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CHANUKKAH
"The Festival of Dedication"

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth!" 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

The Hebrew word "chanukkah" (say "chah-noo-kah) literally means "dedication". It is from this word
that the minor holiday known as Chanukkah gets its name. This festival is not one of the seven festivals found in Leviticus chapter 23, but in its original concept, it is free from pagan trappings. The
familiar 9-branched candlestick that so many of you are used to seeing is known as a "chanukkiah". I
don’t claim to be an historian, and the story of how Chanukkah came to be is somewhat familiar to most folks anyway, so I want to avoid retelling the entire story and instead shift my teaching to focus on the meaning of "dedication". I believe just a small background briefer is necessary.

During the few hundred years prior to the Common Era (C.E.), the Hellenistic (Greek) armies of Alexander marched throughout the Middle East in a conquest to control the civilized world. For the most part, they were successful, as their rule spanned approximately 330 B.C.E (Before the Common Era) until they were finally defeated themselves by a stronger and more militant army known as the Romans in 63 B.C.E. It was during this time period that the Land of Palestine (Isra'el) was caught up in the middle of these intense power struggles.

The Hellenistic armies, led by prominent General Antiochus Epiphanies IV, sought to eliminate all traces of alien culture (alien to Hellenism) by fierce methods of assimilation. They enforced strict anti-Torah policies, particularly, the forbidding of circumcision and public and private Torah reading. As could be expected, the Judeans resisted, and conflicts with the Hellenists were frequent. As it came to pass, Antiochus eventually seized complete control of the Temple itself, and in a public display of triumph and mockery, he decided to sacrifice a swine upon the altar itself, pouring swine urine on the Temple furniture and holy things. He also enforced the strict Hellenization of Palestine by setting up a gymnasium in Yerushalayim, compelling Jews to attend. Eventually the proverbial straw broke the camel's back and a resistance led by the Maccabean family (of the Hasmonean Dynasty) began to fight back.

When the Temple was eventually recaptured by the Judeans, it was in shambles. Apart from being ritualistically defiled by Antiochus' armies, it was in a horrific state of disuse. During the three years that he occupied it, the Temple priests were forbidden to perform their proper duties, therefore, it would take quite a bit of work to repair the once beautiful structure. It was decided that before any reconstruction and repair could commence, the House itself had to be rededicated back to HaShem. This was an act to signify that the Judeans wanted the Holiness of the Holy One to return to his Holy Temple.

They set out to accomplish this task, but when it came time to rekindle the Menorah (the seven-branched lamp-stand that resided in the Temple) they discovered that the olive oil supply had been depleted. It usually took up to eight days to manufacture enough oil to keep the lamp properly lit. According to tradition, miraculously they also discovered one container of oil with enough supply to light just a single lamp (think of it as just one candle of the seven). The miraculous took place when upon lighting the menorah during the rededication ceremony, instead of it lasting only a few hours, it lasted for the duration of the eight days that it took to produce more oil! The Judeans interpreted this as a supernatural sign the Holy One, Blessed be He, was well pleased that they had defeated the Greek Armies for now, and that he was ready to "move back into his home".

Whether or not the all the elements in the above story are factual or not, history does record that the Temple was rededicated unto HaShem after the defeat of Antiochus Epiphanes IV, by the family known as the Maccabees. In fact, the story is somewhat recorded for us in the Apocryphal books known as the Maccabees (found in a Bible containing the Deuterocanonicals, usually a Catholic version). Because the festival of Chanukkah originated from a remembrance of this historic occasion, we can read about it also in our New Covenant book of John, chapter 10, verse 22.

Chanukkah is about holiness.

It has been stated that holiness is not metaphysical; our concept of holiness does not define what is holy. Only the Holy One himself can fully define—as well as embody holiness. To be sure, the phrase ‘I am ADONAI,’ or its equivalent ‘I am ADONAI your God’ appears sixteen times in Leviticus chapter nineteen alone! Chapter twenty sees another four uses of these phrases. The lesson is obvious:

ADONAI alone defines holiness among men; only he has the power and authority to set the standard of holiness—for he alone is the fullness of holiness—for he alone is ADONAI!

So what happens when humanity meets holiness?

HaShem is intimately interested in our redemption. Likewise, he is our deliverer from the unholy. That is why he masterfully planned for one man to become the perfect embodiment and display of his holiness. Only this man would be able to showcase the fullness of the holiness of God to such a degree that to look at this man was to look at God! Only this man would be able to perfectly imitate God—for only this man was and is perfectly God.

Yeshua is his name!

And he sets the standard!

Because of our new life in Messiah, we have inherited the holiness that HaShem intended for us to posses all along. When we place our trusting faithfulness in the perfect Man of God, our holiness (or lack thereof) becomes the holiness of the Father! Our constitution changes and we are no longer deemed ‘unholy’, for his riches in glory—which includes his holy standard of being—are transferred to our account! We must grasp this central truth and begin to live according to it!

We are holy because Yeshua has made us holy!

Just as unrighteous Avraham became righteous when he placed his complete faith in HaShem, so we too inherit the righteousness and holiness of the Holy One when we place our unreserved trust in his Son. But holiness is also a duty. What do I mean?

Apart from being an attribute of God—one that we inherit intrinsically with our trusting faithfulness in the Messiah, holiness is also meant to be a lifestyle. This is why I like to use the phrase ‘trusting faithfulness’ rather than simply ‘faith’. The latter implies a one-time action on our part, which forever sets into motion a spiritual truth that will be fully actualized at the return of our LORD. Notice the candor of the phrase, "I place my trust in Yeshua". However, the former carries the aspect of a daily motion, which permeates every movement of our new-creation lives! "I place my trusting faithfulness in Yeshua". Do you notice the subtle difference? To live by ‘trusting faithfulness’ rather than just by ‘faith’ alone characterizes our moment-by-moment thought process as well as our actions. The former carries our faith into action! In other words, this new life in Messiah is an ever constant, ever-growing relationship with the Holy One of Isra’el; a demonstration of the miraculous on a level that can and should be measured in even the smallest areas of our lives. Trusting faithfulness is ongoing! It is not some unmoving, monumental event which took place sometime in our lives—it is the ongoing monumental process that overtakes our lives—for the rest of our lives—which was enacted when we first had a genuine encounter with the divine holiness!

Holiness implies dedication and "set-apart-ness".

To dedicate something is to consecrate it for a set-apart function. To be set-apart unto HaShem is the fullest meaning of the word dedication. Along with the word "chanukkah", is the familiar word "kadosh", meaning "holy". This also conveys the sense of something being "separated" from the ordinary, "separated" unto the Holy. If something is not set aside unto the holy, then it is not properly set aside. One more word that will help to clarify these concepts is the word "shuv", meaning to "return". We get the Hebrew word "t'shuvah", meaning "repentance" from this word. Torah-true repentance involves turning from that which is unrighteous and returning to that which is righteous. Like chanukkah, and kadosh, t'shuvah implies both functions.

The Temple represented the seat of HaShem's dwelling with mankind. It was here that the "Ah-ron HaKodesh" (Ark of the Covenant) dwelt; it was in the Temple that the "Sh'khinah" (manifested Glory of God) resided. Therefore it was necessary to consider this place Holy unto God, and separated for a specific purpose. When the Temple became defiled with pagan influences and pagan rituals, it had to be rededicated in order to be considered "clean".

The New Covenant Scriptures indicate that, as believers in Messiah Yeshua, our bodies are now (since the Second Temple has now been removed) the Temple of the Holy Spirit of HaShem (the Ruach HaKodesh). We have become his dwelling place in the earth today. As his dwelling place, we need to keep his "temple" cleansed. How does it become defiled?

When we allow our activities to put us into the kinds of situations that the Torah forbids, when we use our temple in ways that are unethical, immoral, indecent, unjust, unloving, unkind, and just plain unscriptural, we defile his Temple! Lying, cheating, stealing, adultery, fornication, deceiving, backbiting, jealousy, quarrelling, lack of self control, lack of moral fortitude--these are some of the things which render our temple unusable to HaShem, and consequently, these are the things which will remove us from being "holy". Ultimately, these are the types of things that will destroy us. How do we rededicate ourselves?

Holiness is not something that we should just "put on and off" when it is convenient to us. It is a state that we should be constantly existing in! How do we do what HaShem expects us to do? By faithfully trusting in his Power and in his Word to work in and through our lives, to produce a temple that is useable and dedicated. We do what the Torah tells us to do, and allow HaShem to make good on his promises that as we are doing what the Torah tells us to do, he his reshaping our thought and desires to conform to the image of his Holy Son. Holiness is not just something that we sit around and "dream" about; it is more than a "revelation" or a feeling! It is a call to action!

What I have been discussing here is not some new and modern twist on religion. It is the standard that HaShem has expected since the creation of man. We in the twenty-first century are geared towards wanting the latest and the greatest, but sometimes the "old wine is better". This year as Chanukkah takes place, take a moment to reflect on the reality of "who you are in Messiah". You don’t need to be some hyper-spiritual person to accomplish the task of holiness! You are a dedicated, holy temple, set apart from the ordinary (the world and its system), and set apart unto a life of praise and obedience to God Almighty! This is an identity of preeminence! This is a position of honor! And the greatest reality is that this was accomplished, not because you or I deserved to be called "holy". Rather, it was because the Father chose to demonstrate his intense love for us by sending his Son to become the means of attaining holiness in the first place! Our holiness finds its purpose and meaning in the sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection of our LORD Yeshua! His Ruach (Spirit) empowers us to live a life that his pleasing to HaShem, and at the same time, gives us the boldness and opportunity to share our testimony with those who do not yet know Yeshua personally.

Dedication and holiness should not strike you as some unattainable character traits that only the "super spiritual" should possess. Simply placing your trusting faithfulness in Yeshua, and consequently allowing him to have control of your thoughts, actions, emotions, and your will, accomplishes the purposes of HaShem. You can start today. You should pursue it until the Messiah returns to take you unto himself! After all, "chanukkah" is not just for the Jews.

"Baruch atah YHVH, Eloheynu, Melech ha-‘Olam, asher natan Toraht-emet, uv’suraht-yeshu-ah l’amo Yisra’el ul’chol ha-amim al-yadey bano Yeshua HaMashiach, Adoneinu."
(Blessed are you O’ LORD, our God, King of the Universe, who gives the Torah of truth, and the Good News of salvation to his people Isra’el and to all the peoples through his son Yeshua the Messiah, our Lord.)