This year, the Gregorian calendar day of the 25th
of December fell on the Jewish calendar day of the 25th of Kislev. There were
several events that occurred on the 25th of Kislev in Bible history.
On this day in 1312 BCE (BCE is the same as BC) the
Tabernacle in the wilderness was completed (although not assembled until 3
months later - dedicated on the 1st of Nissan).
On this day in 139 BCE the Temple was repaired, cleansed and
rededicated after being defiled by the Syrian-Greek king Antiochus IV and his armies,
who had tried to forcefully uproot the beliefs and practices of Judaism from
the people of Israel: Jewish worship was forbidden; the scrolls of the Law were
confiscated and burned. Sabbath rest, circumcision and the dietary laws were
prohibited under penalty of death.
All the Temple's oil had also been defiled by the pagan
invaders. When the Jews went to re-light the Temple's Golden Candlesticks, they
could only find one small cruse of olive oil that was ritually pure.
Miraculously, the one-day supply burned for eight days, until new, pure oil
could be obtained. It was because of this miracle that the 8-day festival of Hanukkah
was instituted. For 8 nights, candles are lit to recall and publicize this
great miracle. Hanukkah is mentioned in the New Testament as the feast of
dedication. The Hebrew word Hanukkah means “dedication,” because it celebrates
the rededication of the Holy Temple.
"And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication,
and it was winter." - John 10:22 KJV [Another translation: “It was now
winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of
Dedication.” – John 10:22 NLT]
Jesus compared the Temple to His body. When speaking of the
Holy Temple in Jerusalem, He called it His Father’s house.
"And the Jews' Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up
to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves,
and the changers of money sitting: and when he had made a scourge of small
cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and
poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; and said unto them
that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house
of merchandise.
“And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal
of thine house hath eaten me up.
“Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest
thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
“Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and
in three days I will raise it up.
“Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in
building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of
his body.
“When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples
remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture,
and the word which Jesus had said." - John 2:13-22 KJV
Adam was in the beginning. He was the first man.
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world,
and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have
sinned:" - Romans 5:12 KJV
Jesus is referred to as last Adam. The first Adam was
defiled by sin. The last Adam – Christ - brought holiness back to the temple of
man. Because of the gospel, man could once again be undefiled as first Adam was
before he sinned. (John 10:22,36, Hebrews 7:26, Acts 2:38) Jesus died for our
sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. (1Corinthians 15:1-4) His body
is the temple of God. When we repent, are baptized in Jesus name for the
remission of our sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we become a holy
temple of God.
"And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a
living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit." - 1 Corinthians
15:45 KJV
"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that
the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him
shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." -
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 KJV
"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the
Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your
own?" - 1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV
"And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?
for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in
them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my
people." - 2 Corinthians 6:16 KJV
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