“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. 2 And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.” (Genesis 2:1-3)
God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it and God rested.
I have struggled with this idea off and on throughout my life, why in the world would God who is holy and perfect need to rest?
For the same reason that Jesus would need to be baptized I suppose.
For the same that Christ does anything.
Not for Himself.
He never does anything for Himself.
(Read that line again)
(again)
(again)
Get it?
God rests, He asks John to baptize Him, he teaches parables (an earthly story about a heavenly meaning) not for Him but for the benefit of our very souls, so that we may experience the best life possible. It is all summed up in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15.
The love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: one died for the sake of all; therefore, all died. 15 He died for the sake of all so that those who are alive should live not for themselves but for the one who died for them and was raised.
He died to show us the way, the need for all that we will ever need. He rests, He asks John to baptize Him, and he teaches us in a way we will understand all to teach us of our need for Him and when we realize that need we truly experience the best life.
So today as you rest from labor remember to rest and remember Jesus and all that He did not for himself but for the sake of all.
Amen.