Episode Transcript
This is holy week, rightly defined. Maundy Thursday we celebrate the institution of the Lord's Supper the night that Christ was betrayed. On Friday, Good Friday, we had a service here. We remember the crucifixion. Today, Sunday, resurrection day, we celebrate the fact that Jesus got up from the grave. His sacrifice vindicated; our resurrection secured. But sometimes Saturday is skipped over.
Saturday, when Jesus laid in the tomb, was a Sabbath day, a day of rest. He was put in a tomb. His body remained there that day on the Sabbath, and that my friends is not coincidence. Nothing in the scripture is. You remember when God made the world? Everybody says, "Yeah." Everybody remember when God made the world?
Yes, Genesis one and the first few verses of Genesis two. You remember the way that the creation account is written by Moses- and there was evening and there was morning, the first day. There was evening, there was morning, the third day, et cetera. How about the seventh one? Here's what it says, Genesis 2:1-3, "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished and all the hosts of them, and on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done. God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.
So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation." What's missing? There isn't any "And there was evening, and there was morning, the seventh day."
It's not in the text. Many Christians before we've been alive have understood this to say something about the Christ who would come to point to something in the future. Consider this- you consider: Jesus laid in the tomb on the seventh day of the week. His work finished, righteousness fulfilled, satisfaction for sin made, redemption accomplished. And then he would rise the next day in order to bring us into the new creation that God has prepared for those who love him.
And Christ's invitation to us is this: come to me all who labor and are heavy laden and I'll give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. We ask this question, should we not seek rest, that it would be well with us?
Beloved, come to Jesus and find it.
Everyday Grace 062
