Work from Rest
At our house we are big fans of the Disney show Bluey. In the episode titled, “Relax,” Bluey’s family goes to the beach for vacation. Bluey’s mum, Chili, especially needs to find some R and R. In the elevator heading up to the condo she says, “I just want to start relaxing…” As they’re unpacking their things she blurts out, “I’ll relax when I’m on the beach with my book.” For Chili a book and the beach is the perfect recipe for relaxation. In a happy turn of events, Bandit, the dad, offers to stay in the condo with Bluey and Bingo so that Chili can go to the beach… ALONE!
With chair and book Chili settles down on the sea shore. But, something just isn’t right. She can’t relax. Her restlessness persists. Defeated, she trudges back to the condo. Once inside, Bandit looks at her perplexed and asks, ““what are you doing back inside?” Fighting back the emotions she answers, “I don’t know how to relax… it’s harder than it looks.” Chili is on the verge of the discovery we’ve been making from John 5:1-18. Real rest is gained from a person: Jesus Christ.
If you haven’t read the two previous posts on this subject I encourage you to do so. There we looked closely at Jesus’s encounter with an invalid and a group of Pharisees. Our close examination of the encounter helped us to the conclusion that escape (the invalid) and optimize (the pharisees) are poor strategies for rest. More importantly, we are now able to conclude that lasting rest is found only in the person of Jesus Christ; not places or plans. Because this is true, and we believe it to be so, there are at least two applications to consider.
Come to Jesus
In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus invites, “Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Notice who Jesus invites: those who labor and are heavy laden. This is an invitation to those with tired bodies and exhausted hearts to receive rest. Notice also what Jesus says of himself.
“I am gentle and lowly in heart.” Here, Jesus tells us what he is like. He is tender and welcoming to the fainting. He will never lash out at the fatigued and distraught. “Work harder” or “do better” are words foreign to his very essence. Instead, Jesus delights to give rest. This is why he came down from heaven. He condescended, died, and was raised to welcome us into God’s rest! So, if you’re tired in body or heart or both, come to Jesus. To draw out the last application we need to make an interesting observation from John 5.
Work from rest
John writes in verses 16-18, “And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, ‘My Father is working until now, and I am working.’ This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.” From these words we can agree with Christians throughout history: Jesus is truly man and truly God with the Father and Spirit. As true man and true God, Jesus demonstrates what true rest looks like in the world. For Jesus, rest is not the opposite of work. Rather, it is to work out of abundant life with God. Therefore, those who enter life with God through him can, by the power of the Spirit, do the same.
We can work from rest. Think of all the hats you wear: friend, student, parent, teacher, nurse, deliveryman and so forth. List out all of your tasks and responsibilities if you can. What difference would it make for you to wear your hats and complete your tasks all while enjoying fellowship with God? What difference would it make to do all these things while feeling and knowing the inexhaustible love of God? It would be invigorating. It would do for us what places and plans never could. Most importantly, it is a foretaste of life in the world to come where God’s life has overwhelmed all that makes us tired. One day rest will never be harder than it looks.
