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The Miracle of Light: How Hanukkah Points to Jesus and Why I Want to Share It with Your Family When I was a child, our home looked a little different than most
during the holidays. We had a Christmas tree line spacing: One corner and a menorah glowing in another. We celebrated Christmas and Hanukkah, Easter and Passover. My father, who survived the Holocaust, instilled in us the importance of remembering and honoring all traditions. Each holiday held its own light, illuminating our family’s rich tapestry of faith and resilience. Through these shared celebrations, we learned that despite differences, the core values of hope, renewal, and gratitude unite us all. Holocaust after escaping Vienna, Austria in 1939, raised me in a Messianic Jewish home. My mother was a beautiful Gentile woman who joyfully embraced the Jewish traditions in our home. I have fond memories of her praying in Hebrew over the Shabbat candles on Friday nights. My father had come to faith in Jesus as a teenager in St. Louis, Missouri, after coming through Ellis Island from Vienna. To him, believing in Jesus wasn’t a departure from his Jewish roots, it was the fulfillment of them. He used to tell me, “Rachel, Jesus didn’t start a new religion; He completed the story God began with Abraham.” Those words shaped my life and continue to shape my mission today. As I grew older, I realized how much beauty there was in celebrating both the Jewish feasts and the Christian holidays. Each one pointed to the same story - God’s plan to bring light into a dark world through His Son, Jesus. That’s why, through Links to Messiah, I now help families connect the Old and New Testaments in ways that children can understand. One of my favorite ways to do that is through our Hanukkah Box, a family experience that celebrates Hanukkah as the Festival of Lights while pointing to Jesus, the true Light of the World. The Story Behind Hanukkah
The story of Hanukkah isn’t found in the Bible because it happened after the Old Testament was written. Around 165 BC, Israel was under Greek and Syrian rule. The Greeks outlawed Jewish worship and even took over the Temple in Jerusalem, turning it into a place for their idols. But a small group of faithful Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, refused to abandon the God of Israel. They gathered a small army and, against all odds, defeated the powerful Greek forces. When the Israelites reclaimed the Temple, they found it defiled and in desperate need of cleansing. They cleaned, repaired, and rededicated it to God. But when it came time to light the Temple lamp, the eternal flame that symbolized God’s presence, they discovered only enough oil for one night. According to Jewish tradition, that small amount of oil lasted eight full nights which was long enough to prepare more. This is why Hanukkah, or the Feast of Dedication, is celebrated for eight days each year. It’s a time to remember God’s faithfulness and the miracle of His light. Jesus and Hanukkah
Centuries later, Jesus Himself visited the Temple in Jerusalem during Hanukkah (John 10:22). While there, He made a powerful declaration: “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). In that moment, Jesus identified Himself as the very presence of God, the true Light who had come into the world. The Temple was once the place where the Holy Spirit dwelled and where priests interceded for the people. But because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we now have direct access to God. The Holy Spirit no longer dwells in a building, it lives within us (1 Corinthians 6:19). Just as the Maccabees cleaned and rededicated the Temple, we invite Jesus to cleanse our hearts and dedicate our lives to Him (Romans 8:11, Ephesians 2:5). When families light the menorah each night, they can remember that the same God who made the oil last for eight nights is the One who sent His Son to bring eternal light into our world. As Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” Bringing Hanukkah to Life for Families Today
That’s what inspired me to create the Hanukkah Box at Links to Messiah. It’s designed for families, especially those who want to connect the beauty of Hanukkah with the hope we have in Jesus. Inside each box, families will find: • A hands-on guide that tells the Hanukkah story in a child-friendly way • Activities and crafts that teach how Hanukkah points to Jesus • Creative ways to light the menorah together and talk about faith as a family • Fun traditions that children will remember for years to come Every element in the box, every story, every candle, every activity, points to the miracle of light and to the Messiah who fulfills it all. A Legacy Gift for Your Grandchildren
If you’re a grandparent, you already know that what children remember most aren’t the things we buy them but the experiences we share. The Links to Messiah Hanukkah Box is more than a gift. It’s a legacy of faith you can pass down to your grandchildren. It’s an opportunity to teach them that Jesus didn’t erase the story of Israel; He completed it. To show them that God’s light still shines brightly in every generation. And to remind them that they, too, can carry that light into the world. Join the Celebration
This Hanukkah, gather your family around the menorah. Read the story of the Maccabees. Talk about how Jesus is the true Light who never burns out. And as those candles flicker, may your heart be warmed by the same promise my father held onto, that God’s light always triumphs over darkness. Order your Hanukkah Box today at LinksToMessiah.com and give your family a reason to celebrate the Light of the World this season.
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