Divine rest

I was amazed the first time I realized that Jesus needed to rest, that this divine human needed to get away from the demands of the crowds every now and then to recharge and reconnect with his heavenly Father, and then get back to his mission–in some ways just like me, and maybe just like you.

I would suggest that the pattern that Jesus set and that worked for him, the complementary movements of rest and activity, of contemplation and action, is a pattern that is important for us, who attempt to model our life on the life and teachings of Jesus. I figure, if it was important to him, it should probably be important for us.

Unfortunately, we’ve mostly lost the sense of Sabbath, a day for prayer and quiet activity. There is great pressure to be constantly productive, constantly doing things and going places, and the demands on our time can take over our life. If God rested on the seventh day of creation, we should probably take the hint that this is worth doing.

The rhythm of contemplation and action, that back and forth between prayer and ministry, with each feeding the other, is a dynamic the energized Jesus to do the work he was called to do. That same rhythm and dynamic is there for us as well, to equip us to engage in the mission we are called to in all the areas of our life where we’re called to serve.