Some find it surprising that the only place in the Bible where we find the festival of Hanukkah is in the New Covenant (John 10:22-30). Here, in the context of this eight-day celebration, Yeshua taught that faith in Him is the victory.

And it was at Jerusalem, the Feast of the Dedication, and it was winter. And Yeshua walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. Then came the Jews round about Him, and said unto Him, “How long do you make us to doubt? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly (John 10:22-24).

At that time Yeshua was teaching in Jerusalem at the Temple by Solomon’s Colonnade (Acts 3:11; 5:12). According to Josephus, the eastern part of the colonnade walkway surrounded the outer court of Herod’s Temple, and served as a shelter from the heat of the sun in summer and from the cold rain in winter. Since there were always people present for worship at the temple, Yeshua used this as a center for informal teaching and preaching.

A Little History Lesson

The Feast of Dedication (known by its Hebrew name, Hanukkah) was established to commemorate the purification and rededication of the Temple by Judah Maccabee, which occurred in 165 BCE on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev (December). The rededication of the Temple was necessary because it had been profaned by Antiochus IV Epiphanes three years earlier. Antiochus wanted to Hellenize the Jewish people, or make them think and live like Greeks. So he forced the end of circumcision, Jewish worship, and the study of Torah. He captured Jerusalem, plundered the Temple treasury, and to add insult to injury, sacrificed a pig to Zeus on the Temple altar. In response, a revolt led by one family called the Maccabees challenged the mighty invaders through guerrilla warfare. After three years this small band of pious Jews was successful in defeating the Syrian armies, liberating our people and our Temple! The yearly celebration of this victory forms the backdrop of  Yeshua’s Hanukkah Message.

The Savior from God

Notice the question the people raise: “Why do you keep us in suspense? Are you the Messiah?” (John 10:24). This would be a timely question for this holiday, as people would be wondering “Where is the Messiah, the greater Maccabee?”

At every Hanukkah, our people desired Messiah to come and free them from yet another enemy, in this case the Romans. Even the defiled stones from the altar desecrated by Antiochus were set aside for “the Prophet to come to tell our people what to do with them.” So for Judeans in Jerusalem under the heel of Rome, this question of “Messiah” at Hanukkah would mean: “Where is the redeemer to deliver us from our oppressors?”

Yeshua answered them, “I told you, and you believed not: the works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. But you believe not, because ye are not of My sheep, as I said unto you (John 10:25-26).

Why didn’t Yeshua just say ‘Sure, I’m the Messiah’? This is how familiarity with Hanukkah helps us understand Yeshua. The people were expecting a political warrior to throw out the Romans, just as the Maccabees threw out the Syrians.

With a mere “yes,” He would have been accommodating Himself to their narrow expectation heightened at the time. This was only part of the biblical picture to come later, as Messiah’s mission was two-fold, and would be executed in not one, but two comings. But had He said “no,” it would not have been true! So Yeshua wisely responds, “I’ve already told you.” In both words and deeds, He had already answered their question (John 8:58; 10:25).

God provides the eternal salvation that we need, not merely the temporary solutions that we desire. Is your faith in God’s Word, or your own expectations and experience? Like Job, true faith sees beyond the immediate and trusts God’s wisdom and care: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” (Job 13:15).

With the Maccabees, short-term faith was required. They pointed to a desecrated temple by an oppressive Syrian regime and said, “Let us defeat them and rededicate the temple.” However, Yeshua points to us and says that we are ‘the desecrated temple,’ and we need to be cleansed and rededicated in order to walk with God. The problem, O Israel, is not outside of you, but within you. Our need is not for a quick fix of short-term problems, but for an eternal relationship with God.

The Shepherd to God

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand” (John 10:27-28).

His sheep have faith in Him: “My sheep hear My voice.” His sheep are His followers: “They follow Me.” There is mutual recognition and a reciprocal action. The shepherd knows and directs His sheep; and the sheep respond in obedience.

Messiah guarantees life eternal to His followers. People do not always understand what eternal life is. Some think that their eternal rest is in their coffin! Passing a cemetery one day, an Irishman paused at a startling inscription on a tombstone. He read the words: “I still live.” Puzzled, the Irishman scratched his head for a moment, then exclaimed: “Goodness, if I were dead I’d be honest enough to admit it!”

Eternal life comes from God by faith in Yeshua, Who alone can relate us rightly to the eternal God. Furthermore, eternal life is a new kind of existence for believers. It is God’s own life. Through Yeshua the fullness of God dwells within us--and His life will never end! God is immortal; those who believe in Yeshua will live on with Him.

In 1948, I was born in the flesh; in 1972, I was born of the Spirit. Someday you may hear that Sam Nadler is dead. Don’t believe a word of it! At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now. I shall have gone higher, out of this ‘old clay shack’ into a house that is immortal: a body that neither sin nor sickness can touch or taint, a body fashioned like unto Messiah’s glorious body. That which is born of the flesh may die; that which is born of the Spirit will live forever. And in Yeshua, I live!

The Son of God

Yeshua then teaches that we must have faith in Him as the Son of God: “My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one” (10:29-30).

Yeshua’s assertion that He is one with the Father is meant to give assurance to His followers: “No one will snatch them from My hand” anymore than from the “Father’s hand.”

Bill Gates may have a monopoly on software, but God has a monopoly on life! Defeat is measuring your life by your problem, rather than by your God. Victory is measuring life’s challenges by the size of your God! Do you have a Goliath in your life? I know one who is greater! God has provided salvation in Messiah, His Eternal Son. By dying for sins, He conquered death.

How can we overcome the tragedy of terrorist attacks in Israel, Afghanistan, and here at home? Despite temporary trials there is ultimate victory in Messiah. Yes, Messiah demands a greater loyalty than the Maccabees, because He provides greater security. Trust in Him as the Savior, Shepherd, and Son. Yeshua is the Victor, and following Him brings the victory! Y
 

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