Baruch Hashem (Blessed be the Lord)
This is a precious and joyous time of the year! The month of December the Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah which is known as the Festival of Lights. The Christian community of course will celebrate the birth of Yeshua our Lord and Savior.
Hanukkah is about the miracles of God. The birth of Yeshua is also all about the miracles of God. Now is the time to expect your miracle! What an exciting time in our life to celebrate the great things our God has done and is doing!
The Jewish word for Hanukkah means dedication. The name reminds us that this holiday commemorates the rededication of the holy temple in Jerusalem. The story of Hanukkah tells us of the dedication of Gods people to him following the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greek in 165 B.C.E. In 168 B.C.E the Jewish temple was seized by the Syrian-Greek soldiers and they were forced to worship the god Zeus. This upset the Jewish people but many were afraid to fight back for fear of reprisals. Then in 165 B.C.E. the Syrian Greek emperor Antiochus made the observances of Judaism an offence punishable by death.
Jewish resistance began in the village of Modin, near Jerusalem. Greek soldiers forcibly gathered the Jewish villagers and told them to bow down to an idol and then eat the flesh of a pig, both practices that are forbidden to Jews. A Greek officer ordered Mattcthias a High Priest to acquiesce to their demands but Mattathias refused to comply. When another villager stepped forward and offered to cooperate on Mattacthais behalf the High Priest became outraged and drew his sword and killed the villager. Then the High Priest turned on the Greek officer and killed him. The other villagers then attacked the remaining soldiers killing all of them. Mattacthias and his family went into hiding in the mountains where other Jews wishing to fight against the Greeks joined them. Eventually they succeeded in retaking their land from the Greeks and these rebels became known as the Maccabee. When the Maccabees gained control they returned to the temple and discovered it had been defiled. The Jews wanted to clean and rededicate the temple and light the Temple menorah and found there was only enough oil for one day. However, God made a miracle causing the oil to last for eight full days.
The oil of God never runs out. Yeshua is the light of the world that never dies out. John 8:12 Yeshua is the light of the world. He lights up our path. Our God is the God of miracles. He never changes as He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
The greatest miracle of all is our Messiah who saves and heals us who will return one day soon for us.
Our gift to you from Bethel Temple Fellowship is dinner and a Hanukkah Story and a joyous Cantata with goodie bags for everyone.
Come and join us for the story of Hanukkah and Dinner December 16th at 7:00P.M.
Then Sunday, December 18th 10:30 A.M a joyous cantata Joy to the World our Savior is born let earth receive her King!
God Bless You!
Pastor Linda Gutierrez
