I was sitting in my family room on Sunday next to my papa. I was listening to one of the talks and the speaker (I can't remember who, because the ensuing conversation managed to take over my thoughts for the rest of the talk.) The speaker quoted Matthew 11: 28-30:
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 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.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
My dad leaned over to me and said, "How is it that the Savior's burden is "light?" Isn't His burden heavy because of what He did for us? Yes. Absolutely. But... here is what we talked about:
What was Christ's greatest burden that He bore on this earth? What was His purpose in coming to earth? To bear our burdens. The Atonement.
3rd Nephi 27 states:
14 And my Father sent me (Christ) that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I (Christ) had been lifted up upon the cross, that I (Christ) might draw all men unto me, that as I (Christ) have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me (Christ), to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—
15 And for this cause have I (Christ) been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the Father I (Christ) will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works.
His burden, the Atonement, is there so that we can have the opportunity and ability to return to our Heavenly Father. That is our ultimate goal in life.
So, now let's look at 3 Nephi 9:18-
18 I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
Christ is the light of the world. His burden is the light - the ultimate light that gives us hope that we can return to live with Him: the Atonement.
"For my yoke is easy and my burden is YOUR light."
Another translation for yoke is fence. The yoke, or fence that Christ talks about, is in reference to the fence that that the Pharisees had set up to protect the law. There was the law of Moses that all followed, and the pharisees set up extra laws to prevent themselves from even coming close to breaking the real laws, naming this a fence or yoke. For example how many steps were to be taken on the sabbath.
ReplyDeleteThrough time this fence began to be treated like the actual law and those who transgressed were subject to punishment. Jesus went out of his way to break such laws without breaking the actual law of Moses. Proving a point while still remaining sin free.
In Matthew Christ is saying come follow me, because my rules are easier to follow than the those given by the Pharisees.
Oh my gosh Anonymous -- thank you so much. That is really amazing.
ReplyDeleteWow, that was a great read - both the original post and the anonymous answer. Deep thoughts by Ash and anonymous. :)
ReplyDelete