How do we as the new covenant people of God, obey the Sabbath command today? Well, before we can even begin to answer this, we must first recognize the one who has already fulfilled it. In my sermon on Mark 2:23–28, I observed that Jesus fulfills the old covenant Sabbath command. Paul describes sabbaths, along with other ritual observances, as “a shadow of the things to come” but, Paul continues, “the substance belongs to Christ” (Col 2:16–17). The Sabbath command was the shadow. The person of Jesus makes up the substance of Sabbath rest. Jesus heralds this reality when he issues a clarion call in Matthew 12:28 to come to him for rest.

Matthew 11:28 — Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

The old covenant Sabbath command in its redemptive historical context points to Jesus, who fulfills the Sabbath through the “greater salvation rest”[1] he offers. Let’s briefly trace this remarkable reality in Scripture.

 

Jesus Fulfills the Sabbath

Jesus’ fulfillment of the Sabbath fits naturally with the reasons for the Sabbath command in the Law. Exodus 20:8–11 roots the Sabbath command in God’s example of resting and enjoying his very good creation work in Genesis 2:1–3.

Exodus 20:8, 11 — “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy…For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

God rests after all his creation work is done, the culmination of which was man. Therefore, God’s rest nestles neatly into the context of covenant relationship. But man broke his joyful, covenant communion with God, and forfeited his right to join God in his rest. Therefore, God moves to rescue and restore man back into covenant relationship with him. For this reason, we also see God’s redemption of Israel out of Egyptian slavery as the reason for the Sabbath command in Deuteronomy.

Deuteronomy 5:15 — You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

The common denominator in both of these variations of the same command (Exodus 20:8–11 and Deuteronomy 5:15) is this — God’s people will have rest because God brought them into covenant relationship with him. We experience this covenant rest by God’s grace and mercy, not because we have somehow worked hard enough to earn it. And, what the old covenant Sabbath command prefigured, Christ fulfills.

Jesus, declares that he alone provides rest (Matthew 11:28), for he is Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28; Matthew 12:8). In and through Jesus, God redeems us to bring us into his rest that he modeled and intended for us at creation. Therefore, we are to eagerly desire and embrace the rest that God has graciously given. This is the point of Hebrews 4:9–11.

Hebrews 4:9–11 — So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

In its larger context in Hebrews, this passage recalls Psalm 95, which points back to the rebellion and “disobedience” of the Israelites on multiple occasions. However, the most striking act of rebellion and the reason they are cursed to wander the wilderness for forty years is their refusal to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 14). The freshly redeemed Israelites stand on the doorstep of the Promised Land. Yet, rather than believe that God will deliver them from their enemies and give them the land, they give in to unbelief. Moreover, they desire to return to Egypt — to slave labor. The call of Hebrews 4:9–11, then, is to not be like that generation. We must believe in God’s salvation through Jesus, and enter into the salvation rest he offers.

So back to our original question. How do Christians obey the Sabbath command? Well, Jesus fulfills the Sabbath. Therefore, we rightly fulfill the Sabbath command by virtue of our union with Jesus. Stephen Wellum very helpfully works through Scripture to fit the Sabbath command in its biblical theological context. After doing so, he offers this: “Christians ‘obey’ the Sabbath by entering into the rest it typified and predicted—salvation rest in Christ.”[2] In Christ, we experience Sabbath rest continually. What does this look like?

 

What Does it Look Like to Rest in Jesus?

What does resting in Jesus look like? Well, taking our cues from Matthew 11:28 and Hebrews 4:9–11, we are to come to Jesus, and we are to strive to enter the rest and salvation offered by Jesus. It is often easier for us to conceptualize tangible, physical ideas of rest rather than these rich spiritual realities of redemptive rest no matter how wonderful they may be. But here I offer three ways to rest in the salvation we have through Jesus.

 

Cease Toiling!

Resting in Jesus means we stop toiling to earn our salvation. First, Matthew 11:28 commands those who labor to come to Jesus for rest. This word, labor, pops up throughout Scripture. Often, it occurs in the context of wearisome toil. Here in our passage, it communicates the idea of wearily toiling to earn right relationship with God. But we do not earn the affections of God, rather the knowledge of God and our relationship with him are granted to us by grace through Jesus. Jesus says, “no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him” (Matthew 11:27). This immediately precedes Jesus’ open invitation to come unto him and receive salvation rest. Taken together, this means cease your toilsome working to earn your way to God, and come to Jesus who graciously reveals him to you!

The Pharisees personify this toilsome, futile, self-righteous labor. Immediately following Jesus’ call to rest in him, we see the Pharisees attempting to heap the toilsome burdens of legalism upon the disciples with regard to Sabbath keeping (Matthew 12:1–8). Jesus responds by making clear that true Sabbath rest comes through him and the mercy he offers as Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:7–8). Therefore, do not toil for salvation. Just receive it through Jesus.

 

Don’t Fear! Believe!

Resting in Jesus means we do not fear, but trust God to keep us secure. Similarly to Matthew 11:28, Hebrews 4:9–11 exhorts: “strive to enter that rest” which Jesus offers. Yet there is an added dimension. Recall, this passage points us back to the Psalm 95 and the rebellion of the Israelites in Numbers 14. The Israelites feared the Canaanites who occupied the promised land. They did not trust God to deliver them from their enemies. Therefore, the Israelites desired to return to Egypt. They thought it offered greater security, even if it meant slavery. If they would have returned, they would certainly have died in bondage. Furthermore, they would have missed out on all the riches and life God had promised them. Psalm 95 contrasts this fearful disobedience due to unbelief with the dual reality that God “is the rock of our salvation!” and “we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand” (Ps 95:1, 7). Translation: God will deliver us from our enemies and provide for our every need as a shepherd. David heralds this glorious reality in Psalm 27:1.

Psalm 27:1 — “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

This is Hebrews 4:9–11’s exhortation to us: Don’t fear for your eternal security! Don’t return to the slavery of seeking to secure your own rest. It may provide a sense of security but it is a false security. Your attempts to preserve your own life will lead to death! Rather, believe in God who delivers you from all your enemies. Enter into the rest that he freely gives through Jesus. Trust that God will provide for your ever need. He will keep you secure. He will give you life!

 

Sing!

Finally, resting in Jesus means rejoicing in God. Psalm 95 contrasts the disobedient refusal of the Israelites to enter God’s rest with joyful worship of God.

Psalm 95:1–2: “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!”

Did you know you can rest in the salvation of Jesus by singing praises to God? In fact this is the perfect response! God saves you and gives you rest in Jesus; therefore, sing praise to God. It will be rest and refreshment for your soul.

 

Christ’s Fulfillment Means Our Rest

So with our new covenant reading glasses on, we joyfully gaze into Old Testament with the old covenant command of Sabbath. And, as we trace the biblical theological contours of Scripture, we see the beauty of the person and work of Jesus — to whom the Sabbath along with all the Law and the Prophets point (Luke 24:27). Now, in the spirit of Matthew 11:28 and Hebrews 4:11, let us come to Jesus. Let us strive to enter the rest he offers. Let us cease from toil, let us not fear, and let us sing. And let us keep our eyes peeled to that eastern sky, because we still await the new city where we will rest with God in eternity. For we have no lasting city here (Hebrews 4:11; 13:14).[3] Come, Lord Jesus!

 

Coming Soon, Part II and Part III

Even as we embrace the wonderful rest we have in Christ spiritually, we might still wonder how we practically implement the wisdom of Sabbath Day rest in our weekly rhythms of life. Two specific questions generally come up when think about how Christians relate to the Sabbath Day: (1) Is Sunday the new Sabbath Day for Christians? and (2) How should Christians practice Sabbath wisdom today? In Part II of this three-part series, we will address if Christians should consider Sunday the new Sabbath Day. Then, in Part III I hope to explore some of the ways we can practically implement the wonderful wisdom of Sabbath rest exemplified in creation and throughout Scripture in light of our true rest in Jesus now.

 

[1] Stephen Wellum, “3 Reasons Sunday Is Not the Christian Sabbath” https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/sunday-not-christian-sabbath/ . See also Thomas R. Schreiner, “Question 37: Is the Sabbath Still Required for Christians?,” in 40 Questions about Christians and Biblical Law (Kregel Publications, 2010).

[2] Stephen Wellum, “3 Reasons Sunday Is Not the Christian Sabbath” https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/sunday-not-christian-sabbath/

[3] Stephen Wellum, “3 Reasons Sunday Is Not the Christian Sabbath.”