Learning In Reverse
by Jeanne Rogers
“Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.” (Matthew 11:26)
I’ve seen a strange pattern developing in my Bible study. The Holy Spirit leads me to a particular scripture, I meditate on it, check other references, then I back up verse-by-verse to see what events led to such inspired words.
That happened recently when I read, “Come unto me, all you labor and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NKJV)
Those words, spoken by our Savior, inspired the lyrics of great classical music throughout history, but those same words drew my mother to a saving relationship with Jesus when she tired of heavy-laden living.
What prompted Jesus to invite people into His yoke to learn of Him? He spoke those words at the end of chapter eleven, but I had to back through to the beginning to satisfy my curiosity. By the end of my treasure hunt, I discovered valuable insight about the relationship we can have with the Father.
The chapter opens with the disciples of John the Baptist asking if Jesus was the “Expected One.” After giving undeniable evidence to them, Jesus turned His attention to the multitudes. He gave a great tribute to John, calling him “Elijah the one who was to come,” then He denounced the people of John’s generation. His message was summarized in these words: “Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!” (Matthew 11:15, NLT)
Jesus condemned the skeptics who couldn’t understand because they would not listen. They criticized the message and the selfless lifestyles of Jesus and John -- perhaps because the stark contrast condemned the skeptics' self-centered lifestyles.
The Savior pronounced judgment on the cities that had witnessed His authority through signs and wonders yet did not repent. He told them it would be worse for them than it was for Tyre and Sidon. He said that Sodom would be better off on judgment day than the city of Capernaum.
The boldness of His prayer in verse 25 revealed how truth remains hidden from the wise and the clever, but is given to the childlike. “Yes, Father it pleased you to do it this way,” Jesus prayed. He could say that because He knew what gave His Father pleasure. They had intimate communion and the Father gave Jesus authority over everything (verse 27). Then he told them, “No one really knows the Son except the Father, and no one really knows the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.”
After reading the chapter in reverse, I read it again in the right order and visualized a dramatic close. Spaces opened in the crowd as the wise and clever shook their heads and walked away. The childlike, those with ears to hear, pressed near to Jesus, curious about His relationship with His Father. They internalized what He had told them—the Son would reveal the Father to whom He chooses. They had to be wondering, “Will Jesus reveal the Father to me? Can I know Him so well that I constantly hear and see what gives Him pleasure?” Jesus gave their answer. He told them to come to Him and stop laboring in their search for God.
The wise and clever may have feared they would lose too much if they trusted Him. Ironically, the one who made the ultimate sacrifice was saying, “Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle and my burden is light.”
I will paraphrase what He taught me. He is teaching the same thing today. "Stop laboring with your burden. Come to me. Get into my yoke; I have already proven I can handle the load, and you will find rest for your souls. You will learn how to live in relationship with Me, and I will reveal the pleasure of my Father to you."
This Week
Are you struggling to make sense of Jesus’ words, or do you have a heart that so desires a relationship with God that you approach Him like a child? “Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand.” (Matthew 11:15, NLT)
Prayer
"Jesus, I come to you, weary of trusting my own wisdom. I need Your rest for my soul. Give me ears to hear what You are saying, and reveal to me the Father as you know Him."
