Do you need rest? (Jonah 1-4; Matthew 11)

Life often feels frantic, so much on and so much pressure. Perhaps it’s the burden of not having enough work, or having too much work, of caring for a relative with significant needs, your own health, a difficult marriage, or a bereavement. There’s always something to cope with.

In today’s reading from Matthew 11, Jesus says “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (11:28). They are beautiful words, but what does Jesus mean, and how does it help with the daily pressure? Perhaps Jesus was referring to the burdens that the pharisees added. How could you ever do enough to please God? How could you know that God is for you. Jesus says, allow me to do the heavy lifting. He is the only one who has ever lived a life that is fully pleasing to God and He gives His life in exchange for yours. He’s paid in full for every time we fail. ‘Rest’ in the Bible often refers to eternal life. Jesus is saying, come to me and I will give you eternal life, you can’t earn it, it’s a gift to be received like a little child.

If Jesus loves you enough to die for you to give you eternal life, you can trust Him with every other problem and burden you are facing. And it’s not like he abandons us until we get there. No, He says “take my yoke upon you, and learn from me.” A yoke was used to bind cattle together to help them to pull together. Jesus is saying, come to Him and bind yourself to Him, let Him lead you.

But how do we know we’re not just exchanging one set of burdens for another, well we all serve someone, the question is are they a good master. Look how Jesus describes himself – “gentle and lowly in heart.” That’s the sort of master who is a delight to serve. Come to Him today, allow Him to lift the burden of your sin, your guilt, your anxiety. Ask Him to lead you the right way.