The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand, 1:1-28:20

The Galilean Ministry, 8:1-18:35

Reception Of the Messiah: Rising Opposition, 11:2-13:53

Response To The Messiah, 11:2-12:50 (Ash Wednesday; Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost)

The Condemned And The Accepted, 11:20-30

Reading: Joh 14:27; He. 4:15; Ps143:10

Songs:

Theme: A cure to a stress-filled life!

INTRODUCTION

1. Stress related illnesses are growing exponentially. New drugs are invented every year to deal with problems that result in the body due to stress. Millions are searching for that seemingly elusive peace of mind to calm their nerves. Are there times when you can't see how you could cope with everything more happening in your life? Are there times when your guilt from mistakes plague you to no end and seem to be driving you crazy?
2. Jesus understood the plague of stress. Not long into his ministry, he began to face mounting opposition even in areas where spent a lot of time teaching (11:20-23). Even with all his stress his thoughts were for others.

1. PRAYER, 11:25-26; cp. Lu 10:21-22
1. Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father

ASV

[Even so KJV] yea <3483>, Father <3962>, for <3754> so <3779> it [seemed KJV] was <1096> (5633) [good KJV] well-pleasing 26: <2107> in thy <4675> sight <1715>.

26. nai <3483> o <3588> {YEA,} pathr <3962> {FATHER,} oti <3754> {FOR} outwv <3779> {THUS} egeneto <1096> (5633) {IT WAS} eudokia <2107> {WELL PLEASING} emprosyen <1715> {BEFORE} sou <4675> {THEE.}

1. answered, 611 APOKRINOMAI {ap-ok-ree'-nom-ahee} from 575 and krino; TDNT - 3:944,*; v AV - answer 250; 250 1) to give an answer to a question proposed, to answer 2) to begin to speak, but always where something has preceded (either said or done) to which the remarks refer

5679 Tense – Aorist See 5777

Voice - Passive Deponent See 5789

Mood - Participle See 5796

Count – 164

1. It is curious that the text says Jesus answered, for the text does not present him a question.
2. "answered" was frequently used where no question was recorded, 22:1; Mar 9:5, 38; 11:14; Lu 13:14.
3. Jesus was probably responding as an expression of astonishment, to the thoughts, attitudes, feelings or other responses that came from those listening to his discourse.
2. thank, 1843 EXOMOLOGEO {ex-om-ol-og-eh'-o} from 1537 and 3670; TDNT - 5:199,687; v AV - confess 8, thank 2, promise 1; 11 1) to confess 2) to profess 2a) acknowledge openly and joyfully 2b) to one's honour: to celebrate, give praise to 2c) to profess that one will do something, to promise, agree, engage
3. He was not thankful to God for hidding the gospel he preached, from people but that God revealed it to those who were more likely to accept it and receive into their lives.
4. In this prayer, Jesus declared the righteousness of God.
5. The word used for thank or praise means "to say the same thing" ot "to agree." It is the word used for the confession of sins (I Jn. 1:9).
1. Jesus was thankful for God’s plan by which generally, the wise and learned were excluded while the humble and teachable were included,
2. He praised God, agreeing with his ways, openly confessing acceptance of God’s plan for man’s salvation.
3. Jesus was grateful that one does not have to have his B.A. or Ph.D. degree to understand the truth of God’s word, to follow it.
6. It is not so much wisdom that keeps people from receiving Christ and following him, but an attitude that one is "wise in one’s own eyes" Pr 26:5; 1Co 1:25.
7. babes or those , Mat 18:3

totally dependent for care and accepting of every word

1 Cor.2:13-14

1. PROCLAMATION, ., 11:27; cf. Joh 5:21-24; Mat 28:18

 

1. reveal , 601 APOKALUPTO {ap-ok-al-oop'-to} from 575 and 2572; TDNT - 3:563,405; v AV - reveal 26; 26 1) to uncover, lay open what has been veiled or covered up 1a) disclose, make bare 2) to make known, make manifest, disclose what before was unknown For Synonyms see entry 5812

5658 Tense - Aorist See 5777

Voice - Active See 5784

Mood - Infinitive See 5795

Count – 516

2. PROMISE, 11:28-30
1. ... no one knoweth the Son, save the Father ... neither doth any know the Father , save the Son ..., 11:27

ASV

27 All things <3956> [are KJV] have been delivered <3860> (5681) unto me <3427> of <5259> my <3450> Father <3962>: and <2532> no [man KJV] one <3762> knoweth <1921> (5719) the Son <5207>, [but KJV] save <1508> the Father <3962>; neither <3761> [knoweth KJV] doth any [man KJV] <5100> know <1921> (5719) the Father <3962>, save <1508> the Son <5207>, and he <2532> to <3739> whomsoever <1437> the Son <5207> [will KJV] willeth <1014> (5741) to reveal <601> (5658) him.

27 panta <3956> {ALL THINGS} moi <3427> {TO ME} paredoyh <3860> (5681) {WERE DELIVERED} upo <5259> tou <3588> {BY} patrov <3962> mou <3450> {MY FATHER.} kai <2532> {AND} oudeiv <3762> {NO ONE} epiginwskei <1921> (5719) {KNOWS} ton <3588> {THE} uion <5207> {SON} ei <1487> mh <3361> {EXCEPT} o <3588> {THE} pathr <3962> {FATHER;} oude <3761> {NOR} ton <3588> {THE} patera <3962> {FATHER} tiv <5100> {ANY ONE} epiginwskei <1921> (5719) {DOES KNOW} ei <1487> mh <3361> {EXCEPT} o <3588> {THE} uiov <5207> {SON,} kai <2532> {AND} w <3739> ean <1437> {HE TO WHOMSOEVER} boulhtai <1014> (5741) {MAY WILL} o <3588> {THE} uiov <5207> {SON} apokaluqai <601> (5658) {TO REVEAL HIM.}

Transition: God wants to reveal himself to us and seeks to do so through an invitation.

2. Come unto me, all ye ...

28 Come <1205> (5773) unto <4314> me <3165>, all <3956> ye that [labour KJV] labor <2872> (5723) and <2532> are heavy laden <5412> (5772), and I <2504> will give <373> <0> you <5209> rest <373> (5692).

28 deute <1205> (5773) {COME} prov <4314> {TO} me <3165> {ME,} pantev <3956> {ALL} oi <3588> {YE THAT} kopiwntev <2872> (5723) {LABOUR} kai <2532> {AND} pefortismenoi <5412> (5772) {ARE BURDENED,} kagw <2504> {AND I} anapausw <373> (5692) {WILL GIVE REST} umav <5209> {YOU.}

 

1. THE INVITATION, 11: 28; Mar 16:15 ; Joh 3:16; Re 22:17. (Come)
1. We all get invitations - wedding, birthday, anniversary, graduations, parties etc.
1. Some we accept, some we do not accept.
2. Often it depends on our mood and money.
3. Jesus also offers an invitation. Its and invitation no one can afford to miss no matter what is going on in his/her life.
2. come, 1205 DEUTE {dyoo'-teh} from 1204 and an imperative form of eimi (to go);; adv AV - come 12, follow + 3694 1; 13 1) come hither, come here, come 2) interjection, come!, come now!

5773 Tense - No Tense Stated See 5799

Voice - No Voice Stated See 5799

Mood - Imperative See 5794

Count - 21

1. The word "come" implies an invitation and not a forced action, Ps 110:3 ; Re 22:17 ; 3:20.
2. It denotes action on our part.
1. The invitation comes from hearing God’s word, Joh 6:44-45; Ro10:17.
2. The action of the coming is seen in obeying God’s word, which leads to salvation, Joh 4:34 ; 10:1,9 ; 14:6 ; Ac 4:12 ; He 5:8 ; Ro 6:17-18; 2Th 1:6-9; 1Pe 1:22; 4:19.
3. Jesus was, is, saying "Come" as in "over here," or "away from there over to me," "to me."
4. The idea is to leave what is hindering you, behind, in order to go ("come") to Jesus.
5. Its an invitation to stop trying to find rest and peace in the world.
3. rest, 373 ANAPAUO {an-ap-ow'-o} from 303 and 3973; TDNT - 1:350,56; v AV - rest 4, refresh 4, take rest 2, give rest 1, take ease 1; 12 1) to cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labour in order to recover and collect his strength 2) to give rest, refresh, to give one's self rest, take rest 3) to keep quiet, of calm and patient expectation

5692 Tense - Future See 5776

Voice - Active See 5784

Mood - Indicative See 5791

Count - 814

1. rest of conscience - from a disctresses soul over guilt and the burden of sins, Mat 1:21; Joh 1:29 ; Acts 5:30-31; Heb. 8:12; 1John 1:9; 2:2.
1. rest of heat from fear, anxiety and worries and death, both physical and spiritual, He 2:14-15.
2. rest eternal, Joh 14:1-4; He
4. The words behind "come" are clear enough if we want to accept them.
2. THE INVITATION’S RECIPENTS, 11:28; 1Ti 1:15 (Everyone)
1. Notice to whom the invitation is sent.
1. It was not to those who seek their own form of righteousness, apart from God’s word, nor to any other who thinks s/he has no need.
2. It is to every with a need, Ro 3:23; 5:8; 1Jo 1:8-10
3. To those who labour to the point of exhaustion.
4. To those who are laden with such heavy burdens and are to the point of being worn down by them.
5. When your burdens become so heavy that you think the weight will crush you if you don't get some relief, Jesus calls for us to turn to him.
2. I L L U S T R A T I O N: Show large bulging garbage bags, each with a burden written on it. (Worry: job, money, family. Fear: future, health. Concern: everything!) While looking in the bags ask, "What are we going to do with all these burderns"? Pick the big bulky bags up and try to put them all over your shoulder. "Notice how difficult it is to carry heavy burdens"?
3. This is exactly the point Jesus was trying to make. How do we receive the needed rest, Ps 119:165?
1. Jesus’ words imply a responsibility for each person who would accept the invitation, to reach out, to take it, Is. 59:1-2
2. It is we who are in need to be joined back to God, not he to us, 2Co 5:20 ; Ep 2:16
3. THE INVITATION’S REQUIREMENT (Take, Learn, Find)
1. take,
1. Though the old law is not the reference of yoke, the word yoke is also not offering freedom from all constraints.
2. It is a metaphor for the disciplined discipleship.
2. "My" - the source from which we are to take and therefore, the word implies that we need to follow Christ's will, Mat 7:24; Joh 14:15
1. Those who accept the invitation need to realize that they give up:
1. Their own will.
2. will of others, Matt. 7:15; 10:37; 15:9 ; Co 2:8; 2Pe 2:1-3.
3. the will of the church where it is incorrect, Mat 15:13
4. Those who will not follow the will of Christ have not God, 2Joh 9.
5. Following his will is part of the "burden to bear" when we accept his invitation.
3. We are called to take – a yoke.
1. Why would Jesus tell us to take his yoke upon us with all the burderns we already are carrying?
1. Therefore, it is understandable that some of us might approach his words with caution, even resistance.
2. From another point of view, it threatens our freedom to decide for ourselves who we will be and what we will do with our lives – The America Way.
3. Too our desire is faithfulness but we want to be faithful in our own way and on our own terms - we don’t want anyone else in the driver seat but ourselves.
1. It might squeeze all the joy out of life leaving only duty and drudgery.
2. However, Jesus made it clear his "yoke" is easier and light.
3. Jesus doesn’t add to our burdens but instead, as with two equally yoked animals, he shares the weight of our burdens; even more, he takes the full weight upon himself and allows us to rest as we walk along side of him.
4. Though it is often difficult for us to let go of our need to control our own lives, and though Jesus never forces us to follow him, he does gently bid us to come follow him.
4. With his praise, Jesus was also exposing the foolishness of our attempts to control God by following our own set of rules, Mat 7:21-23; Joh 12:47-48; Ro 1:22.
2. His point was, in order to carry his, we must unload our own.
3. Jesus was not telling us to ignore our troubles or our fears; to start ignoring our monthly bills or other responsibilities.
4. He was, is telling us to trust him; to take courage from him in any situation.
4. We are called to learn
1. Christ himself is our teacher and under his tutelage what life is, following him, begin to unfold to us. We begin to understand not only what it means to be a disciple (a learner) but how to become a disciple to him.
2. Then we learn that the yoke which at first seemed to us to be so narrow, restricting, so limiting, so controlling, we discover, when we yield to it, is easy and light.
3. Christ is the greatest example to learn from as He was found without sin...I Peter 2:21-22.
4. If we learn from Christ then:
5. God will be seen in Us...John 17:3 .
6. we will be thoroughly equipped for good works..
7. II Tim 3:17.
8. We will not be unwise...Eph 5:17 .
9. 4. and we will not be conformed to this world, wherein sin...Rom 12:2.
10. C. How do we learn "of Christ"?
11. 1. We need to search the scriptures...II Tim. 2:15.
12. 2. It is in the scriptures that we find the truth...John 16:13-14; John 17:17.
13. One needs to realize that the same way that we learn almost everything in life....through study, through practice, and through making mistakes...is also applicable to learning from Christ.
14. Knowing that if we do make a mistake we have Christ as our advocate with the Father.
15. We need to learn from Christ when we are put to the Matt. 4:1-11.
16. Learn from Christ when we tire from persecution...Heb. 12:2-4.
17. Learn from Christ when our own interests centers in ourselves...Rom. 15:3 ; Luke 22:42.
5. We are called to find

Wouldn’t it be great if we really could lay our burdens down, let someone else carry the guild, allow someone else to ... We can, and we will if we choose to properly follow Jesus.

Preached:

Fargo, ND

Bibliography:

William Hansen, THE PROMISE OF REST AND PEACE