“Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart..” – Matthew 11 v 28 – 30.

The yoke of Jesus has always been a topic of intense study amongst biblical scholars. What is this yoke that our Lord carries? In Luke chapter 15, we read the story of a shepherd seeking after a single lost sheep. As we know that Jesus is the great Shepherd of our souls, it is clear that our Lord is describing His supreme devotion to saving the lost and setting the captives free. I desire to specifically draw your attention to the fifth verse that reads as follows: “And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.”

The image of a sheep laid across the shoulders of Christ has been one often and beautifully portrayed in centuries of artistic expression. In a sense, carrying a sheep in such a manner can be likened to a yoke born across the shoulders. Saving the lost is indeed the yoke of Christ! He now bids us, His followers, to bear His yoke together with Him. “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature” was the instruction He gave to His followers before ascending to Heaven (Mark 16 v 15). Proclaiming the Good News of salvation is the yoke of every believer. His yoke has become our yoke. Let us shout from the rooftops that Jesus saves!