ASK YOURSELF...CAN WE REST NOW?

With the election behind us, is it time to rest? The culture war never ends and while we can take a breather, we cannot rest for very long from an earthly perspective. But from a Biblical perspective, we have a better way. In Matthew 11:28-30, we find the greatest invitation to rest ever given to mankind by Jesus Himself. And today, I am going to illustrate that invitation of salvation and break down the three KEY components Jesus extends to all people: 1) To receive salvation, 2) To be disciples, and 3) To serve our Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s look more closely. 

In Matthew 11 starting in verse 28, Jesus says this: “28 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) 

This is called the GREAT INVITATION, and this great invitation was and IS still extended to all people, of all colors, races, religions and cultures. The GREAT INVITATION broken down is as follows: 

1) FIRST:  To come and receive salvation. 
2) SECOND: To learn in discipleship. 
3) AND THIRD: To serve in yoke with the Lord. The “Yoke” involves instruction under discipleship. Yet, in contrast to the teaching of the scribes, Jesus’ “yoke is easy,” as compared to the yoke of the secular godless world. Through the ages, these verses have been among the most beloved in the New Testament. 

JESUS DESCRIBES WHO HE IS SPEAKING WITH AS  “YOU WHO LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN.” 
This describes the Jewish people as suffering under a load of religious responsibilities laid on them by priests, rabbis, scribes, and Pharisees (Matthew 23:4; Acts 15:10).

JESUS PROMISES REST 
“REST”  here means relief from the heavy religious burdens placed upon the people as just described. “You will find rest for your souls.” These words are taken from Jeremiah 6:16.  

The promise to “REST” was tied especially to the promise about the Son of David, the Messiah, providing security for the houses of Israel (see Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15; Ezekiel 24:15 and Amos 9:11-15 for more on that).  

It's important to note that this REST is found ONLY in Jesus and has eternal implications (Hebrews 4:1-11). The people were already “weary and heavy-laden” because the excesses of the traditions of the Pharisees marginalized those who were spiritually “sick”  (Matthew 9:12) and even on the Sabbath left people hungry, maimed, and demon possessed (12:1-24). 

The religious leaders laid heavy burdens on the people without providing any help (23:4) or showing mercy (9:13; 12:7). On the OTHER HAND, Jesus’ “BURDEN IS LIGHT”  but not necessarily effortless. Anyone who has tried to embody the ethic of the Sermon on the Mount  knows the requirements are agonizingly difficult. But they are EASY and LIGHT in contrast to the heavy burdens of the Pharisees precisely because He is “GENTLE AND HUMBLE” and as the Suffering Servant, bears His people’s sins (Isiah 53:11-12).  

Let's look at this from the perspective of the LXX, or the Septuagint, (meaning “seventy), referring to the seventy-two translations, (six from each tribe of Israel) involved in translating the Pentateuch from Hebrew to Greek in the third-century BC [seventy-two is rounded down to seventy, hence the Roman numeral LXX].  

The LXX translates “YE SHALL FIND PURIFICATION UNTO YOUR SOULS.”   

 IN CLOSING 

The culture war never gets to rest for long, but our relationship with the world should be at peace in God's provision to rest "in Him." When Jesus says that His burden is “EASY,” He means that it is “good or kind”. That's a GREAT deal for you and me because our burden(s) in this life are not easy, good or kind. Only Jesus makes this offer and verses 28-30 are interestingly found in Matthew’s gospel alone. Jesus ends by telling all of us, “COME TO ME” and those who do find the yoke challenging, but also compassionate, have a Savior who encourages, loves, forgives, restores, strengthens, and saves. It seems that the more severe expressions of Christianity have strayed from the kind of discipleship Jesus offers us and placed the burden back upon mankind (ourselves). God did not intend it to be that way. God calls us to let go and let God. The famous singer Carrie Underwood got it right when she sang the hit song, “JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL.”  It IS a simple command filled with trust and faith in Jesus Christ to take the wheel of our life. The invitation is there for the taking. The choice is ours to take it. And this is “THE GREATEST INVITATION” ever offered to mankind by the God of the universe.