Heavy and Light

It was a small ladies Bible study around the table on our deck. God was blessing us with lovely weather and good conversation. I was unprepared for the full-blown glimpse I was about to receive.

The topic of the day was humility and we were going through a string of verses that held a variety of points. I admit that I hadn't paid much attention to that word in my previous readings of Matthew 11:28-30. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

We began to talk about the passage and one of the ladies made a comment that went something like this. "I know what a yoke is and they are heavy things. I don't see how a yoke could ever be called light. Actually, this verse doesn't make any sense to me at all." I began making my way through what I thought was a reasoned explanation by pointing out that the One who spoke the words was Jesus the Christ.

It was easy enough to talk about Jesus' call for those who are "weary and burdened" to come to Him for rest. That covers pretty much all of us living in this fallen world. I was able to mention some of the specific struggles that were tiring burdens for some of us. I paused before taking on the next sentence though. It's an interesting combination of directions and results.

Jesus seems to be telling those who are already dragging a heavy load to add the weight of a heavy farm implement. The key is that it is His yoke that he calls us to take on our shoulders. To make the point, I took out a pen and drew a simple yoke with two neckbands. Jesus isn't directing His people to pick up a dead weight and add it to the burdens we are already carrying. He's calling us to put ourselves under a yoke to spread out the burden.

I've learned a lot about yokes lately. Directions for making a yoke include measuring the animal. Time needs to be spent carving, sanding, and finishing the wood for a proper fit. It's not a complicated piece of equipment, but it is highly efficient for harnessing power. A pair of oxen under yoke are able to pull more than double the weight a single ox can handle on his own.

Sharing the load is only one benefit of a yoke. One of the ways to train a young or inexperienced ox is to yoke it with an older, experienced animal. The yoke itself becomes an educational method as the pair shoulder the weight-bearing task. The one needing the training is directly connected to the appropriate tutor making it difficult to miss the important lessons.

Jesus' call is not to take up just any yoke. It's His yoke that He wants us to put on. The goal is not merely to offload some of the weight of the struggles we face by sharing them with someone else. Jesus offers Himself as a yoke-mate. He is the One who will shoulder the weight; the weight of the yoke itself as well as the struggles. He wants us to be right next to Him that we might learn His ways.

I looked to the next phrase to continue my way through the passage - "for I am gentle and humble in heart". Right here in this particular analogy Jesus shares these two particular attributes. As with the idea of a heavy yoke being light, gentle and humble don't seem to be attributes to esteem when looking to accomplish a formidable task. What could gentleness and humility have to do with it?

I silently and earnestly asked the Spirit for help and picked up my pencil. To buy some time, I drew a simple yoke to illustrate what we were discussing and wrote J-e-s-u-s in the left neckband. Then it hit me. Jesus is describing His own heart condition when He is under His yoke. Our Older Brother is setting the example for coming under His tutelage as we make our way through this life.

I've often thought about being yoked with Jesus as His helping me manage burdens. I've even imagined Him pulling me along to keep my path nice and straight. But truly seeing the word humble for the first time in the analogy was a major glimpse. I shared the insight with the ladies in the study, but it was much more than that.

The study was over and the ladies were gone. I looked at my drawing and began to consider my own stiff-necked heart. I know I'm one of God's chosen and I look forward with biblical hope to eternity with Him. I also know that the trials of this life are too heavy for me. I want/need to be under Jesus' direct tutelage every moment. I thought about what it would take to come under His yoke.

To be humble is to be "not proud or arrogant; modest ... having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience ... courteously respectful." Interestingly, Webster's Unabridged Encyclopedic Dictionary of the English Language, Gramercy Books 1989, also gives the following examples. "I am humble in the presence of the starry firmament. I am your humble disciple in all things of the spirit."

Oh yes, I'm aware of my humble position before the holy, triune God. He has taught me well that it is in Him that I live and move and have my being. Acts 17:27 I can do nothing on my own to please Him. He is the One who works in me to will and to act according to His good purpose. Philippians 2:13 It is Jesus who presents me before the throne of grace. Hebrews 7:25 It is the Spirit who testifies on my behalf. Romans 8

Acknowledging these truths and many others, in my mind's eye I lower my head and come along side Jesus under His yoke. The neckband slips on easily and is a perfect fit. My soul is indeed at rest. The burdens of this life are lighter as my Savior and Lord shoulders them with and for me. He has much to teach me and I long to learn. Jesus is calling all of His children to bow their heads and take up His yoke. How about you?


"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."