Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas!
Hanukkah is an eight-day celebration that begins Sunday night and overlaps Christmas this year. It is a celebration of the rededication of the second Jewish temple and the miraculous burning of a temple lamp without enough oil, in 168 B.C. Jesus celebrated Hanukkah (John 10:22-23), so those who try to follow Jesus should be comfortable celebrating it also.
For Christians considering Hanukkah, some rich imagery unfolds. Luke 2:5:24 recounts the story of Jesus’s uncle Zacharias, who served as a temple priest. The shifts of his priests are known, allowing a seasonal dating of the conception of Jesus’s cousin John, who was six months older than Jesus. This places Jesus’ birth in early autumn, which means that Jesus was conceived around Hanukkah.
Follow the imagery: Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12), who was conceived without any earthly father, during the season of Hanukkah. Hanukkah is the celebration of light which came from a sacred menorah, which miraculously burned without any earthly oil. Both refer to light coming from a divine origin.
In its roots, Christianity is a Jewish sect. The Roman government mixed Christianity with Roman culture, including the December 25th festival. However, more Christians these days are returning to their Jewish cultural roots.
I hope Jews will not mind more Christians celebrating Jewish holidays. On the positive side, Christians returning to their Jewish cultural roots tend to be among the most loyal allies of Jews in a world where, tragically, Jews have needed allies.
As a Christian, I still enjoy celebrating Christmas on Dec. 25. This happens to be the anniversary season of the greatest miracle of Christmas, the incarnation. However, it is also wonderful to discover the rich imagery that the Jewish festival of Hanukkah offers to followers of Jesus.
Mark Beeksma, Koloa
