This year’s celebration of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah was front and center for all the wrong reasons. It was brutally marred by two alleged Islamic extremists who killed 16 people attending the ceremony at Bondi Beach in Australia. There have also been reports of disruptions at several other events around the world.

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, takes place in December. Because of its close connection to the Christmas season. it is one of the better known Jewish festivals.

However, it is not one of the seven Jewish festivals mandated in the Bible in Leviticus 23: Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Pentecost (Shavuot), Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah), Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot).

The Maccaben Revolt

Hanukkah was set up after the Maccabean revolt in 165 BC to celebrate a miracle involving the Menorah.

In 168 BC, Antiochus IV attacked Jerusalem and looted the Jewish Temple.

Antiochus deliberately desecrated the Jewish Temple. He not only set up an altar to Zeus inside the Holy of Holies, but he also ordered that pigs be sacrificed inside the temple. He also banned the Jewish rite of circumcision.

This was the second temple, that would later be restored and expanded by King Herod. It’s the Temple that Jesus visited, and the one destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.

Outraged by this desecration, Between 165 BC to 164 BC, the Jewish people rebelled and retook Jerusalem. They decided to cleanse and reconsecrate the Jewish Temple.

This included the lighting of the Menorah. However, they discovered that instead of destroying the Menorah’s consecrated oil, Antiochus had deliberately contaminated it.

This meant that Antiochus wanted the Jews to compromise their religious values and use this desecrated oil.

Fortunately, the Jews found one still sealed container of oil that had not been contaminated. But it only contained oil for one day of lighting.

But, this oil miraculously kept the Menorah lit for eight days, until they produced enough quantities of new oil.

The Jews now celebrates this miracle by lighting a Menorah over an eight day celebration. Since the Menorah has nine lights, the larger center light and one of the other smaller lights is lit on the first day. The remaining lights are lit over the next seven days.

This lighting can include using the traditional oil or candles. But can also involve more modern forms like natural gas and even electricity.

The main celebration typically takes place on the first night. It is accompanied by prayers, singing special Hanukkah songs, and food. This includes such things as potato pancakes and jam-filled donuts because they can be fried in oil.

Though not Biblically mandated, Jews put this festival on equal footing with the other seven festivals.

Did Jesus Participate in Hanukkah?

It seems that Jesus actually showed up at the Temple during a Hanukkah celebration. We are not sure if He participated in the actual celebration, but the Lord was there sometime during the eight day event.

In John 10:22-23, we read:

²² At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem; ²³ it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple area, in the portico of Solomon.

Notice how John specifically says it took place in the winter, which is when Hanukkah fell. The Greek word, ta enkaínia, literally means rededication, consecration. The word was used to describe the cleansing and rededication of the Temple after it was desecrated by Antiochus.

Since ancient Jewish literature used this word to describe Hanukkah, there is no doubt this was the festival John was referring to.

Jesus’ appearance during the celebration provoked the Jews. They asked Christ if He was the Messiah? The Lord responded by talking about the works or miracles that He was performing (John 10:25-26).

Since Hanukkah was based on the miraculous provision of oil, Jesus used miracles as evidence that He was the Anointed One.

Jesus finished by saying, that He and the Father were one (verse 30).

The implication was clear. The Jews promptly accused Christ of blasphemy for calling Himself God and sought to stone Him (verse 32-33). However, the Lord slipped away before they could arrest Him (verse 39).

Because of the emphasis on lights during Hanukkah, it may not be a coincidence that leading up to the festival Jesus described Himself as the Light of the world (John 8:12). The Lord added that those who follow Him will no longer walk in darkness.