Surprised by Grace (11): A rest eternal

Most people, whether it is after a long overseas flight or after a hard days work, would like to take the first opportunity, to put the loads on the floor, wash our face, grab a drink, or for some a cigar, and slump on a couch.
Rest.
Physical rest.
Or maybe with psychological rest from work.
Whatever, that’s a good feeling.
Little wonder that Club Med’s advertising is so appealing.
Deserted Sandy beach.
Deep blue sea.
Just a recliner beach chair and a beer.
Some even throws the cell phone into waters.

Jesus promises all who are wearied and heavy laden, rest. If they could come to Him, He will give them rest. (Mt 11:28-30)
So appealing.

Was Jesus operating Club Med?
If rest is temporary or conditional, where is the feeling of rest?
And also, was Jesus talking about rest from duress that’s physical, political, emotional, or sin?

Anyone who has read about Jesus, or who has expectations of religion, will not have settled for rest from temporal difficulties. Neither would short lived physical or political rest ever satisfy.

Let’s not debate the fact that Jesus said, “rest for your souls” (Mt 11:29).
The word “soul” could indeed be used to refer to the whole person. But it is unlikely here. It was not backed up by historical facts. Jesus was crucified. His disciples scattered and persecuted.
Where was rest to the whole person?
If death were, then so be it.

Rest must be the sense of relief from sin, the guilt and punishment of past, and, the most radical, surprising, and even unacceptable to dominant traditional moralistic framework, curse for future sins!

“How could Jesus promise so extravagant a rest?
How would God become Santa Claus?
How could Jesus have violated the unassailable view that God could not let sins go unpunished?
Forgiveness yes; no punishment and no guaranteed rehabilitation, no!”

They have learned to forgive.
But they also have learned to expect genuine confession demonstrated by acts of repentance.
If anyone fails to maintain an alcohol free life after graduating from AA, then the forgiveness is taken back—it’s conditional and temporary.

It is understandable if Jesus pronounces a promise of rest that is not temporary or conditional.
It is a surprise 99.9% Christians, Buddhists, and Atheists, combined, couldn’t swallow.

But if surprise never shocks, it is less than a prank.

Would Jesus not have cushioned His surprise? Sort of gave people a way out?
Didn’t He say “Learn from me for I am gentle and humble.” (Mt 11:29)
What was there to learn?

Right after Jesus said those words, the camera showed He confronted the Pharisees on two incidents.
Both had to deal with apparent trashing of the Law of Moses, none other than profaning the Sabbath.
One on disciples plucking wheat to eat to deal with hunger, on Sabbath.
The other about Jesus healing a man with withered hand, also on Sabbath.

The details could be located in Mt 12.
The punch line there is, from Jesus, on learning from him: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” (Mt 12:7)

This was what needed to learn from Jesus,
-in audacity of overthrowing the legitimising framework that seemingly imposed by the Law of Moses;
-in freeing God from being stereotyped as having to punish as judge to be just;
-in seeing sinners not as sinners, but as objects of mercy.

Once disciples can learn from Jesus to dispense mercy, the yoke is light. Whatever logical definition that has been placed on God, has been invalidated.
God doesn’t need to act as stereotyped by men, however moral or noble men.
For the Son of Man is there to correctly redefine for whom the Sabbath was instituted in the 10 Commandments! (Mt 12: 8)

People can complain that it is an outrageous and unlawful surprise, that God can forget about the Law and forgive all sins, past and future, without demand of penance or whatever correct or good deeds as sacrifice.

Jesus would reply: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” (Mt 12:7)
He just asked that those claim to be surprised learn from Him about God. About how God would deal with sinners.

Jesus would add further, just in case people would lodge an appeal, that such a notion blindsided them. That they are not prepared to view God that way, so lenient such as to become antinomian.

They could recall the last time Jesus told them to learn.

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mt 9:12-13)

Both times.
Learn.
Unlearn what stereotype humans placed on God.
Learn that He wants to dispense mercy, rather than collect debts or penance.
God doesn’t care about that.
He cares sinners know He is merciful.

Surprised?
No. If you can take it.
Yes. If you insists on your view of God.