You probably want to know what the "Festival of Lights' is in Hebrew; it is "Hag HaUrim," referring to Hanukkah. In simple terms. Judah Son of Matityahu, priest in Odin, led a rebellion against Antiochus Epiphanes, the Greek-Syrian tyrant who had taken control of Jerusalem and Judeah, around 135 BCE. With God on Judah's side and with faith, and strength, and with swords and spears, Judah's small army ousted Antiochus and recaptured the Temple. The Temple in Jerusalem had been desecrated by Antiochus, a statue of Zeus was put in the temple, and pigs were sacrificed in the temple.
After cleansing the Temple and re-erecting the Menorah, it was lit, and eight days of celebration began, "re-dedicating" the Temple to God once again. Yeshua celebrated Hanukkah in John 10:21-30. It was called the "Feast of Dedication." The other name, which is less popular but still fitting, is the "Feastival of Lights" because of the eight days and nights, during which there were lights and celebrations.
We can also look at Yeshua/Jesus as the "Light of the World." It is believed, and if we do the math correctly, it comes out that Mary became pregnant through the Holy Spirit on or around the time of Hanukkah, the middle part of December. So, the "Light of the World" came to the world and was born during the time of late September or early October, during the Feast of Tabernacles.
Roman tradition places December 25th as Jesus' birthday. I don't buy into that. It doesn't fit the math. Shepherds were in the field with their sheep at the time of the Messiah's birth, in December, it is too cold for the sheep, and they are kept in shelters, not outdoors.
We can remember God sending Messiah Yeshua into the world, as the "Light of the World," remembering "light" verses. Here are "8"; maybe you can come up with more.
John 8:12 "I am the LIGHT of the World"
Matthew 5:14-16 "YOU are the LIGHT of the world" (us being "reflectors" of God's light)
Psalm 119:105 "Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a LIGHT to my path"
John 1:5 "The LIGHT shines in the darkness." (spiritual light vs darkness and evil)
Psalm 27:1 " The LORD is my LIGHT and my Salvation (Yeshuah)
Psalm 36:9: "In your LIGHT we see LIGHT"
1 John 1:5: God is LIGHT
John 9:5: "While I am in the World, I am the LIGHT of the World
These verses can be subjects to talk about during the holiday festival. What do they mean to us? Good "Table Talk" around the roasted turkey or Leg of Lamb, whether it be around a decorated tree or a Hanukkah Menorah, let's celebrate Jesus/Yeshua as the "Light" coming into this world.
After cleansing the Temple and re-erecting the Menorah, it was lit, and eight days of celebration began, "re-dedicating" the Temple to God once again. Yeshua celebrated Hanukkah in John 10:21-30. It was called the "Feast of Dedication." The other name, which is less popular but still fitting, is the "Feastival of Lights" because of the eight days and nights, during which there were lights and celebrations.
We can also look at Yeshua/Jesus as the "Light of the World." It is believed, and if we do the math correctly, it comes out that Mary became pregnant through the Holy Spirit on or around the time of Hanukkah, the middle part of December. So, the "Light of the World" came to the world and was born during the time of late September or early October, during the Feast of Tabernacles.
Roman tradition places December 25th as Jesus' birthday. I don't buy into that. It doesn't fit the math. Shepherds were in the field with their sheep at the time of the Messiah's birth, in December, it is too cold for the sheep, and they are kept in shelters, not outdoors.
We can remember God sending Messiah Yeshua into the world, as the "Light of the World," remembering "light" verses. Here are "8"; maybe you can come up with more.
John 8:12 "I am the LIGHT of the World"
Matthew 5:14-16 "YOU are the LIGHT of the world" (us being "reflectors" of God's light)
Psalm 119:105 "Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a LIGHT to my path"
John 1:5 "The LIGHT shines in the darkness." (spiritual light vs darkness and evil)
Psalm 27:1 " The LORD is my LIGHT and my Salvation (Yeshuah)
Psalm 36:9: "In your LIGHT we see LIGHT"
1 John 1:5: God is LIGHT
John 9:5: "While I am in the World, I am the LIGHT of the World
These verses can be subjects to talk about during the holiday festival. What do they mean to us? Good "Table Talk" around the roasted turkey or Leg of Lamb, whether it be around a decorated tree or a Hanukkah Menorah, let's celebrate Jesus/Yeshua as the "Light" coming into this world.
