A Qualitatively New Ekklesia

 

Our 41st president, George H.W. Bush, whose passing this week is being closely followed by the beginning of Hanukkah, referred to "a thousand points of light" in his inaugural address. He used this expression to refer to American's good works and volunteerism.

This famous quote of President Bush comes to mind as we enter the season of Hanukkah, also called the Festival of Lights, and the Feast of Dedication. The source of this feast is a historical event recorded in Maccabees 4 of the extra-Biblical books known as the Apocrypha. This book records the Maccabean rebellion against the Syrians who had taken control of Jerusalem, including the Temple of God.

 Under the rulership of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Jewish religion was forbidden, and the Temple was defiled with the sacrifices of pigs. After the Maccabean revolt and victory, the Temple was once again in Jewish hands, but had to be cleansed of the pagan defilement. During this eight day cleansing, or rededication, God miraculously kept the Menorah in the Temple burning, when only a single day's supply of oil was available. "Hanukkah" is the Hebrew word meaning "dedication", and even "inaugural". In the New Testament, the Greek word which is the equivalent means renewal, or to make new. The number "8" in Hebrew, which is the length of days that the menorah remained lighted, also signifies new beginnings.

This dedication and renewal of the natural Temple in Jerusalem also has a corresponding spiritual importance to us. We are the living temple of God. It is time for our temples to be rededicated, cleansed, and renewed in Christ. It is time for the Ekklesia (Church) to be qualitatively renewed, meaning to replace everything that needs replacing until it is in "like new" condition. Let's see how we can begin.

Jesus observed the winter Feast of Dedication (Jn. 10:22-25), where He was asked by the religious leaders to identify Himself outright as the Christ. He said that He had already told them, but they refused to believe, and that His miraculous works identified Him clearly with His heavenly Father, which works they also did not believe. It is time for the Church to decide if it believes.

Like the miraculous Menorah of the Dedication, Jesus clearly identified Himself with light:

"...I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darknss, but shall have the light of life."  Jn. 8:12

Not only was Jesus light, but He expected His followers to stop walking in darkness, and share be that same light:

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  Mt. 5:14-16

The nature of light is to be openly displayed in order to repel darkness. Is the Church shining the light of Christ, or hiding it? Have we conformed to the darkness of this world rather than the light of the unchanging way, truth and life of Jesus?

As Jesus said above, His light is also the life of men. It is written regarding Him:

"In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not."   Jn. 1:4-5

The darkness cannot receive the light. Do we have any part of us that embraces darkness, that refuses to receive light? Jesus said, "If ... the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness?" (Mt. 6:22-23). And, "...less darkness come upon you (seizes you)...While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light." (Jn. 12:34-36). Afterwards, Jesus purposefully hid Himself from them. Those who sought His truth had to search Him out. Are we continuing to search out Jesus, and the light and renewal that He offers? Or have we stopped seeking Him?
This special feast of Hanukkah, or dedication, tells us that it is time for rededication, and qualitative renewal for the Church as a whole, and each one individually, the living temples of God, who are His chosen, royal, holy, peculiar people who should show forth the praises of Him who has called us out of the darkness of sin and the world, and into His marvelous light: who did not have mercy, but now have obtained mercy (1 Pet. 2:9-10). We are not to be partakers of the darkness with the children of disobedience as we used to, but reproving those works of darkness, because now we are light in the Lord, walking as children of light (Eph. 5:6-11). It is that very darkness that will cause people to be overtaken on the soon coming day of the Lord. However, we are not of that darkness and night, but children of light and day (1 Thess. 5:4-5). On the contrary, in these last days, we are to shine in wisdom and light like the stars in the firmament, because we are ones whose names have been written in the book (of life) by the blood of Christ (Dan. 12:1-3, Rev. 13:8).

How can we seek this qualitative renewal, this rededication, Hanukkah, and purifying needed in our lives? Like the light of life, it is also found in Christ for those who will seek it, and He has promised that if we will seek Him, we will find Him:

"Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are past away; behold all things are become new."  2 Cor. 5:17

Hanukkah, with its miraculous light and new beginning, is the perfect time of year to remind us of this glorious and eternal promise in Jesus. As we see the lights of the menorah, we can take the opportunity to dedicate ourselves anew in Him.

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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.

 

 

 



Feast of Dedication: Festival of Lights

 

The Feast of Dedication, or Festival of Lights, is a traditional Jewish Feast. It is not one of the ordained Feasts of the LORD according to the Law of Moses, but it is observed throughout the generations.

This feast memorializes the occasion when an out-numbered, small group of Jews re-took control of the Temple in Jerusalem from a far stronger enemy invader. Having regained the Temple, the small force had to cleanse and re-dedicate it from the idol worship and abominations that the enemy had practiced in it. Though there was only one day's worth of oil to keep the Lamp of the Holy Place, the Menorah, lighted, God miraculously kept the Lamp lighted for eight days, until additional oil cold be produced for the Lamp.

Light and miracles-Jesus spoke about both of these things as He observed the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem.

Just before this Festival of Lights was to begin, Jesus passed by a man who had been blind from birth. He told His disciples, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (Jn. 9:5). He then brought light to the darkened eyes of the man born blind by anointing his blind eyes with clay that had been mixed with Jesus' own saliva. Jesus then instructed the blind man to go to the pool of Siloam (sent), and cleanse his eyes there. When the blind man rinsed his eyes at the pool, he found that he had regained his sight (v.7). How appropriate for the Feast of Dedication. The blind man cleansed himself in the pool, and was miraculously filled with the light of sight. Not only did he received natural sight, but he gained spiritual sight as Jesus came back to him and revealed Himself as the Son of God to him (v. 35-39). The formerly blind man worshipped Him. 
The light of the Golden Lampstand, or Menorah, in the Temple, represents the "owr" light of the Messiah. It is a light that not only illuminates naturally, but it illuminates the spiritual understanding, the light that was in the beginning. By meaning, it is a light that enlightens eyes that had been encased in darkness (Ps. 13:4). When Jesus told His disciples that He is the Light of the world, He was revealing who He is as Messiah.
The religious people who witnessed this miracle of new sight, rejected it, and also cast out the formerly blind man who received the miracle, because they rejected the Light who created the miracle. Jesus said to them:
"For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and they which see might be made blind."  Jn. 9:39
As the religious took offense at being referred to as blind, Jesus answered them:
...If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say "We see"; therefore, your sin remaineth."  Jn. 9:41
After all of this, on the day of the Feast of Dedication, Jesus entered the Temple. The religiously blind immediately surrounded Him and demanded that He tell them plainly if He was the Christ (Jn. 10:22-24). Jesus answered:
"I told you, and ye believe not; the works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me...I and My Father are one."   Jn. 10:25, 30
They immediately sought to stone Jesus at this declaration that they considered blasphemy.
Jesus pointed out to them that their own scriptures declare "Ye are gods", yet they accuse the One whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world. Again, Jesus confirms in v. 37-38 His identity by the miracles that they have witnessed Him doing:
"If I do not the works of My Father, believe Me not. But if I do, though ye believe not Me, believe the works: that ye may know and believe, that the Father is in Me and I in Him."
The religiously blind came to the Temple that winter day to observe the Feast of Dedication, but the very fulfillment of the Feast was in their midst, and they didn't "see" Him, and they rejected miraculous works that the Father had sent Him to do in confirmation of this feast.
What does this Feast, and Jesus' words and works at this Feast of Dedication, mean for our lives?
First, we are a living temple, built of living stones, a spiritual house, which we are because we have cleansed ourselves from defilement, and sanctified, or dedicated ourselves in the Word of God (1 Pet. 2:1-3). It is then said of us:
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light: Which in time past, we were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."   1 Pet. 2:9-10
Secondly, we have not only been called into His light, and we have been commanded to be the same light:
"Ye are the light of the world...set on a hill...on a candlestick...it giveth light unto all that are in the house."   Mt. 5:14-15
Thirdly, along with being part of the miraculous Light of the world, we have been called to do the miraculous works, as well:
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  Mt. 5:16
Jesus also said of us:
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."  Jn. 14:12
The prophet Daniel described those who know their God as shining "as the brightness of the firmament" (Dan. 12:3), and the miraculous works connected to them as "great exploits" (Dan. 11:28).
The prophet Isaiah describes a people who are "as a watered garden", who shall "build the old waste places", and be the "repairer of the breach", the "restorer of paths to dwell in" (Isa. 58:11-12). They become this after they have sanctified themselves, and dedicated themselves to the ways and word of God (v. 13).
Our purpose in being both light and miraculous works in the world, is the same purpose as Jesus had: to bring glory and praise to God the Father, and the knowledge of Him to all who will receive it.
If you desire to dedicate yourself as a living temple, to receive the Light, the Son of God, who was sent into the world to bring witness of His Father, then believe in your heart, and confess your desire to Jesus in simple prayer with your mouth. He will come into your heart, and bring His marvelous light to your soul, and spirit.
"Come Lord Jesus, be my Light of salvation, my Light of life, my Light of sight, my Light of the knowledge of our Father in heaven. Cleanse me of all unrighteousness. I dedicate my heart, mind and strength, my living temple, to You."

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