The Burden Is Light?
Last fall my mom and I took a trip to historic Charleston, South Carolina. We visited old plantations, walked along the water, took boat tours and walking tours, and soaked in the history and culture of the fascinating city that stands as a memorial to some of the best and worst of American history.
Our favorite activity was a horse-drawn carriage tour through the historic downtown. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable, and the day couldn’t have been more beautiful.
That is, until about halfway through the journey, when we hit a large pothole and one of the tires came off the carriage. This spooked Susie May*, one of the two horses pulling our carriage, and for the rest of the trip, she seemed determined to get back to the stable as quickly as possible.
Whereas before the tire came off the two horses had been working together to pull the carriage, now Susie May was doing all the heavy lifting. The other horse, we’ll call him Charlie, continued to walk his course, but as our guide pointed out, he really wasn’t carrying any of the load.
This is the image Jesus gave when he called people to follow him, saying,
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28–30)
MY YOKE IS EASY
Over the years many have expressed doubt and confusion over this passage.
“Following Jesus isn’t easy,” many have protested. “How can taking up our cross and laying down our life possibly be described as light?” some have asked. “What am I supposed to do with this passage in a time when the whole world is shut down due to a deadly virus, when my son has lost his job, when my retirement savings has been decimated, when my immunocompromised daughter fights to survive COVID-19, when the people I’ve devoted my life to serving on the other side of the globe are scared, hungry, poor, sick, and dying?”
“The course itself is demanding and arduous, but the extra weight we used to carry on the wide and easy path can be cast on Jesus.”
They are right, of course. Following Jesus isn’t easy. That’s why he warned people to count the cost before committing to follow him (Luke 14:28–33). The path is narrow and rugged. Much needs to be left behind in order to make this journey. Yet through it all, Jesus lightens our load by willingly carrying our burdens.
The course itself is demanding and arduous, but the extra weight we used to carry on the wide and easy path can be cast on Jesus. We need only remain yoked to him and keep on walking the course laid out for us.
MY BURDEN IS LIGHT
The heaviest and primary burden that Jesus seems to have in mind here is the burden to earn God’s approval through our deeds. In Jesus’ day, the rabbinical teachings had become so numerous and all-encompassing that it was a feat in itself just to learn every one of them, much less obey them all. Jesus alluded to this when he said the Pharisees and teachers of the law “tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders” (Matt. 23:4).
While most of us have never experienced the burden of living under the rabbinic teachings of ancient Judaism, both our Western culture and every world religion apart from Christianity expect us to earn our position and reward through our actions. They demand we prove ourselves worthy and righteous. Our future depends on it.
“Once we are yoked to Jesus, his sinless life is credited to us.”
Yet God is perfect, and as such, perfection is required of anyone who would stand in his presence. Talk about a heavy burden! Only one human being has ever been able to live up to that standard, and here in this invitation to come to him, he—the holy Son of God—offers to let us partake in his accomplishment. Once we are yoked to Jesus, his sinless life is credited to us. Our sinful life has been laid on him and paid for with his life.
We are forever free from a works-based merit system. We are unconditionally accepted, and nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:31–39)!
I WILL GIVE YOU REST
Once we’ve understood the severity of our sin and the eternal punishment we deserve for rebelling against our eternal Creator, this news is liberating beyond words! With our greatest problem taken care of and an eternity of pure happiness ahead of us, even the toughest path this life can produce seems possible.
“With our greatest problem taken care of and an eternity of pure happiness ahead of us, even the toughest path this life can produce seems possible.”
But it gets better. The concern for our eternal destiny is not the only burden we can surrender to Jesus. As sons and daughters of the King headed for glory, we need not concern ourselves with worries like people-pleasing, fear of failure, anxiety about what tomorrow holds, regret over past decisions, self-protection, or even fear of death. These are the concerns of a temporary world that does not know the One who holds the future in his hands.
Should a princess fret over whether she is approved of by a drunkard off the street? Should the son who has inherited the whole kingdom worry himself sick over whether he has saved enough for the future? Should the one whose life has been irreversibly imbued with eternal meaning, purpose, and value ever be concerned with threats of futility?
When even the greatest threat on earth—that of death itself—promises to remove us from this tent of weakness and malady and usher us into the presence of our Beloved who fulfills every need and desire and longing of our heart, is there any sense in fearing for our lives?
COME TO ME
The cares of this world are many, but for the one who is yoked to Jesus they have no ultimate power. Sure, we can strive after the approval of others even though their opinions say nothing of who we are. We can allow anxiety about the future to steal our joy even though our happy future is irrevocably guaranteed. We can fear death though death has no stronghold over us. But what sense does that make? For we are more than conquerors through Christ our Lord, and absolutely nothing can separate us from his love (Rom. 8:31–39)!
When we accept the invitation to yoke ourselves to Jesus and let him pull the carriage, the path he leads us down is rocky and severe; it is filled with suffering. But because we know the hardships are temporary and the mission will ultimately succeed, it is also true that our yoke is easy and our burden is light.
We have lots of work to do, but very little to worry about. We have a tough path to walk, but a light load to carry along that path. We must continue to put one foot in front of the other even when our feet are blistered, bloodied, and bruised, but we do so knowing that every step is one step closer to glory. And no matter what we encounter along the way, Jesus is with us, ensuring every moment is filled purpose and nothing can prevent us from arriving safely to our destination.
So be encouraged this day. In this life, you will have tribulation. But take heart, for he has overcome the world!
*Names have been changed to protect the identity and privacy of the horses.
Laura Z. Powell is a Christian apologist with Women in Apologetics. Since graduating from Duke University in 1998 and from Denver Seminary in 2004, she has served in a variety of ministry roles, including women’s ministry, international missions, music ministry, college ministry, pastoral counseling, and discipleship. She has ministered in over twenty countries on five continents. Her passions include challenging people to think critically about what they believe, leading others into a deep and abiding relationship with the Lord, and fostering a biblical worldview that results in transformed lives and renewed spirits. Her writing on apologetics, theology, and worldview can be found at laurazpowell.org.