“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his” (Hebrews 4:9-10)

I remember sitting in church as a teenager when the pastor delivered a sermon about resting on Sundays. He used the Old Testament command to keep the Sabbath holy as his main point, encouraging everyone to set aside one day a week to cease from work and focus on God. His intentions were good, but after the service, several well-meaning people approached me. Knowing I had a part-time job at a local restaurant, they questioned my decision to work on Sundays, suggesting it was against the Bible.

That conversation stuck with me. While the pastor and the parishioner were sincere, their understanding missed the profound beauty of what the Sabbath truly represents. Here is a beautiful truth: the Sabbath was never just about a day. It was a sign, a shadow pointing to a person. The Sabbath rest is Jesus.

The Shadow and the Reality

To grasp this concept, we must understand how the Old and New Testaments connect. Everything in the Old Testament law served as a type and shadow of the greater reality we would find in Christ (Hebrews 10:1). They were copies and illustrations of the substance that was to come.

Think of it this way. If you see my shadow stretch across the pavement before I round a corner, you know certain things about me. You can make out my general shape, perhaps my height or the length of my hair. The shadow gives you a vague outline and confirms that a person is coming. However, you could never know me fully just by looking at my shadow. For that, you need to see me face-to-face.

The Old Testament law operated in the same way. It was a shadow of the Savior, giving humanity glimpses and guidelines that all pointed toward Jesus. It allowed people to see certain things about the Messiah who was to come, but it could not provide the full picture. The reality, the substance casting that shadow, has always been Christ.

As New Testament believers, we have the immense privilege of looking back and seeing the complete picture. We can see Jesus woven through the entire tapestry of Scripture. We have the real thing, the expressed image of God that the law and prophets spoke about. Since we have the fulfillment, there is no need to live under the shadow. The Apostle Paul makes this clear in his letter to the Colossians:

“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” (Colossians 2:16-17)

If we don't look at the Old Testament through the lens of Jesus, we can get bogged down in confusion, never progressing into the full revelation of what God has provided for us in His Son. We risk continuing to live under the very things from which Christ has set us free.

Entering the True Rest

In the Old Testament, the Sabbath was a radical act of trust. While surrounding nations toiled seven days a week, Israel was commanded to cease from labor for one day. This wasn't merely a rule; it was a weekly declaration of dependence. It was a way of saying, "We trust God as our source, not our own human effort, to provide for us." It was a symbol of their relationship with Him.

Now, that symbol has become a New Testament reality. We can rest continually in the finished work of Christ. It is a rest that goes far beyond a single day of the week; it is a state of being for our entire lives. When Jesus hung on the cross and declared, "It is finished," He meant that He had fulfilled every requirement of the law. He provided a righteousness that we could never earn, offering it to us as a free gift.

We don't need to add anything to His work. We simply trust in His provision. This is how we rest from our own works—we stop trying to earn our salvation, our favor, or our peace. We cease from the striving of trying to make it on our own. This is the true Sabbath rest that God has always desired for His people. It is a peace that settles deep in the soul, knowing that our standing with God is secure because of Jesus. This amazing truth equips us for a lifestyle of trust, finding our wholeness not in our own efforts, but in Him.

Personal Reflection Questions

1. Where might you be striving by following rules instead of resting in what Jesus has done?

2. In what area of your life could you let go of control and trust God’s provision this week?

3. How would your life look different if you truly believed Jesus has finished the work for you?