Since this is our first Hanukkah we have been trying to eat some authentic foods. While preparing our grocery list for this week I was surprised to find out that many of the main dishes are fried foods - or, more specifically, food cooked in oil. Foods like Potato Latkes, Brussels Sprout Pancakes, Potato Chip Chicken Tenders, Even dessert with Sufganiyot Jelly Filled fry cakes!
Lots of oil. And it makes sense too! Oil was one of the miraculous provisions from God! Here is an excerpt from the website for “Amen V’Amen.” Amen V’Amen is one of the world’s leading Jewish lifestyle magazines.
“We celebrate the 8 days of Hanukkah to commemorate the miracle that took place in the Jewish temple during the revolt of the Maccabees against Antiochus and the Syrians. As the story goes – when the Maccabees, led by Judah Maccabee, finally liberated Jerusalem and reclaimed the Jewish temple, they used the small amount of oil they had to light the Menorah. Even though the oil was barely enough to last for one day, it miraculously lit the Menorah for 8 whole days…”
Oil is a significant part of the Hanukkah celebration! (And a significant part of my growing waistline!)
Oil also holds a lot of significance in Scripture. More than simply a fuel for the Temple Menorah (Ex. 25:31-40, 27:20)
Olive Oil was used by the prophets to anoint kings as a sign that they were chosen by God to reign over the kingdom (1Sam.16:1). It was used to sanctify the priests, the tabernacle, and the furnishings (Ex.29:7, 40:9) It was used as part of the grain offerings (Lev.2:1-10)
Oil can be a symbol for the presence and power of God - the Holy Spirit. It can be a metaphor for faith. Richness, joy and health are likened to oil and conversely, times of judgement are called the time “the olive oil fails.”(Joel1:10)
During Hanukkah, we are encouraged to use our oil generously. It causes me to think of another lavish use of oil.
One time, Jesus was a guest in the home of a prominent Pharisee alone with His disciples and presumably a number of others. Suddenly, “a woman of the city” (which is a generous way to describe a woman with a pretty colorful lifestyle) hastily invited herself in to the home of the Pharisee carrying an “alabaster flask of ointment”.
This ointment would have made your local dōTERRA or YoungLiving sales reps drool at the sight of it. The ointment, called “nard” or spikenard, was an essential oil derived from Nardostachys jatamansi which is a flowering plant found in the Himalayas.
This woman acquired this flask, presumably a significant quantity, with the intention and intense urgency to bring it to Jesus. Perhaps she purchased this extravagant bottle of perfume with money that was earned as a “woman of the city.” She was brazen in her dedication to bringing this gift to this miracle man. As a “woman of the city, who was a sinner” she could have been dragged out of the Pharisee’s home and beaten or killed. Had she considered the consequences of her bold action? Or was she unafraid of those consequences because she needed to see Jesus?
In tears of devotion, she recklessly poured the oil over the feet of her soon-to-be Savior. The smell would have permeated the room and all of the guests would have filled their lungs with the expensive gift from a sinner to the Savior.
The woman poured out the oil of everything she had, including the possibility of losing her life and received in return forgiveness, love, and acceptance from God through Jesus Christ.
Am I willing to pour out my richest oils at the feet of Jesus? Have I traded my sinful life to worship Jesus regardless of how others will judge me? Have I left self-preservation aside to pour it all out at my Savior’s feet regardless of what a fool I may become?
Or am I like the Pharisee in Luke 7 who took Jesus’ presence at my table for granted. He didn’t offer to wash His feet, no proper welcome, and no oil of anointing.
We should be pouring out our everything at the feet of Jesus. We should be generous with the oils of worship, the oils of devotion, the oils of thanksgiving. Then, He will fill our vessels with the oil of gladness, the oil of His presence, the oil of faith, the oil of healing, the oil of provision.
The woman gave everything and Jesus gave her more!
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