When we look to the central elements of the Jewish revolt against Antiochus Epiphanes IV of Syria and his followers, we see more than the victory of Judaism against paganism. At its core, some stories are disquieting and troubling. His group decides that the House of Israel must go pagan Greek or die. The Maccabee family leads others to protest and remain practicing Jews. Then begins an epic struggle, a story from 168 BCE to 165 BCE with mayhem and murder. Later for the Maccabee family would be power, corruption, and civil war. The traditions of lights, hanukkiahs, dreidels, and presents were later layered upon the original events.
 
 
We go forward to the Messiah of Israel. He arrived at His First Coming about 160 years later (40 years x 4). We read one story about Hanukkah concerning the Messiah while He lived. It was His last Hanukkah.  In John 10:22 we read that He was at Jerusalem for Hanukkah/Chanukkah (the Feast of Dedication, the Festival of Lights, the Feast of Fire). We are not told He was a participant. He was walking on Solomon's Porch. Every year Hanukkah begins the evening of Kislev 24 going to 25 at sunset. It is Day 40 from Cheshvan 17, the day the rains began to fall during The Days of Noah. Word study in Hebrew. What does Noah mean? REST. What does Chanu mean? THE RESTED. In Haggai 2:19 we read about  "From this day and upwards (some translations state onwards) I will bless you " associated with December 18. In 2017, that is near the end of Hannukah. Daniel Matson's revised timeline sets the beginning of Daniel's 70 th Week at 12-19-2017. The Days of Hanukkah are days of mystery and wonder. Will Hanukkah be the Season when we enter into our REST at The Blessed Hope?
 
   Solomon's Porch was open air and part of The Court of the Gentiles. There were many pillars, each 37 feet high. This was the largest court in size of any on the Temple Mount: for instruction, for learning, for teaching. Other areas were the Court of the Women, the Court of the Priests, and the Holy of Holies. What are some other name for gentiles in The Scriptures? Pagans or the Nations. Who were the Greeks in the times of the Hanukkah events from 168 BCE to 165 BCE? They were pagans and gentiles.
 
   So the kosher teacher from the Galilee is walking in the instruction area of the Temple for Jews and Gentiles alike. WHERE the Messiah is walking is tremendously important. Is He avoiding those who are not the Chosen People, those set apart? No. He is in their area, their space. He is in The Instruction Area with No Restrictions for Entering!  Representatives from "Caiphus and company" must leave The Court of the Priests to come to Him in an area for Gentiles. and for Instruction. The Master Teacher calls Himself The Light of the World in the only part of the Temple, His Father's House, for anyone to enter. It is during The Festival of Lights, and the Messiah wants the Temple authorities "the higher ups" to see their true light of lights. Some had anger, malice, and evil intent in their minds and hearts. Some wanted mayhem and murder as Antiochus Epiphanes and his evil ilk did long ago. How ironic. In their midst was The True Eternal Light, greater than all the lovely glowing lights on so many hanukkiahs! Yet, they wanted to stone their Messiah to death. Standing near The Way, The Truth, and The Life, those from The Court of the Priests publicly  REFUSED INSTRUCTION AT THEIR LAST CHANCE before the crowds at Passover. Sheer spiritual tragedy.
 
   In John 10:22, does Christ want to be seen and speak only to the sheep of The House of Israel? He wants the entire flock. Here again the sheep will be found from the Nations, the pagans, the gentiles. Messiah/Christ, in The Court of the Gentiles, offers His LIGHT and SALVATION to each and all, to Jew and Gentile alike during that special Hanukkah Season and thereafter. In essence, His actions and words are for and against certain of the lessons and themes of the Hanukkah stories. Blending of pro and con.
 
   One can argue that the best of Hanukkah led to THE MESSIAH OF ISRAEL!. What had been fought for and restored and rededicated long before? Temple, altar, implements, High Priest, priesthood, Hebrew, and sacrifices had been restored.and rededicated. A great miracle happened then, even more than the story of sacred oil lasting for 8 days rather than only one. The Torah Commanded Ways of Living had been restored and revived. It was necessary that Messiah/Christ be born and raised into Torah observant family, culture, spirituality, religion, and nation. But John 10 shows us that the Messiah did not believe in lineage as imparting salvation. Christ did not uphold the negative elements of the Hanukkah events: cross cultural bitterness, anger, hatred, pride, mayhem, and murder. The Light of the World was not to be accessed and understood by those of exclusive ethnic lineage or the vain self righteous from The Court of the Priests.
 
   The Light on Solomon's Porch Is Forever Our Light. The bracketing of Hanukkah 2017 to Hanukkah 2024 may be indeed significant. Come, Oh Come Immanuel!
 
 
With Love and Shalom,
Jean