Elisha Vision – Commentary

So, Hanukkah 2013 begins at sundown this Wednesday and will still be the first day of Hanukkah when our family and friends sit down to our sumptuous Thanksgiving turkey  about 1 pm Thursday. This coincidence last happened in 1888 and will not occur again for over 70,000 years. Thus my greeting: Happy Thanksgivukkah! We plan to give thanks around the table on Thursday for our blessings and also discuss the glorious hope of the Messiah, the Light of the World!

… TO … all my Jewish friends and to all my Christian friends. So, why should Christians celebrate this Jewish holiday? Is it given to us like all the Biblical feasts of Yehovah in Leviticus 23? No, actually it is not. Why then, should we celebrate?

I know two good reasons. First, it has genuine historic significance that changed the course of nations and fulfilled prophecy. My wife, Doreen, wrote a children’s story book called How Hanukkah saved Christmas. Had the Greeks under Antiochus succeeded in killing all the Jews and destroying the temple, Jesus could not have come. You see, He must be born a Jew, a descendant of King David. No Jews left; no Messiah. He also had to come into the temple. No temple; no fulfilled prophecy.

The second reason to celebrate has to do with the traditional miracle oil that was enough to light the temple menorah for one day, but lasted eight days, allowing time to sanctify (or dedicate) new oil. Thus the references to Hanukkah as the Festival of Lights, and Feast of Dedication.

Now it was the Feast of Dedication, and it was winter   (John 10:22).

At Jesus’ last visit to Jerusalem before His death He announced several times, leading up to the Festival of Lights, that He was the Light of the World. That generation and that Jewish culture could make no mistake about what He claimed. That is one reason He was charged with blasphemy. They knew exactly what He meant. He claimed to be the Son of God, Yeshua ben Yehovah!

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12

Finally, today’s Israelis celebrate Hanukkah with nine candles instead of  a regular seven candle menorah. Why nine? Eight makes sense because of the eight-day miracle. But why nine? The ninth one is usually offset a bit and is called the shamash, or, servant/attendant candle. Its purpose is to light the other candles. What a great object lesson for the purpose of Jesus as the Light of the World. He brings the Light of His Father, Yehovah to all who receive Him.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Happy Thanksgivukkah!

Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists        (READ MORE)

(As is my custom, I have taken the liberty to change the word “LORD” to Yehovah. Every single time you see LORD or GOD in all capital letters in the Old Testament, the actual Hebrew word is Yehovah. This name occurs 6,828 times in the Hebrew text, yet remains untranslated in most Bibles. His name, obscured for 2,500 years, is now being revealed. It is TIME to restore the name of Yehovah!) (for deeper study click here.)