The easy yoke

According to Wikipedia a yoke is “a wooden beam sometimes used between a pair of oxen or other animals to enable them to pull together on a load when working in pairs, as oxen usually do” (Wikipedia 2022).

Sounds like hard work! And something that only applies to big animals. Not us. So, what did Jesus mean when he said his yoke was easy and we should put it on?

What Jesus said, and the context of his words, is in the New Testament Bible book of Matthew: “Come to me, all you 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.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV)

But what Jesus wants from us is anything but easy, surely. To live a perfect life! So how can these verses work in our lives?

The answer is this. When we take on Jesus’ yoke, he is there with us. What would be hard, in fact impossible, can be done because he is helping us with the load. That’s how the “burden is light”.

The Bible has many gems like this that can help us in our lives now. And so much more. Definitely worth reading.

Reference:

“Yoke” Wikipedia 2022 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoke (18 October 2022)