Dec. 14, 2025

Series: Journeys of Faith:   12-14-25

Light of the World: Maccabean Faith

Happy Hanukkah!

John 10:22-23 Then came the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) at Jerusalem. It was winter, (Nov 27-Dec27) ²³ and Jesus was in the temple area...

** 400 years of _____________ in between the O.T. & N.T.
 

** Alexander the Great divided world empire with _________ Generals.

 Ptolemaic (Egypt) & Seleucid (Syria-Persia)

Leviticus 11:7–8 (NIV) ⁷ And the pig… is unclean for you. ⁸ You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.

• Demanded to be Called Antiochus “Epiphanes” (God Manifest) 

• They nicknamed him Antiochus “Epimanes” (Crazyman or Madman)

THE MACCABEAN REVOLT:

Daniel prophesied 300 years before:

Daniel 11:28-32 (NIV) The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country. ²⁹ "At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. ³⁰ Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant. ³¹ "His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. ³² By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action. 

John 1:14 (NIV) ¹⁴ The Word became flesh (Jesus) and made his dwelling (tabernacled) among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, (There’s the Christmas Story) who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

• “Dwelling” (tabernacling) - to dwell as in tents, to tabernacle.

• “Among” (Gk. en) - In, on, at. Not “into” or “out of” (both implying motion); rather, remaining in place. 

• God wanted to “live with” or “remain in place with” or “tabernacle” with His People.

Exodus 25:8–9 Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. ⁹ Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.

Hebrews 8:5 (Priests) serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven

• God is supposed to be at the _______________ of your life!

• The tabernacle is the physical revelation of Jesus and His plan of redemption for mankind!

John 5:46 (Jesus said) If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me

John 10:7–9 (NIV) (Jesus said) ⁹ I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.

John 14:6 NIV) ⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

INSIDE: 4 Layers of SKINS covering the Holy Place making it Dark!

John 9:5 (NIV) I am the light of the world.

Exodus 25:39 (NIV) ³⁹ A talent ($5.2M) of pure gold is to be used for the lampstand...

• Around 1,000 B.C. - The Menorah was moved to the Temple.

Luke 2:25–32 (NIV) ²⁵ Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon… ²⁶ It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah... ²⁷ When the parents brought in the child Jesus… ²⁸ Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying… ³⁰ my eyes have seen your salvation… ³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

• The LIGHT of the menorah was to be a constant reminder of the calling to be a _______________ to world.

John 8:12 (NIV) "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

John 8:20 (NIV) ²⁰ He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. 

• The Image of LIGHT is _______________ to Judaism, to Christmas, and to Christianity itself. 

John 1:4–5, 9 (NIV) ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it... ⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

1 John 1:5 (NIV) ⁵ God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 

John 8:12 "I am the light of the world...

Matthew 5:14 (ESV) ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. 

Matthew 5:14–16 (ESV) ¹⁴ “A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  ¹⁵ Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Revelation 22:5 (NIV) ⁵ There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will be their light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

THE MACCABEAN DILEMMA:

• Do we wait seven more days until we get more oil or light the lamp

      NOW with what we DO have trusting God to provide the rest?

• 9 Candles on the “Hanukkah” lampstand (not to be confused with the menorah’s 7 branches)

                                - 8 for the oil lasting 8 days.

                                - 1 is the “servant candle” which lights the others.

Mark 10:45 ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

• Hanukkah is all about the need to DEDICATE or __________________ ourselves to God’s purposes for our lives!

The Maccabean Jew’s Question:

• Do we wait to ______________ God until we have all the right stuff?

• Do we start to Honor God NOW with what we _________  ______ even though it might run out?

Joshua 3:9–15 (NIV) ⁹ Joshua said to the Israelites… ¹⁰ This is how you will know that the living God is among you... ¹¹ the ark of the covenant of the Lord… will go into the Jordan ahead of you… ¹³ And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord… set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap...” ¹⁵ Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest.