11
THE SERVANT MESSIAH AND
THE FEAST OF DEDICATION
During the eight days of Hanukkah a ninebranched
candelabra, called a hanukkiah, is lit
from right to left (when facing the candelabra).
The candles are lit using the middle candle—
known by its special designation as the “servant”
candle. This servant candle holds spiritual and
theological significance for followers of Jesus the
Messiah. Just as the lights of Hanukkah point us
to the “Light of the World” – Jesus the Messiah,
so the servant candle alludes to His servantlike
attitude. Perhaps the most famous and compelling prophecy of the
Messiah being a servant is found in Isaiah 52:13-53:12.
Messiah the Suffering Servant
The prophet Isaiah predicted that the Messiah who was to bring
the Light of God to the nations and dwell with His people Israel was to
suffer and be a servant to the world before He would be exalted as King
Messiah. Some ancient Jewish texts agree.
The Babylonian Talmud says: “The Messiah, what is his name?
The Rabbis say, The Leper Scholar, as it is said, ‘surely he has borne our
griefs and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him a leper, smitten of
God and afflicted....’”(Sanhedrin 98b).
Midrash Ruth Rabbah says: “Another explanation (of Ruth 2:14):
He is speaking of King Messiah; ‘Come hither,’ draw near to the throne;
‘and eat of the bread,’ that is, the bread of the kingdom; ‘and dip thy
morsel in the vinegar,’ this refers to his chastisements, as it is said, ‘but
he was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities.’”
Yalkut Shimoni (a thirteenth compilation of earlier Midrashic
writings) applies Isaiah 52:13 to the Messiah, stating that the Messiah,
called the “great mountain” according to the Yalkut’s interpretation of
Zechariah 4:7, is “greater than the patriarchs…higher than Abraham…