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to His promises to the Jewish people because they were chosen for a
great purpose that was yet to be fulfilled: to bring into this world the
Messiah called Jesus of Nazareth, who is the revelation of God (Col.
1:15ff; Heb. 1:1-5) and the Savior of the whole world.
Hanukkah is mentioned in the New Testament in John 10:22, where
Jesus is found to be walking in the Temple area on what is called “the
Feast of Dedication.” At this time He proclaimed that He is the Light of
the World (Jn. 8:12). During Second Temple Judaism there was a lamplighting
ceremony in courtyards in the city — a time of celebration and
joy as people remembered God’s deliverance and provision.
The prophet Isaiah, who predicted the coming of the Messiah,
also spoke of light in regard to the Messianic redemption of Israel. In
chapter 9 he writes “The people who walk in darkness will see a great
light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them ….” In
the same chapter he foretells of a child being born who leads men out of
darkness and into the light of God. He is called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
Jesus the Messiah is “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and
the glory of your people Israel” (Lk. 2:32) and is the radiance of the
glory of God (Heb. 1:3). As believers in Messiah, Hanukkah reminds
us that Jesus, the Light of the World, walked and taught in the Temple,
preaching salvation and spiritual freedom. Celebrating Hanukkah as
believers thus adds a special dimension to the holiday. Retelling the
Hanukkah story, singing the traditional songs and playing games creates
warm memories as we remember the Light of the World, the Giver
of salvation and the One who protects and provides for our families.
In the words of Alfred Edersheim, a famous Jewish Christian scholar
from the 19th century, “But to us all, whatever our special views or
conclusions may be, Christ is the true Temple, and His Incarnation the
real Dedication of the Temple. God grant that from our homes the true
Light of Christ, ‘a light to lighten the Gentiles,’ may shine forth into the
wintry darkness of the heathen world, and also ‘so shine before men,
that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father which is in
heaven.’”1
1 Alfred Edersheim, The Leisure Hour, London, England, No. 1147, December 20, 1873, pp. 810-812