Introduction

I know I’m not alone in saying that life can feel complicated, overwhelming, and so fast paced at times it’s all you can do to hold on for dear life. We live an overnight delivery, Amazon Prime, Netflix saturated, order groceries from your couch existence – and on some level – all these gizmos and gadgets we’ve created to make life simpler have really only made things even more cumbersome. Thankfully this isn’t the end of our story. For many of us, this is just the beginning. As we come to the end of ourselves, our abilities, our time hacks, and everything else we have implemented to relieve the burden and make things “easier.”

As our passage for the day teaches us, it’s only in Jesus that we find the deep contentment we so desperately crave… As Dane Ortlund so beautifully states, “Meek. Humble. Gentle. Jesus is not trigger-happy. Not harsh, reactionary, easily exasperated. He is the most understanding person in the universe. The posture most natural to him is not a pointed finger but open arms.” (Gentle and Lowly)

It’s these same open arms that have been welcoming people for over two thousand years. And today we’re going to jump in headfirst as we learn together about the yoke of Christ, the simplicity of following Jesus, and the blessing of resting in Him.

“Meek. Humble. Gentle. Jesus is not trigger-happy. Not harsh, reactionary, easily exasperated. He is the most understanding person in the universe. The posture most natural to him is not a pointed finger but open arms.” - Dan Ortlund

Main Teaching

Read Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

The Yoke of Christ

The Yoke of Christ is a powerful metaphor that Jesus uses to communicate the nature of our relationship with Him and the way we are to live our lives as His followers. In the ancient world, a yoke was a wooden beam that was used to join two animals, usually oxen, together so that they could work in unison to plow fields or pull heavy loads. The yoke allowed the animals to share the burden of the work, making it easier and more efficient for them to accomplish their task. In this passage, Jesus invites us to take His yoke upon ourselves, promising that it will be easy and light, and that we will find rest for our souls.

When considering the ‘yoking’ of one to another we must also consider the idea of submission. When we take on the yoke of Jesus, we are essentially submitting to His authority and guidance in our lives. This submission is not a sign of weakness or defeat, but rather an acknowledgment of our need for His wisdom, strength, and direction. We recognize that we cannot navigate the complexities of life on our own, and that we are prone to wander and stumble when left to our own devices. By submitting to the yoke of Christ, we are choosing to align our will with His and to follow His lead as He guides us through the challenges and opportunities that life presents.

And if the idea of submission is too much for you, then think about the idea of partnership. When two animals are yoked together, they must work in harmony and cooperation to accomplish their task. In the same way, when we take on the yoke of Jesus, we are entering into a partnership with Him. We are not simply passive recipients of His grace and guidance, but active participants in the work that He is doing in and through us. This partnership requires that we be attentive to His voice, responsive to His promptings, and willing to step out in faith as He leads us. It also means that we can rely on His strength and power to sustain us and enable us to accomplish things that would be impossible on our own.

And here’s the beautiful reality of this; As we submit to Jesus and partner with Him in the work of the Kingdom, we will inevitably be changed ... View this full sermon with PRO Premium