Jesus Knows You Need Rest

Matthew 27:61 And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.
 
AS the sun began to set into the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, likely Mary, the mother of James and John, (verse 56), prepared to return the day after the Sabbath to honor Jesus by anointing his body with customary burial spices. Why would they wait until two days later?
   In our culture where we find so very many ways to dishonor the Sabbath, it is difficult for us to understand the Sabbath as God’s generous gift to mankind. He loves us so much he commanded us to take a day to rest: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy…the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God… the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.” (Exodus 20:8-11)
   Yes, God made the day holy. He set it apart from the rest of the week, so we would rest. To observe the Sabbath means we receive God’s gift. It means we faithfully believe God will supply our “daily bread” as we work six days. The Sabbath is a reminder to us that God oversees our every need. The Sabbath day gives rhythm and order to our lives of a weekly pattern reflecting the daily rising and setting of the sun.
   And thus, in the order of God’s creation and the order of God’s command to rest and to work, two faithful women remembered the Sabbath. And even more we must see that Jesus rested on the Sabbath as at the dawn of creation: And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had done. (Genesis 2:2)
   On the first day of the week, the women would come to do their work. But instead, Jesus would rise from the grave to begin the work of a new creation: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
           Jesus knows you need to rest, and you need to work.