Greg Rolfe

1 year ago · 3 min. reading time · ~10 ·

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The Yoke of Jesus

The Yoke of Jesus

(an attempt to answer a question)

The yoke of Jesus
In Matthew 11:28-30 we read that the yoke of Jesus is light and comfortable. And while we know that to be a true statement, we don’t exactly know what it means. Especially when we compare it to passages like 1 Peter 4:1,12,15-16,19. When we read these passages it is very clear that we should expect to suffer. 
So, it can be confusing which passage is more accurate, the light and comfortable or the suffering. The reality is both but that fails to actually help, or does it? Matthew 11:28-30 is found in the context of the miracles Jesus had accomplished and the question of John from prison. John could and did ask the question about the truth of Jesus being the Messiah since he was indeed in prison awaiting death. John was asking if he had misunderstood the truth of Jesus. Jesus’ reply was not just a simple yes, I am the Messiah but was instead a description of the works that had been done which were the anticipated evidence of the Messiah. 
John was suffering for being an obedient servant. But was his yoke light and comfortable? We know that John lived to the ripe old age of about 31. How did this very young man accomplish so much before his death? Why was he accepted so quickly that even the Pharisees came out to be baptized? 
Now, these are the facts, but there is at least one more question we have to ask before we can actually understand the answers. And that is what did Jesus mean by light and comfortable? You and I today have our own understanding of these words. Light means not very heavy, even a child could carry it. Comfortably holds the context that it is something that could be worn or used all day. When we look at the actual meaning of these words outside the context of the passage, we begin to grasp the meaning that Jesus intended for us to grasp. 
Jesus’ yoke is light, it can be carried by a child. Matthew 19:14 “But Jesus said, “Leave the children alone, and do not forbid them to come to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”” The kingdom of heaven belongs to children or the humble or the faithful. The very idea of the yoke is humility and faith. A child can grasp the truth and follow it. The yoke is light.
Jesus’ yoke is comfortable. Matthew 16: 24-26 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what good will it do a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what will a person give in exchange for his soul?”” If we read the parallel passage in Luke 9:23 we read the addition of a word, and that word is daily. To take up your cross daily. 
This passage about Jesus’ yoke being light and comfortable is all about its intent. We are intended to walk daily with Jesus and are indeed able to walk with Jesus. Jesus’ statements in Matthew 11 are not intended to ignore the reality of suffering but are intended to remind us of and encourage us to understand that Jesus is very much aware of the suffering but has designed that into His leadership. He can, will, and has enabled children to walk with Him daily. He can, will, and has guided His people daily. 
Jesus is being completely honest and open with His statement about light and comfortable. But, back to John. John had been very carefully guided to be amazingly successful in his short ministry. It might even seem he was guided daily to accomplish the tasks set before him. And as for light again please remember John was 31. John was not a seasoned veteran of ministry used to handling the ups and downs of years of ministry. John was literally just beginning his ministry when it was over. Placed in prison simply due to the honesty of his words. His request of Jesus for an explanation was not out of a lack of faith but an honest request for guidance. John in the midst of suffering is the proof of Jesus’ yoke. It was indeed light and comfortable. The problem is when we interpret light and comfortable to mean easy and carefree that we encounter problems with our understanding as we see suffering. As we all know, trials are an essential part of growth. And Jesus is very aware of this aspect of our walk with Him and is very able and willing to guide us daily through each one of these trials. Faith is standing up each day to face the day knowing that regardless of the events that are found in it, our Savior is with us, and our Lord will enable us to overcome. 
The work set before us is intended to keep our hearts and minds on our Savior so that we might reflect His perfect will to all who observe or are touched by our lives. And while the yoke of Jesus is light and comfortable while filled with suffering, it is also a yoke well worth carrying. 

 


 

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