His Yoke!

A yoke is a wooden crosspiece fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to a plow or cart. A yoke allows two animals to share a load and pull together. Yokes were used in Bible times primarily with bulls or oxen to plow fields and pull wagons. The animals yoked together needed to be close in size and weight for the cart or plow to pull evenly. In the Old Testament, the word "yoke" is often used metaphorically to represent a burden, obligation, or slavery.

Jesus has declared that He knows God the Father and that He can reveal God to whomever He chooses (Matthew 11:25-27). He now invites His listeners ( The Elect) to come to Him and take His yoke upon them. Every true believer will submit to Him and put themselves under His authority. This is not a yoke of burden as described in the Old Testament, but  one that will lead to rest as we serve Him in this life.  

The implication is to allow Jesus to put His own yoke on us like a farmer would put one on his livestock. It means giving Jesus control and letting Him direct our efforts. The work He has will not be difficult, Jesus says. He wants them us to learn from Him. Unlike the Pharisees, Jesus insists that He is gentle. He is lowly in heart (Philippians 2:6–7). He has not come to add to our burden but to give us true peace that only Christians can obtain.

As we begin our study of Romans 12, ask yourself, have you put His yoke upon you? Have you submitted to His authority? Have you set aside your pride, humbled yourself before the Lord and desire His will be done in your life?

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark