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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
In that amazing Matthew Chapter 11, we read of honest doubt, and criticism, and apathy and profound encouragement.
As we move into Matthew Chapter 12, we read of a topic has caused so much trouble, and particularly in Scotland – the Sabbath.
Relaxing and strolling away from the clamouring crowds and pressures, Jesus and His disciples are walking. Now, that was unusual to begin with – for Jesus to be what we might call relaxing. But their physical peace is attacked as the critics arise! Jesus deals with it.
They are accused of harvesting. Dragging a chair across the floor was regarded as ploughing. Legalism is a terrible thing.
There was a film produced many years ago called “Whisky Galore”, and it was a travesty and distortion, and portrayed a caricature, of The Church of Jesus Christ.
The Pharisees are following Jesus, to spy on him.
They loved to argue over superficial trivial matters. When we move away from what God is doing we get tied up in irrelevant arguments and discussions. These Pharisees were hot on His trail. They are such rascals.
Do you think that grown men could be so petty, but all is fair in hate and war?
The real issue here is not what we do or do not do on the Sabbath - but Jesus - who does He think He is?
God’s minorities are so often right! Think of that in the light of our present circumstances.
Jesus addresses them. Have you never read? Do you not know the Word? They hadn’t a word to say! Jesus shut them up.
This was supposed to be a day of rest, and Jesus has just been speaking about rest. Perhaps we hurried past that last week too quickly and superficially.
The yoke is a transverse wooden bar, and you put your head in the yoke and submitted to the master to whom the bar belonged. When you take someone’s yoke you are under his mastery. You live under his direction.
There is almost a bad yoke and a good yoke. The yoke can affect and influence our hearts and also our minds. Those under the yoke of Christ do not select and choose what to do and how to serve. Jesus may have made the smoothest yokes in Nazareth, but it is still a yoke. Come, put your head in the yoke and discover for yourself that his burden is light.
The Pharisees placed a yoke on people but it was a bad burdensome yoke.
The yoke of Jesus is very different. We learn of Him and we learn of what He is like – meek and lowly – and you will find rest.
Everyone has a yoke. Think of the yoke of drug addiction and alcohol, or any other addiction.
You will never find a Master to serve quite like the Lord Jesus.
When we serve the wrong master and carry the wrong yoke there is a degree of disintegration, and are we not seeing that and witnessing that tragedy in these present days?
Jesus says – My yoke is easy – My burden is light. He saw people under the heavy yoke of legalistic Pharisees and where that yoke did not fit it skaved or blistered or skinned.
The yoke of Jesus Christ to the believer is no more a burden than feathers are to a bird.
Let that encourage and inspire and motivate you as you seek to serve Jesus Christ faithfully and loyally and lovingly.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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