Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Matthew 11:25-30 (NIV)
The Father Revealed in the Son
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. 27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Typically, a yoke is used to tie two animals together so that as a team they can do more work than either would be able to do individually. Yokes were also symbols of servitude. A slave was “yoked” to her master. Here, Jesus says that he will be an easy master who gives rest and gentleness not more or harder work. Even the work that one does for Jesus will be easy and light. Most of our burdens come when we try to strive and work for others or even for ourselves. There is always more work to be done. There is always something we have not accomplished. We are never good enough. But when Jesus becomes our master and we submit to his yoke, we are promised rest. Jesus wants us to receive his forgiveness and love and do the “easy” work of forgiving and loving!