Heavy Laden? 2/8/13 ...the Wayfarer

Heavy Laden?

2/8/13

“Come unto me, all ye that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

(Matthew 11:28)

Today we take a look at a promise made by Jesus and how it offers us solace even now. Here Jesus was earlier talking to disciples of John who had come to find out if He was truly the Christ that had been promised. Now he speaks to the crowd that has gathered. Let’s go back and begin at the 1^st verse and see how we came to this statement I use in my opening:

“And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.

 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

 and said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 

Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: 

The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 

And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

(Matthew 11:1-6)

Jesus answer to John’s disciples was to tell them that they could believe what they saw and heard, and that the choice to decide who he was, is their own. It is the same choice each of us must make in our life, to define just who Jesus is to us, merely another philosopher as many would have you believe, or the personal savior that I know! Not all will choose to believe in Him, but those who do absolutely know in whom they have believed, to paraphrase Paul.

After giving this answer to those two, he continues to teach the crowd beginning with verse 7.

“And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment?? Behold, they that wear soft clothing are in king’s houses. 

But what went ye out for to see?  A prophet? Yea, I say   unto you, and more than a prophet. 

For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women, there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

(Matthew 10:7-11)

John was a familiar figure to the crowd that Jesus addressed. His questions show that many who went to see and hear John’s preaching were there only for the entertainment. Unfortunately we may find many today who attend many revivals, singings and even weekly services solely for the entertainment value instead of seeking the solace of the Holy Spirit  and the enlightenment of the scriptures available there.

 Sincerity within prayer and worship is the only way to gain any blessings to be found there.That sincerity must manifest itself in the daily life of any who truly want to follow him. It can't be left behind as the doors are closed for another week and pushed aside so one may cheat  and deceive throughout the week  and return when those doors open without having repented and acknowledging the failures of their own sin.

Gathering to be self righteous and give thanks that you are  not as others are, as did the pharisee is inadequate. Just as the publican did, we must simply admit our own failures, (sins), and pray for the mercy of His forgiveness, then seek to honor that mercy by remembering the forgiveness received and changing the behavior  that created that  failure. 

Those who did hear and understand John’s message paid no attention to his rough clothing or the comments of others calling him a mad man. They were there to hear one of God’s prophets!

Verse 12 continues:

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 

For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 

And if ye will receive it, this is Elijah, which was for to come, 

He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets and calling unto their fellows, 

And saying , We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. "

(Matthew 10:12-17)

Jesus states that the unbeliever takes out his anger on the believer through violence, causing even those in the kingdom to suffer. Each time one of God’s children is persecuted, it causes Him great pain and causes pain to all believers.

Jesus begins to tell the crowd that they have to look with understanding at John and the prophets. Instead of complaining about not hearing what they want to hear, they should pay attention to what is being said!

He continues in verse 18:

“For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say He hath a devil. 

The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.”

(Matthew 10:18&19)

John, like Jesus was derided for preaching repentance, and the way he preached it. The Pharisees and lawyers attempted to tell the people that He was crazy to dress the way he did, talk the way he did, and even derided his diet which was described as locusts and honey. He did these things and lived in the wilderness because it was foreordained of God that he did so

. The criticism of Jesus was even more vile. 

They accused him of being a glutton, someone who would eat everything he could get just to eat it, a winebibber (a drunkard) because he drank what he was given by those he ministered to, a friend of publicans (those who worked for the roman occupiers), and a friend of sinners.

 These people, so reviled by the elite of the day, were the very people that Jesus chose to preach to!! Jesus in turn commented that wisdom is justified of her children, (Those who needed to understand his actions and words would!!)

The 20^th through the 24^th verses are lamentations for the places that Jesus has preached and done miracles, but has still not been accepted for who He Is.

Jesus continues this discourse on wisdom in the 25^th verse:

“At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 

Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 

All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomever the Son will reveal him.”

(Matthew 10:25-27)

Those who think themselves wise can’t find their way to God, because He will not fit into their understanding of the universe. 

They are too busy being wise to accept the truth of Jesus’ message.

 They know too much to learn the simple truth of God’s love for them! If we are to understand God, at least in part, we have to do so with the open minds of babes, and the open hearts to receive his gift of grace!

This brings us back to where we started:

“Come unto me ye that 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 ye shall find rest unto your souls.

 For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

(Matthew 10 28-30)

At any time that you find yourself burdened with the cares of life, or facing persecution, remember these words. Remember them when someone puts you down because of your choice of friends. Remember them when giving witness and being laughed at for your belief.

Remember what Jesus himself faced, give thanks that you are able to face far less than He did. Give thanks each day that He did face these things for us and that He ultimately paid with the very blood of His body for our sin so that we may know and be known by the Father.

I close for now with the love of God in my heart and His comfort in my soul, just another simple sinner saved by grace. I salute each of you in the name of my savior, Jesus.

 Always remember His message of  redemption through repentance, remembering also the toil already endured by Him to assure that it be available to those willing to accept its simple terms.

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and amen

the Wayfarer