Jesus Takes Away the Sorrow

Although my burdens are heavy on me lately, I will not hesitate to remind you about Him who's able to lift our burdens and "kiss away our sorrows" with hope and comfort.

Jesus spoke to a large crowd that assembled to hear him. He said, "come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and i will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn form me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30)

We understand what burdens are. We have family problems, financial woes, and feelings of rejection and insecurity. We understand that Christ is saying, "If you come to Me, I will give you rest." We like that huh?

But what does it mean that "My yoke is easy and my burden is light"? In my home country, we use yokes a lot, more so during farming season. With cattle or oxen, a yoke is used to keep the animal under control. It restricts freedom and expression. But Jesus emphasizes the word "MY", "My yoke is easy. My burden is light." compared with what? It remains unsaid, but the people knew. It was the burden of organized religion, which had long before gone beyond the spirit of the law to a strict legalism. As Paul says, the letter kills but the Spirit makes alive.

Lest I be misunderstood, Jesus is not saying that those outside the church who are just plain "good people" are better than those inside. That's not His intent. He is saying very simply that when you follow him and know Him, your relationship with God becomes meaningful and real-and you will find rest for your soul.

Rest for your soul isn't based upon the assurance that you have done all the right things, but rather that Jesus Christ did for you what you could not do for yourself. The spiritual rest that comes to the children of God is the deep assurance that our righteousness has been paid for by the death of Jesus upon the old ragged cross of Calvary.

Peter puts it graphically; "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the shepherd and Overseer of your soul" (Peter 2;24-25)

"Take My yoke", says Jesus, "and I will give you rest"...rest!...rest!.. Indeed..!


Amen! Amen..!

Nang'