We have entered Advent season, a time leading to where many celebrate the birth of Christ, when the Word became incarnate and dwelt among us.
At the same time, we also enter into the season of Hanukkah. Hanukkah is the celebration of a historical event that took place in Jerusalem in the 2nd century B.C., when the Seleucid Greek empire was the ruling power. In 168 B.C., the king Antiochus IV Epiphanes outlawed Jewish practice and defiled the Jewish temple in the city by installing an altar to Zeus Olympios and sacrificing pigs.
Some early church fathers prior to the 4th century believed that Jesus was conceived during the same time He was crucified—which is during Passover—thus He would have been born on Dec. 25 or Jan. 6. Others believed accordingly that John the Baptist’s birth can be traced by the priestly division of his father Zechariah and the time his division was called to serve in the temple. John, being six months older than Jesus according to this view, would set Jesus’s birth during the Feast of Tabernacles.
Whether you are one who believes Christ was born during a different time other than December 25 or not, it is always a good season to celebrate Jesus. The point during this time when most of our hearts are focused on the Advent (coming) of the Lord Jesus is that both Advent as well as Hanukkah can fuel our intercession for things to come as we enter the latter part of 2020.
Whether you believe Jesus was born in December, during Passover or the Feast of Tabernacles, one thing still reigns true: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14a). Here, the Greek word skenoo actually means to dwell in a tabernacle. The interesting truth also is Hanukkah is called the Feast of Dedication as well as the Feast of Lights and also serves as “Rededication,” since the Feast of Tabernacles was a Feast of Lights. I believe we stand in a time where there must be a cleansing of defilement and a rededication to make room for His glory to be seen among a pure bride again.
In this episode called “Prophetic Insight for 2021 and Beyond,” we will discuss the importance of understanding as we celebrate the Advent; let us also enter into a place of repentance corporately and a rededication and preparation to prepare and position us to give birth to Christ in us the hope of glory in the midst of darkness.
To hear more of this revelatory word, listen to this episode of Keys to Walking in Kingdom Culture with Wayland Henderson. Purchase Wayland Henderson’s latest book on Discipleship: Walking with God: Repairing the Breach and Restoring the Ancient Path to Discipleship. {eoa}
