Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly 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
Who is inviting and who will come?
Invitations have a “from” and a “to.” The invitation in this week’s Fighter Verse passage comes from Jesus and is directed to those who will come to Him as children, those who have faith as a child, dependent and eager to learn. In Matthew 11:25-26, Jesus prays to His Father thanking Him for revealing His wisdom to little children.
Then, in verse 27, Jesus declares His authority to make this invitation:
"All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
Here we get a glimpse into the holy and intimate relationship of the Father and the Son. The Bible gives us many references to the authority of Jesus. In John 10:30 we read, “I and the Father are one.” and again, in John 14:9-11, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.…I am in the Father and the Father is in me…” And Colossians 1:19, “For in him [Christ] all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.”
The Invitation
Jesus calls to you, “Come to me…” This is what qualifies this invitation. If we are hearing His call, we must know it is not a call to things such as material wealth, status, fame, or anything of this world. It is also not a call to keep the law of Moses or adhere to a church denomination. It is a very personal invitation to come to the One who knows all about you, and still invites you into His presence. And in coming to Him, what will you find? Rest. Rest in Jesus who has carried the burden of your sin at the cross. Rest for your soul through faith in Him.
This invitation is the most important one you will ever receive.
Proud vs. Teachable
Pride can and will cause us to decline Christ’s invitation. Pride blinds us to our sin and need for redemption. Pride makes us feel self-sufficient, powerful, in control. Oh, the drudgery of carrying such a burden. But Jesus sees our hearts and, if we will come to Him, He will reveal Himself to us.
Come, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls.” This rest is by faith in Christ and bears the fruit of joyful obedience. When we take the yoke of Jesus, we become locked in step with Him, no longer slaves of sin, but now slaves of righteousness. And we will have rest from the burdens we have tried to carry because He has said “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Oh, to be with Jesus, and live by His loving work in our souls; to take His yoke and learn from Him, to rest in His gentle companionship and reflect His lowly heart!
For Reflection
Have you heard this invitation from Jesus and resisted coming to Him? What do you think is keeping you from coming to Him?
Is your soul restless? Are you carrying burdens you were not made to carry? What are they?
How does Jesus fulfill your needs? What is “easy” about His yoke and “light” about His burden?