Memory Verse: Week of June 11th

Week of June 11^th

Matthew 11:28–30

[28] Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] 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. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30 ESV)

[Context:  In Luke 6:5 Jesus referred to himself as the Lord of the Sabbath.  The Sabbath under the Law was a pointer and foreshadowing of the ultimate Sabbath rest who is Jesus.   For Jesus to be Lord of the Sabbath, means that he is God in the flesh and that he is the source of all true and lasting rest (or shalom – complete flourishing in every area).  In Jesus we have ceased from our labours of working for acceptance and enter into an eternal Sabbath rest – to enjoy God and all that He has made – in the new creation.

So to Sabbath is not to simply take an afternoon nap or relax and watch TV or take a vacation; it is finding our joy our satisfaction in the finished work of Jesus who has paid our sin debt in full.  It is to experience the year of Jubilee – that great Sabbath year where all the debts were forgiven and all the slaves set free.  This rest you can have in the midst of your work and service.

We keep the Sabbath by enjoying salvation and resting in Jesus’ love, rather than by simply resting one day a week.  In the Old Covenant the refrain was: Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy,  Now in the New Covenant it is: Do this in remembrance of Me.  Remember Jesus who has made us holy.  He is our Sabbath.  He is our rest.  Come unto Him and you will find a Sabbath rest for your soul. ]