FEAST OF DEDICATION – CHANUKAH
Sunday – December 2, 2018, Kislev 24, 5779
The Feast of Dedication or Chanukah is one of the Hebrew feasts and is not one of the commanded Feasts of the Lord or Appointed Times of the Lord as spelled out in Leviticus twenty-three. The featured picture above is an artist’s depiction of Herod’s Temple present in the time of Jesus. 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 Thanksgiving and Christmas (winter). 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 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 book of Second Maccabees 5:11-14 and 6:1-11 (not canon) that Antiochus would sacrifice pigs, cut the hands off of Jews, cut out their tongues, and sacrifice them together with the unclean animals on the Alter of Sacrifice.
The Jews revolted led by the Maccabees and 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 standard Menorah or candelabra with six lamps and a center lamp (seven total) 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 new 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. I am sure that all of us recognize that 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. 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 and miracle for all peoples from Satanic oppression.
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.
Until our next publication, I speak this Scriptural prayer for your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
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, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
PARTNERSHIP AND GIVING – Those of you who are not Partners of this Ministry and you find this ministry to be of value to you and perhaps others with whom you share it, we ask you to consider becoming Partners. A Partner is one who prays for the Ministry on a regular basis and contributes to the Ministry on a regular basis (monthly, quarterly, annually). Thank you and may the Lord be pleased with your decision.
CONTACT E-MAIL: pastordavidwood@gmail.com
BLOG: https://awakeariseandtriumphministries.org
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/awakearisetriumphministries
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/PastorDavidWood
MAILING ADDRESS: 10 Village Green Circle, Oakland, Maine 04963
MY BOOKS: https://awakeariseandtriumphministries.org/shop/
