Resting In Jesus

Intro: A Pastor in the Philippines tells the story of The driver of a caribou wagon on his way to market when he passes an old man carrying a heavy load. Taking compassion on him, the driver invited the old man to ride in the wagon. Gratefully the old man accepted. After a few minutes, the driver turned to see how the man was doing. To his surprise, he found him still straining under the heavy weight, for he had not taken the burden off his shoulders.

That describes us perfectly, suffering under the heavy weight of burdens when we don’t have too!

CPS: Jesus has given us rest from the heavy burdens of Life, we must trust Him.

I. Resting From The Heavy Burden of sin (28)

Are you carrying a heavy burden today. Is it like a 300 lb gorilla on your back, so heavy that you don’t know if you can make it another second. It’s suffocating you and causing misery and despair, well friend, if you have never came to Jesus in faith that heavy burden is the burden of sin, and you will be burdened with it for eternity if you don’t give it to Jesus!

Jesus says, “Come unto Me” “its a loving invitation from God, it means come here. When I see Hope troubled, I hold open my arms and say “come here” so I can wrap my arms around her and hold her insuring her that all is alright. When I read these words that's the picture I get, Jesus, holding open His loving arms waiting to embrace us, refusing to ever let us go.

Notice who it invited, “all who are weary and heavy-laden.”

ILL: Little Johnny was turning 9 years old and wanted a big birthday party. His parents told him he had to make the invitation list and do all of the inviting. Little Johnny agreed, then his mother added one more stipulation, he must invite little Timmy from down the street who he had recently had conflict with. Once again Little Johnny agreed. The big day came and the guest were enjoying themselves and so was little Johnny, but his mother hadn’t seen little Timmy or his parents, so mom pulled Johnny to the side and said “I told you to invite Little Timmy,” Little Johnny replied, “ I did… but then I dared him to come.”

Jesus’ invitation doesn't exclude anyone, the only prerequisite is, you must be weary and heavy-laden. Weary (kopiaō) means those who are tired. Heavy-Laden (phortizō) means to be loaded down. These two words connected describes someone who is worn out from carrying a heavy pack on their back, and that describes every unsaved sinner who has become aware of their sin!

ILL: I was talking to Daniel last week, he had been reading Pilgrim Progress again. He said that when he was a kid, he was horrified of Christian’s Burden. That heavy load that caused such strain, struggle, pain, and despair..… You see Christian was the main character who became deeply aware of his sin and guilt, his burden after reading the Book. His burden was depicted as an immense and crushing load on his back (a pack) that kept growing, causing him great distress and despair as he sought to find the Celestial City. Christian groans under its weight, fears for his eternal fate, and even considers turning back at times. His anxiety increases as he realizes he cannot rid himself of it by his own efforts.

That’s the picture Jesus gives, in context Jesus had been ministering to people who were trying to remove the burden of sin by the Law but this burden can’t be removed by human will or work. It’s strange the extent man will go to, trying to get to heaven. Ziggy on the roof , The baby duck in the street.

But, then Christian ascends a small hill and sees the Cross, while kneeling at it the straps binding the burden suddenly loosens, and it rolls off his back, tumbling down the hill and into a grave, never to be seen again! Then he is overwhelmed with joy and RELIEF.

That’s what its like to Come to Jesus, an invitation to trust Him fully with a promise of rest. “I will give you rest.” Rest (anapauō) means to be refreshed from tiredness. The absence of the heavy burden of sin that cause such despair and hopelessness. Jesus invites us to leap into His arms and be saved, entering into His marvelous rest. This rest is only found at the Cross where Jesus took our sins away!

II. Resting In The Heavy Burdens of Life (29-30)

Our status as Christians will not exempt us from the trials of life. John 16:33, tells us there is trouble in this world but peace in Jesus.

A. Jesus Promises Rest

When the world around you is in utter chaos You can have rest for your soul. Rest (a-napau-sis) means relief from anxiety and troubles. What troubles you, finances, loneliness, cancer, injustice.... Jesus promises to give us rest from the anguish and anxiety that troubling times bring. Jesus quotes Jer. 6:16… talk about troubling times! Context, Jeremiah predicts the destruction of Jerusalem, its the worst horrors of life, siege, starvation, death, and exile, yet there is the promise of rest for their souls.

Jesus promises us rest too, He will calm our hearts and minds during the storms of life just as He calmed the raging sea! As Jerry Vines once said,“When Jesus said peace to that storm, those waves lay down at his feet like a whipped puppy.” So will our anxiety and troubles when learn to trust Jesus!

B. Submission to His Sovereignty brings peace

Jer. 6:16 tells us to “walk in the good path!” I think that’s another way of saying “Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me.”

A yoke is a wooden bar carefully fashioned and carved with a harness on it that fits across the shoulders of an ox and enable the ox to pull a load. Many think Jesus is saying attach yourself to me and I will help you pull your burden. That is a beautiful picture, but I don't think that's what Jesus means. A yoke is a symbol of submission and service. *The key is found in Matt. 11:27 “All things are delivered unto Me of my Father.” I’m talking about Submission to His Sovereign will! Jesus doesn't just know whats happening, He is in control of everything that is going on in the world! God has handed all things over to Him. All (pas) means, the totality, EVERYTHING. Delivered/Handed means to give to another! God the Father has given everything to Jesus!

ILL: When I was a kid there was a song we used to sing. “He’s got the whole world in His hand 4x” He’s got the wind and the rain.… He’s got you and me brother in His hands.… He’s got the whole world in His hands!

Jesus is Lord and sovereign over my life and circumstances, the good things and the bad, the troubles, the pains, the worry, the stress. He is Lord over life and death, Lord over fiances, cancer, loneliness, and injustice. Why should we carry the weight of the world when Jesus has it all in the grip of His sovereign hand! He has each of us in the solid grip of His soveriegn hand and He will not let us go! He’s got everybody here in His hand’s.… He’s got the whole world in His hands!

ILL: In the words of Maverick… “Hey, Bradley... You got this.” Hey, Jesus.… you got this!

Jesus is not only my loving Savior but my Sovereign burden carrying Lord! and Regardless of how chaotic life may seem Jesus has it all under control, for His glory and OUR good! If God the Father handed everything to Jesus, we should too! If Jesus is trustworthy to save us He is trustworthy to handle everything!

John 14:1, believe in Him, trust Him and... like Jesus (Matt. 8:24) we too will be found resting as the waves of life crash against us!

Con: Do you need rest from the Burden of your sin, you will only find it in Jesus. Do you need rest during the troubles of life.… YOU WILL ONLY FIND IT IN JESUS (Ps. 56:10)