Light in the darkness

As the year draws to a close I’m reflecting a lot on this year. At the start of the year, Israel was in my heart. I had been praying that I could get an opportunity to take a study trip to Israel. It didn’t make sense in the natural that I would be able to go this year but it was a prayer of mine that I could make it there and the Lord made it happen almost at the last minute. I didn’t find out I was going until a month before I was to board the plane. While I was there I fell in love with the land of Israel and more specifically, the Jewish people. I couldn’t even explain it but I would find myself bursting into tears at different moments when I was there. I could feel God’s heart so big for His people and I couldn’t put words to what I was feeling. Never would I have anticipated all the things that would transpire after I returned.

The tragedy of October 7th

It’s been heartbreaking to see the horrific events that happened on October 7th and the suffering that continues. I picture the faces of the Israelis that I spoke with, especially Haim who stopped me in the Cardo to share his story with me. It was a story of so much pain and suffering he and his family experienced in his life. His view of God was that God was angry because he saw so much hatred between people throughout his life. Many times people confuse all the hostility in the world with God when the truth is that it grieves the heart of God to see these things happening. I tried to tell him how much God loved him but he had trouble believing it. I think of him when I pray for Israel. What’s been sobering is seeing the blatant hatred for Jewish people. I never imagined in my generation that I would witness people wearing swastikas and yelling “Death to the Jews”. I can’t wrap my head around any of it but I realize that our fight isn’t against flesh and blood. It’s against the spiritual forces of darkness.

The Feast of Dedication

Darkness only flees when the light comes. A few nights ago was the start of Hannukah, an eight-day festival of lights that commemorates the miracle of the light remaining lit in the temple on only one container of oil. It happened during the time that the Maccabees were fighting back against the Seleucid Empire that was trying to subjugate them. This year I imagine the celebration carries hopeful expectations for the Jewish people. Growing up I didn’t know much about Hannukah. It’s rather surprising since it is mentioned in the New Testament. The story connected with Hannukah is written in First and Second Maccabees which isn’t in the protestant biblical canon but it is a historical book from the time of the intertestamental period. The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus also wrote about the Maccabean revolt. In the New Testament scripture, Hannukah is referred to as the Feast of Dedication in the book of John.

²² At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; ²³ it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon. ²⁴ The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” ²⁵ Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. 

John 10:22-25 nasb1995

The Maccabean Revolt

For those of you who may not be familiar with the story of Hannukah, here is some background. Under the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes IV, the Seleucids sought to force the Jews to follow the way of Hellenism that had been making its way throughout the land since the time of Alexander the Great. Hellenism was a way of life that was hedonistic. It was all about gratifying oneself and doing whatever you like. It was the antithesis of the ways of God. Antiochus Epiphanes IV tried to make the Jewish people assimilate into the way of Hellenism. He forbade all religious practice for the Jews. There was no reading of the Torah, celebrating the sabbath, or even circumcision allowed. Many were killed for refusing to compromise. Eventually, in 168 BC Antiochus slaughtered a pig on the altar of the temple in Jerusalem to make it unclean so Jews could not worship and he set up idols of greek gods.

This eventually led to a Jewish revolt led by a man named Mattathias and his family the Maccabees. The Maccabean revolt lasted from 167-160 BC. Though they were outnumbered, they succeeded in overcoming the Seleucids and taking back the temple. After the temple became desecrated the Jewish people needed to rededicate it which also meant lighting the menorah. In the temple, there was a seven-branched menorah or lampstand that was always to remain lit. It was a picture of the tree of life in the garden and it signified the presence of God in the temple. The priests would keep it continually lit with oil. The Jewish people could only find one container of oil in the temple to light the menorah which was only enough to last one day and it would take a week to make new oil. They lit the menorah with the only oil they had and miraculously it lasted eight days and eight nights. God’s light never went out in the temple. It’s a picture of how God is the the one who sustains us with His light.

The Hanukiah

To remember this event the Jewish people light a nine-branched lampstand called a Hanukiah. There’s one branch in the center and eight branches extending from the center, one for each night the oil stayed lit. The center taller branch is called the shamash or the servant candle. The shamash is lit first and then used to light the other candles beginning from right to left. A new candle is added to the Hannukiah each night so the light gradually grows brighter. Lighting the candles is a reminder of God’s presence shining amidst darkness. The celebration of Hannukah or the Feast of Dedication wasn’t one of the feasts that God instituted for the Jewish people to celebrate, but it is a beautiful reminder of God’s faithfulness.

An act of defiant joy

Over the last couple of years, I began lighting the candles during Hannukah as a way to participate with the Jewish people in celebrating God’s faithfulness. This year I put my menorah in the window and as I light it, I continue to pray for the Jewish people. I pray that they don’t feel alone and that they know that they are loved by Adonai and that they are loved by many Christians around the world. When I was in Israel I learned that so much of the way the Jewish people remember the stories of God’s faithfulness is through tangible ways of celebration. Placing the hanukiah in my window and lighting the candles feels like a small but defiant act of joy against the darkness.

A picture of Jesus is found in the menorah

The most beautiful aspect of Hannukah is that I see my messiah Jesus in it. As I mentioned earlier, the menorah that was lit in the temple was a seven-branch menorah and the center is called the servant. Jesus when he came said he did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many. He also said that anyone who wants to become great in the kingdom of heaven must become a servant of all. As we abide in Him he gives us His light so we can become servants to others.

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

JOHN 15:5 NASB 1995

He gives us the ability to be fruitful and to give life. It is a reminder of my dependence upon Him. Six branches extended out from the center branch. If you’re familiar with the biblical significance of numbers you’ll notice that six is the number of humanity and when you add the servant candle in the center you get seven which is the number of completion. It is only with Jesus that we are made complete. I’m also reminded of Jesus as the light of the world and how he tells us that we are to be a light to the world. He gave us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us so that through Him we can bring light.

¹² Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

JOHN 8:12 NASB1995

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; ¹⁵ nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16

The menorah in the temple wasn’t lit with candles but with oil. It’s the oil of the Holy Spirit that gives us the ability to remain joyful amid difficulty and to bring the light into dark places. Jesus didn’t run away from darkness. He ran into the darkness and brought His light to dispel it. We as followers of Jesus filled with the Holy Spirit, are called to do the same. No matter what is going on in the world, I encourage you to look for God in the midst of it. Ask yourself “Where is God in this? What is He doing and how can I participate with Him?” Don’t let the darkness cause you to hide. Recognize the greater One that lives inside of you and continue to shine your light.

I know that as Christmas nears there are many opportunities to give to charity and support various non-profit organizations. I want to let you know about a place where you can be a light to the Jewish people today. I know many of us wish we could be in Israel helping the people that are struggling. Although we can’t physically be there we can send support to those that are on the ground helping. Jews for Jesus are taking donations to help supply boxes of food to Israelis who are unable to leave their homes to get food. One box of food will feed a family of five for a week for $50. Through December 31st there is a matching donation so your donation of $50 will cover two boxes of food. Followers of Jesus in Israel are hand-delivering these boxes to those who live in the land. You can participate with this effort here: https://j4j.co/606899