- Notes from Nathan
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- Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Our greatest sabbath-day guidance? Jesus’ words: “Come to me…”
Faithful sabbath-keeping puts us into the act of coming to Jesus. If we need any assurance, it’s what happens in Matthew 12 on the heels of Jesus’ invitation. The Pharisees, caught up in enforcing God’s law, point out Jesus’ disciples picking grain on the sabbath as a violation.
Jesus’ response? “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”
For all our emphasis on our human activity, we should note that true rest isn’t the fruit of our pouring out, but of our coming to Jesus. Experiencing mercy. Maybe there’s no better prescription for how to do this than what took place next.
Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there… Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.
What should you do on your next sabbath day?
Whatever has you stretching your hands out to Jesus.