Before Jesus came to save us, God the Father delivered a long list of guidelines as to how we should live within his required boundaries. When we stepped out of line, God had specific rituals for us to follow to get back into his favor. This system ruled the day for about four thousand years. As a result, it became clearly evident that as a people, we were incapable of achieving God’s ultimate standard. God’s solution to this dilemma was to manifest himself as a man in the form of Jesus Christ to sacrifice himself for our indiscretions once and for all. Jesus has the power to absolve our sins because he and the Father are one.
“All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” Matthew 11:27 (NASB)
We come to know God through our relationship with Jesus Christ. Those who reject Jesus are in fact, rejecting God. Our faith in Jesus relieves us from the burden of that long list of guidelines that God the Father imposed on us from the beginning. Trusting Jesus provides rest from all the tedious rituals God the Father implemented in the first four thousand years.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NASB)
As you may know, a yoke is a wooden crosspiece that fits over the necks of two animals from which guide ropes are fastened. Animals that take on a yoke are freely submissive to the person controlling the guide ropes. In this manner, Jesus wants us to take on his yoke and allow ourselves to be controlled by his teaching.
“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. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:29-30 (NASB)
Jesus wants us to know that there is no longer an enormous list of rules and regulations to follow. When we trust Jesus for our salvation, we are expressing in our hearts an overwhelming love for God. Jesus teaches that in addition to our love for God, there is only one other rule needed to fulfill all of God’s commandments.
“For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14 (NIV)
I think you can see how that makes our burden extremely light.
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