A New Master: Matthew 11:28-30
““28) Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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
We now see another side of the ministry of Jesus that stands in stark contrast to that of John the Baptist. Jesus was compassionate to the hurts and brokenness of people.
Many times the brokenness is the consequences of sinful living or at the very least the results of living in a fallen world. Whereas John was condemning and unmoved, and would possibly say; “You’re getting what you deserve!” Jesus was loving and compassionate toward broken people. He said; “28) Come unto Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” He offered acceptance, forgiveness and healing. He extended hope!
I believe that freedom from sin, bondage and brokenness starts with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He is both the bondage breaker and the healer. He is in the business of healing and building up and not wounding or tearing down.
Jesus is also approachable. Notice His invitation, “Come unto me.” He invites us to come with our sin, shame and brokenness. He can forgive, cleanse and change anyone.
But He also qualifies by saying; “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.” We need to be willing to turn from our sinful ways and adopt His morals and values. The last thing He said to the woman caught in adultery was: “From now on sin no more.” (John 8:11)
Salvation includes repentance and making Jesus Lord of our lives. We forsake our sinful ways and embrace His ways. It is foolish to ask Jesus to heal the consequences of our sin with no intension of turning from our sinful ways.
But He promised that His yoke would be easy and His load light. How could that be? Living by the Law was burdensome. 2 Corinthians 3:6 went so far as to say “the letter kills.”
But Jesus offered a different approach. Paul summarized this in the broader context of 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 as walking in the Spirit. Verse 17 says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
Jesus was promising to change people from the inside. He was going to fill them with His Spirit and start them down the path of inner transformation.
Those who answer the invitation to come to Jesus are not only forgiven, they are changed into new people. At the moment of salvation, we step off the throne of our lives and Jesus steps on. We totally surrender to Him and His ways.
At the moment of salvation we have a new Master in our lives. It is no longer “self” and “sin” on the throne. From that point forward, we step down and Jesus steps up! He becomes our new Master and Lord.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
