Free to Rest
THIRD QUARTER 2021
SABBATH SCHOOL INSIGHT #8
AUGUST 21, 2021
“FREE TO REST”
When I saw the title for this week’s lesson, my first thought was that we are free to rest because of what Christ has done for us so that we may indeed “rest in Christ”, the theme for this quarter.
Our lesson focuses on rest in connection with Christ’s healing of the paralytic and Elijah’s rest in connection with his depression and discouragement as he runs for his life from Jezebel.
As we will see, while physical rest does facilitate healing, more than physical rest is required. Rest in Christ comes to the forefront always because Christ desires that we have complete healing: physical, spiritual, and mental when by faith we rest in Him!
It is important for us to realize that to rest in Christ is part of the wonderful gift of salvation given to everyone by Christ’s infinite sacrifice in becoming human and taking upon Himself our sinful natures---His birth, life, death, and resurrection always fully surrendered to His Father’s will! He was 100% human and 100% God despite having set aside His divine powers and suffered the second death as us and for us on the cross enduring total separation from His Father to pay the price for my sins and yours.
In John 15, Christ tells us that He is our vine (source of life) and we are the branches and in vs. 5-7, He promises: “He that remains (abides) in Me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.” Also, “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide (remain) in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” He has taken the entire human race into Himself, but it is still our choice by faith to remain in Him or choose the world and its temptations!
Here is an EGW quote on this topic:
“By His obedience to all the commandments of God, Christ wrought out a redemption for men. This was not done by going out of Himself to another, but by taking humanity into Himself. Thus, Christ gave to humanity an existence out of Himself. To bring humanity into Christ, to bring the fallen race into oneness with divinity, is the work of redemption. Christ took human nature that men might be one with Him as He is one with the Father, that God may love man as He loves His only-begotten Son, that men may be partakers of the divine nature, and be complete in Him. 1SM 250.3
The Holy Spirit, which proceeds from the only-begotten Son of God, binds the human agent, body, soul, and spirit, to the perfect, divine-human nature of Christ. This union is represented by the union of the vine and the branches. Finite man is united to the manhood of Christ. Through faith human nature is assimilated with Christ's nature. We are made one with God in Christ. 1SM 251.1”
With these thoughts in mind, let us turn now to the experience of the paralytic in Capernaum. E. G. White gives us considerable insight into how Christ changed his life:
- “You cannot atone for your past sins; you cannot change your heart and make yourself holy. But God promises to do all this for you through Christ. You believe that promise. You confess your sins and give yourself to God. You will to serve Him. Just as surely as you do this, God will fulfill His word to you. If you believe the promise, — believe that you are forgiven and cleansed, — God supplies the fact; you are made whole, just as Christ gave the paralytic power to walk when the man believed that he was healed. It is so if you believe it. CSA 30.3
Do not wait to feel that you are made whole, but say, “I believe it; it is so, not because I feel it, but because God has promised.” ... CSA 30.4
Henceforth you are not your own; you are bought with a price. “Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold; ... but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Peter 1:18, 19. Through this simple act of believing God, the Holy Spirit has begotten a new life in your heart. You are as a child born into the family of God, and He loves you as He loves His Son. Steps to Christ, pp. 49-52. CSA 30.5
If you give yourself to Him, and accept Him as your Saviour, then, sinful as your life may have been, for His sake you are accounted righteous. Christ's character stands in place of your character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned. Steps to Christ, p. 62. CSA 30.6”
- “The Saviour looked upon the mournful countenance, and saw the pleading eyes fixed upon Him. He understood the case; He had drawn to Himself that perplexed and doubting spirit. While the paralytic was yet at home, the Saviour had brought conviction to his conscience. When he repented of his sins, and believed in the power of Jesus to make him whole, the life-giving mercies of the Saviour had first blessed his longing heart. Jesus had watched the first glimmer of faith grow into a belief that He was the sinner's only helper, and had seen it grow stronger with every effort to come into His presence. DA 268.1
Now, in words that fell like music on the sufferer's ear, the Saviour said, “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” DA 268.2
The burden of despair rolls from the sick man's soul; the peace of forgiveness rests upon his spirit, and shines out upon his countenance. His physical pain is gone, and his whole being is transformed. The helpless paralytic is healed! The guilty sinner is pardoned! DA 268.3
In simple faith, he accepted the words of Jesus as the boon of new life. He urged no further request, but lay in blissful silence, too happy for words. The light of heaven irradiated his countenance, and the people looked with awe upon the scene. DA 268.4
…” Oh, wondrous love of Christ, stooping to heal the guilty and the afflicted! Divinity sorrowing over and soothing the ills of suffering humanity! Oh, marvelous power thus displayed to the children of men! Who can doubt the message of salvation? Who can slight the mercies of a compassionate Redeemer? DA 269.4
It required nothing less than creative power to restore health to that decaying body. The same voice that spoke life to man created from the dust of the earth had spoken life to the dying paralytic. And the same power that gave life to the body had renewed the heart. He who at the creation “spake, and it was,” who “commanded, and it stood fast,” (Psalm 33:9), had spoken life to the soul dead in trespasses and sins. The healing of the body was an evidence of the power that had renewed the heart. Christ bade the paralytic arise and walk, “that ye may know,” He said, “that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins.” DA 269.5”
What the paralytic saw in Christ was a loving Saviour Who gave him hope when he repented and came to Him by faith seeking forgiveness. His joy was complete in Christ’s forgiveness but Jesus provided the physical healing that he needed as well. When we choose to rest and abide in Christ, He promises us peace whatever the circumstances we are dealing with in our lives along with the comfort that we have His promise to abide in us! We see this in the following quote:
“The paralytic found in Christ healing for both the soul and the body. The spiritual healing was followed by physical restoration. This lesson should not be overlooked. There are today thousands suffering from physical disease, who, like the paralytic, are longing for the message, “Thy sins are forgiven.” The burden of sin, with its unrest and unsatisfied desires, is the foundation of their maladies. They can find no relief until they come to the Healer of the soul. The peace which He alone can give, would impart vigor to the mind, and health to the body. DA 270.1”
Let us now turn to Elijah’s experience as he ran for his life from Jezebel and reached a point where in his exhaustion and despair, he could go no further and asked the Lord to end his life. Once again, the following E. G. White quotes give us insights as to how Elijah’s experience has relevance to us today, especially in the troubling times ahead.
- “By one failure of his faith, Elijah cut short his lifework. Heavy was the burden that he had borne in behalf of Israel; faithful had been his warnings against the national idolatry; and deep was his solicitude as during three years and a half of famine he watched and waited for some token of repentance. Alone he stood for God upon Mount Carmel. Through the power of faith, idolatry was cast down, and the blessed rain testified to the showers of blessing waiting to be poured upon Israel. Then in his weariness and weakness he fled before the threats of Jezebel and alone in the desert prayed that he might die. His faith had failed. The work he had begun he was not to complete. God bade him anoint another to be prophet in his stead. Ed 151.1
But God had marked the heart service of His servant. Elijah was not to perish in discouragement and solitude in the wilderness. Not for him the descent to the tomb, but the ascent with God's angels to the presence of His glory. Ed 151.2
These life records declare what every human being will one day understand—that sin can bring only shame and loss; that unbelief means failure; but that God's mercy reaches to the deepest depths; that faith lifts up the repenting soul to share the adoption of the sons of God. Ed 151.3”
- “Temporary Depression May Follow Success—A reaction such as frequently follows high faith and glorious success was pressing upon Elijah. He feared that the reformation begun on Carmel might not be lasting, and depression seized him. He had been exalted to Pisgah's top; now he was in the valley. While under the inspiration of the Almighty, he had stood the severest trial of faith; but in this time of discouragement, with Jezebel's threat sounding in his ears and Satan still apparently prevailing through the plotting of this wicked woman, he lost his hold on God. He had been exalted above measure, and the reaction was tremendous. —Prophets and Kings, 161, 162 (1917). 2MCP 486.2”
3. “Elijah should not have fled from his post of duty. He should have met the threat of Jezebel with an appeal for protection to the One Who had commissioned him to vindicate the honor of Jehovah. He should have told the messenger that the God in Whom he trusted would protect him against the hatred of the queen. Only a few hours had passed since he had witnessed a wonderful manifestation of divine power, and this should have given him assurance that he would not now be forsaken. Had he remained where he was, had he made God his refuge and strength, standing steadfast for the truth, he would have been shielded from harm. The Lord would have given him another signal victory by sending His judgments on Jezebel; and the impression made on the king and the people would have wrought a great reformation. PK 160.1”
4.“Into the experience of all there come times of keen disappointment and utter discouragement—days when sorrow is the portion, and it is hard to believe that God is still the kind benefactor of His earthborn children; days when troubles harass the soul, till death seems preferable to life. It is then that many lose their hold on God and are brought into the slavery of doubt, the bondage of unbelief. Could we at such times discern with spiritual insight the meaning of God's providences we should see angels seeking to save us from ourselves, striving to plant our feet upon a foundation more firm than the everlasting hills, and new faith, new life, would spring into being. PK 162.”
5. “And he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. 1 Kings 19:4. CTr 164.1
In all our afflictions, Jesus was afflicted. The Captain of our salvation was made perfect through suffering. In this life we shall be proved whether we bear the test of God. When Satan's temptations come, we shall have a trial. Shall we be overcome by the bewitching power of Satan or shall we overcome Satan's temptations as Christ overcame them? Shall we have the mind stored with the heavenly treasures of truth, that we may be enabled to meet the adversary of souls with “It is written” as did Christ, and not with any of our impetuous speeches? Satan understands more of what “is written” than many a professed Christian, for he is a diligent student of the Scriptures, and his work is to pervert the truth of God, to lead people to disobedience and to neglect the searching of God's Word.... CTr 164.2
It is a great mistake to dictate to God. Elijah knew not what he said when he told God that he had enough of life and asked to die. The Lord did not take him at his word, for he had a work to do before he would be exalted and translated to heaven. Have we forgotten that Jesus, the Majesty of heaven, suffered being tempted? Jesus did not allow the enemy to pull Him into the mire of unbelief, or crowd Him into the mire of despondency and despair.... CTr 164.3
“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.” How precious to the tempted soul is this positive promise. If those in trouble and temptation keep their eyes fixed on Jesus and draw nigh to God, talking of His goodness and mercy, Jesus draws nigh to them, and the annoyances that they thought almost unbearable vanish.... CTr 164.5”
Troublous times are before us, but this is not to worry us. To be worried is to be unbelieving, but Christ invites you saying, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”—Letter 43, 1892. CTr 164.6
We saw above that Elijah had “lost his hold on God” but God never lost His hold on Elijah. It’s good to know that we serve a seeking Saviour who was reaching out to Elijah and to the paralytic just as He is reaching out to us. He is truly our only hope of peace and rest, and is able to give us the healing that we need whatever difficulties we might face. The following quote from Steps to Christ encapsulates this very well for us:
“A life in Christ is a life of restfulness. There may be no ecstasy of feeling, but there should be an abiding, peaceful trust. Your hope is not in yourself; it is in Christ. Your weakness is united to His strength, your ignorance to His wisdom, your frailty to His enduring might. So, you are not to look to yourself, not to let the mind dwell upon self, but look to Christ. Let the mind dwell upon His love, upon the beauty, the perfection, of His character. Christ in His self-denial, Christ in His humiliation, Christ in His purity and holiness, Christ in His matchless love—this is the subject for the soul's contemplation. It is by loving Him, copying Him, depending wholly upon Him, that you are to be transformed into His likeness. SC 70.2”
May that be our desire today, to rest in Christ, to abide in a loving Saviour so that as He promised, He will indeed abide in us.
Blessings,
~John Campbell