Kislev 25, The First Night of Channukah

It makes sense to me that a whole week is given to celebrate the light of the world. On our calendar, December 1^st was the start of Chanukah or Hanukkah (however you choose to transliterate the Hebrew characters) I'm still not very good at the traditions. I was raised with Christmas. I still cherish Christmas breakfast with my family. But I have come to a place in my life that I look forward to the 8 days of Chanukah

Just about everyone who follows "The Way" knows that the only place in the Bible that speaks of Chanukahs in the New Testament.

And the Feast of Dedication occurred in (Jerusalem) and it was winter. And Y'shua/Jesus was walking into the Temple in the porch of Shleemon/Solomon. And the Yehudeans/Judeans surrounded him and said to him, "How long will you hold over our souls if you are the Mashiyach/Christ? Tell us openly. Y'shua answered and said to them, "I have told you and you do not believe! Yochanan/John 10:22-25

The center candle on the Channukah Menorah is the Servant which brings light to the others, just as Y'shua came into the world to bring light to us. He is the one who lit the flame of Acts 2 in the upper room. He is the one who said to let your light shine. Consider lighting a Menorah this week and learning of the Light of the World. Often it is said of Christmas that it is a time of magic for children, a time when adults become like children. For the community of believers in Y'shua/Jesus we are encouraged to leave childish things behind (1 Corinthians 13) The Light of the World is Truth. It is truth that illumines men, not made up explanations about candy canes and evergreen boughs.
As Messianics we believe that Y'shua was born during the fall feast of Sukkoth but that he was conceived during Channukah. John Parsons of Hebrew for Christians teaches that Channukah is probably a 2^nd Sukkoth celebration, a rededication of the Temple after it was defiled at the time of the Maccabaeus. So again, it makes sense to me that we celebrate the Light of the World, the very Son of Elohim, The Word made flesh who came to dedicate us as the temple of God.
Want to join our celebration but do not know where to start? Hebrew for Christians is a perfect place. A quick google or bing search (Messianic Channukah) will bring all kinds of pages for you to read. Be careful, there are many pages that are strictly tradition. Interesting to read but not honoring to the one who came to illumine your soul, to give you life by giving his life. Keep it simple but ask the Spirit of Elohim to open your eyes. He will not let you down.

"…I HAVE told you and you do not believe!" Yochanan 10:25b

But those who did receive Him He gave to them authority that they might be sons of Elohim, those who have believed in His Name. Yochanan 1:12

Aramaic English New Testament