Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Sabbath, September 17, 2016

We are focusing on getting to know God from the perspective of John the beloved.

Today’s Scripture Focus: “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” (John 19:30).

As we peer into Jesus’ agony of being separated from His Father and feeling forsaken, it occurs to me that we will never understand the depths of love the Father and Son have for us. He who was one with Jehovah from eternity past, could not through the gloom of the sun’s refusal to shine on the shameful agony of Christ, see the approbation and love of His Father. But, as the life of His adopted human form ebbed away, and He prepared to surrender His final breaths to God for safe keeping, He cried with a loud voice, “It is finished” (John 19:30)! Here are some of the most critical things that were finished that fateful day:

1.) Jesus would never again suffer on the cross for our sins; He died once for us (Romans 6:9,10)
2.) The need for human priests ended (Hebrews 7:18-28)
3.) Animal sacrifices were no longer valid or necessary; the ceremonial laws were nailed to the cross (Matthew 27:51; Daniel 9:27; Colossians 2:14)
4.) The “antidote” for sin was fully mixed and ready to be administered to any and all who would receive it by faith.

Now, let’s briefly unpack the “rest” of, or better said, the rest in the story. Jesus had accomplished His work on the cross, having made provision for all sinners to be saved as illustrated in the experience of the dying thief who finally saw the power of God in the meek and lowly face of his Savior (Luke 23:43). “And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand” (John 19:38–42). According to the [fourth] commandment, King Jesus was at rest that next Sabbath day (Luke 23:56). This fact, the fact that our Savior rested on the Sabbath day, having completed His work on the sixth day must not be lost on us. No detail given in Scripture was recorded sloppily. There is divine purpose in every thought.

It is interesting that Jesus rested following the sixth day just like He rested after six days of labor in His creation of earth. Scripture says, “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made” (Genesis 1:31–2:3). Fasten your seat belts, friends! Notice that Scripture says that God saw that all He had done in the creation and all of the provisions of earth, was very good and then He rested. Christ supplied everything that was necessary for humankind’s peace and comfort. All of nature was in harmony, the crystal rivers flowed gently through the Garden, and all creatures lived to praise their heavenly Benefactor. Humanity stood in his innocence before his God. The icing of this creative cake was spread over all through...