1. DEDICATION IS COSTLY
Bertoldo de Giovanni was the pupil of Donatello, the greatest sculptor of his time, and he was the teacher of Michelangelo, the greatest sculptor of all time. Michelangelo was only 14 years old when he came to Bertoldo, but it was already obvious that he was enormously gifted. Bertoldo was wise enough to realize that gifted people are often tempted to coast rather than grow, and therefore he kept trying to pressure Michelangelo take his art seriously.
One day he came into the studio to find Michelangelo toying with a piece of sculpture far beneath his abilities. Bertoldo grabbed a hammer, stomped across the room, and smashed the work into tiny pieces, and shouted, "Michelangelo, talent is cheap; dedication is costly!" (Gary Inrig, A Call to Excellence)
Too often Christians coast through life by simply going through the motions. Going through the motions of being a Christian is cheap; dedication to Jesus is costly.
2. Feast of Dedication/Lights or Hanukkah – John 10:22-30 (ESV)
22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
3. I find it interesting that Jesus often participated in non-biblical situations – synagogue is not in the Law of Moses but Jesus attended; The Feast of Dedication was added to the Feasts of God and Jesus showed up – to honor the events; to embrace freedom over tyranny; and be with the people
4. This year (2021) the Jewish people are celebrating the Feast of Dedication Nov 28 – Dec 6
I. The Dedication of the Priests (Freedom Fighters)
A. The Hanukkah Story:
It is a story, not of mere gift-giving but of defiance against tyranny and the drive for freedom. This desire is shared among all people. During what Christians often call the “Intertestamental Period” between Malachi and Matthew in the English Bible, the Jewish people fought against tyranny and for Liberty.
Until a few years ago, I knew very little of Hanukkah. In my research I found that Hanukkah is a celebration of the resistance of tyranny and the miraculous intervention of God. Here is a summary of the events.
• A few generations before, Alexander the Great had brought the world under one government & culture called Hellenism. After Alexander’s early death, four of his generals scrambled for power and Alexander’s kingdom was divided into fourths.
o Seleucids/Persia, including Syria
o Ptolemies/ Egypt
o Lysimachans in Anatolia/Greece
o Cassanders in Macedonia
• Eventually, Judea fell into the hands of the Seleucids, under the leadership of Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
• To unify his holdings, he made people assimilate into Hellenistic culture (arts, language, even religion)
• Not surprisingly, most people didn’t put up too much of a fight. Some dedicated Jews did!
• In 168 BCE, the king, Antiochus IV Epiphanes outlawed Jewish practice and defiled the Jewish Temple in the city by installing an altar to Zeus and sacrificing pigs.
• A small army of Jews, known as the Maccabees, rebelled against this religious persecution and tyranny. They regained control over the Temple, removed the symbols of Zeus and built a new altar so they could once again offer sacrifices in keeping with Jewish law.
• According to a legend recounted in the Talmud, a miracle occurred at this time. There was only enough oil to keep the Temple’s menorah burning for one day. But the flame stayed lit for eight days, until a new supply of oil could be found - the basis for the eight-day celebration of Hanukkah.
Summarizing the Story
This is an oversimplified version of the story, History is more involved. I wanted you to see some things from the story of this holiday.
• First, there was the element of tyranny. The Jews had been under the tyrannical control of Gentiles and the Hellenistic lifestyle was permeating their culture.
• Second, rebellion became the order of the day. The Maccabees led an army of freedom fighters against the invaders. These fought a guerilla style of combat and won.
• Third, following their victory they were able to restore and rededicate the temple. They also were able to rededicate the nation to God, at least for a time.
B. All Because of the Dedicated Priests
1. They knew it was costly to challenge tyranny
2. They knew it was necessary
3. They committed 100% and set themselves apart for freedom from tyranny
Chuck Swindoll reminds us,
“We’re free today because, in June 1944, during the three month battle of Normandy, nearly fifty-three thousand “nobodies” paid the ultimate price to defeat Nazi tyranny…Visitors to the patch of land near Colleville-sur Mer, France, frequently weep quietly because there the real heroes of the war are silently honored” (Page 8, 9).
C. WE are Priests of God Dedicated to Freedom – John 8:31-32 (ESV):
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
1. Dedicated to Preparing
2. Dedicated to Participating
II. The Dedication of the Place (Temple)
A. Dedication of Solomon’s Temple 2 Chronicles 7:1-4 (ESV)
As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 2 And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD's house. 3 When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”
B. Dedication of Zerubbabel’s Temple – Ezra 6:16 (ESV):
16 And the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.
C. Rededication of the Second Temple by The Maccabees
1. New Altar
2. Renewed Purpose
3. The Miracle of Light
D. We are the Temple in need of Dedication and Rededication
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (ESV):
Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
Romans 12:1 (ESV) I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
III. The Dedication of the People (Nation)
A. Israel was to Be a Holy Nation – Deuteronomy 7:6 (ESV)
“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
B. WE Are to be Holy – 1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1. Chosen and Set Apart – all the things God intended for Israel, we are.
2. From Darkness to Light [Menorah
1. Jesus did not lead an armed rebellion against the oppressors of His day. I think that was one of the confusing things for His cousin, John the Baptist and is why he sent word to Jesus to identify himself in Matthew 11 and Luke 7. I think John knew of the justice the Messiah was to bring but all he saw from Jesus was grace and mercy.
2. On the first trip to earth, Jesus came to save. The next time He comes He will bring justice, not mercy. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 (ESV):
“. . .when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.”
3. Thomas Jefferson purportedly said:
“When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty.”
4. We don’t conform to tyranny. We conform only to God.
That faithful conformity IS rebellion to any tyrants who want to replace God.
