Introduction: Today we are talking about Jesus’ offer to lift off the heavy burdens that overwhelm you, and correct the direction of your life.

Have you reached the point of exhaustion and feel that no matter what you do life continues to push you down? We will talk about the offer Jesus makes to lift your burdens. There is a catch with every offer. What will it cost you? We’ll discuss what Jesus requires of you in order to have relief and freedom from your burdens.

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Matthew 11:27-30 "All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal. Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest. 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."

John 14:15  "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

You will be negotiating the offer directly with Jesus. Jesus declared that He is God the Son and all things have been given over to Him by God the Father. God the Father agreed to have everyone come to Him through Jesus. This explanation of who Jesus is requires more, but for now the emphasis is on Jesus stating He is the one in authority over everything and has the right to make the offer on behalf of Himself and God the Father.

Then, Jesus declared to everyone, “Come to Me.” Jesus made this offer over 2,000 years ago, and He’s not sitting physically in your living room drinking your tea or coffee when He offers to help you. Was the offer just for those who heard His voice that day? Someone must have come up later and asked if the offer could be for them too. I say this, because I myself wasn’t there that day, but I asked God if I could have the same offered to me. It is implied by God that this offer is for all who hear it, and you can hear it today.

This offer is for you. Jesus publicly spoke out loud to a large crowd and said the offer was for anyone who felt weary or heavy burdened. That’s a bold move. There was every type of burden represented in the crowd. There were the ones who were just sad all the way to deep mental struggles. There were slaves and free citizens, uneducated and educated, sick and healthy, poor and rich. There was someone like you in the crowd that day.

Each person decided for themselves whether they fit the category. Some of the religious already declared themselves perfect and couldn’t publicly declare they were weary or burdened. Many of them decided they didn’t need anyone’s help. Those listening who were desperate or trapped considered Jesus’ offer. They thought if a teacher of the law could lift their burdens, maybe they could have a different future other than the life that was placed on them. The rest were somewhere in between the perfect leaders and the desperate or trapped.

If you have decided to consider the offer, here is the first condition. Jesus will be the one who gives you rest. This is a bold statement. How can He give rest to each person and what type of rest is He talking about? There is physical rest which is needed every day or your body will break down. When you have a sound mind there is mental rest. There is also a spiritual rest, which is missing if you are separated from God. If you hate God, then this is a problem. Your spirit can only rest if you are in a personal relationship with God. Jesus will clarify more about the rest as He explains His offer.

Next, you will have to take Jesus’ yoke upon you. A yoke is used to direct oxen that are trained to work as animals for tasks like plowing and pulling carts. Jesus will be leading you to go left, right or straight. All the other leaders in your life will not be leading you, just Jesus. He will assign to you tasks and work. If you had no purpose or meaning in life before, Jesus will give you a new purpose and a new direction as He assigns you things to do for Him. He is the one controlling the reigns. Jesus knows He can direct each persons life who hears the offer and takes it. There is only one true leader over you when you take this offer. It’s Jesus. Those listening considered it and so should you.

Next, you will have to learn directly from Jesus. You will be trained by Jesus to work assigned tasks for Him as you go forward in life. Jesus will be your only teacher. All the other teachers fighting for your attention with different opinions will not be teaching you. To have Jesus as your only teacher brings a clear direction. This brings up a question? What about the all the other teachers? Don’t listen to the ones who contradict Jesus. If a teacher is just repeating what Jesus has taught then you can listen to them. Be careful to avoid the teachers who take Jesus’ rightful place over you.

What kind of leader and teacher is Jesus? Jesus said He is gentle and humble in heart. You will know if He is gentle and humble when you see what He does for you. If you take the offer, Jesus promises that you will definitely without question find rest for your soul. That means you will no longer be separated from God. If you take the offer, Jesus will remove any hate you have toward God. Your spirit will rest in a personal relationship with God. How can Jesus make such a bold offer? If Jesus is not God then the offer will fail. If Jesus is God, your eyes will be opened and your life will never be the same.

What is the actual burden Jesus asks you to carry? Jesus says, “Love Me.” It’s that simple. And if you love Jesus you will willfully choose to obey Jesus out of your love for Him. As your love for Him grows the easier it gets to go where He directs you to go. If you are still not sure about all this, talk with Jesus and ask Him to prove Himself to you directly.

Prayer coaching: “Jesus, I’m not sure about this decision to love You and follow You. Prove Yourself to me directly. Jesus, put a deep profound love in me for You, so that I know that I love You.”