SOMETHING THAT IS EASY

"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew11:28-30)

Here is one of our Lord's gracious invitations, and it is a most serious one. The text is common among believers, having been a source of great consolation over the centuries. These words were spoken against a backdrop of great significance. Jesus had just finished denouncing Capernaum for their rejection of Him (vs 21-24). At that time, He thanked the Father for hiding precious truth from those having no appetite for it, and revealing it to babes who longed for it. "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight" (vs.26-27).

Immediately, He speaks to the multitude, showing them the necessity of coming to him. The Father had "delivered" all things into His hand, so that nothing could be received apart from Him. He alone is the solitary means of obtaining blessing from God! He then revealed something that complicated things. Upon hearing that everything was given to Him by the Father, people, in their simplicity, might imagine they could rely upon their own assessment of things to determine the identity of "the Son," who has everything. But this was not the case. Jesus said, "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him"NIV (v 26). And to whom does the Son choose to reveal the Father? That is precisely the point at which our text was spoken!

Jesus offers to reveal the Father to anyone who will come to Him, and be willing to "learn from" Him. Those who, in their quest to find God, were "weary and heavy laden," would find sweet relief at the feet of Jesus! The "yoke" which they would take upon themselves was the yoke of discipleship–of being linked to the Lord Jesus, and going where He went. It was not like the "yoke" of Law, which those who wore were not able to bear (Acts 15:10). That yoke chaffed against their natures, and proved to be too burdensome, for it required more of them than they were able to give. But it is not so with Christ's "yoke."

By saying His yoke is "easy," Jesus means it is pleasant, good, and lined, as it were, with grace. It is suitable and useful, which is the literal meaning of the word. That is another way of saying it fits us, is suited to our condition and desires, and equips us for useful and joyous work. It is especially pleasant when a lot that is required to be done can be accomplished with great joy and satisfaction!

So it is with Christ's "yoke." As He teaches us of the Father, showing Him and His purpose to us through the Scriptures, we find great delight in what formerly intimidated us and was a burden. But it all begins by taking Christ's yoke–picking it up and putting it on. That simply means we refuse to learn about the Father from any one else!

PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank You for such a gentle and effective Teacher. I come to Jesus, to learn of You.

-- Monday: A LAW SYSTEM AND FEAR --