Have you ever had one of those days, where you just can’t stay awake? It’s one of those days, where you want to sneak away to the bathroom and take a nap on the pot, or curl up under your desk or hide in your room. Exhaustion is a common thread in our culture because we just go, go, go until we can’t go anymore. Eventually, we just hit our limit and have a breakdown of some sort.
Did you know that Jesus actually speaks to this phenomenon of sheer exhaustion? He does, and it’s called the Sabbath and it calls for, are you ready for it: REST.  Let’s find out what did Jesus say about the Sabbath.
 

What is the Sabbath?

Let’s go all the way back to the beginning so that you can more fully understand what Jesus said about the Sabbath. The origin of the word Sabbath is actually the Hebrew word sabat, which quite literally translates to: “to rest or stop or cease from work.” Even more so, references to the Sabbath date all the way back to the genesis of creation, where God created the world and everything in it in six days and rested on the seventh day. From the very beginning, God set the precedent for resting.
 

How is the Sabbath observed?

The Sabbath, typically celebrated Jews as a holy day, begins at sunset on Friday and ends at sunset on Saturday. It’s a full 24 hours of rest. From a Jewish perspective, there are several customs and that are upheld, including: refraining from watching television working. Per Jewish custom, all chores such as cooking, cleaning and running errands must be completed before sunset on Friday. Additionally, Sabbath candles are lit at sunset on Friday. Finally, many in the Jewish community consume both sweet wine and traditional challah bread. The Sabbath is a time meant for being calm. Many Jewish families take special care to spend time together. Additionally, those without family, often celebrate together as a group.
 

Can I observe the Sabbath if I’m not religious?

Although the Sabbath is traditionally a Jewish celebration, that doesn’t mean that you can’t take away some of the concepts. For example, find 24 hours each week to simply rest. Take this time to reflect on your life, your relationship with Jesus and your family. Don’t say you’ll do it next week, but start this week and make time for rejuvenation.