The
Feast of Dedication is the subject matter I want to discuss, but first a
little background on how I came to know the true meaning and
significance of this feast mentioned in
John 10:22-23
From
September 1974 to March 1979, I undertook a study of the Bible word for
word, verse by verse. I purchased a Strong's Concordance to get a better understanding
of the original Hebrew and Greek, the two languages of the Bible. I am
still learning, but at least now I know the correct definitions
of words in the Bible before they were translated into English and hundreds of other languages.
I
was brought up in a Christian denomination that claims to "speak where
the Bible speaks". Not knowing any better, I fully trusted my parents,
Sunday school teachers, and Pastors to rightly divide the Word of Truth.
~
2 Timothy 2:15
When I begin to study for myself and rely on the Spirit of truth to lead me (John 16:13), I was shocked to learn that everything I had been taught was false, a half-truth, or simply the traditions of men. ~ Matthew 15:9
and Mark 7:7
When I begin to study for myself and rely on the Spirit of truth to lead me (John 16:13), I was shocked to learn that everything I had been taught was false, a half-truth, or simply the traditions of men. ~ Matthew 15:9
and Mark 7:7
Denominational Christianity, or Churchanity as I call it, often does not teach the whole counsel of God. ~
Acts 20:27
Churchanity only teaches what their particular denomination believes and practices. Although, many of their doctrines are similar - by the way, the word doctrine means "what is taught" - not always what is true - they pretty much compete for members like it's some kind of contest to validate that their denomination is better because it's bigger.
But I digress, let's get to the topic of the Feast of Dedication. The Hebrew word for dedication is Hanukkah.
We
are all familiar with the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, or some call it
the Festival of Lights. It is held in December prior to the Winter
Solstice so it's still Autumn. The traditions of men claim that Hanukkah
is the celebration of the victory of the Maccabees over the enemies of the
Jews, and that may be true for the Jews. But, what has a eight day
festival of the Jews have to do with Jesus observing the the Feast of
Dedication (Hanukkah) in John 10:22? Nothing, nada, zip.
The original Biblical feast of dedication started in
Ezra 6:14-18. Notice carefully the highlighted words in verses 15 and 16.
15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
16 And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.
The month of Adar corresponds to February 20 thru March 19 on the Gregorian calendar in use today. Adar is in winter exactly as recorded in John 10:22. The children of Israel (Jew and Israel are not the same group of people - another topic for another day) kept the dedication of this house of God with joy. If the dedication of the house of God was a Jewish tradition, why did they change it to December and extend it to eight days?
Why is the Feast of Dedication on Adar 3 (February 22) important for Christians today? First, Jesus observed it. That makes it important. Second, Christians know that our body is the Temple (house) of the Holy Spirit. Under the New Covenant, it is that house we dedicate to God.
~ Romans 12:1 and 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
Third, the Feast of Dedication is 40 days before Passover, erroneously called Communion or the Lord's Supper by Churchanity. Christians know (or should know if they are taught properly) that Passover is the annual memorial of the Lord's death, not done daily, weekly, quarterly, or whenever. ~ 1 Corinthians 11:26-28
Churchanity has substituted Lent and Ash Wednesday 40 days before pagan Easter in place of the Christian Passover. The Adversary loves to play games with the people of God. Satan counterfeits everything in the word of God to try to confuse and destroy Christians. Lent is a man-made tradition, Jesus says let them (false teachers) alone. ~ Matthew 15:14
16 And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.
The month of Adar corresponds to February 20 thru March 19 on the Gregorian calendar in use today. Adar is in winter exactly as recorded in John 10:22. The children of Israel (Jew and Israel are not the same group of people - another topic for another day) kept the dedication of this house of God with joy. If the dedication of the house of God was a Jewish tradition, why did they change it to December and extend it to eight days?
Why is the Feast of Dedication on Adar 3 (February 22) important for Christians today? First, Jesus observed it. That makes it important. Second, Christians know that our body is the Temple (house) of the Holy Spirit. Under the New Covenant, it is that house we dedicate to God.
~ Romans 12:1 and 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
Third, the Feast of Dedication is 40 days before Passover, erroneously called Communion or the Lord's Supper by Churchanity. Christians know (or should know if they are taught properly) that Passover is the annual memorial of the Lord's death, not done daily, weekly, quarterly, or whenever. ~ 1 Corinthians 11:26-28
Churchanity has substituted Lent and Ash Wednesday 40 days before pagan Easter in place of the Christian Passover. The Adversary loves to play games with the people of God. Satan counterfeits everything in the word of God to try to confuse and destroy Christians. Lent is a man-made tradition, Jesus says let them (false teachers) alone. ~ Matthew 15:14
Don't take my word for any of this, search the Scriptures, see if you can find any instructions to observe "lent" or "Ash Wednesday."~
Acts 17:11 and
Proverbs 25:2
You are cordially invited to join Renew Your Strength Bible Study Group
The purpose of this post is to get people to think about what they believe and why they believe it, not debate who's right or wrong.
To
learn the revealed truth of God we must know and understand the true
meaning of the words God inspired to be written. Use Strong's
Concordance to check the original word before it was translated. Do your own research, make up your own mind, rely on the Holy Spirit to guide you.
