Rest for The Restless

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls.

“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Jesus had first taught the solemn truth of human responsibility (verses 20–24), and afterwards he had joyfully proclaimed in prayer the doctrine of election: now he turns to give a free and full invitation to those who are needing rest. These three things are quite consistent, and should be found in all Christian preaching.

Remember who he is who thus invites men to come to him.

The Son of the Highest, the revealer of God then and now; he bids men draw near to himself without fear, and rest in such nearness.

The Savior ever living, having once died, is waiting to receive and save all who will come to him; and such he will bless with rest.

In our Lord’s gracious invitation you note—

I. A CHARACTER WHICH DESCRIBES YOU.

1. Laboring, “all you that labor,” in whatever form.

   • In the service of formal religion, in the attempt to keep the law, or in any other way of self-justification.
   • In the service of self to get gain, honor, ease, etc.
   • In the service of the world to discover, invent, legislate, etc.
   • In the service of Satan, lust, drink, infidelity, etc.

2. Laden. All who are “heavy laden” are called.

   • Laden heavily because weary, vexed, disappointed, despairing.
   • Laden with sin, guilt, dread, remorse, fear of death.
   • Laden with care, anxiety, greed, ambition, etc.
   • Laden with sorrow, poverty, oppression, slander, etc.
   • Laden with doubt, temptation, conflict, inner faintness, etc.

II. A BLESSING WHICH INVITES YOU.

1. Rest to be given. “I will give you rest.”

   • To the conscience, by atonement and pardon.
   • To the mind, by infallible instruction and establishment.
   • To the heart a rest for love. Jesus fills and contents the heart.
   • To the energies, by giving an object worth attaining.
   • To the apprehensions, assuring that all things work for good.

2. Rest to be found. “You shall find rest unto your souls.”

   • This is rest upon rest, deepening, settling.
   • This is rest which comes of conquered passion, desire, etc.
   • This is rest which comes of being fully consecrated to the Lord.
   • How such rest would cheer you, strengthen you, save you!
   • How it would counteract the labors and the loads!

III. A DIRECTION TO GUIDE YOU.

1. “Come unto me.”

   • Come to a person, to Jesus, the living Savior and Example.
   • Come at once, Jesus is ready now. Are you?
   • Come all who labor and are loaded. None will be refused.
   • Come laden, with your burdens on your hearts, and “I will give you rest.” Come as you are. Come by faith.

2. “Take my yoke upon you.”

   • Be obedient to my command.
   • Be willing to be conformed to me in service and burden-bearing.
   • Be submissive to the afflictions which I may lay upon you.

3. “Learn of me.”

   • You do not know; but must be content to learn.
   • You must not cavil; but have a mind to learn.
   • You must learn by heart, and copy my meekness and lowliness.

IV. AN ARGUMENT TO PERSUADE YOU.

You wish to be like your Lord in restfulness and service; then come and learn of him, and remember that he is—

1. A lowly Teacher: bearing with failure, repeating his lessons, assisting the disciple, restoring the fallen.

2. Laying no heavy burden. “My yoke is easy,” etc.

3. Giving rest by the burden which he causes you to bear: “Take my yoke … and you shall find rest.”

Magnets

The immediate occasion of the invitation, with its deep earnestness of pity and sympathy, was found, I doubt not, in the outward appearance of the crowd actually surrounding Jesus. Probably by this time it was about sunset. After a day of exhausting toil for our Savior himself; the workman from the field, the busy trader, the fisher with his nets, the slave with his burden, the rich man with his heavier burden of care, the grey-haired sinner stooping under the weight of years, and inwardly burdened with remorse and fear;—these, and such as these, met the Savior’s eye, which read their hearts; but in them he saw represented our toiling, suffering world, and uttered a voice of invitation meant to reach, and destined yet to reach, all mankind. “I will give you rest.” Rest for the burdened conscience, in pardon; for the unquiet intellect, in truth; for the aching thirsty heart, in divine love; for the care-fretted spirit, in God’s providence and promises; for the weary with sorrow and suffering, in the present foretaste, and shortly in the actual enjoyment of “his rest.”—E. R. Conder.

“Come,” says Christ, “and I will give you rest,” I will not show you rest, nor barely tell you of rest, but I will give you rest. I am faithfulness itself, and cannot lie, I will give you rest. I that have the greatest power to give it, the greatest will to give it, the greatest right to give it, come, laden sinners, and I will give you rest. Rest is the most desirable good, the most suitable good, and to you the greatest good. Come, says Christ, that is, believe in me, and I will give you rest; I will give you peace with God, and peace with conscience: I will turn your storm into an everlasting calm; I will give you such rest, that the world can neither give to you nor take from you.—Thomas Brooks.

Lord, you made us for yourself, and we can find no rest until we find rest in thee!—Augustine.

A poor English girl, in Miss Leigh’s home in Paris, ill in body and hopeless in spirit, was greatly affected by hearing some children singing “I heard the voice of Jesus say.” When they came to the words, “weary, and worn, and sad,” she moaned, “That’s me! That’s me! What did he do? Fill it up, fill it up!” She never rested until she had heard the whole of the hymn which tells how Jesus gives rest to such. By-and-by she asked, “Is that true?” On being answered, “Yes,” she asked, “Have you come to Jesus? Has he given you rest?” “He has.” Raising herself, she asked, “Do you mind my coming very close to you? May be it would be easier to go to Jesus with one who has been before than to go to him alone.” So saying, she nestled her head on the shoulder of her who watched, and clutching her as one in the agony of death, she murmured, “Now, try and take me with you to Jesus.”—The Sunday at Home.

There are many heads resting on Christ’s bosom, but there’s room for yours there.—Samuel Rutherford.