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Christianity & Hanukkah
Does the Bible mention any kind of connection between Christianity and Hanukkah?
Hanukkah means "to dedicate" and is known as the Feast of Dedication and also as The Festival of Lights.
It's based on a time when King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, King of the Syrian empire, led the Seleucids to siege Jerusalem and Judah and take over the land and the people.
The king desecrated the Temple and erected an altar to Zeus, requiring the Jewish people to worship Zeus instead of God.
But around 165 BC, Judah Maccabee & his 4 brothers led the Jews to successfully drive Antiochus IV Epiphanes and the Seleucids out of Jerusalem. (The account of the Jewish rebellion and their victory is found in the Apocrypha book, 1 Maccabees 4:36-59.)
When the Jewish people cleaned and cleared the Temple, they wanted to dedicate it back to God but there was only enough oil for 1 day. They went ahead and lit the candle with the oil they had and what was only supposed to last 1 day, ended up lasting 8 days.
That's the miracle of the oil which is found in the Talmud and also where the 9 branch Menorah comes from. Eight branches for each day the oil lasted and one candle to be used as the servant candle...to light the other candles.
Jesus went to the Feast of Dedication / Festival of Lights / Hanukkah:
John 10:22-23, "22 Now it was the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah = Dedication) in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch.”
Before He went to the Feast of Dedication, He told those around Him that He was the Light of the World:
John 8:12, …“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
John 9:5 “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Jesus calls us to be a light that shines His light in a dark world:
Matthew 5:14-16, “14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand (Greek equivalent for Hebrew word, Menorah), and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
We hope this encourages you to see the connection between Hanukkah and Christianity and whether it's a holiday you celebrate or not, we pray you personally know the Light of the World. His name is Jesus and He came to die so that we all might live and have the Light of life.
Find out more on our website: What's the Bible Say?
View this episode on YouTube at: What's the Bible Say? YouTube
Join us on Facebook at: What’s the Bible Say Podcast
Find free resources at: Free Resource
Read our blog for more Bible Study help at: More Bible Study Help
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By What's the Bible Say?
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Does the Bible mention any kind of connection between Christianity and Hanukkah?
Hanukkah means "to dedicate" and is known as the Feast of Dedication and also as The Festival of Lights.
It's based on a time when King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, King of the Syrian empire, led the Seleucids to siege Jerusalem and Judah and take over the land and the people.
The king desecrated the Temple and erected an altar to Zeus, requiring the Jewish people to worship Zeus instead of God.
But around 165 BC, Judah Maccabee & his 4 brothers led the Jews to successfully drive Antiochus IV Epiphanes and the Seleucids out of Jerusalem. (The account of the Jewish rebellion and their victory is found in the Apocrypha book, 1 Maccabees 4:36-59.)
When the Jewish people cleaned and cleared the Temple, they wanted to dedicate it back to God but there was only enough oil for 1 day. They went ahead and lit the candle with the oil they had and what was only supposed to last 1 day, ended up lasting 8 days.
That's the miracle of the oil which is found in the Talmud and also where the 9 branch Menorah comes from. Eight branches for each day the oil lasted and one candle to be used as the servant candle...to light the other candles.
Jesus went to the Feast of Dedication / Festival of Lights / Hanukkah:
John 10:22-23, "22 Now it was the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah = Dedication) in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch.”
Before He went to the Feast of Dedication, He told those around Him that He was the Light of the World:
John 8:12, …“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
John 9:5 “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Jesus calls us to be a light that shines His light in a dark world:
Matthew 5:14-16, “14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand (Greek equivalent for Hebrew word, Menorah), and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
We hope this encourages you to see the connection between Hanukkah and Christianity and whether it's a holiday you celebrate or not, we pray you personally know the Light of the World. His name is Jesus and He came to die so that we all might live and have the Light of life.
Find out more on our website: What's the Bible Say?
View this episode on YouTube at: What's the Bible Say? YouTube
Join us on Facebook at: What’s the Bible Say Podcast
Find free resources at: Free Resource
Read our blog for more Bible Study help at: More Bible Study Help