Morning by Morning, November 29 - The Miracle of Hanukkah Fulfilled in the Messiah
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Light of the World, let Your Light shine into every area of my heart and through every moment of my day. ...
“In Him was Life, and that Life was the Light of all mankind. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4-5).
Throughout the world, the Jewish people are celebrating Hanukkah -- the Festival of Lights -- for when they recaptured Jerusalem and rededicated the temple in 164 BC. A wicked Greek ruler, Antiochus Epiphanes -- self-named “Epiphanes” because he demanded to be worshipped as a god -- had mercilessly persecuted the Jewish people and defiled their temple until the spiritual resistance movement of the Maccabees.
It was a miracle defeat of a world ruler by a small band of those who united in their faith of God to overcome the spiritual and political oppression of their times. They restored the golden menorah to the temple, where the oil of the lamp was to burn continually with sanctified oil (Exodus 27:20). But there was only enough sanctified oil to last for one day when they took over the temple from the Greeks. Then by a miracle of God, the oil lasted and burned brightly for eight days until new oil could be gathered and sanctified to burn again in the temple as commanded by Scripture. These are the eight days celebrated as Hannukah -- also called The Festival of Lights or the Feast of Dedication or the Feast of the Maccabees.
When You walked this earth on the streets of Jerusalem in human form, You also celebrated this feast:
“At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple area, in the portico of Solomon. The Jews then surrounded Him and began saying to Him, ‘How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly’ (John 10:22-24).
You were, in fact, the Christ, the Messiah of Israel, whom they were seeking to deliver them from their political oppression. But You had come to set them free from their spiritual oppression and open their eyes to see that You were the Light of the World. You replied to their question with the declaration of Your Deity: “I and My Father are One” (John 10:30).
You were the prophetic fulfillment of the very feast they were celebrating: “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness but will have the Light of Life’” (John 8:12).
Light of the Word, give us courage to stand firm in our faith in whatever oppression our generation may face in our days. Give us courage to overcome whatever would seek to defile Your temple in our lives -- for now in Christ, our bodies are Your temple (1 Corinthians 6:19) and Your Holy Spirit is the Light that shines through us into the darkness of our world (Matthew 5:14). And the darkness cannot overcome It (John 1:5). “For it is the God who commanded light to 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).
Shine, Jesus, shine! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend, may the Light of the glory of God revealed in Jesus Christ, the Messiah, shine through you by His Holy Spirit, overcomes any darkness around you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Tommy & Rocio Hays | Messiah Ministries
Messiah Ministries Mailing Address:
412 S. Adams Street #148
Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
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