Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas everyone! I always enjoy this time of year….a season of miracles! That is the huge difference between the G_d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all false gods. He is a miracle working G_d! I have met many people recently who celebrate both holidays. “WHAT?” YOU SAY, THAT IS NOT RIGHT! Actually the only reference to Hannukah in the Word of G_d is in the New Testament where there is mention of Yeshua celebrating “The Feast of Dedication” (The Book of John chapter 10, verses 22,23). The reason for this is that Judah Maccabee had his huge victory in between the historical recordings of Israel’s history around 163 BC so Hanukkah is not part of the writings.
The Holy Land was ruled by Syrian-Greeks (the Seleucids) who forcefully Hellenized the people of Israel. They even slaughtered pigs in the Temple! Miraculously, a small number of zealous Jewish men led by Judah Maccabee defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth at the time. They successfully drove the Greeks out of the Temple and out of Jerusalem. They rededicated the temple to the Almighty One of Israel, Yahovah, and restored it’s godly purpose so that future prophecies could be fulfilled. They purposed to keep G_d’s light burning in the Temple, but they found only enough oil to burn one day. It took 8 days to make the oil according to Temple law. Miraculously, when they lit the oil, it continued to burn for 8 days until they new oil was ready to be used! That is why a Hannukah Menorah has 9 candles instead of 7! The middle candle is the “Shamash” or “servant” candle and lights the other candles every night Hanukkah is celebrated.
The Holy Land was ruled by Syrian-Greeks (the Seleucids) who forcefully Hellenized the people of Israel. They even slaughtered pigs in the Temple! Miraculously, a small number of zealous Jewish men led by Judah Maccabee defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth at the time. They successfully drove the Greeks out of the Temple and out of Jerusalem. They rededicated the temple to the Almighty One of Israel, Yahovah, and restored it’s godly purpose so that future prophecies could be fulfilled. They purposed to keep G_d’s light burning in the Temple, but they found only enough oil to burn one day. It took 8 days to make the oil according to Temple law. Miraculously, when they lit the oil, it continued to burn for 8 days until they new oil was ready to be used! That is why a Hannukah Menorah has 9 candles instead of 7! The middle candle is the “Shamash” or “servant” candle and lights the other candles every night Hanukkah is celebrated.
The New Testament records Yeshua’s birth, but the date is not mentioned. The tradition of celebrating in Dec. began with Constantine. He tried to assimilate Greek pagan holidays with biblical holidays, thus Dec. 25th became the “traditional” date. Since there is not an exact date historically recorded, (although a census was being taken and shepherds were out so it probably was not winter) the world uses Dec. 25th. The recording of Yeshua’s birth though is mentioned twice and from 2 different perspectives. These are written in the Book of Matthew and the Book of Luke.
What is so amazing is that on the 8th day, according to the law, Mary and Joseph brought their baby to the Temple to be dedicated. If Judah Maccabee had not fought and won back the Temple from the Greeks, this WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE! So we can say that the two holidays are miraculously connected by G_d! We can say of both events, the oil burning 7 extra days and the birth of Yeshua in Bethlehem that “A GREAT MIRACLE HAS HAPPENED HERE!” The G_d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is a miracle working G_d. He does not change! He shows off His greatness to the honor of His Name. Blessings on you all, your families, your nations as you celebrate The Almighty One!
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