Confirmation Sermon

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Wear Jesus’ Weight

Why does he do it? Way back when I was at the Seminary we learned a little about what life was like for farmers years ago. The farmer would have a steer. And he would put this big piece of wood across the shoulders of the animal. This big piece of wood, called a ‘yoke’ would weigh the animal down. But it would also be used to steer the animal. And I remember thinking to myself, what does the animal get out of the bargain? You think about it. The old farmer says, “come over here and let me put this on you.” The animal goes over to the farmer. And then what happens next? The animal has to pull a plow all day long. I remember thinking this all over in my brain and then concluding: “animals are dumb.” But if that’s the case, what about you? Today you have promised to have a weight, a burden, yoke put on you. Listen to these words that Jesus says: “²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you” (Matthew 11:28–29 NIV11-GKE)

Think this through. Today in front of your family and a bunch of witnesses you gave a solemn oath to let Jesus put a weight and yoke on you. You wear this yoke that when your parents ask you to do what is good and right, you will obey them. When your teachers ask you to use the gifts God has given to you to do your homework, you wear this weight that you will do it. You wear this weight that, instead of shrinking in what you know of God’s word, you will grow in it. That means that you will read it. That means that you will study it. You wear that weight. You wear this weight that you will speak to your God above in your prayers. And you wear this weight that when Jesus asks you to, you will suffer for him too. And notice what Jesus says here. He invites those who already are weary. He urges all those who are already overworked. I might have said that steer was stupid. But who is stupid now? Why? Why would you willingly wear this weight of being a Christian and going to Jesus day after day for the rest of your lives? Jesus answers that question: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,” (Matthew 11:29 NIV11-GKE)

Why would you wear this weight? You wear it because you learn.¹ Ahh, yes, you aren’t done learning. In fact you are never done studying and learning. As you go through your life wearing this weight that Jesus puts on you, what do you learn? Your learning takes you in two important directions. First, you learn about Jesus. You learn that he is lowly and lowered. He is lowly. Maybe, just maybe Jesus asks us to put up with the weight of following him because he humble. And through that humbleness we see how much he cares for us. This reminds me of a woman saw years ago. She had a horse. And she would go outside and call out to the horse. The horse would run to the woman. Then the horse would willingly bend its head low to have the bridle put on. The horse did this because the horse knew the woman. And the horse knew the woman would take care of the horse. And they would go on long rides into the mountains together. If that woman cared for that horse, how much more does Jesus care for us? And that is showed us in the second word. Not only is Jesus lowly, he is also lowered. Jesus lowered himself to leave heaven and be our Savior. He lowered himself to be obedient to his Father. He lowered himself to die for the times when we were not humble or obedient and pay for those sins. So why would you wear this yoke? Wear it because as you wear this yoke you learn about Jesus. But your study and learning takes you in a different direction too: “²⁹ and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”” (Matthew 11:29–30 NIV11-GKE)

Why would you take up this weight, this work to do extra work when you are already weary? You do this because every day you learn more and more that Jesus is lowly and lowered. But you don’t just learn about Jesus. You also learn about yourself. What is it that you learn about yourself? You learn that when you wear this weight of being a Christian and wrestling to follow Jesus you find rest for your souls. Just think about that. There are billions out there who do not have this weight on them. And even though they do not have this weight on them they also do not have any rest. Just think of that. They spend their extra time doing what they want. But they aren’t any better for it. They sleep in on Sunday. They bing-watch their shows on Netflix. They play their video games. They spent time with themselves and for themselves but never really found rest. For they may have found rest for their bodies. But they never got rest for their souls.

Why do you think your parents worked so hard—so hard to get you to catechism class during the week and to church on the weekends? Why did they put that weight on themselves and on you? They did this because in Christ they found rest for their souls—not just when they were confirmed, but even now. They wore this weight of getting you to catechism and getting themselves and you to church on Sunday because they remember. They remember the times they should have obeyed their mom or dad and didn’t. They remember the times they would have had strength, confidence, hope if they had only read their bibles more when they were your age. But they didn’t. They remember the times they should have spent time in prayer, speaking to the God who lovingly created them and graciously died for them. And instead they spent their time on themselves. They see all those missed opportunities. And they also see their Savior Jesus. He is the one who gives them rest at night when they cannot go back to when they were your age and read the pages in the bible they should have and offered up the prayers they should have. Jesus is the one who was so humble that he forgave their sins.

And my dear Confirmands, it is that forgivenes that moves, urges, and drives them to wear that weight every day and to teach you to do the same. So wear the weight. Wear the weight of being a Christian. Because every day as you do so you study and learn. You first learn about Jesus, that he is lowly and lowered for you. And you also learn about yourself. You learn that if it’s a weight to follow Jesus, it’s a light and easy weight full of forgiveness and hope. Amen.