Matthew 11:28-30 Christ s Compassion: Come, Take and Learn (Presented by L. R. Graber to SGC Congregation July 7, 2002)

Transcription

1 Matthew 11:28-30 Christ s Compassion: Come, Take and Learn (Presented by L. R. Graber to SGC Congregation July 7, 2002) A. Let s open our Bibles to Matt 11:28, as we focus on the compassion of Christ - end of first week during summer series on experiencing Jesus, friendship with the Master - please stand and read together one of the greatest invitations that we can ever receive "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls; for my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matt 11:28-30 B. Does anyone feel weary and exhausted, just worn-out with the pressures of life? - if you don t feel alone, studies indicate majority of Americans feel chronic tiredness - experts believe several reasons for this weariness, some physical, mental and emotional - worst among students 13 to 19 years old, carrying a lot of stress and not enough sleep - in a recent newspaper article, recorded typical day of a 17 year old HS junior in MI Molly crawls out of bed at 5:45 every morning and dashes to school for her 7:20 a.m. class. After school, she's off to student council meetings, pompon practice, guitar lessons or one of her two jobs. She works as a waitress and gives horseback riding lessons. She comes home to loads of homework and phone calls with friends and drops into bed at 11 at night. When she goes to bed, she says: "I'm out cold, and know that a lack of sleep is taking its toll. I'm always tired. Sometimes my alarm clock will go off and I sleep right through it, or I'll hear it and go back to sleep because I think it's a dream." - new studies show that HS students get an average 2 hours less sleep than needed - puts them at risk for automobile accidents, falling asleep in class, and in a bad mood - a researcher from Brown University says some HS students operating in twilight zone - term zombie a fairly accurate description of many teens, adults not far behind - 60% of all adults complain of chronic tiredness, and that s increased to 70% after Sep 11th C. What s causing this weariness, tiredness and exhaustion, how can this fatigue be corrected? - while part of problem blamed on not going to bed early enough, reasons go far deeper - people of all ages carrying heavy stress ranging from family matters to problems at work - caused by anxiety, greed, ambition, big egos, money problems, pressures from others - in text from Matt 11, Jesus Himself refers to it as weariness and heavy burdens - has something to do with our selfish human nature, striving to gain honor, wealth and ease - can also be made worse by religious institutions, especially when legalistic rules applied - in Jesus time on earth, rules and regulations by religious leaders a staggering problem - starting with 10 commandments and OT writings, continued to pile on new regulations - when Christ on earth, Scribes and Pharisees had 365 rules and 250 commandments - with over 600 regulations to follow, no wonder people carrying large burdens on shoulders - religious leaders put tremendous pressure on people to keep every regulation 1

2 - Eugene Peterson summarized the situation with the following comments on this text: Instead of giving them God s law as food and drink by which they could banquet on God, they packaged it in bundles of rules, loading them down like pack animals. They seemed to take pleasure in watching people stagger under the load, and wouldn t think of lifting a finger to help. D. Evangelical churches today not different from religious leaders during life of Christ - some people simply don t feel comfortable attending church because they don t fit in - Philip Yancey in book, What s So Amazing About Grace illustrates this point - apparently a friend of his doing ministry with street people in down-town Chicago - came across a woman who lived a wretched life, totally opposite of church people - on drugs, involved in prostitution, could have been arrested for child abuse - how does a person minister to a woman with this type of lifestyle, where to begin? - Yancey s friend asked her if she ever thought of going to a church for help - he describes her response as almost being shocked by the suggestion Church, she said. Why would I ever go there? I was already feeling terrible about myself. They d just make me feel even worse. - in our churches we ve lost sight of Christ s compassion and re re-written Matt 11:28 - come to our church all who are weary and burdened and we ll make your life miserable - lost Christ s secret of being a friend to sinners, because we ve lost sight of His compassion E. No wonder that Christ s words in Matt 11:28-30 such good news to people - a very compassionate invitation to everyone who wants blessings of life in Christ - offers relief, joy and grace instead of a promise for weariness and heavy burdens - 3 important parts to this invitation springing out of Jesus heart of compassion 1. First part of this invitation is: Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. When we re tired, worn-out and burdened, Christ promises to give rest to your soul. - come expresses the desire of Christ s compassionate heart for people turning to Him - instead of asking them to keep another regulation, Christ simply asks us to come to Him - we come to a relationship with a living person and He is now ready and waiting for us - invitation is for the weary loaded down with burdens, not 1 person will be refused - the invitation is to come as we are and by faith, no prerequisites necessary for coming - His invitation is to the person in the field, physically exhausted after a long day s work - He appeals to the employee often carrying heavy burdens in their place of employment - He attracts the homemaker with huge responsibilities at home with the family - He calls on the lonely businessman, feeling the pressures of payroll and competition - He offers rest to the gray-haired person stooping under the weight of years of sin - and to the person heavy-laden with fear, sorrow and despair, no person left out - Thomas Brooks writes on this text summarizing the invitation of Jesus: Christ says: Come, and I will give you rest. I will not show you rest, nor merely tell you of rest, but I will give you rest. Jesus has the greatest power to give it, the greatest will to give it, and the greatest right to give it. Rest is the most desirable good, the most suitable good, and to you the greatest good. Christ gives peace with God, and peace with conscience. He will turn your storms into an everlasting calm, and will give such rest that the world cannot take from you. 2

3 Application: Christ s invitation to have a relationship with Him, not a religious organization - not a call to join program or religious system, no more organizational rules - while God uses churches and theological institutions, Christ s invitation for a relationship - and the invitation is open to everyone, not limited to a certain group, or class or nationality - it applies to 2 types of people, those who ve never received Christ as Lord and Master - and other type to those who know Him, but trying to handle everything in their own power - Ruth McBride Jordan 1 of these people, daughter of a Polish orthodox Jew living in NYC - mother of 12 grown children, all who earned college degrees in their professional careers - Ruth found life very difficult growing up in Harlem, included abuse and teen pregnancy - left to fend for herself, she fell in love with black Baptist pastor who introduced her to Christ - receiving Christ s invitation to those who were weary and burdened, she came to Christ - but shortly after their last child born, her husband unexpectedly died leaving her penniless - her son, James, tells her life story and faith in Christ in book titled The Color of Water During her most difficult times, mother was never confused about her relationship with Jesus, because He gave her rest. He gave her salvation. Each and every Sunday, no matter how tired she was, or depressed or broke, she got up early, dressed in her best and headed for church. Even as a boy I knew God was all powerful because of my mother s utter dependence on Him. Occasionally mother would do something in church that I never saw her do at home or anywhere else. At some point in the service, usually when the congregation was singing one of her favorite songs like What a Friend We have in Jesus, she would bow down her head and weep in gratitude. - how does a person like Ruth McBride Jordan do it, with hands held high in victory? - what s their secret to rise above effects of brokenness, burdens, bondage, and temptation? - is it possible to dodge adversity and still function as authentic cutting edge Christ followers? - Joe Stowell says in his book Loving Christ, the answer is clear and holds our only hope - it s a love so compelling that it drives & defines us, His compassion our source of rest - when love for Christ more than mental assent, our borders expanded to living reality - it motivates us to deal with life in unique and powerful ways, regardless of circumstances 2. Second part of Christ s invitation is: Take my yoke upon you for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. When we walk with Christ, He promises to give us peace and tailor-make the circumstances of life to help us conform to His image. - taking Christ s yoke means to submit to His leadership - for many of us who ve walked with Lord for years, don t think of His yoke as easy - ask Aldo Classen, former Elder of SGC about how easy it s been to take the yoke of Jesus - when losing his only son in an unexpected canoe accident, didn t see the yoke as easy - as he and another man from SGC waited for final news, his response a sacred moment - Job 1:21 LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD." - word easy comes from Greek word meaning well fitted, His yoke is tailor-made for us - in other words, Jesus designed a yoke for each of us that s tailor-made for our needs - in order to gain perspective on this matter, talked with Willis Ham about yokes on horses - as some of you know, he has a team of horses that pull wagons and other types of loads - today a yoke generally consists of a leather harness to link 2 animals together to pull load - as he pointed out to me, all yokes don t come in same size but tailored to specific animal - if yoke too large, will rub animal and cause soreness, if yoke too small will be constraining - but if tailor-made, 2 animals can work together with power of stronger 1 helping weaker 1 3

4 - when training a young horse, often paired with a larger more experienced animal - while the younger horse carries very little of the load, learns to work as part of team - this word picture Christ uses to illustrate our being yoked with Him in bearing loads of life - when we re yoked with Christ, He bears majority of load because of His compassion - Heb 4:14-16 says we have a great high priest, Jesus, who understands our weaknesses - as the Son of God on earth, He was tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin - therefore let us draw near with confidence to Jesus who bears the yoke of our burdens - then we will receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need, His yoke is easy Application: Christ s invitation for us not to live in our own strength but in His power - such power often comes through prayer, depending on HS to intercede for us before God - Paul gives us some insight how this works in Rom 8:26-27, HS helps our weaknesses - sometimes we don t know how to pray as we should, so HS intercedes for us - and His intercession for us before God comes with groans that words cannot express - HS intercedes for us in accordance with God s will, we can be confident in His prayers - need to depend on HS in prayer because of our weaknesses and lack of spiritual insight - instead of pushing ourselves 18 hours/day and not sleeping, need quietness and prayer - no wonder we have trouble praying, no time for rest and quiet in busy schedules - old Greek motto says: "you will break the bow if you keep it always bent" - are we getting dangerously close to burnout by taking everything on our shoulders? - in place of exhaustion and spiritual fatigue, H. S. pleads our case and gives us rest - Martin Luther found Christ s yoke easy, wrestling with God s demand for righteousness - as a young priest in early 1500 s, conscience burdened down with sense of guilt - not uncommon to spend his day in prolonged confessionals, even for most trivial sins - had been taught of a punishing and wrathful God, drove his guilt and fear even deeper - went so far as to shut himself in his room for days, whip his own body until blood flowed - said: my works polluted in their very source, a holy judge will see right through them - what works can come from a heart like mine, how can I stand before God? - 1 day when studying from Book of Romans, came across text from Roman 1:17 - words from this text The Righteous man shall live by faith totally changed his life - Christ s death on the cross did not need to be repeated, Jesus died so we may live - discovered access to God s love came through compassion of Christ on cross - Luther found taking yoke of Christ easy and His burdens light, yoke tailor made for him - listen to 2 nd verse of hymn by Martin Luther, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing. Were not the right man on our side, the man of God s own choosing. Doest ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He, Lord Sabaoth His name. From age to age the same, and He must win the battle. - Luther s faith no longer poisoned by guilt, but given power due to love of Christ - taking Christ s yoke became the driving force of the Protestant Reformation in Europe - reminds me of the person who dreamed that life with Christ like footprints in sand - many scenes of life flashed across the sky, sometimes there were 2 sets of footprints - but during the most difficult times in life they could see only 1 set of footprints - so they questioned the Lord why only 1 set of footprints, especially during tough times - You promised that You d always walk with me, where were you when I needed you most? - Lord replied: during times of trial when only 1 set of footprints, that s when I carried you - Christ s yoke is easy and His burden is light, His yoke tailored made especially for you 4

5 3. Third part of Christ s invitation: Learn from Me for I am gentle and humble in heart. Our character is changed as we learn about His compassion, grace, gentleness and humility. - learn comes from same Greek verb as disciple, means to study and practice - reason we need to learn because we do not understand it on our own, must be taught - have a mind to learn and not resist His teaching, learn of His humility and gentleness - key idea to acquire a custom or habit through practice, results in a transformed life-style - compassion the combination of humility and gentleness, need to learn of His compassion - humility: freedom from arrogance that recognizes all we have comes from God - Pharisees despised humility; implied inadequacy, lack of dignity and worthlessness - not the meaning of humility Jesus teaches, He is completely adequate, dignified and worthy - our adequacy, dignity and worth comes from our relationship with Christ, He s our model - humility doesn t result in pride but gratitude, all our righteousness depends on Him - gentleness refers to His kindness and consideration, we re to have a spirit of gentleness - find qualities of gentleness and compassion when Jesus healed women s son in Luke 7 - first she was a widow, so had already lost her husband; then on top of that lost her only son - left destitute and alone, feel pain of this woman as they carried body of her son for burial - text says that when the Lord saw her, he felt compassion for her and said: Do not weep - then He came up and touched the coffin saying: Young man, I say to you arise - and to the shock and fear of everyone, the young man sat up and began to speak - old saying that God helps those who help themselves doesn t add up in this text - this woman lost all hope and helpless, and in this condition Christ met her deepest need - in his commentary on this text, Ken Gire said this healing done without human prompting It was done without thought of lessons to be taught to the disciples, and without thought of deity to be demonstrated to the skeptics. His miracle was drawn solely from the well of divine compassion. - and Christ has compassion on the poor and needy in our church and community - are you aware that in the Denver area, over 550 people spend each night on the street? - many families homeless this evening, especially women and children with no place to stay - estimate over 1200 families will spend night in their car or some other temporary place - Christ s compassion for poor and needy, a well spring of water that never runs dry Application: In looking at the giants of faith throughout history, all seemed to have one thing in common; a passion to learn of the gentleness and humility of Christ. - George Mueller, 1 of these leaders, who established orphanages in Britain during 1800 s - during the Victorian era, great economic growth in British Empire throughout world - but in spite of such growth, poorer class of people lived in appalling conditions - ministry of George Mueller demonstrated compassion to poor, especially the children - by end of his life, he and his wife Mary, had cared for more than 8000 children - but that came from learning the compassion of Christ personally, through illness of his wife - after being married 39 years, she died of rheumatic fever following many years of illness - then preached a sermon on God s goodness, first giving Mary to him in the beginning - 2 nd : God was good in allowing them to be together for 39 years teaching him compassion - 3 rd : God was good in taking her from him, in spite of his prayers for her healing - her soul in the hands of a compassionate Savior, whether in life or in death - regardless of the outcome, he prayed to be perfectly satisfied with the holy will of God - a great example of a man who learned from Christ s compassion, gentleness and humility 5

6 F. Conclude with experience of Peter, no name in gospels used more than his, except Jesus - no disciple speaks so often and much as Peter, person most often blamed and praised - find him quick tempered, impulsive, emotional, adventuresome, and exasperating - what makes Peter so appealing his human qualities, we all can relate to him - when he talked, should have listened; when he slept he should have been awake - when he acted should have been still, blew hot and cold almost in same breath - yet Peter the person who led early church and ignited a flame that spread through world - what made difference, how could person with such ups and downs ever give advice? - some even questioned how person so uneducated write an eloquent letter in Bible - Peter learned gentleness and humility of Jesus, experienced first hand Christ s compassion - personally believe 1 of the biggest impacts when Christ washed his feet at the Last Supper - recorded in Jn 13: Christ began washing feet of disciples and wipe them with towel on waist - first objected to Christ washing feet until Christ said only way he would be a part of Him - I believe Peter remembered for rest of his life towel Jesus used to wash and dry his feet - permanently etched in mind, especially after denying Christ 3 times during the crucifixion G. Study of Christ s compassion a study of towels, where He offers to wash our feet - maybe our reaction to Christ s invitation same as Peter s, Lord you can t wash my feet - my feet too dirty with living in the mud of sin, but it s the only way we can be a part of Him - my feet too hot and sweaty, carrying burdens of life on my own without trusting Him - maybe your feet that of a teenager trying to please non-christian friends, just worn-out - or feet of a senior adult, carrying bitterness from broken relationships many years ago - or for speaker this am, feeling burden of carrying prolonged illness of a family member - Christ s invitation for you and me is an offer based on His compassion "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls; for my yoke is easy and my burden is light." 6