July 6, 2014　

Today’s Gospel Reading is pure gospel. It is sweet good news. To millions and millions of Christians, it has given hope and comfort and peace and strength and joy and rest. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Everyone has burdens. Everyone has baggage. Everyone has work or responsibilities. There are worries, sickness, pain, sorrow, regret, fear. The words of Jesus are an invitation to find rest and peace.

But the words of Jesus are drowned out by the empty promises of this world. Rather than eternal peace, they offer all sorts of temporary relief or diversion. Not all of those things are sinful. The beauty and good things of this world are gifts of God. Friends and medicine help us in bad times. But sometimes we have so much worry and pain that nothing seems to help. Hopelessness can seem like hell. And it is hell when we give up on Jesus.

The reason the words of Jesus are pure gospel is because Jesus is with us. He says, “Come to me.” Jesus understands the responsibility of our burdens. He shares our pain. He shares our troubles. It is sweet good news because Jesus took upon himself the sin of the world, the pain of the world, and the burdens of the world when he died on the cross. He had all the burdens upon himself, but when he arose on Easter, he left all those sins behind. They are dead. When he arose on Easter, he had healing and life.

Psalm 23 says the same thing: “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.”

Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” We will find rest for our souls when we find the yoke of Jesus. Do you know what a yoke is? A yoke is a type of collar. It is part of a harness. If you want a horse or an ox to pull a plow or a wagon, you have to connect the animal to the cart somehow. This is done with the harness. The yoke goes over the neck and shoulders of the ox so that its whole strength can pull the wagon. The yoke needs to be the right size for the animal, not too big so it slips off, not to small so that chokes the ox, not rough so that it will cut into the skin. If the yoke is just the perfect fit, it will be comfortable and so it will be easy to pull the wagon. That is what Jesus means when he says that his yoke is easy. He makes it easier for us to handle our problems in life. And when he helps us, the burdens become lighter.

It is true. I have found that prayer makes my problems lighter. When I bring my problems to Jesus in prayer, he helps me. I have found that singing helps. A song is a prayer, and it is reminder of God’s love. That is why we should memorize a verse or two of our favorite hymns and praise songs. Prayers and songs are like yokes that connect us with Jesus. Worship is great, too. In the confession and absolution, we lay down and get rid of the old sins that burden us. In the Lord’s Supper, we get strength for our faith and daily life with Jesus.

There are many wonderful Bible passages to memorize, let’s memorize this one! “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Amen.

Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church

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