When the Jewish people won their freedom from the oppression of Antiochus Epiphanes, they were eager to set things right and purify God’s dwelling place.

But they didn’t have enough oil to sustain the Temple lampstand for the eight days required to make and consecrate more. God stepped in with His divine power. He took what they had and enlarged it. He received their “not enough” – offered in faith and reverence – and He made it enough.

God does the same with us. Though we could never be enough on our own, as we place our faith in Yeshua’s sacrifice on our behalf, God declares us righteous. He has redeemed and given us eternal life. But in our own strength, we remain inadequate, not clean or able enough, and sometimes not even willing enough. But when we humbly and sincerely dedicate our short supply to God, He takes it and works miracles with it. He uses us. He ministers to others and glorifies Himself through us.

On this fifth night of Chanukah, we give thanks to God who so generously multiplies our small offerings to accomplish His will in and through us.

Messianic Jewish Chanukah Blessings

Place five candles in the chanukiah tonight, setting them in the holders from right to left. As you light the Servant Candle (Shamash), recite the Chanukah blessings:

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and has given us Yeshua the Messiah, the light of the world.

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time.

Candle Lighting

Using the Servant Candle, light the Chanukah candles in the opposite direction from which you placed them in the holders. Light them from left to right. Return the Shamash to its place. Let the candles go out on their own, and they should burn for a least half an hour.

Scripture Readings

“ 'There’s a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish – but what’s that for so many?’ Then Yeshua picked up the loaves. And having given thanks, He distributed bread to everyone who was reclining. He did the same with the fish, as much as they wanted. So they gathered [the leftovers] and filled 12 baskets…” (John 6:9, 11, 13 TLV).

“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of the Messiah may dwell in me” (2 Corinthians 12:9 TLV).

“Now to Him who is able to do far beyond all that we ask or imagine, by means of His power that works in us, to Him be the glory in the community of believers and in Messiah Yeshua throughout all generations forever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21 TLV).

Prayer

Our all-sufficient God, You are so good! Thank You for intervening to save us through Your Son, Messiah Yeshua. Thank You for taking our offerings of faith and multiplying them. Take our “not enough” and use it for Your Kingdom and Your glory.

The Temple menorah was to burn continuously. With God’s provision, it did. When there was only enough oil for one day, it kept burning for eight while the Israelites prepared more.

Yeshua is the Light of the World, and He said that we are, too. When He sent His Holy Spirit to live within Believers, we became temples of God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Yeshua’s light lives in and shines through us to draw others to Him.

On this fourth night of Chanukah, we consider what it means to reflect the Light of the World and thank God for His Spirit and life in us.

Messianic Jewish Chanukah Blessings

Place four candles in the chanukiah tonight, setting them in the holders from right to left. As you light the Servant Candle (Shamash), recite the Chanukah blessings:

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and has given us Yeshua the Messiah, the light of the world.

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time.

Candle Lighting

Using the Servant Candle, light the Chanukah candles in the opposite direction from which you placed them in the holders. Light them from left to right. Return the Shamash to its place. Let the candles go out on their own, and they should burn for a least half an hour.

Scripture Readings

“Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Ruach ha-Kodesh who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19 TLV).

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 TLV).

“So that you might be blameless and innocent, children of God in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation. Among them you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 14-15).

Prayer

Light of the World, thank You for loving us and placing Your light within us through Your Holy Spirit. May we shine Your radiance so that all may see and be drawn to You. Help us to reflect Your glory, not anything of our own. Let us not hide Your light under the covering of our talents and abilities. Use us to highlight Yourself, for Your glory and so others may gain eternal life.

The Maccabees faced overwhelming odds. But they could no longer endure the weight of a defiled Temple, forced idol worship and violent persecution from the empire ruling them.

They’d had enough. It was time for their freedom. And God gave them victory over their oppressors.

Galatians tells us that when the time was right, “God sent out His Son, born of a woman and born under law, to free those under law so we might receive adoption as sons. So you are no longer a slave but a son – and if a son, also an heir through God” (Galatians 4:4-5, 7).

When Yeshua laid down His life on the tree, He won victory over sin and death – for us. With His death and resurrection, He bought our freedom and gave us new life.

On this third night of Chanukah, we recognize Yeshua’s triumph on our behalf and thank Him for His love and grace toward us. He is faithful to give us victory every day over the battles we face.

Messianic Jewish Chanukah Blessings

Place three candles in the chanukiah tonight, setting them in the holders from right to left. As you light the Servant Candle (Shamash), recite the Chanukah blessings:

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and has given us Yeshua the Messiah, the light of the world.

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time.

Candle Lighting

Using the Servant Candle, light the Chanukah candles in the opposite direction from which you placed them in the holders. Light them from left to right. Return the Shamash to its place. Let the candles go out on their own, and they should burn for a least half an hour.

Scripture Readings

“But thanks be to God, who keeps giving us the victory through our Lord Yeshua Messiah!” (1 Corinthians 15:57 TLV).

“But in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37 TLV).

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31 TLV).

Prayer

Victorious Lord, thank You for all that Yeshua’s sacrifice won. Thank You that You are for us. You daily give us the strength to overcome challenges on the road to loving and serving You more fully. Thank You for Your love and power in our lives!

The Chanukah miracle of light revealed God afresh as the One who provides for His people. He is the supreme gift giver.

Time and again, He shows that nothing is impossible for Him, and He cares for us. Through the miraculous birth of Yeshua, God came to dwell on earth among men. Through the divine act of the His death on the tree, Yeshua set us free. By the miracle of the Holy Spirit imparted to all who believe, God is with us always, and we know His law in our hearts.

On this second night of Chanukah, we rejoice over our God of Wonders, who works miracles in our lives and gives us the gifts of new life, His Spirit within us and the promise of eternity with Him.

Messianic Jewish Chanukah Blessings

Place two candles in the chanukiah tonight, setting them in the holders from right to left. As you light the Servant Candle (Shamash), recite the Chanukah blessings:

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and has given us Yeshua the Messiah, the light of the world.

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time.

Candle Lighting

Using the Servant Candle, light the Chanukah candles in the opposite direction from which you placed them in the holders. Light them from left to right. Return the Shamash to its place. Let the candles go out on their own, and they should burn for a least half an hour.

Scripture Readings

Therefore Adonai Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive. When she is giving birth to a son, she will call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14 TLV).

“Remember His wonders that He has done, His miracles and the judgments of His mouth” (Psalm 105:5 TLV).

“I will put My law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be My people” (Jeremiah 31:33 NIV).

Prayer

Almighty God, with You, all things are possible. Thank You for Your spectacular power to work wonders. Thank You for the miracle of Yeshua, God-become-man. Thank You for the gift of new life You have given through Him. Thank You for wanting to do miracles in our hearts every day. May we be quick to let you.

It was a victory. A small group of Jewish men stood up to the violent oppression of a powerful king who had imposed mandatory idol worship and defiled the Temple – and the revolutionaries prevailed.

The Temple had been defiled. Jewish hearts were eager to purify it and present it acceptable to their Holy God. But there was only enough undefiled oil in the Temple to last a single day. God intervened to provide eight days of light from one day’s oil until more could be made and consecrated. This is the Chanukah (HKHAH-noo-kah) story.

It was a miracle. God intervened to provide eight days of light from oil that only enough to burn one day.

Chanukah is also called the Festival of Lights, and, as we see in John chapter 10, Yeshua (Jesus) Himself observed it. The Light of the World celebrated the Festival of Light. The flame of the chanukiah’s Servant Candle reflected in the eyes of the Suffering Servant Himself.

On this first night of Chanukah, we celebrate the marvelous light given at the Temple rededication and the Light Himself – Yeshua Messiah – given for each one of us. Through Him, we have peace with God and eternal life. Amen!

Messianic Jewish Chanukah Blessings – 1st Night

Place a candle in the far right holder of your chanukiah. As you light the Servant Candle (Shamash), recite the first night’s Chanukah blessings:

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and has given us Yeshua the Messiah, the light of the world.

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our ancestors

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season.

Candle Lighting

Using the Servant Candle, light the first Chanukah candle. Return the Shamash to its place. Let the candles go out on their own, and they should burn for at least half an hour.

Scripture Readings

“Yeshua spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. The one who follows Me will no longer walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12 TLV).

“The people sitting in darkness have seen a great light, and those sitting in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned (Matthew 4:16 TLV).

“As light I have come into the world so that everyone who trusts in Me should not remain in darkness” (John 12:46 TLV).

Prayer

Father of lights, thank You for sending Yeshua, the Light of the World, to illuminate our darkness and free us from life without You. God, You are light, and You have taken us out of darkness into Your marvelous light. Thank You for Your power displayed through miracles in ancient days and through Your love in our hearts, as You have given us new life in Messiah Yeshua.

(See also, James 1:17, Psalm 18:28, 1 Peter 2:9, 2 Corinthians 5:17.)

Oppression gave way to all-out persecution in the second century B.C.E., when Antiochus IV ruled over Judea. Under his reign, the king tried to eradicate the distinct culture and religious practices of the Jewish people.

When it didn’t work, he intensified his efforts by forcing Jewish people to worship his idols. Those who refused endured brutal violence and even death at the hands of the mad king’s soldiers. Antiochus took control of the Jewish Temple and forbade Jews from worshiping there. He sacrificed a pig on the altar, desecrating the Temple.

Chanukah in the history of Israel

Persecution weighed heavily on the backs of the Jewish people, and a small group known as the Maccabees rose up in revolt. They refused to worship other gods. Vastly outnumbered, it seemed impossible they could achieve any kind of victory.

But God was on their side, and the Maccabees took back the Temple in a miracle of deliverance.

The people rejoiced and wanted to purify the defiled Temple as quickly as possible. They could find only one day’s worth of consecrated oil for the menorah that was to burn continually in the Temple. It would take eight days to make and purify more.

In faith, they lit the menorah, and the oil lasted for the full eight days. It was a miracle of provision, a miracle of light.

Chanukah today

Chanukah commemorates the miracles God did for His people. Messianic Jews – along with the Jewish community around the world – celebrate the eight-day festival with joy, gift giving, special foods, candle lighting and prayer.

The gifts we give begin small and often increase in value night by night. We light an additional candle each evening at sunset using a “servant candle,” which sits in an elevated position on the nine-branched candleholder called a Chanukiah. By the end of Chanukah, all eight candles burn brightly to remind us how God made one day’s oil last eight days.

Messianic Jews Celebrate Chanukah

As Messianic Jews approach Chanukah, we are deeply moved by the fact that Yeshua (Jesus) called Himself the Light of the World (John 8:12). The Messiah of Israel came so that people walking in darkness would see a great light (Isaiah 9:1). “Those sitting in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned” (Matthew 4:16).

This refers to all of us, for “we all like sheep have gone astray. So, Adonai has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).

John chapter 10 mentions Chanukah, and it was at this time when the leaders of Judea challenged Yeshua to tell them plainly if He was the Messiah. In response, He gave us one of the most significant assurances of our faith (John 10:27-29):

My sheep hear My voice. I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life! They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 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.

Yeshua then answered their question by declaring, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).

Messianic Jews and Rededication

Chanukah is also called the Feast of Dedication. It’s a time for us to rededicate our lives to the God who does miracles and provides for His people. As Messianic Jews, we take the opportunity to search our hearts and rededicate ourselves to God as the ancient Jewish people rededicated the Temple to His service and worship.

We remember what Yeshua has done for us, as the Messiah Who was promised in the Holy Scriptures, and we renew our gratitude and devotion to Him.

We wish you a joyous and meaningful Chanukah season as you reflect on the miracles God has done for us.

• He has protected and delivered His people throughout the history of Israel.

• He has worked miracles to show Himself the one true God.

• He has declared His love for us by sending the Light of the World to lead us out of darkness.

• He has drawn us near to Him and redeemed us through Messiah Yeshua.

May your Chanukah celebrations be filled with light, love, and rededication to the God of Israel, who loved us and sent His Messiah to us?

Do Messianic Jews celebrate Christmas? Is it OK for Christians to celebrate Chanukah?

It may help to clarify some definitions first.

What is a Messianic Jew?

Messianic Jews are Jewish by heritage and believe Yeshua (Jesus) is the Messiah promised in the Holy Scriptures. Messianic Jews are Jewish by blood, having either a mother or father who is Jewish. The Messianic Movement, however, also includes many Gentiles who embrace the belief that the New Covenant the roots of faith in Yeshua are Jewish. These are Messianic Gentiles.

Chanukah and Christmas commemorate two different historical events, but they align well. with each other.

Chanukah and Christmas – a better fit than you might think

Chanukah celebrates the liberation of the Jews from the Greco-Syrian Empire in 165 B.C.E., and the miracle that occurred as the Jewish people rededicated the defiled Temple.

Antiochus Epiphanes had oppressed the Jews and forced them – by the sword – to worship idols. He desecrated the Temple with a statue of Zeus and sacrificed a pig on the altar. The Maccabees, a small group of Jewish revolutionaries, miraculously overcame the greatest empire in the world at that time and took back the Temple.

Afterward, the Jewish people set out to purify and rededicate God’s holy dwelling place. They could only find enough oil to burn for one day in the Temple menorah, and the process to make and consecrate more took eight days. God provided another miracle by making the small amount of oil last the entire eight days.

The word Chanukah means consecration or dedication, so the holiday is also known as the Feast of Dedication. Because of the miracle of light, it is also called the Feast of Lights.

Christmas, of course, celebrates the birth of Yeshua who is the Light of the World. John chapter 10 reveals that Yeshua Himself observed Chanukah. When Messianic Jews light the chanukiah (the Chanukah candelabrum), we celebrate Messiah Yeshua’s coming as Light to bring us redemption.

With the Shamash (SHAH-mahsh), also known as the Servant Candle, we light the chanukiah each night, recognizing that the Holy Scriptures prophesied Yeshua as the “suffering servant” who would take our sin onto Himself (Isaiah 53). During His ministry, Yeshua declared that He did not come to be served but to serve (Matthew 20:28). Interestingly, in Jewish tradition, the Shamash sits in the center of the eight Chanukah candles and elevated. One could even say lifted up.

Christians and Chanukah

Chanukah is a beautiful holiday commemorating God’s power to intervene, rescue, and provide for His people. Like the Feasts of the Lord outlined in Leviticus 23, Chanukah looks ahead to reveal the coming of Messiah Yeshua, and Gentile Believers can freely celebrate it.

Messianic Jews and Christmas

Most biblical scholars agree that Yeshua was not born on December 25th but sometime earlier in the year, perhaps around Sukkot (soo-KOTE) in the fall. The Church adopted the date as a way of providing Believers the opportunity to honor Yeshua and also counter a pagan holiday celebrated at the same time. This, along with the rich symbolism in Chanukah that speaks of Yeshua, leads most Messianic Jews to honor His coming at Chanukah rather than Christmas.

Chanukah and Christmas include miracles, light and dedication. Whether Messianic Jew or Gentile, both holidays point our attention to Yeshua, the Light of the World, and how God intervened to provide our freedom. Each beckons us to whole-hearted dedication to Him.