John 10:22-23 — And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.

Jesus was in Jerusalem for the feast of dedication — also known as Hanukah. Hanukah starts today. “That’s nice,”, you might say, “a nice winter festival for my Jewish friends, but what does that matter to me as a Christian?” You have to know the story … and the connection to the martyrs I wrote about yesterday.
Alexander the Great marched across the known world. In 329 BC he arrived in Israel. Remarkably, instead of beating the Jews into submission he came to an accommodation with them, and Greek culture penetrated Jewish society.
More than 150 years later came Antiochus Epiphanes. This ruler of the Seleucid empire tried to stamp out Judaism. The worst of his provocations was the erection of an idol (“the abomination that makes desolation”) in the Temple, and a demand that the Jews bow down before it. Enter Judas Maccabeus!
After several years of conflict Judas drove the enemy from Jerusalem, purified the Temple and on the 25th of Kislev (December 14, 164 BC) he restored the service in the Temple. The rededication of the temple became the permanent Jewish holiday, Hanukkah, which continued even after the Temple was destroyed and is still celebrated annually.
Antiochus intended to eliminate Judaism. Plenty of Jews went along, to save their lives … but there were others …
Eleazar, a ninety year old man was commanded to eat pork. He let the soldiers beat him to death rather than break God’s law.
Hannah and her seven sons were arrested when they refused to give up the Torah. She was forced to watch her sons tortured. When they would not bend they were boiled alive in cauldrons. Hannah cheered her youngest son with the hope of resurrection — before she, too, died for her faith.
Judah’s father, Mattathias, started the resistance. Judas — “the hammer”, inspired by the martyrs, completed it. And then came the miracle. When the Maccabees captured the temple, they searched and found only a single cruse of pure oil — enough to light the menorah for only one day but the menorah burnt for eight days!
A miracle occurred, and they lit the menorah with this oil for eight days. The next year,they established those eight days as days of festivity and praise and thanksgiving to God — Hanukah, the Festival of Lights, the feast of Dedication.
So, nice history lesson — but what’s in it for us? Well, just this — Just as for the martyrs yesterday, for the Jews of Judas Maccabeus’ day, God’s Word should be non-negotiable for us. Dedication is a must!