warmth. I so love light, and lots of
it. When we moved away from the Caribbean the long winters affected me
physically and still do. No time of the year is harder for me than late
December with the very short days, the darkness and the cold. December! I would
like to be like a bear and hibernate until the Spring.
One thing that helps me very much
spiritually during this time is knowing that Messiah Yeshua is the Light of the
World. At this time much of the world celebrates Christmas. I find all the
glitter and gold and glut in the stores with Jingle Bell Rock very depressing!
When I have to be out I come home and put on as many lights as I can and open
my Bible for encouragement! I put on praise and worship music and remember that
He is my Light, as it says in John 8:12!
I have studied that December 25 is of
pagan origins. I have also read that originally the birthday of Ba'al was
before that, on December 21, long ago. Either way, Dec 25 is NOT Yeshua's
birthday.
Do you know what Chislev 25 is? It is
the celebration of the Feast of Dedication, or the Festival of Lights. It
occurs in mid to late December. It is also called Chanukah. Does this have
relevance for Christian believers today? I believe it does.
Historically this is when the revolt
of the Maccabees against the Syrians enabled them to retake the Temple and
rededicate it. Many are the miracles of this and many are the traditions also!
Jews are taught that there was only enough oil for one day yet when they
rededicated the temple the light miraculously burned for 8 days. Therefore
Chanukah is celebrated for 8 days. This is not ever mentioned in Scripture
however.
What is mentioned is that dedication
of the Temple took 8 days. The precedent for an 8 day dedication is actually at
the dedication with Solomon in 1 Kings 8. During the Chanukah celebration we
remember miracles- the triumph of light over darkness, the triumph of a few
over many and the weak over the strong, and the victory of faith. When Judah
Maccabee retook the temple he said "In the sight of Heaven there is no
difference between saving by many or by a few- strength comes from our
God!" This reminds me of Zechariah 4:6- "not by might, nor by power,
but by My Spirit says the LORD of hosts."
On the 12th of December I will light
the first candle on my chanukiah candelabra. I will remember these things. I
will remember also that Yeshua kept this celebration. In John chapter 10 it
says "And it was at Yerushalayim the feast of Dedication, and it was
winter. And Yeshua walked in the temple in Solomon's porch." (vs 22-23).
This feast was about miracles and that is what the people wanted. They flocked
to see miracles and manifestations wherever He went. He told them in vs 25
"I told you and you did not believe me! The works that I do in My Father's
name, they bear witness of Me." HE is the miracle.
Yeshua was actually born on the first
day of the Feast of Tabernacles. This is when the Word became flesh and dwelled
among us! as it says in John 1:14. We can find this date by figuring out when
Zachariah served in the temple on his rotation right before the conception of
Yochanan the Immerser (John the Baptist) who was 6 months older than Yeshua.
Zachariah served in the rotation of the course of Abijah, which would have been
the 8th week after the start of the Jewish first month of Aviv/Nisan. Following
these clues in 1 Chronicles 24:10 and Luke chapter 1, we can figure out the
time of Yeshua's birth early in the fall.
By reverse math that makes His
conception in mid December! My firm belief is that the Light of the World was
CONCEIVED during the time of the festival of Lights. Imagine a young Jewish
girl, betrothed to be married, celebrating this feast with a pure heart and a
longing to see the Messiah come! In this dark time of the year, the Angel
Gabriel appeared to her and announced that she would be the mother of the
coming Messiah as it says in Isaiah 7:14.
The Light of the World was probably
conceived during the darkest time of the year!
And I will bring Him a gift. Miryam
(Mary) exclaimed to the angel on receiving this news: "Behold the handmaid
of the LORD! be it done unto me according to Your Word!" (Luke 2:38)
On that first day of the celebration
of Dedication I will remember that the word Chanukah comes from the Hebrew word
"lachnoch" meaning to dedicate. I have long given Him my heart. But I
will give Him the gift of rededication of all of myself. More of Him, less of
me. O come to my heart Yeshua! there is room in my heart for Thee!
