Yesterday we celebrated the death of our Lord and Saviour, a horrible experience that He went into with joy in His heart, “He saw the joy ahead of him, so he endured death on the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought him...” (Hebrews 12:2b GW).
Just what was it that He saw ahead of Him that brought Him so much joy?
He saw you and I—US!—reigning with Him for eternity! Without the cross this would not have been possible, for “The payment for sin is death…” (Romans 6:23a GW See also Romans 3:23). For Jesus, there was no greater joy that to see us saved (See Luke 15:7a)! .
Tomorrow we will celebrate the greatest achievement in history: The resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because of His resurrection, a resurrection that brings us new birth and new life: “God has given us a new birth because of his great mercy. We have been born into a new life that has a confidence which is alive because Jesus Christ has come back to life.” (1 Peter 1:3 GW), we have a “once-for-all” victory, a defining, history-shaping act that conquered death forever. It’s the turning point of eternity!
So with yesterday celebrating Jesus’ death on the cross, and tomorrow celebrating His resurrection, what about… today? The day between these two mighty acts?
The only thing that the Bible tells us about that historic Saturday was that the people—rested! Jesus was brought down from the cross before nightfall, and the women didn’t even anoint Jesus’ body but waited until Sunday… (See John 19:31, Mark 16:1).
It was like this: There is major excitement leading up to Jesus’ burial, and there is major excitement when He is resurrected, but that time in between is for—rest!
This, however, raises an interesting question: Just what does Biblical “rest” look like?
The Bible is full of clues. Here are a few:
1. Hebrews 4:6-10: “So God’s rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God. So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted: ‘Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.’ Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come.So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world.” (NLT)
This very vital passage on rest in Jesus teaches us that putting aside one day of the week isn’t enough! It is more about resting our hearts in Him.
2. Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.Place my yoke over your shoulders, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble. Then you will find rest for yourselvesbecause my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (GW)
The way to access rest is to come to Jesus and give Him our burdens.
3. Jeremiah 6:16a: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.” (NLT)
When we live the way the Lord has directed us to live in His Word, we find rest.
4. Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” (NLT)
When our thoughts are fixed on Jesus, we find rest, not just any rest, but the rest of perfect peace!
5. Psalms 23:2-3: “He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.” (NLT)
When we allow the Lord to be our shepherd, when we give Him our worries and surrender our fears, He brings us peace, rest, guidance and renewed strength.
6. Philippians 4:6-7: “Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.” (GW)
What is rest, anyway, if it isn’t having peace of mind? We cannot rest in the Lord while we are worried about things; but when we tell God what we need and thank Him for what He is about to do, that peace comes over us!
6. John 16:33: “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (NLT)
Rest isn’t about absence of trouble. It’s about resting in the One Who overcame the world.
And that One Who overcame is the One we are celebrating this weekend. Let’s spend this special day, the one that falls between Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, basking in the rest that He came to give us.
Any while you are at it, why not try this every day of the week?
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart
Author, Moderator, Acting Director, Answers2Prayer Ministries
