A Day of Rest

Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest . . . Hebrews 4:11

By Michael Brann

Perhaps no other single week of our Lord Jesus’ earthly experience was as full of drama as was his last week. Looking ahead, the Lord realized how many goals he must yet accomplish. As we look at the Bible record, we see that Jesus kept a very busy schedule indeed. Knowing that he was to come to Jerusalem for the express purpose of dying made him keenly aware of the events remaining to be played out in order for the scriptural predictions to be fulfilled. He full well knew these would be his last days with his apostles and disciples. This would be the time to give them last minute instructions and words of encouragement.

There is no particular accounting of his activities on Nisan 13 in the scriptures. The gospel account is that he abode the night in the mount of Olives (Luke 21:37, 38). Some of the events associated with these last days are difficult to pinpoint as to the exact day he did this or that. Furthermore, there is no specific mention made of his retiring in Bethany. However, we think the idea is plausible. Other commentators have likewise suggested a gap in the record where no specific incidents are recorded for this Nisan 13. It thus seems likely that he spent this day quietly communing with his heavenly Father and a few of his beloved disciples.

In A.D. 33, Nisan 13 would have been the equivalent of our Thursday, thus it was not a Sabbath day nor any special religious occasion calling for a day of rest. Just three days prior, Jesus made a dramatic entrance into Jerusalem, the crowds laying palm branches in his path with a great deal of fanfare. The next two days were spent openly teaching in the temple and meeting with all the people. Also, we are given accounts of verbal skirmishes with the religious leaders, and the casting out of the money-changers in the temple itself. Just as this momentum was building to a climax, he chose to remove himself from the scene.

Why Did Jesus Rest?

The question naturally arises as to why Jesus would choose to rest in the middle of such a busy and momentous time. Two reasons will be given.

It seems that Jesus’ very noticeable disappearance from Jerusalem and subsequent retirement called special attention to the fact that his public ministry was now completed. "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do" (John 17:4). Of course, he had to complete the plan by dying on the cross, but his mission to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, gathering out of them those who were Israelites indeed, was complete. Those who manifested sheep-like qualities would be attracted to him, while those who manifested goat-like qualities were sealed in their minds to oppose the Lord and his plan as it was then unfolding.

From that day forward, he confined his remaining time to his faithful followers, instructing them in things which must shortly come to pass and his plans for sending them the comforter, the holy spirit, during his subsequent absence. Down through the Gospel age until this day, our Lord’s focus is on his faithful disciples—feeding, guiding, protecting, and sustaining them. Once his body members have been completed and gathered to himself, he will turn his full attention to ministering to the general public: restoring them from death and all its encompassing effects; giving them an opportunity to receive him; all the willing and obedient may share in everlasting life on the earth.

The Sabbath Rest

This rest reminds us of a similar rest mentioned in Genesis 2:1-3, "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had done; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done. So God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it, because on it he rested from all his work which he had done in creation" (RSV). When the last of the creative days was finished, God rested. In other words, Jehovah God turned over the outworking of creation to his Son, the Logos or Word of God. Jehovah allowed sin and evil to spread. He did not use his mighty power to restrain the evil nor to lift humanity out of it except to place his work into the trustful hands of the Redeemer to finish it.

Jesus’ Rest, An Example

A second suggestion as to why Jesus may have chosen this time to rest was to set us an example. We are confident that one priority he would never choose to leave undone, or forget to do, was to rest. We are not speaking of the necessary type of rest requisite after expending physical vitality. Oftentimes, Jesus chose to forego this kind of rest in exchange for continuing the work given him. Jesus always made time to commune with his heavenly Father. It was his custom, his daily habit, his joy. Knowing the days were short and the crucial hour of his impending death lay before him, he realized the value of this communion for grace to help.

Jesus had in these last several days intended to instruct and teach his special pupils, not just knowledge of parables and end time prophecies but character lessons as well. What better or more valuable and pragmatic lesson could he have taught than the privilege of resting by faith in God! When the pressures of life close in about us, when troubles afflict and worries press hard upon us, let us note the example of the Lord by taking time to quietly reflect on his leadings of the past and of his promises to uphold and sustain us, to give us sufficient grace for our hour of need.

There Remaineth a Rest

Hebrews 4:1-11 discusses the need for the saints to enter such a rest, suggesting the key lies in the exercise of faith in the promises of God. Israel did not enter into this rest because they failed to exercise such faith. Paul continues by saying in verse 12, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." In other words, the promises held forth in the scriptures have the power to allow us to enter into a complete rest by faith in them. By these we are not only enabled to overcome the weaknesses of the flesh, but to become partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4)!

The scriptures are overflowing with such promises. It is good to choose one or two specific ones at a time and think upon them and claim them as special gifts from the Lord to you, such as Matthew 11:28-30: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light;" and Isaiah 41:10, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

Perhaps it was at this time while Jesus was in Bethany that Judas was meeting with the religious leaders, investigating how he might capitalize on information he could provide on the activities of Jesus. One lesson for us is to realize that "our adversary the devil" is always on the alert and ever vigilant seeking to devour the footstep followers of the Lamb. Knowing that such a powerfully evil and wicked being is constantly seeking to do us spiritual injury would nearly make us faint were it not for the fact that "greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). "He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep" (Psa. 121:3, 4).

An Active Rest

As a final consideration of this Nisan 13 day of rest, we realize that, for Jesus, resting did not mean inactivity or idleness. He was actively seeking the Father’s guidance. Just as, though Jehovah God rests, he has not been inactive all these six thousand years. A being of such magnitude would not be idling his time away. He must be active in some domain of his vast universe, perhaps planning and preparing eternity for his spiritual and human beings to inhabit. As Jesus said, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work" (John 5:17). Likewise, since our Lord’s completion of his earthly work, we are confident that he is actively engaged in gathering and preparing his body members, fitting them to occupy a special place in his kingdom.

Let us also be active during our rest of faith. Let us always be seeking to know and do the will of God, never thinking about taking a vacation from doing those things which are pleasing to him, nor allowing the flesh a few moments in the pursuit of power or pleasure.