Doubts - Pt 4

All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 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.” (Matthew 11:27-30 ESV). When Jesus had sent John’s disciples away, he said something stunning about John: no one born of women had ever been greater. This, right after John questioned who Jesus was. Then he continues to teach those who had gathered to be healed or delivered. It is that wonderful invitation we read today: Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (v. 28).

Shabbat Shalom! Sabbath is traditionally from Friday evening at sunset until Saturday evening at sunset. The Hebrew salutation on this day is “Shabbat Shalom.” The traditional translation is “Good Sabbath.” This is an acceptable translation, but the phrase is very nuanced. For those of you who do not read Hebrew, let me explain a bit. Shabbat means the seventh day of the week, a day of religious observance where work is restricted and prayer is intensified. The word is derived from the Hebrew word shevet which means “to dwell.” These two words are also related to the Hebrew word shevat, or “seven.” Shalom is generally translated as peace, but it, too, goes deeper than mere peace. Shalom means wholeness or completeness. So when someone wishes you Shabbat Shalom, they are saying to you “May you dwell in completeness on this seventh day.” I can't remember the guide’s full name our first trip to Israel, though his first name was Ari. He explained to me, sitting at a small table in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem that this common phrase was actually a blessing to another that the last day of the week alone will be as fulfilling as the first six were combined. So, as we close this little series today, I wish you Shabbat Shalom! In our day, even the greatest, strongest saints experience deep darkness. None of us are spared sorrow or oppression. Most of us suffer agonizing affliction at some point. Most of us will experience seasons when we feel as if we’ve been abandoned. Some of us will die hard deaths. However, we may take comfort that our Savior does not “break the bruised reed” (Isaiah 42:3). He hears our pleas for help and is patient with our doubts. He does not condemn us. He has paid completely for any sin that is exposed in our pain. In John’s darkness and pain Jesus sent a promise to sustain John’s faith. He will do the same for you! After all… He is the Lion of Judah!