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Transcription
The speaker discusses the concept of the yoke, specifically in relation to Jesus' statement that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. They explain that a yoke is typically seen as a difficult and restrictive condition, but Jesus offers a different perspective. They draw parallels between the yoke of marriage and the yoke of Jesus, highlighting the joy and willingness to bear the yoke in both cases. The yoke of Jesus is described as a covenant and a commitment to serve his interests. Overall, the speaker emphasizes the ease and pleasantness of taking on the yoke of Jesus. Welcome to our weekly exhortation. Thank you for being there always waiting for this program. Thank you for your precious time. My name is Gibe Amigona, Servant of God, Servant of Jesus Christ. Jesus spoke to the crowd saying, For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. How are we to understand this declaration? My yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew chapter 11 verse 30. By definition, a yoke is a condition in which one lacks liberty, especially to determine one's course of action. Generally, a yoke is a difficult and painful situation you find yourself in and where you have to undergo everything that happens to you. A yoke may designate oppression or may refer to the material, moral, or human constraints that an individual undergoes. According to the teaching of the Lord Jesus, sin is a yoke in which humanity languishes. If this is so, how can a yoke be easy? We have just said that a yoke is a condition in which one lacks liberty, especially to determine one's course of action in life. If we stick strictly to this definition, then there seems to be a contradiction between what we know about a yoke and what Jesus says about it. Let's go back a little further to verse 28. Matthew chapter 11 verse 28. Jesus said, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Praise the Lord. Here, Jesus means, if you are weary and burdened, weighed down with the weight of sin, then come to me and I will give you rest. Did you notice the word used by Jesus in this passage? Jesus is not saying that he will simply remove our burden, but rather, he is informing us that he will remove our burden and give us another. He will remove our yoke and give us another yoke. Praise the Lord. We must understand that there is a yoke of human origin and a yoke of divine origin. Jesus says his yoke is easy to bear, while the yoke of human origin is restrictive and difficult to tolerate. Here, we will explain why the yoke of Jesus is easy. First, we should also know that a yoke can relate to that which joins two people together, much like that piece of hitch which joins two beasts together and is used to plough a field. A yoke is a wooden cross piece that is fastened over the neck of two animals and attached to the plough or a cart that they are to pull, right? The Greek equivalent of the word yoke is to join together or to unite two things together, to join together. This is why we find this word in the context of marriage. For example, in Mark chapter 10 verse 9, Jesus says, What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Hallelujah. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. You know, there is no doubt that Jesus was speaking here of the union of marriage. Now, let's read one more time Matthew chapter 11 verse 30 with this perspective in mind. Four, my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Friend, I hope you have heard about the expression the yoke of marriage. We say figuratively the yoke of marriage to designate the bond of marriage. For example, someone who has heard about your wedding ceremony may react spontaneously with the phrase, He is married, there he is under the yoke. Hallelujah. Tell me, is the yoke of marriage easy or heavy? Judging by the joy expressed on the occasion of a wedding, it seems of your days we greatly appreciate this kind of yoke. So, let me ask you this other question that you might find ridiculous. Why do we all have an interest in this kind of yoke? I mean the yoke of marriage, why? Why to take the risk of carrying the yoke of marriage on our shoulders? Friend, were you sad on your wedding day? No way, you were not. I was not. It was a memorable day filled with joy and excitement. Now, what gives you the certainty that the yoke of marriage is pleasing to bear? Isn't that you have the inner assurance that the other person is someone great for you, right? Right? And because he or she matches your heart's desire so well, you want to marry that person. Right? You love this person and that is why you want to join this person by carrying the yoke of marriage together. Hallelujah. Spiritually, it is the same. The day you confessed your faith in Jesus, the day you decided to leave your old life behind you, were you certain that coming to Jesus would make your life more meaningful? I can say you were motivated in your soul that your relationship with Jesus would be pleasant, would be easy. Isn't it? You know, the Christian is the person who has united with Christ. He took on the yoke of Jesus and as he gets to know him more, it will become more and more apparent that his yoke is easy to bear. Hallelujah. Why does Jesus say his yoke is easy? I will conclude by saying this. We said earlier that the yoke of Jesus corresponds to the union of the believer with Christ. A union comparable to that which binds husband and wife together. In Ephesians chapter 5 verse 22 verse 33, the Apostle Paul compares the union of husband and wife to that of Christ and the church. This is called the bride of Christ. The bride of Christ. So, taking on the yoke of Jesus means that we unite with him. The yoke of Jesus can be seen as a covenant comparable to the covenant between a husband and wife. Like the marital union, the yoke of Jesus necessarily involves a commitment to serve the interest of Christ. Hallelujah. In the final, let's keep in mind that to bear the yoke of Jesus is to be under the authority of Jesus. To take up the yoke of Jesus is to take up his cross. And to take up the cross is to agree to submit one's life unconditionally to the authority of Jesus. It is to obey his will. In the marital union, husband and wife must submit unconditionally to one another. Isn't this the image of an easy and pleasant yoke? In the Christian life, marriage represents the earthly image of our spiritual union with Christ. It is in this light that we must understand the declaration of Jesus who says, My yoke is easy and my burden is light. Praise the Lord. Hallelujah. Well, this is the end of this message. I hope you get something from it. May God bless you. If he wills, we'll be together next week. Shalom. Forever. The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous all together. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold. Sweeter also than honey, than the honeycomb. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold.
