As both Christmas and Hanukkah are approaching did you know that both are a reminder of Jesus?
As Christians we know how the world celebrates the birth of the saviour Jesus. In greek "2424 Iēsoús – Jesus, the transliteration of the Hebrew term, 3091 /Lṓt ("Yehoshua"/Jehoshua, contracted to "Joshua") which means "Yahweh saves" (or "Yahweh is salvation").
"Jesus Christ" is properly "Jesus the Christ." "Jesus" (2424 /Iēsoús) is His human name, as the incarnate, eternal Son of God (Mt 1:21,25, see also Lk 1:31) – the Christ, the divine Messiah (the second Person of the holy Trinity).
[Christ (His title) means "the Anointed One" (the eternal pre-incarnate, Logos, Jn 1:1-18).]" Various countries celebrate this annual reminder of our God given gift to the world through numerous traditions and customs. The observation dates may vary but we all celebrate this same blessing. In the United Stated of America and many countries it is celebrated December 25th. "Jesus was born to a Jewish family in Judah to Mary, wife of Joseph. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke offer two accounts of his genealogy, with Matthew tracing Jesus' ancestry to Abraham through David and Luke tracing Jesus' ancestry through Adam to God" " Isaiah 9:6 - For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Luke 2:7 - And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." You can read more Bible verses on Jesus' birth. Here The stories from the Holy Bible remind us of Jesus' birth, thankfully the stories passed down through the generations. One verse in the Bible also reminds us that Jesus celebrated Hanukkah "Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the Temple, in Solomon’s porch."
John 10:22–23 "What is Hanukkah?
Hanukkah is the Hebrew word for “dedication.” Also known as the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish holiday celebrating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem that happened in the second century (BC)." "Hanukkah, or the Festival of Rededication, celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after its defilement by the Syrian Greeks in 164 BCE. Although it is a late addition to the Jewish liturgical calendar, the eight-day festival of Hanukkah has become a beloved and joyous holiday. It is also known as the Festival of Lights and usually takes place in December, at the time of year when the days are shortest in the northern hemisphere." For 2023 it begins at sundown on Thursday, December 7, 2023, and ends on Friday, December 15, 2023. "The word Chanukah means consecration or dedication, so the holiday is also known as the Feast of Dedication. Because of the miracle of light, it is also called the Feast of Lights.
Christmas, of course, celebrates the birth of Yeshua who is the Light of the World."
Messianic Jews recognize the true messiah in Jesus Christ and embrace Chanukah or Hanukkah as a time to rededicate themselves to Jesus the Light of the world.
Reference John 8:12
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
"Chanukah and Christmas include miracles, light and dedication. Whether Messianic Jew or Gentile, both holidays point our attention to Yeshua, the Light of the World, and how God intervened to provide our freedom."
So this year as you celebrate the Lord's birth at Christmas time , perhaps thank God again for his amazing grace, love and forgiveness. Be sure to thank him for his blessing in sending his son Jesus the Light of the world into the world to be born, live ,die and become resurrected for you (and all of us.) And Thank the Father for his gift of the the Holy Spirit the inner miracle that dwells within each believer. And ask the Lord if there is any where in your life he may want you to rededicate your life to him and look into doing just that.
Excerpt from https://www.gotquestions.org/was-Jesus-a-Jew.html
Excerpt from https://biblehub.com/greek/2424.htm
Excerpt from https://www.lifeinmessiah.org/feasts-hanukkah
Excerpt from https://www.jewishvoice.org/read/blog/messianic-jews-and-christmas-christians-and-chanukah
Excerpt from https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/hanukkah-101/
Excerpt from https://www.jewishvoice.org/read/blog/messianic-jews-and-christmas-christians-and-chanukah
Excerpt from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+8:12&version=NIV
