Chanukah Christianity Connection

Did you know that there is an amazing connection between Christianity and Chaunkah? Without the courageous actions of a small Jewish family, the world would have no Christianity and no Savior.

Chanukah has a history that pre-dates Christ for over 165 years and is quite important to the development of Christianity. Historical records show that after the death of Alexander the Great, the conquered Roman world was split into quadrants. The area surrounding Jerusalem was under the control of the murderous Antiochus IV. This ruler was a vile dictator that ordered the Holy City to be pillaged and the Hebrew people persecuted. His kingdom forbade the study of the Torah, and the act of circumcision. He also mandated that all Jewish virgin brides had to spend their wedding night with a Roman General. It is said that he entered the holy of holies to perform sex acts and slaughtered pigs upon the set apart altar. Antiochus thought so much of himself that he took the name “Epiphanies,” which means “god manifest.” His mission was to destroy the Jewish people through military might. He also pressured the Hebrews to assimilate into the modern culture by introducing the pantheon of Greek gods.

Though the army of Antiochus Epiphanies was possibly the best trained in the world, a Hebrew named Judah led a rebellion against the Syrian Greeks. The opposition army became known as the Maccabees. After several years of battle, the Greeks finally retreated and turned control of Jerusalem back to the Jewish people. Upon returning to the Temple Mount, the Maccabees found the holy place to be in disarray. They worked hard for almost a year to restore the Temple to its Biblical glory. Tradition states that when the Temple menorah was to be lit, there was only enough oil for one day. A great miracle happened there and the oil burned for eight nights. During this time, an eight day dedication of the holy site was held. The Hebrew word for dedication is the name of the festival, known today as “Chanukah.”

The Greek oppression led by Antiochus sought to destroy the bloodline of Judah, and corrupt the faith of the Hebrew people. He attempted to end the religion of the Jewish people and totally annihilate them from the earth, thus stopping the birth of the Messiah as foretold in the Scriptures. The Savior was prophesied in Micah 5:2 and Genesis 49:10 to descend from the lineage of Judah and to be born in Bethlehem. Because Antiochus was defeated by a Chanukah victory, the Messiah Jesus was able to be born as prophesied. Had the Maccabees lost, monotheism could have been lost forever or worse.

In the Gospels, Jesus paid special tribute to the holiday by attending a Chanukah celebration at Solomon’s Porch at the Holy Temple. John 10:22 – 23, “And it was at Jerusalem The Feast of The Dedication (Chanukkah), and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the Temple in Solomon’s porch.” By participating in Chanukah, the Messiah placed his approval upon the holiday and connected this special date to the New Testament faith.

Today, Chanukah is traditionally honored by lighting a nine-branched menorah called a “chanukiah.” Dreidels are spun, latkes are fried, families gather, and small gifts are exchanged in remembrance of Judah and the Maccabees. Christianity and indeed the world owes recognition to the Maccabean revolt. If there was no Chanukah then there could have been no Jewish Messiah. This is just one reason why my family celebrates Hanukkah each year.

​By Daniel Rendelman