Dedication is a costly decision that involves renouncing everything that contaminates us…
According to John 10:22–23, Yeshúa was in the holy city during the days of the Feast. It was precisely during this Festival that He revealed Himself as “the Light of the world” and performed the controversial healing of a man born blind, bringing both physical and spiritual light into his life.
Hanukkah has a strong connection with what Yeshúa did and taught during the eve and celebration of this Feast; and although we are not commanded to observe it, understanding it can motivate us to do so, enriching our lives.
Chapter eight of the Gospel of John recounts that Yeshúa’s declaration caused discomfort among the Pharisees and sparked a heated discussion that ended with accusations that He had a demon. Then comes the account of the encounter with the man born blind, whom He healed on Shabbat, further increasing the tension. Now, if we observe carefully, these events are closely connected to the Feast that was being celebrated in those days.
Do you see the connection? Yeshúa proclaims Himself to be the Light of the world while the people are preparing for the Feast of Lights! Similar things occurred during the other appointed times. Yeshúa was not improvising; He was fulfilling a perfect plan designed by Yehovah, our Father, who had given His Feasts to His people so they would be prepared and recognize their Messiah. But because the people entangled themselves by adding to and taking away from the Word, contaminating it with traditions developed by themselves, they were unable to identify Him—just as is clearly seen in John 10:22–42.
Cleansing, Purification, and Dedication
Although Solomon had carried out a great dedication (hanukkah) of the Temple when it was built, it became necessary for it to be dedicated again by the Maccabees—though not before subjecting it to a meticulous process of cleansing and purification.
Something similar happens with our lives, which require the same processes: cleansing, purification, and dedication. And although it is very possible that we dedicated our lives in the past, it is necessary to re-dedicate ourselves time and again.
We are the temple of His Ruach (Spirit). And it is certain that in our daily walk we often become contaminated. This happens when we develop dependencies on things such as food, drink, pleasures, hobbies, or people; when our lives revolve around activities that absorb us—shopping, work, sports, etc.; when we allow our minds to take in harmful content such as violent or horror movies; when we consume foods that Scripture classifies as unclean; or when we listen to music whose content does not edify. In doing so, we have committed acts similar to the sacrifice of a pig in the Temple.
Cleansing is obtained when we confess our failures to Yehovah; purification takes place when we appropriate the forgiveness granted by the blood of our Messiah. But dedication is a costly decision—it involves renouncing everything that contaminates us. It is a decision that must be made repeatedly until we overcome the habits developed over a lifetime lived in ignorance of divine parameters. Very few are willing to pay the price, and for that reason the process often remains incomplete.
Our Father Yehovah expects us to complete it and to return to the path of obedience to Him, as He demands.