I once watched a dad climb a set of stairs while holding the hand of his three year old son. The dad moved right along, while the son touched about every other stair. Climbing the stairs was no problem for the little guy as long as he was holding on to his dad.
Jesus invites us to be joined to Him – to share in who His is. Now that is a good deal!
In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus gives an invitation. “Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Notice that twice Jesus used the word “yoke.” “Take my yoke upon you…for my yoke is easy…”
The word “yoke” is a Greek word that literally means “to be hooked together.” It is a noun that comes from a verb meaning “to join or connect.” It is used of the device that binds two oxen together, and it is used of the bar that connects the two sides of a scale or balance. It is a coupling that binds two things together.
Well, Jesus uses that word to describe our relationship to Him. He says, “Come and be yoked to me. We’ll put a coupling between us and bind our lives together. That way I can labor with you and help to pull your heavy burden.” Wow! He is offering to harness up with you and me – to put His neck in the same yoke in order to pull our burdens with each of us as we labor. Now that is amazing. In fact it is incredible!
When you are yoked to Jesus so that He is your Savior and Lord, you can commit your burden to Him and let Him do the work. You are still in the harness too, remember, so the burden is still part yours, but it become a whole lot easier when you simply commit it to Him and go along for the ride.
Now you know the real meaning of the word.
Hey – Why are you pulling so hard? Give your burden to Jesus, and He will make it a whole lot easier.