There are a few reasons given for why Chanukah obtained the name Chanukah. The Bnei Yissaschar explains the name is related to the word chinuch, to teach and train. He has many variations on this relationship but the point of all of them as summarized by Rav Zevin in Hamoadim B'halacha is that Chanukah is a preparation for the light of moshiach. Chanukah is a glimpse of the days of the future, it is a training ground for the days of the future, but the war isn't over. The Chanukah lights serve as a flicker of light from the futureת as Rav Pinchas Koretzer said, the lights of Chanukah contain the light of moshiach.
The holy Piaseczna hy"d in the intro. to Chovas Hatalmidim says that the word chinuch doesn't just mean to teach, it means to consecrate, to bring out the innate kedusha. That is a job of a mechanach, to bring out the kedusha from within the student. The teacher isn't supposed to beat the pupil over the head with information, he should bring out the talents from within the student. A teacher is like a farmer, he can't beat the ground and expect it to produce, he must cultivate the ground and allow it to produce. Rashi says in Behaloscha, שתהא השלהבת עולה מעליה, the student's power shouldn't be attached to the meachanach, s/he should have their own fire developed so that they can light up the world on their own.
Chanukah functions as our teacher. The neros speak to the neshama, נר ה' נשמת אדם, and arouse its hidden power to be able to overcome the challenges hurtled at it.
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