During Hannukkah I explained to our children why Jews traditionally commemorate this feast, sometimes known as the Festival of Lights or the Feast of Dedication.
I taught them how we can see Jesus reflected in this Feast of Dedication. Jesus said of Himself “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
I shared with them about the shamash candle, that lights the other candles, can be translated as helper or servant; that Jesus was a servant and in humility He came to serve. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
I concluded with these verses from Philippians 2:5-11 “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
