Lord of the Sabbath
"Then Jesus said to them, 'The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.' " (Luke 6:5 NIV)
Dear friends, I have to tell you: I did not really want to write about this name of God.
It wasn't because I don't "like" it. It's because I didn't know what to do with it.
When I think of Sabbath, I think not doing. And in our do-more, be-more, have-more culture, not doing feels unfamiliar and uncertain.
But of course this is all the more reason to consider this name and what it means for you and me in the middle of our everyday lives.
Sabbath means "rest," and the various Hebrew and Greek words that our English translations render as "Sabbath" convey such meanings as "ceasing or coming to an end of activity," "being settled down," "finding tranquility," "to calm," "to comfort," "to refresh," and "a rest that comes from freedom or from the relaxation of a burden" ("New International Encyclopedia of Bible Words," Lawrence O. Richards).
Against this backdrop, here are four observations about the Sabbath from Scripture...threads you might want to weave into your own day of rest.
1. God rested on the seventh day of creation because He had completed His work; we rest so we can continue ours. "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work" (Genesis 2:2).
As long as God allows our lives on this earth to continue, He will always have something else for us to do. But we cannot keep doing if we're running on empty tanks; our reservoirs of energy and passion and commitment need to be regularly refilled, and a Sabbath—"ceasing" our ongoing activity for a time—is one way to do that.
2. A Sabbath day is a set-apart day. “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy" (Exodus 20:8).
"Holy" means set apart for some sacred use. Other than God (who is holy not because He is set apart for but because He is set apart from), "holy" objects, people, days, etc. are ordinary on their own but become "holy" because they are reserved for God's use. God, of course, is a 24/7/365 kind of God, and every day of the week belongs to Him. But to keep a certain day holy implies that we reserve it for sacred use. We do things, maybe, that we don't do other days. Or perhaps we don't do things that day that we do do other days.
3. Sabbath rest is meant to renew. "But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the LORD. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards" (Leviticus 25:4).
God prescribed a dormant season for His people's fields and vineyards for the same reason He commanded a Sabbath for His people: to give them—the fields, the vineyards, and the people—time to be renewed. Time to allow life deep within soil and souls to be replenished.
4. The Sabbath is not about restrictions; it's about restoration. It is not about rules; it's about relationship. "Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, 'Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?' He said to them, 'If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.' Then he said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.' So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other" (Matthew 12:9-13).
The Pharisees, who liked to make rules where there didn't need to be any, put restrictions on the Sabbath and, as usual, missed the entire point of relationship with God. But, also as usual, Jesus went a different, radical way. He cared for people. He showed them their value. He brought new life. He made whole. We can ask God to do this for us, too—not only the Sabbath but maybe in a special way on the Sabbath. And then out of our restored, renewed, refreshed selves, we can follow Jesus' lead...and do good.
God, in all my striving, let there also be ceasing. In all my running, let there also be resetting. In all my doing, let there also be devotion. And in Your rest, may I be reminded that the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath, and the Lord of the Sabbath is Lord of all.
Garment
“You have all put on Christ as a garment.” (Galatians 3:27 NEB)
"Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all. Therefore, God's chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so also you must [forgive]. Above all, [put on] love-the perfect bond of unity."(Colossians 3:11-14 CSB)
I love the "put ons" of Scripture.
"Put on" light (Romans 13:12).
"Put on" Jesus (Romans 13:14).
"Put on" a new self (Ephesians 4:24).
"Put on" the armor of God (Ephesians 6:13).
"Put on" compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (Colossians 3:12).
"Put on" love (Colossians 3:14).
God's directive to "put on" these things calls for action and intentionality. We don't get dressed by accident. We choose what we're going to wear and then take action to "put on" the clothing we've picked out. (If you're a teenage girl, this can be a long process.)
Putting on our spiritual clothing—as if we are outfitting ourselves in Christ our Garment—must also be intentional. Getting dressed in Jesus can take some effort. It's easier to stay in the comfy pajamas of our old nature. Our arms get tangled in the sleeves of kindness. We have to strain to reach the back button of forgiveness. The zipper of compassion gets stuck.
And here's another thing about "putting on" our Garment: we can't expect to get dressed in His clothing one time and have our outfit stay fresh and crisp. Forgiveness, unity, humility, and all the rest get limp after we wear them for a while.
We also can't expect people to keep noticing what we're wearing—our external spiritual "clothing" that gives visibility to our internal spiritual salvation—if we keep wearing the same outfit day after day. If I put on light, it will probably catch someone's attention at first, but after a while, it will grow dim. They'll get used to seeing it. "Oh, she's wearing the same old thing. I've seen that before," they'll say. I'll need to put on fresh light that someone in the dark will notice.
Let's "put on" Christ as a garment, beloved. Let's make the decision to outfit ourselves in His nature. Sometimes, kindness will be scratchy. Sometimes, patience will feel too tight. Sometimes, unity won't fit quite right. Sometimes, we won't feel like wearing love.
But when we have put on the new clothing of Jesus over our old wardrobe of self, we have the hope—to God be the glory—of hearing someone say, "I love your new outfit. He looks great on you."
All in All
"So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God. When the Messiah, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all." (Colossians 3 :1-4,11 CSB)
I know about "all."
I've got "all" this and "all" that worrying my mind, troubling my spirit. This is almost entirely because I am the queen of overreacting and under-praying, but still: I've got my "alls."
Jesus, though, is the All in my "all." Whatever my all is, He's got an all that not only matches mine, but masters it.
He is all peace in all my agitation.
He is all rest in all my weariness.
He is all calm in all my storms.
He is all humility in all my pride.
He is all light in all my darkness.
He is all truth in all my lies.
Jesus is all in all, not part in part. He is not a portion or a fraction or a down-payment. He is the whole, the fullness, the entire purchase price.
In all my agitation, weariness, storms, pride, darkness, and lies, I can look for other saviors. They may help a little. But they will never be more than part in part, because this Savior—this All in All—is the One and Only.
"You are my strength when I am weak,
You are the treasure that I seek,
You are my all in all.
Seeking You as a precious jewel,
Lord, to give up I'd be a fool,
You are my all in all.
Taking my sin, my cross, my shame,
Rising again I bless Your name,
You are my all in all.
When I fall down You pick me up,
When I am dry You fill my cup,
You are my all in all.
Jesus, Lamb of God,
Worthy is Your name.
Jesus, Lamb of God,
Worthy is Your name."
(From "You Are My All in All;" songwriter Dennis L. Jernigan; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC617kE1maU.)
