Feast of Dedication: Deny Yourself and Follow Him • | David Wilber | Founded in Truth Fellowship

Understanding the Significance of Hanukkah

David Wilber from Founded in Truth Fellowship shares a Bible teaching emphasizing the profound importance of Hanukkah, also known as the Feast of Dedication, for believers today. He begins by expressing his hope for everyone to have an amazing Hanukkah. Wilber acknowledges that some consider Hanukkah a minor holiday because it is not directly prescribed in the Torah and occurred after the Torah was given. However, he strongly disagrees with this categorization, arguing that its importance should not be downplayed, just as the “minor prophets” are not less significant. He believes that psychologically, referring to Hanukkah as minor can diminish its perceived relevance.

Wilber points out that despite not being a commanded festival in the Torah, the Gospel of John portrays Hanukkah as pointing to Yeshua (Jesus), similar to how other festivals like Passover and Sukkot do. He notes that John includes Hanukkah in the context of Yeshua fulfilling various festivals throughout his ministry, suggesting that John considered it significant. Wilber emphasizes that the message of Hanukkah is incredibly relevant for believers in the present day, and this is the central theme of his teaching.

To provide context, Wilber offers a concise overview of the origins of Hanukkah. The Hebrew word “Hanukkah” means dedication, and the holiday commemorates the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem during the time of the Maccabees. Rededication and light are the major themes associated with this festival, also known as the Festival of Lights. The events leading to the rededication began in 167 BC when Antiochus IV, a Syrian king and successor of Alexander the Great, gained control over Judea. Antiochus sought to Hellenize the Jewish people, meaning he wanted to assimilate them into Greek culture. He disliked their distinct culture, customs, values, and beliefs, viewing them as a threat to his empire’s unity. Consequently, he enacted laws prohibiting Jewish practices such as Torah study, Sabbath observance, circumcision, and the observance of festivals. The aim of the Syrian Greeks was to erase Jewish identity and Judaism.

The oppression went beyond legal restrictions. The books of Maccabees recount the desecration of the temple by the Syrian Greeks, including orgies and drinking parties within its sacred precincts. Jewish women were arrested and executed for circumcising their sons, and groups of Jews observing the Sabbath were burned alive. Faced with the choice of abandoning their faith or facing death, many Jews conformed to Greek culture. However, a faithful remnant chose resistance. A priestly family led by Mattathias and his son Judah Maccabee formed a small army that fought against the Syrian Greeks for about three years. Miraculously, this small Jewish army prevailed, retook Jerusalem, and rededicated the temple to the God of Israel in a ceremony that lasted eight days, which is why Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days. This story of dedication to God in the face of extreme opposition is what Jews remember and celebrate annually. The Hanukkah story, according to Wilber, fits the biblical pattern of Jewish oppression followed by God’s miraculous deliverance.

Three Reasons for Hanukkah’s Relevance Today

Wilber presents three key reasons why the message of Hanukkah remains crucial for believers today.

1. Reminder of God’s Commitment to the Jewish People

Firstly, Hanukkah serves as a powerful reminder of God’s unwavering commitment to the Jewish people. Wilber addresses non-Jewish Christians, explaining that Christianity itself would not exist without Judaism. Had Antiochus succeeded in eradicating Judaism, the Jewish Messiah would not have been born, and the scriptures, prophets, and apostles would not exist. He emphasizes that the New Testament was written by Jewish individuals. Drawing from Romans 15, Wilber highlights Paul’s implication that Gentile believers have an obligation toward the Jews. Paul collected aid from Gentile congregations to support Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. In Romans 15:27, Paul states that Gentile believers owe support to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem because they have shared in their spiritual blessings.

2. Prioritizing God’s Will Over Our Own

The second reason for Hanukkah’s relevance is that it reminds us to prioritize God’s will above our own desires. Wilber emphasizes that following God often entails significant personal cost, echoing Yeshua’s call to self-denial and daily cross-bearing. He illustrates this point with the powerful story from 2 Maccabees 7-11 of a mother and her seven sons who chose brutal torture and death over eating pork and disobeying God’s commands. Their unwavering faith and willingness to sacrifice everything for God’s law serve as a stark example of true dedication.

3. Hanukkah is About the Messiah

Finally, Wilber asserts that Hanukkah is fundamentally about the Messiah, Yeshua. He explains that Yeshua fulfills the meanings of the biblical feast days through His life and teachings, a foundational concept in Messianic Theology. While many recognize Yeshua’s fulfillment of feasts like Passover, First Fruits, and Shavuot, Wilber highlights John’s Gospel, which also portrays Yeshua fulfilling Hanukkah. The mention of the Feast of Dedication in John 10:22 is not coincidental; John intentionally connects Yeshua to this festival for a theological purpose. Just as God delivered Israel during the time of the Maccabees, Yeshua is our ultimate deliverer. Furthermore, Hanukkah celebrates the consecration of the temple, and Yeshua declares that He is consecrated, alluding to Himself as the true and ultimate temple of God, the reality that the physical temple foreshadowed.

Application for Everyday Life

• Stand with the Jewish people: Recognize God’s ongoing commitment to the Jewish people and actively oppose anti-Semitism in all its forms. Speak out against hate speech and support organizations that combat anti-Semitism.
• Prioritize God’s will: Regularly examine your life to identify areas where your desires conflict with God’s commands. Choose to obey God even when it is inconvenient or unpopular.
• Be Radically Counter-Cultural: Do not conform to the values of the world that contradict God’s Word. Stand firm on biblical principles regarding morality, marriage, and other issues, even when facing criticism or rejection.
• Embrace Repentance: Regularly examine your heart and confess any sins or compromises to God. Turn away from behaviors and attitudes that do not align with God’s will and rededicate yourself to Him.
• Focus on Yeshua as the Ultimate Deliverer: Remember that just as God delivered the Israelites during the time of the Maccabees, Yeshua has delivered us from sin and death. Celebrate and honor Him as the true light and ultimate temple.
• Love God and Love Your Neighbor: Let your actions be motivated by a genuine love for God and for the people around you. This should be the driving force behind your faith and obedience.

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