The Dedication

This year, the Gregorian calendar day of the 3rd of December fell on the Jewish calendar day of the 25th of Kislev. (In 2016, the 25th of December fell on 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, Jesus 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

In conclusion, Adam (first Adam) - the original flesh and blood temple of God - became defiled by sin. Christ (last Adam - the holy, undefiled human body of God) provided cleansing of the temple (man) by His death, burial, and resurrection.

We now may also become the temple of God (as in the beginning, before sin entered into the picture) cleansed by repentance, baptism in Jesus name for the remission of sin, and receiving the Holy Ghost (the Spirit of the Father within us).

Christ is the fulfillment of Hanukkah, which is the celebration of the re-dedication of the Temple. Hanukkah begins each year on Kislev 25. The word "Hanukkah" means "dedication."