The Blessed Yoke

​Jesus said, Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me (Matthew 11:28). The yoke here is a valuable symbol for His disciples. It is used as a symbol of control. Farmers yoke up farm animals so that they will go in the same direction, to the same place, at the same time, in the same pace.  When you are yoked to another animal you can’t go faster and you can’t go slower and you can’t run off in a ditch because the other animal’s not going to let you run off in a ditch. There is an old truism that says, “You can be too smart for your own good.” Standing taller, you may see farther than a child, but only when you humble yourself can you see the simple beauty that is the treasure of the observant little child. There is value in taking a step back and trying to see with a child’s eyes and hear with a child’s ears. The heart of a child will follow the Master. They will try to work and imitate the Master. Remember a yoke is not to get out of work. People who come to Jesus do work, but the yoke they take up makes the work lighter. Jesus is saying together, let us team up and face your burdens and problems and obstacles, for in Jesus we can find rest for our souls.

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Clark Tatum