On this fifth night of Chanukah, we rejoice in our miracle-working Lord.
Messianic Jewish Chanukah Blessings
Place five candles in the chanukiah tonight, setting them in the holders from right to left. As you light the Shamash, or Servant Candle, recite the Messianic Jewish Chanukah blessings:
Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and has given us Yeshua the Messiah, the Light of the World.
Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time.
Candle Lighting
Using the Shamash, light the Chanukah candles in the opposite direction from which you placed them in the holders. Light them from left to right. Return the Shamash to its place. Let the candles go out on their own. They should burn for a least half an hour.
Devotion
In the Chanukah story, we see various aspects of the Lord’s character. He is light. He is victorious. And tonight, we honor Him as our miracle-working God. After taking back the Temple from Antiochus IV, the Jewish priests yearned to cleanse and set everything right inside it. But they discovered there was not enough purified oil for the Temple menorah to burn as God had commanded. In faith, they lit the lampstand, and God did a miracle. One night’s worth of oil burned for eight nights until they could produce and consecrate more.
Nothing is impossible for the Lord (Mark 10:27), and when He interjects His supernatural power into the natural order of things in our world, it leaves us awestruck. We are amazed, grateful and honored to be a witness to His miracle. We worship Him.
And He is glorified. Eyes that didn’t care to see Him take a second look, reconsidering their relationship to His wonder-working, all-powerful Lordship.
At Chanukah, we exalt the God of miracles. We marvel at His power and humbly praise Him that He loves us enough to supernaturally intervene according to His will.
From the Lord’s Word
Who is like you, Adonai, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, awesome in praises, doing wonders? ––Exodus 15:11
Blessed be Adonai Elohim, God of Israel, who alone does wonders. ––Psalm 72:18
You are the God who performs miracles; You display your power among the peoples. ––Psalm 77:14 NIV
I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago. ––Psalm 77:11 NIV
When Yeshua came near the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began to rejoice. They praised God with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen. —Luke 19:37
Prayer
Lord, You are awesome, indeed. Your Word is filled with Your mighty wonders. We do well to remember them and praise You anew for them. Thank You for reaching into the natural order of things in this world and performing the miraculous as You see fit. May each miracle glorify You and draw all who witness to worship You through Jesus the Messiah.
