Learning from Jesus Renews Our Minds Effectively
Learning from Jesus Renews Our Minds Effectively
David W Palmer
Today, let’s now go back to our focus on Matthew 11 where Jesus explained that John’s was an Elijah ministry and then denounced the cities that had seen his miracles and heard his message, but who hadn’t repented as a result. Let’s now look at the context to see what else Jesus said that can help us.
Our Lord spoke about the kind of humility and sober rationale we need in order to wake up and change our thinking to what God says. We can only come to God’s kingdom if we have child-like trust and simplicity. Jesus says that God in effect has “hidden these things from the wise and intellectual.” These are people who trust their own ability, logic, and experience to obtain their own salvation. They compare and contrast anything Jesus says with their own ideas and conclusions to assess him—only agreeing with what seems right and logical to them. These are the ones who do not believe they need a shepherd and savior; they are lost:
(Matthew 11:25–27 DKJV) At that time Jesus, responding, said, “I thank and agree fully with you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and intellectual, and have revealed them to infants. {26} Yes Father, for in this way, something you desired came into being in front of you. {27} All these things have been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one fully knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone fully know the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal him.”
We see here also that Jesus said the Son is the only one that can reveal the Father. In practical terms, this means that we must put our trust in Jesus as both Lord and Savior. Furthermore, it also means that Jesus, the Living Word, is the only one that can reveal the Father (and his kingdom, etc.). This is why accepting and believing God’s word is so important to God, and why renewing our mind with it is essential for knowing him. He wants us to understand him and have close fellowship with him. After all, Jesus did define eternal life in the following way:
(John 17:3 MKJV) “And this is life eternal, that they might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
In Matthew 11, Jesus continues his discourse relating to John’s Elijah-Ministry:
(Matthew 11:28–30 DKJV) “Come to me, all you who [are worn out by heavy] labor and are over loaded, and I will give you rest and refreshing. {29} Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am meek and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. {30} For my yoke is good, useful and kind, and my burden is light [and easy to carry].”
Here, Jesus gives very straightforward instructions for receiving from his copious achievements and gifts. In particular, He directs this statement to those who are worn out by labor and are overloaded. To them he offers rest. (We can certainly apply this to those of us who labor and are worn out through our own efforts to achieve righteousness, to please him, or to walk in his blessing.) Jesus says:
“Come to Me.” Jesus’s solution is personal and relational; and even though he has achieved so much for us in his death and resurrection, the next step is up to us; we have to “come.” The Holy Spirit confirms this through James: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you …’” (James 4:8 EMTV). Jesus also says where to come … “to Me.” This speaks of intimacy, relational closeness, and fellowship.
“Take my yoke upon you.” The yoke at that time was a farming implement used to bind two working animals together. It harnessed and focused their effective strength and power. In particular, a new untrained animal would be “yoked” with an older experienced one. This is the way the new one learnt—by being yoked together and working side by side. For us, this is talking about discipleship that is less of a classroom experience and more of an on-the-job apprenticeship—learning from Jesus by being tied to where he goes and what he does.
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“Learn from Me”—“for I am meek and humble in heart.” Jesus shows us that he does not want to abuse us or use us up for selfish reasons. It also shows that he is not overbearing or tyrannical in his role as our Lord and Teacher (John 13:13). To learn from him, we need the child-like humility that is opposite to the pride of the so-called “wise” and “intellectual.”
Learning from Jesus is the remedy to our overload and labor. Jesus said that for us to receive our relief and revitalization, we need to get him, the Living Word, into our minds and hearts. Mind renewal with God’s word is the necessary first step.
“My yoke is good, useful and kind, and my burden is light and easy to carry.” Learning in submission to our Lord, the Living Word, is a yoke and burden; it is part of the strict, constricted path we traverse after entering by the narrow gate (Mat. 7:12–14). However, they are light and easy to bear, Praise the Lord!
The yoke speaks of something that goes around the neck and ties two individuals together. This implies that you cannot know him in the way that produces eternal life without learning—and in particular, learning the living word. However, it also implies that when you set out to learn him, you are also directed by him and trained by him; you lose your egoism—your independent self-direction. Simply learning the Bible intellectually and studying it for theological knowledge will not produce eternal life. Jesus put it like this:
(John 5:39–40 MKJV) You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life. And they are the ones witnessing of Me, {40} and you will not come to Me that you might have life.
How does all this inform and help us in the Elijah task of preparing the way and the church for Jesus’s manifestation in revival, awakening, glorious church, and his return? We too must aim for a ministry that produces repentance—changed thinking! The following passages help us understand how to do this. After all, it’s God’s goodness and his Spirit in cooperation with his Word that lead us to repentance:
(Romans 2:4 DKJV) … the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
(2 Timothy 4:2 LITV) preach the Word, be urgent in season, out of season, convict, warn, encourage with all long-suffering and teaching.
(Ephesians 4:29 KJV) Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
(John 16:8 EMTV) And when He (the Holy Spirit) comes, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Today, we need a heart that is humble and submissive; we need to take on his yoke and learn from him (as an on-the-job apprentice). In other words, we need to surrender to the Spirit and living word leading us into loving others, sharing his message, praying, laying hands on the sick, casting out demons, etc. That is, doing the works and ministry by walking hand in hand with him the whole time.
And always remember—contrary to appearances, feelings, and popular opinion—Jesus says that to relieve overload and being worn out, we need to come to him, take on his yoke of training, and learn from him.