They should have expected his presence in the midst of their celebration. After all, these were his people and this was his history to remember—an eight-day “festival of lights” commemorating the re-dedication of the temple nearly 200 years earlier.
Rewind the clock those 200 years and you will find a people of God under the oppressive rule of an evil emperor Antiochus IV Epiphanes (a name he gave himself meaning “god manifest”). Antiochus feared the Jewish religious establishment and how it might usurp his power. Instead of allowing the Israelites their continuing, relatively peaceful assimilation into Greek culture, Antiochus imposed greater taxes and restrictions on them. He stole from the Temple; not just the physical treasures that would immediately line his pockets with a temporal wealth, but the spiritual treasures that would rob God’s children of a wealth more precious to them than gold—
Their freedom to worship God in God’s house.
In 165-164 B.C., a Jewish man named Mattathias and his five sons (known as the Maccabees, a Hebrew word meaning “hammer”) led a bloody revolt against the oppression and recaptured the Temple, ending nearly 175 years of Greek rule over Jerusalem. Once restoration of the Temple was complete, the Israelites celebrated its re-dedication on the 25th of Kislev, marking the beginnings of a traditional remembrance that is still practiced today by the Jewish people, a festival known as Chanukkah.
The celebration gets a brief mention in John 10, a seemingly casual inclusion, setting the stage for a showdown between these celebrants of religious tradition and the One who came to be celebrated.
Do you see him there? Walking beneath the magnificent shaded portico that enclosed the outer court of the Temple grounds? Milling with a people he came to complete, yet so few of them understanding their need along these lines?
I see him there, quietly engaging with the moment. His steps are heavy and his eyes are filled with depth … with insight that looks past their tradition and straight into their hearts of emptiness. His feet are dusty, soiled by a day’s walk in a sometimes unforgiving climate. His robes? They comfort him, perhaps even protect him from the cold embrace of others who barely notice his participation.
But then, a few do.
Notice him. Confront him and question him regarding his participation in their festival of lights:
“How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” (John 10:24).
He thought he had … told them plainly regarding the truth of who he is on an early occasion:
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12).
Still and yet, they refused the certainty of Christ’s words, along with his many accompanying miraculous indications. He simply didn’t fit into their festival. Their “lights” stood on a seven-branch lampstand (Exodus 25:31-40). His light stood on a single tree stand. The understanding between the two was a difficult leap for these people entrenched in their tradition.
It still is for many of us … this moving on from the ritualistic and ceremonial worship of our well- meaning traditions to the single-hearted and unbridled worship of the One for whom tradition was instituted. Festivals and feasts were never meant to be an “ends” in and of themselves; rather, they were given to us as a means to that “end”—an avenue to draw our attention and our hearts back to Father God.
Sometimes we, too, get stuck on ritual and on our own festival of lights, all the while negating the Light amongst us. We relegate him to the shadows and to the outskirts of our gatherings in favor of the “show” that’s up front and on stage. Why? Because we’re sometimes more comfortable with the lights we can control rather than inviting the Light his control over us.
Jesus didn’t force the matter 2000 years ago. Instead, he walked in the shadows of a people’s tradition, at least for a season longer. And today, I’m wondering how much longer he will patiently wait in our shadows as we languish in our attempts to mandate worship and the celebration therein? Even as Jesus was their unexpected visitor in Solomon’s Colonnade on that winter day so long ago, I wonder…
Is it the same for us? Do we anticipate Christ’s arrival, or are we surprised when he actually shows up and illuminates our darkness with the Light of his presence? Are we expecting the Son of God, or are we content with imitation?
God is walking amongst our lampstands, friends. His presence is real, and he longs to participate in our celebrations, especially the ones where he is the center of attention and the source of our remembrance. Today, unlike the Maccabees of long ago, we don’t have to “fight” for our freedom to worship in God’s house. There is ample room in our land for our worship; if not in our buildings, then most assuredly within our hearts.
See him there today, lingering in the shadows and more than willing to be the Light in the festival of our worship. The suspense is over. Truth has been revealed. His name is Jesus Christ, and he is the Son of the Living God. May our hearts re-dedicate toward this good and perfect end as we remember. As always,
PS: Join me later this week for “part two” this series when an “unexpected question” from this “unexpected visitor” takes the stage, inviting our dialogue therein.
You always take me on a journey with your post. I so miss be here as frequently as I use to.
So much to share. Our interview for the ministry position was sunday. Pray for us. We are awaiting the leadership teams "word".
You bless me friend!
In His Graces!Pamela
wow — this is why I love coming to your blog… I get FILLED! Thank you so much for always sharing truth and pointing to Jesus with your words! 🙂
Having grown up in a faith that focused on tradition, I know all to well the seemingly cavernous leap from ceremonial/ritualistic to unbridled/single-hearted worship. Even now having tasted the freshness of uninhibited worship, I find myself, at times, retreating to the familiarity of ritual.
May my lampstand burn brighter in His presence. May my worship be honest and true.
Looking forward to Part II, until then I will be feasting on this morsel for a good while.
Shalom,
Denise
Hey! I am so ADD today for some reason! I have bounced all over your posts–How did I miss some of these???
Let's start with today's post…"Do we anticipate Christ’s arrival, or are we surprised when he actually shows up and illuminates our darkness with the Light of his presence? Are we expecting the Son of God, or are we content with imitation?" I think that I am still surprised when He shows up! I pray for His Presence each day to be a part of my life. And when He's in my day, and I actually recognize it….woohoo!! Love it! It's the Jesus that I miss in my busyness that bothers me.
Roll back to Gail and the chick-fil-a story. Wow! You truly stepped out and became the hands of Christ to that precious lady. I don't know if I would have had the courage to do so or not! Thank you, sweet girl, for living the Talk! Your posts fill me also!!
Talk to you soon!
Hugs!
Susan
Beautiful and thought-provoking
So glad I have found your blog – what a thought provoker today! I am so grateful that Christ Himself walks among us….I pray that I am expectant and eager to meet Him – every day!
Looking forward to part II….
It always surprises me when He shines His light on me. It shouldn't, I know, but His glory is always new to me. Simply amazing. Thanks for sharing this, Faith-Elaine!
Wonderful message from Him. I am so glad that I came here today.
Too often, we turn the altar into a stage. We make our worship and our festivals more about the style,
or the music,
or the rituals,
or the volume,
or the five-piece band,
or the hymns.
And we can forget it's not about us at all: It's about God.
Great, great piece, Elaine. Posts about worship/rituals are near and dear to my heart.
Too often, we turn the altar into a stage. We make our worship and our festivals more about the style,
or the music,
or the rituals,
or the volume,
or the five-piece band,
or the hymns.
And we can forget it's not about us at all: It's about God.
Great, great piece, Elaine. Posts about worship/rituals are near and dear to my heart.
my great niece, 2 1/2yo Katie, needs extra prayers …
she's going to the OR today @ 2PM (cleaning infection from her heart-surgery chest incision)
Thanks for keeping her in your prayers…
Wow, what an awesome visual. Praise God for His presence now and always. Welcome Father God, into my life. I will never neglect You. In Jesus' name, amen.
wifeforthejourney:
Thank you for taking the time to develope the insights God gave you a few days ago. This is a piece worthy of your efforts as an author and OUR time as readers.
I'm looking forward to how you will handle the rest of this developing series in the weeks to come.
Love you!
Billy
This is so great Elaine! I do not want to be surprised when He shows up, I want to know He is there always. I dont want the imitation. I want the real thing! Thanks for reminding me.
Loved this post–loved the picture you painted of him waiting for us. Thank you and hope your day is blessed!
I really enjoyed your sharing here Elaine.
This is so true: "It still is for many of us … this moving on from the ritualistic and ceremonial worship of our well- meaning traditions to the single-hearted and unbridled worship of the One for whom tradition was instituted."
I look forward to part 2.
you're so right…there is no other kind of communion other than grace-filled…
we/I so needed to hear and take in ALL His leadings this past week…that altar is a precious place indeed.
(one of my fav pics of dd is when she was in 7th grade)…youth had stayed up all night under the arbor, singing, playing games and just talking about their week and once all the others had gone home around 6am…I still had cleaning and packing to do from the 'tent' to my car and she fell asleep laying on the kneeling bench of the alter in front of the lecturn…'sleeping at His feet…where I always pray she will be' is my subtitle…i think it will always be my favorite 🙂
p.s. thx 4 ur prayers…'katybug' is in cicu, rest and still under major meds following her 'cleansing' surgery…waiting to hear more status…you're one of my angels!!
Wow! God gifted you with the talent to write.
May I never be content with imitation… Forgive me, Lord, when my worship is not all that it should be. May You ever be the very center of it all…
Thanks for painting such a beautiful picture, leading us into that night.
He is there, always. Waiting to be seen and to be known.
He has never failed me ever.
Isaiah 42:16
I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.
Great post~
What a powerful post, Elaine! I sat here, totally engrossed, and then I read this paragraph:
"Sometimes we, too, get stuck on ritual and on our own festival of lights, all the while negating the Light amongst us. We relegate him to the shadows and to the outskirts of our gatherings in favor of the “show” that’s up front and on stage. Why? Because we’re sometimes more comfortable with the lights we can control rather than inviting the Light his control over us."
Can I just shout, "AMEN!" I wish I could post this one where I work. I'll email you to share more.
Oh, Elaine. Incredible insights, and so VERY on target. I am anxious to read the second one (tomorrow, I hope! after sleep for certain!). Ritual must be a means–not the end. That is, at least somewhat, part of MY journey to the cross.