John 5: 17
” In his defense Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.’ ”
I don’t know about you, but as far as I’m concerned, I never think of God as “working.” Maybe that is because I have a warped view of work? After all, as humans we live under a curse:
“Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat food from it
all the days of your life.
It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.”
(Genesis 3: 17b-19)
But Jesus says that God the Father, “…is always at his work…” I would imagine that this kind of work is more akin to the work that Adam enjoyed before sinning.
So what kind of “work” could God be doing that is not in conflict with resting on the Sabbath as mentioned in Exodus 20, verse 11 (“For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day.”)
I suppose in one sense we “work” while resting. For our bodies to breathe, our chest must move in and out, moving air in and out: a kind of work. Our hearts never stop pumping blood through our bodies. That, too, is a kind of work. In the same kind of way, God breathes life into his creation every moment of every day. If He ever stopped, all of creation would stop, too.
Q: :How would you describe the kind of work that Jesus was doing?
Q: :How would you describe the kind of work that Jesus was doing?
Jesus spent His days on earth “at rest” doing Gods will vs His own. There is no greater, more rewarding, or satisfying calling we can respond to. St. Augustine of Hippo expressed it this way, “Love God and do as you please, because pleasing God is what you will love to do.”
My personal favorite Biblical revelation on this subject is the Psalm 23. What a totally wonderful picture of resting in God.
Additional New Testament teachings are below. Matt. 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Hebrews4:9-11, There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.
Gods Word seems so very clear on this topic, and a Sabbath-rest ( a life resting from our own works ) is offered to all and accepted by few. I’m trying.
I have always found it interesting that on the Sabbath and festivals/feasts the priests ‘worked’. It makes the irony of the scribes/pharisees accusations against Jesus healing on the Sabbath look even more silly – their own occupation focused around Sabbath teaching, worship, and spiritual care for Israel. I think Ron’s point about true rest being found in God is important. I am realizing more and more about how vital it is to add times of slowness/rest where I can spiritually rest. For me it takes slowing down physically and mentally to really focus and rest in God on a daily basis.
As for the question: How would you describe the kind of work that Jesus was doing?
I would describe Jesus work as a work of worship. His work – teaching, healing, and mentoring all glorified His Father.
Gentlemen:
Thank you both for your thoughts on this topic. You have highlighted important aspects of what it means to “work” and to “rest,” especially resting in God’s will.