The Example of Christ. 2
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"Learn of Me." It is not merely to all intellectual learning of Him, which Christ here calls us—but to an experimental, practical, effectual, and transforming learning; and in order to that we must be completely subject to Him.
John Newton suggested in his sermons on this passage, that there is another relation between these two things: that not only is our taking of Christ's yoke upon us an indispensable requirement for our learning of Him—but that our learning of Him is His only appointed means for enabling us to wear His yoke. We believe that both these things are included, so we will now work out Mr. Newton's suggestion:
" 'Learn of Me.' Be not afraid to come to Me for help and instruction, 'for I am gentle and humble in heart.' Here is encouragement indeed. You need not hesitate to apply unto such a one—though He is Maker of Heaven and earth, King of kings and Lord of lords! O what a wondrous person is the Lord Jesus Christ! What varied excellencies meet in Him: both God and man in one person. The Lion of the tribe of Judah—yet at the same time the gentle Lamb. The One before whom the Roman soldiers fainted (John 18:6)—yet the One who took into His arms little children and blessed them. The One before whom all the angels of Heaven prostrate themselves in adoring homage—yet the One who is the Friend of sinners. Because He is God, possessed of omniscience and omnipotence, therefore is He able to solve our every problem and supply strength for the weakest; because He is Man, possessed of human sensibilities, therefore is He capable of being 'touched with the feeling of our infirmities.' How gladly, then, should we turn unto such a one!"
" 'Learn of Me.' I know the cause why these things appear so hard. It is owing to the pride and impatience of your hearts. To remedy this, take Me for your example; I require nothing of you—but what I have performed before you, and on your account. In the path I mark out for you—you may perceive My own footsteps all the way. This is a powerful argument, a sweet recommendation, of the yoke of Christ, to those who love Him—that He bore that yoke Himself. He is not like the Pharisees, whom He censured (Matthew 23:4) on this very account: who bound heavy burdens, and grievous to be borne, and laid them on men's shoulders—but they themselves would not move them with one of their fingers."
"1. Are you terrified with the difficulties attending your profession? Are you disheartened by hard usage—or too ready to show resentment against those who oppose you? Learn of Jesus, admire and imitate His steadfastness: 'Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won’t grow weary and lose heart' (Hebrews 12:3). Make a comparison (so the word imports) between yourself and Him, between the treatment which He endured, and that which you are called to struggle with; then surely you will be ashamed to complain. Admire and imitate His gentleness: when He was reviled, He reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; He wept for His enemies, and prayed for His murderers. Let the same mind be in you—which was also in Christ Jesus."
"2. Do you find it hard to walk steadfastly in His precepts, especially in some particular instances, when the maxims of worldly prudence and the pleadings of flesh and blood, are strongly against you? Learn of Jesus. He pleased not Himself (Romans 15:3). That is, He considered not what was safe and easy—but what was the will of His heavenly Father. Entreat Him to strengthen you with strength in your soul, that as you bear the name of His disciples, you may resemble Him in every part of your conduct, and shine as lights in a dark and selfish world—to the glory of His grace."
"3. Are you tempted to repine at the dispensations of Divine providence? Take Jesus for your pattern. Did He say, when the unspeakable sufferings He was to endure for sinners were just coming upon Him, 'The cup which My Father has given Me—shall I not drink it?' (John 18:11); and shall we presume to have our own will? especially when we further reflect that as His sufferings were wholly on our account—so all our sufferings are by Hisappointment, and all designed by Him to promote our best, that is our spiritual and eternal welfare?" (John Newton).
"Learn of Me." Christ, then, teaches His disciples not only by precept—but by example; not only by word of mouth—but chiefly by His own perfect life of obedience and submission to the Father's will. When He uttered these words of Matthew 11:29, He was Himself wearing the "yoke" and giving a personal exemplification of gentleness and humility. O what a perfect Teacher, showing us in His own utter selflessness, what these lovely graces really are! Gentleness and humility revealed themselves in all that the Redeemer said and did. He did not associate with the noble and mighty, the rich and influential—but made fishermen His ambassadors, and sought those most despised, so that He was dubbed "a Friend of publicans and sinners!" We read of but one triumph in all His earthly life, when He entered Jerusalem to the acclaiming Hosannas of the people: yet observe how He then carried Himself: "Behold, your King comes unto you, gentle, and sitting upon an donkey!" (Matthew 21:5)"
"Learn of Me—for I am gentle and humble in heart." Those heavenly graces, which are the roots from which all other spiritual excellencies spring, can only be learned from Christ. The colleges and seminaries cannot impart them, preachers and churches cannot bestow them, no self-culture can attain unto them. They can only be learned experimentally and vitally at the feet of Christ, as we take our proper place in the dust before Him. They can only be learned as we take His yoke upon us. They can only be learned as we commune with Him day by day and drink more deeply of His spirit. They can only be learned as we ponder the details of His recorded life and then follow the example which He has left us. They can only be learned as we turn those ponderings into earnest prayers that we may be more fully conformed unto His holy image. They can only be learned as we definitely and trustfully seek the enablement of His Spirit to mortify the deeds of the body.
What cause have we to mourn—that there is so little gentleness and humility in us! How we need to confess unto God, our lamentable deficiency. Though it is much to be thankful for if we are conscious of and humbled over our sad lack—yet merely mourning over it will not improve matters. We must go back to the root of our folly, and judge it. Why have I failed to learn these heavenly graces from Christ? Ah, has it not to be said of me, as of Israel of old, "Ephraim is a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke"? If so, how I need to cry unto Christ with all my might, and beg Him to give me a heart for His yoke. Not until my proud spirit is broken and my will is completely surrendered to Christ—can I truly "learn of Him." Only then shall I take pleasure in pondering the Psalms and the Gospels, wherein I may discover the recorded manifestations of His gentleness and humility. Only then shall I delight in making Christ the Object of my heart—and the pattern of my character and conduct.
And this taking of Christ's yoke upon us and learning of Him is to be a daily thing—the chief business of my life. Christianity is far more than an orthodox creed and ethical code—it is a being practically conformed to the image of God's Son. It is a learning to be nothing, that He may be all in all. So many make the great mistake of supposing that coming to Christ and taking His yoke upon them is a single act, which may be done once and for all. Not so! It is to be a continuous and daily act, "To whom coming, (again and again) as unto a living Stone" (1 Peter 2:4). We need to continue as we began. The most matured Christian who has been fifty years in the way—needs Christ as truly and urgently now—as he did the first moment he was convicted of his lost condition! He needs Christ's cleansing blood, His quickening power, His healing virtue! He needs to come as an empty-handed beggar to receive of His grace. In like manner he needs to daily take His yoke upon him and learn of Him.
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