“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” James 1:17.
By DAVID PARSONSHanukka Lights(photo credit: (Israel Images))
December is the “Season of Lights,” when Hanukka and Christmas are celebrated here in the Holy Land. Both holidays are a celebration of the gift of divine light from above, and are uniquely linked with one another.Hanukka recalls the events surrounding the Maccabean revolt against oppressive Syrian-Greek rule in 167 BCE, and particularly the cleansing of the Temple in Jerusalem. The Seleucid tyrant Antiochus IV Epiphanes had desecrated the altar and forbidden circumcision and other Jewish practices.The Maccabees, however, led an Israelite uprising that succeeded against all odds, and included the “miracle of light,” as one day’s supply of consecrated oil for the Temple Menora burned for the entire eight days needed to purify the Temple for renewed service.Amazingly, the book of Daniel foretells the desolation of the Temple at that time (Daniel 8), as well as the “exploits” of the Maccabees (Daniel 11:32).There was one problem, however. The Maccabee family broke with scriptural tradition by installing themselves as rulers and priests over Israel, in place of the royal lineage of David and the Zadokite priesthood. By the time Jesus was born, there was a hope among many Israelites that not only would they overthrow the new oppressors, the Romans, but that out of such turmoil the proper kingly line and priesthood would also be restored.The followers of Jesus were no doubt aware of this expectation when they asked him if he was about to “restore the kingdom to Israel.” (Acts 1:6) The birth of Jesus which Christians celebrate each Christmas was also a gift of light to the world. Humanity had groped in darkness and needed the light of God’s Truth to break through. This came with the birth of Jesus, the perfect reflection of God’s eternal radiance. The writer of Hebrews describes the Son as “the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person.” (Hebrews 1:3) In is interesting to note that ancient Jewish sources tell us the light in the Temple Menora – which had been rekindled so miraculously by the Maccabees – started to burn erratically from about the time of the priest Simeon the Righteous. The Gospel of Luke also reveals that Simeon, when he laid eyes on the infant Jesus, “took him up in his arms and blessed God and said: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples – a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles – and the glory of Your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32) The light of the Temple Menora was flickering and with the Roman destruction of the Temple in 70 CE, the Menora flame was tragically extinguished. Yet for Christians, God’s promise to make Israel a “Light to the Nations” continued to find its fulfillment as the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth spread far and wide. •David Parsons is media director for the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem; www.icej.org/
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