Mistaken Identity:
Tonight at sundown begins the celebration of Hanukkah in which Yeshua and his disciples celebrated in John 10:22. It is called the Festival of Dedication or the Festival of lights. We’re celebrating Hanukkah because it is about miracles. The miracle of the candelabra in the Temple that stayed lite even when there was only enough oil for one day. But through God’s multiplication miracle the lamp stand stayed lite for eight days. The Christmas Story goes along with Hanukkah for it was in the winter of Festival of Dedication Mary was conceived by the Holy Spirit with the Christ child. I am reminded the Story of the birth of Yeshua is all about MISTAKEN IDENTITY. In Matthew 1:17, Matthew writes about the genealogy of Yeshua. There were 14 generations from Abraham to David, fourteen generations from David until Babylonian captivity and fourteen generations from Babylon to Christ.
“So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.” Mt. 1:17
You may be like me and have missed this number fourteen thing before. Holy Spirit recently had me read and study why Matthew wrote his genealogy like this. The number 14 in scripture is a picture of Holy Spirit working on this earth through out history to fulfill God’s promises. After three sets of 14 generations beginning with Abraham and going through the time Jesus shows up is about God keeping His promise.
Fourteen is the numerical number for the name of David.
The numerical number of “gold” and “hand” is the number 14.
When you think of all the generations it took to keep the promise of the Messiah think about this, The word “to bear” and the word “shepherd” are used 14 times in the New Testament. HE HAS TO SHEPHERD HIS PEOPLE FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION TO BEAR THE PROMISES OF GOD.
In the book of Proverbs the expression “the fear of the Lord” occurs 14 times. Finally the words “forgiveness and merciful” are found 14 times in the Bible.
This Hanukkah let’s consider Jesus’s Mistaken Identity here on earth. He is Born in Bethlehem (house of bread) Lives in Nazareth (the place of Shame). He is suppose to be from Bethlehem and is known from Nazareth. He is born to a peasant girl and when the Angel tells her she has been highly favored, Mary questions the Angel is talking to the correct person. She didn’t see heaven’s identity for herself.
Then His Family has to move to Egypt for 12 years to escape Yeshua being murdered by King Herod. When Joseph finds out his fiancé is pregnant he sent her away not to be shamed and stoned.
He is not received by His own family as the Son of God, the Messiah. They don’t even recognize Him. King Herod ask Him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” The government doesn’t even recognize who He is. He asked His disciples, whom do men say that I am? Who do you Say that I am?” And On the cross they place His name and title, The King of the Jews of Nazareth. Again, mistaken Identity for Herod was He was called the King of the Kings. Rome couldn’t recognize Him as King.
The story of Hanukkah is, even though the world doesn’t recognize your identity HEAVEN DOES and that is what counts. As you celebrate Hanukkah tonight by lighting the first candle remember the song by Mark Lowry, “Mary Did You Know:”
Mary did you know
That your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know
That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you’ve delivered
Will soon deliver you
Mary did you know
That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know
That your baby boy will calm a storm with His hand?
Did you know
That your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby
You’ve kissed the face of God
Mary, did you know?
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
And the dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb
Mary did you know
That your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know
That your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy is heaven’s perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you’re holding
Is the Great I Am
Oh, Mary, did you know?
Wellspring Israel 