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LENT - March 18, 2020

TEXT: John 10:22-30

Then came the Festival of Dedication[fn] at Jerusalem. It was winter, and

Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.

The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you

keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus

answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my

Father’s name testify about me,

but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to

my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and

they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My

Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all]; no one can snatch

them out of my Father’s hand. ”I and the Father are one.”

TOPIC: Hanukkah (Festival of Dedication) (han-na-ka)

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Our topic is Hanukkah, which means “dedication”. This Festival of Dedication of sometimes referred to as the Festival of Light is only mentioned in Scripture in the New Testament, in the reading from the Gospel of John. It is a winter festival of 8 days beginning with the 25th day of the Jewish month Kislev which corresponds with our November and December. That’s why we often hear about it around the time we are celebrating Christmas. It is also interesting how both Hanukkah and Christmas have an emphasis on light. Hanukkah was a festival that was established by the Jewish people during the 400 silent years between the writing of Malachi in the Old Testament and the birth of Christ. So it is never mentioned in the Old Testament. It commemorated the rededication of the second temple after it was defiled by the Syrians and made into a pagan shrine. The history of the events surrounding this festival is recorded in the apocryphal books of 1 and 2 Maccabees. In 167 BC Israel was occupied by the Syrians, who wanted to bring Greek culture to the region. As you know the Greek culture recognized many gods, and the king of Syria, who controlled Israel, believed he was one of these gods. His name was Antiochus, and he called himself Antiochus Epiphanes which means “Antiochus, the

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manifestation of God”. This angered the Jewish people who believed in only one God. And of course, the people angered the king, who believed himself to be a god. so Aniochus began to oppress the people by placing statues of himself in the towns and throughout the countryside, then forcing the people to bow down to his likeness. He even went so far as to place an idol in the temple and had a pig sacrificed on the altar to make the temple “unclean” so the people could not worship there. One of the priests of the temple, (Mattathis), fought back. He fled to the hills of Judea to organize resistance against the Syrians. His son Judah, a born leader, brought many men to the hills to fight. Judah was nicknamed “Maccabee”, which means hammer, because the people began to see Judah as the hammer of God. In fact, many of them followed Judah believing that he was God’s promised Messiah to deliver them from their oppressive enemies. The Books of the Maccabees record the number and types of warriors each side had in this battle. Judah’s troops were outnumbered by the Syrians and were poorly armed. Yet, they fought and defeated the well-armed Syrian army. This army was trained in the style of Alexander the Great, and even had elephants that they would get drunk and stampede into the Jewish troops. But, the Syrians of course were not a match for the one true god. God led his troops to victory in a miraculous defeat of the Syrians. His people won their land back and once again could worship as they pleased. But, the temple had been defiled. So the people began the process of cleaning up and rededicating the temple. In preparation of the rededication of the temple, it was cleaned, the altar consecrated, the lampstand put aright, and the curtains hung. It’s at this point that tradition takes over from recorded history. Tradition tells us that after the war there was only enough oil found to light the lampstand for just one day. It would take several days to prepare more oil according to the prescribed procedures. But, the small amount of oil found, enough for only one day, burned for eight days, long enough to prepare the needed oil. God had worked yet another miracle. So the festival of the Dedication of the temple is sometimes referred to as the “Festival of Lights”, because the sacred temple lamp burned eight days on one day’s supply of sacred oil. The light is a symbol of God’s presence, sustaining his people through all time, and the festival is a time to remember God’s grace and protection of his people. Because the flame lasted for eight days, so the Festival of Lights lasts for eight days. Each day of the festival a new light is added to the Hanukkah menorah

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which is a special nine-branch candle holder. The ninth candle is called the “shames” (SHAHmesh) meaning “servant”, this helper or servant candle lights the rest of the candles. Day after day, the shames lights one more flame, until the entire room is lit. Jesus uses a Shepherd/sheep analogy to describe the relationship we have with Him. A shepherd is not a conqueror of his flock. He is a servant. He leads them, feeds them, and teaches them, A shepherd teaches his sheep to distinguish his voice from anyone else’s so as to protect them from following a false shepherd. It’s a shepherd’s voice that leads them to the light. A shepherd will protect his sheep even at the risk of his own life --- the shepherd sacrifices his life for the sake of the sheep. Just as the shames candle lights the candles of the menorah, of Shammes, Jesus, ignites the light of life in us. But, unlike the candles at Hanukkah, which will eventually burn out, our lights will never perish. Another tradition at Hanukkah is to eat pancakes made with potatoes and oil, the oil in the pancakes recalls the oil in the sacred temple lamp. Other popular foods are doughnuts and cheese dishes. Gifts are exchanged, especially between members of the family. Sounds a lot like our Christmas doesn’t it? Remember that Hanukkah was a winter festival, in fact the only winter festival, because all the others were spring or fall festivals. Jesus takes the opportunity of the Feast of Dedication to make an extraordinary claim, “I and the Father are one.” Those around him saw this as blasphemy, But, to be the Messsiah, He must be God. Judah, the one whom God used to deliver His people from the oppressive rule of the Syrians, was just a man. He did not claim to be God. In the very same way, God used Moses to deliver His people from the oppressive rule of the Egyptians. But, Moses never claimed to be God either. Israel’s prophet prophesied that the Messiah must be both God and man. A child born of a virgin, a son who is called Immanuel, “God with us”. Jesus is the Messiah, true God and true man who came to die for us as the perfect sacrifice in payment for our sin. The Feast of Dedication is a time to remember the dedication of the temple, but also gives us an opportunity to examine our own dedication to God. If we listen to His voice and follow Him, we are sure to be led safely on the path of life. If we stray, we risk our lives. False shepherds will call us. But, the Shepherd who served us with His life and death now serves us in His resurrected life and

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continues to call us. In the winter of our lives, when the testing seems too great. Then the lights of the Hanukkah menorah remind us that Jesus brings us the light of eternal life with God’s Spirit to lead us. Just as the lights of Hanukkah overcome darkness, so the darkness of this world is overcome by Jesus who said, “I am the light of the world; whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) Let us pray: Our Father, our King, thank You for sending Your Son to serve us as our Shepherd. Tune our hearts to His voice, and help us to listen always. Thank you for the light You have shone into our hearts. Thank You for Your son, who died so that we might live. Help us dear Lord to understand how You desire to use us to serve You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.