22 Then came the Festival of Dedication [Hanakkuh] at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” (John 10:22-33)
Thoughts: They say Thanksgiving and Hanukkah will not coincide for another 78,000+ years. But both celebrate religious freedom and deliverance. The Pilgrims celebrated being set free from the King's religion and that they were delivered from famine miraculously (they were down to rationing five kernels of grain per day). Hanakkuh celebrates freedom from the secular and pagan Hellenistic pressure of the Seleucid King Antiochus IV. Antiochus ordered that pigs be slaughtered on the Temple altar in Jerusalem. Mattathias and Judah Maccabee fought through and rededicated the Temple in the 25th day of the month of Kislev 164 BC. They found only one jar of oil which miraculously lasted eight days which showed God's provision and blessing upon them. Freedom to worship God as they wanted is celebrated with great Thanksgiving.
When Jesus went to worship in the Temple at Hanakkuh (Festival of Dedication) he was asked if he was the anointed one of God (anointed with the sacred oil). Here Jesus claimed he was the Messiah and also claimed that they did not believe and was threatened with death for blasphemy for claiming to be divine. Jesus is the light of lights- the light of the world (John 8:12)- the light of freedom, truth, and hope for which we give thanks.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for being my light and my hope. Thank you for the freedom to pray and worship you without fear. We remember those who are oppressed for their religious beliefs today.
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