risking the yoke of Jesus

there is much on this weeks sermon that comes directly from other people

 

there are a few parts in Matthew’s gospel I want us to reflect on today.

 

I can imagine John in prison, wondering if Jesus, his cousin,

Jesus, who he baptised, has lived up to his name of Emmanuel.

today the words may be different, but people still ask:

who is Jesus?

what is so special about Jesus?

what does Jesus have to do with life today?

does God care about me?

 

Jesus responds not with a long theological or philosophical answer; but tells John’s disciples to report back to John what they have heard and seen:  

the blind receive their sight,

the lame walk,

the lepers are cleansed,

the deaf hear,

the dead are raised,

and the poor have good news brought to them.

 

when people ask you, what difference does Jesus make? 

how might you answer them?  

what difference does Jesus make in your life?

 

…………………

 

What do you want? Jesus seems to ask the crowd.  [David Lose]

 

John the Baptist is an ascetic, living in the desert, separating himself from all that had the potential to tempt or corrupt him, anything that would make him deviate from his true path of devotion and holiness. He fasted and lived in isolation in order to preserve his purity. ‘He’s a demon,’ the people said. ‘He must be mad to cut himself off from all that we know and enjoy in our society.’ Jesus, on the other hand, lived a life fully immersed in the lives of the people of his day, spurning asceticism, engaging with people where he found them. And the people said, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of all those who have the potential to corrupt, people like tax-collectors, every kind of sinner.’ [Rev Tom Gordon Church of Scotland, starters for Sunday]

 

the image Matthew records is of children playing – typically at weddings the men would play flute and dance; and at funerals women would wail. it is possible that children are practicing their roles, but others won’t join in.  Regardless of the image, people can be fickle.

one example is in the church - 

most churches say they want to grow, but are not willing to change

want young people in worship, but not guitars or drums

want to know what is happening, but don’t look at the material provided

another area is government –

we want lower taxes and more teachers

we want better health care at no cost

we want detailed answers, but only watch the sound bites on TV or radio.

 

I wonder if some people just need something to complain about?

 

What do you want? Jesus seems to ask the crowd. 

Except he knows they won’t answer. They, and we, can’t.

Because what we want is to grow, to evolve, to improve our relationship with God and each other.  And yet at the same time we want to be left alone, untouched and unchanged. Because to change is to lose something.

Change, brings the unknown. Change is not certain. Change implies risk and even potential loss. Which is why we often stay in failed jobs and relationships – they may not be much, but at least they’re something and at least we know what to expect.

But here’s the difficult truth about life in Christ. You cannot enter into it and expect to be unchanged. [David Lose amended]

 

…………………..

 

and we come to the final few verses of our reading:

²⁸ ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ 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. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

 

I imagine some of you are pleased I am up to this part – no hard  questions about the difference Jesus makes in our lives, or challenges about the changes that come from knowing Jesus. this is the gospel we yearn for: come and rest.

 

what comes to mind when you think of rest?:

sleep

putting your feet up

…

…

 

 

Jesus says: come and rest and take my yoke upon you

here is a  picture of a yoke

[image of a timber yoke - http://www.dailyencouragement.net/images/farmlife/ox_yoke.jpg]

 

you don’t put a yoke on animal unless you are ready for it to work, which doesn’t sound like the kind of rest I had in mind.

here is a picture of a team of oxen.

 

[image of a bullock team pulling a large tree log - http://images2.visitnsw.com/sites/default/files/galleries/timbertown-wauchope-2.jpg ]

 

what might this saying of Jesus refer to, as I can’t imagine putting on a yoke and then  putting my feet up with a hot chocolate and read the paper.

 

Clearly rest in this sense does not mean inactivity.

 

what might we need to rest from:

fear

worry

anxiety

what do others think about us

needing to be in control

…

…

 

I read that where it is translated as my yoke is easy, my yoke is kind would be a more accurate reading.  a ‘kind’ yoke is one which is correctly shaped, that doesn’t chafe or rub, that allows the load to be carried evenly. [Interpretation Matthew p 129]

 

the next two sections of Matthews gospel refers to the Sabbath, and what was allowable on the Sabbath.

the law was meant to aid people in their relationship with God, but for many people it had become an obstacle.  the Sabbath is meant for rest, for not working, for family, for relationship, for health – mental, physical and spiritual health.  we all need a to stop working and rest from our daily labour, whether that is paid or unpaid work.

but the law had been made so strict that you could not pick food for your lunch or heal someone on the Sabbath. The Sabbath is about life, like the gospel it is loving, life-affirming, and liberating.  

 

getting back to the yoke of Christ – his yoke is well shaped and functional.  it aids in our living and our relationship with God, it is not an unnecessary burden.

 

‘ Jesus said “ become my yoke mate, and learn how to pull the load by working beside me and watching how I do it. the heavy labour will seem lighter when you allow me to help you with it.” ‘ [Interpretation Matthew p 129]

 

we all have burdens we carry – grief, pain, …..

but we do not need to carry them alone

 

I wonder who or what are you yoked with?

when you are yoked together, you move in the same direction at the same speed, otherwise you spend a lot of time and energy battling each other.

are you moving in step with Jesus?

or is something or someone else guiding your life?

 

there is much in today’s reading:

what difference does Jesus make in your life?

are you willing to accept his yoke?

are you willing to risk him changing you?