Do You Need Rest?

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ~ Matthew 11:29 (ESV)

Examining Jesus heart is not an easy thing to do, it causes one who is authentically seeking to be like Jesus to cringe as you begin to truly understand what Jesus heart looks like. When you first understand that Jesus heart was pure, that there is genuinely no sin within Him, as Peter phrased it, “but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” 1 Peter 1:19 (ESV) We begin to understand that our heart is not always inline with that of Christ

Further examination reveals that there is peacefulness in the heart of our Savior. As Jesus watched the disciples, fearful in the stormy seas Jesus was at peace as He calmly walked out to them on the water. As the disciples worried over what to feed the multitude Jesus thanked God for the opportunity to show God’s power and love. When being arrested in the garden, Peter drew his sword to fight while Jesus reached out His hand in love to heal. Without sin in His heart, there was no need for retribution. Jesus always kept His eye on the prize, never wavering or questioning His purpose and always peace in His heart.

Unlike many of us Jesus, focus was on His task, not aimlessly wandering through life, His objective to save the world from our sin. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.” John 3:17 (ESV)

Most importantly and what we must consider is that Christ heart is spiritual. The intimate relationship Jesus shares with God the Father is the consummate quality that all Christ followers should aspire too. When He returned to Nazareth, the town where Jesus lived as a child. Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as He was accustomed to. When the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to Him to read, Jesus unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19 (ESV)

After reading this Jesus returned the scroll to the attendant, sat down and with all watching and listening to Him, Jesus said, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:21 (ESV) Jesus acknowledging that God’s Spirit was with Him and in Him. Luke 4:16 we read that Jesus was accustomed to going to worship. Luke 4:4 we find that Jesus new Scripture from memory and from Luke 5:16 we know that Jesus often withdrew to desolate places to pray.

Jesus time with God in prayer guided His actions and thoughts, “So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of His own accord, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father dies, that the Son does likewise.” John 5:19 (ESV) Jesus then informs us, “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of Him who sent me.” John 5:30 (ESV). Be assured that the heart of Jesus is unwavering and spiritual, connected in an intimate relationship with God the Father. Amen. <><