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labor unrest Daniel Patz, Lead Pastor Grace Church, Sunday Worship Matthew 11:25-30 September 4th, 2011
Matthew 11:25-30 ESV At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; (26) yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. (27) All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. (28) Come to me, all 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." LABOR DAY AND LABOR UNREST Became a holiday in 1894 (Laura Ingles Wilder was 27 years old) Factories were springing up in America and Europe. Instead of skilled tradesmen who would make an entire shoe, unskilled workers were needed to do a task that even a child could do. Wages were low, work weeks were long (6-7 days at 10-12 hours a day), children were put to work (even as young as 5-6 yrs old), and conditions were often dangerous and unhealthy. Exploitation was possible and practiced. This brought about the call for unions – masses of works joining together (united) to protest the employers for fair wages and working conditions. This led to many strikes and riots. All examples of a world at unrest. Labor Day became a workingmen’s holiday that would be mark with parades for the workers and leisure. A lot has happened since the late 1800s. The questions of labor unions and labor unrest are still with us in our country (as Wisconsin). But there is a greater labor problem than the ones we read about in our history book. It goes way back to the time of Jesus and the heart of this problem impacts every one of us. Jesus makes note of this universal crisis in verse 28: (28) Come to me, all 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." GOAL My goal is to proclaim good news (hope) to the overwhelmed, discouraged and guilty by pointing them to the One who is invites them to rest It is found in this passage and it centers on the PERSON of Jesus and His PROMISES.
Jesus addresses the reality that people are overwhelmed, discouraged and guilty. “who labor” – literally it means – “those who are weary through struggling or toil “heavy laden” – senses of – “overloaded like beasts of burden (passive)” Matthew 9:35-36 ESV And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. (36) When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Context of Jesus’ day – Jews overloaded with Pharisee’s burdens Luke 11:46 ESV And he said, "Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. Context of Our Day:
In Jesus’ day there was a labor problem and there still is today. This labor problem demands a solution. Things must not just stay the same. Note: Maybe some of you come here not really feeling burdened and heavy laden but you should be.
Jesus says to come and be united to Him. Our fleshly instincts is to isolate ourselves or be united first to others to protest, grumble and complain. Jesus says – come to me. When you come to me I will give you rest. Come to me – when you come to me you come to me at the cross. You meet me there and understand that I am the only answer to labor problems. Labor is a problem because sin is a problem. Labor is overwhelming only because we are not united to the One who Labors rightly. Jesus labored on the cross for our labor problems. He labored and now it is finished. His answer though is not to come and be freed from all constraints. He says – “come to me and take my yoke” This is a metaphor of being bound to a beast to labor. This is a metaphor of discipleship. Yet the discipleship to Jesus is consider easy and light because he is meek and lowly in heart. He serves us and helps us. All our burdens and laboring needs to be laid down at the feet of Jesus. We cannot labor on by ourselves.
Jesus is the only politician who can offer promises and produce perfect results. Jesus is not a politician who gets voted into the world of influence. He is the Lord of the world. He is the answer to labor unrest and the truest labor unrest is found in the human heart. It is found in our constant pursuit of security, significance, comfort, pleasures and power – we labor and are heavy ladened and He says – unyoke form the world and come to me. I restructure everything in your life. I am your rest. I will give it in the future and in the present I will give you a peace in the midst of storms. I will make you lie down in safety because I (the Sovereign One) is with you. Rest – Freedom
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