What is the Feast of Dedication?

Answer

The Feast of Dedication, formerly known as the Feast of the Maccabees, was an eight-day winter festival observed by the Jews in December or occasionally late November, depending on its timing in the lunisolar Jewish calendar. Today, this celebration is known as Hanukkah or the Festival of Lights.

The origins of the Feast of Dedication date back to the intertestamental period and the Maccabean Revolt. Following the desecration of the Jewish temple by the Seleucid king Antiochus Epiphanes, who compelled the Jews to forsake their rituals and embrace pagan practices, a band of Jewish rebels emerged, defying the oppressive pagan rule and toppling the Seleucids. The temple in Jerusalem was rededicated to God, and since then, the Feast of Dedication has been observed to honor this significant event in Jewish history.

According to rabbinic tradition, the original Feast of Dedication featured a miracle. Upon reclaiming the temple, the Jews discovered only one small, sealed jug of uncontaminated olive oil left by the Seleucids. This oil was used to light the menorah in the temple, and despite being sufficient for just one day, it miraculously lasted for eight days—allowing ample time for more oil to be prepared. This miraculous event is why Hanukkah spans eight days.

The Gospel of John specifically mentions the Feast of Dedication. “Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade” (John 10:22-23). This is the setting in which Jesus asserts His unity with the Father, leading the unbelieving Jews to attempt to seize and stone Him (verses 24–39).

The Feast of Dedication, rooted in the menorah miracle, has always been linked to lights, hence its alternate name, the Festival of Lights.Illuminating houses and synagogues is a tradition that was likely adopted from the Feast of Tabernacles. The recitation of Psalm 30:1–12 is also a significant part of the Feast of Dedication due to its themes of God-given victory over enemies and the transformation of mourning and sorrow into hope and joy “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”, (Psalm 30:5,11) “Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: Thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;”, (Psalm 30:5,11).

Hanukkah, or the Feast of Dedication, is not one of the festivals established by God through Moses as part of the Law. However, this does not mean that the festival is contrary to the Bible or displeasing to God. From Daniel to Jesus’ disciples, to Jews persecuted under Hitler’s regime, and Christians persecuted in the Orient, both Jews and Christians have a long history of displaying exceptional courage in the face of severe persecution, similar to the Jews during the Seleucid oppression. The Feast of Dedication revolves around the darkness of persecution and the divine light that guides His people through those metaphorical nights, promising joy in the morning “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”, (Psalm 30:5).

Today, most Jews do not recognize Jesus Christ as the incarnation of Yahweh. Nevertheless, the Maccabees worshipped Yahweh, and Jesus’ disciples were Jewish, even though they believed that the Great I Am had manifested Himself in the person of Jesus (Exodus 3:14;John 8:58).

Christianity has its roots in Judaism, and Christians can look to the Feast of Dedication as a celebration of God’s protection and the victory He gives His faithful people who are willing to bravely continue to worship Him in the face of persecution.