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Chanukah December 12 - 19th, 2009. Christmas December 25th. 2009.

The Time and Season of Light

By Malcolm Hedding

The Word of God likens the world to a dark place in need of the light of God (Ephesians 5:8-11). Biblical history or, to put it another way, the story of the Bible is essentially the penetration of God’s redeeming light into this world of shadows, suffering and sorrow.

When God made the world, He said that it was good but sin – rebellion against God – soon entered the world bringing with it darkness. This darkness essentially is the result of humankind’s alienation from God and from itself. It is no surprise that having rebelled against God in the Garden, it was not too long afterward when man murdered his fellow human being (Genesis 4:8).

The rest of history is then a commentary on humankind’s ongoing rebellion against God and hatred for one another. This saga has raged unabated until the present day and our nightly news broadcasts are simply the latest description of it.

Nevertheless, God has not abandoned His world to sin and darkness. Even when the lamp of God was burning low in the world, He found a way to rekindle it (I Samuel 3:1-4).

The story of Samuel is an example of this and so are the stories of Hanukkah and Christmas. The former episode is referred to in Daniel, the restoration prophets and John’s Gospel reminds us that even in the days of the Abomination of Desolation (Antioch Ephipanes), sin and evil will be overcome by the redemptive light of God.

The miraculous events surrounding the oil for the temple after it had been seized from the Hellenists and rededicated serve as a reminder that the God of the Bible strongly defends those who stand up for His word and truth. They prevailed and the light of God’s blessing shone down upon them.

When Jesus walked in the Temple precincts he celebrated Hanukkah and rejoiced in the wonder working power of God his Father. John’s Gospel refers to it as the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22). This also reminds us that to follow the path of righteousness requires times of dedication and recommitment. Hence Jude calls upon us to defend the faith with zeal and energy but always in love and kindness (Jude 3).

The Gospel narrative sets forth Jesus’ coming into the world as the arrival of light (John 1:1-9).

He is the light that shines on a dark, evil and broken world. His words, deeds and sufferings open up a way back to God for the nations. How marvelous it is to consider that every nation upon the earth has been 'bathed' in the light of Jesus. Just at this past Christian celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, some seven thousand Christians from nearly one hundred nations of the world ascended to Jerusalem . They came from near and far and some from the uttermost parts of the earth. This was only made possible because the light of Jesus had fallen upon them.

“But you, brethren, are not in darkness so that this day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness …..” 1 Thessalonians 5:4–5.

Today the Judeo–Christian civilization is under threat from within and without. We would do well to reinforce it by learning well the messages of Hanukkah and Christmas.

Rev. Hedding is executive director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem; www.icej.org/ 
This article was first published in the December 2007 issue of The Jerusalem Post Christian Edition; www.jpost.com/ce