PADDING
Fifth Night of Chanukah
One of Chanukah’s themes is light. Light nourishes and sustains life. It warms. It allows us to find our way. Light reveals the joys of beauty and exposes the dangers of evil. Light delivers hope.
Jesus used the phrase “light of the world” in two ways in Scripture. He spoke about Himself, saying, “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). The gospel of Matthew records Jesus speaking to His followers, saying, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14).
It may seem odd to think we can be something that Jesus said of Himself. However, as Jesus shone the light of the Father when He walked the Earth, so do we when we let the light He has placed in us by the Holy Spirit emanate through us.
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Jewish tradition says we are to set our chanukiah (Chanukah lampstand) near a window where people outside can see it. Its light testifies to a miracle God did long ago, and it is meant to be seen. Jesus explained in Matthew chapter 5 that no one lights a lamp only to stop it from shining.
As Believers in Yeshua (Jesus), the Messiah, we have experienced the miracle of spiritual rebirth, of coming spiritually alive from the dead. We have the miracle of the Holy Spirit living inside us, from which we can now live as new creatures newly empowered to live godly lives that glorify the Father.
This light God has put within us is also meant to be seen. In Matthew 5:16, Jesus said, “…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). When we shine God’s light amid the spiritual darkness of the world, we testify to the miracle of His grace and salvation.
Each night of Chanukah, as we kindle one additional candle, we see the light growing brighter and brighter. In Jewish tradition, this is called “increasing the holiness.” A single light penetrates the darkness, yet when joined with others, it multiplies, pushing back the darkness even further. May our lights shine brightly, individually and collectively, as we join in fellowship and community to reveal Jesus to an increasingly dark world.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
Shine a Light
Give a Gift of Gelt
The story of Chanukah is a story of a miracle...God’s miracle in providing light for eight days with oil that was only enough to last a single day.
Each day of Chanukah this year, you can give a gelt offering that shines the love of Jesus to Jewish people around the world. Your gifts throughout Chanukah — clean drinking water, medical care, the Good News and more — will demonstrate your commitment to reaching our Jewish brothers and sisters with the Gospel. Would you consider giving the following gift today?
Give $60 to share the Gospel with 18 children
For a gift of $60, you can send 18 children to the Zehra Kids program at an Outreach, where they will learn about Yeshua (Jesus) and grow in their love of Scripture as seeds of the Gospel are planted.
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Light the Candles with Your Family
Place five candles in the chanukiah tonight, setting them in the holders at the far right and placing them from right to left. As you light the Shamash, or Servant Candle, recite the Messianic Jewish Chanukah blessings:
Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and has given us Yeshua the Messiah, the Light of the World.
Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time.
Using the Shamash, light the Chanukah candles in the opposite direction from which you placed them in the holders. Light them from left to right, according to the Jewish custom of honoring the newest first. Return the Shamash to its place. Let the candles go out on their own. They should burn for at least half an hour.
