“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly 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 (CSB)
Would it be any surprise if I told you that there is a shortage of counselors and therapists? Stress, anxiety, insecurity, addictions, and many other things are pervasive in today’s society. Sadly, there is also a great demand among churchgoing people for counselors and therapists. If there was only someone to whom they could go?
Jesus said, “Come to Me.” Isaiah tells us that he is the “Wonderful Counselor.” Why wouldn’t everyone, but especially Christ-followers, seek out the one who has all of the answers? The world might not have enough counselors and therapists, but Jesus is never overbooked. How much better off would we be if we learned to go to him first?
What does it mean for us when we come to Jesus? It is not a long journey. He is Immanuel: “God is with us.” The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18 (NLT). Without disparaging many well-intentioned counselors and therapists, how much better is it to come to Jesus? I see three points from our text. First, we have the invitation, “Come to Me.” Then the command, “Take My Yoke.” And finally, the result, “Learn from Me.”
The Invitation
The Scriptures abound with invitations to come to God. There are invitations when we are hungry and thirsty:
“Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink— even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk— it’s all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food. Isaiah 55:1–2 (NLT)
God gives us a free invitation. It is better than a discount from our favorite restaurant. Jesus also invited those who are thirsty to come to him and drink (John 7:37). We also have the great invitation at the culmination of all things: The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. Revelation 22:17 (NLT)
We can also come to him when we need forgiveness: “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. Isaiah 1:18 (NLT)
God extends the invitation to nourish us and quench our thirst, and even more importantly to cleanse us of our sins. Sadly though, not everyone is willing to come. They substitute religion for relationship: “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life. John 5:39–40 (NLT)
Jesus wants to give us everything that we need (2 Peter 1:3). The invitation is extended, and he is waiting for our response.
The Command
And it is good for people to submit at an early age to the yoke of his discipline: Lamentations 3:27 (NLT)
Upon initial examination the command to “Take My Yoke” could be misunderstood. We might consider it to be confining or restricting, but it is where we find true freedom. One reason that therapy is not always successful is an unwillingness to make tough decisions.
Taking the yoke of Jesus upon us is a recognition that we cannot carry our burdens alone. Our sins are forgiven and our future is secure when we come to Christ, but when we take his yoke upon us discipleship begins.
Taking his yoke is the deeper experience. When we come to Christ by faith, he gives us rest. When we take his yoke, we learn of the deeper rest found in surrender and obedience to his will. To take the yoke of Jesus as a metaphor for discipleship. It means we accept his guidance and discipline.
The truth is; if we do not take it upon ourselves the yoke of Jesus, it is likely that we will subject ourselves to someone else’s yoke. The Bible speaks frequently of the yoke of bondage or slavery. Remember Paul’s words: So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. Galatians 5:1 (NLT)
The Result
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Philippians 2:5 (NLT)
The purpose of discipleship is to learn how to be like the Master. When we willingly take the yoke of Jesus upon us, we learn from his example. Jesus did not merely tell us what to do, but he showed us how to do it.
He epitomized servant leadership. He took the position of the servants. Even as he was facing the cross, he was teaching and modeling the attitude that he desired us to emulate. He served the disciples by washing their feet and then he said: I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. John 13:15 (NLT)
Counselors and therapists are able to advise and direct, but Jesus showed us how to live. Coming to Christ requires us to admit to God, and more importantly, to ourselves, that we cannot bear our burdens by ourselves. It requires humbling to submit to the yoke of Christ.
In addition to the yoke of Christ, we are called to take up our own cross. Discipleship is about learning to say, “Not my will, but yours be done.” Attempting to have one foot in the world and one foot in Christ is a most miserable place to be. The most joyful place to be is yoked in submission to God. Jesus is the best counselor and therapist. He says, “Come to Me.”
Steve Ekeroth