Matthew 11:28-30 | December 8

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Weary, burden, and rest are words that are quite familiar to us. A husband finds himself weary from working overtime to afford Christmas gifts for the whole family or save for that next big vacation. A wife is burdened with the hearts of her children who struggle to understand their place in this world. Whether a husband, wife, adult, child, young or old, we are all invited to rest in Christ.

The Jewish audience that surrounded Jesus had grown weary from the burden of the Law. Not only the Law of God, which is meant to reveal Christ but the laws implemented by the Jewish leaders who sought to keep God’s people from even coming close to breaking the law. Holiness then became a goal achieved through works instead of a journey towards reflecting godliness. Additionally, this original audience had the burdens of surviving in a pre-modern age without electricity, running water, and the ability to purchase food in a grocery store.

Although the burdens of life can cause us to grow weary, Jesus calls us to a life of discipleship that lays our burdens at his feet. The imagery of a yoke, which would have been used by a pair of oxen to drag farm equipment, Jesus uses to illustrate our unique relationship with him. As we walk through life we are bonded together where he walks alongside us. The yoke is easy and light because he carries the weight just as he carries the weight of the law. He has fulfilled the law and declared us righteous according to his work.

Pastor Erik Reynolds (Refuge Church)