“Making it easy”

July 6, 2008      Ken Oren

Matthew 11: 16-19, 25-30(NRSV)

 

One night at the dinner table, the wife commented, "When we were first married, you took the small piece of steak and gave me the larger. Now you take the large one and leave me the smaller; You don't love me anymore . . . "  "Nonsense, darling," replied the husband, "you just cook better now."  Received from Thomas Ellsworth.

 

Sometimes it may take awhile for us to get it. 

Part of the problem is knowing what it is.  In the joke, it is the lack of sacrifice on the part of the husband.  In our scripture, It is the essence of God.  Watch for it.

 

Matthew 11: 16-17(NRSV)

¹⁶“But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, ¹⁷‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’

 

 

I. For some reason, this part of the scripture reminds me of Rudolph.  Who has felt like Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer?

 

A. The story brings back grade-school memories.  Beginning in about the fourth grade, the kids learn to be vicious to one another.

 

A. The reindeer were being selfish and immature.  They wanted their own way and did not want to involve poor Rudolph.

 

A. The reindeer could not get beyond the package - the container.  They only saw what was on the outside.

 

I. Look at your own generation. Has your generation gotten beyond reindeer games?

 

A. The generations of today still judge on the outside appearance.  They just do not get it.

 

1. One reason they do judge is they don’t want to give of themselves. They use judgement to avoid the hard work of relationship . . .

 

1. To enter relationship means giving up something of ourselves, or opening ourselves to others, or accepting something someone else has to offer.

 

I. When it comes to the church, some do not understand and do not want to understand Jesus.  They play games, or point fingers to accuse, to avoid a direct connection.

 

Matthew 11: 18-19(NRSV)

¹⁸For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; ¹⁹the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

 

I. The people judging John the Baptist and Jesus got stuck on the wrong thing. They could not see the message that each had to share.   Those with Godly wisdom look beyond judgement - to the message God is sending.

 

A. Why did John the Baptist come?

1. To shine the light on Jesus.

 

A. Why did Jesus come?

1. To shine the light on God.

2. To install a light in each of us so our light can shine.

 

A. Everyone has something to offer.  Everyone carries within them the light of Jesus - if they would just let it shine.  Much depends upon whether those around them help them polish the light, or whether others keep throwing dirt on it.

 

A. During jr and sr high I had a Sunday school teacher who encouraged me to express my faith.  He helped polish my light. By helping me, my Sunday school teacher let his light shine.

 

A. Anyone pointing to God has a light that shines! But be aware, not everyone will appreciate your shining light . . .

 

1. A man was talking to his preacher.  He noticed the preacher had cut himself shaving. He asked him about it. The preacher said he was concentrating on his sermon and nicked his chin. The man said next time he should concentrate on what he was doing and cut his sermon.  Received from Thomas Ellsworth.

 

1. Sometimes a sermon will rattle on and on without meaning, but sometimes, it is hard for people to hear all a sermon has to say because part of the meaning is hidden.

 

Matthew 11: 25-26(NRSV)

²⁵At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; ²⁶yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.”

 

I. What is hidden?  Why?  Why are the things revealed to infants and not to the wise and intelligent?

 

A. We have a sense of God when young - but we learn not to trust God by the way those around us teach us the lessons of the world. Experiences of the flesh take away our understanding of Jesus.

 

A. Could the hidden things be an intimate knowledge and understanding of God?

 

A. Matthew 18:1-5NRSV
¹At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” ²He called a child, whom he put among them, ³and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

 

A. I wonder what hidden things children have that we have lost?

 

Matthew 11: 27(NRSV)

²⁷All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

 

I. The son chooses anyone who will seek.

 

A. Who would Jesus choose?  Those who are willing, those who are willing to give up their reindeer games for a new purpose, seeking God and showing the way to God.  

B. If you seek God’s purpose, you will begin to understand the things of God.

 

Matthew 11: 28(NRSV)

²⁸“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

 

I. Spiritual nourishment for the emptiness of our souls.  Freedom from worry and anxiety regarding your future.

 

A. The book of Hebrews says rest is reserved for believers

 

Hebrews 3:17b-4:3NRSV
. . . Was it not those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? ¹⁸And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, if not to those who were disobedient? ¹⁹So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. ¹Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest is still open, let us take care that none of you should seem to have failed to reach it. ²For indeed the good news came to us just as to them; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. ³For we who have believed enter that rest,

 

I. Sabbath rest:

A. Sabbath rest is time to figure out who God is and who I am in relation to God.

 

A. Sabbath rest is celebrating our relationship with God.

 

1. It does not mean laying on the couch, refraining from helping others.  It is thanking God for freeing us from slavery (of sin) and putting us on a path of joy. 

 

1. It is praying for others to find that path.

 

A. Sabbath rest is not dreading the suggestions of Scripture.  It is looking forward to acting upon them in the pattern of Jesus - taking Sabbath rest, then serving.

 

Matthew 11: 29-30(NRSV)

²⁹"Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

 

I. My yoke is being a disciple, loving your neighbors, caring for the needy, the marginalized, from Luke 4:18-19; bring good news, proclaim release, bring sight, set the oppressed free, proclaim the Lord’s favor.

 

I. Jesus says learn from me

A. Learn to get to know the father (God) - for everyday living.   Jesus said, (in John 14:6-7NRSV)
⁷“If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

 

A. Jesus took the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees and gave new meaning to them:

B. Matthew 23:1-5NRSV
¹Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ²“The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; ³therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. ⁴They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. ⁵They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long.

 

I. Jesus did not come to lay heavy burdens on us, but to share our load.

 

A. Consider the difference between pulling a load by yourself, and pulling it with another. 

 

A. A yoke is easier if the two are acting together, working together, communicating with each other, pulling in the same direction.  If we yoke ourselves to Jesus, we will learn how to lighten our load.  We will learn what it is all about.

 

I. In computer language, IT is commonly referred to as Information Technology.

 

A. As Christians, our concern should be how we get the information we need to live, and then how to transfer it or share it with those around us.  We have a wireless network of people we deal with every day.  If they see us pulling our load with Jesus - they more likely want to get the password to join our web.

 

A. In this scripture it are the things of God we are called to share.  But first, we need to be aware of what it is about.

 

A. In 1972 I was involved in evangelism training to knock on doors and save the neighborhood.  I was too immature at the time to understand what I was doing.  I never really got it. 

 

A. Now, meeting with people one on one, I see their needs and I realize that Jesus loves each one.  I realize that Jesus loves me unconditionally.  Because of his love for me, Jesus makes it easy to love others. 

 

A. Whenever I pull with and for Jesus - he pulls with and for me.  Those who fear relationship will think this yoke looks ugly, those who are children of God know it is beautiful.

 

A. Jesus says, “I will shine with you. let your light shine!”