The Shamash candle, used to light the candles of the Hanukkah Menorah, is not counted, or recognized, and has no special blessing associated with it. Its purpose is to serve.

Messiah Yeshua/Jesus came as the suffering servant (Isa. 53). The life in Him is the light of life for those who receive Him (Jn. 1:4, 12-13; Matt. 5:14). He exampled for us righteousness, truth, purity and holiness; and in Him we discern, receive, and reflect His light to the world (Matt. 5:15-16).

He modeled for us servanthood, as He gave completely. So as we use the servant light over these eight nights, let us meditate on the miracle of His life touching and transform our lives and the lives around us; and as we imitate Him, we serve as He served, and we do so for the blessing of each candle, on each night, leading to that new beginning in the lives reached by His wooing Spirit.

“ … Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:26-28).

Without the Shamash no other candle will be lit, and the miracles cease. It quietly does what it has been purposed to do, and illuminates the miracle for others. Who lights the servant candles today but Yeshua/Jesus Himself. In Him not only do we receive the miracle, but we serve, humbled, unnoticed, as His blessing shines forth across the generations.

The servant candle can be summed up in the words of Yeshua: “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matt. 10:8).

Happy Hanukkah.