Read
Matthew 11:28-30
Day after day, we haul
ourselves out of bed and quickly pick up our backpack loaded full of the weight
of the world. We then drag it down the
endless road of life. No wonder we are so weary and heavy-laden. Jesus knows the demands of this life. Thus,
He graciously invites us to come to Him. He will give us rest for our
souls. But there is a catch, a trade. We
have to surrender the heavy-burden and take His yoke instead.
A yoke was a beam of solid
wood that connected the working partnership of oxen, mules or horses. Personally,
the only real yokes I’ve seen have hung in old barns or creatively transformed
into a light fixture. They look heavy and uncomfortable. However, properly
fitted it actually distributed the pull of the load so that the “yoke is easy and
the burden is light.” When Jesus made
that statement, He was not minimizing the weight nor the importance of life’s
“load.” It was easy (chrestos)
because it was customized and properly fitted. It was light (elaphros) because the distribution of
the weight was specifically adjusted for the ones involved, the work to be
accomplished, the conditions at the time, and the long-term demand.
A wise farmer would
actually yoke a weaker animal with a stronger one. Adjustments were made in the yoking so that
the older, stronger animal bore the greater weight and pull. This more
experienced animal also established the direction and speed the pair traveled
as it worked in full cooperation with the driver. The younger, weaker one
needed to learn from the stronger one and follow its lead.
Active submission is
required when sharing a yoke. Otherwise, pulling in different directions,
stubbornness that refused to move or willfulness that rushed the pace bruised
both. This was true of either animal in the partnership. If the stronger animal
was domineering and did not compensate for the weakness and inexperience of the
other, it too could inflict pain or injury on the other. Jesus addressed this compensating grace with
the assurance that He was “gentle and humble” – gentleness is controlled inner
strength; humble means is never just about Him.
Jesus’ yoke is custom fit
and balanced, but it is also built for two. He intended that we plow through
this life together with Him. He wants to
do life with us. The only thing worse than our bruising Jesus with our
constantly pulling our own direction and fighting His leading is to leave Him
dragging a droopy yoke. His work is hindered because we fail to join Him in
working partnership. Instead of taking our place in the yoke with Him, we try
to crowd out the Father on the driver’s seat, which was truly made for only one.
This invitation goes out to
those who are trying to go it alone, thus weary and overwhelmed. The Lord promises that He will give us rest. When we think rest, we think time out, do
nothing, taking it easy. Sounds like a great exchange. Except a farmer would
never yoke his animals so they can just hang out. They were yoked to accomplish something. That is the promise Jesus is offering. The
Greek word translated “rest” is anapauo.
Literally it means to recreate. Anapauo
repurposes, renews, restores, and revitalizes.
He invites us to partner with Him so that the road we travel and the
load we bear WITH HIM has purpose and meaning. That is a worthy exchange
for our weariness and overloaded backpacks!
Making It Personal
What is overloading and
wearing you out these days?
What is the promise of
Jeremiah 31:25?
What must you do according
to today’s Scripture focus to apply this promise to your current situation?
In Jeremiah 6:16, the Lord
also offered “rest for your soul,”
but they refused. Why would you possibly
refuse what He so graciously offers?
What specifically must you
do to place your burden in the wagon and join Jesus in His yoke?
Being yoked isn’t enough,
there has to be an attitude of submission and cooperation. Are you too being “gentle and humble in heart” as you
partner with Christ or constantly inflicting bruises on Him as you try to pull
your own way or go at your own speed?
