“Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28–30
“Come to Me,” says Jesus. This is an invitation to come to Him. We are all excited and happy when we get invited to a special occasion, for example, an invitation to a wedding or birthday party. We feel it a privilege to be invited to share in our friends’ celebration. We invite people we care about—someone special. A lot of thought goes into deciding who to invite. Jesus is here giving an invitation to one special group, “all who labour and are heavy laden.” Anyone that belongs to this group is invited. Do we not all belong to this group? It seems as if life is putting too much pressure on us. Often the work week feels like it is way too long and the weekend is much too short.
We would think we have overcome this problem in the 21st century, with all the machinery, fast cars, computers, and cell phones. However, statistics prove that it has not become more relaxed in our society today, and many jobs are more stressful today than they used to be. Lately, in the city of Hamilton, Ontario, five police officers have committed suicide; nurses complain that their job is too demanding, school teachers are going on strike, wanting better working conditions. We never heard about that when I went to school about sixty years ago. I am not trying to get involved in politics or taking sides, but it appears that many people are heavy laden and need to come to Jesus, because Jesus says, “I will give you rest.”
We find an interesting text in Luke 10:38–40, “Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.’”
There are things to do and often we feel that we are alone carrying the burden. It seems like I am doing all the work; if more people would help, it would be easier. Sometimes that may be true, but what did Jesus say to Martha? “And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.’” Luke 40:41–42
We all enjoy having a good lunch after the sermon on Sabbath. If no one would make it, there would not be any, and thanks to everyone that participates and helps, it is much appreciated. But maybe sometimes we go overboard. If you feel that you are overburdened, try to make something simple which does not take as long to prepare and is not so labour intensive. Sister White says that we should make something special for Sabbath, especially if there are children. We want them to look forward to the Sabbath Day. But the mother should not be slaving all week in order to make a big feast for Sabbath. Keep it simple. Jesus says, “Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
The Bible tells us that Jesus loved to come to visit this home, not only because they prepared the meals and gave Jesus a place to sleep, but also because they had time to communicate, to listen, and worship together with Him.
Children and grandchildren need to be taken care of physically, but they also need your time. The best memories from my childhood are when my parents took time to play with us, read stories for us, or when we simply sat and talked together. Parents, your children need your time. There is nothing you can do that will replace the time that you spend with them. No gadget or toy will replace it. We need to have time for one another, and we need to have time for Jesus. Do not think your time is wasted when you sit down and read a good book, or simply lie on the couch and relax. Your body needs it. You will last longer and you will be more relaxed. It is good for both your body and your nerves. Everything should be within reason; we need a balance in life. Today it seems as if our lives are more unbalanced than ever before. We are all expected to be specialists. People are trained to do one specific job and they can do this job very fast and very well, but it burns them out. It is very difficult to stand or sit in one position all day long and do the same thing over and over again. Many sit too many hours at the computer or other paperwork; this is very unhealthy. Jesus says, “I will give you rest.” Go for a walk, take time to enjoy nature, take time to feed the birds and the chipmunks around your house or in the park and take time to watch them.
Then Jesus says, “Take My yoke upon you.” What is a yoke? It is a tool, something to help you carry a burden. Some items can be heavy, but with the right tool it can be made easy. When I think of a yoke, I always remember a picture I saw years ago. A person was carrying two pails of water, hanging from a piece of wood which was formed so that it fit exactly over the neck and shoulders. You try to carry two pails of water in your hands, and then try to carry them by a yoke so that the weight is placed over your neck and shoulders. It is so much easier when the weight is distributed over your neck and shoulders.
What do you have to carry? It may be your job. It may be your family. Or it may be the job that you have lost. So what is Jesus going to do for you? Give you another job, if you do not like the one you have? Give you another wife, if you do not like the one you have? Jesus may not change your circumstances, but He will give you strength to carry the burden that you have.
Did Jesus walk down to King Herod and take John the Baptist out of prison? John the Baptist had put his whole life’s effort into proclaiming that the Messiah is going to come. He had said, “The kingdom of God is at hand.” “Repent and be baptized.” He had pointed to Jesus and said, “This is the Lamb of God,” and He encouraged people to change their life style and exercise justice. His language was straight forward to the Pharisees and Sadducees. “Brood of Vipers”, he said, “Bear fruit worthy of repentance.”
He told King Herod straight out, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” In those days you had to be careful what you said to a king. For this statement John ended up in prison. I can read between the lines that John must have thought, “How long do I have to be here? When is Jesus going to come and get me out?” Time can be long when you are behind bars, especially when you do not know when you can get out again. Finally he sent the message to Jesus, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” Did Jesus say, “I’m sorry, I forgot, I will be there tomorrow?” The answer can be found in Luke chapter 7, verse 22 and 23. “Jesus answered and said to them, [the messengers which John had sent to Jesus] ‘Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.’”
“Go and tell John.” To a selfish person, this would have accomplished nothing. John was still in prison. It did not change his physical circumstances. In Desire of Ages we read on page 217, that John was satisfied with the answer the disciples brought back to him. It was enough for him to know that the gospel was going forward and that Jesus was the real Messiah. Jesus did not take the burden away. Jesus did not go down and open the prison doors, but Jesus gave him a yoke—power and strength to carry the burden.
Your faith may not change your circumstances, but your faith in Jesus is like a yoke that makes the burden light and much easier to deal with. Matthew 11:29, second part states, “And you will find rest for your souls.” In Philippians 2: 5–8 we read, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
If we have the mind of Jesus, we can also have the confidence of Jesus. He came in the likeness of men and He was obedient to death, even the death of the cross, without complaining. We will never be asked to go through anything like Jesus, to face Satan and his whole army without any support from heaven. Jesus died the death of the lost sinner. This will never be expected of any of His followers, for Jesus said, “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” May we have this assurance and that peace that only Jesus can give. Amen
Evald Pedersen
Note: All Bible texts in this article are from the New King James Version except the last quotation which is taken from the King James Version.