Hanukkah, Jesus and Israel’s false shepherds

The Jewish world is currently celebrating Hanukkah, the holiday of purification and renewal. Did Jesus celebrate Hanukkah? What significance did this holiday have for Him?

The celebration of the “Renewal Festival” or Hanukkah (‏חֲנֻכָּה‎ – “sanctification; renewal”) began with Judah Maccabee in the intertestamental period, in 165 BC, to commemorate the renewal, purification and consecration of the Temple in Jerusalem, which was desecrated by the Syrian king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Since then, the holiday of Hanukkah has been celebrated annually for eight days from the 25th of the month of Kislev (around mid-December) to the 2nd or 3rd of the month of Tevet (depending on the length of the month of Kislev). During the consecration, Hanukkah candles are lit, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness.

Jesus, as a true son of His people, naturally celebrated all the Jewish holidays. Hanukkah was no exception for Him. The evangelist John also draws attention to the holiday of Hanukkah, who set the goal in his gospel to show how all the institutions and holidays of Second Temple Judaism were fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

John mentions in his Gospel that Jesus was in Jerusalem during the Hanukkah holiday: “And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch” (John 10:22-23). At that time, it was not so warm in Jerusalem anymore, and therefore Jesus walked in Solomon’s porch, which was a covered gallery. According to Josephus, Solomon’s porch was a refuge from the heat of the sun in summer and cold rains in winter. Jesus was in Jerusalem during the holidays and used Solomon’s porch to preach.

Hanukkah was very important for Jesus Christ. It similarly pointed to the Messiah as did Passover and the feast of the Tabernacles. And it is no coincidence that in connection with this feast, Jesus Christ told the parable of the good shepherd (John 10:1-18).

The 34th chapter of the book of the prophet Ezekiel was usually read in the synagogues during the Hanukkah celebration, which criticized the false shepherds of Israel:

“…Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who shepherd themselves! Aren’t shepherds supposed to tend sheep? You drink milk, you cover yourselves with wool, you kill fattened animals, but you do not tend sheep. You do not strengthen the weak, you do not heal the sick, you do not bind up the wounded, you do not bring back the lost or seek the lost, but you rule over them with loudness and violence. And they are scattered because there is no shepherd; that they are scattered, then they have become food for all the wild animals.” (Ezek. 34:2-5).

This criticism of Ezekiel reminded the Israelites of the unworthy leaders of God’s people during the Maccabean rebellion. Then the religious leaders of Israel, such as the high priests Jason and Menelaus (2 Macc. 4-5), brought temple life to such a state of ruin that they allowed Antiochus IV Epiphanes to sacrifice a pig in honor of the Greek god Zeus. Because of their upbringing by false shepherds, Israel’s spiritual life was in decline, and their apostasy led the Hasmonean priest Mattathias and his sons to rebel against this “monster of destruction.” Mattathias’ third son, Judah Maccabee, led a rebellion after his father’s death and led Israel to a final victory over the Syrian army. The temple was then consecrated and temple life was restored. Every Hanukkah, the Jews commemorated the achievements of the false shepherds and the Maccabees, who restored the Temple and independence.

Why did Jesus Christ tell the parable of the good shepherd on Hanukkah? Jesus Christ was trying to point out his status as Israel’s Messiah with this parable. With this parable He contrasted Himself with the false shepherds of Israel:

“I am a good shepherd…The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.“I am the good shepherd…” (John 10:12-14).

Jesus, addressing the people of Israel, seemed to say: Today you remember the pain and suffering that bad and false shepherds brought to the people, who did not shepherd God’s people, but only thought of themselves and their own needs. I am not a shepherd like them. I am not a hireling, but the true shepherd, of whom Ezekiel declared:

“ I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the Lord have spoken.” (Ezek. 34:23-24).

Jesus does not simply oppose the false shepherds of Israel. He reveals the nature of the true leader of God’s people. This leader is not an employee who does a specific job for a fee. He is the kind of shepherd who loves His sheep, cares for His sheep and protects them with His life.

Jesus compares Himself to a “door” that leads to a sheepfold (John 10:7-10). In the desert, sheep were often herded at night into walled enclosures located next to a cliff. Such enclosures (which are still used by Palestinian shepherds in the Judean desert) had waist-high stone walls with thorny branches at the ends. Such a sheepfold was only intended to ensure safety, so that the sheep would not fall prey to wild animals. One small door or opening in the wall served as the only way in and out. Jesus calling Himself “the door” seemed to make it clear that He watches over His flock and will not allow anyone to harm His sheep. He blocks the way of anyone who intends to harm His sheep.

It is also significant that Jesus is not only the protection and guardian of His sheep, but also their leader (John 10:3-4). When He leads His sheep, He does not go behind them, but before them. He goes before them, guiding them on their journey. Here is an allusion to God’s leadership in the wilderness, when the Lord led Israel by day in a pillar of cloud and by night in a pillar of fire.

But that’s not all. Jesus not only protects the flock, but also cares for His flock (John 10:3). He knows everyone by name and talks to everyone. There is a time for everyone and He approaches everyone in His own way. Middle Eastern shepherds are well known for their devotion to their sheep. They talk to them. Sometimes they even sing to them. Shepherds often carry a small flute and play the same tune throughout the day so that the flock knows the direction of its journey. The sheep get used to his music and always recognize it at any time of the day. This is exactly the shepherd Jesus Christ is to all believers: “My sheep hear My voice and I know them; and they will follow Me” (John 10:27). He knows us by name, He knows what our needs are.

But most importantly, Jesus, contrasting Himself with Israel’s false shepherds, says that He is a sacrificial shepherd:

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep… I am the good shepherd… and I lay down My life for the sheep” (John 10:11, 14-15).

He says that He is ready to suffer for His sheep. He speaks of His willingness to lay down His life for His flock. With these words, Jesus Christ foretold His suffering on Calvary, where He actually became a blood sacrifice for His flock, the new people of God.

Thus, Jesus Christ understood His mission to redeem humanity in the context of the Hanukkah holiday. He saw Himself not simply as a shepherd, but as a true Redeemer, a redeeming and sanctifying leader of God’s people.

This holiday season, when I see a menorah or Star of David at our Walmart (they usually go on sale around mid-November), I am reminded again of the feat and victory of Jesus Christ. He is truly the good shepherd who provides for all our needs. Moreover, He is not only the good shepherd but also the true leader who has given us freedom from the slavery of sin. Thanks to His victory on Calvary’s cross, we are cleansed and sanctified for God, just as the temple in Jerusalem was once cleansed and sanctified. The victory of the Maccabees was temporary, but the victory of Jesus is eternal!

I celebrate Hanukkah not so much through the lens of the Maccabean rebellion, but in light of Jesus Christ’s victory at Calvary. Therefore, Hanukkah for me is Jesus Christ!

By Pavel Nesmiyanov, Master of Theology (MDiv, Gateway Seminary).
Revival Church (Vancouver, USA) clergyman.

Source: Ханука, Иисус и лжепастыри Израиля (ieshua.org)