Wednesday Evening Bible Study Hanukkah vs Christmas 12-25-2024

Today we look at the difference between Hanukkah and Christmas. Both are very Jewish, but their purposes are quite different.
Hanukkah became a Feast to celebrate God giving the Israelites victory over their Syrian enemies in 165 BC. Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated the temple on the 25th of Kislev in 168 BC. The Maccabean revolt followed. Three years later, to the day, on the 25th of Kislev, 165 BC, the Jewish revolts resulted in victory for the Jews and the cleansing and rededication of the temple. Tradition says that there was only enough of the special holy oil to burn in the lamp stand in the Holy Place for one day. However, miraculously it lasted for eight days, the time needed to make a new batch. Consequently, the Feast lasts for eight days. It was referred to as the Feast of Dedication, and we find it mentioned in chapter 10 of John's Gospel.
The purpose of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of the JEWISH Messiah. So you see that both celebrations are very Jewish, but they are because of different reasons.
Hanukkah begins on the 25th of Kislev, and Christmas is on the 25th of December. Often times they are close together on the calendar. This year in fact, they are on the same day.