Reflections on Scripture with Dr. Leins
| Time Stamp | Transcript |
| 0:08 | [Music] |
| 0:18 | hello |
| 0:21 | today |
| 0:23 | let’s talk about when Jesus said my yoke |
| 0:26 | is easy and my burden is light |
| 0:32 | have you ever had a suit tailored or a |
| 0:35 | dress fitted |
| 0:37 | who would do that kind of work for you I |
| 0:40 | suppose that a tailor would fit a man |
| 0:42 | and a seamstress would fit a woman but |
| 0:45 | in Galilee in the time of Jesus |
| 0:48 | who would fit you |
| 0:50 | the answer is a carpenter |
| 0:53 | though people in the first century |
| 0:55 | rarely had their clothes tailored each |
| 0:58 | and every ox or other Beast of Burden |
| 1:01 | had their yoke properly fitted |
| 1:05 | they wore a yoke a wooden bar or frame |
| 1:09 | that was individually sculpted to the |
| 1:12 | right size and shape of each and every |
| 1:14 | animal |
| 1:16 | also the Yoke enabled the animal to |
| 1:18 | partner with another animal together |
| 1:21 | they were stronger more productive much |
| 1:24 | less fatigued |
| 1:25 | typically there were two fittings |
| 1:28 | the pair of animals that was going to |
| 1:30 | share the Yoke was brought to the |
| 1:33 | carpenter’s shop |
| 1:34 | their measurements were taken and an |
| 1:37 | initial fitting was begun |
| 1:40 | when the Yoke was finished it was tried |
| 1:42 | out for a little while |
| 1:44 | after the animals had warned the Yoke |
| 1:46 | the owner would see if there were any |
| 1:49 | places that chafed or hurt the animals a |
| 1:53 | second fitting was very common so that |
| 1:55 | each yoke could be absolutely perfectly |
| 1:58 | made for each pair of animals |
| 2:03 | oh and an ox was not to be unequally |
| 2:06 | yoked you would never yoke an ox with a |
| 2:09 | water buffalo or a cow with a donkey |
| 2:12 | they were different heights and shapes |
| 2:14 | and temperaments they were not made to |
| 2:16 | be yoked together |
| 2:19 | and another tip |
| 2:20 | there will always be one animal on the |
| 2:23 | team that will be dominant |
| 2:25 | by watching his or her partner the Don |
| 2:28 | dominant one will set a pace that allows |
| 2:31 | them to pull together and get the most |
| 2:34 | work accomplished |
| 2:36 | finally and this is not in the Bible |
| 2:40 | some think that Jesus made the best |
| 2:42 | fitting Yokes in all of ancient Galilee |
| 2:45 | did Jesus have a sign over his |
| 2:47 | carpenter’s shop saying perfectly fitted |
| 2:50 | yolks made here |
| 2:53 | maybe not |
| 2:55 | but Jesus is still making perfectly |
| 2:57 | fitted yolks today of course he has one |
| 3:01 | with your name on it |
| 3:03 | our passage begins in Matthew chapter 11 |
| 3:06 | verse 25 |
| 3:08 | Jesus is praising God the Father the |
| 3:11 | Lord over all the heavens and all the |
| 3:13 | Earth because God in his wisdom has |
| 3:15 | chosen to hide the truth of his kingdom |
| 3:18 | from the wise and intelligent and to |
| 3:22 | reveal his kingdom to babies the babes |
| 3:26 | this is a paradox |
| 3:29 | there are two classes of people those |
| 3:31 | who count themselves spiritually wise |
| 3:34 | and those who recognize that they are |
| 3:36 | spiritually babies |
| 3:38 | the wise Deen themselves spiritually |
| 3:40 | intelligent capable self-reliant able to |
| 3:44 | do things right |
| 3:46 | but the babes |
| 3:48 | know that they are spiritually weak |
| 3:50 | hungry and needy |
| 3:53 | they are the poor in spirit whom Jesus |
| 3:56 | names in the Beatitudes there are those |
| 3:58 | who hunger and thirst for righteousness |
| 4:01 | you see these spiritual babes realize |
| 4:03 | that they have sin and shame and guilt |
| 4:07 | they are aware of their troubled Souls |
| 4:10 | their fear filled and anxious lives |
| 4:14 | they know that they desperately need a |
| 4:16 | savior |
| 4:17 | the Paradox is that the ones who count |
| 4:20 | themselves spiritually wise |
| 4:22 | are really foolish |
| 4:24 | they do not see that they in no way can |
| 4:28 | save themselves |
| 4:30 | they cannot make or give themselves |
| 4:31 | faith faith is a gift that comes from |
| 4:34 | hearing the word of Christ |
| 4:36 | the babies on the other hand |
| 4:39 | know that they are spiritually helpless |
| 4:42 | they are ready to receive the kingdom |
| 4:44 | and the savior |
| 4:46 | and for that reason just as the wise are |
| 4:48 | foolish the babies are wise |
| 4:53 | what a funny God we have |
| 4:55 | he Delights in confronting the wise by |
| 4:57 | teaching them that God’s ways are not |
| 5:00 | their ways and he Delights in |
| 5:02 | confounding the babes by teaching them |
| 5:06 | that they are already embraced and |
| 5:08 | forgiven by the god of mercy and the |
| 5:10 | Lord Of Love |
| 5:13 | Jesus goes on to give new commands |
| 5:17 | in Matthew 11 verses 28 and 29 |
| 5:22 | come to me all you who are weary and |
| 5:25 | heavy laden and I will give you rest |
| 5:27 | take my yoke upon you and learn from me |
| 5:30 | for I am gentle and humble of heart and |
| 5:33 | you shall find rest for your souls |
| 5:36 | this too is a paradox |
| 5:39 | we are used to Commandments or commands |
| 5:41 | that we know we cannot keep Commandments |
| 5:44 | that are too heavy to bear for example |
| 5:47 | you shall have no other gods before me |
| 5:50 | we know that we break this commandment |
| 5:51 | every day |
| 5:53 | every time that we desire or pursue or |
| 5:56 | choose anyone or anything selfishly we |
| 6:00 | have already broken his first |
| 6:01 | commandment |
| 6:02 | we cannot look with Envy or anger or |
| 6:06 | lust or selfishness without breaking |
| 6:09 | this commandment |
| 6:11 | and all the other commands are just |
| 6:13 | extensions of this first one |
| 6:17 | but Jesus gives what might be called |
| 6:19 | gospel commands they’re not heavy or |
| 6:22 | burdensome here are a few Jesus says |
| 6:25 | take and eat |
| 6:27 | or drink ye all of it or be baptized or |
| 6:33 | inherit |
| 6:34 | be saved have peace or simply rest |
| 6:40 | Jesus invites us to take his yoke it |
| 6:43 | seems like |
| 6:44 | it is going to be one more |
| 6:46 | responsibility to carry or one more |
| 6:48 | obligation to Bear one more commandment |
| 6:50 | to break but it’s not |
| 6:52 | here Jesus says take my yoke |
| 6:55 | it’s like being in the rain and Jesus |
| 6:57 | says here take my umbrella or like being |
| 7:00 | in an Arctic snowstorm and Jesus says |
| 7:02 | here take my winter coat |
| 7:05 | or like walking forever in the Sahara |
| 7:07 | Desert and Jesus says here take my car |
| 7:10 | it’s a Rover and it’s air-conditioned |
| 7:13 | when Jesus says take my yoke |
| 7:16 | we may wonder how much will it weigh |
| 7:18 | what does it cost how difficult will it |
| 7:21 | be to carry but his yoke is a paradox |
| 7:25 | his yoke does not take life it gives |
| 7:28 | life this yoke does not add a burden it |
| 7:31 | lightens our hearts his yoke does not |
| 7:34 | disclose our sins it forgives our sins |
| 7:37 | and bestows rest upon our weary Souls |
| 7:43 | in Matthew 11 |
| 7:44 | verse 30 Jesus promises my yoke is easy |
| 7:49 | and my burden is light |
| 7:53 | we hunger for a moment of rest I mean |
| 7:56 | real rest we starve for a time that is |
| 8:00 | not burdened with pressure or |
| 8:01 | disappointment or sorrow betrayal by |
| 8:04 | others or accusation of ourselves we are |
| 8:07 | weary in our souls and our bodies |
| 8:09 | that’s exactly what Jesus offers to |
| 8:12 | remedy here |
| 8:13 | take my yoke upon you |
| 8:17 | the Lord says it’s perfectly fitted for |
| 8:20 | you I know your shape and size I know |
| 8:23 | the places that ache and easily chafe I |
| 8:26 | know how fast you can move and I know |
| 8:28 | when you cannot move anymore then I will |
| 8:31 | carry you |
| 8:32 | I will be your perfect partner says the |
| 8:34 | Lord I will always take the heavy part |
| 8:36 | of your burden |
| 8:37 | you see my yoke is easy |
| 8:40 | my burden is light |
| 8:43 | beloved when you are yoked to Jesus you |
| 8:46 | are not unequally yoked though you may |
| 8:49 | think but he’s God and I’m a sinfully |
| 8:52 | human person that’s true but Jesus has |
| 8:55 | become a human in order to yoke with you |
| 8:58 | in this way he can bear your sin your |
| 9:01 | suffering and your death |
| 9:03 | and because you have become a child of |
| 9:05 | God by grace through faith you are now |
| 9:08 | yoked to him |
| 9:09 | and that way you will forever have his |
| 9:12 | Mercy his righteousness and his eternal |
| 9:15 | life here is the last paradox |
| 9:19 | instead of his yoke adding to your |
| 9:21 | burden by his yoke your burden is lifted |
| 9:24 | and you are relieved when you wear the |
| 9:27 | Yoke that Jesus has made for you and |
| 9:28 | when Jesus himself Bears it with you it |
| 9:32 | is a perfect fit |
| 9:34 | so take his yoke upon you his yoke is |
| 9:37 | easy |
| 9:38 | there and there alone |
| 9:40 | no matter how weary and heavy laden you |
| 9:42 | are |
| 9:43 | you will always find he is gentle and |
| 9:46 | humble in heart |
| 9:48 | and you will have rest for your soul |
| 9:52 | amen |
| 10:00 | [Music] |
| 10:11 | [Applause] |
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