The Seventh-Day rest—a call to cease—remains one of the Bible’s most disputed and divisive themes. In a world—and a assembly of believers —accustomed to constant striving, the seventh day still asks a disruptive question: What does it mean to stop because YHWH/God said to?

The Seventh Day Rest (later known as Sabbath or Shabbat), sits at the crossroads of devotion, doctrine, and dispute. For some, it is a creation-rooted rhythm meant for all humanity; for others, a covenant sign given uniquely to Israel; for many Christians, a shadow fulfilled and set aside in Christ. Pastors, theologians, rabbis, historians, and everyday believers often speak past one another, each convinced the matter is settled—yet rarely at peace about it.

This series approaches the Seventh Day Rest as a ceasefire moment: a pause not only from labor, but from inherited assumptions and theological hostilities. Rather than beginning with denominational conclusions, we begin where Scripture begins—listening carefully from Genesis to Revelation. The aim is not to win an argument, but to quiet the noise long enough to let the biblical text speak for itself, and to see whether the call to rest has always been less about identity markers and more about trusting YHWH’s word, submitting to His authority, remembering His works, and entering the rest He Himself sanctified..

Scripture Luke 23:54-56 (Matthew 27:62, Mark 15:42, , John 19:31, 42)

It was the day of the Preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near. The women who had come with him out of Galilee followed after, and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. They returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

Define:

• Day of Preparation and the Sabbath see the 15th-17th days in The Week of Passover and SabbathS, Sabbath
• Him = Jesus
• The Women = followers of Jesus
• Sea of Galilee
• Commandment Commands (Mitzvot) - General commandments, often moral or religious duties (e.g., love God, keep commandments)

Who:

• The Women
  • who had come with Jesus
    • out of Galilee
  • followed after (Joseph v50)
  • saw the tomb
  • saw how Jesus's body was laid
  • returned (to wherever they had come from)
  • prepared spices and ointments
  • Rested
    • on the Sabbath
• Jesus
  • came out of Galilee
  • body was laid in the tomb

What:

• was drawing near
  • the Sabbath
• had come, followed after, saw the tomb, saw the body laid, returned and prepared spices and ointments
  • the women
• Rested
  • on the Sabbath
  • according to the Mitzvot

When:

• The day of preparations
• Sabbath was drawing near
• On the Sabbath
  • Rested

Why:

• Rested
  • because it was a Mitzvot

Findings

The Sabbath is not for a "Christian":

• The term Christians did not exist until around 40-44AD, a decade or more after Jesus was crucified. Originally, followers of Yeshua/Jesus of Nazareth were called "People of The Way".
• In modern day, we would call these women "Christians." The first thing they did was continue to keep the Command (Mitzvot) to rest on the Sabbath.

It is a Jewish thing:

• "Jew" in the New Testament can refers to:
  • a person belonging to the Jewish people
  • a descent from Judah/Israel,
  • a person who adheres to Jewish customs/religion,
  • a person who is a part of the Jewish nation

Jesus replaced the Sabbath:

• Not yet.
• Jesus has been crucified and laid in a Tomb but the Sabbath is still being kept according to the Commandments (Mitzvot).

Other Notes:

• The women wouldn't even violate resting on the Sabbath in order to prepare Jesus's body.
• Jesus rested on the Sabbath as well.
• Mark 16:1, Luke 23:55-24:1
  • When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint him.
  • They returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
  • But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they and some others came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared.

Connections

_Seventh Day Rest Scripture Survey

Connections