“Come to Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Mathew 11:28
GALLING TO THE NECK
This is a paradox of modern times! Each year we find ourselves receiving more mail; buy this, buy that—filled with false promises, spending more time with financial obligations, more time paying bills, planning budgets, figuring taxes, but in general, trying to survive. How much time is spent on the computer? Fixed on the TV? Cell phones, iPods? This is modern living! These and other devices are supposed to make life easier—less burdensome!
But, the exasperating thing is that all these things do just the opposite. They don’t satisfy, but increase the burden. Men whose wearisome efforts to achieve spiritual rest have not eased the burden of man-made obligations (Matthew 23:4). “No one is safe from the vicissitudes of change that continually rock the industries in which technological earthquakes alter the landscape daily and sometimes even hourly! In government it is very difficult to explain the life cycle of a technology project.” (Wall Street Journal, R1, Monday, June 4, 2012)
VIBRATING OPPORTUNITY
A yoke was worn by oxen to aid in drawing a load and to lighten the burden (The Desire of Ages, p. 331). Also, “Take my yoke” is a Jewish metaphor for discipline and discipleship—“Put your neck under the yoke, and let your soul receive instruction.” But you don’t have to be a scientist, economist, sociologist, or psychologist to see what the age of technology and information has done to mankind—moreover—a shorter work-week, financial security? Elusive as a butterfly! Families speak to each other on an answering machine, five-year-olds own cell phones, are schooled with computers and Power Point. Isn’t it great? Are we or are we not having fun now? NO! To be honest we are fed-up! Who cannot identify with these feelings?
Ah! But into our lives comes a sound from Jesus, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” In view of the authority vested in Christ (Matthew 11:27), this invitation vibrates with opportunity!
Come to me, all of you who are fatigued and overwhelmed.
Come to me, all of you who are exhausted and weighed down beneath your burdens.
Come to me, all of you who are barely coping and need a break.
Jesus offers relief to tired people!
But, no matter how it is said or translated, it is pretty attractive isn’t it?! He offers us rest! A lasting rest. Any takers? If you, like me, feel at times “burned out,” let us study this passage together. If you cannot, or are not interested, or have it “all together,” then spend the rest of the hour counting your blessings!
ON CALL
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” These first three words are very bold— daring! “Come to me!” Jesus doesn’t say, “Come to God.” It is one thing to counsel someone who is hurting to say he or she needs God. But it is another thing to say, “I’m the One who can really take care of your troubles.” In Matthew we are told that Jesus is supremely confident of His divine capacity. No false modesty here—Jesus presents Himself—God clothed with skin on!
He Himself is the One and only author and representative of God and can make intercession for us (Romans 8:24). Whatever it is that troubles us—overwhelms us—Jesus can handle it! There is a basic Christian doctrine: If you need to get to God, come to Jesus. It’s very simple—and exciting!
Next, notice that Jesus offers help to certain people—the weary and burdened; people that are having a hard time of it. These are the ones He wants! Martin Luther, in essence, said: what makes the invitation so strong is that Jesus has implied that, “My Kingdom is a hospital for the sick and the invalids.” On the other hand, the church (a type of hospital), if inviting merely the self-reliant, the self-confident—would be empty! Karl Marx, communist leader, stated, that “religion is the opiate of the masses, a crutch for weak people.” He was partly correct; weak people need the church a crutch, support, therapy, rest.
Now listen to the invitation of Jesus to the abnormal of society: in pain, broken legs, grieved, mourning, diseased, homeless, thirsting. He says, “Bring them to Me; I will take care of them!” There are two types of people in society: those who admit their failures and defects, and those who are liars! You see, Jesus invites the “sickies,” the “burnouts.” Now think about it before thinking of coming back next Sabbath. You’re in the company of a bunch of “weaklings,” “losers,” “failures,” “troubled ones” each week—those that seek and need help. If you are sick and tired of being sick, then this is for you! Everyday life is too much; you are depressed, discouraged, indecisive, fed-up, and wiped out! They all have a need!
THE BLESSING PROMISED
Let us now see what Jesus offers you. “I will give you rest.” Christ is our Noah whose name signifies rest, for this same shall give us rest (Genesis 5:29; 8:9). Truly rest is good (Genesis 49:15); especially to those that are heavy laden (Ecclesiastes 5:12). Jesus Christ gives the assurance of rest to those weary souls, that by a lively faith come to Him for it; rest from the terror of sin, in a well grounded peace of conscience; rest from the power of sin, in a regular order of the soul, and its due government of itself; a rest in God, and a complacency of soul, in His love. (Psalm 11:6–7). This is that rest which remains for the people of God.(Hebrews 4:9). Namely, for a divine rest, one must mortify pride and passion.
Moreover, you can find in His company, refreshment, rejuvenation, and energy! But, He offers you in an unusual way—a yoke for your neck! Very strange! One would think a week on a Caribbean Island would be more interesting. But Jesus says “take My yoke upon you and learn from Me”—sit at the feet of Jesus. But, again to call those who are weary and heavy laden, to take a yoke upon them, looks like adding affliction to the afflicted. Strange again, if someone is worn out, why on earth would you offer him another load to carry? But the pertinence of it lies in the word “My”—“You are under a yoke which makes you weary—shake that off and try Mine, which will make yours easy.” The blessing promised is to those that do come: “I will give you rest.”
NO PAIN
Jesus Christ was a carpenter. He knew what a yoke was, having made many with His father. In the days of Jesus, they were quite common. There were two kinds: a single yoke for one animal, and a double yoke in which two animals were yoked side-by-side. I think once the yoke is on us, it is easy to “learn of Him.” Ah! This rest is to be had with Christ for all those who learn of Him! He says, in fact, “His yoke is easy—the burden light.”
The obligations involved in the Gospel are blessed ones, and strength to bear them is supplied with the yoke. The best way to learn is right alongside a good teacher, one-on-one—together! In Greece it is common for fathers to “read” or help their children study—“side-by-side.” Christ alone is the Teacher who by His person and work can instruct men regarding the Father, and bring them the rest of soul which is the very essence of true spiritual experience, a rest involving removal of sin’s guilt and the possession of eternal life.
The yoke of Christ’s commands is an easy yoke; it is (Greek–chrestos) not only easy but gracious, so the word signifies; it is sweet and pleasant; there is nothing in it to gall the yielding neck, nothing to hurt us, but, on the contrary, must refresh us. It is a yoke that is lined with love. Such is the nature of all of Christ’s commands, so reasonable in themselves, and so profitable to us, and all summed up in one word, and that sweet word is love. It is very easy to him that understandeth (Proverbs 14:6). It may be a little hard at first, but it is easy afterwards; the love of God and the hope of heaven will make it easy.
Now, if one were to ask me to move a piano and I am weak and tired, I would endeavour to find the biggest, strongest one to make the moving job easier, to lighten the burden. So, I think Jesus Christ is inviting us to “step into a double-yoke”—side-by-side to Jesus! Jesus Christ’s burden is light because He is right next to us bearing most of the weight!
The burden of Christ’s cross is a light burden, very light; afflictions for Christ which befall us as Christians. This burden in itself is not joyous, but grievous; yet as it is Christ’s, it is light. Paul knew as much of it as any man, and he calls it a light affliction (2 Corinthians 4:17). God’s presence (Isaiah 43:2), Christ’s sympathy (Isaiah 73:9; Daniel 3:25), make suffering for Christ “light and easy.” As afflictions abound and are prolonged, consolations abound, and are prolonged too. Let this therefore reconcile us to the difficulties, and help us over the discouragements we may meet with, both in doing work and suffering work; though we may lose for Christ, we shall not lose by Him (by our side)!
TAKE ACTION
Jesus Christ is meek, gentle, humble of heart. It still just doesn’t seem right to bear our burdens. Ah! But Jesus turns things around, reverses things! When stress comes, we naturally try to escape—the “fight or flight syndrome.” When we are wearied, tired, burdened, many of us simply want to flee. A restful escape—a vacation on a Greek Island—anywhere; just relief from responsibility, some form of relief!
When Jesus says rest, He means getting involved in the field-work! Wearing means to work as co-partner with Him (SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1092). Jesus wants us to pick up a new burden! What? Yes, His burden—and to take action. However, life’s pressures drive some of us to fight back, to retaliate and react with a vengeance. But, Jesus says, NO! “Learn from Me for I am gentle and humble—not aggressive.”
But, from a worldly point of view this may sound odd or ridiculous; yoking one’s self to a humble teacher who died on a cross is going to help anything? It can be beyond one’s reasoning. Ah! But look at what is promised to those who have faith in this method—“You will find rest in your souls!” The Greek word for “soul” is “psyche.” If you bring your stress and weariness to Jesus, He promises to calm your “psyche.” Ah! But He does not promise to relieve your schedule or your pain, and troubles away—but your state of mind, your “psyche” will be healed and restored!
While worldly promises relieve stress presumably by labour-saving devices, they compound the predicament! But, Jesus takes another way. He does not say to alter our outward world but to transform our inner person and give us peace in a chaotic, threatening world.
Only Jesus has the authority and power to change us—our fragile positions. Politicians, economists, sociologists, scientists, and others are trying to fix our predicaments, but with little success. Ah! And here comes Jesus offering to lighten our load, our burdens, with His yoke. By ourselves it is impossible. The only real solution to our inner weariness is to take on one more burden—the yoke of Jesus. Again, for “His yoke is easy and His burden light.”
The pondering question again rears its bewildering head—how can the yoke of Jesus be considered light?
Well, just think this:
THE FOUR IFS!
- IF you think godly and moral living is a heavy weight, try living with acts of immorality on your conscience. Which is the heaviest burden? Try thinking for example—adultery.
- IF you think the demand of loving others is heavy, try living in a state of lovelessness—no love for self, nor for others.
- IF you think God’s call for generous giving (tithes, offerings, donations) is too demanding, try keeping hold of every dollar (or Euro) and every possession you have.
- IF righteousness is too intimidating (frightened into submission), see if godless living helps you sleep at night.
So, once you take up the yoke of Christ, to all the other yokes you’ve carried (above), I think you’ll see how light it is. You see, dear friends and brethren, there is no release—no escape from our burden—apart from the meekness of Christ.
Good, keen, sharp, eager, strong reasoning may help slightly, but so strong is this vise that if we push it down in one place, it will come up somewhere else! To men, women, and children everywhere Jesus says, “Come unto Me, and I will give you rest.”
STOP PRETENDING!
Moreover, the rest He offers is the “rest of meekness,” the blessed relief which comes when we accept ourselves for what we are and stop pretending! “Profession weighs nothing with God. Before it is everlastingly too late for wrongs to be righted, let each one ask himself ‘What am I?’ It depends upon ourselves as to whether we shall form such characters as will constitute us members of God’s royal family above.” –The Review and Herald, April 9, 1895. (Colossians 3:12)
It will take some courage at first, but the needed grace will come as we learn that we are sharing this new and easy yoke with the strong Son of God Himself! He calls it “My yoke” and He walks at one end while we walk at the other. It’s easy because He carries the weight (Sons and Daughters of God, p. 81). If you are one of those— tired of walking it alone, consider becoming Christ’s “yoke-mate”with A YOKE FOR YOUR NECK!
Amen and Amen. <><
John Theodorou
USA