MERRY CHRISTMAS OR HAPPY HANUKKAH?

CHRISTMAS IS JUST TO COMPETE WITH HANUKKAH?

Every year I hear people say the most ignorant comments about the holidays.

Have you ever heard people say a “Christmas Tree” is more scriptural than a “Hanukkah Bush”?

 

 

 

             

 

 

 

 

OR

Mary and Joseph were really going to Nazareth to celebrate Hanukkah then Jesus’ birthday kind of stole the show?

 

OR

There was no room at the inn because everyone was celebrating Hanukkah?

 

OR

You can’t celebrate both holidays!

 

Ok, we are going to play “MYTH BUSTERS” here!

This might really send some of you into a tailspin for the holidays and totally mess up your mythology!

 

First…..this will totally mess you up, … put on your religious seatbelt…..
THE ONLY PLACE HANUKKAH IS MENTIONED IN HOLY SCRIPTURES IS IN THE “NEW TESTAMENT”.

WHAT?????
THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE!

 

Well, not really. Hanukkah (The Feast of Dedication) took place between the writing of the scriptures around 167 years before Jesus was born.

Antiochus IV Epiphanes did not implement  the modern approach of just “killing Jews” to increase his influence. Instead, he attempted to eliminate Judaism by forbidding Torah reading, circumcision, and the honoring of the Sabbath. He even sacrificed pigs on the temple altar and put Zeus' statue up to desecrate the place!

 

Did it work?

Absolutely not! As always, the G-d of Israel had a much better plan!

Mattityahu Hasmonea, a Jewish priest, living outside of Jerusalem, began a guerilla war against the Greeks along with his sons and a few others.

(No, he did not acquire beasts from Asia and Africa to fight the battles. He used “hit-and –run” tactics by small mobile teams to ambush their enemies)

What they accomplished in the hill country of Judea and Samaria was so fantastic that modern guerilla soldiers still study and refer to their strategies. Much of these were implemented after Mattityahu died and his son, Judas, took leadership.

Judas used the scripture from Exodus chapter 15, verse 11, as the motto of his battles: “Mi Camokha Ba Elim Adona’y” – “Who is like you, O Lord, Among the Mighty.”

In Hebrew, the initials spell “Maccabee”. This is similar to the Hebrew word for hammer, “Maccabeus” which is how he became known as “Judas the hammer”

In a short 3 years, this small team of warriors took back the temple in Jerusalem from an enemy far stronger than they, yet the G-d of Israel fought for them.

 

This war was the first war recorded that was fought for religious freedom.

BUT THAT”S NOT THE END OF THE STORY!

The Jews found the temple a mess! They needed to rededicate it to the
G-d of Israel!
The lampstand in the Holy Place required oil that was sanctified through an 8-day process.
There was only an oil supply for 1 day!
The Lord miraculously provided the light to last the 8 days needed!

Thus, Hanukkah is known as the “Festival of Lights” or “The Feast of Dedication.”
This would be one of many miracles, many still being written , of the Lord’s faithfulness to His people in incredible impossible situations!

NOW what about this comment that Hanukkah appears in the “New Testament”?

The Book of John, chapter 10, verse 22 tells of Jesus , at the Feast of Dedication, in the winter, walking in the temple on Solomon’s Porch (part of the temple area).

This is interesting for several reasons. First, Jesus is a Jew, celebrating Hanukkah-I am sure that messes up a few minds.

 

In John’s book chapter 8, verse 12 and chapter 9, verse 5, right before he goes to the “Festival of Lights,” Jesus declares that “He IS the light of the world!”

 

Is it possible…..just consider this…..that Jesus looked at the lamp stand, looked at the Shamash candle (the “servant candle” used to light the others) and understood more than anyone else what the lamp stand truly represented?

 

JUST SOMETHING TO MEDITATE ON

Back to Hanukkah and Christmas…….

Now the “New Testament” does not say at what time Jesus was born. December 25^th is a date chosen by Emperor Constantine almost 3 centuries later!

However, his birth is mentioned 2 times in the “New Testament” and prophesied 3 times in the “Old Testament”.

Most people, especially those who believe Jesus is Lord, are familiar with the scriptures that retell his birth in the book of Matthew chapter 1, verses18-25 and chapter 2, verses 1-12,

 

and in the Book of Luke, chapter 1, verses 26-38 and chapter 2, verses 1-35.

 

BUT, not everyone is as familiar with the scriptures from the Prophet Isaiah and the prophet Micah in the “Old Testament”.

In the book of Isaiah, chapter 7, verse 14 Isaiah prophesies:Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

The in chapter 9, verses 6-7:
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
And the government will be ob his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty G-d, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom
establishing justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

The Prophet Micah says in chapter 5, verse 2:
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.

So, the birth of Jesus is mentioned enough to know it is a historical fact. He was born!

But, probably not in December!

So, is it wrong for Christians to celebrate Jesus’ birth? Of course not. Maybe the snowy winter scenes and balsam trees are an added “perk” but we have to admit..

POTATOES LATKES, JELLY DONUTS AND CHOCOLATE were not on the scene when the temple was rededicated!

As for gifts? Jewish kids think they got it better with 8 gifts guaranteed! But that too has nothing to do with the meaning of the holiday.

COULD IT BE…………..that the nature and character of the G-d of the Bible, the
G-d of Israel, is to bless His people? Is to celebrate His love, His kindness, His goodness, His generosity?

In the Great Love Song Of Solomon doesn’t it say:

He has taken me to His banqueting table
And His banner over me is love.

So, I personally do not believe any of these celebrations are wrong.

What IS WRONG is leaving the G-d of miracles, the G-d of might and power, the G-d who is always, always faithful,  out of your celebration!

 

 

 

 

JEHOVAH AND ALLAH ARE DIFFERENT NAMES FOR THE SAME GOD?

There are many groups forming throughout the world that join together as ecumenical organizations demonstrating unity and “peace”.  But, is this really true?

When imams and Christian ministers join together to pray and “get along” are they really addressing the same “God”?

The best way to analyze this is to study what the Bible says about G-d and compare it to the beliefs of Muslims who read the Koran.

There are so many aspects and scriptures we can choose to use to compare “Gods”.

Since “who owns the land?” is such a “hot “topic, let’s check out some scriptures from the Bible about what G-d says about the land and compare them to Allah.

 

The first book of the Bible is called Genesis.

In Genesis chapter 12, verse 7, The Lord appeared to Abram and said,”To your offspring, I will give this land.”

Again, in Genesis chapter 13, verse 14-15, the Lord says to Abram, “Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.”

A third time the Lord tells Abram in Genesis chapter 17, verses 7-8 that, I will establish my covenant as an everlasting convenant between me and you,  and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your G-d and the G-d of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be there G-d.

Now, this could refer to Ishmael or Isaac since both are Abram’s offspring. In fact, in verse 18, Abraham says to G-d, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing.”

The G-d of the Bible responds by saying – “yes (He will bless Ishmael), but verse 19 says, “but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. And, as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him: I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of 12 rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year."

So, this is not a case of one offspring not being blessed, but the G-d of the Bible clearly establishes a covenant with Isaac and his offspring involving the land of Canaan.

The G-d of the Bible has a right to decide who he gives the land to, because he owns it according to Leviticus chapter 25, verse 23. G-d says, “The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is Mine and you are but aliens and my tenants.”

There is no mention of this land or of Jerusalem by Allah in the Koran.

Now many people think that because the people of Israel disobeyed their
G-d, he cancelled His covenant and the promises that are included with it. Is that what the Bible says?

The G-d of the Bible says in numerous places that He will not forsake His covenant with the people of Israel.

In Leviticus chapter 26, verses 43-45, G-d says, “For the land will be deserted by them and will enjoy its Sabbaths while it lies desolate without them.  They will pay for their sins because they rejected  my laws and abhorred my decrees.  Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or abhor them so as to destroy them completely, breaking my covenant with them. I am the Lord their G-d. But for their sake I will remember the covenant with their ancestors whom I brought out of Egypt in the sight of nations to be their G-d. I am the Lord."

In Deuteronomy chapter 30, verses 4-5 G-d again says something similar, “Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the Lord your G-d will gather you and bring you back. He will bring you to the land that belonged to your fathers, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers."
 

Perhaps the strongest words from G-d that express his heart and epitomize His character, are in Psalm 89, verses 30-34 in which G-d says,
If His sons (David’s sons) forsake my law and do not follow my statutes,
If they violate my decrees and fail to keep my commands
I will punish their sin with the rod, their iniquity with flogging;
But I will not take my love away from him.
Nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.
I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered.

The G-d of the Bible even goes a step further. Not only does he promise to honor His words and His covenant with Israel, but he promises restoration to them!

Perhaps the strongest example of this is in the book of Ezekiel, chapter 36, verses 2-12:

This is what the Sovereign Lord says:  The enemy said of you, “Aha! The ancient heights have become our possession.”  Therefore prophesy and say, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because they ravaged and hounded you from every side so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations and the object of people’s malicious talk and slander, therefore O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign Lord……In my burning zeal I have spoken against the rest of nations, and against all of Edom, for with glee and with malice in their hearts they made my land their own possession so that they may plunder their pastureland.
 

Therefore, prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say to the mountains and hills, the ravines and valleys: This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I speak in my jealous wrath because you have suffered the scorn of nations. Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I swear with uplifted hand that the nations around you will also suffer scorn.

But you , O mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home. I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown, and I will multiply the number of people upon you, even the whole house of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. I will increase the number of men and animals upon you, and they will be fruitful and become numerous. I will settle people on you as in the past and will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
 

I will cause people, my people Israel, to walk upon you. They will possess you, and you will be their inheritance; you will never again deprive them of their children.

It’s important to notice in Ezekiel’s prophetic word, speaking the voice of the Lord, that G-d refers to the land as “Israel”. In fact no where in the Bible is the word, “Palestine” found. The reason for this is obvious. The name “Palestine” was given to the land by Emperor Hadrian in 135 AD way after the Bible was written. The Emperor changed the name to humiliate G-d’s people. However, it did not stick for very long and the land was normally referred to as “The Holy land”, “Judea”, “The Promised Land”, “Israel”. The name “Palestine” began to be used again in modern times in 1920 when negotiators at the San Remo Conference established the land as the National Jewish Home. Before WW1, it was just an indistinct area in the Ottoman Empire. Of course, the name “Palestine” was not just an “Arab” area. There were “Palestinian Jews and Palestinian Arabs”. Both lived in the land.

Now there are some who say that this “return” is referring to Israel’s return from exile during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. However, in the book of Amos in chapter 9, verses 14-15 the G-d of Israel says:

"I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them.
They will plant vineyards and drink their wine;
They will make gardens and eat their fruit.
I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them, says the Lord your
G-d."

So the G-d of the Bible clearly establishes in His word that he owns the land and has given this small piece to Israel’s descendants as an everlasting covenant regardless of their behavior.

He does not withhold blessing from the descendants of Ishmael. He simply designates this small piece of property for Israel.

 

This definitely draws distinctions between the G-d of the Bible and Allah. If Allah agrees with the G-d of the Bible, or if he is the “same God”, then what is all the conflict about?

Of course, there are many other differences, but this should be enough to prove clearly they are not the same G-d!