Episode 160 - Did Jesus Celebrate Hanukkah?
Helping Christians make sense of their roots. Helping the Jewish community make sense of Jesus. Together, we are restoring the Jewishness of the gospel.
Most people think of Hanukkah as the “Jewish Christmas,” a cultural celebration with candles, dreidels, and chocolate coins. But the real story is far older, far weightier, and far more connected to the story of Jesus than many Christians realize.
Hanukkah is a story about attempted erasure, courageous resistance, and God’s unstoppable commitment to preserve His covenant promises.
In this episode, we walk through the rise of Antiochus, the Seleucid king who sought not only to dominate Israel but to erase its identity - banning circumcision, outlawing Torah, desecrating the Temple, and demanding assimilation.
Yet when the majority gave way to cultural pressure, a few refused to bow. The Maccabees stood when others surrendered, preserving the line through which Messiah would one day come.
And 150 years later, during this very feast, Jesus walked in the Temple and declared Himself the Light of the World. The same God who preserved His people through the few stands faithful today.
Hanukkah isn’t merely history; it is a lens for understanding the spiritual battles of our own moment and the hope of the King who will come again.
Key Takeaways
Hanukkah is rooted in real biblical history - not legend - and is foreshadowed in Daniel’s visions.
Antiochus Epiphanes sought to erase Jewish identity and break the covenant line of David.
The Maccabees embodied “the few” whom God uses to preserve His promises.
The real miracle of Hanukkah is God’s covenant faithfulness, not just the oil.
Jesus celebrated Hanukkah (John 10:22) and used the feast to reveal His identity.
The spirit of Antiochus - the antichrist spirit - still rises in every generation.
Hanukkah points forward to the return of Messiah, the true Light of the World.
Chapter Markers
00:00 – Childhood stories, Hanukkah misunderstandings
04:00 – What Hanukkah looked like generations ago
07:00 – Setting the biblical-historical stage
11:00 – Daniel’s prophecy and the rise of Antiochus
16:00 – The desecration of the Temple
20:00 – The Maccabees and the courage of the few
25:00 – Guerrilla war and the rededication of the Temple
29:00 – The legend of the oil vs. the real miracle
33:00 – Jesus and Hanukkah in John 10
38:00 – The spirit of antichrist then and now
43:00 – The coming Deliverer and the hope ahead
Explore more resources and upcoming events at thejewishroad.com.
Discover where we’ll be sharing the Hanukkah story across the country at thejewishroad.com/light.
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Thank you to Joshua Royal, for writing our closer song now running seven seasons straight. Listen to him at Joshua Royal Music.
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