Chag Chanukah Sameach! This year, as Hanukkah and Christmas overlap, it’s a perfect time to reflect on their profound connection. Without Hanukkah, there might not have been Christmas. Why? If the Jewish nation had been eradicated during the time of Antiochus IV, there would have been no Jewish lineage for the Messiah to come through. Let’s delve into this remarkable history and uncover how these two celebrations illuminate God’s faithfulness.
The Fight Against Assimilation
The story of Hanukkah begins with the rise of the Greek Empire. In 333 BC, Alexander the Great conquered the Medo-Persian Empire, bringing Hellenistic culture to the forefront of the ancient world. Greek customs, philosophy, and language spread rapidly, but Alexander allowed a measure of cultural and religious freedom. For the Jewish people, this meant they could continue to live according to Torah law while coexisting within the Greek world.
However, after Alexander’s death, his empire fractured into four kingdoms, and Judea came under the control of the Seleucid Empire. Initially, relations between the Seleucids and the Jews were relatively stable, but that changed dramatically with the rise of Antiochus IV in 175 BC. Antiochus, a ruler who styled himself "Antiochus Epiphanes" ("God Manifest"), was determined to unify his kingdom by enforcing Hellenistic culture across all his subjects. This included outlawing Jewish practices such as circumcision, Sabbath observance, and dietary laws, and requiring the worship of Greek gods.
The Torah-based worldview of the Jewish people clashed directly with Hellenistic philosophy, which prioritised human reason and the glorification of the body. Antiochus sought to erase Jewish identity entirely by issuing a decree that “all nations in his empire should abandon their own customs and become one people” (1 Maccabees 1:41). His campaign culminated in what the Bible refers to as the "abomination of desolation" (Daniel 11:31, Matthew 24:15): the desecration of the Jewish Temple. Antiochus set up an altar to Zeus in the Temple and sacrificed pigs on it, defiling the sanctuary and deeply offending the Jewish people.
This was the breaking point. In the village of Modin, near the Judean hills, a priest named Mattathias was ordered to offer a sacrifice to a pagan god. He refused, killing the Seleucid officer and destroying the pagan altar. His bold cry, “Follow me, all of you who are for God’s law and stand by the covenant” (1 Maccabees 2:27), ignited the Maccabean Revolt. Alongside his five sons, Mattathias fled to the mountains, rallying other faithful Jews to resist the Seleucid forces.
After Mattathias’s death, his son Judas Maccabeus ("The Hammer") led the rebellion. Despite being vastly outnumbered, Judas’s army employed guerrilla tactics to defeat the powerful Seleucid forces. In a miraculous turn of events, the Maccabees reclaimed Jerusalem three years to the day after the desecration of the Temple. They cleansed and rededicated the Temple on the 25th of Kislev, and Hanukkah was born—a celebration of both the rededication and the divine light that guided their victory.
Hanukkah and the Light of the World: Prophetic Fulfilment in Jesus
Hanukkah is known as the Festival of Lights, and its symbolism goes far beyond the physical menorahs that illuminate Jewish homes during this season. The light of Hanukkah serves as a profound reminder of God’s faithfulness to His people, even in the darkest times.
The tradition of lighting the menorah is often associated with the story of the oil found in the Temple. According to Talmudic tradition, when the Maccabees rededicated the Temple, they discovered only one small cruse of oil, enough to burn for just one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days, the time needed to prepare a fresh supply. This miracle became a central part of Hanukkah’s celebration, symbolising God’s provision and the triumph of light over darkness.
The prophetic fulfilment of Hanukkah becomes even clearer in the New Testament. In John 8:12, Jesus declares, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” This statement was made during the Feast of Tabernacles, a festival that shares many themes with Hanukkah, including a focus on light. During this feast, massive menorahs—75 feet tall—were lit in the Temple courtyard, their glow illuminating the entire city. The Jewish historian Josephus records that these menorahs burned so brightly that they were visible from all over Jerusalem.
This stunning imagery not only points to Israel’s role as a light to the nations (Isaiah 49:6) but also foreshadows Jesus as the ultimate fulfilment of that calling. Just as the menorah illuminated Jerusalem, Jesus, the Light of the World, brings God’s light to every corner of the earth.
In John 10:22-30, we see Jesus in Jerusalem during the Feast of Dedication—Hanukkah itself. It’s no coincidence that the Gospel writer places this moment here. During Hanukkah, as the Jewish people remembered God’s deliverance and the rededication of the Temple, Jesus revealed Himself as the ultimate Deliverer and the true Temple. “The Father and I are one,” He declared, pointing to His divine nature and His role as the fulfilment of God’s promises.
Hanukkah’s light also serves as a powerful metaphor for the Incarnation, which we celebrate at Christmas. In John 1:9, Jesus is described as “the true light, which gives light to everyone.” Just as the Maccabees preserved the Jewish nation, ensuring the arrival of the Messiah, Jesus came to bring salvation to all people, shining the light of God’s glory into a world darkened by sin.
The Connection Between Hanukkah and Christmas
Hanukkah and Christmas share a common theme: the triumph of God’s light over darkness. At Hanukkah, we remember the rededication of the Temple and the preservation of God’s covenant people. At Christmas, we celebrate the arrival of the Messiah, the Light of the World, who came to fulfil that covenant and bring salvation to all.
Both festivals challenge us to resist the pressures of assimilation and stand firm in our faith. Just as the Maccabees refused to abandon their identity as God’s people, we are called to remain faithful to Christ in the face of cultural pressures to compromise. Hanukkah reminds us that God’s light will always shine, no matter how dark the world may seem.
This season, as we light menorahs or Christmas candles, let’s focus on Jesus, the true Light of the World. He is God’s salvation, the glory of Israel, and the fulfilment of every promise. “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
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