In this process, they came to accept Sunday, which the Romans observed, as the day of worship. Sunday was the day set aside for the worship of Mithra, the sun god.
Mithraism, an offshoot of the Persian religion Zoroastrianism, was introduced to Rome around the 1st century B. Around the time when Christianity spread in Rome, Mithra the sun god had already been raised to the status of the patron deity of the emperors and the empire, and Mithraism had been recognized as the most predominant and influential religion in Rome.
The Church of Rome tried to escape persecution from the Romans by accepting Sunday, which was kept in honor of Mithra, as the day of worship. Around the 2nd century, the Church of Rome and some churches under its influence adopted Sunday as their day of worship, but the Eastern churches centered in Jerusalem kept Saturday—the seventh day—as the Sabbath according to the teachings of the Bible. However, as Constantine issued the Edict of Milan in A. After Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, he initiated pro-Christian policies, giving privileges to the clergy and supporting the Church financially.
However, it did not mean that he was fully converted to Christianity. Ultimately, he chose Christianity for political purposes to unify the whole empire.
To take forward these ideas, Constantine later issued a law requiring complete, public rest from work on Sunday. Since Constantine forced all people under the control of the Roman Empire to rest on Sunday by his authority, even the Eastern churches which had continued to observe the Sabbath had no choice but to follow the Church of Rome.
Of course, those who desired to preserve the truth adhered to the Sabbath, hiding in deserts and mountains, but it was impossible to prevent Sunday worship from spreading into all churches. This is the origin of Sunday observance, and it has continued to this very day. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.
How will the rest of the story go? God rests, or nuakhs, his presence with them anyway through the tabernacle and later the temple Exodus , 2 Chronicles This is the intention of the first, original Sabbath. It was so God and his people could rest in their relationship. Will Sabbath rest ever be restored?
The Gospel tells us that Jesus had a lot to say about the Sabbath and the true rest that God intends for his people. Jesus responds with an argument that redefines the Sabbath, asserts his role as the promised Messiah, and points to his divinity Matthew The Pharisees are understandably upset by this. But to Jesus, Sabbath observance pointed to something greater. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. All this talk of rest right before a passage that deals with Sabbath?
This is no mistake. What is Matthew trying to communicate here? The people were in need of rest, both in ceasing from hard work shabbat and being present together with God nuakh. Jesus ushered in the promise and reality of both. Jesus taught that the Sabbath was about mercy and was purposeful. When followers of Jesus observe the Sabbath, we live as if this restoration has already taken place.
We take a break from the broken rhythms of hustle and hardship to set aside a time of submission to his rule and enjoyment of his presence and to extend these things to the world around us. So what does this look like practically?
Does it mean attending a weekend church service, or turning off work emails, or volunteering at a soup kitchen? Does it matter what day you observe Sabbath? Your Sabbath could certainly include those activities, and it could take place on the same day every week!
But the text seems to emphasize the purpose of the Sabbath, rather than telling us rules for how to observe it. As followers of Jesus, we aren't required to follow the laws given to Israel by God exactly. These were given at a specific time to a specific people group for a specific purpose. Yet the wisdom of those laws is enduring, and the law of the Sabbath is pure gold.
Sabbath rest is an invitation to practice for eternity. When we practice this intentional stop, we make room for him to take up residence in our individual lives. Even better, we are taking part in this new creation story, setting the stage for God to make his dwelling place, his resting place, right here.
She loves to wrestle with Scripture until it lives in her in a way that she can communicate it with others richly.
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