The Established Path of Discipleship

As I age, I am more aware of my limitations. I cannot do as much as I used to, and I often say I am tired. This leads me to think I need more sleep, but because of other physiological factors, I wake up in the middle of the night and cannot sleep past 6:00 AM. Added to the mix is my aging dog, who gets cold and wants to get warm by snuggling up next to me in the bed. Rest. We all need more rest!

The rest Jesus gives in Matthew 11:29 is more critical than relief from physical exhaustion. It is rest for our souls (Matt. 11:30). It is a rest that is not achieved by human effort or lack of effort. It is a rest revealed not to the “wise and understanding” but to “little children” (Matt. 11:25). This revelation, Jesus tells us, was the gracious will of God the Father (Matt. 11:26). It is a revelation Jesus chooses to reveal to whomever he wills (Matt. 11:27).

But why do our souls (i.e., inner spirits) need rest? Because they “labor and are heavy laden” (Matt. 11:28). They are heavy laden with shame, guilt, and the burden of our sin. Our souls are weary from laboring to assuage our consciences or laboring to do enough good to outweigh our sins. Those laborious options exhaust our souls, and we get up the next day and continue the insanity.

Like a little child recognizing his father for the first time, Jesus showed me the Father. By His grace, he awakened my dead heart to the crushing weight of my sin and said, “Come to me.” I couldn’t say no. For the first time in my life, I understood the exhaustion of my soul. I understood the danger. So, I came to Jesus. Why? Because Jesus was the only one who could give me the rest I needed.

The burden of my sins has been lifted. I rest every day from condemnation, knowing that I am counted righteous in Christ. From the gentle and lowly one, I received a yoke that is not heavy. Instead of trying to do the impossible and gain favor with God through my imperfect obedience, I rest in Christ’s perfect and perpetual active obedience. The yoke I received includes the Holy Spirit, who empowers and sanctifies me. In response to his sanctifying work, I obey out of gratitude, for I know my heavenly Father’s loving disposition toward me will never change. I do not have to earn anything; I have received everything. This is the liberation from guilt and sin that Jesus gives.

You could summarize this passage in Matthew with a common understanding of the division of the Heidelberg Catechism: guilt, grace, and gratitude.

• Guilt: heavy laden with sin and laboring under its weight.
• Grace: Jesus reveals himself and the Father to me and gives me an invitation I cannot refuse.
• Gratitude: I obey out of thankfulness for all God has given me (the righteousness of Christ and the Holy Spirit to sanctify me).

This is the rest Jesus gives. Do you have this rest?