When you think of rest do you think of it as a gift? Do we recieve rest? As I always do on my blog, I am writing to think about that. Please join in.
In order to "rest" we need to cease from "something" we are doing. The more meaningful the "something" that we are doing, the more significant the "rest." If we take a short break in-between something we're working on, we might say we are taking a "little rest" Conversely, if we've worked a long hard day, we might say "I'm exhausted, I'm going to sleep."
The implication is that "rest" is the reward for "something" done. The "something" is an act of creating. "Rest" comes out of the act of creating, when we cease creating. The more meaningful the creation, the more rewarding the rest. If what we have been creating is completed, then the burden of creating is finished.
The ultimate examples of this are biblical parallels. Such is the connection between וַיְכַ֤ל (va-y’khal) in Genesis 2:2 and tetelestai (τετέλεσται) in John 19:30. They each share a theme of divine completion, though applied to distinct redemptive and creative acts.
וַיְכַ֤ל אֱלֹהִים֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י מְלַאכְתּ֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה וַיִּשְׁבֹּת֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י מִכָּל־מְלַאכְתּ֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר
And God completed on the seventh day His work that He did, and He abstained on the seventh day from all His work that He did.
Breaking down וַיְכַ֤ל we have: וַיְ and כַ֤ל
- In Biblical Hebrew, "וַיְ" (vay-) is a prefix that indicates a past tense, often used to introduce narrative verbs in the Torah. It marks the beginning of a simple verb with the meaning "and he/she/it" and then something happened. It's a common way of transitioning between actions or events in the stories and narratives within the Torah.
- "כַ֤ל" (khal) is the masculine form of the Hebrew word "kal", meaning "all" or "every". In Genesis 2.2, that "something," that "all" is CREATION on the 7th הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י day.
When God’s work is completed, when he is finished, he establishes Shabbat, Rest. Rest is a gift that comes out of creation.
Parallels to Jesus
Jesus calls Himself “Lord of the Sabbath” who offers “rest for your souls.” He connects Himself to this original, divine rest.
In John 19:30, Jesus declares tetelestai "It is finished" (Greek: tetelestai), signifying that His redemptive work on the cross is fully accomplished. He may now come down off the cross as the Jewish "High Sabbath" begins and Jesus enters his rest, and is prepared for burial by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus and placed in the tomb.
This begs the question of "What about Genesis 1? If Jesus's completion of his work on the cross parallels Genesis 2.2, when Jesus ceases and gives us a new Sabbath, a new 7th day, what were Jesus's first 6 days? In other words, if Genesis 1 is about God is creating the physical world, what is Jesus's version on Genesis 1, the first six days? I think this is the wrong question. Jesus came to earth for what happens after the physical world.
In Matthew 11:28-30, He invites all who are weary and burdened to come to Him for rest.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Conclusion:
Rest for the soul is different than rest for the body. The Torah speaks of earthly things. The Gospels speak of Heavenly things. Both books speak of ways or paths to follow. Both books speak of a journey to a promise land -- a way home. Both books offer rest, a place of perfect peace ... "On earth as it is in heaven." The bible is one complete story.
