Transcript Assimilation! Chanukah is for Christians, too!

Assimilation?
Chanukah is for Christians, too!
A Brief Examination of the history of Chanukah
Followed by the Relevance for Christian Believers
Today.
By
Barbara L. Klika, MSW
Undershepherd
Set Apart Ministries, Inc.
Outline
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Meaning of the word – Chanukah
Current misunderstandings
Historical Background
Current Practices
How We View These Practices
Demonstration of Differences between Menorah and
Chanukiah
Significance for Christians
Traditional Lighting Practices Demonstration
Chanukah Traditional Blessings
Chanukah Song
Various Spellings—Same Feast
• Chanukah is a transliterated Hebrew word, meaning
“Rededication.”
• There are many different ways to spell it in English.
• There is no standard way to transliterate.
Most common in America: Chanukah & Hanukah
It is also known as the Feast of Dedication, and the
Festival of Lights.
A “Jewish Christmas?”
• If they know anything at all of it, most Christians associate
Chanukah with Christmas though there is no connection at all
between them other than the time of the year.
• Chanukah is the remembrance of a terrible time in the history
of the God of Israel’s people in which they were lulled and yet
also strong armed into “assimilating” into the culture.
• This time period was in what Christians call The Intertestamental Period and is written about in the Books of 1 and
2 Maccabee.
Historical Events
• There has been a continual series of wars over control over
most of the middle east. Here is a brief history lesson.
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Historical Events
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Alexander the Great – Born 356 BCE
Son of a Macedonian General & a Princess
Ambassador to Athens at age 18;
King of Macedonia at age 20
Quelled a Greek states rebellion and formed The League
of Nations of which he became president.
• He went on to conquer Persia, Syria and eventually Egypt
where he was received as a welcomed deliverer from
the harsh rule of the Persians.
• He went on to conquer India and Babylon and had a plan
to unite all of Asia and Europe into one country.
Alexander the Great’s Plan
• Encourage intermarriage,
• Clean up government from corruption
• Introduction of Greek culture, customs and laws
throughout all of Asia
Goal: a unified country
• Otherwise tolerant of people groups practicing their own
customs and faith. This resulted in many people becoming
comfortable and “assimilated,” among them, the Jews.
• His plans came to an end for him after his death from malaria
while in Babylon, the newly designated capitol city.
• Death: June 13, 323 BCE
Macedonian General to Egyptian
Pharaoh
• Dynasty divided under 4 leaders with 2 of the 4 prominent in
the History of Israel: Ptolemy & Seleucid.
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Ptolemy I Soter I (or Ptolemy Lagides) “the Savior”
Born: 367 BCE
Lived to age of 84
One of 7 intimate friends/bodyguards of Alexander
Ruler of Egypt: 323 – 283 BCE
Founder of Ptolemaic Kingdom and
Ptolemaic Dynasty &
the Great Library of Alexandria
• Took title of Pharaoh : 305/4 BCE.
Intersection: Biblical & Secular
History
• Did you know that Cleopatra was a descendant of the
Ptolemy family and was the last reigning Pharaoh of
Ancient Egypt? She was appointed at age 18 and
presented herself as a reincarnation of Isis.
• She lived 69 – 30 BCE, less than 50 years before
Messiah’s birth.
Macedonian General to King
• Seleucus Later given surname Nicator
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Father’s name: Antiochus
Mother’s Name: Laodice
Born 358 BC (disputed)
Lived to age 77
Nominated as Satrap of Babylon in 320 BC
Founded a number of new cities, including Antioch and
Seleucia.
Presented his true father to be the “God” Apollo
Led in long series of battles over control of his
territories and was assassinated by a Ptolemy
in 281 BC.
His successor was his son, Antiochus I Soter.
Continual Battles over Control
Battles over southern Syria, including Judea, continued for a
hundred years between the Ptolemy and the Seleucids.
A strong Hellenistic influence was established.
• A thorough yet reasonably short description of this time
period of history and it’s remarkable similarities to Daniel’s
visions can be found at:
• http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/1191-daniels-prophecyof-antiochus-epiphanes
• (NOTE: This does NOT constitute a recommendation for every thing
presented in this website.)
Daniel’s Prophecy
• “Behold, three more kings shall arise in Persia, and a
fourth shall be far richer than all of them. And when he
has become strong through his riches, he shall stir up all
against the kingdom of Greece”
• “Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great
dominion and do as he wills”
• “And as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken
and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not to
his posterity, nor according to the authority with which he
ruled, for his kingdom shall be plucked up and go to others
besides these”
(Dan. 11:2-4).
Succession within Family Led to the
Reign of Antiochus Epiphanes
• Known as a contemptible
person.
• Obtained throne through
flattery & subterfuge.
• First Seleucid King who
wanted divine status.
• Wanted to be known as
“God Manifest”
Antiochus Epiphanes
but instead was called
“The Mad Man”
Antiochus Epimanes
Primary Contested Practices
According to Scripture, they were
to worship no other god than THE
God of Israel in all His ways.
Antiochus wanted their loyalty &
worship.
• Honor the seventh day,
Shabbat & Feast Days.
• Stop honoring Shabbat and
honor practices/holidays of
Greek culture instead.
• Observe the Levitical dietary
laws.
• Eat pork & other foods common
to Greek culture.
• Circumcise their male
children on the 8th day.
• No more circumcision on the 8th
day.
• Study the Scriptures.
• Study of the Scriptures was
prohibited.
Tolerance to Terrorism
• The Mad Man knew how to intimidate people. Military
men patrolled the neighborhoods.
• When people were caught lighting the Shabbat Candles ,
studying the Scriptures or circumcising their baby boys,
the punishment was made very public.
• One example is that mothers were killed and their babies
tied around their necks to die of starvation while lying on
a street corner.
Dishonoring the God of Israel
Above and beyond these acts, after putting a stop to their daily
sacrifices, he also defiled the Temple; the most holy and sacred
place that Our God Says is His place.
An Idol in the Temple!
• Apparently, on the advice of
“Hellenized Jews”, those
who had more comfortably
been assimilated into the
Greek culture, Antiochus
Epiphanes attempted to put
a statue of the Greek God,
Zeus, perhaps similar to this
one, into the Temple.
• Clearly a violation of the
First Commandment.
Zeus
Assimilate! Resistance is Futile!
• The message was one of control. You will not be
able to overcome us; we are too powerful.
• You must do as we say because we own you.
• Your god will not deliver you.
• You are to worship
Antiochus Epiphanes!
“Go Along to Get Along?”
• This choice is so often the predominate choice whenever
there is some kind of controversy. It is a VERY modern
connection to this story for us!
• It certainly seems much better in the short run to just go
along with what those who appear powerful want,
especially when there are military personnel on every
corner!
• Yet, this amounts to denying that we belong to our God,
the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!
"But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before
My Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 10:37
Typical Pattern of Conquest
• The persecution and control began in the cities as is
usually the case when a conquering army invades a land.
• Each major city that is subdued
provides demoralization and resignation
to the inevitability of what is happening.
• As their control was solidified in the cities
they began to move out into the
Countryside with their military personnel.
One Family Stood Against Them
• Ultimately, they met the person and family who would
take a stand against them. Their sacrifice and willingness
to stand encouraged others to do the same.
• When they tried to force Mattathias of the priestly
Hasmonean family, to sacrifice to an idol, he refused and
killed the Greek official.
• He and sons, known as the Maccabee’s, led a long battle
in guerilla warfare style, ultimately overcoming the
mighty conquering army.
Rededication of the Temple
• When the Priests of Israel were able to return and
reclaim the Temple in Jerusalem they found that it was in
terrible condition, having been used in many ungodly
ways, but especially in profaning the altar in sacrifices to
other “gods” and the introduction of idols.
• There is a cleansing process to sanctify the holy place but
it needs clean oil to burn in the lampstand.
• In all the destruction, they could find only enough pure,
set apart, holy oil to burn for one day, instead of the
entire time needed.
A Great Miracle Happened Here!
• Though it is unclear if it is legend or fact, it is said that the oil
that had been enough to burn for only one day, instead
burned for the entire 8 day period of cleansing!
• Light One Candle – A Chanukah Song by Peter, Paul & Mary
Ultimately, the
Hasmonean kingdom
That resulted from this
long struggle nearly
equaled the size of King
Solomon’s
Kingdom.
This was Israel of the
First Century BCE.
8 Day Chanukah Festival
• In memorial to this miracle and the
miraculous deliverance from the
hand of Antiochus Epiphanes, the
Mad Man, it was determined to
celebrate these 8 days every year.
• It was also determined at some point
to add two more candles to the
Menorah, making it a Chanukiah,
with 8 candles, one for each of the
days of cleansing, as a symbol of
what happened, along with the
central candle.
• The earliest note of a 9 branched
chanukiah I have found is from the
12th century CE.
Traditions Are Many!
• Established rules and
rituals about lighting the
candles and prayers.
• Enjoy foods made with
oil, especially latkes,
which are potato
pancakes.
• The Dreidel Game is
played for coins…or
chocolate money called
gelt! (German for Money)
This is a Yiddish tradition.
• The dreidel is one of the best known symbols of Chanukah. A
four-sided top with a Hebrew letter on each side, the dreidel
is used to play a fun Chanukah game of chance.
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SHIN
HEY
GIMEL
NUN
• The letters on the dreidel stand for the
Nes Gadol Haya Sham,
which means
A Great Miracle Happened There.
http://www.holidays.net/chanukah/dreidel.html
This Brings Us to Modern Day
• As is so often the case, the roots of a celebration can get
lost in the tradition that grows up around it.
• On the positive side, we have seen large Chanukiah’s on
the rooftop of every synagogue in Israel.
• We were told they are there as a calling out to the
people to stand against the pressure to assimilate with
the nations or be destroyed, just as Israel was under
pressure in the days of the Maccabees.
Not a Jewish Christmas, but…
• In America, in many homes, Chanukah HAS become a time to
try to “compete” with the gifts and celebrations that the
Christians are enjoying through the Christmas holidays.
• You will find chanukiah’s in the traditional style but also in
every other style imaginable, creative artistic designs or using
trademarked cartoon characters, or any number of colorful
symbols.
• Many Jewish families give a gift each day of the 8 day
gathering. This is, of course, in addition to the lighting of the
candles with a reading of the Maccabee story and enjoying
latkes!
An Extra Biblical Feast
• This commemoration is NOT listed in the Book of Leviticus as
a commanded Feast Day though Messiah celebrated it.
(John 10:22-23)
Messiah also referred to this event in History.
(Mathew 24 and Mark 23)
• Many Chanukah traditions are often treated as though they
were commands of God though we see no such thing in the
Scriptures.
• The story of the oil may be fact or it may be legend.
Tradition vs. Scripture
• We find that it is often important to differentiate between
what the Scriptures teach and what Judaism teaches.
• If a tradition does not cause any harm or damage to faith, it
can be an encouragement, but we do not see that to be the
same standard as being a commandment of God.
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• Though we appreciate the symbolism, we do not see that God
commanded us to kindle the lights of Chanukah though this is
a part of the traditional prayers.
• The menorah as designed by our God is a wonderful teaching
tool that is first seen in the Tabernacle and finally spoken of in
the Book of Revelation.
The Center “Servant” Candle
Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse,
And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him,
The spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The spirit of counsel and strength,
The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
Isaiah 11: 1-2
Menorah’s Changed?
• "Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do;
you shall not add to nor take away from it.
• Deuteronomy 12:32
• Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you
will be proved a liar.
• Proverbs 30: 6
• I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy
of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him
the plagues which are written in this book;
• Revelation 22:18
The Light of the World-Messiah!
• Chanukah, also called the
Festival of Lights
may be the time of the
conception of our Messiah!
Following through the time
period of Elizabeth’s
pregnancy and Mary’s visit to
her we can see the
connection.
Wouldn’t it be like our God to
bring His light to the World
during a celebration of Light?
• Even in Israel, it is too cold
in the winter for the
shepherds to watch their
flocks out in the fields by
night.
• The angels announced His
birth to shepherds in the
field, so we believe He was
born during the Fall Feasts
when sheep would still be
out in the field which
would support the
likelihood of His
conception during the
Festival of Lights.
Modern Day Idol Controversy
• There are many kinds of idols we can raise up in our own
hearts and lives: wealth, fame, beauty, pride, arrogance
and so forth.
• We may also see idolatry in similar ways to what
happened in the first century BCE. There have been
many reports that the statue that was brought into the
Temple by Antiochus Epiphanes is the same one that
currently stands in the Vatican in Rome and is venerated
as being Saint Peter, said to be the First Pope.
• I will provide some pictures and information for your
consideration here as it is such an important issue.
Statue of St. Peter in Basilica
• Rather than claiming to be
the same one, some say
that it is very like the
same statue, having
originally been made in
the image of Zeus.
• This statue which is
inside the Vatican is
officially said to be from
the 13th century though
some insist it is from the
3rd or 5th century.
• It is said that the toes are
wearing down from the
practice of kissing them.
Current Statue Outside Vatican
• According to one source, Pope Pius IX, replaced the older
statues with larger ones for Easter in 1847.
Comparison Opportunity
1857 Replacement
Zeus
The Original statue?
Unknown
3rd, 5th or 13th Century
Past & Future Events
• Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the
things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I
will do all my pleasure:
• Isaiah 46:10
• We understand the Scriptures to be thematically teaching the same
message repeatedly, teaching us the patterns of the way our God
works in His creation, ultimately for our good.
We need to heed that counsel!
• "But when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION
standing where it should not be (let the reader understand),
then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.
• Mark 13:14
Intermediate & Final Fulfillment
• Our Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, warned that similar
circumstances will occur as we near the time of His return.
• It is recorded in both Matthew (Chapter 24) and Mark
(Chapter 13).
• He said to get out of the cities! Don’t hesitate!
• Now, as it was then, the most intense persecution begins in
cities. So it will be when the time that Messiah spoke of
comes in our day.
Should Christians Honor Hanukah?
• Though we advise discernment as to the various traditions
practiced, our resounding answer is…
Yes!
The message of rededication of our lives to our God is a
crucial one for this time of great upheaval, whether Jew
or grafted-in Gentile, both natural and wild branches.
But now in Messiah Yeshua you who once were far off have
been brought near by the blood of Messiah.
Ephesians 2:13
First the Saturday people…
…Then the Sunday people.
This is the stated intent of Islam for the destruction of Jews
and Christians.
Assimilate with them, or die.
Not so different from the Crusades in which Jewish people
were told to become Christian or die; or the Holocaust…
We are all viewed as people of the Book.
Yet there are distinctive differences which are too much to
thoroughly go into here.
There are many similar dangers in the world today as well.
We know that already, in many ways people of faith in
America are being looked upon as “suspect” or
potential terrorists.
Many churches have adopted the ways of the world in
order to draw people in.
We who have the Holy Spirit are the spiritual Temple
of Living Stones to the God of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob; both natural and wild branches grafted in by
faith in Messiah.
Our hearts are like the altar of our Temple to Him.
What idols have we put up in our hearts?
Will our hearts and our lives bear clear testimony that
we belong to the God of Israel through His Son, our
Messiah Yeshua, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have we already been “assimilated?”
Compromised?
Where we have been lost, please restore us, Messiah!
Draw us back under Your Wings!
This is the message of Chanukah for Christians!
A Chanukah Blessing Song
• From Marty Goetz CD Festival of Lights
(You will see pictures of many of the traditions we have described here
depicted though the message of the song is for us all.)
• Please contact us if we can be of any help to you as you
consider your faith walk!
Barbara L. Klika, MSW
Undershepherd
Set Apart Ministries, Inc.
P. O. Box 5584, De Pere, WI 54115
[email protected] (920) 336-7005
www.set-apart-ministries.org