Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you”. What is a yoke?

It is a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to a plow or cart that they are to pull. It is normally used between a pair of oxen to enable them to pull together on a load when working in pairs, as oxen usually do.

It is used to describe any burden or bondage. (Acts 15:10, Galatians 5:1) It describes servants or slaves. (1Timothy 6:1)

Jesus is our Lord and we are His servants. Yet, Jesus desires a relationship with us that is reflected in the closest relationships we have in life – a friend relationship, a father-son relationship, a husband-wife relationship.

John 15:15 KJV - Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Galatians 4:7 KJV - Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:2 KJV - For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

When God gave His commandments to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai, He considered their relationship to be as a husband and wife. (Jeremiah 31:32, Jeremiah 3:14, Isaiah 54:5)

In His New Covenant of the Gospel, He likewise considers Himself as a husband and the church as His wife, the bride of Christ. (Romans 7:4, John 3:29, 2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:22-32)

When Jesus said, take My yoke upon you, it had additional meaning.

When a Jewish boy comes of age and assumes the spiritual responsibilities of an adult, it is said that he “takes on the yoke of the commandments.” He becomes a “Bar Mitzvah,” which means, a “Son of the Commandments.”

Taking on the yoke of the commandments means committing to obey the 613 commandments. This is a burden that is heavy to bear. (Acts 15:10, Galatians 5:1)

The yoke that Jesus brought with the new covenant is a yoke that is easy and the burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30 KJV - Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

When we take the yoke of Jesus, we find rest for our souls. (Isaiah 11:10, Isaiah 28:11-12, John 7:37-39)

We take the yoke of Jesus by repenting of our sins and being baptized in Jesus name for the remission of sins. Baptism in Jesus name is a covenant with Him. We are joined together with Jesus. (Acts 2:38)

When we have taken His yoke upon us, He promises rest unto our souls. This promise is the gift of His Holy Ghost. His Spirit is a strength to us that gets us through life. (Acts 2:39)

We become laborers together with Jesus, accomplishing His will in our life and in this world. We walk with Jesus through this life and with Him into life everlasting. (1Corinthians 3:9, Matthew 9:37, 2Corinthians 6:1)

When we repent of our sins and are baptized in Jesus name for the remission of sins, our sinful nature - the lusts of the flesh - is cut off. (Acts 2:38, Galatians 5:24)

Our baptism in Jesus name is a blood covenant. The blood that Jesus shed for the remission of our sins (the cutting off of our sins) is applied to our life. (Revelation 1:5, Matthew 26:28)

At water baptism we are given the name of Jesus. (Acts 15:17, James 2:7)

If we are not baptized in Jesus name, we are cut off from the people of God. (Mark 16:16)

Peter compares our water baptism with the eight souls on Noah’s ark. He says just as those eight souls were saved by water, we too are saved by water by water baptism in Jesus name. (1Peter 3:20-21)

It is said the number seven symbolizes perfection – perfection that is achievable via natural means – while eight symbolizes that which is beyond nature, above and beyond this world (in the spiritual realm). Peter tying the number eight to baptism reminds us that baptism in Jesus name is above and beyond this world, in the spiritual realm.

Our water baptism in Jesus name is compared to circumcision. (Colossians 2:11-12)

All the features of the covenant of circumcision correlate with our covenant of water baptism in Jesus name.

In circumcision, the flesh is cut off. (Genesis 17:11) Circumcision has the legal requirement that at least one drop of blood is to be shed in the procedure. It is considered a blood covenant. (Genesis 17:11) At circumcision, the child is given his name. (Luke 2:21) If circumcision is not administered, his soul is considered cut off from the Jewish people. (Genesis 17:14)

When God first commanded circumcision to Abram, God changed his name to Abraham.

The Hebrew letter that God added to Abram’s name is the same letter that occurs twice in God’s name Yahweh. This name is called the tetragamaton because it is the four Hebrew letters – “yud,” “hey,” “vav,” “hey.” It is the letter “hey” that was added to Abram to make it Abraham. God shared His name with Abraham at circumcision, just as He shares His name Jesus with us at baptism in Jesus name.

The Hebrew form of the name Jesus – Yĕhowshuwa,` translated as Joshua (Exodus 17:9), shares three letters from the tetragrammaton - the "yud", the "hey", and the "vav." The root of the name Joshua (Greek - Jesus) is from the tetragrammaton (Yahweh) along with the word "to save, deliver."

(https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H3091&t=KJV)

The name Jesus is interchanged for the name Joshua in Acts 7:45 and Hebrews 4:8.

Circumcision is to be administered when an infant is eight days old.

When God commanded Abraham to be circumcised, Abraham was circumcised the selfsame day. (Genesis 17:23, Genesis 17:26) This shows the importance to not delay obeying God’s command of such an important covenant.

The disciples likewise did not delay in water baptizing in Jesus name.

When those that heard the gospel received it, they were baptized the selfsame day. (Acts 2:41, Acts 8:36-38, Acts 9:17-18, Acts 10:47-48, Acts 16:33, Acts 19:5)

Acts 22:16 KJV - And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

What is righteousness? And what is the breastplate of righteousness?

"Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;" - Ephesians 6:14 KJV

The breastplate covers the vital organs of the body. The righteousness of God is our breastplate that protects our very life. By His death on the cross, Jesus has made us right with Him, having our sins washed away by baptism in Jesus name and filling us with His righteous holy Spirit, giving us victory over sin and death.

“Righteousness,” according to Thayer’s Lexicon, is “…The condition acceptable to God…The doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain to a state approved of God.”

We find that by the doctrine of salvation through the gospel that we can obtain righteousness.

The gospel declares the death of Jesus on a cross paying the penalty for our sins, his burial, and resurrection. (1Cor.15:1-4)

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." - 2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV

"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." - Galatians 3:27 KJV

When we obey the gospel, we repent, are buried with Him in baptism in the name of Jesus for the remission of our sins, and resurrected to a new life in righteousness by the infilling of His Spirit. (Acts 2:38, Romans 6:1-4)

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)" - Romans 5:17 KJV

Another translation: “For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.” - Romans 5:17 NLT

When we have obeyed the gospel, our old sinful nature is buried. We put on a new nature when we are filled with God’s Spirit, righteous and holy.

"That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; ... And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." - Ephesians 4:22, 24 KJV

Another translation: “throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception… Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” – NLT

"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." - Romans 8:9-11 KJV

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." - 2 Corinthians 5:19-21 KJV

We enter the kingdom of God when we are born of water – baptism in Jesus name, and of the Spirit – baptism of the Holy Ghost. (John 3:4-5, Acts 2:38)

We no longer belong to the world. (John 15:19)

By our new birth, we are sons and daughters of God. (John 1:12-13, 2 Corinthians 6:16-18)

Our battles are not physical; our battles are spiritual. We wrestle against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against the devil and demons of the darkness of this world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. We see the spiritual influences in our physical world and respond with the methods of the Spirit.

We are strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. We have the authority of the name of God – “JESUS,” and the power of God’s Spirit – the Holy Ghost, to combat any temptation, and any device of satan that might trip us up. By the name of Jesus and by His Spirit, we stand and we fight.

To do this, Jesus has equipped His children with armor. When we put on the whole armor of God, we can stand against the methods and deceptions of satan and advance the kingdom of Jesus.

We are commanded to “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth..”

In the physical, the loins are the place of reproduction. Thus, in the spiritual, the loins represent spiritual reproduction. We reproduce spiritually by preaching the gospel, which is the new birth experience. (Acts 2:38)

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38

We are to go into all the world with the gospel and make disciples. (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 24:46-49, John 20:21-23, Acts 13:47)

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." - Acts 1:8

In the physical, to gird is “to fasten garments with a girdle or belt.” (Thayer’s) It has the meaning of being ready to serve. (Luke 12:35-37) Girding the loins metaphorically is, “of girding the "loins" in readiness for active service for the Lord.” (Vine’s)

"Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them." - Luke 12:35-37

To have our loins girt about with truth is figuratively, “to equip one's self with knowledge of the truth, Ephesians 6:14” (Thayer’s)

Thus, we are to equip ourselves with the knowledge of the truth in readiness for active service for the Lord. The truth is, there is only one God that robed Himself in flesh, suffered and died for our sins, and on the third day rose again. His name, which is above every name is Jesus. (Deuteronomy 6:4, 1Timothy 3:16, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Ephesians 1:21, Philippians 2:7-11)

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." - Acts 4:12

It is by this truth and spiritual reproduction - the new birth of souls by water baptism in Jesus name and the infilling of the Holy Ghost - that satan’s kingdom is defeated and the Kingdom of God goes forth into all the earth. “…And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. (Matthew 16:18-19)

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth…" - Ephesians 6:10-14

There is only one God. He is a Spirit. He was in Christ reconciling the world back to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them.

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them..." - 2 Corinthians 5:19

What did GOD do to reconcile us back to Himself?

He offered His flesh on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. He was buried. On the third day, He rose again. The Father purchased us back with His own blood.

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." - Acts 20:28

"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;" - Colossians 1:20-23

What must WE do to be reconciled back to God?

We must obey the gospel by being sorrowful for our sins, turning away from them and turning to Jesus; we must be baptized by full immersion in water “in the name of Jesus” for the remission of sins; we must receive the gift of the Holy Ghost with the sign of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit of God gives us the utterance. (Speaking through us with words in a language we don’t understand. Acts 2:4, Romans 8:9)

On the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached to the people the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?" - Acts 2:37

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39

Upon This Rock I Will Build My Church

The Bible says that the Rock in the wilderness was Christ. (1Corinthians 10:1-4)

The Bible records that Moses smote this Rock on two different occasions. Each time that Moses smote the Rock, water flowed out, supplying life sustaining water to the thirsty Israelites. 

The first time that Moses smote the Rock, appears to be a type of water baptism in Jesus name; the second time Moses smote the Rock, appears to be a type of Spirit baptism of the Holy Ghost speaking in tongues.

When God told Moses to smite the Rock the first time, God told him to smite the Rock with the rod that had turned the Nile river to blood. (Exodus 7:20,17:5-6) Thus, there was the remembrance of blood when Moses struck the Rock with his rod and the water flowed out.

The second time, Moses was to SPEAK to the Rock for the water to flow out. (Numbers 20:8, Acts 2:4)

Thus, when Jesus said, “Upon this rock I will build my church,” He was speaking of building His church upon Himself, the smitten rock out of which would flow water and the Spirit.

Blood and water flowed from Jesus the Rock for water baptism:

John 19:34 KJV - But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

Matthew 26:28 KJV - For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Luke 24:47 KJV - And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Acts 2:38 KJV - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…

(See also: Zechariah 12:10,13:1)

Water flowed from Jesus the Rock for Spirit baptism:

John 4:10, 14 KJV - Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. ... But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 7:37-39 KJV - In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

That Rock was Christ:

1Corinthians 10:1-4 KJV - Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Isaiah 53:4 KJV - Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

Matthew 16:18 KJV - And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Acts 2:38 KJV - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.