CHANUKKAH CANDLE LIGHTING CEREMONY

Chanukkah is a wonderful holiday. It's found in the prophets Daniel and Zechariah
(see Daniel 8:9-14, 23-25, 11:21-35, and Zechariah 9:11-17). These prophets of
Israel foretold those great events which took place around 167 BC. At that time,
we Jewish people were the only nation on Earth who knew the true God. Had the
king of Syria, wicked king Antiochus, been successful in hellenizing us (turning us
into Zeus-lovers who adopted Greek culture), there might never have been
redemption for mankind. Without the Jewish people, there could be no Messiah,
and with no Messiah there could be no salvation. So, Chanukkah commemorates
God's victory over Satan's efforts to destroy the people who would bring forth the
Savior of the world.

When asked, “What is the miracle of Chanukkah?” the common response is:
“Chanukkah is about a miracle that took place when the Jewish people fought
against the Syrians who had invaded Jerusalem and desecrated the Temple. The
Temple was dedicated to Zeus and pigs were sacrificed there. The Syrians forbid
the Jewish people from practicing Judaism. They intended to wipe out the faith of
the Chosen People and assimilate them into their empire. But, the Maccabees and
others courageously resisted, and after three years of fighting they captured
Jerusalem, cleansed the Temple, and lit the golden menorah that gave light inside
the Temple. There wasn’t enough oil for the menorah but the oil that was enough
for one day miraculously burned for eight days until more oil could be obtained.
That’s the miracle of Chanukkah! Nes gadol haya sham! A great miracle happened
there.”

There was a Chanukkah miracle but the legend of the oil is not it. It’s not found in
the original accounts, and most likely never happened. The miracle of Chanukkah
is that a small number of Jewish people, supernaturally empowered by the God of
Israel, were able to overcome the vastly superior Syrian armies. The righteous few
overcame the godless many; the weak who were loyal to the true God overcame
those who were much stronger than they were. The faithful remnant of Israel won
miraculous victory after miraculous victory, sometimes fighting against armies 15
times larger than they were, until the Syrians were defeated, Jerusalem was
captured, the Temple was cleansed and dedicated for the worship of the One True
and Living God who alone can rescue fallen human beings from the real and
utterly destructive forces of Satan and the demons, sin and the sin nature, death and
Hell.
From the rededicated Temple the presence of the Creator and the truths of the God
who alone can save mankind were once again clearly revealed to Israel and to the
nations of the world!

The Temple was the most important place on Earth. It was where God revealed His
presence and His principles to Israel and the nations in the greatest way. The
Temple was essential to atonement, to salvation, to being reconciled to God, to
eternal life. Chanukkah is not about a miracle about the multiplication of oil.
Chanukkah is about the supernatural victories of the Jewish people and the
dedication of the Temple.

Therefore it's not surprising that when the Messiah arrived, the Son of God
celebrated Chanukkah. In John 10:22-30 it is written: at that time the Feast of
Dedication (Chanukkah meansDedication) took place at Jerusalem; it was winter,
and Yeshua was walking in the Temple. Yeshua sanctified the struggle of the
Maccabees - a small faithful band who knew their God, and who, with His help,
overcame vastly superior forces.

The Prophetic Significance

In addition, Chanukkah is a valuable holiday to celebrate because evil king

Antiochus is a type of the anti-Christ. Just as Antiochus defiled the temple and
declared himself to be a god and then persecuted the Jewish people, so the coming
world ruler will declare himself to be god, sit in the temple, demand that the world
worship him and persecute all who refuse.

How To Light The Candles

Traditionally, the candles are lit from right to left. The first candle is placed on the
right side of the Menorah, and the second one placed directly to the left. But
lighting them starts from the left and moves to the right. Thus the first candle that
is lit is the new candle added for that day. The shammash (servant) candle is used
to light the others.
 Prayers Before Lighting The Candles

Blessed are You O Lord our God, King of the Universe,

who granted us life, sustained us and permitted us to reach this season.

‫בָּ רּוְך אַ תָּ ה יְ הֹ וָּה אֱ ֹלהֵ ינּו מֶ לְֶך הָּ עֹולָּם‬

.‫שֶ הֶ ֱחיָּנּו וְ קִ יְ מָּ נּו וְ הִ גִ יעָּנּו לַזְ מַ ן הַ זֶה‬
Baruch Ata Adonai Elohaynu Melech ha'olam,
she-heh-cheh-ya-nu v'kee-y'mah-nu v'hi-gee-yah-nu laz-man ha-zeh.

Blessed are You O Lord our God, King of the universe,

who has given us holidays, customs, and times of happiness,
to increase the knowledge of God
and to build us up in our most holy faith.

‫בָּ רּוְך אַ תָּ ה יְ הֹ וָּה אֱ ֹלהֵ ינּו מֶ לְֶך הָּ עֹולָּם‬

‫אֲ שֶ ר נָּתַ ן לָּנּו חַ גִ ים ִמנְ הָּ גִ ים ּומֹוע ֲִדים לְ ִס ְמחָּ ה‬
‫לְ הַ גְ ִדיל אֶ ת דַ עַת יְ הֹ וָּה‬
.‫וְ לִ בְ נֹות אֹ תָּ נּו בָּ אֱ מּונָּה קִ דֹושָּ ה וְ ָּנ ֲעלָּה‬
Baruch Ata Adonai Elohaynu Melech ha-olam,
ah-sher nah-tan lah-nu chah-geem, meen-ha-geem, oo-mo-ah-deem l'sim-cha,
l'hag-deel et dah-at Adonai,
v'leev-note oh-tah-nu b'eh-muh-nah kee-doh-shah v'na-ah-lah.

Blessed are You O Lord our God, King of the universe,

who performed miracles for our fathers in those days at this season.

‫בָּ רּוְך אַ תָּ ה יְ הֹ וָּה אֱ ֹלהֵ ינּו מֶ לְֶך הָּ עֹולָּם‬

.‫שֶ עָּ שָּ ה נִ ִסים לַאֲבֹותֵ ינּו בַ י ִָּמים הָּ הֵ ם בַ זְ מַ ן הַ זֶה‬
Baruch Ata Adonai Elohaynu Melech ha-olam, she-ah-sah nee-seem la-ah-vo-tay-
nu ba-ya-meem ha-hem baz-man ha-zeh.
 Passages From The Bible That Can Be Read With Each Candle

Shamash (Servant) Candle: Messiah Yeshua said: Whoever wishes to be first

among you shall be the servant of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be
served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.

First Candle: Genesis describes the creation of the first light: God said, “Let there
be light” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God
separated the light from the darkness.

Second Candle: Exodus reveals that God is the source of Israel’s light: The Lord
was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a
pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.
He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from
before the people.

Third Candle: King David reminds us that God Himself is the source of our own
individual light: The Lord is my light and my salvation; who will I fear? The Lord
is the defense of my life; who will I dread? You, Lord, keep my lamp burning. My
God turns my darkness into light.

Fourth Candle: King David describes the light that comes from God’s Word:
Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. The unfolding of Your
words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

Fifth Candle: Yeshua is the greatest light of all: In Him was life, and that life was
the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not
overcome it. As Messiah was in the Temple in Jerusalem watching the lights, He
declared: I am the light of the world; whoever follows Me will not walk in the
darkness, but will have the light of life. Simeon was promised by the Lord that he
would not die until he saw Israel’s Messiah. When he saw Yeshua as an infant in
the Temple, he declared: my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have
prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the
glory of Your people Israel.
Sixth Candle: After we come to know Messiah, we are to be the light of the
world. Messiah tells us: You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill
cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead
they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way,
let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify
your Father in Heaven.

Seventh Candle: Isaiah speaks of the future glory of a restored Israel: Arise, shine
for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you … And
nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Eighth Candle: John describes our glorious light-filled dwelling place in the New
Jerusalem: I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and
the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it,
for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk
by its light, and the kings of the Earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day
will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of
the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will
anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are
written in the Lamb’s book of life!