Sharing the Burden
Matthew 11:16 - 19, 25 - 30
Gospel Lesson
16 "How shall I describe this generation? These people are like a group of children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends, 17 'We played wedding songs, and you weren't happy, so we played funeral songs, but you weren't sad.' 18 For John the Baptist didn't drink wine and he often fasted, and you say, 'He's a demon possessed.' 19 And I, the Son of Man, feast and drink, and you say, 'He's a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of the worst sort of sinners!' But wisdom is shown to be right by what results from it."
25 Then Jesus prayed this prayer: "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding the truth from those who think themselves so wise and clever, and for revealing it to the childlike. 26 Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!
27 "My Father has given me authority over everything. 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."
28 Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light." (1)
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, O Christ.
Jesus sounds frustrated in the first part of this morning's lesson. It sounds like no matter what He says or does, He's wrong. I'm sure we've all had times when we have felt like we just couldn't get it right. We all have days like this. You don't hear your alarm, so you awake with a start, as you are rushing to get ready to leave for work, the water seems to take for ever to heat up, the bar of soap is too small to use. Then your hair seems to have a mind of its own and won't go into the style you had in mind. You go to grab a granola bar to eat in the car and the box is empty on the shelf. You find every slow poke on the road and then there is a train with four engines pulling it. I could go on, but I'm sure you've all had days like the one described. We can take comfort in learning that Jesus had some of the same frustrations that we have. Also that He loved us so much that He became human and went through all of the same experiences we go through so that He could help us get through our difficult times. With our faith in Him we are able to handle the days that seem just too difficult to handle.
Our faith tells us that no matter how big the problem, or how small, God is there to hold and protect us. A couple of weeks ago our friend's young daughter died, at the funeral my friend read a college assignment her daughter had started. It was to tell of her life and the people in her life. Tanya talked about her three young sons and how great each one was, and about the great love of her life, her husband, also about her sister and parents. At the end of what Tanya wrote, my friend added her own testimony of faith. It was the most beautiful testimony I have ever heard. Even though this was a horrible situation, God was there for all of us who loved and would miss Tanya. Sharen talked about her faith and how God would get her and each of us through the difficult days ahead. When the pastor came back to the podium he said he wasn't sure he needed to give his sermon, that Sharen had said it all. Even at our lowest times God is there to hold us and guide us, even giving us the right words to say to others.
He even knows what it's like to loose a child. He has put Himself in our place many, many times, like this story that I received in a recent email:
You Took My Parking Space at Church
One day, a man went to visit a church. He got there early, parked his car and got out. Another car pulled up and the driver got out and said, "I always park there! You took my place!" The visitor went inside for Sunday school, found an empty seat and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, "That's my seat! You took my place!" The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.
After Sunday school, the visitor went into the sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, "That's where I always sit! You took my place!" The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still He said nothing. Later as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, "What happened to you?" The visitor replied, as his hat became a crown of thorns, and a tear fell from his eye, "I took your place."
So you see, even when we are at our worst, Jesus is there to take our place. He's there to hold us when we cry, comfort us when we are frustrated and laugh with us when we are happy. Each of us has our own joys and sorrows, some just more visible than others. Lately we've heard and seen of the devastation of rain, wind and fire damage across the United States, and the world. Our heart goes out to those who are personally dealing with their losses. We can pray for them, send money, go help clean up, and pray to God that the people who are helping those who have lost so much know what to do and say. We can pray for them and for those in our own congregation as we bring our own joys and concerns to God in our worship service.
In Jesus' prayer beginning in verse 25 we hear His response to those who just don't understand. His prayer says:
25 Then Jesus prayed this prayer: "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding the truth from those who think themselves so wise and clever, and for revealing it to the childlike. 26 Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! 27 My Father has given me authority over everything. 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."
It's not how wise we are, how many degrees we have, or how many seminars we have gone to; none of these things have anything to do with how well we know the Lord. It's very important to study and know the Bible and the history of the people, but to really know God, we have to come to Him like a child and just accept the gift of salvation freely given to us. We have to open ourselves up to Him in prayer and stop to listen for His response.
This story is a good example showing we are all children of God.
A seminary professor was vacationing with his wife in Gatlinburg, TN. One morning, they were eating breakfast at a little restaurant, hoping to enjoy a quiet, family meal. While they were waiting for their food, they noticed a distinguished looking, white-haired man moving from table to table, visiting with the guests. The professor leaned over and whispered to his wife, "I hope he doesn't come over here." But sure enough, the man did come over to their table.
"Where are you folks from?" he asked in a friendly voice.
"Oklahoma" they answered.
"Great to have you here in Tennessee," the stranger said. "What do you do for a living?"
"I teach at a seminary," he replied.
"Oh, so you teach preachers how to preach, do you? Well, I've got a really great story for you." And with that, the gentleman pulled up a chair and sat down at the table with the couple.
The professor groaned and thought to himself, "Great, Just what I need - another preacher story!"
The man started, "See that mountain over there? (pointing out the restaurant window)." Not far from the base of that mountain, there was a boy born to an unwed mother. He had a hard time growing up, because every place he went, he was always asked the same question, "'Hey boy, who's your daddy?" Whether he was at school, in the grocery store or drug store, people would ask the same question, "Who's your daddy?"
He would hide at recess and lunchtime from other students. He would avoid going into stores because that question hurt him so bad. When he was about 12 years old, a new preacher came to his church. He would always go in late and slip out early to avoid hearing the question, "Who's your daddy?"
But one day, the new preacher said the benediction so fast that he got caught and had to walk out with the crowd.
Just about the time he got to the back door, the new preacher, not knowing anything about him, put his hand on his shoulder and asked him, "Son, who's your daddy?"
The whole church got deathly quiet. He could feel every eye in the church looking at him. Now every one would finally know the answer to the question, "Who's your daddy?"
This new preacher, though, sensed the situation around him and using discernment that only the Holy Spirit could give, said the following to that scared little boy. "Wait a minute! I know who you are! I see the family resemblance now. You are a child of God"
With that he patted the boy on his shoulder and said, "Boy, you've got a great inheritance. Go and claim it."
With that, the boy smiled for the first time in a long time and walked out the door a changed person. He was never the same again. Whenever anybody asked him, "Who's your Daddy?" he'd just tell them, "I'm a Child of God."
The distinguished gentleman got up from the table and said, "Isn't that a great story?"
The professor responded that it really was a great story!
As the man turned to leave, he said, "You know, if that new preacher hadn't told me that I was one of God's children, I probably never would have amounted to anything!" And he walked away.
The seminary professor and his wife were stunned. He called the waitress over and asked her, "Do you know who that man was -- the one who just left that was sitting at our table?"
The waitress grinned and said, "Of course. Everybody here knows him. That's Ben Hooper. He's the former governor of Tennessee!"
Maybe someone in your life today needs a reminder that they're one of God's children!
Being a child of God means that He will help carry our burdens. He offers this by telling us to yoke ourselves to Him. A yoke is used to make a burden lighter, it's a wooden harness that goes over the shoulders of the oxen and loops down around their neck. The farmers yoke the oxen together so they can share the burden of the heavy load. Christ offers to yoke Himself to us to share our load; this doesn't mean that all of our troubles will go away, but that they will become more manageable if we rely on Him, that He will share our burdens. Our Stephen Ministry can be considered as a ministry of yoking a Care Receiver, a person needing support with a Care Giver, a trained Stephen Minister. The Stephen Minister, supports, listens, prays and cares for someone in a difficult time guiding them to bring their troubles to God and have Him share their burden and make it lighter. Sharing our burdens with others and God can make our lives so much better. Reach out and see how you can share the burden with those around you.
Amen.
1. Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.
©Jann Martin 2008
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7/09/2008 mfc