Wednesday: Ready to Vanish Away
WEEK 36
WEDNESDAY
READY TO VANISH AWAY
Hebrews 8:10-13
The germ of the use of the Christian Sabbath—instead of the Jewish—was to be found in the fact that as soon as the resurrection took place, the disciples, seeing the absolute importance of this event, began to meet on that day straight off. The account says:
It was still the first day of the week. That evening, while the disciples were behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19
After eight days, his disciples were again in a house. . . . Jesus entered and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you” (v. 26)
Jesus met with them on the succeeding first day of the week (eight days later would be the first day), thus accustoming them to meet with him on that blessed day. The revolutionary change was made in an evolutionary way. That was wise; for if it had been by a verbal enactment of Jesus, it would have precipitated a violent controversy between the old and the new. Now the transition was not verbal but vital. Then was fulfilled this verse “When it says new, it makes the first obsolete. And if something is old and outdated, it’s close to disappearing” (Heb 8:13).
The old Sabbath was obsolete, for it was not usable. It can’t be used today, not universally. For the Jewish Sabbath was from sundown to sundown. Now in parts of the world, as in Norway, the sun in certain periods doesn’t go down at all, or for just a brief portion of a day. So those who insist on the Jewish Sabbath as binding on Christians are forced to change the letter of the Jewish law by making the Sabbath go from six o’clock to six o’clock. But that gives away the case. If you don’t take a legalism entirely, you don’t take it. Moreover, if you can change it in one aspect, why can’t the whole thing be changed to a more suitable day with a Christian content in it?
We have a day now that fits our gospel. The most important day in our calendar is the day of the Resurrection. What better way to commemorate it than by the Christian Sabbath?
O Jesus Christ, we thank you that we have found a day with content, the most glorious in the world. Help us to make that day worthy of that glorious fact. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: I cannot really take the Christian Sabbath without taking its content—the Resurrection—I do, wholly.