While I was in Guanajuato, Mexico, I learned about how the pastor there had received a very grim cancer diagnosis a couple of years ago.  Every doctor the pastor saw not only gave the same news but an even worse prognosis.  The situation looked grim; however, he and his congregation continued to pray.

After rounds of chemotherapy, the pastor visited a specialist in the United States who agreed with the original prognosis but also decided to take his case to a medical review board.  He returned to the pastor confused.  “This cancer seems to check every box of your diagnosis, but we can’t figure out why it has responded to chemotherapy – not to mention the antiquated chemotherapy you’ve received in Mexico.  The type of cancer we originally thought it was wouldn’t do that.”

When the pastor saw another doctor shortly after, she confirmed that this wasn’t the type of cancer they had been originally diagnosed.  In fact, the cancer cells were already dead.  He was completely healed.

Miracles are central to the Judeo-Christian faith, and God many times commanded the retelling of them so people would hear the testimony of His work.  Tonight, many will begin celebrating Hanukkah.  Central to this Festival of Lights is the phrase “nes gadol hayah sham” – “a great miracle happened there.”  The story of Hanukkah revolves around the Maccabean revolt found in the apocryphal book of Maccabees, but it also focuses on an added tradition that one day of Temple oil lasted for eight days.

In John 10, we read that Jesus Himself was in Jerusalem for Hanukkah (the Feast of Dedication).  It was there that the Jewish leaders began pressuring Him and even threatened to stone Him.  Jesus responded by challenging them to look at His miracles.  “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?   Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”

How fitting that Jesus said this.  It’s almost as if Jesus was challenging the Pharisees that if they were so willing to believe a tradition that may or may not be true, why would they deny the miracles that they had seen with their very eyes?

I think many hear the word “miracle” and like the Pharisees become instantaneously skeptical, as though they must find a scientific understanding to what occurred.  It’s easy to look at the story of the pastor healed of cancer and just say, “Oh, well, he was just misdiagnosed… by many, many doctors.”  In fact, I used to think that the presence of science negated the need for a miracle.  It’s almost as if I thought, “Do we really need God since we have such incredible scientific medicine?”  How many times have we neglected to credit God because we think that the healing was done totally by a doctor or a vial of medicine?  But as I’ve seen God choose to use me and work in me despite my lack of ability, I find myself crediting God more and more.  “Thanks God for doing that miracle.  And thanks for being a God that invites others into Your miraculous work.”  The Pharisees remind us that no matter how obvious God’s work is, acknowledging Him is a choice of perception.

I was reminded of that as I spoke with a woman in our congregation in the middle of a battle with cancer.  As we talked the other day, she exuded joy, joking about how her wig made her look younger and sharing the good news about how the cancer has already shrunk 30%.  She explained how this experience has caused her to lean on Jesus, who absolutely can do anything He chooses.  Moved by her attitude and perception, I shared with her the story of the Mexican pastor healed from cancer.  It almost seemed like God had showed me that story to encourage this dear woman.

I think it’s fitting that this year Hanukkah begins around the time of Thanksgiving – something it rarely does.  Hanukkah is a celebration of God’s provision, and during Thanksgiving we remember all that God has done for us.  Let me encourage you to share with others the miracles that God has done for and around you.  You never know how God will perpetuate His work and use it to change lives.   I learned that lesson a couple of weeks ago as I preached in Mexico.  I shared the story of two children, Joseph and Alannah, who suffered through surgery on the same night and came through by God’s faithful hand.   Nine people who heard of God’s work came forward to receive Jesus that day.  God had miraculously healed two children one night and some days later in a place far away, He used His miracle to save nine more.

This Thursday, as children dress in all sorts of costumes and go around the neighborhood collecting candy, many in the church will once again ask, “Is celebrating Halloween okay?”

Many have taken various stances on this issue. Some join in trick-or-treating. Trying to avoid celebrating it as the world does, some churches hold events for kids. A pastor I know would take his son and invite others to Chuck E. Cheese to play games. One person told me how his family would turn off all the lights and sort of hide in their own home, ignoring the knocks at the door.

We often times talk about how the world has hijacked certain Christian holidays. They’ve taken Christ out of Christmas and inserted a goofy bunny into Easter. But if we were to dig into history, we discover that these “Christian” celebrations were actually once pagan holidays. With the spread of Christianity, came a desire to redeem these secular celebrations and give them a new meaning.

Halloween is no exception. Once a very pagan Celtic celebration, the church introduced a new tradition of remembering the saints and martyrs – the faithful departed. The night before All Hallows Day (or All Saints Day) became known as Hallows Eve (or Halloween). Over time, remembering the impoverished souls became part of the tradition, and poor children would go door-to-door collecting food called “soul cakes.” As Halloween spread, other traditions were introduced, and we see much of its negative aspects in our secular society.

As a child, I grew up celebrating Halloween, though Karlene’s family did not. For me, I never thought it was a big deal. I’d go around, collect candy, and then come home and indulge in a sugar binge. In fact, I loved the idea of free candy so much, I trick-or-treated until I was 15.

When we got married, Karlene researched Halloween, and we decided that if we were going to participate, we would do it purposefully. We read about the origins of the pagan celebration and what the church did to redeem it and point it to Christ. So we decided that instead of just celebrating Halloween as the world did, we would redeem it.

When Annalía was two, we told her about the story of the poor children who went around the neighborhood collecting soul cakes and praying for the saints. At each house, our daughter held out her bag, received candy, and then returned a blessing. “God bless this house,” she said. You can imagine the adorable sight of a little two-year-old swimming in a monkey costume pronouncing blessings. Thursday, we’ll continue the tradition with all three of our kids. It may seem like a small gesture, but we see it as teaching our children the power of prayer walking.

Please don’t take this message as a pastor trying to convince you to celebrate Halloween. I think that is an issue better left to your own conscience. Rather than take a stance on whether one should or shouldn’t celebrate Halloween (there are plenty of articles you can read if you would like to be convinced one way or the other), I’m going to take a similar position that Paul took regarding eating unclean meat. If you regard Halloween as the devil’s holiday, then don’t celebrate it. But whatever you do this Thursday, whether it’s trick-or-treating, going to an alternative location, or turning off all your lights and watching a movie, use it as an opportunity to glorify and honor God. Every moment of our life is an opportunity for redemption. What we choose to do on October 31st is no different.

In this New Hope Video Reflection shot in Ephesus, Justin talks about the significance of inscriptions written on stone in ancient times, and why God is doing something different in us today.