We've forgotten what rest really is. There is no day of the week where we simply rest. But, one of God's commandments is about Sabbath. This is the sixth theme that Snyder writes about in his little book, "Kingdom, Church and World." In Genesis 2 we find that God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested.
I love that Snyder states that God actually did create something on this final day of creation - He created Sabbath. He goes on to say that Sabbath is just about cessation of work, but it is an affirmation - the creation of rest, peace and ... shalom. (pg. 60)
Sabbath is something that God led His children to adopt when He set down the law. Every week would lead to the climax - to the Sabbath. Snyder also tells us that history will lead us to the climax ... the shalom of the kingdom - the final, perfect Sabbath.
The Sabbath was set forth in two great acts of God in the Old Testament - the Creation and the Law. No wonder it is so important within Judaism.
When we get to the New Testament, it may be a little startling to find that Jesus sets aside the rules and traditions of Sabbath. In Mark 2:27-28, He says "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."
But, all this means is that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Sabbath. The Kingdom is centered in Jesus ... Sabbath finds its meaning in Him.
So, as we come to know Jesus ... we find in Him peace and wholeness - shalom. We find in Him rest - Sabbath. And we know that the final rest will be found in Him as well.
At the end of everything, when all is finally said and done, restoration, reconciliation, wholeness, peace, completion; all will be found in the fulfilled kingdom of God. Sabbath will be found there.
Until that time as we seek first the kingdom of God, we remember the Sabbath day ... we make it holy ... we worship and remember the gift of creation ... the gift of the Sabbath.
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