Jesus and Chanukah

When most people think of Chanukah, they think of the miracle of oil. The Maccabees defeat Antiochus Epiphanes and want to re-dedicate the temple. However, when they go to light the menorah in the temple, there is only enough oil to last one day. The Israelites decide to light the candelabrum...and to their astonishment, the oil lasts for eight days, allowing the light in the temple to shine during the entire re-dedication process.

Whether or not this legend is true is not important. The real meaning behind Chanukah is one of dedication, especially the dedication of the temple. Over and over again, Chanukah has happened for the Jewish people.

For example, on the 24 day of the ninth month (i.e., Kislev 24 (Chanukah eve)), the day when the foundation of the second temple was laid, Haggai receives a word from the LORD: "Do consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month; from the day when the temple of the LORD was founded, consider: Is the seed still in the barn? Even including the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree, it has not borne fruit. Yet, from this day on I will bless you" (Haggai 2:18-19).

Although it took Israel a very long time to migrate from the land of their exile in Babylon back to Jerusalem, and it took the pleading of both Zechariah and Haggai to encourage the people to rebuild the temple, when the foundation of the second temple is laid, it is done so at the time of Chanukah. Moreover, God promises blessings to His people at this time and going forward for their faithfulness in starting the temple building process.

Additionally, God declares to Haggai on Kislev 24 that Zerubbabel will be the leader of God's people. "Then the word of the LORD came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying, 'Speak to Zerubbabel governor of Judah, saying, "I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. I will overthrow the throne of the kingdoms and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots and their riders, and the horses and their riders will go down, everyone by the sword of another." "On that day, declares the LORD of hosts, "I will take you, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, My servant," declares the LORD, "and I will make you like the signet ring, for I have chosen you,"' declares to the LORD of hosts" (Haggai 2:20-23).

Just as God declares Zerubbabel to be the leader of His people when the second Temple was founded during the time of Chanukah, God will again reveal His leader (the Messiah) during Chanukah when the third temple is established.

Daniel chapter 12 is all about the end times. It tells about the great distress upon the earth, a time when a great abomination is set-up in the temple. "...And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but others to disgrace and everlasting contempt..."How long will it be until the end of these wonders?" I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever the it would be for a time, times, and a half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed" (Daniel 12:1b-2, 6b-7).

The wording "time, times and a half a time" is sometimes difficult to understand. It means 3 and a half years (time meaning one year, times meaning two years and half a time is half a year). Three and a half years is 42 months or 1,260 days. So the great distress is to happen for 1,260 days. However, as Daniel's prophecy continues, we have a change in the number of days. "From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abominations of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days" (Daniel 12:11).

Many believe this number (1,290) is a mistake, but it is not! In this verse, there are an extra 30 days added to the 1,260 days. Why are these extra 30 days important? Shloshim. The term shloshum means thirty in Hebrew, but it is also a term used for a mourning period of 30 days. In Zechariah, we are told Messiah will return, and Israel will look upon Him, who they pierced, as they will mourn as one mourns for their only child, their first-born. The mourning period for the first-born child is 30 days. So, the addition of 30 days to the 1,260 days is a time for mourning the Messiah.

"And in that day I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. In that day there will be great mourning in Jerusalem." (Zechariah 12:9-11a)

Continuing on in Daniel chapter 12, we read: "How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days!" (Daniel 12:12). This is another extension of 45 days. So, there are two additions to the original 3.5 years (1,260 days), 30 days (1,290 days) and and additional 45 days (1.335 days). Although there is an extra 75 days added to the original 1,260 days, why is this important? There are 75 days every year between Yom Kippur (the tenth day of the seventh month Tishrei) and the first day of Chanukah (the 25th day of the tenth month Kislev).

Why are we suddenly talking about Yom Kippur? In Zechariah 13, which is a continuation of Messiah's coming when the Jews look upon Him who they have pierced discussed in Zechariah chapter 12, a fountain opens up for purification. "In that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity" (Zechariah 13:1). There is going to be a great day of immersion, a great day to purify oneself of one's uncleanness. In Judaism, this great day of immersion leads into Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). There are 75 days between Yom Kippur and Chanukah.

What happens on the 75th day (day 1,335) in Daniel chapter 12? The kingdom is established. So there is a connection between the establishment of the kingdom, the revealing of Messiah and Chanukah.

Finally, in John chapter 10, we are told about Jesus being in Jerusalem during Chanukah. Most Bibles translate John 10:22 as "the Feast of Dedication", but this is actually Chanukah. What does Chanukah mean in English? Dedication. So most translators translate Chanukah into "the Feast of Dedication". It is not a wrong translation, but most Christians do not associate the Feast of Dedication with Chanukah.

"At that time the Feast of the Dedication [Chanukah] took place in Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon" (John 10:22-23). When reading this passage, it is easy to pass over verse 23 where is says Jesus is walking in Solomon's portico. What is Solomon's portico? It was the closest place a non-priest could get to the Ark of the Covenant located in the Holy of Holies--the place where only the high priest once a year entered to make atonement for himself and the nation of Israel on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). Also note it is called "Solomon's" portico, giving reference to the importance of the king, but also the separation of the kingship from the priesthood. Additionally, the word translated as "walking" in verse 23 is actually better translated as "pacing back and forth, back and forth".

Since it was Chanukah, there was a Messianic expectation among the Jews, especially the Jewish scholars. They knew based on the prophecies of Zechariah and Daniel, Messiah would be revealed at Chanukah. Notice the next verse in John chapter 10: "The Jews then gathered around Him and were saying to Him, 'How long will You keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ [Messiah], tell us plainly'" (John 10:24). Side note: the word translated as "Jews" in verse 24 does not mean the Jewish people. It is a term used in the book of John to refer to the Jewish leaders--those who ruled in the Temple. The leaders want to know if Jesus is the Messiah. This is the time prophesy states Messiah will be revealed. Jesus has been in the Temple teaching and proclaiming to be "the Light of the world".

Now the Jewish leaders want to know if Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus is pacing Solomon's portico...the "king's" portico next to the Holy of Holies. Is Jesus trying to fulfill prophecy? Will He suddenly burst into the Temple, walk into the Holy of Holies and take His seat on the Ark of the Covenant between the cherubim? The Jewish leaders want to know! The Jewish leaders are telling Jesus, "If you are the Messiah, take Your seat on the Ark of the Covenant just a stone's throw away from where You are pacing."

Although we do not know the time or the hour when Jesus comes for the Rapture, we do know when Jesus' Second Coming will be. It will be at the end of the great tribulation. It will be after the 1,260 days. He will return, and there will be mourning for 30 days. Then there will be a time of preparation (45 days) just like when the Maccabees defeated Greece and needed time to prepare for the re-dedication of the second Temple. At the end of the 45 days ("How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days!" Daniel 12:12), Messiah will enter the eastern gate, He will enter the Temple, enter the Holy of Holies and take His seat on the Ark of the Covenant. He is going to inaugurate the kingdom. (Another translation of the word Chanukah means to inaugurate.) When will this all occur? The expectation is on Chanukah!

In summary, Chanukah is not just a festival for the Jews about a war from the past. It is a time for those who are waiting for Messiah's return to look forward to His coming...to celebrate the great day in which Our King will sit on His throne! He will be coming back. He will be coming back on time and will fulfill prophecy. Inauguration day is coming! Happy Chanukah!