And On The Seventh Day, God Rested

[Nate Cline]

It is one of those things most of us have wondered at some point. Why does Jesus stay in the tomb on Saturday? What is he doing? To understand what is going on, we must go all the way back to the beginning. Genesis 2:13 tells us this, "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation." In Exodus god places His reason for the Sabbath being a day for rest with these words "For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy." (Exodus 20:11) To put it simply, Jesus is resting. He cries out from the cross, "It is finished." The Sabbath is the day that God rests when his work is done, and Jesus' work is done. Salvation is accomplished.
We too can rest. There is nothing for us to do to please God. When Christ says that it is finished, all of the work is finished. There is not one thing you and I can do to add to His work for us. So, take comfort and trust that God is pleased with you on Christ's account.