One generation will commend your works to another;
Psalm 145:4-7
they will tell of your mighty acts.
They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
They will celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
A few years ago I told my small group that at our next meeting we would discuss “that December holiday mentioned in the Bible.” What do you think we talked about? Hanukkah, of course! While the events that Christmas remembers are in the Bible, there isn’t even a hint at a holiday remembering it. While the story of Hanukkah is told in the Apocryphal book of 1 Macabees, John 10 tells of Jesus going to Jerusalem during Hanukkah. I guess that means there’s more Biblical backing for celebrating Hanukkah than Christmas.
What’s important, however, is what each of these holidays commemorates. Hanukkah remembers the dedication of the Temple after it had been desecrated by the Greeks. They were free to worship the Lord again. Christmas remembers God sending his Son to earth, to dwell among us, to show us how to live, and to pay the price for our sins. God has blessed us so immensely. Our response should be to praise him and celebrate!