Hanukkah Fulfilled in the Messiah 12-07-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Light of the world, shine in my soul. ... "At that time the Festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around Him and said to Him, 'How long will you keep us in suspense? If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly.' Jesus answered, 'I have told you and you do not believe.... The Father and I are One.' The Jews took up stones to stone Him" (John 10:22-31). The Festival of Dedication is called Hanukkah today, celebrated by Jewish people around the world for these eight days of the Festival of Lights. As I understand the history (1 and 2 Maccabbees -- from the non-canonical books), this feast celebrates the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem in 175 B.C. The Syrian king Antiochus IV, who called himself Antiochus Epiphanes (the visible god), declared himself to be god and desecrated the Jewish temple with the blood sacrifice of a pig on the altar. Filled with the holy anger of God, a Jewish priest named Matthias Maccabbee pulled down the altar and led a miraculous rebellion with Judah Maccabbee and Matthias' other sons the defeat the vast Syrian army. When they rededicated the temple, there was only enough consecrated oil to light the sacred menorah (seven branched candelabra) and keep it burning one night. But the oil continued to burn and shine the light for eight days, the days required to make more of the consecrated oil to light the lamp commanded to never burn out in the temple. So today, a nine-branched menorah is used for this festival of dedication and lights, as they take the center candle and light the other eight candles, one each night for each night of the miracle of the light which continued to burn. All the festivals and feasts, like all the law and the prophets, are ultimately fulfilled in You. They are signs that point to the One to come. You said "I am the Light of the World" (John 8:12). You said, "I and the Father are One" (v. 10:30). You are the Light that never burns out. You are One with the Father, shining Your Light in the hearts and of all who believe, by Your Holy Spirit living in us. When You declared that You were the Messiah, that You were God's Son, that You were One with the Father, many of the Jews that day wanted to stone You, shrieking, "You, though only a human being, are making yourself God" (v. 33). But a remnant came to You, and "many believed" (v. 42). Lord, open my eyes to see You as You are. Open the eyes of Jews and Gentiles alike to see that You are the Messiah, the Light of the World, "the refection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very Being" (Hebrews 1:3). Come and pull down the false altars in our hearts and take Your rightful place in the temple of our souls. Let our bodies be the temple of Your Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16). "For it is the God who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6). In Jesus name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's city-wide gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary in Lexington. All who are thirsty are welcome. Call or write for details: 859-422-1794 Come to The Mountain! on Monday Nights for our ministry's weekly prayer for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray. 7 pm in the upstairs Community Room at First Southern National Bank on Harrodsburg Rd. in Lexington. All are welcome. Call or write for details: 859-422-1794 Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com