Daily Devotion - John 19:30 - "Rest" God Is Our Redeemer

The world was in chaos.

Then God stepped in and brought goodness and order.

[Gen 1:2-3 ESV] 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.

For six days, the LORD God worked diligently, producing light and life out of darkness and void. Everything He made He declared good, and human beings were called "very good". It was mankind alone who would reign over the physical realm as their God ruled the spiritual. It was mankind alone who could commune with God on a spiritual and emotional level, understanding the joy, love and satisfaction He shared with them.

On this last day, God Almighty declared His creation "finished". He had created beauty out of chaos, light out of darkness, and life out of nothing. There was nothing left to create, and His work was done.

Then mankind decided their identity as creatures wasn't enough. God wanted to keep them subservient, and His rules limited their participation in the divine. So, in one simple act of defiance, they disfigured the purpose of God's creation, ruining it forever. Beauty became ashes, light faded away into darkness, and ordered reverted to absolute chaos.

But God had already planned on it.

[Gen 3:15 ESV] 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."

Scripture states that Jesus came as a light into the world that darkness cannot overcome (John 1:5). His teachings reminded His followers that their true identity and purpose is to walk with the LORD God Almighty, surrendering to His will for their lives. He physically restored those who were sick and injured, and He exercised His divine authority over demons and nature.

Then, He was brutally beaten, tortured and executed, taking upon Himself the punishment of death for our sin. As He hung on the cross, taking his last breaths, He uttered one final message.

"It is finished."

Consider the pattern. In Genesis, God turned chaos into order, bringing in light to shut out the darkness and creating life that was meant to flourish. He controlled the natural realm and even condemned Satan with a promise to punish him for his act of defiant influence over humanity.

Jesus came as a light into darkness, restoring health to the sick and even life to the dead. He calmed storms and sent demons away, revealing that His true purpose was to enter our chaos and restore it to the perfect order of Eden. His final words reflected the last words of creation, when God Almighty said that His work of creating the world was complete. Jesus' tells us at the cross that His work of re-creating was now complete.

Then, like the Father, He rested on the Sabbath.

Question To Consider:

What does it mean for you to think that Christ came to restore you to an Eden relationship with Himself?

Prayer For Today:

Jesus, thank You for the work You did for me, suffering God's wrath for my sin so that I could be restored to the relationship You always intended for me. My soul cries out, "To whom shall I go? You have the words of eternal life." Remind me of Your love for me now and always, and let me never stray too far from Your sweet grace and mercy. Amen.