Chapter 34—The Invitation
This chapter is based on
Matthew 12:28-30
.
“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will
give you rest.”
These words of comfort were spoken to the multitude that followed
Jesus. The Saviour had said that only through Himself could men
receive a knowledge of God. He had spoken of His disciples as the
ones to whom a knowledge of heavenly things had been given. But
He left none to feel themselves shut out from His care and love. All
who labor and are heavy-laden may come unto Him.
Scribes and rabbis, with their punctilious attention to religious
forms, had a sense of want that rites of penance could never satisfy.
Publicans and sinners might pretend to be content with the sensual and
earthly, but in their hearts were distrust and fear. Jesus looked upon
the distressed and heart burdened, those whose hopes were blighted,
and who with earthly joys were seeking to quiet the longing of the
soul, and He invited all to find rest in Him.
Tenderly He bade the toiling people, “Take My yoke upon you,
and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find
rest unto your souls.”
In these words Christ is speaking to every human being. Whether
they know it or not, all are weary and heavy-laden. All are weighed
down with burdens that only Christ can remove. The heaviest burden
that we bear is the burden of sin. If we were left to bear this burden, it
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would crush us. But the Sinless One has taken our place. “The Lord
hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
Isaiah 53:6
. He has borne the
burden of our guilt. He will take the load from our weary shoulders.
He will give us rest. The burden of care and sorrow also He will bear.
He invites us to cast all our care upon Him; for He carries us upon His
heart.
The Elder Brother of our race is by the eternal throne. He looks
upon every soul who is turning his face toward Him as the Saviour.
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