How Jesus Governs Our Grief: The Power of Rest amid a Blue Christmas

This time of year, much of the world is decorated with tinsel and bright lights. The air is filled with cheerful carols. It’s called “the most wonderful time of year.” The truth is, for many, their Christmases may not feel very merry.

Some have lost loved ones, are facing a challenging illness, financial struggle, or painful loneliness.

The good news is that Jesus, the Prince of Peace, came to give rest to the hurting heart. This rest is unlike anything the world can offer. It’s greater than our circumstances, stronger than our deepest grief, and contains a love that never lets go.

Here are 3 ways Jesus says to lay our burdens down in Matthew 11:28-30:

#1: The Great Exchange: Find Freedom by Accepting His Yoke.

A yoke is a wooden device used to harness the working power of an animal. The application is akin to the way a farmer would put a yoke on his livestock. Here in Lancaster County, that’s not a hard concept to grasp. It wasn’t for Jesus’ audience either, over 2,000 years ago, when He spoke these words of life. 

A yoke could be made for either a single animal or several animals. Jesus used this parable to illustrate how the Pharisees made living under God’s Law unnecessarily burdensome by adding their own manmade requirements and regulations. For example, the Pharisees added over a whopping 600 regulations regarding what qualified as “working” on the Sabbath.

Unlike the Pharisees, Jesus insisted that His yoke was easy and His burden was light. Jesus encourages those who are “heavy laden” to remove their own yoke and instead take His yoke upon them, and in so doing, they will find rest for their souls.

This can be a hard concept to grasp because it’s countercultural. It also goes against the bent of our natural will. Therefore, it requires a continuous action step on our part to take Jesus up on His offer to lay down our burdens, allowing Him to put His yoke on us and carry us. 

#2: The Great Invitation: Find Rest by Responding to His Call.

When Jesus says “Come to Me…” the original Greek means, “come now, come here, come away and follow Me.” The word “come” is an overall summary of the earthly ministry and redemptive plan of Jesus. It’s His invitation to find rest.

Jesus invites the exhausted soul to exchange his/her burdens for His rest. This doesn’t mean that with Jesus all life’s troubles automatically disappear. Rather, rest means cultivating intimate communion with the One True God. This was the opposite of what the Pharisees were offering in Matthew 11.

Resting in the Lord is a frequently used expression in the Bible, but it’s often misunderstood. Although the New Testament is written in Greek, the holistic word in Hebrew for rest best describes what Jesus was getting at here. It’s shalom; “to be at peace,” “to be still,” “to be quiet or calm.” 

Imagine a swimmer that’s caught in a powerful undertow off-shore. They are exhausted from fighting the waves and currents. A lifeguard spots them and extends a line, but the panicked swimmer keeps fighting and swats it away, trying to save themselves. The lifeguard can’t save them until they stop struggling and simply take the line. We easily mimic the swimmer in this story when we choose to carry our own burdens and refuse Jesus’ invitation to rest in Him.

We can rest in the Lord by taking all our burdens, problems, and anxieties to Him. This is easier said than done, but as we do this more and more, Jesus promises to pour His incomprehensible peace into us to guard our hearts and minds.

#3: The Transformation Process: Find Calm by Walking and Learning with Him.

The Greek word Jesus used to describe the process of learning from Him in Matthew 11 is very relational, which means it focuses on what’s inside, rather than what’s outside. It means to receive instruction reflectively and attentively. It’s a personal experience that’s transformative. It goes beyond mere head knowledge. 

It’s this heart knowledge that produces hope.

Learning to fly a large plane isn’t done by reading an instruction manual. It’s done by sitting next to an experienced pilot for hours and hours, watching, listening, and eventually placing your hand on the controls while the pilot’s hand is still engaged. This is like what Jesus displayed for the first disciples during His 3 year ministry, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. He calls us to the same intimate, experiential experience with Him.

We find lasting hope when we learn to fully enter Jesus’ rest and walk with Him side-by-side.

Blessings,

Rev. Jon Barrett

Executive Director of CVCCS

CVCCS is a proud member and ambassador of the True Charity Network.