Hanukkah

We will have our Hanukkah retelling and festivities on December 5th after our regular service.

Hanukkah, which is also known as the Feast of Dedication or the Festival of Lights, celebrates God’s faithfulness and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after its desecration by Antiochus Epiphanes, the Greek king of the Selucid empire. From a Messianic Jewish perspective, Hanukkah reminds us that God preserves His people, fulfills His promises, and calls us to live a set apart holy life for Him. The miracle of the oil, remembered in Jewish tradition, symbolizes God’s provision and the enduring light of His presence. Hanukkah also holds special significance for believers in Yeshua (Jesus), because as John 10:22–23 records Jesus was in the Temple during the Feast of Dedication. As we celebrate Hanukkah, we remember that Yeshua is the Light of the World (John 8:12), who brings hope, truth, and salvation into this world of darkness. Just as the Temple was cleansed and rededicated to God, Hanukkah invites us to examine our hearts, renew our commitment to our God. Our motto at the Olive Branch is to “Be the Branches”. This is a call to John 15 where Jesus says he is the vine and we are the branches, but it also applies here. As we light the hanukkiah this season, we should remember to let the light of Messiah shine through our lives.