Replacing your Inner Bully with the Gentle Voice of Jesus

—Matthew 11:25–30

  • Andrew Fountain – Aug 20, 2023

 
 
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Matt 11:25–30

  1. At that time, answering, Jesus said:
    I praise you Father, Lord of heaven and earth
          because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned
          and have revealed them to little children,
    26Yes Father, for thus it was well-pleasing before you.

Matt 11:25–30 cont’d

  1. All things to me have been delivered by my Father
          and no-one knows the Son except the Father
          nor the Father does anyone know except the Son
    and to whom the Son might choose to reveal

Matt 11:25–30 cont’d

  1. Come to me all who are toiling and overburdened
          and I will give you rest.
  2.       Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
                for gentle I am, and humble in heart,
                and you will find rest for your souls.
  3.       for my yoke is easy
    and my burden is light.

What are our burdens?

  • not about physical work: Jesus doesn’t take that away
  • Speaking about the Pharisees, Jesus says in Matt 23:
  1. “They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear,
    and lay them on people’s shoulders,
    but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.”

Replacing the Bully with Jesus

  • “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” Isaiah 40:11

Gentle words: Mark 5

  1. Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”
  2. And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.

Woman who touched Jesus: Luke 8

  1. And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed.
  2. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

Zacchaeus: Luke 19

  1. he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature.
  2. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him,
  3. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.”
  4. So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.

Zacchaeus: Luke 19

  1. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”
  2. And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”
  3. And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.

Woman caught in adultery: John 8

  1. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
  2. She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

What did Jesus say to people?

  • John 21: to Peter “feed my lambs”
  • Acts 7: Stephen “stood as Stephen was dying”
  • Acts 18:9 to Paul “Do not be afraid... for I am with you”
  • Acts 23:11 to Paul: “Take courage...”
  • Heb 11 only praised the good things about Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Gideon etc.

W. Hendriksen, Commentary on Matthew, 505–6

In the study of this marvellous passage (verses 28–30) one fact is generally passed by in silence. It is this:

W. Hendriksen, cont’d

The authoritative advice Jesus gives is not only good for the soul; when heeded it also greatly benefits the body. The rest—peace of heart and mind—which Jesus here provides is the very opposite of the aggravated mental stress that sends so many people to doctors, hospitals, and death. Absence of peace, whether in the form of anxiety or of rancor and vindictiveness (the lust to “get even”), may lead to ulcers, colitis, high blood pressure, heart attacks, etc.
The teachings of Christ, if taken to heart, have a curative effect on the entire person, soul, and body. He is a complete Saviour!

Replace the Voice of the Bully

  1. Come to me all who are toiling and overburdened
          and I will give you rest.
  2. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
          for gentle I am, and humble in heart,
                and you will find rest for your souls.
  3. for my yoke is easy
    and my burden is light.
  • Understanding Jesus as Gentle is what gives us rest.
  • Taking Jesus’ yoke == learning from him
  • Joined to Jesus we are never alone!