Light Of Life

Light Of Life

Nancy Cupp

The original painting is 

16” x 20” acrylic on canvas

© Nancy Cupp.  All rights reserved.

 

The seven candle menorah was designed according to specific instructions by God to Moses. (Exodus 25:31-40) It was used in the Jewish tabernacle during the time of the Israelites in the wilderness and later in the Temple.  The only light in the Jewish Temple came from the holy menorah, which was lit each evening then cleaned and renewed with a fresh wick and pure olive oil each morning by the priest. The menorah of the temple was made from pure, hammered gold. It had seven candles. The number seven represents God, perfection, and completion. God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. The candles represent the seven attributes of the Holy Spirit. The olive oil represents the Holy Spirit. 

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Hanukkah is called the Festival of Lights or more correctly, the Feast of Dedication. The Seleucid Empire under Antiochus IV Epiphanes, persecuted the Jews and killed those who dared practice Judaism. One country priest refused to sacrifice to false gods, and led the Maccabean Revolt that defeated the Seleucids even though they were outnumbered five to one. On Kislev 25, 165 B.C. they rededicated the Temple after months of cleaning after the pig sacrifices and statue of Zeus. They only found enough holy oil to last one day, yet it lasted eight days. Eight candles are a reminder of the eight days the candles lasted and a helper candle called the shamash which was used to light the other candles. That’s why a Hanukkah menorah has nine candles instead of seven. Did you know that Jesus celebrated Hanukkah? 

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“And it was at Jerusalem the Feast of the Dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.” – John 10:22-23

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On Kislev 25 and December 25 Jews and Christians celebrate God’s light to the world. We are both seeking the coming of the Messiah Ha Mashiach. Anti-Semitism separated the early church from its Jewish roots a long time ago. Many Jews and Christians don’t realize that Jesus was a Jew and raised in a Jewish home. His Hebrew name is Yeshua, which means rescuer or deliverer. Jesus never came to abolish the Law, or holy teachings, but to fulfill the Torah and write it’s teachings on our hearts (Mt. 5:17).

 

Christ was his title in Greek, meaning Messiah, or Anointed One. Yeshua Ha Mashiach, in Hebrew, means Jesus the Messiah. 

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Many menorahs today are designed to look like a tree, which they call the tree of life.  A tree can not live and grow without it’s roots.  Let us never forget that our roots are in Yeshua.  Jews will not say God’s name out loud. Instead they say Ha Shem. Even though roots are usually hidden below the surface, Ha Shem, (“the name” in Hebrew) THEE name, the name above all names is… YESHUA.

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