By Pr. Rhoda Klein Miller
We’re fairly certain Jesus was not born in December however 165 years before His birth another winter miracle did take place. The Greek emperor Antiochus Epiphanes was bent on destroying the Jews. The people had a nickname for him, “crazy man.” Gregory Rommon likens him as “the Adolf Hitler of the inter-testament period.” Antiochus slaughtered Jerusalem’s inhabitants and took over the Temple, dedicating it to Jupiter Olympus. The Torah was destroyed; the Jews forced to take part in heathen rites. Like every great movie battle, a small clan of underdogs, outmatched by the Syrian army in every regard, launched a campaign of guerilla warfare to reclaim the Temple. Not only was their victory a David beats Goliath scenario but another spectacular feat occurred. Amid the rubble only a small flask of sacred oil was found to light of the menorah, the temple lamp which represented the presence of God. It would take 8 days to prepare more of the purified oil. Miraculously the precious oil fuelled the lamp’s light for the full eight days until more was ready. Hanukkah, also known as the Feast of Dedication is mentioned in John’s gospel, the Bible writer who readily employs the theme of light. In John 10 we read the Feast of Dedication took place in Jerusalem; it was winter. Jesus was in the Temple when he was asked “are you the Messiah?” The Feast of Dedication marked the last time a deliverer had arisen to save them from oppression. Would it happen again? Jesus declared himself to be the “light of the world” (John 8). His response spoke to the Jewish listeners well versed in Old Testament prophecies and the Hanukkah story to reveal who he was: the long-awaited Messiah–the divine source of light who will forever triumph over the darkness.
