Introduction:  For this message in celebration of Easter, I want you to think about the things that are keeping you from true happiness and peace?

-Think about the burdens you carry?-ill health, hurtful scars from relationships, fear, insecurities, worry, finances etc.

-As you keep living are you finding those burdens getting heavier?-So the desire to do “the right thing”, begins to slip and fade into desperate thoughts and ways to deal with such burdens..

-So now the decisions you have made to deal with your burdens, become added burdens-vicious cycle

 

The reality of Jesus and His resurrection

Matthew 11:28-Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.   

*(vs28)-Jesus invites those who have given up hope, because they are tired of carrying their burdens.

-things may start off as easy to carry-but as you walk through life you accumlate struggles, heartache, disappointment, frustration, bills, etc, causing that once light burden to become heavy

-everyone gets tired, but life can become that way, one big burden-which no vacation can handle

-in order to deal with the heaviness of the burden we begin to make harmful decisions to try and lighten it-Ex: leave relationships, harmful outlets to cope, emotional neglect-we become desparate to lighten the burden

-when you no longer care how your decisions negatively affect you and others, you have lost hope=”heavy laden”, this is who Jesus is talking to

 

Matthew 11:29-Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

*(vs 29)-Jesus invites us, “to learn of him” for he is gentle and lowly/humble…

-He is the very opposite of most people, who are not gentle or humble enough to care!-instead of lightening the burden they have no problem increasing it!

-He assures us that His is not hard-hearted and too self-centered to care about how you feel…

-but to realize that about Jesus you have “to learn of Him” so you have to trust Him by faith-(introducing to you Jesus, not church, church is the place you learn of Jesus)

Ex:  learning of Him points to a “relationship”-you may “fall in love “, but you won’t keep love with just feelings...-Jesus invites you to continually learn of Him

-He is asking for you to trade the way you labor in handling your burdens, for a relationship to learn His ways.-the way you handle your life may make the burdens heavier!

(this is what this Easter service is about, introducing you to the Son of God who invites you to know Him)

-Jesus is banking on that He will treat you better than you treat yourself-what it is costing you to handle life, your way? What is it costing people in your life?

 

Conclusion

Matthew 11:30-For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

*(vs30)-Your heart and how the burdens of life harden it

-burdens from life makes the heart  grow cold and hard to love and forgiveness, because no one in life handles you gently and lowly-people expect things, which create more burdens

-who can you go to with all your sins and fears, and be gently and humbly dealt with?

-no hope means you have nowhere to go with these burdens-Jesus is saying come to me with all of it!-So you don’t create more burdens

*The conviction in our hearts is realizing our sins=(disobedience/going our own way) has separated us from God.

-The death and resurrection (gospel) inivtes you to accept the gift of salvation-deliverance from sin

“I have taken care of your main burden, which is your sin, and exchanged your sin for my sinless life=forgiveness & peace and rest for our souls

Ex:  so your circumstances may not change, but you have, there is peace to deal with them…

It is a relationship-that you now have a desire in your heart to trust Jesus over yourself, and please Him..