AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Thursday – December 10, 2020, Kislev 24, 5781
FEAST OF DEDICATION – CHANUKAH
Today at approximately 6 PM is the beginning of the nine-day Festival of Dedication. This feast is also known as a Festival of Lights or more commonly Chanukah (Hanukkah – alternate spelling). The timing of this Festival is generally between our (American) Thanksgiving and Christmas (Christian celebration [mass] of the birth of THE Christ). This festival appears to have been observed by Jesus.
John 10:22-23 (KJV)
22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.
The Feast of Dedication or Chanukah is a Hebrew feast but is not one of the commanded Feasts of the Lord or Appointed Times of the Lord as spelled out in Leviticus chapter twenty-three and elsewhere. The featured picture above is an artist’s depiction of Herod’s Temple present in the time of Jesus. It is called Herod’s Temple because He added to the Second Temple platform. The first Temple was built by Solomon, later destroyed and rebuilt in the time of Nehemiah and called the Second Temple.
The origins of Chanukah occurred during the inter-testament period (Malachi to Matthew – about 400 years). The Holy Land including modern day Israel at that time was occupied first by Alexander the Great of Greece and then following his death by Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175 BC – 164 BC). Antiochus was a brutal ruler who outlawed Judaism and placed a statue of Zeus in the Most Holy Place of the Temple. On top of all that he sacrificed unclean animals in the Temple. Worse still it is reported by Josephus the Jewish Historian and in the non-canon book of Second Maccabees 5:11-14 and 6:1-11 that Antiochus would sacrifice pigs, cut off the hands of Jews, cut out their tongues, and sacrifice them together with the unclean animals on the Alter of Sacrifice.
A Jewish revolt led by the Maccabees liberated Jerusalem in about 165 BC. They immediately set about the cleansing of the Temple, to return the Temple to its intended use, that is to rededicate the Temple to the True God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. When they went to light the menorah 
located in the Holy Place, they found there was only enough special oil for one day and it takes eight days to make new oil. Pictured is a Menorah or candelabra as prescribed by God (Exodus 25:31-40) with six lamps and a center lamp (seven total). The center lamp is called the servant lamp. The candelabrum is of pure gold. The oil represents the Holy Spirit, the six lamps represent mankind, the gold represents purity (righteousness), and the servant lamp is Jesus. The Servant lamp is used to ignite the fire in the other lamps. I think you can readily see the picture of the Holy Spirit always being present but becomes a purifying flame when Jesus enters the picture. They lit the Candelabra anyway knowing there was only one day of oil and it would take eight days to make more of the special olive oil for this purpose.
Miraculously the oil burned for eight days until the ne
w oil was ready. Now, Chanukah is celebrated with a nine-candle candelabra recognizing that God delivered them once again from their enemies and caused the candles to flame miraculously for eight days. There are four candles or lamps on each side of the servant lamp. Eight is the number of new beginnings and the number nine represents divine completeness given from the Lord. Israel has been preserved by the Hand of God over and over down through history and they will be a people of God forever. Many of us have also been delivered and preserved by the Grace and mercy of God until this day.
I mentioned earlier that Jesus observed the Festival of Dedication. Let us look at the following passage. Keep in mind there is no accidental or coincidental placement of any particular Scripture. So, verse twenty-two in the following passage mentioning the Feast of the Dedication is not some random thought of the writer, the Holy Spirit placed it there. Twenty-two by the way is the Bible number for light and one name for this festival is The Festival of Lights. In the verses leading up to verse twenty-two Jesus has told them about His coming death and resurrection and that both are in His power. Following the mention of the Feast of Dedication, Jesus tells them that He knows His sheep, the sheep know His voice and His sheep follow Him. Once we are saved, dedicate ourselves to Him to the Light, we can and do hear His voice. The Jews of that day neither knew His voice nor followed Him but the day is coming when they will. Before the birth of the Church, Jesus was the light of the world (the servant lamp), but following the Cross and Resurrection (a new beginning) we are the lights of the world. Chanukah is a celebration of deliverance from Greek oppression. The coming of Messiah, His sacrifice, His resurrection, and the coming of the Holy Spirit (The Anointing [oil]) on the Day of Pentecost is the most spectacular deliverance from demonic oppression, a miracle for all peoples.
John 10:17-27 (KJV)
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.
24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Let us determine to not let our oil wane, that we not be like the five foolish virgins but like the wise and be continually filled with the Holy Spirit, fresh oil every day of our lives.
2 Chronicles 20:20b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it, believe it, and speak over yourself and your family by faith in Jesus name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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