channukah (fwd)

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A little late, but another article about Hanukkah.  Forwarded with
permission of the original author.
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                                  The Story of Hanukkah

Hanukkah, the Feast of Dedication, is mentioned in
John 10:22-23 "Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter
and Yeshua was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade."

Before Yeshua, under the period of the Syrian rule over Palestine, the Jews
suffered great persecution. Antiochus Epiphanes, ruler of
Syria and a wicked and godless man, Epiphanes, ruler of Syria and a wicked
and godless man, led a victorious campaign against Egypt, but had to withdraw
at the commmand of Rome.  He vented his wrath against the Jews as Palestine
was under the Syrian Kingdom at this time.  He entered Jerusalem, destroyed a
large part of it, and slaughtered men, women and children. The crowning act
was to enter the Temple of the Lord, take away the golder altar, the golden
candlesticks and its vessels as well as other treasures. He set an idol of
Jupiter in the Holiest of All and commanded Jews to worship it.  He also
sacrificed swine to Jupiter, sprinkling its blood around the Temple.  The
Laws of Moses were fobidden to be practiced on pain of death.  Only swine
were allowed to be offered on the altar.  Syrian officials enforced the laws
of Antiochus.

In time a godly faithful company of Jews resisted these laws and revolted
against the desecration of the Temple.  Notable among these was the priestly
family of the Maccabees. In about B.C. 164, a revolt took place under the
Maccabees and eventually the Syrians were driven from Jerusalem.

Judas Maccabees solemnly cleansed the Temple from the profanations to which
it had been subjected under Antiochus. He removed the old polluted altar, put
the stones in a separate place on the Temple mount, and restored the worship
of the Lord (1 Maccabees 4:52,56,59).  This "cleansing of the Sanctuary"
(Daniel 8:13-14) took place on the 25th day of the 12th month, Chisleu
(corresponding to December 25th), and the joyous celebration lasted for eigth
days.

Specially prepared oil was needed to keep the menorah continually lit.
According to tradition, only a small amount of this oil could be found.  But
it lasted for eight days, long enough to obtain and prepare more sacred oil.
 Hence, the eight branched menorah used at Hanukkah reminds us of God's
faithfulness through this miracle.

The lighting of the menorah begins with the highest candle, the 9th, the
shammash, or servant.  This candle is lowered to give light to the other
eight candles, adding one each day, until all eight candles are ablaze on the
last day of the holiday.  In many ways, Yesua is like the shammash, the head
candle.

Yeshua, became the shammash (servant), as it is written, "For the Son of Man
did not come to be served, but to serve-and to give his life as a ransom for
many" (Matthew 20:28). And like the shammash, Yeshua bent low to die for His
people.  "Though he was in the form of God... he emptied himself... he
humbled himself still more by becoming obedient even to death" (Philippians
2:6-8). Also, like the shammash, Yeshua gives light to the world, " I am the
light of the world; whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will
have the light  which gives life" (John 8:12). Surely, Yeshua the Messiah is
seen in the shammash of Hanukkah.  And we also, as the candles lit by Him,
shine as lights in this dark world!.

To all of the messianics of this list

Happy Hanukkah.... Shalom... may the Lord bless each of you
during these holydays .... may the Lord shine through you bringing the good
news -during this week- to all of the ones (messianics around you) who do not
know our Lord Yeshua....

God bless you

Geni Hayyim