Ok friends, this is a 2-part series. If you missed yesterday’s post, It’s Friday! Shabbat Shalom, you will miss half the blessing. Take 5 minutes to check it out, then come back for today’s second blessing!

“Shabbat Shalom” is the appropriate greeting in Jewish culture on the Sabbath (Friday evening to Saturday evening). Yesterday, we tackled the true meaning of shalom, and we’ll go full impact today by adding the traditional “Shabbat” to the greeting.

First, a bit about Shabbat (Sabbath). Because Sunday (Yom Rishon – “head of the week”) is considered the first day, the seventh day of the week on the Hebrew calendar is Saturday (Shabbat or Sabbath)…which actually begins Friday at sundown! Alas…Shabbat (Sabbath) Shalom!

“Shabat Shalom” puts focus squarely on the commandment to honor the Sabbath! In our non-stop culture, we totally lose sight of the need to rest! Sabbath is a day of rest, and God Himself illustrated that principle by resting on the seventh day, following His six days of creation (Genesis 2:2). In fact, Jesus is the fulfillment of the Sabbath. He IS our rest. Check it out:

Whoa…that’s huge!

Jesus is our rest. Thus, when we think or say, “Shabbat Shalom,” we are not simply saying, “Have a peaceful Sabbath day.” We are actually saying, “May Jesus Himself (our Sabbath) bring you wholeness, restoration and well-being (shalom)!”

Shabbat Shalom is Jewish, yet it’s ALL about Jesus! Collectively, our Jewish friends say it to one another millions of times each year. Without realizing it, they proclaim Jesus as the One to bring life in wholeness! Can you believe it!

Two take aways here:

1. Observing and honoring the Sabbath is a commandment! Jesus is our rest and we are commanded to enter into it! (It is not about a day of the week…it is about resting in Jesus Christ! Check out Hebrews 4-5.) Find your rest there and add shalom to it! Though we are under no obligation to Jewish laws, we might all benefit by taking a day of rest away from electronics and other things that wrestle away our focus on Jesus. We would be wise to spend that time truly entering into His rest. It is there where shalom is found!
2. The Jewish people understand the shadow (feasts, festivals and sabbaths), but are blind to the substance (Christ). (Colossians 2:16-17) Pray that the shadows will lead them to the substance! Jesus is revealing Himself through His Word to Jews around the world. May the veil be removed that they might truly see the Messiah!