Chanukah

Every year Jewish people around the world celebrate the holiday of Chanukah, the Festival of Lights. Chanukah begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev (between November and December). On the western calender this date varies from year to year. The holiday celebrates events which took place over 2,300 years ago in Judea, which is now Israel.

Over 2,300 years ago there was a Syrian king by the name of Antiochus. Antiochus choose the title Epiphany, which means "manifestation of god". This gives you a slight understanding of the type of man he was. In fact, in the prophetic book of Daniel, Antiochus is given as a shadow or type of the anti-messiah to come in the last days.

Antiochus ordered the Jewish people to assimilate or blend into the Greek culture. To do this they would have to reject their customs and their beliefs. They would have to embrace the Greek gods. They would in fact have to reject Elohim.

There were some who accepted assimilation. However, there were many that refused. One family that boldly fought against this was the Maccabees. Judah Maccabee and his brothers led a revolt against the Syrian King and his forces. In 165 BC, after three years of resistance, the Macabbes, which means Hammer, were successful in their blows against Antochus. They drove the Syrians out and reclaimed the temple in Jerusalem.

The immediate task at hand for the Maccabees, was to clean the temple. Antiochus had defiled the sacred structure with the blood of a pig, as well as Greek symbols and statues. On the 25th day of the month of Kislev, the job was finished and the temple rwas rededicated .

With the temple cleaned and rededicated it was time to light the eternal light, known as the N'er Tamid, which is present in every Jewish house of worship. The Talmud, the body of Jewish oral law, tells how these faithful believers , led by Judah Maccabee, were ready to rededicate the Temple and were unable to find enough undefiled oil. In a Temple chamber a small cruse of oil was discovered. This would burn for only one day and the preparation to replenish the oil would take eight days. Walking by faith, they filled and lit the lamp. What happened next became a testimony of G-d to His people. The tiny amount of oil burned for eight days. G-d provided the light.

Today Chanukah is celebrated to mark the victory over the Syrians and the rededication of the Temple. The Festival of the Lights, as it is called , lasts for eight days commemorating the miracle of the oil. The power and provision of G-d is recognized.

As a Messianic believer, the "light" provided by G-d, clearly presents to us the image of Messiah, who is the light of the world. The story of the Maccabbess standing against the ungodly king is a picture of the testimony that we are to have in these last days. We must resist assimilation, stand true to our G-d and His Word and wait expectantly for the Light who is to come.