The Yoke's On You

Jesus calls out "Come unto me all who are heavy burdened and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me...and you will find rest fo your souls" (Matt 11:28-29).  How is that?  How is it that taking on a yoke brings rest?  A yoke being an instrument to connect an ox to a plow, how can it bring rest?

The answer is found in the ancient practice of using a double yoke to train a young ox, which would struggle with the plow if put in a yoke by itself.  However, if put in a yoke with an older, experienced ox, the young ox would have help pulling the plow and, follwing the lead of the other would learn from it and find rest relative to the frustration of trying in vain to pull alone that for which it was not equipped.

The fact that Jesus calls those who are "heavy burdened" suggests he is calling those already in a yoke, trying in vain to pull a load for which they are not equipped.  They are yoked to relationships, which are hung up on so many snares that they cannot pull it any further.  They are yoked to financial stress that is so heavy that they strain in vain to make forward progress.  They are yoked to fears, worries, health issues, ignorance, loss, pain, etc.

Whatever it is that you are trying to pull by yourself, the yoke's on you, and you are not equipped to pull it alone.  You need to cast off your single yoke and take on the double yoke of Jesus in which you will be pulling with the Master by your side, help you with the load and teaching you how to make forward progress.

For this to happen, however, you have to be willing to give up control of your walk.  You will have to lay down your yoke in which you are in the driver's seatt and step into the yoke of Jesus with him in control.  You will have to "walk in the light as he (Jesus) is in the light" (1 John 1:7).  The choice, of course, is yours.  But the consequence of your choice is beyond your control and without Jesus you will not find rest.  Jus' Sayn.