Should Christians celebrate Chanukah?

Tonight was the last night of Chanukah. I’ve eased into celebrating the holiday over the past several years, but this was the second year that I really observed it. As a gentile Christian, it may seem strange at first why I’d be interested in celebrating this holiday that may appear to be an alternative to Christmas. But I would say that it’s very fitting for Christians to celebrate Chanukah too. Here are a few reasons I can think of:

1. Jesus celebrated Chanukah. A fun fact is that the only place in the Bible that explicitly mentions Chanukah is the New Testament in the Gospel of John. “At that time the Feast of Dedication [Chanukah] took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Yeshua was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon.” (John 10:22-23). At a time when everyone was celebrating God’s miracles, Jesus makes a bold declaration that his own miracles speak to him being the Messiah and one with God Himself.
2. Chanukah is a holiday that celebrates God’s miracles. God provided supernaturally by enabling the oil for the menorah to last 8 days while the Temple was being rededicated after its defilement by Antiochus IV Epiphanes. As I prayed this week thanking God for his “miracles, wonders and salvation in those days in this time,” I was reminded that God is still active today, and He still works miracles. He was faithful in ages past and will continue to be today.
   "Our God, our help in ages past,
   Our hope for years to come,
   Be Thou our guard while troubles last,
   And our eternal home."
   (Isaac Watts, 1718)
   
3. Themes of light defeating darkness are always good reminders of God’s faithfulness. God saved His people Israel yet again from physical and spiritual destruction, and he will continue to be Israel’s savior. Just as the sages say “a little light dispels much darkness,” John begins his account of the life of Jesus by declaring “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5). 

So can you celebrate Chanukah and Christmas together? They are different holidays celebrating different events but I think they complement each other well. Chanukah celebrates deliverance from evil that would not allow us to worship God. Rather than assimilate into the ways of this world, we rise up and shine the light of God into the darkness. Jesus (Yeshua) came as the light of the world. On Christmas we celebrate the light shining out into darkness and the darkness not being able to overcome it. The birth of Messiah is Joy to the world and enables us to "arise and shine for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you... And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising." (Isaiah 60:1,3)

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. ... For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:2,6)

Happy Chanukah and Merry Christmas!