Jesus, Lord of Rest: Reflecting on Sunday's Teachings on the Sabbath
Sunday’s sermon Jesus, Lord of Rest was alllll about the Sabbath. To begin talking about Sabbath we need to talk about our Christian culture’s rejection of it based on not understanding Jesus’ teaching in Mark.
Many Modern Christians have taken this passage as Jesus rejecting or opposing sabbath. Many well meaning christians note, that Jesus didn’t keep sabbath, and the New Testament never explicitly teaches sabbath observance. But Jesus’ anti-sabbath is clearly showing the misinterpretation and abuses of it. Jesus’ point is to correct Sabbath observance not to set it aside. As Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath.”
Christians are clearly not obligated to keep Mosaic law - so does that mean that we are free from keeping the Sabbath?
It depends on what we mean by free. First the Sabbath shows up long before Mosaic Law. Sabbath shows up in the creation account, before the fall, before sin, before the need for the law or law keeping. So the subject of Sabbath keeping must be more than a question of law keeping or breaking, and seems to speak more about human well-being and a way of life rather than a religious observance, or day off for the Jews.
What if, by Christians rejecting sabbath keeping we are actually cutting ourselves off from part of what it means to be human, from what it means to be made in the image of the God who rests on the seventh day?
We invite you to pause and consider the Sabbath this week. Digest Sunday’s sermon by reflecting on a handful of key passages on Sabbath and other materials we’ve put together for your consideration and edification.
Watch the video on Recommended Reading. Char spends a few minutes discussing each of these books and their significance to the study of Sabbath.
4 recommended principles in observing sabbath
“The idea that by saying no to making some things happen, deep permission arises for other things to happen. When we cease our daily labor, other things - love, friendship, prayer, touch, singing, rest - can be born in the space created by our rest. Walking with a friend, reciting a prayer, caring for children, sharing bread and wine with family, friends and neighbors.” - Wayne Muller, Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal and Delight in our Busy Lives
