Should Christians Celebrate Hanukkah?
I have been asked over the years the following question: Should Christians celebrate Hanukkah? (To learn more about Hanukkah, read our article: What is Hanukkah?)
The first point many people will offer when this question is asked is that Hanukkah is not considered a commanded feast like Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the others. This is a true statement, but let us discuss this statement further considering that Jesus taught during this season (John 10:22-38). Why did God allow His Son to impart revelation from Heaven at this time if we were supposed to avoid it? Should we even acknowledge this festival season?
First of all, consider the theology behind the celebrations of Leviticus chapter 23. They commemorate events both past and future that involve Bible prophecy. Jesus taught others during these appointed times and celebrated them. While Hanukkah may not be commanded, the fundamental reason why we would acknowledge or celebrate it is congruent to why we celebrate the feasts in Leviticus chapter 23.
Secondly, let’s consider that the events leading up to and during the Hanukkah story are a fulfillment of Bible prophecy, especially Daniel chapter 11.
Third, the events of the Hanukkah story also help us understand more about future prophecies. In Mark 13, Matthew 24, and Luke 21, Jesus told to guard ourselves against deception in the time before His return. Matthew 24:15 directly references the future fulfillment of Daniel chapter 11.
In 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, Paul identified the future man of lawlessness who would perform actions like Antiochus. He will deceive with signs and wonders to draw people away from the truth. We learn that no matter how gifted or charismatic someone may appear to be, lawlessness reveals that there is deception involved (see also Matthew 7:13-24). Hanukkah foreshadows these future events. These warnings are protections given for our sake.
Fourth, the events surrounding the Hanukkah story set the stage for the political, social, and economic background that would exist in Judea when Jesus walked the earth. He came and ministered in the courtyard of the Temple which was restored in the days of the Maccabees.
Fifth, the Jewish people suffered and died to preserve the Tanakh, which is commonly called the Old Testament. That was the source document for the New Testament which contains dozens of prophecies about the Messiah. In other words, Hanukkah represents the Jewish people preserving the Word of God, which has greatly benefited Christians. The early believers only had the Tanakh when they first started preaching the gospel.
Sixth, consider Zechariah 8:19. “Thus saith the Lord of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts [Hebrew: mo’adim]; therefore love the truth and peace.”
In this verse, we learn that God said the fast days of the Jewish people would be feast days in the Kingdom of God. God did not establish those fast days, but he acknowledged them and recognized that they would be turned into feasts when His Kingdom was established on earth. Hanukkah was not established yet. If fast days become feast days, then how much more should a feast day be a feast day for us who already belong to the Kingdom?
Seventh, Jesus taught during Hanukkah precious lessons from the Father to help establish and encourage us in our faith. We are reminded to know Him and His voice and that no one can pluck us from the Father’s hand. Our Heavenly Father chose this festival as the time for those lessons to be imparted for our sakes. This means they connect to Hanukkah.
Eighth, as Christians our vessels are the Temple of God’s Spirit (I Cor. 3:16). The lessons we learn from Hanukkah have an even deeper connection to our relationship with God. We are commissioned in the New Testament to guard our Temple and prevent uncleanness from entering in (I Cor. 3:16, 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1). We should examine our lives to see if we are keeping it clean and drive out those things that do not belong, including false doctrines and practices which take us away from God.
As we consider these details, Hanukkah has past, present and future prophetic significance for Christians. It is full of purpose, guidance, and protection for us to apply in our lives. Why would we not want to commemorate, acknowledge, or celebrate this special season?
Shalom!
Kelly McDonald, Jr.