Working While We Rest

In Hebrews 4, the writer revisits the creation account in which God worked for 6 days and rested on the 7th. He goes on to parallel this account with the gospel, that those who have not hardened their hearts, but have received the good news, also rest from their works as God did from his (Hb. 4:10). In other words, we no longer work in an attempt to secure good standing with God. This is a free gift in Christ. 


In John 5:1-18, we have a picture of the gospel played out before us. An invalid among a host of invalids. No hope. Yet Christ picks him out of the entire group and heals him. Christ then instructs him to take up his bed, which, according to the religious leaders, was one-and-the-same as breaking the law of the Sabbath (vs. 10). This man was potentially facing some sort of censure by the religious leaders.

But Jesus in his goodness and lovingkindness went and found this man and commissioned him to sin no more (probably meaning to avoid a lifestyle of sin) to remind him that he was still in good standing with God. (Jesus IS God, after all! Note verse 18.)  

Ironically, in verse 17, Jesus makes a scandalous statement: "My Father is working until now, and I am working."  Jesus admits that he is working on the Sabbath! But because he is God of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8), he can do as he pleases. Besides, according to Mark 2:27, the man wasn't made for the Sabbath. The Sabbath was made for man! So it is totally consistent with Scripture and God's scruples that Jesus healed on the Sabbath! God wants to restore and heal his precious sheep, not bind them to laws.

But this is an amazing picture of sanctification, as well. This man was healed on the Sabbath, as I already pointed out. And in the midst of his resting, God transformed his life. So we too should remember that as we serve God, we must do so from a perspective of relying on him, always remembering that we are clean before God - even on our worst day! We don't have to work to receive God's favor. We've got it through faith alone, by his grace alone. 

Jesus is sooo good! He works while we rest! 

Created over 1 year ago