12. A LIGHT BURDEN (Matt.11:28-30)
BACKGROUND: A yoke means a wooden frame, which links two oxen so that they can pull together a plough, a load, etc.
- What are some of the most common burdens that people are carrying on their shoulders in our day?
- Try to picture your present suffering as a concrete burden. If the heaviest burden imaginable weighs 100 kg, how much do you think your present burden would
weigh?
- How is the burden of suffering different from the burden of sin? (Which is more difficult for you to bear: suffering or a bad
conscience?)
- Imagine your life without any burdens - what would the good and bad sides of such a life
be?
- What kind of person do you think would be able carry your burden with you?
- What does it mean in practice that you go to Jesus with your burden and put it in front of
him?
- What does Jesus mean by verse 29?
- Have you found rest for your soul? (You can answer in your heart.)
- Why can only a humble person find rest from his/her burden? (Why do so many people become bitter while carrying their burdens?)
- How could we become as humble and meek as Jesus was?
- What do these words of Jesus mean: "Take my yoke on you"? (What is the yoke of Jesus? How does it differ from our own burdens?)
- How does our situation change if we carry the yoke together with Jesus?
- What does Jesus mean by saying that his yoke is easy and his burden is light
(vs.30)?
- What do those people do with their burdens who don't want to take them to Jesus?
- Why is it that even Christians don't always take their burdens to
Jesus?
- How much lighter do you think your burden would become if you knew that there wasn't any guilt in it and you didn't have to think about whose fault the problem was?
How much lighter would your burden become if you could believe that Jesus will change all your sufferings to be the best for all concerned?
GLAD TIDINGS: The leader should read John 19:17. The cross of Jesus contained all our burdens; both our sufferings and our sins.