“TAKE my yoke.” These significant words, with their connection and promise, were spoken by the Son of God at a time when He Himself blessedly knew by holy experience what that yoke was of which He spake, and when He had perfectly worn it. Though acting in power and grace, giving every proof by signs and wonders of Who He was, with a ready desire to be owned and welcomed by His earthly people as their Messiah, yet they scorned, despised and misrepresented Him in His person, and rejected all testimony, whether by Himself, by John, or by His disciples. Everything therefore around Him was morally broken up, and Israel’s King was considered only a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. Then it is, that the beauty and blessedness of what Jesus terms, “My Yoke,” shine forth, above and beyond the higher and unknowable glory of His person in the words, “I thank thee, O Father,” and “Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight”
Perfect subjection and obedience amidst the most adverse circumstances of trial, opposition, and testing were here, at the same time making them the occasion of expressing the Father’s will in the hour of sorrow and rejection.
Not this only, but the enjoyed communion in the love of His Father was untouched by anything around, giving sweetness and heavenly rest, such as made the yoke easy, and the burden light.
Now this is the yoke He enjoins those to wear who know Him, following the significant truth concerning the soul-rest He gives, with which it must never be confounded. In the new position Christ took as the rejected King, He blessedly speaks of one rest freely given, and another to be found as the fruit of obedience; supposing the former to be known and enjoyed, before the latter is entered upon.
He Who tasted the sorrows and bitterness of sinful hatred to Himself, did in matchless grace feel for souls around. Wherever sin was felt, and the burden of guilt, in this scene of ruin and unrest, to such the free invitation was welcome: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Distinct the offer and positive the result, to all who in contrast to Jewish professors were feeling their state, and availed themselves of this invitation given by the Son of God. If such was blessedly true then, as it fell fresh from His precious lips, infinitely more so now, since He has died and atoned for sin. But rest is founded upon what the Son of God is, and what He has done; His unfailing word being the soul’s warrant of true abiding rest. And only when the soul is thus established can it freely listen to the voice of the Lord Jesus, and lovingly obey His word, “Take my yoke.”
If all christian duties flow from existing relationships (and are not as many suppose consequent upon faithful conduct), the wearing of Christ’s yoke with no less necessity follows sovereign grace known, and received, in rest of heart, and peace of conscience respecting its state before God. This the Lord Himself ensures, in the circumference of His own words, “I will give you rest.” Moreover, Christ being the believer’s life, He assuredly is the pattern of it, and His holy and perfect obedience is set forth to be imitated. His yoke therefore must surely imply acting in the same spirit and manner as did the blessed meek and lowly One. Hence His words which follow, “Learn of me”; for thus only, “Ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
It must be evident to all true Christians, whether old or young, that it is a moment of much unrest both in the professing church and the world. Pleasure and religious excitement abound, so that believers are not a little affected by it; often costing them the loss of true soul-rest, — especially that answering to the mind and example of Christ. To learn of Him Whose communion and obedience were perfect must be unspeakably blessed. Oh, to live, and walk, and act as Christ ever did, in the evenness of the sanctuary, drawing His joy and motives from above, His ear always open to Him Whose will was His daily delight!
Being in the right place as well as saying and doing the right thing ever marked Him Who in the presence of rebellious man could say, “I do always those things that are pleasing to my Father.” To be pupils of such a One as the obedient Son should surely be envied and aimed at by those who have received life and salvation in and by Him; yet how little manifest exercise there seems to be to know and do God’s will after the worthy fashion of His own most perfect obedience. If it was said by a departing saint, “Nothing counts but Christ,” it may also be added that there is no true obedience apart from His enjoined yoke, which in every given measure reproduces the meekness, gentleness, and obedience of Christ.
Surely this calls for serious reflection; and if it causes much humiliation by the felt distance between Christ the pattern and the should-be imitators, yet His heart is untouched and unchanged, and assuredly is speaking afresh to His own, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
May He by the abiding indwelling Spirit awaken both writer and reader to a fuller sense of this privileged obedience, made conscious as each must be that the nineteenth century is no better God-ward than when Christ uttered the words, “Take my yoke.” Moreover it is only here in the world where He is still rejected that such applies; for obedience in holy delight will be the blessed character of heaven for those called in grace to share God’s eternal rest.
G. G.