Weary= internal tiredness/ weight put on by ourselves.
Burdened=burdened from the outside/external "weight."/outside influence weighing you down.
The Pharisees had The Mishna -- 613 laws to follow daily that were manmade....Constantly being told they were wrong.
"Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them." Matthew 23:1-4
Two meanings of Yoke: #1 Yoke that goes on animals -- yoked two oxen/horses...agricultural implement. #2 Yoke -- meant that you followed a certain teacher/rabbi. Jesus is inviting us to follow him and his ways.
We have a challenge/can have same problem as Christians --we put weight on ourselves, add needless rules and expectations/things that Jesus doesn't call us to do. We make the faithful life a lot harder than it was meant to be.
"Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” Acts 15:10-11
We do this same thing to ourselves. This isn't what Jesus calls us to do. Yet, we humans love to have rules, to put life in a box so we can control it. Sometimes we get weary because we think we have to work it out for ourselves.
Walk with Jesus daily.
Equally pulling on harness. Rarely put two young horses on same harness -- put a young one and an experienced one so the young one learns from the experienced one. The young one will fall into step, find the rhythm of the mature horse....
"What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? 23 All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless." Ecclesiastes 2:22-23
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
Surpasses understanding of the world. Get into God's rhythm. God doesn't hurry. God doesn't procrastinate.
"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith."
1 John 5:1-4
We have a tendency to weigh ourselves down.
Why did he spend three years teaching? Why the Word? We need to grow and mature. Learn to be like Jesus -- live in God's rhythm. Be in tune with God.
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." 2 Peter 3:18
Your weariness should fade; your joy and peace should increase. Knowledge of Christ gives us all we need to live like Christ. Participate in the Divine Nature. Follow the lead of Jesus.
Three I WILL Statements
"Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” John 14:21
1. I WILL LOVE YOU!!
"All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away."
John 6:37
2. I WILL NEVER DRIVE YOU AWAY!
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
3. I WILL GIVE YOU REST!
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:1-3