The first purpose of Discipleship is to “get yoked up” to Jesus Christ, even as He is “yoked” to the Father. This will enable Him to work the quality of “meekness” in us, even as He is “meek.”
What is “meek?” Some translations use the words “mild” or “gentle,” but I believe it means far more than that. I think most of you are aware that a “yoke” is the “brace” that “ties” two animals together in such a way that makes it imperative for them to move and work AS ONE; making a “team,” as a “yoke of oxen.”
To “take Jesus’ yoke” means that you give up your “right” to any independent action on your own—you are committed to the will of Jesus Christ and His will alone. It means also that you “yield” to the Lord all other so-called “self rights” which the carnal nature in each of us instinctively wants to “exercise”—the “rights” to be self-assertive, to be selfishly ambitious, to take offense, to “get even”, to retaliate, to take things into our own hands, to get carnally angry and “lash out” at someone (in word or deed), to always justify ourselves and blame someone else, to “put someone else down,” to try to promote ourselves, to get resentful or bitter, to try to promote ourselves in the eyes of others, etc. etc. (you can add to the list).
The reason for this is that our “yoking up” with Christ is NOT a “yoking of equals.” Jesus did NOT say “let’s get yoked together.” He said, “you TAKE MY YOKE upon you.” He Is the Lord (master—boss), and we are His servant, or more accurately, His “love-slaves.”
Although we are “workers together with Him” (II Cor. 6:1), Only He initiates the work or “spiritual activity.” We cease from our “labours” (Heb. 4:10) and enter into HIS.
We desire and seek to function ONLY in those ministries and / or gifts He has ordained for us. He is our KING and He takes good care of us as citizens of His Kingdom. He is our leader, provider, advocate, lawyer, manager, judge, rewarder, promoter, and/or anything else that we need. That is why we come out of the kingdom of darkness (and Satan) and surrender our carnal “rights,” and receive from Jesus, our King, whatever “rights” (and privileges), coupled with the necessary authority and power, to enable us to [be] truly blessed and productive citizens of His kingdom. This is a part of the “gospel” (good news) of the Kingdom.
The truly “meek” person has learned the secret of total YIELDING and TRUSTING. “Meekness” is NOT “weakness;” it is rather “STRENGTH UNDER CONTROL.” Like the animal whose self-will has been “broken” (not the “spirit”—inner “drive” or “vital force”), and yields to the “yoke” (as the oxen) or to the “bit and bridle; saddle or harness” depending on use (as the horse), and then waits for and responds to the command of the owner (master).
What a beautiful sight is a horse hitched to a carriage, standing at attention, waiting for his master; head erect, neck arched, nostrils expanded—with maybe a “snort” or two, as the head shakes the mane a little; muscles “rippling” with strength; yet, not a movement forward until the master arrives, takes his place in the seat, picks up the reins, and gives the command. That is a picture [of] “strength under control.”
Jesus was the perfect pattern of meekness throughout His life. However, from the time that He allowed Himself to be taken “captive” in the garden until He “dismissed” His Spirit on the cross, His “meekness” was severely put to the test. For at any time He had the power to instantly vanquish His “captors” and set Himself free. Even on the cross, He could have exercised the power to dislodge Himself from the spikes which held Him, instantly heal His body and go free.
But Jesus was unequivocally “yoked” to the Father’s will, even obedient unto the death of the cross (Phil. 2:8), that He refused to exercise His “right” NOT to die. Since He had never sinned He was not subject to death and did not have to die—no fault was found in Him (Luke 23:4, 14).
He refused to exercise that which humans think is a “right”—to retaliate again His tormentors and crucifiers. A scripture which so beautifully expresses this is found in I Pet. 2:23. “When He was reviled and Insulted, He did not revile or offer insult in return; when He was abused and suffered, He made no threats {of vengeance}; but He trusted {Himself and everything} to Him Who judges fairly.”
Dozens of examples and scriptures could be given to illustrate throughout His life and ministry that Jesus was truly speaking the truth when He said “I am meek” (Mt. 11:29), but I will quote just one scripture: “Jesus answered and said unto them, Truly, Truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do: for what things soever he does, these also does the Son likewise” (John 5:19).
He “couldn’t” do anything independent of the Father because of His COMMITMENT to be “yoked” to the Father’s will. His total yielding of any “rights” of His own, and His total TRUST that the Father would “espouse His cause” in everything—that was His “meekness”—STRENGTH UNDER CONTROL.
It was said of Moses that He was “very meek, above all the men which were on the face of the earth” (Num. 12:3). This is why God could use him so greatly, and trust him to follow His directions in leading over two million people out of Egypt and through a forty year wilderness journey. But on one occasion, Moses lost his meekness. The people of Israel arrived at a certain place near the end of their wilderness journey and there was no water for them. They gathered against Moses and contended with him severely. Moses fell on his face before the Lord as he had done many times before to get the Lord’s direction, and the Lord told him what to do. He was to gather the congregation together, and along with Aaron his brother, he was to take the rod in his hand and speak to a certain rock and it would give forth water. The details are give in Numbers 20:1-12
On a previous occasion, toward the beginning of their wilderness journey, when the congregation was in need of water, and they strove with Moses because of it, Moses was instructed by God to take the rod and strike a certain rock, causing waters to come forth (Exodus 17:1-6). On the second occasion, however, Moses evidently became more irritated by the people’s “attack” on him (he had been the object of their “wrath” on many and varied occasions and circumstances throughout almost forty years), and for some reason he evidently felt he had a “right” to vent his uncontrolled anger on them. Gathering them before the rock, he “lashed out” at them with these words: “hear now, you rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?” Not only in anger did he imply that he and Aaron (“we”) were going to produce the water (not giving glory to God), but his infuriated mind failed to recall God’s specific instructions. Instead of “speaking” to the rock, Moses “lifted up his hand, and with his rod he struck the rock twice” (Num. 20:11).
Because he had authority the water came out of the rock for the people, but the Lord rebuked Moses with these words: “Because you believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them” (Num. 20:12).
It cost Moses dearly when he lost his meekness, failed to yield totally to the Lord’s control, took things into his own hands, and acted “on his own” in disobedience to the command of the Lord, and by doing so “exalted” himself in the eyes of the people.
To be a “Disciple” is to take Jesus’ “yoke” upon us; to be so yielded, surrendered, committed and “united” with Him that we become “meek”—totally under His control and will, as He was “meek” when upon this earth—totally under the control and will of the Father. “Meekness” is listed as one of the “fruits” of the Spirit in Gal. 5:23.
We don’t become meek overnight. But by consistent submission to His “yoke”—giving Him total “right of way” in our lives, this beautiful character quality will be developed in our lives. The Greek words translated “meek” and “meekness” are usually translated “gentle” and “gentleness” in the New American Standard, and some other modern English translations. Although this is an essential ingredient in meekness, I believe that if you will re-study this section on “taking Christ’s yoke,” and deeply ponder all of the ramifications, your understanding will be greatly deepened, and the impact on your life (if taken seriously) will be significant. Other New Testament Scriptures that you can study where “meekness” is mentioned are as follows: I Cor. 4:21, II Cor. 10:1; Gal. 5:23, 6:1; Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:12; I Tim. 6:11; II Tim. 2:25; Titus 3:2; Mt. 5:5, 21:5; I Pet. 3:4; James 1:21, 3:13; and II Pet. 3:15.
The second purpose of Discipleship is given in Mt. 11:29 in the second statement Jesus made following the one we have been dealing with: “Take my yoke upon you, and LEARN of me.” The parallel to this, as we have already noted is “for I am lowly of heart.”
The Greek word translated “lowly of heart”—tapeinos, indicates one who is “abased or lowly (in circumstances or disposition).” Although variously translated in the New Testament, it is most often translated (taking the noun and verb forms together) by the English word “humble,” or “to be humble” or “to humble oneself.”
The same Greek word, but combined with another word—tapeinophrosune, is translated “humbleness of mind” or simply “humility.” For the purpose of emphasizing Jesus’ command to “learn of Him,” I want to impress on you three important aspects of humility: (1) our willingness to be teachable; (2) our desperate need; and (3) honesty—the willingness to admit when we are in error in our thinking and beliefs and the willingness to change and adjust in our understanding.
Before elaborating on these, let me say that the only way we can LEARN of Christ Is by diligently studying His WORD—the Scriptures. Jesus clearly distinguished between those who believed on Him and those who were His disciples.
Quoting from John 8:31-32: “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If you continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” I want to emphasize the importance—as we approach the climactic events of this age, and as the Lord is getting ready to manifest Himself through His people as never before, as a necessary part of our preparation—of setting aside things that are not important, and GETTING INTO THE WORD OF GOD (in study, meditation and prayer) CONSISTENTLY (daily, unless hindered by unusual circumstances).
Probably the greatest contributing factor to most Christians spiritual “anemia” is the failure to consistently and prayerfully read and meditate on the WORD of God. You may have sincerely believed on Jesus for salvation; you may be “born again;” but according to the Scripture just quoted from John 8:31, if you are not “continuing” In Jesus’ Word, you are NOT His disciple; neither will you reap the blessings and rewards of discipleship, one of the most important of which is given in John 8:32: “and you shall know (by personal experience) the truth, and the truth shall make you free (from the bondage of sin and inevitable consequences; as well as the debilitating effects of an unrenewed mind—fear, worry, depression, etc.).
The word “continue” which Jesus used in John 8:31 is a translation of the Greek word meno. It is used well over 100 times in the New Testament and is variously translated by the English words: “abide,” “continue,” “remain,” “dwell”. This word is used by Jesus in John 15:7 where He declares: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” It should be obvious to us that if His words are going to “abide” (dwell, remain, continue) IN us, that we must spend considerable time consistently “continuing” (abiding, dwelling, remaining) IN the Word.
LEARNING from Jesus. The key is humility, even as Jesus said He was humble (lowly in heart). Jesus had to “humble” Himself in order to take on human flesh. Phil. 2:7-8 says that He “took on him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
While in the flesh, it says in Heb. 5:8 that He LEARNED obedience by the things which He “suffered” (experienced). The Greek word translated “Learned” in the verse just quoted is exactly the same Greek word which is used when Jesus said “LEARN of me” (Mt. 11:29).
Although the mighty Spirit (being) who indwelt the body of the one known as Jesus of Nazareth was the very Divine SON of the HIGHEST, yet in “lowering” Himself to take on human flesh and LIVE as a human, He had to be “humble” enough to LEARN how the Father wanted Him to conduct Himself in every situation He faced: what He was to say, to do, and how He was to respond to every person (or persons) that crossed His path, that He called to follow Him, or that confronted Him in any way.
Without such “humility” to LEARN OBEDIENCE in every situation, He could not have fulfilled the Father’s will or finished HIS work (John 17:4).
How much more do we need the quality of humility to LEARN of (from) Jesus. The Scriptures promise that with humility comes the GRACE of God. “But he gives more grace. Wherefore he says, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6; see also I Pet. 5:5).
Whatever we receive from the Lord is a manifestation of His loving GRACE (“unmerited favor”). “Grace” not only indicates the “unmerited favor” of God extended to us because of what Jesus did for us, it also implies the Divine influence upon (and within) the human heart to do supernaturally what we are incapable of, because of our human limitations, in oursleves.
With reference to our immediate subject—learning from Jesus—it is impossible to rightly understand the teachings of Jesus (or any other Scripture) so that they become LIVING REALITY within us, unless our minds are supernaturally illuminated.
After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to the twelve who were gathered together, and at that time Luke 24:45 says: “then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.”
It is now the function of the Holy Spirit to “take the things of Christ and reveal them to us” (John 16:14). In writing to the Ephesian Christians, Paul prays that “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the (Holy) spirit of wisdom and revelation in the (full) knowledge of him (Christ).” Eph. 1:17—see also John 6:63 & I Cor. 2:9-14. “It is the Spirit that quickens” (makes “alive” and “real”) said Jesus, but even the Holy Spirit cannot reveal anything to us unless we have the quality of HUMILITY.
Teachability is the the First Aspect of Humility]
There are many aspects of that which we call “humility,” but earlier I said I wanted to emphasize three; if we are to “learn of Jesus.” First, a teachable spirit. Jesus links humility with the nature of a child (Mt. 18:4). We must become truly child-like in our approach to the Scriptures.
There are three things that keep most people, even most Christians, from being truly teachable: (1) to much secular (humanistic) education; (2) too much religious tradition; and (3) too much carnality remaining in the heart—most Christians believe what they want to.
First, with regard to “secular education,” most people in this nation have gone through high school, and a great many have had some or much college education. Having been exposed to so much foolish “worldly wisdom” (see I Cor. 1:18-29), most heads are so filled with faulty concepts that it takes much time and “humility” to get the mind “open” to Scriptural concepts (which are usually so completely opposite to that which is learned from the world society). To help us understand, let me give you a factual illustration.
During the 1980 presidential campaign, before the political parties had selected the respective candidates, there were three men running for the office who claimed to be “born again” Christians; John Anderson, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan. (The following is in no way a “judgment” on the claim to be “born again”—only God knows). Because of the claim of each to be “born again,” a group of concerned Christian citizens made a study of position or “stand” of each of these candidates on a number of important moral issues that are ” decaying ” in the nation. The results of the study were published in a small brochure. On every one of the moral issues, the “stand” of John Anderson and Jimmy Carter was exactly the same. On the other hand, the “stand” taken by Ronald Reagan was exactly the opposite of the other two candidates on every moral issue. Furthermore, the study showed that the positions taken by John Anderson and Jimmy Carter were identical to that advocated by the secular humanists. Whereas the position taken by Ronald Reagan was Biblically oriented on each moral issue. Just what influences shaped the thinking of these men, I cannot say. I do know that Ronald Reagan went to a Christian College, which might help to explain his Biblical perspective.
The above simply illustrates the fact that one can be a professing Christian and either not understand, or not be “open” to Biblical truths because the mind has been so conditioned by the knowledge accumulated by secular education. Knowledge tends to inflate the ego (I Cor. 8:1). Strongly held opinions are not easily relinquished. Not many are willing to admit that they “know nothing yet as they ought to know” (I Cor. 8: 2). But DISCIPLESHIP demands a child-like spirit of humility which is teachable, so that the mind can be completely “renewed” or renovated (Rom. 12:2, Eph. 4:23, Col. 3:10).