The sabbath of the Old Testament was an image of something greater to come. It symbolically observed to teach a deeper truth about God’s salvation through His Messiah, Jesus. Let us look at the comparisons below.
We read in the gospels that Jesus was crucified and buried on the same day before the sabbath observance, sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. It was on the sabbath His followers mourned His death. This was the first time that they had not been ministering with Him in His presence or being sent out by Him. They had been with Him for the previous three years everyday traveling and ministering to the people. Now they were apart from Him going nowhere and doing nothing. Everything they did with Him had stopped.
In Exodus it was symbolic for the Israelites to gather a double portion the day before the sabbath. One meaning was designating the 6th day as important to notice for it was the only day that two portions of manna could be gathered and that there would not be any manna found on the sabbath. It was a day of preparation for a greater day to be observed, the sabbath. Likewise the crucifixion of Jesus was a focal point for the everyone of that time. This would have been on the day of preparation before the sabbath. On the sabbath Jesus would not be found alive in their presence after the crucifixion. The next day being the sabbath would be the greater day for it was a day of celebration of God
The Sabbath was to be celebrated in remembrance of God and His work. Jesus life, during the last week or seven days, is recorded in the all the gospels. It is the focal point of the message. The last 6 days Jesus is working in the midst of the people. He is continuing to teach and tell others about The Kingdom of God. It is on Friday, the sixth day according to the Jewish week, that Jesus was crucified. It was the 7th day, the sabbath, that He was dead, or rested from work, and on the 8th day He rose from the dead. It would be on the sabbath that all eyes would have been on God.
This is in comparison to God’s command to celebrate the sabbath. They were to celebrate the sabbath because it was in anticipation of Jesus atonement for our sins. It was because He died that our sins were washed away before God The Father. The Father poured the world’s iniquity on Jesus (Isaiah 53:6). For those who believe and put their faith in Him, it is continual promise from God that they will always be with them. This is reason to celebrate.
How does all of this relate to Jesus as our rest? We will look into this more in part three.
in His love, Daniel
Posted on April 17th, 2006 by Daniel
Filed under: Truth To Live By