"So," my husband asks, "where do you find Hanukkah in the Bible?" We're in a warm inviting kitchen, sharing latkes with a few new friends, including one from Israel. No one answers, everyone thinking. All of us there know the story, of course, but is it even in the Bible? A few hesitant guesses and finally he says, "John." There is a moment of confusion. John? As in, the New Testament John? It's true! In John 10:22 we find Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem during the Feast of Dedication, the translation of Hanukkah. How strange for some people to find Jesus in Hanukkah!
Not so strange for my husband who grew up knowing he is Jewish and that Jesus is his Jewish messiah. Nor for me who was raised knowing that my Christian faith is both founded on and informed by the Jewish traditions that Jesus would have celebrated. And so my children grow knowing that they are both Jewish and followers of Jesus. They celebrate Easter and Passover, Lent and Shavuot, Purim, Advent, Christmas and Hanukkah. What a blessing to find Jesus in so many places!
"So," my husband asks, "where do you find Hanukkah in the Bible?" We're in a warm inviting kitchen, sharing latkes with a few new friends, including one from Israel. No one answers, everyone thinking. All of us there know the story, of course, but is it even in the Bible? A few hesitant guesses and finally he says, "John." There is a moment of confusion. John? As in, the New Testament John? It's true! In John 10:22 we find Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem during the Feast of Dedication, the translation of Hanukkah. How strange for some people to find Jesus in Hanukkah!
Not so strange for my husband who grew up knowing he is Jewish and that Jesus is his Jewish messiah. Nor for me who was raised knowing that my Christian faith is both founded on and informed by the Jewish traditions that Jesus would have celebrated. And so my children grow knowing that they are both Jewish and followers of Jesus. They celebrate Easter and Passover, Lent and Shavuot, Purim, Advent, Christmas and Hanukkah. What a blessing to find Jesus in so many places! 
What a rich heritage your family shares. Yes, it is a blessing to find Jesus in so many places!
ReplyDeleteIndeed, your children are richly blessed!
ReplyDeleteI love the way your life weaves the old and new testaments together. A lovely post. Thank you.
ReplyDelete