Δεῦτε πρός με πάντες οἱ κοπιῶντες καὶ πεφορτισμένοι, κἀγὼ ἀναπαύσω ὑμᾶς. ἄρατε τὸν ζυγόν μου ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς καὶ μάθετε ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι πραΰς εἰμι καὶ ταπεινὸς τῇ καρδίᾳ, καὶ εὑρήσετε ἀνάπαυσιν ταῖς ψυχαῖς ὑμῶν· ὁ γὰρ ζυγός μου χρηστὸς καὶ τὸ φορτίον μου ἐλαφρόν ἐστιν.
Matt 11:28-30
This passage (“Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden…”) is uncontroversial and generally well explained, but I have just been reflecting on how specific the language is. The translations are better English than I will attempt, I am just interested in the sense.
As endless commentators have noted, the picture is of a pack animal – probably an ox – struggling with a heavy load on its own, but finding peace when it is yoked with Jesus alongside. So here is my “sharpened” version.
Come here to me, all those growing weary and who have been weighed down; and I will make you stop.
Now, take up my yoke upon you, and learn from me (i.e. learn by walking in harness with me) because I am calming / taming and near you in heart, and you will find rest / repose / cadence for your life.
For my yoke is serviceable (i.e. is a good one) and my load is light in weight.
As a picture it is extraordinary. It only works (as indeed a yoke of oxen only works) if the two beasts are matched in size and strength. Jesus, the Son of Man, is fully a man, but “normal” in a way that hasn’t been seen since Adam fell. And yet, His offer to every man who is is struggling alone with too great a burden (roughly 100% of us), is that by coming to Him and taking up His yoke, we will be able to learn how to be normal too. And that is specifically because Jesus will play the role of the older wiser more experienced ox who calms His more skittish, distracted yoke-fellow and whose heart is on the same level. As a result we will find ourselves no longer driven by fear and anxiety and lack but able to enjoy, have rest and cadence to our lives, and yet also be delivering on assignment – a load which weighs lightly.
As a picture of the Kingdom life it is vivid and specific. We have struggled with all our might to achieve – what? A burden never delivered or removed. In partnership with Jesus, we learn rest – and get things done.
And here is the important part. Jesus will never partner with our current burdens. He is not at home to joining us in our struggle. Come to Him in all your struggle and weariness (your part) and He (His part)… He will make you stop.
No one puts a yoke on an already laden ox. Drop that load, take up My yoke upon you, learn from me; and you will learn how to fulfil your assignment from a position of calm and rest in your life. You will get far more done, with zero struggle. Work yes, struggle no.
Who wouldn’t want that?
Seeing the Kingdom 