Rest for Our Souls
In Matthew 11, Jesus is speaking to a crowd of people (vs. 6). In his preaching, he begins to denounce specific cites—Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum—because of their lack of repentance. Jesus performed many miracles in these towns, and yet their hearts remained hardened to the kingdom of God, with Christ as King. Jesus prophesies of the judgment these towns will receive—Capernaum receiving judgment worse than that of Sodom (vs. 24). Then, Jesus prays aloud to God, “‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do” (Mt. 11:25-26).
Jesus shares of this horrible judgment that will fall on the heads of the unrepentant and then turns to the Father to thank him for revealing this, in addition to the truth about the identity of John the Baptist prior (Mt. 11:7-19), to the crowd of “simple”, everyday folk.
God has revealed these grave mysteries to them. Jesus continues declaring that no one knows God the Father except for the ones the Son has chosen to reveal Him to (vs. 27). Then Jesus concludes with:
“Come to me, all 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” (Mt.11:28-30).
Despite the talk of judgment others will receive, and in the context of the Father being revealed to those who love Him, Jesus comforts his listeners proclaiming that rest for our souls is found by coming to Jesus and taking on his easy yoke. This is a lesson I need to learn. This an offer I need to take. Jesus’ is a yoke I need to take on for myself, for he alone can bring the refreshment I need for my soul.
Weight of False Responsibility
I’ve expressed in the past, in the context of feeling responsible for people having a good time at my birthday party last month, that I take on responsibility for people or for things that I cannot control. This past month, I have seen that this sense of responsibility runs deeper and broader with me as an every-day participant in society.
I see 2 beggars frequently at the U-bahn station near our flat. Almost every day. One of the beggars is an older lady (60s or 70s), very skinny, sickly. When she’s given food or money, she quickly takes it and hunkers back into her position of destitute. Another beggar is a younger man, probably in his early 30s. He often looks as though he’s about to pass out or fall asleep one. My heart breaks every time I see them, and I feel responsible for their well-being.
My heart also breaks for the prostitutes who come into Neustart. I see regular faces and am growing to love these women more, and also hurt for them more as I see their enslavement to drugs, prostitution, poverty, violence, pain, and sin.
Last week, I saw two of the prostitutes on separate occasions during the week. One woman, Moni, I saw last week on the U-bahn on my way to church. Another woman, Martina, I saw in my neighborhood last Friday. Martina was walking on the street with her “man”. My heart ached after our brief conversation, seeing the angry control her “man” had over her and her submission to that control.
About 3 weeks ago, I spent time with Charlott. Charlott is not a believer but goes to a couple of churches in Berlin. I sense that she goes to churches more so for the community there, but she is reluctantly seeking God (she is seeking but with much doubt and skepticism). During our time together a few weeks ago, she shared how an older guy in one of the churches she’s been attending had tried to do very inappropriate things with her. I was appalled….especially by the fact that he claimed to be a Christian, and was deceiving a girl 12 years his junior. Charlott talked with me about the trust that was now broken between her and this individual who she considered a friend. And her trust with Christians was also hurt. I felt compelled to contact the pastor of the church to tell him about the situation on behalf of the safety of Charlott and of the other young girls, who turned out have also had bad experiences with this man, but I also desired that there would be some justice. When I had told Charlott about contacting the pastor, she was crushed. Though I didn’t disclose her name or the details she shared with me, she was still hurt that I had said anything about what she had shared in private. I felt responsible to not upset her or to break her trust with me, so seeing her pain in trying to protect her was difficult for me to swallow, though I know what I did was the right thing to do.
Lastly, in spending time with Marcus a few weeks ago, I found out I was the only Christian he knew. He took that back, saying that he did meet an older man who shared his testimony of Jesus changing his life; this man told Marcus that his mission was to go and tell everyone about what God had done (PRAISE GOD!!! Amazing, amazing). Aside from that, though, Marcus said that I am the only Christian he recalled knowing…I find it beautiful and am humbled to be his friend…at the same time, I also feel the weight of that. There are many people in Berlin. 3.4 million people. How many of them do not know Jesus? How many of them do not even know of a follower of Jesus? That’s the world we live in, and seeing this darkness has hit me deeply.
I feel the weight. I feel responsibility for every person to at least hear about the good news of Jesus Christ—that we, as sinners, can have a relationship with our Holy Creator and God as child and Father because of the death Jesus bore on account of our sin. And that we can reign with Christ in new life by repenting of our sin and trusting him as our Lord and our Savior. I feel the weight of sharing this good news. Of sharing this light.
In Proper Perspective
What does Jesus say? In Matthew 11, Jesus refers to this horrible, horrible, judgment that will fall on the very people he came to save. He healed the people of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, but they chose to remain in their rebellion and sin. And what is Jesus response? Not to put on sackcloth and ashes and weep for these people. Not to run to them and try to build relationships so that they may see Jesus in his followers and repent. No. Jesus knows that only God can change their hearts. Jesus has done his part and was obedient to the Father by going into the towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, healing the people and bring God’s very own loving presence to them. However, Jesus also accepted the judgment—everyone has a choice. And after telling the crowds of this judgment in Matthew 11, he rejoices over those who know the Father because of him, the Son. And he tells his followers to turn to him—Jesus’ yoke is easy and his burden is light. I need not to feel the weight of the judgment others will receive. I need not to feel responsibility for the salvation of every person I come into contact with. I need not feel the responsibility that I must save women from prostitution or drugs. God has so graciously taken this yoke away from us. God is the one responsible. We have our role to play in His work, but God’s role for us is not one of burden, grief, and crushing weight. God’s yoke is light—He tells us to come to Him, casting all our cares, all our prayers and petitions, to God in prayer (Phil. 4:6). God is the one who saves. He bears the responsibility, and I am so thankful for that. And my soul needs to be reminded of that and be reminded, once again, of the freedom and joy that comes in serving Him and serving others.
Praise God that He is with us every step. I don’t know if any of you ever feel the weight of the pain and suffering you see. Our hearts should be soft and we must be ready to help. But I am thankful that God is correcting me that it is not our responsibility to save. God is in control and He is the one who carries the weight. But He also accepts the fact that people make choices. Jesus exemplifies freedom in Matthew 11, accepting the judgment of the bad choices made and rejoicing with those who have chosen him and now know their Father.
Please pray for me as this is a difficult lesson for me to learn. And the yoke I’ve put on myself is difficult to bear. Thank you!