A Good Fit
“. . .My yoke is comfortable, My burden is light” (Matthew 11:30 NASB footnotes)
A legend has come down to us from the late first century and early second century about Jesus the carpenter. Jesus was a wood worker for well over twenty years of his life. He apprenticed under his earthy father, Joseph. He learned how to build tables and houses, benches and yokes. Yes, yokes. Every farmer had need of at least one of these wooden implements.
As the legend goes, there was something special about the way Jesus made yokes. When the farmer requested one, Jesus would leave the carpenter shop and travel to the farm and visit the animal whom was to receive the yoke. He would feel all around the neck and shoulders of the ox and make special note of the shape of the bones and muscles. Every animal was slightly different. Thus, Jesus would make a yoke that was just right for that animal. A custom fit. Taylor made.
Jesus did not make a standard yoke or a “one-size-fits-all.” His yoke was a good fit for one animal. Just as no two animals have the same exact shape, so also no man or woman has ever been exactly like another from the beginning of creation. Each one of us has a unique place in our Father’s business. Jesus has a “yoke” - - - a design, a calling, a purpose, a destiny- - - just for you. It is to His glory and to our benefit that we not seek to modify that design. We must not cave in to the expectations of others. Other people might tend to yoke us with a calling and purpose of their own design. But it will never fit you. (Note: parents must be very careful in this regard with our children.)
A well made yoke allows the ox to pull the weight of the plow in hard soil without extra pinching, strain or uneven pressure against the bones and muscles. He can work with all his might all day long. Oh yes, there is work to be done. The work will make us tired at the end of the day. The “yoke of the Lord” does not cause the burden to disappear. His yoke is simply far better than any yoke we could design for ourselves. We must learn how to listen to Him. We must learn how to wait for Him. We must learn how to engage ourselves fully only where He leads.
His yoke is pleasant - - - especially when compared to anything we might substitute. Jesus spoke to people who were trying to please God under the heavy yoke of the Law. Trying to be a “good person” - - - trying to please God through self-effort or self-improvement. It was too heavy - - - a girth-some load. Jesus, on the cross, provided once for all, a yoke that was easy, pleasant and comfortable (that is what the Greek word literally means). Salvation by grace- - - a gracious gift.
But Jesus was not only referring to eternal salvation. He spoke to the issue of the grind of daily life. He was pointing to a life under grace. “Blessed be the Lord Who daily bears our burden; the God Who is our salvation” (Psalm 68:19). Note here: Our salvation is a Person - - - not a plan or ritual or observance; not a ticket to heaven - - - a Person. “The Lord is my salvation.” This is why He said “Come to ME. . .”
(For more on the legend of Jesus the Carpenter see William Barclays commentary on Matthew)
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