Burdens and Yokes

Often as Christians we can become slaves to compulsive confession, score keeping on our sin, and other similar activities. This score card attitude is not what Jesus Christ came to create. Actually, our Lord and Savior said, "Come to me all who are weary, for my burden is easy and my yoke is light." (Matthew 11:30). These very words of Christ seem to contradict what most churches offer. There tendency in the organized church structures to have members become ministers and have to adhere to schedule of meetings, gatherings, and activities that might be good, but place a heavy burden on already suffering people.

But what is a yoke? Its not an egg yoke. A yoke was a heavy piece of wooden put around the neck of oxen to keep the beast in the control of the farmer. It even had a vice of sorts for the neck. Jesus uses this vivid imagery to say that His yoke is light, meaning it is not oppressive and overwhelming, but more importantly Christ was comparing his yoke (teaching, precepts, way,) to that of the Pharisees. He says prior, "They lay heavy burdens (loads, hardships, requirements) on others that they themselves will not lift with one finger (keep or practice)." (Matthew 23:4).

Jesus is assuring us that He does not place yokes and burdens on us that He himself will not lift up. For Jesus Christ literally and spiritually carried the "weight of the world on His shoulders," in the form of the Cross. But Jesus tells us that his yoke is light. The Lord does not want to pile upon us pious works and requirements, no, he wants to personally relate to us. The whole purpose of Creating humanity and price paid on the Cross was to make it possible for God to have a family! In Eden the Lord made a family, Adam and Eve and they betrayed Him. Then to fix the problem of separation between God and His Children, He sent His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ to die for that sin and reconcile with the children! Now through Jesus Christ we can be the family of God again and no longer worry about sin separating us.

Granted our character should be in line with Christ's, we have not been given a free license to sin all we want; on the contrary, because Jesus died for sin which separated us from God, why would we want to deliberately do the acts of wickedness that caused Christ to be Crucified and thus spiritually spit in his face? Let me articulate it another way, If we are so happy to have our sins forgiven and that we can be closely connected to God, why would we think we could freely do the acts that violate that connection with Christ and thus "crucify Him again?"

But the difference is that we are not looking at laws and yokes to be righteous. No, Christ has exchanged His righteousness to us! The Bible says, "You are righteousness of God!" (1 Corinthians 1:30, 2 Corinthians 5:21). So we do not have to try and be righteous, we already are through believing in Jesus Christ and having Him come dwell within us! The point is when you love someone, you care about them and want to please them and not do anything that would hurt them. Sin hurts God, it crucified Him. So rather than be Puritanical and worrying about not sinning and obeying laws, we should be thinking about it in the realm of love. If we love Jesus who is God, then we don't want to hurt Him and do what displeases Him. But this wanting to please the Lord is not the focus, it comes form loving Him! Jesus was asked which of the commandments of Moses is the greatest. He responded, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it, love your neighbor as yourself. This fulfills all of the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:36-40). Notice how Jesus take the Ten Commandments but adds the detail of love! When we love someone we naturally do what pleases them, not because of a heavy yoke or fear or control, but out of love!

I return to the idea presented in "Jesus The Bridegroom." This is marriage to Jesus Christ. We Christians are the Bride and does a husband and wife want to do what honors, pleases, and protects each other's relationship? Of course! Think of it that way. Jesus is our husband. Too often in Churches we call Him "Lord," "King of Kings," and "Almighty" which are all true and important. We should revere God and respect Him and these titles help us do that. But we are also suppose to call the Lord "Eishe" which means husband (Isaiah 54:5) and "Abba" which means Father. These latter two names of God denote the depth of connection we are suppose to have with God through Christ Jesus! Yes our God is "Lord of Lords," and "King of the Universe," but in His relationship with us He is "Husband" and "Father." He loves us like spouse and cares for us like a loving father.

It may seem I might have strayed from the message I was trying to tell, but actually it fits with the burden and yoke. Any church, teacher, priest, pastor, or leader that would have you believe you should live under a strict teaching (yoke) and have to preform duties out of compulsion is contrary to Christ. In fact, they are anti-Christ and "putting yokes and burdens on others they will not lift." Jesus is merciful. He loves us and wants to relate to us personally, not through programs and performance. Good parents do not make their children preform and act a certain way for love! Good parents show mercy to their children even with they are exhibiting bad behavior, so does God! But good parents also disciple their children, with the heart of correcting the bad behavior that is not disciple would lead to great pain, suffering, and even death in the future.

Our relationship with the Lord is not suppose to be a heavy burden or yoke. It is suppose to be light and full of yearning to be close to Him! It is suppose to be motivated by love, not a lash and laws of men! I hope today you can experience freedom in this area. Religion (the spirit) gets Christians to live like the religious law givers of Jesus' day; we end up with heavy burdens, heavy yokes, serving hypocrites, and doing works to earn God's approval that has already been freely given. Today, may the chains of compulsion and controlling yokes be broken on all who read this post in the name of Jesus Christ! May you be set free from captivity of control and come to know Christ's love and care for you! May your character be transformed into righteousness not through adhering to strict codes, but to being so in love with Christ Jesus that you cannot help but do what is right. Amen.