The Feast of Dedication, also known as Hanukkah, is a Jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the second century B.C. after its desecration by the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This event is recorded in the books of the Maccabees, which are part of the Apocrypha. The festival lasts for eight days, beginning on the 25th of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which typically falls in December.

The Feast of Dedication is mentioned in the New Testament in the Gospel of John. John 10:22-23 states, "At that time the Feast of Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple courts in Solomon’s Colonnade." This passage situates Jesus in the context of the Jewish festival, highlighting His participation in Jewish customs and traditions.

The festival is marked by the lighting of the menorah, a nine-branched candelabrum, symbolizing the miracle of the oil. According to tradition, when the Maccabees sought to rededicate the Temple, they found only enough consecrated oil to keep the menorah's candles burning for one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days, the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of consecrated oil.

Jesus' Deity

The deity of Jesus Christ is a central tenet of Christian theology, affirming that Jesus is both fully God and fully man. This doctrine is rooted in numerous passages throughout the New Testament, where Jesus is identified with divine attributes, titles, and works.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus makes several "I AM" statements, echoing the divine name revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14. For instance, in John 8:58 , Jesus declares, "Truly, truly, I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am!" This statement asserts His pre-existence and divinity, leading to an attempt by the Jewish leaders to stone Him for blasphemy.

John 1:1-14 further affirms Jesus' deity, stating, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us." This passage identifies Jesus as the eternal Word, coexistent with God and Himself God, who took on human nature.

The Apostle Paul also emphasizes Jesus' divine nature. In Colossians 2:9 , Paul writes, "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form." This verse underscores the belief that Jesus embodies the complete nature of God.

The deity of Christ is also evident in His works and authority. He forgives sins (Mark 2:5-7), exercises authority over nature (Mark 4:39), and claims the power to give eternal life (John 10:28). These actions, along with His resurrection, serve as divine validation of His claims.

The recognition of Jesus' deity is foundational to the Christian faith, shaping the understanding of His role as Savior and Lord. The early church councils, such as Nicaea and Chalcedon, affirmed this doctrine, countering various heresies that sought to diminish or deny His divine nature.