Many people assume that Sunday is the replacement for the old Sabbath. Scripture, however, makes no such claim. There is no doubt that Sunday, as the first day of the week, is important to Christians. It was the day on which our Lord was raised (Mark 16:1- 6; Luke 4:1-8). Appearances of Christ after His resurrection were on the first day of the week (John 20:11-18, 19-23, 24-29; Luke 24:13-34). There is evidence that Pentecost, and hence the outpouring of the Spirit and beginning of the church, fell on a Sunday (Leviticus 17). We know that early Christians met regularly (Hebrews 10:25; 1 Corinthians 14:26; James 2:2). They met to break bread “on the first day of the week” (Acts 20:7) and they contributed “on the first day of every week” (I Corinthians 16:2). This background helps us to understand that John refers to Sunday when he speaks of “the Lord’s day” (Revelation 1:10). Immediately after the time of the apostles, early Christian writings speak often of their use of the first day. The evidence gives Sunday singular significance, especially for meeting together to remember what happened on that day.
The picture of Sunday’s significance is pieced together from various events and examples. Why is there no direct command saying, “Remember Sunday to keep it holy,” or “Keep Sunday as a sacred day of rest”? Perhaps the answer relates to the fact that the New Covenant is not like the Old Covenant (Hebrews 8:9). The Old had a command about a certain day: Saturday. Yet many Jews lived sinfully for six days, then felt righteous for honoring the seventh day. Outwardly they obeyed the command. Inwardly their hearts were far from God. He hated this use of the Sabbath (Isaiah 1:13; Jeremiah 7; Amos 5:21). Jesus clashed with the Jews over similar issues (Luke 6:1 11; 13:10-17; 14:1-6). He reminded them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). The Sabbath met human needs, just as circumcision and sacrifices met certain needs. It was not meant as a weapon or a burden (Matthew 23:4).
If only the Pharisees had known it, they were condemning the One who originally gave the Sabbath. For Jesus, as God, was “Lord of the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:8). He had the right to give the Sabbath law with its purposes (Exodus 20:8-11). He also had the right to remove the Sabbath law, which He later did (Colossians 2:14-16).
When Jesus removed the Sabbath, He did not merely replace it with another, similar day. The New Testament gives no direct command to keep a certain day sacred. Instead, as regards a day for meeting and remembrance, it gives background information and examples. Those who want to keep up a legal show of their goodness have no command on this matter to exploit. But those who genuinely want to meet to remember the death and resurrection of Christ have good evidence from the New Testament to see how the early Christians did that. God seeks true worshipers (John 4:23), and the New Covenant is supremely a matter of the heart (Hebrews 8:10). God has no interest in people living for themselves six days and giving Him one day. The Christian is to give his sacrifice— his own self—every day (Romans 12:1-2; Luke 9:23). In this sense, the New Covenant makes every day sacred or special. Yes, Sunday is special as the day when we meet to remember our Lord through His supper. But why is it special? Because of a legal requirement? Hardly, when no command can be produced. We meet because of hearts that want to honor God, hearts which see in apostolic examples the ways to fulfill that desire every day of the week and at the first day’s meeting.
As for “rest,” the New Testament tells us that our rest is found in the gentleness of Christ (Matthew 11:28). Chapters 3 and 4 of Hebrews add more perspective, showing that there remains “a Sabbath rest” when rest will be complete, like God’s (Hebrews 4:9-10). Ironically, we “enter that rest” not by relaxing, but by diligently striving (Hebrews 4:11). Our ultimate “Sabbath rest” is heaven itself, a fact confirmed by Revelation 14:13, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord … that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”
It is true that the human body needs regular rest. We should discipline ourselves to rest at times (Mark 6:31). But Christ’s New Covenant emphasizes rest in Christ far more than physical rest. His rest and peace bless us every day of the week, and ultimately for all eternity.