Luke 2:34-35 “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
Hanukkah is seen as an exclusively Jewish holiday celebration. It is a celebration commemorating the victory of Judas Maccabeus, a Jew, who victoriously overthrew the Greek occupiers of Israel during the time between the end of the Old Testament and the birth of Christ. Today this holiday marks a time of celebrating the peace and freedom that only God can give. It is also a time to rededicate lives to the true God.
For Messianic Jews, those who maintain their Jewish heritage and accept Jesus Christ as Emanuel, their Lord and their Savior, Hanukkah takes on a deeper meaning. They see God’s providence at work in preserving His people so that the Messiah might one day be born. Unlike Maccabeus, they recognize the true Messiah is Jesus, the son of God, born of the virgin Mary. He liberates us not from political oppressors but from sin and Satan. On the Cross, Jesus offers the final sacrifice for our sins. No longer do we need to appease God for our iniquities. We are now at peace with God, free from the consequences of our sin and able to choose to dedicate ourselves to Him.
The infant in the manger did not set all things right at that moment in time. But, the miracle of His birth set in motion God’s plan for our deliverance from sin. To this day men, women and children are turning to the baby born in Bethlehem as their Messiah. He alone frees them to believe that He alone is their salvation. May this Christmas season remind all believers in Christ that we share trust in an awesome God. Rejoice with the angels and marvel as the shepherds and wise men did so many years ago.
