Today Jesus calls us to draw near to him. He asks us not to overthink it. Children can simply sense his goodness and run to him. When we don't over complicate things we sense the same thing that children sense about him. Let's not be so wise and learned that coming to Jesus becomes a complicated matter. We need him. He wants us to come to him. He calls us and draws us near. Children aren't good planners. They don't usually strategize well. We don't need plans or strategies to come to Jesus. We just need to come. He is waiting.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
When we start to overthink it we begin to wonder if it is too good to be true. How can one riding on a humble, peaceful colt be the savior and King? He faces the hostile powers of darkness. Doesn't he need more power himself to overcome them? No. His peace overcomes them. Shouldn't his victory be more obviously demonstrated by the submission of the worldly powers that oppose him? No. His obedience to the Father overcomes them. His cross is his victory. Peace triumphs over violence and hate.
He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim,
and the horse from Jerusalem;
the warrior's bow shall be banished,
and he shall proclaim peace to the nations.
His dominion shall be from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Because he comes in peace he is able to bring us peace. Any peace brought about any other way is going to be short lived. Violence begets violence. Those who live by the sword tend to die by it. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He defeats the sin, death, and the devil by means, not of war, but of peaceful surrender. His surrender results in a victory that cannot be taken away. His peace is now something he offers to everyone.
If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
the one who raised Christ from the dead
will give life to your mortal bodies also,
through his Spirit that dwells in you.
We need to escape from this "adult" paradigm where we have to win through opposing force. We don't find peace in the world in that way. Much less do we find peace in our hearts when we try to create it with our own strength. Instead, let us come to Jesus, simply and like children. Let us receive the peace he offers us.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.
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