Matthew 11:28

III. REST FOR THE HEAVY LADEN :--

28. Come unto me.

This is one of the sweetest passages in the New Testament. It shows the willingness of the Lord. The kings of earth and the great are usually difficult of access, while Jesus is not only willing but invites us to come to him. Note how gracious is the invitation! 1. It is the Lord who speaks. 2. He invites to come to him. 3. The invitation is to those who labor and are heavy laden. 4. He promises to all these weary ones who come, rest. No mere man, unless impiously presumptive, or. lunatic, could ever have given such an invitation, accompanied by such. promise. As all the world admits that Jesus was neither of these, it follows that he was not. mere man, but. divine being, who spoke. In the mouth of our Lord such words seem natural. To hear. man like ourselves use such language would seem blasphemous.

All ye that labor and are heavy laden.

This describes. large class; all who have sorrow, anxiety, the burden of sin, or are oppressed by the yoke that superstition has imposed upon them. All who feel their burdens are invited to come for rest.

I will give you rest.

This is what men want. Nowhere else is it found. Some seek it in pleasure, or in religious forms, or in philosophy, but these leave an aching void unfilled; leave the soul ill at ease and full of anxiety. The weary toilers, the sorrowing ones, the sin-sick souls, all ask for rest, and Christ says, "I will give it to all who come unto me." Can he? Does he? There are millions who have put him to the test. Where is one who has come in his appointed way that has failed to find it? It is like God to offer rest; it is. demonstration of Godlike power that he does give it.