“TAKE ON MY YOKE”
AND YOU SHALL BE MY DISCIPLES – Lesson #25
Take My Yoke upon yourselves
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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.” (Matthew 11:28–30).
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Jesus uses the same word here when He says, “Come to me” as He used when He called Peter and Andrew and said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Peter and Andrew understood this was an invitation to a close, personal and lasting relationship. This was not a casual encounter. This is the Call of God for all to follow Him, and a yoke is the perfect illustration to describe this new relationship with Jesus.
YOU ALSO ARE THE CALLED OF JESUS CHRIST
They also understood that Jesus’ words were not a simple request. It was spoken in the imperative as a command “come hither, come here, come now!”
They understood the context and vernacular of this word to mean, “Follow Me in order to be taught by me, looking over my shoulder. You will learn by watching and you will be identified with Me.”
Secondly, in the times of Jesus’ earthly ministry, people clearly understood the significance of “putting on a yoke”. A yoke was for animals of labor, it was a metaphor of any burden or bondage such as that of slavery. So, why would any person voluntarily submit to a yoke or heavy labor or bondage of slavery?
Jesus uses the imagery of a yoke but redefines its meaning from slavery to freedom!
“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1”
Being yoked with Jesus is freedom from what binds you, what ails you, what plagues you. Know that Jesus is gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. His yoke is a yoke of freedom!
A disciple of Jesus – A Christian – is identified as having been with Jesus.
When people see you, are they be amazed, and recognize you as having been with Jesus?
“Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.” Acts4:13
Now, it is your turn:
HOW MUST YOU DO IT?
HOW YOU MUST TEACH IT?
The day is at hand. Let’s pray for and encourage on another.
Your Brother and Friend, Mike Young