32. Rest
Matthew 11:28, 29 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Jesus promises rest for those who labor and toil and are weighed down with heavy loads. The metaphor of physical labor and physical burden is used for spiritual struggle and spiritual burdens like guilt and shame and fear and doubt and worry and anxiety and stress. The reference Jesus makes is to the Curse on mankind after The Fall of Adam (Genesis 3): “You will toil and work hard in the sweat of your brow struggling with thorns and thistles and poor yields for hard labor.” All the earth will live under this curse until redeemed by the Offspring of the woman. Then Rest will come and be given to believers in this promise. Jesus is here declaring that He is the fulfillment of this Gospel promise in Genesis 3:15.
“Labor and heavy laden” are physical terms describing the curse on the earth. Science, technology and labor saving machines have alleviated some of the physical curse of toil and hard work. But the effects of the Curse linger on unabated for it applies to the soul (the mind and emotions and will): these are the stresses and strains, worries and anxieties, doubts and fears that afflict the mind and emotions. Despite attempts of modern psychology and religion very little is actually done to alleviate stress. “You will find rest unto your souls.”
Rest is a present lightening and a lifting of our soul’s burden; Rest is also a future and eternal rest promised to the people of God: this is called the Sabbath Rest. Every week God has set one day aside for rest, relaxation, restoration and rejuvenation. The purpose of the once a week rest day is to remind us of the Promised Rest of eternity with God. “And they shall rest from their labors.” Weekly rest and eternal rest both imply a week and a lifetime of work. Work is good; rest is good. Too much of one or the other is not good.
Jesus has come to fulfill the promises of God: He is our Rest today; come to Him now. He is our Eternal Rest: take His yoke and learn of Him. The promise is for those who will come to Him and learn of Him = believe in Jesus. Enjoy the Rest.