Auto-generated Transcript:
Hello and welcome to another Five Good Minutes where I answer your theological questions in five minutes or less.
Today’s question: Should Christians celebrate Jewish holidays, such as Hanukkah?
Let’s start by understanding what Hanukkah is. Hanukkah celebrates the Maccabees’ victory over the Greeks and the rededication of the Jewish temple. It marked a time when the Jewish people returned to obeying God’s commands and worship in the temple—a powerful reminder that God had not forgotten His promises, including the promise of a coming Messiah.
These Jewish feasts and festivals—whether it’s Hanukkah, Passover, or others—are historically and biblically significant. They were designed as ways to remember God’s promises to Israel, promises that Christians believe were fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
However, modern Jewish observances of these holidays typically do not include Jesus as the Messiah. So for Christians, celebrating Hanukkah without recognizing Christ misses the point of these events entirely.
There’s actually a mention of Hanukkah in the Bible—John 10:22 refers to “the Feast of Dedication,” which is Hanukkah. Jesus Himself was present during this festival, and the people asked Him directly if He was the Messiah. We no longer need to wonder—we know Jesus is the Messiah and the fulfillment of God’s promises.
As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him.” That includes the promises remembered during Hanukkah and other Jewish feasts.
So, should Christians celebrate Jewish holidays? Not as a way to anticipate a promise that has already been fulfilled. There’s no need to relive the waiting when we know the outcome—Christ has come.
That said, there’s value in learning about these holidays from an educational standpoint, to deepen our understanding of Scripture and how all of it points to Jesus.
If a Christian observes a Jewish feast, it should be with a Christ-centered perspective—glorifying God through Jesus Christ, not simply enjoying the culture or traditions apart from the gospel.
In conclusion:
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Celebrate Jesus, not Jewish ritual apart from Him.
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Use Jewish feasts as teaching tools, not religious obligations.
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Remember the fulfillment, not just the history.
God bless you. Merry Christmas.
This has been another Five Good Minutes.