In Matthew 14:13 we see Jesus being told that John the Baptist was just beheaded. Scripture recorded that Jesus left everyone and went to a lonely place by himself. One has to ask, why did he do that? What is obvious to everyone reading this scripture is that Jesus must have been overwhelmed with grief and emotion. We can only guess that Jesus needed to talk to someone who could offer him support with his grief, someone who could love him and give Jesus the answers that he sought after. We can only surmise that Jesus was talking to his father, the one person that could help him with his feelings of grief and loss.
I know that collectively we are all facing loss right now. Whether it be with work, income loss, separated from family and friends, perhaps even the death of a family member. Every one of us needs to talk to someone who will listen, advise, love and understand them. We know that children often learn by watching adults in how they navigate through life’s challenges. For us, as God’s children, we can follow our Father’s example in how he met life’s adversities by going to the person that could comfort, listen, lead and love him. Jesus told us that he wants us to come to him, as recorded in Matthew 11:28-29. “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened 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.”
For those that do not know what a “yoke” is used for, it is a wooden collar placed upon two oxen. The yoke keeps both oxen in tandem with one another. If the load is too heavy for one ox, the stronger of the two will take up the slack and pull harder for the weaker of the two. My father once told me that they had two plow horses on the farm that were yoked together and did all the heavy work side by side throughout their lives. Dad said that when one was weak, the other horse would help by taking up the slack and pulling harder. These two horses did every job on the farm together, but one day one of the horses grew ill all the while the other horse refused to leave his side. He refused to leave him for they were the closest of friends. By staying near to the sick horse, the other horse’s presence helped ill horse to get well sooner. Each horse with their actions told my father that their bond of brotherly love was stronger than the challenges that they faced.
Jesus wants to help us with our burdens. He desires to take the yoke and support us. He has said that he will never leave us, and wants to help us. James 4:8 says: “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” He is waiting patiently for you because he loves you.
