Sermon Tone Analysis

*CHANUKAH*

(means Re-dedication)

                                                                                                                       Ref.

479

 

*BIBLE READING*: John 10:22-23 - Maccabees 2:1-12, 4:1-25

 

*INTRODUCTION*: This is the only place in the New Testament where the Feast of Dedication, which is Chanukah, is mentioned.

Chanukah often coincides with Christmas.

It starts on the 25th Kislev, the Jewish month which approximates our Dec.

This holiday is aptly referred to as a festival of lights.

*1.

CHANUKAH REMEMBERED* (Remembering)

HISTORY of the Feast can be read in the book of the Maccabees in the Apocrypha.

But here is the background to Chanukah.

NAME Maccabee comes from the first letters of the Hebrew prayer "Mi Kamocha Ba-elim Adonai" (who is like unto Thee, O Lord!)

STAMPS - The first official stamps of the new State of Israel in 1948 have a picture of the ancient Hasmonean coins of Independence.

COINS of the Maccabean Era - Elephants of Antiochus.

The largest collection of ancient Maccabean coins is in the British Museum.

MUSIC AND POETRY - inspired by the Chanukah story.

a.    Handels oratorio "Judas Maccabeus"

b.

The play, "Judas Maccabeus" was written by H W Longfellow.

c.

The famous Ma-oz Tzur song which is (Rock of Ages) sung after kindling the Chanukkah lights was written by a poet named Mordechai.

The first letters of each stanza in Hebrew from his name.

The fifth stanza tells the story of Chanukah in 24 Hebrew words.

d.    NATURE - Flowers that grow on the hills of Judea and bloom at the time of Chanukah, they are red and white and are called the "Blood of the Maccabees.

(Helichrysum Sanguineum.

These flowers speak of blood and sacrifice.

These plants are amongst those that are called everlastings.

Once they have dried they keep their red colour.

*2.

CONTAMINATION OF THE TEMPLE*

In the year 169 B.C. Antiochus Epiphanes, the Hellenised ruler of Syria (175-163 B.C.) a vile and godless man, campaigned against Egypt.

Yet in spite of his victory he was compelled to withdraw from Egypt at the command of powerful Rome.

At that time Israel was under Syrian rule.

Returning to Syria, Antiochus, who by this time was in a foul temper, vented his wrath on the ill-fated Judeans by entering Jerusalem, destroying a large portion of the city, and slaughtering men, women and children.

The zenith of his infamy was reached when he invaded the Holy Temple, carrying away much of the Temple treasure.

Then to show his contempt for the Lord God of Israel, he sacrificed a pig to the god Jupiter.

He forbade the Jews to practice their religion, particularly the rite of circumcision, Sabbath day observance, and the laws of Kashrut.

He commanded that only pigs be sacrificed in the Temple of God.

He himself cooked a pig in the Temple and poured its broth on the Torah Scrolls and on the Altar, thus be-fouling what was Holy and Consecrated (Explain Consecration e.g. of vessels).

Syrian officers and supervisors were sent throughout the land, to even the smallest villagers to see that the cruel and blasphemous decrees of Antiochus were carried out.

Many Jews fled, some of the priests complied with the Syrian commands.

A small  group of faithfuls dared to defy "Antiochus the Wicked" as he became known in Jewish history.

One day Appeles, an enforcement officer of Antiochus, arrived in the small village of Modin, three - four kms.

north of Jerusalem, and commanded the assembled Jews to sacrifice a pig.

Mattathias, (Matthew) the Maccabee, head of a priestly family, faithful to the Lord, and father to five faithful, stout-hearted sons, became enraged by the ungodly decree.

He killed the first Jew about to comply with the order.

Then he, backed by his sons turned on the group under Apelles and killed them.

*3.

CONQUEST OF THE DEFILERS*

This was the sign for the uprising of the Jews against the Syrians.

Mattathias died soon after this incident, Judas, his son became the leader of the uprising.

Gathering together a considerable number of courageous Jews, he skilfully led them in battle against the Syrians.

Fired by the courage and devotion of Judas and his four brothers, the once timid and despairing population now flocked to the side of their leader.

They fought in the Mountains and valleys of Judea, they attacked guerrilla fashion, giving them no respite, the Syrians never knew when and where they would be attacked next.

As they grew in number and skill, they ventured to face the enemy in open battle, and defeated them.

They finally drove the Syrians from Jerusalem, together with the disloyal priests who had collaborated with the invaders.

*4.

CLEANSING THE TEMPLE*

After cleansing the Holy Temple they demolished the polluted altar of God.

Then on the 25th Kislev 165 B.C. they re-dedicated the Temple to God amidst great rejoicing.

It was at this time that a new Altar was consecrated.

There was, however a problem, the stones from the old altar were precious, they had been consecrated to God.

Yet they were polluted.

So they were set aside in a corner of the Temple there to await the coming of Elijah or the Messiah, to tell them what to do.

*5.

CONSECRATION OF THE TEMPLE*

The Miracle of the Oil

The Temple was cleansed, there was a new altar, but not sufficient oil for the perpetual light in the Temple.

Then, hidden in a nook of the Temple was found a small cruse of oil, sufficient for only one night.

Behold! a miracle takes place.

The oil lasted for eight days, until a new supply could be prepared and consecrated.

In memory of the wonderful redemption from the hands of a wicked enemy, and the re-dedication of the Temple, and the miracle of the oil, it was decreed that for eight days eight candles should be lit in every Jewish household, beginning with one on the first day, two on the second and so on until the eighth day.

When the lights are kindled we remember the re-dedication of the Temple, but not only that Temple but Solomon's Temple, 1 Kings 8:1-66, and the dedication of the Tabernacle in the wilderness.

Numbers 9:15-23.

There were two kinds of fire used in the Temple that had to burn continuously.

The consuming fire on the Altar Leviticus 6:6 and the soft comforting glow of the Menorah.

Exodus 27:20.

Each is an aspect of sacrifice required of the people.

At times a Martyrs sacrifice is required, at others just the on-going sacrifice of obedience in small things.

In later years Venice became the scene of a beautiful ceremony.

People from Jewish homes would place the Chanukah lights outside the front door or in the window.

Other Jews would row in Gondolas through the canals and greet the inhabitants which had the Chanukah lights with songs and blessings.

*6.

CONTINUATION OF THE CELEBRATION*

Questions and Answers with regard to Chanukah

 

Why are the heroes of the Chanukah story called Maccabees?

Ans.

The word, "Maccabee" is an acrostic created by joining the first letter of the Hebrew words Mi Kamocha Ba'elim Adonay which means "Who among the mighty is like Thee, O God?"

According to one theory, this was the battle cry of the patriots who warred against the Syrian-Greeks in 165 B.C.

According to a second theory, "maccabee" is the Hebrew word for Hammer, derived from the root "makav".

Judas was given the name of "Hammer", "Judas the Hammer", because of his great strength.

Who must light the Candles?

According to Jewish tradition everyone, man, woman, and child, is expected to light the candles.

So important a Mitzvah (good deed) was this considered to be by Jewish law, that even if a person was impoverished, he~/she should comply, even if it meant selling or pawning their cloak (it was that in theory at least).

Why are the lights lit starting only with one?

Shammai and Hillel - Shammai said 8 to 1, Hillel said 1 to 8 for the reason that light should increase and not diminish.

(Advent Wreath) Why are the candles lit from left to right?

The candles are inserted right to left and lit from left to right to note the equal importance of right and left, and also to indicate that Gods presence is everywhere, therefore must be treated with the same respect.

(Different lighting customs have been used in different places).

Why does the Chanukiah have a ninth candle (called a shamash) when the miracle

of the oil represents eight days?

a.    Continuation of Temple practice where the seventh branch in each Menorah was called a shammash (meaning a servant) was used to light the others.

b.

The eight primary candles must not be used for any practical purpose.

In later times the Candles were place in a window sill to publicly proclaim the miracle.