Passage Introduction
As John is sitting in prison, he begins to wonder if Jesus was really who John thought he was. In the first part of this chapter, John sends some of his disciples to ask Jesus for clarification. Jesus addresses John's questions and then turns to the crowd and begins to talk with them. In verses 16-19, he talks about how some of the people were not happy no matter what. They found things to complain about with John, and then complained about the opposite things with Jesus. In verses 20-24, he talks about towns that did not believe in him. In verses 25-26, he offers a brief prayer. In verse 27 talks about how he reveals what God is really like. Finally, in verses 28-30, he talks about finding rest in him. As you read through this passage, keep the context in mind. Remember that Jesus had just addressed John's concerns and reassured him before addressing these issues. Think about the issues that Jesus raises. Which one speaks to you the most right now?
As John is sitting in prison, he begins to wonder if Jesus was really who John thought he was. In the first part of this chapter, John sends some of his disciples to ask Jesus for clarification. Jesus addresses John's questions and then turns to the crowd and begins to talk with them. In verses 16-19, he talks about how some of the people were not happy no matter what. They found things to complain about with John, and then complained about the opposite things with Jesus. In verses 20-24, he talks about towns that did not believe in him. In verses 25-26, he offers a brief prayer. In verse 27 talks about how he reveals what God is really like. Finally, in verses 28-30, he talks about finding rest in him. As you read through this passage, keep the context in mind. Remember that Jesus had just addressed John's concerns and reassured him before addressing these issues. Think about the issues that Jesus raises. Which one speaks to you the most right now?
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Oxen Working in the Field
Photo by Sarai Carrasco
Public domain image |
Exploring the Text: Simple prayer
In the middle of Jesus talking to the crowds, Jesus interrupts what he is saying to the crowd, and offers a quick, simple prayer (Matthew 11:25-26). There is no show, no pretense. Jesus turns to prayer as easily as if he were turning to talk to someone else in the crowd. We often feel like we need to make a production out of our prayer. We have to hold hands, bow our heads, close our eyes, or whatever. For Jesus, prayer was a simple as talking to someone else in the room. Maybe we can learn something from Jesus' simple prayer. Maybe we can make our prayer life, like Jesus', less of a production and more a natural outgrowth of our relationship with God.
David Dalton
In the middle of Jesus talking to the crowds, Jesus interrupts what he is saying to the crowd, and offers a quick, simple prayer (Matthew 11:25-26). There is no show, no pretense. Jesus turns to prayer as easily as if he were turning to talk to someone else in the crowd. We often feel like we need to make a production out of our prayer. We have to hold hands, bow our heads, close our eyes, or whatever. For Jesus, prayer was a simple as talking to someone else in the room. Maybe we can learn something from Jesus' simple prayer. Maybe we can make our prayer life, like Jesus', less of a production and more a natural outgrowth of our relationship with God.
David Dalton
Spiritual Practices: Breath Prayer
Overview
In verse 28, Jesus encourages everyone who is tired, weary, stressed out, worn down, and exhausted to come to him so he can give them rest. He encourages us to take his yoke and to learn from him.
What Jesus is referring to is a way of training oxen. An older, more mature ox would be yoked together with a younger, more energetic ox. Left to itself, the younger ox would pull the cart or the plow and full speed and soon exhaust itself. The older, more mature ox would measure its pace and be able to complete the task. By yoking them together, the younger ox would be restrained and would learn from the older ox. In the same way, when we accept Jesus' yoke, we are learning rhythms and patterns from him. He says that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Another translation of this is that his burden will carry us instead of us carrying the weight of our burdens. That is what this breath prayer is about.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, let me enter your rest.
Overview
In verse 28, Jesus encourages everyone who is tired, weary, stressed out, worn down, and exhausted to come to him so he can give them rest. He encourages us to take his yoke and to learn from him.
What Jesus is referring to is a way of training oxen. An older, more mature ox would be yoked together with a younger, more energetic ox. Left to itself, the younger ox would pull the cart or the plow and full speed and soon exhaust itself. The older, more mature ox would measure its pace and be able to complete the task. By yoking them together, the younger ox would be restrained and would learn from the older ox. In the same way, when we accept Jesus' yoke, we are learning rhythms and patterns from him. He says that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Another translation of this is that his burden will carry us instead of us carrying the weight of our burdens. That is what this breath prayer is about.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, let me enter your rest.