Difficult?
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure. Helen Keller, US blind & deaf educator (1880 – 1968)
Is it supposed to be hard? Is following Christ supposed to be difficult? In one place Jesus says that his yoke is easy and his burden is light (Matthew 11:25-30). But the same Jesus who says these words also shares others during his ministry on earth.
“And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.” Matthew 8:19-22
The same Gospel that shares that the burden is light also tells us that the cost of following Jesus is great. What gives? Which is it?
I think it has something to do with the situation. In Matthew 11 we find the context to be about the fact that many who consider themselves wise are not. He gives thanks for the children who will come. Secondly, you will find that he is dealing with people who are working hard but exhausted. What also at times get missed is the willingness to take on the yoke of Jesus. That yoke means that Jesus will be guiding that persons live.
Contrast this with the man coming to Jesus in Matthew 8. He comes saying he wants to follow but it seems to me he is self-serving. I have a feeling he expected a pat on the back for being a scribe. Why doesn’t Jesus say great because my yoke is easy and my burden is light? Did Jesus think he didn’t really want to follow him? Was he trying to scare him away?
I’m not sure, but it makes me wonder. In Matthew 11 right before the famous passage we all know Jesus is rebuking unrepentant cities. Certainly nothing to them about easy yokes or light burdens.
Is Jesus burden light and easy? Yes, but it comes with a willingness to be guided by Jesus and grow. This blog gives a great description of what an ox yoke did. It isn’t, “have an easy burden so that you can have an easy life.” It is, “you are a hard worker and you need rest and you will find it in me.”
