A gentle and humble master"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30In this scripture verse we are given a glorious invitation. We are all invited to come to Jesus Christ. All of us who are weary and burdened. This word weary could also be translated by the word "exhausted." All who have become weighted down and burdened in seeking to please God are invited to come to Jesus Christ. When we come to him, he does not invite us to complete freedom, but rather he invites us to take up his yoke. In reality we are invited to switch masters, from that of a harsh and cruel master to that of one who is gentle and humble. Now as we look at this new master Jesus Christ, he tells three things about himself. First, we are to take upon ourselves his yoke. By taking a yoke means that of entering into submission. He is inviting us to become submissive to him. Now we are told that this yoke is easy. It could be translated "well-fitting." In those days, ox-yokes were made of wood. The ox was brought and measurements were taken. The yoke would then be roughly made. Then the ox would be brought back and the yoke would be tried on. The yoke would be carefully adjusted so that it would fit well. In other words the yoke was tailor made. Therefore, it would not bind nor pinch the oxen. So Jesus Christ, with loving care gives to us a yoke that is well fitted for us. Whatever God sends our way is to fit our needs and our abilities. Second, we are told hat the burden is light. A harsh master will seek to have you carry a load that is far too heavy for you to carry. But Jesus Christ will give a burden that will be light. Jesus Christ will take into consideration our strength and fortitude. The burden may not always be light to pull but it has been given to us in love by Jesus Christ and it is meant to be pulled in love. When we pull in love, even the heaviest burden seems light. There is an old familiar story made popular by Boys Town, of a boy carrying his little brother, who was lame, upon his back A man met them and said to the boy, "That is a heavy burden to carry," and the boy responded. "That is no burden, that is my brother." So the burden is light because it is given in love and we are to pull it in love. Third, the master, Jesus Christ is gentle and humble; therefore he will give us rest. A harsh and cruel master will always strive for us to do more; there will be no rest. But Jesus is gentle and humble and he will give us rest. So, if you are weary and burdened, I would invite you to come to Jesus Christ, be renewed and refreshed in him, for his yoke will be well fitted and his burden will be light and he will give you rest.
