The Restful Yoke

Mark Guy Pearse tells us of an incident which occurred in connection with a sermon of his on Christ’s invitation to the weary and heavy-laden: “I had finished my sermon, when a good man came to me and said: ‘wish I had known what you were going to preach about. I could have told you something.’ “Well, because the good Lord helps us to carry it, I suppose.’ “‘No, sir,’ he exclaimed, shaking his head; ‘I think I know better than that.

You see, when I was a boy at home, I used to drive the oxen in my father’s yoke. And the yoke was never made to balance, sir, as you said.’ (I had re- ferred to the Greek word. But how much better it was to know the real thing.)

“He went on triumphantly: ‘Father’s yokes were always made heavier on one side than the other. Then, you see, we would put a weak bullock in alongside a strong bullock, and the light end would come on the weak bullock, because the stronger one had the heavy part of it on his shoulder.’

“Then his face lit up as he said: ‘That is why the yoke is easy and the burden is light—because the Lord’s yoke is made after the same pattern, and the heavy end is upon His shoulder.’ “So shall ye find rest to your soul.”