Come Unto Me

Come Unto Me

Steve W. Reeves

INTRODUCTION:

A. Are you familiar with these three words? Stress? Fatigue? Weariness? I believe I

    know the answer.

    1. We live in a culture of constant activity. Even our leisure time is packed with

       activity. We have Netflix, Direct TV, U-Verse, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Pintrest,

       and I-Tunes. The only thing we do not have is “I-rest.”

    2. Even at church we are tired. I recently heard about the longest sermon ever

       preached according to the Guinness Book of World Records.  A 31 year old

       preacher named Zach Zehnder of a Mount Dora, Fla., set the longest speech

       record in 2015 It lasted 53-hour, 18-minutes. He had 200 pages of notes and more

       than 600 PowerPoint slides. He began on Friday, November 7, and ended at 12:18

       p.m. on Sunday, November 9. In order to qualify for the Guinness record book there

       had to be at least ten people in the audience at all times and two independent

       observers. Most of the audience rotated but one man by the last name of Douglas

       listened for over 50 hours.  Following the sermon he said, “I’m exhausted. I just

       want to sleep.”

B. In the days when Jesus lived on earth people were weary. They were weary of the

    hard labor that accompanied daily living. They were weary of the political turmoil that

    surrounded them. They were weary from taxation. They were especially weary of

    religion. There were so many burdens and traditions that had been imposed on them

    by their religious leaders. Their relationship with God was based on a system of rules

    and works. It was wearisome,.

    1. The New Testament begins with the book of Matthew. Matthew was a Jewish

        writer who was very familiar with the legalism of his day. In his gospel he

       presented an alternative to the weary, burdensome, stress-filled lifestyle of his

       readers.

    2. He is the only writer to record these words from Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ 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. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

    3. What is Jesus offering to us?

I. AN INVITATION   

    A. All of us have received invitations. It may have been an invitation to a birthday

       party when you were a child. Perhaps it was an invitation to join the Beta Club or

       National Honor Society in school. Maybe it was an invitation to join a Social Club in

       college or an invitation to a wedding or social event. There has never been an

       invitation as unique as the one extended by Jesus.

       1. It is unique because of the one who gives it.

           a. There is no doubt Jesus lived on this earth. A search of historical records will

               provide more evidence for the existence of Jesus than any other person in

               history. Secular historians of his day and even those opposed to Christianity

               are in agreement that Jesus of Nazareth was a real person.

           b. Jesus was more than another human being. He referred to Himself as:

               1.) The bread of life – John 6:35.

               2.) The light of the world – John 8:12.

               3.) The gate for the sheep – John 10:9.

               4.) The good shepherd – John 10:11.

               5.) The resurrection and the life – John. 11:.25-26

               6.) The way, the truth and the life – John 14:6.            

               7.) The true vine – John 15:5.          

           c. Paul wrote to the Colossians, “He is the image of the invisible God, the

               firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For by Him all things were created, both in the

               heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or

               rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

               ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”

           d. Can you imagine receiving an invitation greater than this one that comes from

               the Son of God?

           e. Jesus desires that we come to Him. He desires to have a personal relationship

               with us. Christianity is not about knowing facts. It is about knowing Jesus.

               Christianity is not about ritual. It is about relationship with the Son of God.

       2. The invitation is unique because of the ones who are invited.

           a. Jesus’ invitation is unique because it is extended to “all who are weary and

               burdened.”

           b. I am thankful Jesus did not say, “Come to me all of you who are perfect and

               have your lives together.”

               1.) Consider the people Jesus called to be His followers.

                    a.) Peter, Andrew, James and John were fishermen who thought Jesus

                         was going to lead a revolt against the Romans.

                    b.) Matthew was a tax-collector despised by everyone.

                    c.) Some of the women who followed Jesus were known as “sinful” women

                         (Luke 7:36-39).

               2.) Jesus called all of them just as they were. Beginning where they were He 

                    began to mold them and shape them.

    B. In the midst of your burdens, fatigue, worries and wounds Jesus invites you.

       1. There was a man who had a fine hunting dog. The dog had been trained to point

           and retrieve. It also loved the water. One day, the man and his dog went to a

           lake. When it came time for them to go, he called the dog, but the dog wouldn’t

           come because it was having such a good time in the lake. Again he called, but

           the dog kept playing. Finally the man took a stick and threw it. When the dog

           saw it, he swam over, got the stick, swam to shore, and laid it at his master’s

           feet. The stick got his attention and he heard his master’s call.

       2. Your burdens may be the thing you need to get your attention and remind you

           that God is calling you.

II. A PROMISE

    A. Jesus promised, “I will give you rest.”

       1. When you are weary and burdened you need rest. Both “weary” and “burdened”  

           imply heavy labor.

           a. Exodus 1:14 describes the burden placed on the Israelites by Pharaoh, who

               “made their lives bitter with hard labor.” Do you know anyone who has become

               bitter because of the burdens they have had to carry?

           b. After Solomon’s death, his son Rehoboam, imposed heavy burdens on the

               people (1 Kings 12:10-11).

           c. Jesus did not come to add burdens to people but to remove them.

    B. God is the originator of rest. After six days of creation God “rested.” 

       1. Why did God rest? Was He tired?

       2. Rest is God’s way of signifying completion. After God had created the world and

           everything in it there was completion. Nothing was lacking.

       3. When man exerted his will and succumbed to Satan there was toil, stress, pain

           and death.

    C. The only way we can find completeness and wholeness in this life is through the

       rest Jesus offers.

       1. You will never find rest through law and works.

       2. The best day of your life, apart from Christ, will not be enough to earn your

           salvation. Our righteousness is as filthy rags in God’s sight (Isaiah 64:6).

       3. Because Jesus has fulfilled the law and has become the once and for all sacrifice

           for our sins we can rest in Him.

    C. What burdens are you carrying in your life? Guilt? Regret? Failure? Bitterness?

       1. An old man was walking along a country road carrying a fifty pound bag of

           potatoes. Another man in a pick-up truck offered him a ride. The old man climbed

           up in the cab and set the potatoes in his lap. “Why not put them in the back of the

           truck,” said the driver. “No thanks,” said the man. I’ll just carry them myself.” 

       2. We need the rest that can only be found through Jesus. 

      

III. A RESPONSIBILITY

    A. We love verse 28. We are not so crazy about verse 29. Why is this so?

       1. “Yoke” implies work. When a farmer used a pair of Oxen to plow a field he would

           place a yoke on them. A heavy wooden beam that would enable him to control

           them and utilize their strength.  

       2. In the Roman world the yoke was a symbol of rule and lordship.

       3. Jesus says, “if you want my rest you must be willing to take my yoke and work

           for me. Have you heard of the 20/80 rule? Among American churches the

           common ratio is that 20% of the people do about 80% of the work. Frankly, I

           think it may be more like 10/90. We want Jesus’ rest but we don’t want to do the

           work He has for us.

    B. Look at what Jesus said about His yoke. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from

        me for I am gentle and humble in heart.” In verse 30 He said, “for my yoke is easy

       and my burden is light.”

       1. Jesus was comparing himself with the religious leaders of his day who were

           loved to place heavy burdens on people and were full of pride.

       2. No one could live up to those heavy demands.

    C. Jesus says when we take His yoke we will find rest.

       1. The Bible says that “the way of the transgressor is hard” (Proverbs 13:15),

       2. One of the great blessings of being a Christian is that, “godliness is profitable for

           all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”

       3. Everyone faces suffering whether or not you are a Christian. All of us will have

           battles to fight. Some of them we will lose. The joy of following Christ will make

           all of them bearable.

       4. One of the missionary couples this church supports is Isaac and Janet Adote.

           For several years they have lived in South Sudan, a nation that has been

           ravaged by war. Isaac is currently working in another West African nation. There

           are all types of challenges and difficulties. He will tell you in a moment that they

           enjoy a rest and peace that far surpasses any strife they have encountered.

           Their story can be repeated over and over again.

CONCLUSION:

A. Have you ever been thirsty – really thirsty? The summer after I graduated from high

    school I worked for a construction company pouring concrete sidewalks in an

    apartment complex. It was hot, back breaking work. One particular July day the sun

    was beating down on us and the temperature was over 100 degrees. I was so thirsty.

    I looked up and there was my dad with a thermos of ice water. I have never had

    anything that tasted so good!  At the end of the day it was so nice to go home and

    rest in an air-conditioned house.

    1. Is your soul thirsty? Look at Revelation 22:17, “The Spirit and the bride say,

       “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty

       come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.”

    2. Are you tired and weary? Jesus said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-

       laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ 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. ³⁰ For My yoke

       is easy and My burden is light.”

B. "Come unto me." This is the invitation Jesus extends to you today.

A Love Without End, Amen!

A Love without End, Amen!

Steve W. Reeves

It is interesting to compare the Old and New Testament’s description of God. In the Old Testament God is referred to as “Father” of Israel or of certain individuals only fifteen

times. In the New Testament the description of God as Father is found frequently.  Jesus referred to God as Father 65 times in the synoptic (Matthew, Mark and Luke) gospels, and over 100 times in John. The word Jesus used for “Father” was the Aramaic word, “Abba” expressing a loving, intimate relationship. Elsewhere in the New Testament the word for Father is the Greek word, “Pater.” Both “Abba” and “Pater” give us an idea of the close relationship God longs to have with us.

God’s love is unconditional. It is not performance based. He does not love you one minute and stop loving you the next minute. He doesn’t love you more if you do the right thing. He doesn’t love you less if you do the wrong thing. In Jeremiah 31:3 the prophet said, “The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.’” Later Jeremiah would proclaim, that the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases (Lamentations 3:22-23).

One of country singer George Strait’s hit songs is, “A Father’s Love,” recorded in 1990. The chorus says: “Let me tell you a secret, about a fathers love, A secret that my daddy said was just between us. He said, ‘daddies don’t just love their children every now and then. It's a love without end, Amen.’” The song was written by Aaron Barker, who told the story behind the words. His teenage son had started driving and been given strict rules about where he could drive and who could ride with him. One night the son broke the rules and was involved in an accident. A wheel came off the car and landed on the hood of a brand new Porsche. After he had severely disciplined his son Barker thought of his own father’s discipline and how his father later reassured him of his love. It was then that the words of the song fell into place.

I hope you have the opportunity to thank your earthly father today for his love. My greater hope is that you will thank your Heavenly Father for His “love without end, Amen!”