Just Rest, Baby, Just Rest!

In Matthew 11:28-30 we read about Jesus’ invitation to all to find rest. What sort of rest is this? Is it an all expenses paid vacation? Is it retirement that is care free or is it an invitation to perpetual bliss? Actually we already know its none of the preceding, but just exactly what is Jesus offering? I think we can best appreciate what Jesus is up to by way of illustration.

The setting is the sea of Gallilee, Jesus has just finished preaching an open air sermon using one of Peter’s boats and the water as an effective acoustical aid. (Matt. 5:1-3) Then Jesus turns his undivided attention to Peter and his associates. He challenges them: “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Peter responds incredulously, “Are you kidding, man, (pardon my modernization), but “we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets” (verses 4 and 5). Needless to say Peter and the boys were almost overwhelmed with the “avalanche” of fish that broke the record for the most fish “harvested” in one catch on the sea of Gallilee. In this moment of momentous spiritual awakening, Peter acknowledged that his boat was now on “holy water” and he was in the presence of the Master of the Sea. The rest is history. Peter in time became the “great fisherman” of souls.

Peter’s life changing experience teaches us that obedience is the doorway to rest as we move from preoccupation with our own futility into the all sufficiency of Christ who transforms our work so that it is now His work. The rest that Jesus offers, therefore, is not for those who choose to be spectators in the continuing Saga of Redemption, but for those who choose to get their feet wet and like Peter plumb the depths of the sea of humanity if you please in order to catch fish fit for the Kingdom of Heaven (see verse 10). As we enter into His rest, our focus is not on ourselves and our limited resources and energy, but on Him. We learn that the battle is the Lord’s and not ours (I Chron. 20:15); there are heavenly resources within our grasp that we never knew were meant for us (I like what Jacob said: “The Lord is in this place and I did not know it.” Gen. 28:16; that anxiety may still afflict us but we need not despair (see 1 Peter 5:7). No wonder we just need to rest, baby, just rest in Jesus.