What Did Jesus Do On Hanukkah?
What Did Jesus Do on Hanukkah?
Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon's Colonnade.
John 10:22-23
Since Hanukkah is coming up soon, I thought it would be good to see what Jesus did on that holiday when he visited Jerusalem. This verse is the only place in the Bible where Hanukkah or the Festival of Dedication is mentioned. First of all, what is Hanukkah? This festival is not a religious festival but a secular Jewish celebration. Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem. in 168 BC, King Antiochus IV of the Seleucid Empire attacked Jerusalem. He took over the city, looted the temple and outlawed Judaism. The following year, he ordered that an altar to Zeus be built in the temple and that pigs be sacrificed there. In 165 BC, there was a successful Jewish revolt against the Seleucid monarchy and the temple was liberated. The priests then wanted to restart the Jewish ceremonies as soon as possible in the temple. One of the first things was to light candles in the temple. These candles use a special oil sanctified by the priests. The temple had been overrun by the Seleucids, so most of the oil was no longer usable. The high priest did find one small sealed container that could still be used. However, there was only enough oil to burn for one day. Tradition has it that this oil lasted for eight days. This was considered to be a miracle from God. There was then a celebratory rededication of this second temple. The Jewish leaders then declared that this celebration would occur on this day from then on and even unto today.
Jews came from all over Israel including Galilee to celebrate this festival. Jesus came to Jerusalem for this festival also. He knew many would be gathering at the temple. It was now winter and Jesus was approaching the end of his ministry on earth. He was walking in one of the temple courts when a group of Jews gathered around him. It was winter not only in terms of the season but also in terms of the time the Jews had left to still believe. Jesus was addressing these Jews one more time about who he was.
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.
John 10:24-27
These Jews were still questioning Jesus about whether he was the Messiah or not. Jesus explained to them that he had told them many times before that he was. However, they still did not believe. He told them that they did not believe because they were not his sheep. Previously, Jesus had told the Pharisees a parable about the shepherd and the sheep.
"Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."
John 10:1-5
Jesus had explained that he was the great Shepherd and that his sheep were those that believed. They knew his voice and followed him. But those who did not believe were not his sheep and could not understand. This was in line with a prophesy from the Old Testament which these Jews probably knew that spoke about God providing them with a great Shepherd who would protect the people of Israel.
"I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the LORD. "The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.
Jeremiah 23:3-5
Jesus also told these Jews that the signs, wonders and miracles that he had done were done in the Father's name and they also testified of who he was. Remember, Jesus had been walking around Israel for over two years and had performed many miracles and wonders. Much of this had been done in places like Galilee and east of the Jordan. But for this one last time, Jesus had come back to Jerusalem for Hanukkah to teach in the temple to these Jews. Jesus tried to answer their questions, but they were not listening and chose not to believe. Jesus even explained that those who did believe would have eternal life and that no one could take them from his hand or out of the Father's hand.
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.
John 10:28-29
Then in one of the clearest statements in the Bible, Jesus stated who he was.
I and the Father are one."
John 10:30
This statement infuriated these Jews.
Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" "We are not stoning you for any good work," they replied, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."
John 10:31-33
The basic confession of the Jewish faith is that the Lord is one. According to their beliefs, there is only one God.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
So, when these Jews heard Jesus say he and the Father are one, they clearly understood that Jesus was claiming to be God. They could not believe their ears, so they said this was blasphemy. They proceeded to pick up stones and prepared to throw them at Jesus. As these Jews were standing there holding stones in their hands, Jesus tried one more time to reason with them.
Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are "gods"'? If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside—
John 10:34-35
These verses refer back to something that was written in Psalms. In Old Testament times, God appointed judges to rule over the people of Israel. God gave these judges his word so that they could rule with justice over the people of Israel. Psalm 82 specifically addresses these judges. In these verses, they are referred to as gods. They were not deities but were given the word of God to share with the people. This was a sacred duty. These judges were leaders and had the responsibility of sharing God's word and using it wisely. The Bible then called these men gods. But these judges did not always do the right thing according to God's word but defended the unjust and showed partiality to the wicked.
A psalm of Asaph. God presides in the great assembly; he renders judgment among the "gods": "How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. "The 'gods' know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. "I said, 'You are "gods"; you are all sons of the Most High.' But you will die like mere mortals; you will fall like every other ruler." Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance.
Psalm 82:1-8
Jesus was reminding these Jews standing around him that God had entrusted his word in the past to men to use in judging Israel. These men would die and fall like any other ruler. But the word that they held would never change. But now God had sent his own son, to take his message to the world. What better source of God's word than his only son.
what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'? Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."
John 10:36-38
Jesus explained that even if they did not believe him, they should believe the works he did. They should understand that the Father was in him and he in the Father. But, alas, these Jews did not believe and tried to seize him.
Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp. Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, and many people came to him. They said, "Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true." And in that place many believed in Jesus.
John 10:39-42
After this, Jesus left Jerusalem and went back across the Jordan. He would not return again to Jerusalem until the Passover meal with his disciples just before his crucifixion. He now returned to the place where John the Baptist had ministered before and where he himself had taught thousands of people and performed many miracles. Many of the people in that region had heard the message, believed and were saved. Those Jews in Jerusalem could not believe and missed their opportunity for eternal life. So, what can we learn from this visit that Jesus made to the temple on Hanukkah?
First, Jesus knew that Jews from all over returned to Jerusalem on this holiday. This was not a religious celebration but there were many people in Jerusalem at that time whom Jesus could teach about the kingdom of God. Today we are once again entering our holiday season with celebrations for Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza and others. Some of these are religious and others not. Nevertheless, people are looking and searching for hope during this season to give them peace and joy. This will be a great opportunity for us to share the good news of Jesus Christ with people from all different backgrounds that normally may not be so open. As Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful."
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Matthew 9:36-38
The second thing Jesus appearance on Hanukkah reminds us is that we have a great shepherd. Jesus is our shepherd and we are his sheep. The shepherd leads and protects his sheep. We can be confident that even in this year of trials and sickness, Jesus is with us every day leading us and protecting us.
A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23:1-4
Most importantly, Jesus reminded these Jews on that Hanukkah day that he was the Son of God. He and the Father are one. Jesus told them that even if they did not believe him, they should believe the works that he had done. We know that Jesus, Messiah, Savior, Son of God and eternal king is God. This God loves us so much he sent his Son that we might be saved and have eternal life.
Jesus gave them this answer: "Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.
John 5:19-21
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
John 3:16-18
From where we stand today, we can look back to the day when Jesus rose from the dead and went again to be with the Father. He is now at the right hand of God advocating for us.
The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
Hebrews 1:3
Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.
Hebrews 8:1-2
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 2:1-2
Those Jews who surrounded Jesus at the temple on that Hanukkah day so long ago, just could not believe what Jesus told them. However, since that day many people from all different backgrounds and beliefs have come to know Jesus. Their road has not been an easy one but remember Stephen. He similarly told the Jewish leaders about their history and directly witnessed to them. This infuriated those Jewish leaders and when they were about to stone him he looked up.
When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
Acts 7:54-56
Stephen saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God ready to greet him. This is our future. Jesus is waiting for us to join him. This has been a difficult year for many and it is not over yet. Many are tired and feeling hopeless. Nevertheless, as we approach Hanukkah this week, let's remember what Jesus was doing on that Hanukkah many years ago. He was sharing the good news which gives hope to all those who believe.
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For, "In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay."
Hebrew 10:35-37
And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Romans 5:5
For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:24-28