His Yoke

Matthew 11:29-30 NIV: “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.”

I’m doing part 2 this week of an earlier post several months ago titled “Weary.” In that piece, I focused on what it means to be weary and heavy-laden. I tried to encompass symbols for how we become physically and mentally tired and weighed down by things in life. That verse in Matthew 11:28 ends with, “And I will give you rest.”

Of course, that’s what all of us want! Rest and refreshment! But look at how Jesus provides for us to do that. He asks us to pick up another burden. The word yoke refers to the wooden beams used to join animals, but it is still technically a burden. So how does just replacing one burden with another provide the promised rest?

First, the word yoke implies joining with someone else. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to note that the weight of something is lighter when shared with another. In this case, sharing it with Jesus, the Son of God, should ensure plenty of extra strength.

Second, the yoke or burden we carry with him differs from the burdens of our circumstances, past or present. He offers something easy and light. The word translated as easy is not entirely accurate. A better understanding of the Greek word used is “useful or well-fitted.” I find this helpful because life isn’t always easy just because we come to Jesus. It is, however, always used to our benefit. It is also ultimately lighter than the alternative.

These two key components—carrying a different kind of burden, lighter and suited to our specific path—and sharing the work with our gentle savior—bring me comfort.

Artistically, I wanted to contrast the original piece “Weary” with these added truths. The bed of rest remains in the background, with the support of Christ, joined together with us, ready to “carry” something light as a feather!