Blog Detail

Today we move on to the second fact on my list as to WHO JESUS IS:

2/ He is our burden bearer…
— Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) 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. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

— My first question for this session: Do we play any part in giving our burdens to Jesus?

For an answer, let’s turn to the Bible verses that lead up to this statement of Jesus…

— We will be reading the full chapter of Matthew 11:1-30…

— We find in this teaching from Jesus, a Jewel of eternal value, which may take us a little ‘digging’ to find… So let’s dig a little deeper.

Matthew chapter 11 starts with the news of some disciples of John the baptist, bringing a question from John for Jesus.

READ Matthew 11:1-6… When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. (2) Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples (3) and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (4) And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: (5) the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. (6) And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

— Jesus answers them and ends with a curious statement in His answer, “And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

• Q2/ What ‘offending issue’ is Jesus cautioning against us taking here? (Do some still find offence in this truth.)

READ Matthew 11:7-11… (7) As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? (8) What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. (9) What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. (10) This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ (11) Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

• Q3/ I want you to examine these verses and tell me a paradoxical statement found therein?

• (HINT: ‘double sticks’) – Does John 20:29 relate to this?

READ Matthew 11:12-14… (12) From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. (13) For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, (14) and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. (15) He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

• Q4/ How can Jesus say in verse 12 “the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force”? (Do we have ‘ears to hear’?)

• The “violent” who take the kingdom are men of eager, impetuous zeal, who by simple faith in the words of Jesus, grasp the kingdom of heaven by receiving it through the grace offered to a repentant fervent heart. Rather than by much ceremony and sacrifice of the dead religious teaching of this time. So with much eagerness, they snatch and carry off as their own the Godly riches of peace, pardon, and they find instead God’s blessing. Note that John the Baptist was leading a movement of REPENTANCE. — Also we find Jeremiah 21:8-10 speaks of people who choose to obey God by mere faith in His authority to condemn or forgive. They receive life, not as something earned but as a gift of God’s mercy and grace. — Just as ourselves, these people are judged for destruction, but through faithful obedience to God, they are spared and receive life. For we do nothing to earn God’s forgiveness, it is only by accepting the redeeming gift of Jesus dying in our place can we gain God’s Kingdom.

  — The proper interpretation from the Greek gives no idea of hostile purpose in the words but rather that of an enthusiastic eagerness. (ARE WE EAGER FOR GOD’S KINGDOM?)

• This is how we can begin to comprehend the mysterious vs. 11.

READ Matthew 11:15-19… (16) “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, (17) “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ (18) For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ (19) The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

• Q5/ Jesus asks a question in verse 16… “But to what shall I compare this generation?
  — What common trait in humanity is Jesus referring to? (Note He was talking about Jewish believers, not people of the world.)
  — How do we see examples of this trait in the church of today (I speak of the full body of Christ)?

• Q6/ What does Jesus tell us is the true proof of a God follower? (HINT: Matthew 7:15-20)

READ Matthew 11:20-24… (20) Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. (21) “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. (22) But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. (23) And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. (24) But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

• Q7/ What does Jesus suggest here that condemns the cities of Choazin; Bethsaida; and Capernaum? (HINT: Often God uses miracles to bring this about in us, and yet these cities refuse.)

READ Matthew 11:25-30… (25) At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; (26) yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. (27) All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. (28) Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) 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. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

— Now, if we have been following this teaching of Jesus, we find the basis for the fact that ‘Jesus is our burden bearer’… We find five questions in this final passage:

• Q/8 What is hidden from the wise, and yet revealed to little children? (Vs. 25)

• Q9/ What truth is found in Vs. 26? (What is God’s will in revealing truth to people?)

• Q10/ I’ll ask your opinion on Jesus’ statement that He has the choice of who comes to know God? (Vs. 27)

In verses 29-30 Jesus tells us that He will take our HEAVY BURDENS from us… However, Jesus tells us to LEARN FROM HIM… He follows this with two important statements:

1/ “for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

2/ “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

• Q11/ How do we learn from His example to find rest for our souls? (Does this have anything to do with our willpower, ambitions, and ego?) — Did Jesus come to serve or to be served?

• Q12/ Do we carry any burdens when we follow Jesus? (If so what’s the difference?)

We will conclude our study with further discussion and then conclude with a time of fellowship and prayer.

TO CLOSE LET’S JOIN IN WORSHIP WITH: (Youtube link) sung by ‘Women of Faith’

‘GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS’