Parables Christian Ministry Library

Lesson #199 - HANUKA- Should We or Shouldn’t We?

Part #2
Avram Yehoshua

DID YESHUA CELEBRATE HANUKA?

It’s very interesting to see that Yeshua was in Jerusalem at the time  of Hanuka:

‘At that time the Festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem.  It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the Temple, in the portico of  Solomon.’ (John 10:22-23, NRSV)

Some might not think too much of this verse. But we need to stop and  realize that Yeshua’s main area or territory of ministering was one  hundred miles north (160 kilometers), around the Sea of Galilee. The  only times we see Him in Jerusalem is at the Feasts of Israel (Mt.  26:2, 17; Lk. 2:41; 22:15; Jn. 2:23; 6:4; 11:55; 13:1, etc.), where  Yahveh commands all Israeli males to appear before Him (Ex. 23:17;  34:23; Dt. 16:16). We have to stop and ask, ‘Why was Yeshua in  Jerusalem at Hanuka time?’ Why would Yeshua leave the relatively  warmer climate of the Sea of Galilee area, for the mountainous,  windy, cold and rainy city of Jerusalem in the middle of the winter?  He was there to make a point. It’s good to celebrate Hanuka!

That Yeshua was there, indicates that He came for the Feast of  Dedication. Why? Because there’s no reason for Him to be in cold and  wet Jerusalem in the dead of winter other than He went there to  celebrate God’s mighty deliverance of the Maccabees, with other Jews.  Now, I realize that this is not definitive ‘proof’ but it is a strong  indication that Hanuka was seen by Him (and all the Apostles), as  ‘good.’

(I’m indebted to Margaret of San Antonio, TX, USA for these next two  paragraphs. Her email spoke of the blasphemy that began Hanuka, and  the blasphemy of Yeshua’s Hanuka. My thoughts springboard off of that.)

When we look at what John writes, what transpired at Yeshua’s Hanuka,  we can’t help but see a parallel between it, and the reason for  Hanuka. The King of Syria, Antiochus the Fourth, who called himself  Epiphanes, had control of Judah before the Maccabees rose up. Into  the Temple he had placed a statue of himself, to be worshipped as  God. On the Altar, he had many pigs sacrificed to himself and other  gods. Epiphanes means, ‘the appearing of God.’ The Maccabees put an  end to that demonic intrusion, destroying the Altar (because it had   become polluted by pigs), and building another (1st Mac. 4:38-47).  They took out all the pagan objects of worship. Once cleansed, the  Temple was then dedicated for the eight days of Hanuka.

With Yeshua, God the Son, coming into the Temple, we have the Living  God manifest, just the opposite of the perversion of the statue of  the King of Syria proclaiming himself as God. Unfortunately, there  were Jews there that wanted to stone Yeshua because He was telling  them that He was one with God (Jn. 10:22-39). These Jews were more  like the Jews in the days of the Maccabees that bowed down to the  false image and ate pig (as a sign of allegiance  and friendship to  Antiochus). Yeshua told those Jews that they weren’t His sheep. But  later we see other Jews that did believe that Yeshua was the Messiah  (Jn. 10:40-42). Yeshua’s Hanuka is quite a significant event. I don’t  think it’s a coincidence that it parallels the reason for Hanuka. The  Maccabees fought so they could worship the One True God. With the  appearance of Yeshua we see the One True God (John 14:1-11).

TRADITIONS

There is no reference to the one day’s worth of Temple oil lasting  for the eight days of Hanuka. That’s purely rabbinic. But there is  reference to Hanuka being celebrated for eight days. Why eight days?  Some think it was a substitute for the fact that they hadn’t been  able to observe the previous Sukote (Feast of Tabernacles), in  October. And so in December, when the Maccabees cleansed the Temple  of the pagan things and tore down the Altar, they may have  incorporated Sukote’s eight days as a way of celebrating their  victory. Eight days for Hanuka is mentioned in First Maccabees:

‘Then Judas (Judah) and his brothers and all the assembly of Israel  determined that every year at that season, the days of dedication of  the Altar should be observed with joy and gladness for eight days,  beginning with the twenty-fifth day of the month of Kislev’ (1st Mac.  4:59, NRSV).

There is another reason why Hanuka lasts for eight days and this I  believe is closer to the truth. When Moses consecrates Aaron and his  sons for the priesthood, and the Tabernacle is dedicated for service,  we see an eight day period (Lev. 8-9). This was most likely on the  minds of the Torah observant Maccabees and the reason for the eight  days as the very word ‘hanuka’ means, ‘dedication.’ As such, Hanuka  becomes for us an eight day period of re-dedication of ourselves to  Messiah Yeshua, asking Him to cleanse us of our idols, that we might  be fully consecrated to Him.

With Hanuka, as well as Purim, Ruti and I take them not as holy days,  but as holidays, commemorating historical times in Hebrew history  that God moved to deliver His Jewish people from certain death. They  are mini-deliverance times, or, mini-Passovers (Passover being THE  day of deliverance). (Maccabees can be read in the New Revised  Standard Verson, etc., or on-line.)

What’s the difference between a holy day and a holiday? Holy days are  commanded by God and are linked with Sabbaths. These can all be seen  in Leviticus 23. Holidays like Hanuka, are not ‘holy’, and fall into  the category of something like the Fourth of July, or Presidents Day,  etc., for America. Holidays are times of remembrance, but not  Sabbaths or holy times.

Much on Hanuka is cultural, like potato latkes (which isn’t  necessarily evil or bad). Some things can be non productive though,  like the giving of gifts for the eight nights. This is in competition  with Christmas. As nice as gifts are to receive, Hanuka is not about  gift giving but about rededication of ourselves (the Temple of  Yeshua), to the Lord. It’s also a family time.

There are many Jewish traditions that surround both Hanuka and Purim  but Ruti and I generally don’t follow them. One we do follow is the  lighting of the ‘lights.’ We don’t use candles but small oil lamps  for the eight days. It’s a visual reminder for each of the eight  days, about God’s ability to deliver. The tradition is that one lamp  is lit for the first night, and grows to eight as the nights  progress. By the sixth, seventh and eighth nights, the lights are a  wonder to see. The ninth ‘light’ or candle is the light that lights  all the others and is put out on every night, except the last. And  thus, the reason for the nine branched Hanukia (distinguishing it  from the seven branch Menorah or Lampstand of the Tabernacle and  Temple).

When we had our congregation in Tulsa, OK, USA, we’d meet every other  night (as every night was very taxing on us and the people), and all  would bring food. We’d read some from the First Book of Maccabees,  light the lights for the night and say prayers. Then we’d sit down to  eat and fellowship together.

Then having rented a Jewish video and a TV for the screen (as we  didn’t own a TV), we’d sit and watch something like Fiddler on the  Roof or Yentl or The Chosen or Exodus with Paul Newman, for its  ethical and cultural Jewish content. This year we’re going to watch  Jesus of Nazareth, which I consider to be the best ‘Jesus’ film, in  spite of some flaws (like Joseph wearing payot [long sidecurls of the  very Orthodox Jews today], and many Jews wearing the yarmulke or  kipa); and The Rabbi From Tarsus by Phil Goble (again some flaws,  like the wearing of the kipa, but the content is exceptional). Why is  the kipa wrong in these films? Because no Jew back then even heard of  a kipa, let alone wore one. The kipa is of relatively modern origin,  first appearing around the 16th century. What the Jews wore in the  days of Yeshua was more of a headcovering to protect their hair from  the sun and the dirt in the air.

We’d have ‘Happy Hanuka’ decorations, sometimes with balloons which  always gives it a festive atmosphere. Remember, Hanuka is a holiday  commemorating a time when Yahveh moved mightily for the salvation of  His Jewish People. It’s a real historical event.

Make up your own traditions for Hanuka. It’s allowed : ) But remember  that the core of the celebration is dedication to Yeshua.