Revelation, Relationship and Rest

This morning I am reading from Matthew 11:25-30 NIV:

[25] "At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. [26] Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

[27] “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

[28] “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. [29] 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. [30] For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Such and interesting set of scriptures, all related, yet each set standing alone on its own. The themes of revelation, relationship and rest, all woven together.

The first statement Jesus made is intriguing, especially the end statement, about it being pleasing to the Father. The revelation of Jesus and the Kingdom of God, is what Jesus is discussing - see Luke 10:21- 22 for that reference. He had just sent the 72 out and they had seen miraculous things happen, and Jesus was rejoicing in the great things they had done and seen. He was expressing the fact that the Kingdom was advancing, and that on the shoulders of His followers, who were just like you and me. They were not the leaders of the synagogue or the 'wise', but just normal people. The Greek word actually means infant, but is used metaphorically to speak of the untrained and unskilled. He sent them out and they saw things that the Prophets of old longed to see. It is interesting that He says this pleases the Father to do it this way. We can conclude that the Father enjoys when the young, the new recruits, the humble, those held in little esteem go out and do "the stuff" of healing, signs and wonders, and miracles. There is a revelation of the Kingdom that the Father loves to bring about to such as these.

The second statement, rides on the first, for here Jesus says that it is precisely because He has relationship with the Father, and knows Him, and is choosing to reveal Him to us. All things have been committed to Him, and that means exactly that. He is the Father's representative, doing His works here on earth, and in that, bringing revelation of who the Father is, and what the Father is like. He chooses to reveal that to us, drawing us into relationship with Himself and the Father. Think of it as a young man bringing a friend home to meet his father. He knows what his father is like and is now bringing this friend home to meet his father and see for them self through first hand experience, what his father is really like. Tying this back to the first statement, it is the Father's good pleasure for it to work this way. The Father loves to reveal who He is through His Son Jesus.

Finally, there is rest and revelation in relationship with Jesus. When we come to Jesus we can lay down our burdens. When we come to Jesus there can be a transference of peace, for Jesus is not worried or pressured by anything. He speaks of rest for our souls, rest for the weary and burdened, which is brought about through His peace, and our knowing who He is. When I feel pressured and weary, I can go to Jesus and get His perspective. The invitation is to relationship with Him, the learning is only possible in that place of relationship. Finally the yoke He speaks of can mean His teaching and commands, and those were radically different than the law under which the people He was addressing were trapped. There was a great burden of the law and all its precepts that they felt they had to fulfill, and Jesus is replacing that with His new command - to love one another, and be active in representing Him and furthering the Kingdom. I was just reminded of something that Bill Johnson said about the time that Jesus and the apostles were ina boat in a storm and Jesus was sleeping (Matt 8:23-27) He said that Jesus was able to sleep, because inside Him there was no storm, only peace. He knew they would be fine, knew that the Father was in complete control, so was able to sleep. This is the type of peace and rest that He can bring us as we step into relationship with Him and come to know the heart of the Father.

So let us come to Jesus, receive this wonderful rest as we enter into relationship with Him and let Him reveal to us the heart of the Father for us. Let us walk in His ways, following His lead, and bring pleasure to the Father.