Hide and Seek?

Because it is the 4th of July weekend of our country’s 250th anniversary, worshippers can expect that this will be part of the service. At the same time, the gospel reading assigned for this day presents some interesting dilemmas. The theme verse above (“my yoke is easy and my burden is light”) is usually the “go-to” verse for most sermons. However, the verse that jumped out at me comes before the famous one. In verse 27, Jesus says, “no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” WHAT?! Before all this we hear words about how Jesus hides things and reveals things. This is very confusing, if not troubling. It sounds like a strange game of “hide and seek.”

One of the great things about being an American is the freedom and power to choose and be and become and discover whatever we choose. The sky is the limit! We are in charge of our own destinies. But Jesus’ words here sound completely opposite of this. And then it strangely ends with the famous verse, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

As you read, live and wrestle with, and reflect with me on Matthew 11:25–30 this week in preparation for Sunday’s sermon.