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Happy Hanukkah to those in the Body of Messiah!

At this time we commemorate the victory of the Makabim over the Seleucid Empire, begun by Mattityahu and continued by Y'hudah HaMakabi and his other sons, who defeated the empire's forces and rededicated the Temple.

When Antiochus IV Epiphanes ascended the Seleucid throne, he gradually forced the Jews to violate the Torah. Under his reign, the Temple was looted, many were massacred, and Judaism was effectively outlawed.

In 167 BCE, Antiochus Epiphanes (who had control over Eretz-Yisra'el) ordered that an altar to Zeus be erected in the Temple. Mattityahu, who was a priest of the Temple, and his five sons Yochanan, Shim`on, El`azar, Yonatan, and Y'hudah led a rebellion against him. At this time Y'hudah became known as Y'hudah HaMakabi ("Y'hudah the Hammer"). In 166 BCE, Mattityahu died and Y'hudah took his place as leader. By 165 the rebellion had been successful and the Temple was liberated and rededicated.

Hanukkah was instituted by Y'hudah HaMakabi and his brothers to celebrate this event. When the Temple was ordered cleansed, a new alter was built and new holy vessels were to be made. However, according to the Talmud, there was only one days worth of holy oil for the menorah which had to burn throughout the night every night. Miraculously, this small amount of oil burned for a full 8 days until they were able to supply fresh holy oil for the menorah. Thus, we celebrate the festival of Hanukkah for 8 days.

Messianic Jews and Gentiles find even greater meaning in this holiday, as all of the Feasts of ADONAI are shadows of what was to come in Messiah Yeshua. Hanukkah was the time in which Yeshua was conceived; when Gavri'el appeared to Miryam his mother and announced to her that she had found favor with God and that "[h]e will be great, he will be called Son of Ha`Elyon. ADONAI, God, will give him the throne of his forefather David; and he will rule the House of Ya`akov forever -- there will be no end to his Kingdom." Just as we light the menorah during Hanukkah, so is Yeshua the Light of the World, and just as the lighting is done with the Shammash ("servant") candle, so it is a picture of Yeshua's humble servitude. (For more information, see [link])

Hanukkah means "dedication": let us as Messianic Jews and Gentiles during this time remember our dedication to Messiah Yeshua and not forsake ADONAI; instead rededicating ourself to his service and Torah in humbleness and love.

Hag Sameach, love and shalom in Yeshua the Messiah of Isra'el.

Yochanan 10:22-38 ([link])

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