Prepare for Easter

Saturday, March 28, 2020

About My Father’s Business:

A Lenten Devotional Guide

                                                  

”Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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.”

Matthew 11:28-30 NASB

We know that Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, was a carpenter and that Jesus learned carpentry from him. Rabbis or teachers (as Jesus was often called) had to do more than just teach in the synagogue. All men had to work to support themselves. Jesus was a carpenter. Recently in Sunday morning Bible class a couple of people said they assumed he made things like furniture or chairs. But there is evidence that he had a specialty. He made yokes, such fine yokes that people came from miles around to buy them.

Yokes are shaped to fit the animal who will wear them, and must be carefully constructed so as not chafe. Like shoes, if they don’t fit well, they’ll pinch! Oxen work in teams; they share a yoke, and if one is uncomfortable the other is hindered. Also, the older, more experienced ox bears most of the load, so the fit of his side of the yoke is particularly important.

Now read the verse above. Jesus invites us to come and share a yoke with him, one he has made to fit well. He will bear most of the load, so the burden will be easy for us.

Paul expands this thought and says we can be “yoked together with God in Christ.” Isn’t that a lovely thought? Plowing made easy with the greatest of all companions, wearing a yoke crafted by the Master yoke maker!

Father, we know oxen work in pairs. Yoke us with Christ that we can learn what your business is now and learn from him how to do it well. Amen

About My Father’s Business:

A Lenten Devotional Guide
prepared for First United Methodist Church 

of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2010
by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator