Jesus Offers Rest

The gift that Jesus offers at the end of Matthew chapter 11 might not be what you expect, but it might be something that you really long for.  He offers peace, comfort, rest - a break from what we are trying to do all the time.

We are busy people.  We are busy trying to do our work, busy trying to play sports or get our children to sports, busy trying to find new and fun activities, busy trying to keep up our appearance, busy trying to stay busy.  There are very few times we rest.

The busy-ness translates to our spiritual life, too.  When we are so busy with everything else we are trying to do, we find ourselves trying to fit in "Jesus Time," as well.  And sometimes it is a lot of work.  Is God happy with me?  Am I doing enough?  Do I need to be doing something more, something better?

The popular teachers of Jesus' time would pile up instructions for their followers, or disciples to follow.  If you want to follow a rabbi, you would need to take up his 'yoke.'  A 'yoke' was the body of teachings the rabbi would give to his followers.  Just like a two oxen would wear the same yoke while plowing a field, a rabbi and his disciple would be bound together in going the same direction.

Jesus gives a different description of what his yoke is like.

^{Matthew 11:28-30}

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.”

Jesus had a message that is different than other religious leaders.  (Even today many Christian pastors wear a stole over their robes to symbolize the yoke of Jesus.)  The point was not what his followers needed to do, as much as a reliance on what he would do for them.  The message is still different than other religious leaders.

Almost every religion is about what a person needs to do.  There are requirements for offing sacrifices to the Hindu gods.  There are steps to becoming a more enlightened Buddhist.  There are five pillars of actions that accompany a good Muslim.  The Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons have specific activities they need to accomplish to please God.  Christians are even tempted to fall into that trap of 'doing' enough to make God happy, but Jesus' message is different.  It's about what Jesus has done.  It's about the cross.

Jesus is reaching out to us and offering us rest for our busy lives.  He wants to give us what we really need.

Listen Up

The most publicized Bible verse is probably John 3:16.  It has been called the "Gospel in a Nutshell" because it has the overall message of the Gospel (good news about Jesus): God loves the world, he gave his Son for the world, and those who believe in the Son will have eternal life.

Tim Tebow is a football player for the Denver Broncos and has been quite controversial lately.  Throughout his college and professional career his has been a very outspoken Christian, known for "Tebowing" which is taking a knee and praying, which he will often do in the end-zone.  While he has not been the 'best' quarterback according to form and statistics, he has won games.

His favorite Bible verse is John 3:16.  In an surprising win against the Steelers last week, Tim Tebow threw for 316 yards and had a 31.6 yards-per-catch average.  Since even those in the sports world are familiar with this Bible verse, they did not miss the coincidence.

Before John 3:16, there was Deuteronomy 6:4-9.  The "John 3:16" of the Jewish Old Testament was the rally cry of the Israelites: There is One God - the Lord, so love the Lord with everything you have, and always talk about this Word of God that He has given to us.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9
 ⁴ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. ⁵ Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.


This section was not referred to as the "Law in a Nutshell" (though maybe it could be), but rather the "Great Shema."  Shema is the Hebrew word that commands people to 'listen' or 'pay attention' or 'hear' what is being said.

So many other cultures had a collection of gods - the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Hindu's, and every other culture.  Jews were 'odd' because of their claim that there is only one God in charge of everything.  Understanding John 3:16 can give others a better idea of what is important to Christians.  Understanding Deuteronomy 6:4-9 can give us a better idea of what has been important to the Jewish culture throughout time, including the Jewish culture of which Jesus was a part.

Having a Little Faith

There are a few chapters in the Bible that have such a strong theme that they are known by one word.
1 Corinthians 13 is known as the Love chapter.  "Love is patient, love is kind... and the greatest of these is love."

Hebrews 11 is known as the Faith chapter, containing the word more than two dozen times.

Luke 15 is sometimes called the lost chapter, containing the stories about the lost sheep, the lost coins, and the lost (prodigal) son.

Faith is important.  It is by grace we have been saved, through faith - Ephesians 2:8.  During the reformation a strong emphasis was put on three 'sola' phrases: Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, and Sola Scriptura meaning Faith Alone, Grace Alone, and Scripture Alone.

This side of heaven, faith and hope will support us through difficult times, but a day will come when God's Kingdom is realized and there will be need for neither, for God will be with his people.

Hebrews 11:1 
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.


Hebrews 12:1-2
¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.