This weekend I was heartbroken as I watched the devastation in Tennessee from the tornado outbreak. I have a couple of friends who live in Tennessee. It is always hard to handle the hardships of natural disasters.
There is something that makes these hardships more difficult during the holiday season. Christmas is supposed to be a special time of joy and getting together with our family and friends. The devastation from the tornadoes has cast a dark cloud on a joyous time of year.
- Lives lost
- Loss of shelter and protection
- No electricity for basic needs
- No lights
Being in the dark and cold isn’t a pleasant feeling or how we expect to spend Christmas. Most of us have Christmas traditions of family fun with warm fires and bright holiday lights.
Hardships make the holidays seem dark and hopeless. I understand because I lost my mother at Christmas time 19 years ago and Christmas hasn’t been the same since.
Merry Christmas
Christmas time is a magical time of year full of time with our family and holiday fun, it is often a bright reminder of hope during a season of shorter days.
Scientifically, the days begin getting longer after the winter solstice. We can see the spiritual significance of Christmas as Protestants celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Jesus’s birth is important for Protestants and the world alike, He was born into a season of darkness a lot like the days we live in today, when Jewish babies were murdered by those who thirsted for earthly power. The New Testament writers proclaim Him as the light of the world.
The Jewish people had experienced cruel seasons of darkness and persecution. While longing for the prophesied Messiah, the Greeks invaded Jerusalem and defiled the second Temple.
Hanukkah
Hanukkah is a Hebrew verb for dedication. It celebrates the purification of both the second Temple and God’s people from the ways of the Greeks. The lighting of the menorah reminds Jewish people to be a light in this dark and fallen world.
It is a reminder that God’s people are to be dedicated to God and to stand up against corruption and the darkness of this world. It is celebrated through an eight-day festival called the Feast of Dedication much like a wedding festival celebrates the vows between the husband and his bride. Below are some of the traditions of the Hanukkah celebration:
- Lighting of the Menorah
- Eating festive meals
- Pork and shellfish are forbidden
- Give gifts
- Recite blessings and prayers
- Sing festive songs
- Study the Torah
- It is forbidden to use the menorah light for personal use (flashlight or work)
These rules are to remind God’s people they are the light in the darkness and dedicated to God. When Jesus called His followers the light of the world, He was reminding them of the importance of the Jewish teaching about the light.
Because of the fall, there is evil and darkness in the heart of every human. God’s people are commanded to fight that darkness that lurks inside of each of us.
The Darkness
The Bible begins with God speaking everything into existence and separating the light from the darkness (Genesis 1:1- 4). However, the deception of the dark Angel Satan deceived man and separated him from God and the light, and ever since the world has faced trials and tribulations.
God called His people out of the darkness to be the light in this fallen world. Much like a man chooses his bride from the sea of other women. The bridegroom calls His bride to come into the light from the darkness. She doesn’t get to live like other women in the world.
- Greedy
- Selfish
- Worldly
If we answer God’s call we cannot have it both ways. Jesus said His followers cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24-26.) Because there is no darkness in the light (1 John 1:5), light is dedicated to light and that is Hanukkah!
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