The Quest for Rest IV
In the previous three posts, we explored the Old Testament idea of ‘rest’ from three specific coordinates: Sabbath rest, Promised Land rest, and Temple rest. In this post, we will examine how Jesus Christ fulfils all three of these aspects of the rest motif. My goal in this post is to show that Christ is the only one who can provide true rest for weary and fallen humans.
As we saw in the first post, the Old Testament Sabbath was not merely a social mandate. Rather, it was a way that the ancient Israelites could follow God’s pattern set out at creation. As God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh, so God’s image bearers. Moreover, we noted that the works-rest pattern inherent in the Sabbath day had an eschatological thrust. In other words, it pointed to the consummation of history where humans, after completing their mission, can enter God’s rest and rule.
One reason why God the Son became incarnate was to fulfill this human mission and usher humans into God’s presence where they rest and rule. This idea is clearly seen in Matthew 11:28-29: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Importantly, what immediately follows is a discussion of the Sabbath Day (Matthew 12:1-8) in which Christ claims to be “Lord of the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:8). That is, He fulfils the Sabbath’s works and brings about an age of Sabbath rest.
How does Christ fulfil the Sabbatical pattern of works and rest? He takes up the “works” (eschatological mission) that God had given to his Old Covenant People (John 5:36). As he is being crucified on the sixth day of the week, Christ cries out: “It is finished” (19:30), signifying that he had completed the works his Father had given Him. He then rested in the tomb on the seventh day. The consummation of His rest occurs in His resurrection, ascension, and session at His Father’s right hand. From there, Christ calls all enter His rest (Hebrews 4:10). In fulfilling God’s covenant promise and establishing God’s kingdom, Christ accomplished humanity’s mission. It only remains to implement what He accomplished. Therefore, when we are weary and our burdens overwhelm us, He calls us into His Sabbath rest and gives us rest for our souls.
As we saw in the second post, the Promised Land represented a second iteration of the Old Testament rest motif. Promised Land rest consists of a home for God’s people where they can dwell in safety and prosperity. In the Old Testament context, works of conquest achieved the rest offered in the Promised Land. Joshua defeated the enemies of God’s people and thus provided a place of rest (Joshua 1:13, 15, 21:44, 22:4, 23:1).
How does Christ bring Promised Land rest to His people? Through His death and resurrection, Christ defeats God’s and our enemies, now defined as Satan and his minions. Christ’s exorcisms demonstrate that He is the ‘stronger man’ who can bind Satan (Mark 3:27). Particularly in His death and resurrection, we see the defeat of the evil one and the exaltation of Christ as the world’s true king (John 12:31-33).
Because of His defeat of His enemies, Christ inherits the earth as His possession (Psalm 2:2, 7-9). Christ’s enthronement as the world’s royal heir guarantees that the whole earth will become the Promised Land – the place of safety, prosperity, and rest for God’s people. When we trust in Christ and follow His example in faith, we become co-heirs with Him (Romans 8:17). Christ shares His inheritance with His people. We eagerly await the day of the creation’s liberation and renewal, in which our bodies will be redeemed, and we will inherit our portion of the new heavens and new earth (Romans 8:18-25). Here, at last, is the fulfilment of Promised Land rest.
As we saw in the third post, Temple rest is the third iteration of the Old Testament rest motif. After the building of both the Tabernacle and Temple, God’s glory rested in the Holy of Holies (Exodus 40:34-38, 2 Chronicles 6:42). On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest, performs an elaborate sacrifice which signifies the removal of sin and death and the concomitant presence of life and holiness. Then, the High Priest, with fear and trembling, enters the Holy of Holies where God’s glory rests (Leviticus 16:12). He does so on behalf of God’s people, putting forth the hope that, through the coming great high priest, a permanent entrance into God’s rest will become available.
How does Christ fulfil this Temple rest? As the High Priest in the order of Melchizedek, Christ makes the ultimate and final sacrifice (Hebrews 7:27). He then sits in His Father’s presence while His enemies are made a footstool under His feet (Hebrews 10:11-14). Through Christ’s once-for-all offering of Himself, we too can enter God’s presence. Our sin and impurity have been removed. In Christ, we are pure and full of resurrected life.
This glorious truth has two powerful applications for our lives. First, because we have such a High Priest who made the ultimate sacrifice for us, we may enter God’s presence boldly and expect to receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16). Through faith in Christ, we have access to God’s presence, God’s rest, even as we continue to labor for Him. What a comfort and blessing to know that we have full access to God’s presence through Christ’s shed blood and resurrected body. Second, we have sure hope that what we now experience by faith, we will certainly experience by sight. We long for the day when God’s glory comes to fill the whole earth; when God’s Tabernacle will be with humans forever (Revelation 21:3). Through Christ’s sacrifice, we can be certain that the whole earth will veritably be filled with God’s Temple rest. When the worries of this world make us weary, let us be encouraged and renewed. An eternity of dwelling in God’s rest awaits those hope in Christ!
