What does the Bible say about. . .? It’s a question I hear nearly every day.

What does the Bible say about the environment? Animal rights?

What does the Bible say about guns? War?

What does the Bible say about money—how much should I give? How much can I keep?

What does the Bible say about power—who has it? How should it be used?

And the most dominant question of the day seems to be: What does the Bible say about sex—who can have it and with whom and how does that affect their role in the church?

These questions are asked, because for many Christians, the Bible is a guidebook for living, a recipe book for righteousness, if you will.

While I agree these questions can be good and useful, especially when explored with a group of faithful Christians, who are praying for the Holy Spirit illumine their collective understanding, but still, a better question to ask first, I think is this: What does the Bible say? Period. That is, in general, what does the Bible say? What is the overall message of the Holy Scriptures?

The truth, in a nutshell.

I think that truth is easily found in 1 verse of Scripture: Matthew 11:28: Jesus said, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."

I must confess that I have never preached on just one verse of Scripture, because I am not a proponent of lifting one verse from the Bible and arguing a point using it—too often that has been used as a weapon to hurt those who disagree with our opinion. This is especially tragic when that one verse contradicts the rest of the Bible. For example, "an eye for an eye" is clearly at odds with Jesus’ words of "turn the other cheek, forgive not seven, but seventy times seven, love your enemy.

But, in this case, this one verse from Matthew does not contradict the message of the Bible, but rather it encapsulates the whole story. If you’ve ever taken a Bible study with me, you’ve no doubt heard me say: The Bible is the story of God’s relentless love for God’s rebellious people. The Bible is all about the love and grace of God, most perfectly embodied in Jesus Christ. And although Jesus spoke in a certain tongue, at a certain time, in a certain place, the language he spoke was universal, the language of grace. Jesus said,

Come. . . This one word reflects the invitational message of the Bible.

With this word, Jesus offers an invitation to come.

Not go, no follow, not do, but come, simply come. Come. Sit, be still, in my presence.

In this invitation to come, can be heard an encouragement to first turn away from the sins that cling so closely, leave our burdens behind, and come, just as you are, come.

Throughout the Gospels, we read of Jesus inviting people to come. When the crowds pressed in on him, when the lepers called out to him, when the children came to him, the disciples tried to keep them away. But, Jesus said, "Let them come."

All. . .This one word reflects the inclusive message of the Bible.

With this word, Jesus is inclusive of all. Not some. Not a select few. Not who we choose. But, all.

Not just those who are rich and powerful. Not just those who are wise and wonderful. Not just those who are acceptable in our eyes. But, all. That is, all that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens. That’s all of us, folks. We have all been weary at times. We have all carried heavy burdens at times. Maybe you still are. Maybe your neighbor is, too.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is known as the one who welcomes the stranger; the one who eats with sinners and outcasts; the one who makes the lame walk and the blind see; the one who praises women for their devotion and generosity; the one who does not send the hungry away, but feeds them all. Jesus says, "Come. All."

You. . . This one word reflects the individual message of the Bible.

With this word, Jesus is reaching out to individuals.

Not just to everyone, but to each one. Not just to all, but to you and to me. Me? You? No matter who you are, or where you are on the journey of faith, Jesus promises, "I will give you rest." Jesus offers to each of us a gift. An undeserved, unexpected gift of God’s grace. Rest, needed rest, daily rest, eternal rest.

Throughout the Gospels, there are many stories of Jesus reaching out and giving gifts of grace and love to those he meets. One of the most powerful stories of God’s grace is the parable of the Prodigal Son. You remember the story? A man has two sons. One son goes off to a far off place, where he spends all his money, sacrifices his health, and gambles with his soul. One day, he wakes up and realizes he is weary and wants to go home. Even before he gets there, before he can say a word of apology, before he can do his penance, his father runs to him, puts his arms around him, and welcomes him home with a great feast.

This story becomes real to me nearly every Sunday. A little 5-year old girl named Barbara Waller is the messenger. All I have to do is turn around, and she comes running to me. With arms stretched wide, she runs to me, hugs me tightly. It is nothing I’ve done to deserve her affection and love. It’s a gift, a pure gift. And it lifts my spirits every time. How could anyone be so glad to see me? I wonder. So it is with God for each of us. God is inviting us to come, come home. All of you. Whoever you are. Whatever you’ve done or left undone.

Come, All, You.

One day recently, I was sitting outside the front of the church, on a bench, listening to the cars go by on Main Street. I was feeling weary by the work of ministry and carrying the burdens of many of you I have come to know and love so much. I was praying for God’s guidance in all these things. What do you say, God, about this and that and. . .?

As I lifted my eyes to the heavens, that’s when I saw it again. Chiseled into the stone on the front of the church building is a verse. Of all the thousands of verses in the Bible that could have been chosen, do you know what is there?

The translation is different, but the key words are the same:

Come. . . All. . .You. . . Rest. . . I let the words sink into my soul and lift my heart and my prayers in thanksgiving.

And then I noticed something was missing. There is no punctuation to end the sentence. No period.

Just a quotation mark, and without a notation to who said it. No Biblical reference.

I wondered why. Was it an oversight? Was it a mistake? Or was it intentional?

I don’t know, but I chose to see God’s hand in it.

You see, without a period to end the sentence, the invitation goes on, and the promise goes on to say, I will give you rest. . and for myself and the church, I added, "faith and courage, wisdom and peace, love and…and the prayer went on.

By not inscribing Jesus’ name, or Matthew’s Gospel, perhaps it was left open so that all weary pilgrims on the journey of faith could see, read, and hear these words for themselves. For, Jesus’ words are not just something said for one, for once in time, but for all, for all time. And through the church, Jesus is still speaking:

Around the world, we all speak in different languages. But, no matter who we are or where we are, God speaks to all of us in one language: the language of grace.

Thanks be to God!