“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

John the Baptist was the first on to announce that Jesus is the Messiah. “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” (John 1:29-31) John then witnessed God’s conformation of who Jesus is, “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.” (John 1:32-34)

As time went by, John was put in prison. He had heard about what Jesus was doing. Yet in this time of difficulty in John’s life, questions had come to his mind. He sent some of his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Matthew 11:3)

Jesus answered John with validation of who He is by what He is doing and encouragement to John. “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” (Matthew 11:5-6)

Jesus now turns to the crowd around Him and speaks about John to them. “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? . . .. A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: “‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist.” (Matthew 11:9-11)

Later Jesus would be speaking to the crowd and would tell them, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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 11:28-30)

As we live our lives in this world, there will always be times of trials and difficulties. As followers of Jesus, life will not be easy. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble.” (John 16:33) James speaks of “trials of many kinds.” (James 1:2) Peter would say, “suffer grief in all kinds of trials.” (1 Peter 1:6)

When we face life and its trials, when we are weary and burdened, this is when we are to come to Jesus. It is when we come to Jesus, we realize He has come to join us in our lives. He yokes His life with our lives. Then we learn to live with His strength and His power. When we are yoked with Him, we find rest and burdens we can bear. All because we are united with Him.

This is the content of Paul’s prayer, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:18-19a) Let us come to Him and walk with Him through all of life.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block