The Sabbath in Light of the Cross

And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.  Genesis 2:2-2

While the Bible teaches us to lay aside all work and unnecessary secular activities, the Sabbath rest actually implies more than just a physical rest. You see, Adam and Eve were created the day before the Sabbath, so they did not need so much a physical rest as they really were not physically tired. They did not have a long week at all. 

 I can imagine God walking with Adam and Eve through the garden, as He showed them all He had made for them, and the wonders of not their works but His works. Adam and Eve realized that day with God, “it is] he [that] hath made us, and not we ourselves.” (Psalms 100:3)  Before and after the Cross the Sabbath is a sign that it is God’s work that creates and sustains us.

Did Jesus do away with or change the Seventh day Sabbath?

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  Matthew 5:17-19

Wasn’t the Sabbath just made for the Jews? 

And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. Acts 13:42

Nowhere in the Bible is any mention made of the Sabbath being changed, and we see the gentiles kept the Sabbath as well as the Jews. Mark 2:27 says the Sabbath was made for man meaning all mankind, Jews and gentiles alike.

Is the Sabbath a sign we are saved by works or by grace?

Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.  Hebrews 4:7-9

Just as the Sabbath is a sign that it is God’s works that created us and not our own, likewise after the Cross the Sabbath is a sign that it is God’s work on the Cross that has redeemed us. We rest from our works and accept God’s grace.

Does the Old Testament agree with the above idea?

Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it [is] a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that [ye] may know that I [am] the LORD that doth sanctify you. Exodus 31:13

Just as Hebrews 4 tells us the Sabbath is a sign of being saved and sanctified by the Cross and not by our own works, likewise Exodus 31:13 tells us that it is God who saves and sanctifies us and not we ourselves.

Does the fourth commandment reveal God as both creator and sustainer?

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day [is] the sabbath of the LORD thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that [is] within thy gates: For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.      Exodus 20:8-11

The Sabbath Commandment reminds us that God is our creator and we refrain from work and worldly activities on the Sabbath day as we rest our faith in God’s power to save and provide for us, instead of our own works and ability to do business and make money.

The same principle is seen in the story of Cain and Abel. In Genesis 4 we read about Abel worshiping the way God had commanded in bringing a lamb as a sacrifice. God accepted Abel’s sacrifice as the lamb God instructed him to bring pointed to Jesus:  the Lamb of God who would be sacrificed for our sins. Abel, more than just worshiping as God had instructed was saying he trusted in Jesus to save him and not his own works, he was looking to the Cross. Cain’s sacrifice was refused because he did not worship the way God had instructed, and he brought his own fruit, the work of his own hands. God cannot accept our works and could not accept Cain’s works either. Only the Cross can save us.

Today, many people like Cain, try to be saved by worshiping their own way. Jesus says about them, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9). Our own works and man made ways of worship will never save us. 

If we have faith Jesus will save us, what will we keep?

Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.  Revelation 14:12

Did Jesus gave us an example here on earth?

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.  Luke 4:16

Did He give us another example after He died on the Cross?

 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first [day] of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.  Matthew 28:1

The Son of God finished the work of our creation on the sixth day and rested on the seventh. Four thousand years later, the Son of God finished the work of our redemption on the sixth day and rested in the grave on the seventh.

The story goes of a little boy years ago who had built his own wooden sailboat. Tied to a string he set the boat out to sail in a nearby creek and then would use the string to reel it back in. One day the string broke and the little boat fell victim to the rapids and sailed away. Several days later the boy is window shopping downtown when he sees his boat in a toy store window. He goes inside and tells the owner, “That’s my boat in the window.” The owner of the store not sure if he should believe the young lad tells the boy he will have to purchase the boat if he wants it back.

The boy does several chores around the home and neighborhood to get the few dollars the boat costs. He returns to the store and purchases his own boat. Walking home, holding his boat close to his chest he was over heard saying, “little boat you are twice mine. First I made you, and then I bought you.” That is what Jesus is telling us through the Sabbath today. As we rest from our works on the Sabbath and put our faith in Him, He tells us, “You are twice mine. First, at creation I made you, and then at the Cross I bought you.”

If we love Jesus what will we do?

If ye love me, keep my commandments.  John 14:15