Finding Rest in the Merry-Thon {The Gospel Coalition}

Today's post is a practical, encouraging post by David Schrock at the Gospel Coalition. We hope it revitalizes you as much as it did for us!

For many, the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas leave us grateful but gassed. In the name of holiday festivities, December means attending multiple Christmas parties, traveling to see family and friends, and standing in line to get the ever-elusive "perfect gift."

As much joy as Christmas brings, if we aren't careful, holiday cheer can sap our energy and steal our joy. It is a great irony that the season of light often feels heavy. What can we do to find rest in this annual merry-thon?

Unlikely Christmas Verse

Though we don't think of Matthew 11:28 as a Christmas verse, it is. "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" tells us why Jesus came. Although earthly labor is a good thing, in a fallen world our best works leave us tired and increase our unrighteousness before a holy God (Isa. 64:6) Therefore, like drinking water from the Dead Sea, our greatest efforts to find rest leave us thirsty.
To this universal problem, Jesus offers a solution. He invites us to come, that in service to him we may work under his easy and light yoke. Such a promise of rest is at the core of his gospel and fundamental to his incarnation.


Significantly, Jesus' invitation follows the announcement of his arrival. Earlier in Matthew 11, a weary sinner sends a message to Jesus asking about his identity. The inquirer is John the Baptist, and his good works have successfully landed him in Herod's jail. Of course, John isn't perceived to be a "sinner" like the woman in Luke 7. He is a faithful prophet of God who suffered much for the sake of righteousness. In Jesus' own estimation John is the cream of the old covenant crop (Matt. 11:11). Nevertheless, as a fallen son of Adam, he is weary and heavy laden.


So John sends his disciples to ask, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect another?" Jesus replies with a Christmas catena—not cantata (those come later)—of Old Testament verses. Citing Isaiah's "gospel," he declares: "The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them" (Matt. 11:5; cf. Isa. 26:18-19; 29:18-19; 35:5-6; 53:4; 61:1).

To read the rest of this uplifting post, visit the Gospel Coalition here: Finding Rest in the Merry-Thon