Hanukah
(Daniel 8:9-14, John 10:22)
1. Jewish humorists compare Christmas to Hanukah:
Christmas is one day, same day every year. December 25.
Jews love Dec. 25th. It's another paid day off work. We go to movies and out for Chinese food, and Israeli dancing. Chanukah is eight days. It starts the evening of the 24th of Kislev, whenever that falls. No one is ever sure.
Jews never know until a non Jewish friend asks when Chanukah starts, forcing us to consult a calendar so we don't look like idiots. We all have the same calendar, provided free with a donation from the World Jewish Congress.
Christmas is a major holiday. Chanukah is a minor holiday with the same theme as most Jewish holidays. They tried to kill us, we survived, let's eat.
There is only one way to spell Christmas. No one can decide how to spell Chanuka, Chanukah, Chanukka, Channukah, Hanukah, Hannuka.
[from Harry Leichter’s Jewish Humor website, adapted]
2. Hanukah is the 25th of Kislev, this year December 8-16 on our calendar.
3. Hanukah means dedication, and refers to the dedication and cleansing of the temple. In NT, “Feast of Dedication.” Later called the “Festival of Lights” when the Menorah tradition began (first mention in part of Talmud dating to 400 AD).
4. Hanukah information found in the apocryphal books of I and II Maccabees Josephus, and the Talmud
5. Customs associated with Hanukah include:
Show picture of Menorah
Show picture of Dreidel
Show picture of Latkes
Show pictures of ponchkes
Main Idea: Hanukah speaks of persecution followed by the victory of righteousness over evil and the joy that follows.
I. The Main Events of Hanukah Were Prophesied by DANIEL (Daniel 8:9-14)
A. The Greek Empire split into FOUR
B. Antiochus Epiphanes, a TYPE of the Antichrist, arose from Syria
About 160 years before Jesus born
Killed over 50,000 Jews
Put an end to circumcision and Jewish rituals
Erected statue of Zeus in the Temple and offered a pig
C. Persecution(170BC) and the first ABOMINATION of Desolation (167BC)
D. Mattiyahu the priest and his HAMMER sons (Maccabees)
164BC
E. An EIGHT day celebration, Hanukah
II. Jesus Celebrated HANUKAH (John 10:22-30)
A. He was in Jerusalem, presumably for the FEAST
B. During this time, he REASSURED his sheep
III. The Hanukah PRINCIPLE Relates to Our Lives (I Corinthians 6:19-20)
I Corinthians 6:19-20 , “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
A. Some sins are like Antiochus’ ABOMINATION
B. Spiritual WARFARE is real
C. God sometimes allows SUFFERING to purify us
Persecutions and sufferings are known beforehand by God
D. CELEBRATION and great joy await us
• After times Pharoah—Passover
• Hamaan—Purim
• Antiochus Epiphanes – Hanukah
• Hitler – The birthday of modern Israelof suffering come times of unprecedented joy
