Taking the Yoke

Jesus says, “Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”Jesus here is inviting us to rest. Rest. Take a load off.

But then Jesus says to take my yoke upon you. Wait a minute. Literally one verse ago you told us to rest. Taking on a yoke seems like work. It seems like just another burden. What’s going on here? Well, let’s zoom out a bit and take a look at our surroundings.

Jesus has been deep in ministry doing has sent his disciples to do the same. Jesus is going from town to town preaching and performing miracles such as the blind receiving their sight, the lame walking, the lepers healed, the dead raised, and the poor having good news. Incredible, right?

You would think this would be enough. It is hard to imagine towns rejecting Jesus after seeing him face-to-face, hearing his words, seeing his miracles. But not even the towns of his childhood accepted him, and he has some harsh words for them.

Even though it is frustrating that the stomping grounds of Jesus rejected him, Jesus prays and gives thanks to God saying “you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants…for such was your gracious will.”

Notice how something is hidden from the wise and intelligent but yet revealed to infants What things are hidden? It is likely talking about all the deeds of power that Jesus has done. But why would this be revealed to infants?

What is meant by infants or little ones? Last week we mentioned how Jesus said that those who give a cup of cold water to little ones will have their reward. In Matthew 18 when the children come running to Jesus and the disciples are annoyed, Jesus says “unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew’s reference to little ones, children, and infants has less to do with age and more to do with spiritual status, privilege, and social standing. Children and little ones had very low status in society during this time. But also, children and infants are dependent and have an open mind ready to learn and receive.

Matthew’s reference to infants has everything to do with how we come to Jesus.

Matt Woodley says Jesus “doesn’t warn those who need conversion; he warns those who think they already have it...Jesus’ point is that our brilliance will not make us more acceptable to God the Father. In his prayer, the “wise and learned” are the best of human achievers: the intellectuals who trust in their brilliance, the beautiful who trust in their beauty, the rich who trust in their wealth, the religiously devoted who trust in their morality, the mighty who trust in their power. Jesus is addressing our temptation to trust in our resources without humbly following Jesus’ little way of faith and obedience.” Matt says that we must all come before Christ as spiritual infants. We must lower ourselves like little ones.

Then, and only then, do we fully hear “come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” The Message translates it as “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest.”

This alone stirs our spirits and causes us to lean in. Who hasn’t felt weary and tired? Who hasn’t felt like they’ve had the weight of the world on their shoulders? Maybe some of you are there this morning.

What kind of burdens might Jesus be referring to?

Could Jesus be referring to someone who is overworked or overtaxed? Is Jesus talking about being burdened with sin?

Father Eugene Hensell says that the burden Jesus references here is more about the “weight of the law laid upon the people by their own interpretation.” You mean those who knew the Bible interpreted it in a way that it became like a burden to others? Like a heavy yoke around the neck?

In Acts ch. 15 we see this happening at the Council of Jerusalem. They are arguing that Gentiles must be circumcised or else they cannot be saved. Paul says to them “Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?”

Maybe you have worn a heavy yoke that isn’t the yoke of Christ. The yoke of feeling unworthy. The yoke of trying to earn grace. The yoke of trying to measure up and fit in.

There are many yokes that will try to find their way around your shoulders.

But Jesus says take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart. The yoke of Jesus is the yoke of wisdom fueled by grace. Jesus is saying “stop being beat down by the teachings of others who have oppressed you and made you weary.” Take my teaching upon you. Take my grace upon you. For I am gentle and humble in heart. I see you. I know what you are going through. And you are not alone.

The yoke was a wooden tool that hung over the shoulders of animals. Jesus, as a carpenter, likely had even made a few of them over the years. When animals were yoked together, it increased their ability to carry the burden. The yoke binds the animals together and evenly distributes the load. No matter what is being carried, it is done together. The easy yoke of Christ isn’t a promise for prosperity, but it is a promise that we will never carry anything alone. The yoke of Christ is a shared yoke.

Last Sunday was the first Sunday that I wore a stole. In the UMC, a stole is a symbol of Ordination. As an Elder, it hangs over our shoulders as a symbol of a yoke. Last week during the Ordination service, four of us came to the altar one at a time and kneeled. Many family and friends of each person would gather around and lay hands. Then the Bishop laid hands on us before placing the stole on our shoulders for the very first time. Our stoles represent being yoked to Christ and to one another.

In Christ, we are bound together under one faith, one baptism, one Lord, and one yoke. This is the yoke of grace that is gentle, humble, and full of love. One pastor was talking about how sometimes on Sundays he will catch himself glancing out at the congregation during worship and marveling at how all of these people are gathered and held together by the yoke of Christ. People who otherwise may not or agree or even get along. People who are at different places in their journey of faith. People with different stories and backgrounds. But people who by the power of God’s grace and all-encompassing love, are bound together in Christian love.

Who might you be yoked to? Today I am wearing a stole that reminds me of the many people who have enfolded me in God’s love. The tie from my mentor. A painting of a dove from a friend. A tie from the pastor who encouraged me to start seminary. A piece from my mom’s wedding veil. My grandmother’s broach. My daughter’s baby clothes. Each pieces tells part of my story and recalls those who I have been yoked to in and through Christ.

Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden. Take up the yoke of Christ. Beneath the yoke of grace, may you find rest for your souls.