The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. — John 1:4-5
At sunset on Sunday, December 8 of this year, Jews around the world lit the first candle of Hanukkah, marking the Festival of Lights and the Feast of Dedication in their religious calendar. Jewish tradition says that when the Jews, led by Judas Maccabees recaptured and cleansed the Temple in Jerusalem in 166 B.C., they wanted to light the eternal light, known as the N’er Tamid, which is present today in every synagogue in the world. Once lit it should never be extinguished. As the tradition goes, only a tiny jug of olive oil was available at the Temple, enough to last for one day. By faith the lamp was filled and lit. Then a miracle is claimed to have occurred as the tiny amount of oil kept the candle lit for not one day, but for eight. As a result, the Jews have commemorated this victory over the Syrians and the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple and the miracle of the oil ever since. The festival and feast lasts for eight days. Scripture records that Jesus attended this event at least once in Jerusalem during his ministry, and it was there that he revealed his Deity based on the works he had done, a claim which resulted in immediate death threats of stoning and a charge of blasphemy (John 10:22-30).
On our first trip to Israel my wife and I were leaving from the Holy Land in early December as the celebration of Hanukkah was beginning. The airport was crowded as thousands of Jewish pilgrims from all over the world were arriving. We will never forget the sight outside our window as our plane lifted off from Ben Gurion airport at one minute past midnight. Tel Aviv was aglow with lights all over the city and as we gained altitude you could see also see the lights of Jerusalem in the distance. At that moment, we could not help but recall the words of Jesus from John’s Gospel to Israel, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” — John 8:12.
Those words still hold true today in Israel and around the world as the Jewish people celebrate the Festival of Lights and Feast of Dedication with great excitement. They enjoy special food and even the giving of gifts but in their joy of the occasion they remain in darkness, oblivious to the coming of “the light of world” to an apostate people (John 8:12). I believe that’s why the psalmist challenged the people of Israel to continually “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6). As believers we know that when we pray for that peace, it is only the Prince of Peace who can bring it (Isaiah 9:6).
We had a wonderful Jewish guide while in Israel, who was also an author and a very knowledgeable archeologist. Being a Zionist Jew, she was very opinionated in regard to the Arabs in the land, the Jewish traditions and her faith in the Law of Moses. As you can imagine, she had little interest in any references we made to the New Testament.
During one conversation, however, we seemed to get her attention. I asked her a simple but direct question. “How does a Jew receive forgiveness for breaking the Law and the resulting guilt?” This was her reply, “Since we don’t have the Temple and cannot offer sacrifices or truly experience Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) as provided for in the Law, we can’t know for sure. I guess we have to wait until we die to find out if we have been forgiven and have a place in heaven.”
Now as a Christian, I want you to think about her statement. Modern day Jews know that when they break the Law they have no way of finding forgiveness. So good works become their religion with hope that they will outweigh the bad on Judgment Day. This dilemma is not unknown to every other religious system in the world with the exception of Christianity.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Good News, presents the remedy to this universal conundrum. Jesus Christ, “the light of the world,” came into the world to dispel the darkness and to save and forgive sinners (Romans 5:8). He did it once and for all (1 Peter 3:18). You see, good works are good but they will never be enough to save one single soul (Ephesians 2:8-9). The perfect, complete, and all-sufficient work of Jesus Christ on the cross and his triumph over death at his resurrection was the good work for all who believe (Romans 10:9-10).
As we waved good by to our guide, we left her with those thoughts. Did they find a place in her heart? Only God knows for sure. Maranatha and Merry Christmas!
— Pastor Don