Community on Columbia

Jewish expectation of a coming Messiah was high when Jesus was brought to the Temple to be presented (Luke 2:25). A pious man named Simeon had been “waiting for the consolation of Israel” and knew he had found Him when he saw the baby Jesus. The prophet Isaiah had spoken of this consolation or comfort centuries before.

Notes on Isaiah 40:1-8

The eight-day feast of Hanukkah, a festival of lights, occurs in the darkest time of year. It commemorates the rededication of the Temple in 165 B.C. after it was cleansed by Judas Maccabeus when the Jews prevailed against the Seleucid Greeks of Syria. In the New Testament it is referred to as the Feast of Dedication.

Jewish tradition says that when the special oil for the Temple lamp stand could not be obtained in time, Judah Maccabeus took a step of faith (and a risk) by lighting the lamp with only one day’s supply of oil. It burned miraculously for eight days until the extra oil arrived.

Many scholars place the time of the Annunciation of the angel to Mary and the conception of Christ (rather than his birth) at this time of year, and the festival contains numerous types and foreshadowings of Christ’s coming.

Memo on Hanukkah

Notes on Hanukkah and the Humility of Mary

The Feast of Tabernacles is a festival of light and joy. The spiritual meaning of the feast is expressed in a number of types – the booth, the ethrog and lulav, the lighting of the lamps, the water-and-wine-pouring ceremony, wearing of white garments, the 7-day Jewish wedding and the final eighth-day meal. Jesus fulfilled all these pictures (See John 7:37-38, 8:12).

Memo on the Feast of Tabernacles

More Notes on the Feast of Tabernacles