Christmas & Hanukkah | The Festival of Lights
The Meaning of Hanukkah (Chanukah) The Feast of Dedication
Hanukkah follows the Hebrew lunar calendar, so its dates change each year. By contrast, many Christians celebrate the birth of the Messiah on December 25. Because Hanukkah often falls during December, many people refer to this season as the Festival of Lights.
Hanukkah, or Chanukah, is the Jewish Festival of Dedication. The celebration lasts eight days and features the nightly lighting of the menorah, special prayers, and traditional foods. The Hebrew word Chanukah means “dedication.” The festival commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after its recovery. For believers, Hanukkah also reminds us to dedicate our lives to God and to the Kingdom of the Messiah.
Jesus Celebrated Hanukkah
Many Christians and Jews do not realize that Jesus celebrated Hanukkah. The Gospel of John calls it “the Feast of Dedication.”
John 10:22–31 records:
“And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch…”
During this festival, the Jewish leaders questioned Jesus about His identity. He answered:
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me… I and My Father are one.”
Instead of accepting His testimony, many rejected Him and picked up stones to stone Him.
Hearing the Voice of the Good Shepherd
Today, many people claim to know Jesus. However, Jesus teaches that His true followers hear His voice and obey Him. Genuine faith produces faithful obedience, not empty words.
Hanukkah reminds us that true dedication goes beyond religious traditions. We honor God when we obey His Word, follow His commands, and allow His light to shine through our lives. Our daily choices should reflect our commitment to Him.
A Call to Faithfulness
Ask yourself these questions:
- Are you faithful?
- Are you obeying God’s Word?
- Have you dedicated your life to Him?
Following God’s Kingdom is not always easy. Society may oppose those who choose biblical truth over human traditions. Even religious people sometimes reject those who remain faithful to Scripture.
Jesus experienced that rejection. During Hanukkah, He declared His identity as the Good Shepherd of Israel. In doing so, He fulfilled the prophecy against unfaithful shepherds found in Ezekiel 34:2. He came to shepherd God’s people with faithfulness. As the living Temple, He faced rejection, and His opponents attempted to stone Him for blasphemy.
Wisdom and Dedication
Scripture warns against relying on human wisdom alone.
Proverbs 12:15
“The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.”
Let Hanukkah encourage us to honor God through both our words and our actions. Dedicate your life to Him with faithful obedience. Trust Him even when the path becomes difficult, knowing that He holds His people securely.
The Hanukkah Menorah
The nightly lighting of the menorah stands at the heart of Hanukkah. The menorah has nine branches. Eight hold the festival lights, while the ninth holds the shamash (“attendant”) candle, which lights the others.
Families light one candle on the first night. They add one additional candle each evening until all eight candles shine on the final night. The growing light beautifully symbolizes hope, dedication, and God’s faithfulness.
May this Hanukkah inspire you to dedicate your life to the Messiah, the true Light of the world, and glorify Him through every word and every action.
Hanukkah in Torah
The Dedication of the Tabernacle
The Torah connects the theme of dedication with Numbers 7, where Moses completed the Tabernacle according to God’s command. After he anointed and consecrated the Tabernacle, the altar, and all its furnishings, the leaders of the twelve tribes brought their offerings to dedicate the altar before the Lord.
Each tribal leader presented his offering on a separate day. Although every offering contained the same gifts, each leader personally honored God through faithful obedience. Their willingness to give demonstrated unity, gratitude, and devotion to the Lord.
Before the offerings began, the leaders also presented six covered carts and twelve oxen for the work of the Tabernacle. Moses distributed these gifts among the Levites according to their responsibilities. The Kohathites did not receive carts because they carried the holy furnishings on their shoulders.
Read the complete account in Numbers 7.
Offerings at the Dedication of the Tabernacle
When Moses finished setting up the tabernacle, he anointed and consecrated it and all its furnishings. He also anointed and consecrated the altar and all its utensils. Then the leaders of Israel, the heads of families who were the tribal leaders in charge of those who were counted, made offerings. They brought as their gifts before the Lord six covered carts and twelve oxen—an ox from each leader and a cart from every two. These they presented before the tabernacle.
The Lord said to Moses, “Accept these from them, that they may be used in the work at the tent of meeting. Give them to the Levites as each man’s work requires.” So Moses took the carts and oxen and gave them to the Levites. He gave two carts and four oxen to the Gershonites, as their work required, and he gave four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites, as their work required. They were all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest. But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites, because they were to carry on their shoulders the holy things, for which they were responsible. When the altar was anointed, the leaders brought their offerings for its dedication and presented them before the altar. For the Lord had said to Moses, “Each day one leader is to bring his offering for the dedication of the altar.”
The one who brought his offering on the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah. His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.
On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, the leader of Issachar, brought his offering. The offering he brought was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.
On the third day, Eliab son of Helon, the leader of the people of Zebulun, brought his offering. His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.
On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, the leader of the people of Reuben, brought his offering. His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.
On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, the leader of the people of Simeon, brought his offering. His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.
On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, the leader of the people of Gad, brought his offering. His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.
On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, the leader of the people of Ephraim, brought his offering. His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 52 one male goat for a sin offering; 53 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.
On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, the leader of the people of Manasseh, brought his offering. His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.
On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, the leader of the people of Benjamin, brought his offering. His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.
On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, the leader of the people of Dan, brought his offering. His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.
On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Okran, the leader of the people of Asher, brought his offering. His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Okran.
On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, the leader of the people of Naphtali, brought his offering. His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.
These were the offerings of the Israelite leaders for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed: twelve silver plates, twelve silver sprinkling bowls and twelve gold dishes. Each silver plate weighed a hundred and thirty shekels, and each sprinkling bowl seventy shekels. Altogether, the silver dishes weighed two thousand four hundred shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel. The twelve gold dishes filled with incense weighed ten shekels each, according to the sanctuary shekel. Altogether, the gold dishes weighed a hundred and twenty shekels. The total number of animals for the burnt offering came to twelve young bulls, twelve rams and twelve male lambs a year old, together with their grain offering. Twelve male goats were used for the sin offering. The total number of animals for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering came to twenty-four oxen, sixty rams, sixty male goats and sixty male lambs a year old. These were the offerings for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.
When Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant law. In this way the Lord spoke to him.”
Balaam’s Prophecy of the Messiah
The Torah also contains one of its clearest prophecies about the coming Messiah.
Numbers 24:15–19 declares:
“I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near. A Star will come out of Jacob; a Scepter will rise out of Israel…”
This remarkable prophecy points to the promised Messiah, the eternal King who would arise from Israel and establish His righteous Kingdom.
A Hanukkah Reflection
Hanukkah reminds us that God calls His people to wholehearted dedication. Just as the Tabernacle was dedicated for His presence, we should dedicate our lives to His service. Our faith should remain strong, our love should remain sincere, and our hope should remain steadfast.
The miracle of the menorah also reminds us to keep God’s light burning in our hearts. As followers of the Messiah, we are called to walk in His truth and reflect His light to the world. May our lives shine with faith, obedience, and hope until the promised Messiah returns in glory.
