Notes of an Address.
WE need to consider the peculiar circumstances under which the blessed Lord uttered these most precious words, in order to grasp their true force and richness. The chapter shows that the time was most trying. Sorrow and rejection met Him on every hand. The preceding verses present to us three sore kinds of trial which deeply pressed on the heart of the loving Saviour, just before He thus, with outstretched arms, declared His willingness to welcome and give rest to every conscience-stricken, sin-burdened soul that came to Him.
1. In the beginning of the chapter we find that John, who had so long stood forth in Israel as the Lord’s faithful forerunner, and now shut up in prison, began to doubt the reality of the whole thing, and sent two of his disciples to Jesus, saying, “Art thou He that should come, or look we for another?” This must have been most painful to the Lord’s tender heart; nevertheless, as always in the blessed Son of God, the pressure of painful circumstances only caused the savor of His infinite perfectness to be the more manifest. He then, in sweetest gentleness and love, replied, “Go and show John again what things ye do hear and see,” &c.; and then, turning to the people, instead of speaking of His servant’s weakness and failure, He declared that He was more than a prophet, and the greatest that had been born of women.
2. Then, again, when He surveyed the nation so dear to His heart, He could only liken them to children playing in the market-place, for they had trifled with God’s claims, and rejected His messengers. John had been sent with a ministry calling them to repentance, but they said of him, “He hath a devil;” Jesus came with the glad tidings of the kingdom, and they called Him “a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners.”
3. He also keenly felt His rejection by the cities wherein He had wrought such mighty works, and especially Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, and strikingly touches on the responsibility to God men are under, according to the character of the ministry and the advantages they had known. These cities, for instance, had heard the ministry of Christ Himself, and witnessed the miracles that He had accomplished; but what was the result? “They repented not;” and so hard and unbelieving were they, that the blessed Lord declares, that if the proud and wicked cities of Tyre and Sidon, Sodom and Gomorrah, had had the privileges of these cities, they would have repented long ago. This very solemnly sets before us the weighty fact, that increased privileges entail increased responsibility, and therefore are followed by severer judgment; for our Lord added, “It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for thee.”
All these things must have sorely grieved the tender heart of the sinner-loving Saviour, for who ever felt so keenly as He? But what was His relief? Surely in this, as in all else, He hath left us an example that we should follow His steps. He turned to His Father. We read, “At that time”— “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 halt revealed them unto babes,” &c. This was our Lord’s resource in this time of sorrow and rejection; and here, too, He found a source of thanksgiving in these things being revealed to babes. In this we learn the true secret of blessing by the gospel. Men’s carnal wisdom, reasoning powers, and calculating minds, hinder their reception of God’s words; but the child-like, believing disposition hearkens to God’s message, receives it because He speaks, and doubts not that He is faithful to His own statements; thus, while the wise of this world stumble and perish, the babe-like mind receives God’s word because it is His word, and has eternal life and blessing. Hence we are told that the Thessalonian believers “received the word of God.... not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:1313For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13).)
It was under these circumstances that our blessed Lord thus poured out the deep love of His heart, spite of all the rejection and sorrow He was then experiencing, in crying out, with open arms, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Observe, then, that Christ here takes the place of a Giver, the giver of rest. This no one else could give, and no one but He has ever proposed. Many have proposed to give riches, honor, and wisdom, but where in this restless world has rest been found?
Surely it is because it can nowhere be found that the gracious Saviour declares His readiness to give it— “I will give you rest.” How many at this moment are fruitlessly trying to obtain rest in some other way! But the lesson must be learned by those who are taught of God, that the Lord Jesus is the alone source of rest. The rest He gives is rest of conscience, and rest of heart is found only in walking with Him. The rest that remaineth is future and eternal.
1. As to rest of conscience, He only is the Giver. Neither works nor ordinances ever gave rest of conscience. The blood of Christ alone purges the conscience, it cleanseth from all sin. It is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul; hence it is written, that we are “now justified by His blood.” This is not rest in self, nor rest in circumstances, which so many are striving after, but rest of conscience, perfect peace in the very presence of an infinitely holy God; because the precious blood of Christ, which was shed for many for the remission of sins, tells us of sins borne, sins judged or suffered for, sins purged, and sins remitted to every one that believeth. How true it is then that
“None but Jesus
Can do helpless sinners good!”
And this mercy, too, He delights to bestow, and that even to the vilest of men. Hence He calls, He invites, He welcomes such to Himself as the Giver of rest. His arms of mercy are stretched out to every sin-stricken soul, and His gracious word is, “Come!” “Come unto Me!” Not do this or that, but “Come!” Not feel different, but “Come!” Not go here or there, but “Come!” Not get better first, but “Come!” Just as you are, “Come!” Heavy-laden souls, “Come!” Working, toiling, sin-burdened souls, “Come unto Me, and I will give you rest!” How blessed this is, and how simple too! It attracts every sinner who will be attracted to the Saviour. It draws the unclean to Him to be washed! It welcomes burdened and distressed souls to Himself for healing and rest! Oh, that precious word “Come!” How it lays open to us the Saviour’s heart! How it tells out the delight He has to seek and to save the lost! Surely
“He makes no hard condition,
‘Tis only look and live.”
And why is it that so many are trying to cover up, or to excuse the workings of a sin-accusing conscience? How is it that others are trying to make a Saviour of their feelings, their attendance on religious duties, ordinances, and the like? Because they know not the rich grace of this precious Saviour, who said, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” They entirely overlook this sweet little word “give.” They are deceived with the false thought, that they must do something for it They know not that it is “without money and without price,” and that, just as they are, in all their sin, distress of conscience, and sense of guilt and burden of transgressions against God’s holy word, that the Saviour bids them come to Him and have rest. Oh, if they did but simply come to Him, come now, come with all their sins, what rest He would give them even in the very presence of God! He would tell them of His love to man? sinful man; that He died for sinners, preaches to sinners, and saves every sinner that comes to Him. By His Spirit He would apply His word and the value of His precious blood to their consciences, and make them rest in His presence, in the consciousness that their scarlet sins had been made white as snow, that they are justified by His blood, and perfected forever by that one offering which He once offered.
Dear souls, I repeat, how simple this is! You have not rest of conscience before God. You are, because of this, afraid of death, and hell, and judgment. You cannot bear the thought of coming into God’s presence. You know you have not yet been reconciled to God. Then hearken to the sweet voice of Jesus— “Come!” Oh, there must be this meeting between the Saviour and the sinner ere peace and rest can be known! He is the Prince of peace. He made peace by the blood of His cross, and He gives rest to all who simply come to Him. Will you, then, come to the Lord Jesus Christ for rest? Come now, come as you are, come to receive from Him rest of conscience. Consider again, I beseech you, His precious words, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Observe here how aptly this describes the state of a sin-stricken soul; he is greatly burdened; his sins are an intolerable load upon his conscience; he is indeed heavily laden; and yet withal he struggles. He vainly hopes to amend. He labors and strives for relief of conscience. But with all his “labor” he is “heavy laden;” and it is to such Jesus utters the voice of welcome, saying, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden? and I will give you rest.”
He alone can relieve the conscience; He only is the source of rest, and it is a free gift— “I will give you rest.” Oh, the blessedness of thus obtaining rest for the sin-burdened, self-condemning soul through Him who died for the ungodly, whose blood purges the conscience, and cleanses from all sin!
2. But there is another rest— “rest of heart.” Many persons who have no doubt that all their sins are forgiven, are yet restless, hankering after something of earth, easily disquieted, because they are looking for rest in self or circumstances, instead of real rest of heart, which is only known in living and walking with the Lord Jesus. This rest therefore is conditional; it is connected with walk. It cannot then be enjoyed by those who are walking carelessly, or in disobedience; and is not spoken of as a gift, but as that which is found, — found by those who walk with the Lord. Our Lord therefore said, “Take My yoke upon you.” This is clear and decisive. In no other way can rest of heart be known than by truly casting in our lot with an earth-rejected Saviour, which necessarily severs from everything that is opposed to Him. It is not merely knowing redemption by Christ, but knowing Christ Himself, being yoked with Him, walking with Him, going on step by step with the Lord, working together with Him; and, while thus enjoying His sweet presence, we share His rejection and dishonor. The heart is thus looking to Him, occupied with Him, drawing from Him, leaning upon Him. Christ therefore is to such the Teacher and the Exemplar. Hence He goes on to say, “Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart.” And if thus we own Christ as our Teacher, and Christ as our Exemplar, and we learn of Him, and, instead of self-will and self-confidence, we imitate Him who was meek and lowly in heart, our souls will find constant peace and rest. “Ye shall find rest unto your souls.” How blessed this is, and how important to see, that while Christ gives rest to the self-convicted conscience, in virtue of His finished work, yet the secret of true rest of heart is abiding in Him, walking with Him, personal intercourse and acquaintance with Him. Let none therefore expect “rest of heart” who are not walking with the Lord in obedience to His word, willing subjection to His mind, serving and honoring Him with singleness of eye and heart. All such know full well that His yoke is easy, and that His burden is light.
3. There is a rest that remaineth to the people of God. This is perfect, and forever. Rest of conscience many have, and rest of heart too, but they have not perfect rest; they have not yet rest either as to self or circumstances. But for these we wait. Now the body groans— “even we ourselves groan within ourselves;” now the Spirit maketh intercession within us with groanings which cannot be uttered. All creation groans. But there will be a keeping of sabbath—perfect rest—by and by. When the Saviour comes He will change this body of humiliation, and fashion it like unto His glorious body. We shall be caught up to meet Him in the air; He will conduct us to the Father’s house, where all is peace, and love, and glory. Nothing defiling can be there. No sorrow, nor sin, nor death can ever soil that holy place. There God and the Lamb are the light and the glory. There the virtues of His once shed blood give everlasting title to glory, and ground for ceaseless adoration and praise. Always gazing upon His face, perfectly satisfied with Him, delighting more and more in His perfections, and worth, and glory, we shall know a rest eternally unbroken, eternally perfect, eternally blessed. Rest of conscience Jesus now gives to all sin-oppressed souls who simply come to Him. Those who walk with Him find rest of heart, and know well that “there remaineth a rest to the people of God.”