God Gives His Weary Children Rest
Matthew 11:25-30
25 At that time, Jesus continued, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from clever and learned people and have revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, because this was pleasing to you. 27 Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wants to reveal him.
28 “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because 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.”
Sarah came to church one morning in tears. She had been diagnosed with cancer. Sitting in the pew, she wondered "does God still love me?" Three rows back was Ken. He also came with a troubled heart. His family had been going through a tough time. There was so much fighting, bickering, and poor communication. He didn't know how it got to this point, but felt that he couldn't take it anymore. On the other side of the church sat Samantha. In order to cope with life, she had developed an addiction to alcohol. She knew that it was wrong. She felt like a failure. She tried to stop. And she felt extremely guilty.
These people are fictitious. And yet, they represent what Christians often feel. Despair. Abandoned. Conflicted. Hurt. Struggling. Burnt out. Uncomfortable. Convicted.
The world looks at those who go to church and doesn't see anything great. It's easy for unbelievers to think "if God is supposed to be so powerful, then why do Christians appear so weak? Why do they struggle so much?" And in part, these thoughts are true. Those who fill these pews, as well as the pastor, struggle with sin. And because sin permeates all of our lives, we often face other difficulties as well.
But we still come. We come to church because we understand things differently than the rest of the world. We not only come because we have a sinful nature and our lives are broken, but also because we know that God Gives His Weary Children Rest. This is a rest that the world cannot find. It is a rest only found in Jesus, for His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.
In our sermon text, Jesus prays these puzzling words to His Father: "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from clever and learned people and have revealed them to little children." The "things" that Jesus refers to are the mysteries of the kingdom of God. Most importantly, this includes the message of salvation. God the Father sent His Son to die on a cross for the sins of the world and rise again on the third day. It's only in the Son that true rest is found.
But unbelievers can't understand this. The world doesn't see anything great about Jesus. His death upon the cross appears offensive, and too humble. And so it rejects Him. Instead, it looks for earthly power and might. It thinks that if you do certain things, then God will be happy with you. Or if you have enough money, maybe you'll have a happy life. The world hopes that possibly, someday, we will be able to live forever due to advancements in technology. But Jesus? The world scoffs at Him. He doesn't seem necessary.
Those in the world who think that they are clever and understand spiritual things, really know nothing. They reject Jesus. And in doing so, they reject salvation. And so their sins weigh them down. They have a heavy burden that never leaves them. There is no rest. They sink deeper and deeper to only, after death, reach the depths of hell.
And yet, there are also the people Jesus refers to as "little children." Children aren't considered wise by the world's standards. They are naive in many ways. However, children also have an ability of accepting things the way they are. Neither human reason, nor anything we do, receives Jesus. Instead, childlike faith receives. And this faith is a gift. It is all God's work. Not ours. For this, God is praised and the wise are put to shame! It is as Mary says in the Magnificat "He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones. He has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, but the rich he has sent away empty."
You see, God has chosen to hide himself. He only reveals who He is in Scripture. And there, He is revealed in suffering and weakness. The Bible is clear that the man Jesus, who is also true God, lived a humble life of service for you and me. And on the cross, He looked so foolish, and weak. But it was there that He took upon Himself the burden of not only our sins, but the sins of the whole world. It is there that the Father's love and compassion is revealed. It is there that God gives rest to your weary souls. True faith recognizes God in the suffering Savior. Jesus alone gives our troubled souls rest.
And yet it's so hard, even for us, to appreciate the rest that Jesus gives. We have a sinful nature. And it thinks that it knows everything. It thinks that Jesus isn't necessary. It thinks that it knows more than God. The sinful nature despises how humble Jesus appears in the Word and sacraments. Instead, the world is so much more alluring with the temptation to sleep in on Sunday morning, or prioritize work over God's Word, or even to worship technology rather than our Creator.
But there is no rest in these things. The more you look to yourself and the world for comfort, the more tired you will become. Your soul becomes depleted, because you can't do it on your own. You can't live a perfect life. And there is no rest for a troubled conscience. So repent of your sins! Only those who humble themselves, repent, and look to Jesus are part of God's Kingdom. Christ alone took your burden. It's only in Jesus that your sins are forgiven. He gives you eternal and perfect rest. And this is truly pleasing to God, and brings him glory.
Every Sunday, here at church, the hidden God is revealed to us in His Word. He comes humbly, to a congregation that is weak and suffering. And the best part is all you have to do is sit and listen. We come to church and receive God's eternal blessings. The world cannot understand this, but God's children do. We see his power at work in Baptism, with the water connected with the Word. In the sermon, we hear about the Father's love revealed in His Son's death for you and me. Through the humble means of His Word, bread and wine, we taste the assurance that Christ is with us with His body and blood, regardless of what we face in life. Even as a weak and struggling sinner. This message is hidden from clever and learned people. But little children accept the Word and sacraments with faith. Every Sunday Jesus is present and says: "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
Jesus also says "Come... For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." A yoke is a wooden cross-piece that fits over the necks of animals and is attached to a cart or plow to pull behind. This is a lot of work. But here, contrary to our reason, Jesus says His yoke is easy. Why is that? Just as Jesus carried His cross, we also are called to carry ours. This means living a life denying sin, obeying the ten commandments, and maybe someday even facing persecution. So why is this, as Jesus says, "easy?" Because Jesus did it all for us. He avoided sin perfectly to give your conscience rest. He was persecuted upon the cross, and died for you. And so while it can be hard here on earth, Jesus gives you the strength. He has already carried your yoke.
What problem is bothering you as you sit in church this morning? Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, take comfort! Jesus came for the broken. For those who are weary and burdened with sin. Perhaps your conscience is plagued by a particular sinful struggle. Look to Jesus! Every time you sit in your pew, Jesus gives your soul peace that surpasses understaning. Just sit and receive. It is here Jesus says "lift up your hearts, your sins are forgiven!"
It's also possible that you have health problems of some sort. It's possible that a loved one is close to death. Perhaps you are struggling with an addiction. Or your mental health if ent the best. It is here that Jesus comes to you and says "My dear child, I will never leave you nor forsake you. You are my own. I give you my life and my strength. I will carry you when you fall through the humble means of my Word and sacraments. And one day, you will have eternal rest in heaven with me."
Jesus will never leave you. He carries you through the storms of this life. And life in heaven is beyond imagination. It might be hard to believe, but it's even better than a vacation in amish country! Therefore, we come to Jesus because He gives. He gives fully and completely. Let you sins no longer terrify you. He has forgiven you. And while life can be difficult, you have the reward of heaven waiting for you. That is your comfort this morning.
Sarah had cancer. Ken's family life was difficult. Samantha struggled with an addiction. God's children are weary. The world looks down upon us. But still we come, Sunday after Sunday, to God for rest. It is here that we have a treasure greater than anything else. We come in repentance, and receive our Savior's forgiveness. His love is greater than we can imagine. If fills up your soul, and gives you rest. Do you struggle with sin? Is life difficult? Then God wants you here. Jesus took upon Himself your sinful burden to give you rest. He strengthens you as you struggle, picks you up, and carries you. And one day, in God's timing, you will be in heaven. There will be no more pain, and no more sin. This is what Jesus means when he says: "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Amen.
July 16th, 2023
Pastor Samuel Johnson