8
career and teachings of Jesus.3
It is as Craig Keener, Professor at Asbury Theological Seminary,
states, “The Gospels offer countless examples affirming Jesus’ Jewish
identity. The tradition about Jesus observing Hanukkah is merely one of
these, but it is one that invites our attention at this season.”4 In John 10
we encounter one of these “Jesus traditions.”
John, just like Matthew, saw specific theological implications in the
incidents he reported. Keener notes, “His Gospel connects Jesus’ mission
with features of each of the festivals: He appears as the foundation stone
from which living water would flow, a hope specifically celebrated at the
Festival of Tabernacles and in John’s Hanukkah passage … which
depicts Jesus as consecrated or dedicated to God the way this festival
celebrated the altar’s rededication (cf. 10:36; elsewhere this Gospel
connects Jesus with the temple).”
Hanukkah is a powerful story of God interceding on behalf of His
people and showing His faithful loving kindness. When Antiochus
Epiphanes, also known in Jewish history as “Antiochus the Madman”,
persecuted the Jewish people and desired that they worship the Greek
gods and give up their Jewish identity, the Jews revolted. As they were
rededicating the Temple after an un-kosher sacrifice was made, the oil,
which was only enough for one day, lasted for eight.
Jewish followers of Jesus see Hanukkah as time to celebrate another
gift of God to our people (and the whole world!) — Jesus the Jewish
Messiah. During Hanukkah we celebrate how God provided light in the
Temple for eight nights. However, how appropriate it is to also remember
the Light of the World, through whom we have the Light of Life (Jn.
8:12). If God had not intervened during the first Hanukkah, a Jewish
virgin would not have given birth to a child who would be raised as a
Jew to fulfill God’s will for His life – to be the atonement for our sins.
Hanukkah is a demonstration of God’s unfolding plan of redemption,
which Christians, and some Jews, celebrate at Christmas.
Without Hanukkah, there would be no Christmas!
3 Ibid
4 See: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-s-keener/jesus-and-hanukkah-john-10-22-23_b_2233251.htm