The Dedication Part 4

One characteristic of the Gospel and the Kingdom of God is that it multiplies.

Multiplication of lights is also a characteristic of the Hanukkah celebration.

The Hanukkah lights are lit the first one the first night, the first one again and the second one the second night, the first and second ones again and third one on the third night, and so on. If you notice and count how many times lights are lit, it is not simply eight lights; rather it is a multiplication of lights.

Over the course of eight nights, there are lights lit thirty two times, steadily increasing the number and brightness of the Chanukah lights from night to night.

In this way, the Hanukkah lights are a metaphor of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus began with twelve disciples.

"And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease." - Matthew 10:1 KJV

On the Day of Pentecost, in the upper room there were one hundred twenty disciples.

"And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples… (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)" - Acts 1:15 KJV

When they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, Peter preached the gospel and three thousand were added.

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." - Acts 2:41 KJV

Two chapters later, five thousand were added.

"Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand." - Acts 4:4 KJV

And they kept multiplying.

"And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith." - Acts 6:7 KJV

"Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied." - Acts 9:31 KJV

God’s Holy Spirit was poured out and the children of light were multiplied!

"But the word of God grew and multiplied." - Acts 12:24 KJV