The Pig Dilemma

Two years had passed since it had all began. They had been years filled with terror and desecration. Many men, women and children had been massacred by order of the Seleucid king, Antiochus Epiphanes. The evil king had also captured the Jewish temple, erected an altar to Zeus and sacrificed a pig, the most unclean of all animals, on the altar of the Most High God. It was known as an abomination that causes desolation.

Judah, known as the Hammer, stood next his four brothers and along side his army poised to retake the temple. As he prepared to attack, he recalled the events of the past couple years. His father, Mattathias, had once stood with them. But, having passed on to the grave, he would not witness the coming re dedication he had so longed for.

After the revolt was successful, the re dedication began.

It was commanded that the temple menorah always stay lit. But, only enough oil for one day was left and preparation and dedication of olive oil for the menorah was an eight day process. On the eighth day, the flame was still burning. It was a miracle which would still be remembered more 2000 years later with a holiday called Hanukkah. It would also be called, The Festival of Lights and The Feast of Dedication.

The other dilemma which arose had to do with the stones which lay on the altar. A pig had been burnt on the altar, desecrating the stones. The stones could no longer remain on the altar. On the other hand, they had once been sanctified to God. Therefore, they could not be thrown away either. What then do you do with unclean stones which were once holy sacrificial possessions of God Himself?

Judah's answer was full of wisdom.

He said, "one day the Messiah will come and He will show us what to do with the stones."

So, he placed the stones in an out of the way corner and handed the dilemma over to God.

185 Years Later

A group of Jews were gathered near Solomon's Colonnade on a cold winter day. It was The Feast of Dedication, a holiday intended to commemorate the Macabian Revolt which had less than two centuries before liberated the temple from the Seleucid followers of Zeus.

Among those at the temple that day there stood a man revered by some in the crowd and despised by others. He was the very definition of controversial. Of course, he would be in the temple that day. He himself was a revolutionary. Had he come to pay homage to fellow rebels?

He had bronze skin and the short hair of a Jew. But, his nature was foreign. He was an alien right there in the temple of God. Apart from his disposition, he was one who drew attention from those around him. His muscular frame was that of a carpenter who handled tree trunks on a daily basis.

When he spoke people listened and, they reacted. Some were offended and wanted him silenced. Others were drawn to him, never wanting to leave his side. To some, his radiance was the very warmth of God which they had spent their whole lives seeking. To others, his radiance was a smoldering furnace of unwanted truth.

On that particular day, the crowd which was gathered at Solomon's Colonnade was gathered around Him.

They were tired of "being kept in suspense", so they told Him, "Tell us, are you the Messiah?"

To which He replied,

"I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

His words caused the Jews around Him to pick up stones to stone Him, but He eluded their attack, for His time had not yet come.

Where did those stones come from?

The area of the temple which included the corner where Judah had cast aside the altar stones later became known as Solomon's Colonnade.

How powerful it is that the very stones for which it had been prophesied that the Messiah would ordain a purpose, would be used in an attempt to stone Him on the anniversary of the day the prophecy had been spoken.

Hanukkah is as much a Christian holiday as it is a Jewish one. And, it's definitely more of a Christian holiday than Christmas is.

When Jesus went into the temple that day He was proclaiming, "You celebrate a feast to the dedication of the temple. I am the temple! You celebrate a festival to remember God's miracle of light. I am that Light!

Hanukkah is a beautiful holiday because it a testimony to Jesus Himself, just as Passover and the rest of the Jewish festivals are.

For that matter, every day is a testimony to Jesus.

All of creation points to Him.

By His word all things came into existence for He is the beginning and end, The Great I am, The Passover lamb, The Temple and The Light.