The First Invitation - Revelation of Christ’s Power
The First Invitation - Revelation of Christ’s Power
"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" (Matthew 11:28–30)
This great Gospel invitation is also a revelation of the power of our Lord Jesus Christ. For this invitation to come unto Himself, is not to be classified in the field of theory and speculation, but rather as a most practical way, indeed the only way, to get out of theory and speculation and into contact with the real power of God. Christianity is worthless if it is not able to bring to the heart of the individual the reality of forgiveness from sin and the power of the risen life of Christ to dwell within our lives.
God alone can forgive sins. This was even admitted by the Pharisees of Christ’s day when He spoke forgiveness to the paralytic lying before Him. So Christ accepted their statement, but proved that He was correct in saying "Man, thy sins are forgiven thee," by adding to His words of grace a deed of power. “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, He saith unto the sick of the palsy, I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house" (Luke 5:24). Christ Jesus did for this man what only God can do, and the miracle which Jesus Christ works within the hearts of those who trust Him is even greater than that which He wrought upon the withered limbs of the lame of His day.
This is indeed a power that is infinite. To still the storm in the human heart is God’s greatest work. Over in the Psalms there is a verse which says, of God, that He "stilleth the noise of the seas," and that is great; "the noise of their waves," and that is even greater; but the passage concludes that He stilleth "the tumult of the people," and that is greatest of all (Psalm 65: 7).
He can quiet the storm in your heart if you will come unto Him. He can take away the burden of your heart if you will come unto Him. He will stop the gnawing of your conscience if you will come unto Him. He will answer every doubt of your heart and mind if you will come unto Him. He will fully satisfy your every longing if you will come unto Him. He will soothe your pain, lift your care, comfort you in sorrow, and heal your broken heart, if you will come unto Him. It is He Who can dry your tears if you will come to Him.
Dr. Barnhouse emphasizes the fact that an invitation to rest and peace is useless unless the person making it has the power to fulfill it. Christ alone, has that power.
Further Reading: Luke 5:12-26
