The only gospels which record any activity on the day after Jesus' death on the cross are Matthew (27:62-66) and Luke (23:56). I only plan to write on the Luke passage. For our convenience, here is Luke's account, Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. (Luke 23:56 NASB)
Now, on the surface you may think, "yeah, so what?" But let's consider what God has in store for us. In the Bible, there are three ways to understand the word "Sabbath." There is the Sabbath God discusses on the seventh day after He created everything in six days (Genesis 2:2; Exodus 20:8-11; Hebrews 4:4). The second Sabbath in the Bible is found in the Promise Land of Canaan (Deuteronomy 12:9; Joshua 21:43-45; Hebrews 3:11). This was Israel's inheritance from God. For New Testament believers, our inheritance can be found in Christ and all He gives to us (Ephesians 1:3ff; 2 Peter 1:3ff; Col 2:10). Finally, there is a third Sabbath known to all believers as Heaven (Hebrews 4:9; cf Revelation 14:13).
While the women of Luke 23 were enjoying the first Sabbath (as defined above), God was resting in His finished work through His Son, Jesus Christ. It is this rest/Sabbath (as defined in #2 above) that God is inviting you and me into today. But in order for us to enjoy this rest, we have to do exactly what rest means - cease or stop all activity, abide; and to continue. In Hebrews 3:7-4:13, there are three ways to abide in the rest (Sabbath of enjoying our Spiritual inheritance in Christ's resources).
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| I will give you rest - Jesus |
1. Be watchful for others - Hebrews 3:7-19. The writer reminds us our rest in the inheritance of Christ is an exercise of faith as was our salvation was an exercise of faith in Christ's death for my sin. But for some in this group were allowing their hearts to harden against God. How does that happen? I had a Prof at Bible College who said, "The same sun which melts the wax, hardens the clay. When we reject (disbelieve) what God says and neglect (forget) what God has done for us, this will lead to a hard heart. Apparently, some of these believers had allowed their hearts to grow hard. So the author of Hebrews directs believers to watch out for this in others. He says this not to beat others up or judge them, but to encourage them (3:13). As you are resting today, is there someone who needs some encouragement in the Lord? Call, write, FaceTime, or connect with them in a meaningful way. Hey, why not pray for them - there's a novel concept, right?
2. Take care of my own heart - Hebrews 4:1-10. Next, the writer reminds each of us that we, too, are not exempt from a hard heart. So he says, "Therefore, let us fear..." (4:1), which can be understood to mean - beware or take care. So, how do we examine our own heart and how do we prevent heart problems in the future? Hebrews encourages us to keep trusting the Word of God as we are reading it, studying it, and/or having it taught to us. The other encouragement is to reflect and take heart in the past works of God in our lives. The Children of Israel saw God rescue them from the Premier Military Power of their day - Egypt. They saw God provide food and water for them in the midst of a desolate wilderness, and they saw God protect them from warring marauders. Yet, on the verge of inheriting the land God promised them, Israel rejected God's promise (Word) and neglected God's past works. Then, they attempted to return to Egypt (you can read this in Numbers 13, 14). Their heart, made of clay, had hardened. Hebrews tells us, don't let that happen; be on guard and be alert to your own heart. Practically, let's consider we enjoy our rest today by reflecting, remembering, and recording the works of God in our lives this past year or just the first three months of 2013. I would encourage us to do so by keeping a journal. Hebrews also tells us to keep receiving and believing the Word of God. Moses clearly told Joshua that God's Word was his life (Deuteronomy 32:47)... and friend, it is our life, too (John 7:37, 38; 10:10; 14:6). The heart of every problem is a problem with my heart. Keep believing, friend, so we enter His rest of all that Christ has given to us!
3. Be ready for God's next move - Hebrews 4:11-13. From the disciples' perspective on that Sabbath, things didn't look good. We find them closed in a room on Sunday when Jesus enters (John 20:19-29). Even after He appeared to them once, Thomas refused to believe until he touched Jesus wound in his hand and side. Paralysis occurs when their is prolonged analysis. I have a friend of mine that says, "change, when left to chance gives birth to conflict." The difference between the disciples on that Sabbath day and 40 days later on Pentecost is very simple: Jesus was raised from the dead! Jesus is alive and that reality empowered and emboldened the disciples and he gives that same powerful resurrected life today to anyone who believes in him. Power is just a portion of Jesus' inheritance he wants to give to us. When the disciples believed Jesus was alive after they saw Him, they were changed men.
That's the difference for us today! We have to believe (rest that) this is true! We have Christ in us and all his resources and qualities, e.g., love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, boldness, etc. Whatever is true of our Savior is true of us, because He is in us, living His powerful resurrected life through us. This, we must believe, if we are to enjoy his rest!
While the disciples were down to nothing, God was up to something. That is exactly what God was doing on that Sabbath in Luke's account... and He began to act on Sunday morning, raising Jesus to a victorious resurrection. And when God seems silent and still in your life, He is really up to something. Remember that!
So, how can we be assured God is up to something in His silence? Hebrews tells us we know from God's past actions in our lives and in the lives of others recorded in the Bible - God's Word. This very Word we read today of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection is the same Word God used to change the lives of those disciples. God has always used His word to change lives. He has not changed that strategy. So, take His Word, read it, believe it. It is His word which changes lives (Hebrews 4:12, 13). It is His word that contains life!
So, while you are enjoying your "Sabbath:" Be watchful for others, giving encouragement and support to any heart that may show signs of disbelief. Take care of your own heart, reviewing the great works of God in your life, while reading his promises for you today. Remember to record both His works and His promises. Finally, Be ready for God's next move... get ready to join Him as He uses His Word to display His life through you, so He changes lives around you!
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