Easter 2025: His Resurrection, Our Rest

In our fast-paced world, the concept of rest often feels like an elusive dream. We chase after it through vacations, entertainment, and even retirement, hoping to find that perfect state of relaxation and peace. But what if true rest isn't found in a place or an activity, but in a person?

This Easter, as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we're invited to consider a profound truth: the rest our souls desperately crave is available to us through Christ's finished work on the cross and His victory over death.

The Promise of Rest
From the very beginning of creation, rest was woven into God's design for humanity. After six days of creating the heavens and the earth, God rested on the seventh day. This wasn't because He was tired, but to set a pattern for His creation. Humans were meant to live and work from a place of rest, enjoying fellowship with their Creator.

However, sin disrupted this perfect harmony. Work became toil, relationships became strained, and humanity found itself exiled from the restful paradise God had prepared. Yet, throughout Scripture, we see God's continued promise of rest for His people.

In the Old Testament, God promised Israel rest in the Promised Land – a place flowing with milk and honey where they would find abundance and peace. Later, King David spoke of a rest still available in his day, urging people not to harden their hearts but to enter God's rest.

The book of Hebrews tells us that "there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God" (Hebrews 4:9). This isn't just a physical rest, but a deep, soul-level rest that addresses our deepest needs and longings.

The Provider of Rest
This rest isn't found in a place or an activity, but in a person – Jesus Christ. His death on the cross dealt with our sin, His resurrection conquered death, and His ascension to the right hand of the Father completed the work necessary for our salvation and rest.

Jesus Himself extended this invitation: "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" (Matthew 11:28-29).

It's not about what we do, but about what He has done. As the old hymn by James Proctor beautifully puts it:

"Nothing either great or small,
Nothing, sinner, no;
Jesus died and paid it all,
Long, long ago."

The Path to Rest
If this rest is available and found in Christ, how do we enter into it? The author of Hebrews gives us a surprising instruction: "Let us therefore strive to enter that rest" (Hebrews 4:11). At first glance, striving and resting might seem contradictory. But this striving isn't about working harder or doing more. It's about actively trusting in Christ and His finished work.

We strive together by:

1. Faith in Christ: Believing that Jesus' death and resurrection are sufficient for our salvation and rest.
2. Repentance: Turning away from sin and self-reliance to fully depend on Christ.
3. Community encouragement: Exhorting one another to remain faithful and not be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
4. Perseverance: Holding fast to our faith, not just in a moment, but throughout our lives.

So today, wherever you find yourself, hear Christ's invitation: "Come to me... and I will give you rest." Don't wait for tomorrow. Today is the day to trust in Jesus and His finished work. Today is the day to begin enjoying the rest He provides.

As you reflect on the resurrection this Easter, consider where you're seeking rest. Are you striving in your own strength or resting in Christ's completed work? Are you carrying burdens He's already borne for you?

Let this be the day you lay your "deadly doing down" and find your rest in Him. For in Christ, and Christ alone, our weary souls find their true and eternal rest.