Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’”
NL Daily Devotion for Saturday, September 2, 2023
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
I am not sure where this passage fits in the theme of sabbath rest. Jesus’ state of mind is anything but restful. He is agitated and grieving, frustrated that his friends cannot manage to stay awake even for short periods of time. And yet, as Jesus prays, “yet, not what I want, but what you want,” we see a clear and beautiful surrender to the will of God which, as I see it, is a proclamation of sabbath rest. Jesus is letting go of outcomes and putting his entire trust in God, even as he faces his death.
We are called into this complete surrender to God in the form of sabbath rest. Total trust that God is holding and sustaining us in all things, and that we can let go and rest in God’s loving arms, even in the midst of our most painful challenges. What an incredible gift.
How do I observe sabbath rest even when I am struggling?
