We all know the inviting passage in Matthew 11:28-30 where Jesus calls us to come and find rest..."For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." It evokes a longing in us to find this way of living. I always saw his words as meaning we must be yoked to him... walking as he does, resting when he does.
But recently I have seen this differently. Look at the verses above it. Jesus is exulting in the Father (imagine a real loud 'Yahoo!') and praising him for revealing spiritual realities to child-like hearts and not learned adult minds. Then he describes how he relates to his Abba - his Daddy, God and says "No-one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." And out of this he says "Come to me... live like me... and you will live restfully."
I thought, 'What is the yoke Jesus has that he offers to us in order to impart rest?'
Clearly it is Jesus relationship to his Father! He is yoked to his Abba! He and the Father walk together, work together, delight together. And he is saying, 'If you too are yoked (held together so you must do it all in union) with my Abba, your life will be restful, gentle, humble, full of delights, insightful and powerful without straining - just like mine is!' WHEN HE REVEALS ABBA TO US - THEN WE CAN LIVE THIS LIFE THAT HE DID. What a wonder! What a joy! What simplicity!
So let's ask, and keep on asking - "Jesus, reveal our Abba, our Daddy to us. Help us to be those 'little children' you talk about, with the heart of a trusting son or daughter with our all-loving, all-powerful Dad. We want this restful, gentle, joyfilled life that you offer, every day."
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