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THE LIGHT, THE BOOK, and THE SHEPHERD

A Hanukkah Sermon delivered by Rabbi Stuart Dauermann
at Ahavat Zion Messianic Synagogue Beverly Hills, CA

In 165 B.C.E., the Syrian emperor Antiochus waged a bloody war against the Jews. The Holy Temple was invaded, desecrated and robbed of all of its treasures and many innocent people were massacred. Idols were placed on the Holy Altar, before which Jews were forced to bow down under penalty of death. Antiochus also outlawed the observance of several of Judaism's most sacred traditions, including: the Sabbath (which witnesses that G-d created the world in six days), Rosh Chodesh (which symbolizes our obligation to instill holiness into time, and makes possible the time-related festivals); and Circumcision (which demonstrates that the physical and spiritual must be intertwined). In the small village called Modin (just east of Jerusalem), Mattityahu (patriarch of the priestly Hasmonean clan) challenged Antiochus' troops and those who acquiesced to their demands. With his five sons, they attacked the troops, slew the idolaters and destroyed the idols. With the cry of "All who are with G-d, follow me!," he and the others retreated to the hills, where they gathered forces. Mattityahu's army, now under the command of his son Yehudah Maccabee, grew. With the Biblical slogan "Who is like unto Thee, Oh G-d" emblazoned on their shield, and only 6,000 strong, they defeated a heavily armed battalion of 47,000 Syrians (as well as an even larger army subsequently sent by Antiochus). They proceeded to Jerusalem, liberated it and reclaimed the Temple. Upon rededicating the Temple, they found only one small cruse (sufficient to last only one day) of the pure sacred olive oil necessary to kindle the Menorah lights (it would take eight days to prepare new ritually permitted oil). Undaunted, they lit the Menorah with this small amount of oil and dedicated the Temple anew. Miraculously, the flames of the Menorah shone brightly for eight full days. The following year, our Sages proclaimed the festival of Chanukah as a celebration beginning on the 25th day of Kislev and lasting eight days, in perpetual commemoration of this victory over physical and religious prosecution. (Foregoing historical restrospective from website of Congregation Anshe Emes. Los Angeles, CA)

THE LIGHT

Mishna and Jewish tradition require that we place our Menorahs in places that are clearly visible to the outside world, usually in a window. Just as in Temple times, a even now, Jewish people are to let their Menorahs be seen during the Festival of Lights, so at this season our Messiah reminds us to let our lights shine. This means more than being nice people, it means pointing people the way out of darkness. [Matt 5:14-16; Eph 5:8-14; 1 Thess 5:5]

THE BOOK

The Story of the Maccabees is not in Jewish or Protestant Bibles, although Roman Catholics and some others do include it in theirs. The story of Mattityahu and his sons, and their brave and principled resistance to evil and loyalty to Hashem reads like a Bible story-mirroring the faithfulness and character of Bible characters.

It is recorded in the first Book of Maccabees that Mattityahu, while on his death bed, urged his sons to mirror the highest Biblical and Jewish values in their own lives. In his exhortation, he named eleven figures from OT history whose faithfulness he saw as a model for his sons to imitate. Here is the account of that exhortation from the third chapter of the First Book of Maccabees.

"49 Now the days drew near for Mattathias to die, and he said to his sons: "Arrogance and scorn have now become strong; it is a time of ruin and furious anger. 50 Now, my children, show zeal for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of our ancestors. 51 "Remember the deeds of the ancestors, which they did in their generations; and you will receive great honor and an everlasting name. 52 Was not Abraham found faithful when tested, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness? 53 Joseph in the time of his distress kept the commandment, and became lord of Egypt. 54 Phinehas our ancestor, because he was deeply zealous, received the covenant of everlasting priesthood. 55 Joshua, because he fulfilled the command, became a judge in Israel. 56 Caleb, because he testified in the assembly, received an inheritance in the land. 57 David, because he was merciful, inherited the throne of the kingdom forever. 58 Elijah, because of great zeal for the law, was taken up into heaven. 59 Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael believed and were saved from the flame. 60 Daniel, because of his innocence, was delivered from the mouth of the lions. 61 "And so observe, from generation to generation, that none of those who put their trust in him will lack strength. 62 Do not fear the words of sinners, for their splendor will turn into dung and worms. 63 Today they will be exalted, but tomorrow they will not be found, because they will have returned to the dust, and their plans will have perished. 64 My children, be courageous and grow strong in the law, for by it you will gain honor. 65 "Here is your brother Simeon who, I know, is wise in counsel; always listen to him; he shall be your father. 66 Judas Maccabeus has been a mighty warrior from his youth; he shall command the army for you and fight the battle against the peoples.d 67 You shall rally around you all who observe the law, and avenge the wrong done to your people. 68 Pay back the Gentiles in full, and obey the commands of the law." 69 Then he blessed them, and was gathered to his ancestors. 70 He died in the one hundred forty-sixth year and was buried in the tomb of his ancestors at Modein. And all Israel mourned for him with great lamentation.

Reading about his life and death, and his values, sounds like Bible-even though it isn't.

At this time of year when we think about dedication to G-d, it would help us all to imagine that a sort of Bible story is being written about our lives-and that we have a choice today, right now, to determine which way our own story turns.

Suppose you have been living a pretty sinful life, full of compromise and mediocrity. Then today you have a choice of writing the next paragraph which might say something like this. "And it came to pass that on the 19th day of Kislev, while sitting in synagogue in the City of Beverly Hills, so-and-so, having been smitten by the recognition of his/her sins and the example of the Maccabees, resolved then and there to amend his/her ways. He/she arose from that service as a new person, depending upon the power of the Holy Spirit, and determined to walk in newness of life after the example not only of Mattityahu, Abraham, Joseph, Caleb, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, Daniel and the other heroes of the Tenach, but most importantly, after the example of Yeshua. And so it was that so-and-so arose from that service, transformed and redirected, empowered by the Spirit, committed to Yeshua the Messiah, obedient to the Word of G-d."

Yes, a Bible story is being written about you right now-our tradition speaks of it, and the Scriptures speak of it as well. The Scriptures speak of two books which should concern us today: a book in which our deeds are written, and a book in which our names are written-the Lamb's book of life. However, it is our deeds which are the measure of whether we are serious about believing in Him and belonging to him. That is why, in the Book of Revelation we read [Rev 20:11-13; 21:27; 22:11-15].

The Mishna says it this way: "Consider three things and you will not come into the grip of sin-know what is above you: a seeing eye, a hearing ear, and a book in which all your deeds are recorded."

Illustration: Going into a store or bank which has security cameras. Often they will have a monitor there as well in which you can see yourself. Why is this? To remind you that your deeds are being recorded, and to remind you to behave yourself properly. This truth of which our Scriptures and tradition speaks-of a book being written of our life and deeds-is meant to accomplish the same purpose.

THE SHEPHERD

Read from John 10: 11-5, 22-30. Some Bible commentators suggest that the reason Yeshua referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd here is that in the first century, the haftarah read at this season was from Ezekiel, speaking of Hashem as a shepherd gathering His sheep.

We read here how Yeshua said he is the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. That reminds us of the Lamb's Book of Life-if we are among those who trust in the shepherd who loved us and gave himself for us, then we are in that book.

But what of the other book-the one in which our deeds are recorded? How is it apparent that we are His sheep? In John 10:27, we find the answer: We must follow the Messiah. "My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me"

So for us today, the message of this Feast of Dedication is this: Hashem wants us to lead dedicated lives. We would do well to follow the example of Matityahu and his sons, living for the honor of Hashem and resisting whatever it is in our world which calls us to compromise our highest values.

We would do well to remember to be lights in the world, not hidden under a bushel or in some inner room, but fully visible. Remembering that all our deeds are recorded in a book and that we can determine day by day how the story turns. And remembering our Messiah who loved us and gave Himself for us, leaving us an example that we should follow in his steps.

Let us rededicate ourselves today to being followers of Hashem, followers of the Maccabees and followers of Yeshua during this and every season.

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