I can’t remember when I first learned the difference between a yolk and a yoke. I’m pretty sure that it happened in a Bible class. The only yoke I ever knew prior was an egg yolk. Culinarily speaking, egg yolks are the fatty yellow part of the egg that helps to make rich cakes and delicious desserts – not to mention deviled eggs!
In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus lets us know that if people believe that He is the Son of God, they are welcome to: “28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”” The yoke Jesus talks about has nothing to do with eggs, but everything to do with what it means to be His disciple.
If we recall Matthew 12:1-14 and the legalism that the Pharisees burdened the people with, it helps us to understand what Jesus is offering. Jesus states the issue plainly in Matthew 23:1-4, “1 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.”
The Pharisaical system of faith relies on works created by the Pharisees and not God for salvation. Following such a system is wearisome and burdensome and weighs a soul down to the point of exhaustion! This is the heavy burden of the Pharisees. Jesus, however, comes along and announces the true way to salvation and it has nothing to do with legalistic Pharisaism. Compared to the untruths of the Pharisees, following Jesus is a light burden. Still, we might wonder what a yoke has to do with all of this.
A yoke is a wooden beam used to harness animals like oxen to pull a load together, symbolizing both cooperation and servitude. This is because one is typically the lead animal and the other follows. When it comes to being a disciple of Jesus, Jesus is the leader, and the disciple is the one being led. The disciple is, therefore, in servitude to Jesus. As the disciple follows the lead of Jesus they can be assured that He is leading them the right way. Jesus is leading His followers in all truth. Jesus is leading those who follow Him to eternal life (John 14:6).
Being a follower of Jesus means that we are yoked to Him. Unlike an animal who has no choice being yoked, a disciple of Jesus has a choice. A disciple volunteers to follow Jesus’ lead.
While Christians might not be burdened by a legalistic system of faith, some souls may be and are in need of Jesus’ easy yoke. The reason that Jesus’ yoke is easy is not because it’s inferior or untrue, but because it’s superior and completely true! In taking Jesus’ yoke upon us we find rest for our souls. The kind of rest Jesus’ offers doesn’t mean His disciples are lazy or unspiritual. His rest means peace in our soul and with God.
Choosing to follow Jesus doesn’t mean following a legalistic system. It means following His Way, and His Truth, to receive The Life He offers all who take His yoke upon them and follow Him. Jesus’ yoke is easy, and His burden is light.
