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Commentary on "Rest"
Day 1: Sabbath Afternoon, May 16, 2009
Introduction
The text cited is Mark 2:27, 28:
“Then He said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.’"
The main idea of this study is that the Sabbath is more relevant today for our hurried, hectic lives, than ever before. The above verses are given to emphasize (so we can emulate) Christ’s Sabbath-keeping behavior in the New Testament. The Lord has reiterated to us the need for a Sabbath day because we need the physical and mental rest, all the while using this time to come into God’s presence and focus on Him.
Problems
These verses are in context of unacceptable Sabbath activities by the disciples that the Pharisees were questioning. In context of the New Covenant, ushered in by Jesus, this statement is pointing out how Jesus is superior to arbitrary Sabbath-keeping and that the Old Covenant laws given to the Israelites were now fulfilled and point entirely to Christ. It’s emphasizing that Jesus controls the Sabbath and isn’t controlled by it—He is superior (Heb. 7:18, 22-28). This is not underscoring appropriate Sabbath behavior or reminding us of the importance of the Sabbath day in the New Testament.
We show “resting in Him”, not by physically resting on a calendar day, but by trusting/having faith in His completed work, therefore giving up (resting) relying on my own works to gain merit or earn salvation. Physical and mental rest can be taken care of by a secular vacation. This is referring to a spiritual rest—giving our efforts over to Him.
Summary
- “Lord of the Sabbath” refers to Jesus being “in charge of” and “superior to” the Old Covenant Sabbath day instead of being subjected to/emphasizing Sabbath activity.
- Resting on a specific calendar day is an external action, and it can’t give us the internal peace associated with complete reliance on Jesus’ finished work (Matt. 11:28-30).
- He’s done it all; completed the work. “It is finished!” (John 19:30) We can rest in Him, not for Him.
Copyright 2009 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised May 11, 2009. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
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