Children's Service: Hanukkah

John 8:11–13 ESV

11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” 12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.”

This is after he saved the women who had sinned and was about to be stoned. And He told them that you who has no sin must cast the first stone.

What does it mean to the Jews he is speaking to at the time?

John 10:12–16 ESV

12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

He speaks of Light, and Sheppards. The key to the answer is in the later verses when It says what time of year this is being said and to whom.

John 10:22–31 NKJV

22 Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. 24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.” 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.

The key to understanding what he means by Lights, and Sheppard is in the Feast of Dedication, Hanukkah.

Empire of Alexander the Great.

Alexander

Alexander was Greek, From Northern Greece, kingdom of Macedonia.

332 B.C Israel was conquered by Alexander the Great.

Hellenisation

Alexander is Greek and His generals are Greek, they are now in charge and bring their language and culture with them.

He Dies at age 33, in 323 BC, and his empire is split up into 3 parts to his 3 generals.

He Constantly changing Hirelings

Egypt, the pink go to Ptolomy his general which becomes the Ptolomaic Empire.

Leaders like queen Cleopatra are related to him.

The East Brown goes to Sellucis which becomes the Sellucid empire.

The Ptolomaic and Selucid empire are constantly fighting for control of this middle area which includes Israel. Top level Government keeps changing so the Local authority at least remains stable. The Jews still remain jewish.

But, 137 years after Alex dies, Antiochus IV comes to power.

Antiochus IV

1 Maccabees 1:10–14 ERV

10 And there came forth out of them a sinful root, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king, who had been a hostage at Rome, and he reigned in the hundred and thirty and seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks. 11 In those days came there forth out of Israel transgressors of the law, and persuaded many, saying, Let us go and make a covenant with the Gentiles that are round about us; for since we were parted from them many evils have befallen us. 12 And the saying was good in their eyes. 13 And certain of the people were forward herein and went to the king, and he gave them licence to do after the ordinances of the Gentiles. 14 And they built a place of exercise in Jerusalem according to the laws of the Gentiles;

Changes led by Jewish leaders.

They were leading the people away from God and to Greek Culture. They were not good shepards, but bad shepards.

Laws were put in place that made it illegal to be jewish. The punishment was death.

1 Maccabees 1:41–50 ERV

41 And king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should he one people, 42 and that each should forsake his own laws. And all the nations agreed according to the word of the king; 43 and many of Israel consented to his worship, and sacrificed to the idols, and profaned the sabbath. 44 And the king sent letters by the hand of messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, that they should follow laws strange to the land, 45 and should forbid whole burnt offerings and sacrifice and drink offerings in the sanctuary; and should profane the sabbaths and feasts, and pollute the sanctuary and them that were holy; that they should build altars, and temples, and shrines for idols, and should sacrifice swine’s flesh and unclean beasts: 48 and that they should leave their sons uncircumcised, that they should make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation; 49 so that they might forget the law, and change all the ordinances. 50 And whosoever shall not do according to the word of the king, he shall die.

Entire Families were killed publically. Theire leaders were not willing to die for their beliefs, they went along with becoming Greek.

1 Maccabees 1:60–63 ERV

60 And the women that had circumcised their children they put to death according to the commandment. 61 And they hanged their babes about their necks, and destroyed their houses, and them that had circumcised them. 62 And many in Israel were fully resolved and confirmed in themselves not to eat unclean things. 63 And they chose to die, that they might not be defiled with the meats, and that they might not profane the holy covenant: and they died.

Many changed and became greek. They were servants, not true to their faith. Many stayed committed, even until death. Jesus is comparing himself to those who are willing to die for the truth, he will not convert.

It did not stop there. It went further,

2 Macc 6:1-3 they did, however, they also

2 Maccabees 6:1–5 ERV

1 And not long after this the king sent forth an old man of Athens to compel the Jews to depart from the laws of their fathers, and not to live after the laws of God; 2 and also to pollute the sanctuary in Jerusalem, and to call it by the name of Jupiter Olympius, and to call the sanctuary in Gerizim by the name of Jupiter the Protector of strangers, even as they were that dwelt in the place. 3 But sore and utterly grievous was the visitation of this evil. 4 For the temple was filled with riot and revellings by the heathen, who dallied with harlots, and had to do with women within the sacred precincts, and moreover brought inside things that were not befitting; 5 and the place of sacrifice was filled with those abominable things which had been prohibited by the laws.

So the Second Temple of Solomon was the holiest place in Jerusalem. It was turned into a temple of Zeus and pigs were sacrificed on the alter and terrible evil was happening in the temple. In the Presence of God.

This background is important becuase this happens after David is king and Before Jesus is born. If the Place stayed Greek, we would not have a jewish Jesus born from a pure and set apart people.

Fortunately, there were devouted people who were willing to fight and die for the flock.

2 Maccabees 10:1–8 ERV

1 And Maccabæus and they that were with him, the Lord leading them on, recovered the temple and the city; 2 and they pulled down the altars that had been built in the marketplace by the aliens, and also the walls of sacred inclosures. 3 And having cleansed the sanctuary they made another altar of sacrifice; and striking stones and taking fire out of them, they offered sacrifices, after they had ceased for two years, and burned incense, and lighted lamps, and set forth the shewbread. 4 And when they had done these things, they fell prostrate and besought the Lord that they might fall no more into such evils; but that, if ever they should sin, they might be chastened by him with forbearance, and not be delivered unto blaspheming and barbarous heathen. 5 Now on the same day that the sanctuary was profaned by aliens, upon that very day did it come to pass that the cleansing of the sanctuary was made, even on the five and twentieth day of the same month, which is Chislev. 6 And they kept eight days with gladness in the manner of the feast of tabernacles, remembering how that not long afore, during the feast of tabernacles, they were wandering in the mountains and in the caves after the manner of wild beasts. 7 Wherefore bearing wands wreathed with leaves, and fair boughs, and palms also, they offered up hymns of thanksgiving to him that had prosperously brought to pass the cleansing of his own place. 8 They ordained also with a common statute and decree, for all the nation of the Jews, that they should keep these days every year.

Hanukkah

Judas Maccabees defeated the Greeks and took over. They re-dedicated the Temple to God. They call his Rededication “Hannukah”, which is Hebrew for Dedication.

But they could not find enough untainted olive oil to burn the candles for 8 days. THere was only 1 day’s worth. Miraculously it burnt for 8 days until more untained oil could be found.

Back to Jesus

John 10:12–16 ESV

12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

When Jesus says he is the good Shepard during Hannukah, he is affirming that he is not the helper or employee, he is the owner of his flock and willing to die for them as he eventually does. He will not run or flee like the Jewish leaders during the time to Antiochus.

This is a throwback to Maccabees where Antiochus wants to create one nation, a Greek Nation full of sin, Jesus wants to lead us to to one nation of righteousness.

John 10:22–31 NKJV

22 Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. 24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.” 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.

Jesus is unapologetic about following him, it is not by force like Antiochus, it is by choice. You can choose to hear his voice, know him, and follow him. But, if you do not want to be his sheep, You will not believe him.

You can see Jesus and Heaven like the best company to work for and the best leader you will ever have. Jesus is always outside and anyone can be his friend. But, like with every good workplace, it is rules and loyalty is important. For a limited time, everyone is free to come visit and have a friend in Jesus, no force.

There are many other companies that are more free, you can do whatever you like. Commit fruad, murder for money, steal, and party all the time like in the Temple of Zeus. Everytime a new trends comes along, those other companies follow it.

But, come judgment day, and the world is dark and burning and those companies all go bust and the cops are at your door, you want to run to Jesus Inc and say let me in. He will remind you, that I am the Good shepard, you did not follow me, you are not my sheep. Enjoy Hell.

John 8:11–13 NKJV

11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” 12 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.” 13 The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.”

When he is refering to light, during the Festival of Dedication, he is referring to these Candles that burnt much longer than they sould. They woman was about to be stoned and put to death accoriding to the Law - According to her works. But, enter Jesus,

he Firstly, Re-Dedicates her life and the temple that is her body to go and sin no more.

Then, like the Candle, the light of her life was extended far beyond where it should. The Light kept burning until more olive oil could be found so that it may keep burning forever.

Jesus is the Good shepard, Jesus is the Light of Everlasting Life.

Choose him, this Hanukkah your life to HIM.

AMEN