Light Comes to a Darkened World

The History of Chanukah

The Jewish people had been living in dark days during the 175-164 B.C.E. reign of Antiochus Epiphanes (also known as Antiochus IV) over the Seleucid Empire in the Middle East. Determined to force everyone under his rule to worship his Greek gods, Antiochus’ armies swept through the empire, persecuting and executing those who refused. They seized the Temple, and Antiochus Epiphanes erected a statue of Zeus inside it. He further desecrated it by sacrificing a pig on God’s holy altar.

A group of Jewish priests, known as the Maccabees, had enough. They formed a rebellion and fought to take back the Temple. When they did, they discovered that the Temple’s sanctified furnishings and resources had been vandalized, destroyed or defiled. No warm glow came from the Temple menorah. The lampstand, which was supposed to burn continuously day and night, stood darkened.

As the Jewish people set things in order in the Temple, they found only enough oil to burn one night in the menorah. It would take eight days to produce more. But they couldn’t stand the thought of God’s Temple remaining darkened any longer by the evil done to it. They wanted to rededicate this holy sanctuary to the Lord. So, they lit the menorah – and God provided light for all eight nights.

Yeshua (Jesus) Is The Light of The World

When the time was right in history, God sent His promised Messiah into a world darkened by sin. At Chanukah, we remember Yeshua (Jesus), “the Light of the World,” who came to deliver us from bondage to sin and give us His eternal light and life.

On this first night of Chanukah, we remember God’s miraculous provision of light.

Messianic Jewish Chanukah Blessings

Place a candle in the far-right holder of your Chanukiah, the Chanukah lampstand. Please see the video below to learn how to light a Chanukiah.

As you light the Shamash, or Servant Candle, recite the first night’s Messianic Jewish Chanukah blessings:

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and has given us Yeshua the Messiah, the Light of the World.

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time.

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season.

Candle Lighting

Using the Shamash, light the first Chanukah candle. Return the Shamash to its place. Let the candles go out on their own. They should burn for at least half an hour.

Prayer

Yeshua– Jesus – Light of the World, thank You for coming to be our salvation from sin. Thank You for Your light, which shines with hope and goodness. O, how we need Your light. In a world that seems to grow darker by the day, we rejoice in the light of Your truth and the life You have given us. We praise You, Lord, and thank You for Your presence with us always.

How To Light a Chanukiah