Many in the Hebraic Roots/Messianic Community reject Hanukkah as a legitimate time of observance and celebration. The primary reasons are that Hanukkah is not one of the mandated Feasts of Yehovah and that Hanukkah is not found in our Bibles. Both of these are sound and accurate reasons for certain, but these and other reasons cause the unknowing believer to have a myopic view of their Faith and miss out on tremendous benefits to be had by an observance/celebration of this great Feast. In this episode of Torah Living, I submit to you, the True Believers in Messiah, 5-reasons to celebrate Hanukkah; and for those who still are on the fence whether or not to celebrate Christmas (for whatever reason) reasons to reject Christmas altogether. This my dear fellow Saints is Torah Living 43-5 Reasons to celebrate Hanukkah (and reject Christmas).
1. Yeshua observed the feast of Hanukkah
A. The only mention of the Yeshua-Hanukkah connection is found in John 8:12-10:39
2. We need a radical re-dedication to our Faith which is Torah-based
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Jos 24:15 KJV)
- Like that small band of intrepid warriors under the leadership of Judas Maccabeus (1st Maccabees 1-3 and Joseph’s Antiquities of the Jews 12)
Cleansing the Temple after it was defiled by the forces of Antiochus Epiphanes. (1 M. 4)
References:
Denis Otero’s Teaching on Hanukkah
Michael Rood’s Chronological Gospels-The Life and 70-Week Ministry of Yeshua the Messiah