Yoke
yōk/
noun: yoke
A wooden crosspiece that is fastened over
the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they are to
pull.
Yokes are fitted to an animal team. The better the fit the
better the animals could work together to bear the load. A well fitting yoke is
comfortable and barely noticed by the animals whereas an ill fitting yoke rubs,
chaffs, and can do damage to one or both animals it is used on.
There is a tradition that believes Jesus was a master yoke
maker. People would come to him from all around to make a yoke for their
working team. If this tradition is true then there must have been some people
laughing when Jesus said:
“Take My yoke upon you
and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest
for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” – Matthew 11:
29-30
The yoke maker telling us to take his yoke. Was this holy
land advertising?
The Pharisees thought the way to righteousness was by
strictly living to the letter of the Torah. This put a great burden on those
who tried. You were either lowly because you often failed and couldn’t live by
the Law or you became holier than thou, like Saul, who boasted of being without
fault in the eyes of the Law. Christians see Jesus as the Law fulfilled, the
living Torah. Jesus invites all people to live as he does, in the spirit of the
Law, and not to be overburdened by trying to ensure every jot and tittle is in
its proper place.
The last time I was watching The Passion of the Christ, which I can only do once every Easter, a
particular scene stuck me in a new way. It was the scene where Simon of Cyrene
was pressed into helping Jesus carry his cross.
When I saw this image I immediately saw….a yoke, Christ’s
yoke. I saw two bearing the burden. I was struck by the way Mel Gibson had
“Simon” not only carry the cross but our Lord as well. The two of them worked
together to make it to the greatest event in human history.
Jesus goes on to tell his Disciples that if they want
eternal life they would have to pick up their crosses and follow him. The way to
Calvary was not easy. Nor is it easy to be a Christian. We are called to be
better. We are called to be the image of Christ.
Back to the image of the cross being a yoke. A yoke is made
for two. We never bear our cross or wear our yoke alone. As Simon helped Christ
in his humanity bear the burden so Jesus now helps us in ours. With Jesus as
our yokemate is there any burden that could be too heavy? When we stumble is he not
there to balance the load. When we can no longer stand does he not put one arm
around us and one around our cross and lift us up?
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. Be gentle and
humble of heart. I will make your burden light and you will find rest for your
soul.
