{"id":53934,"date":"2024-09-22T06:08:01","date_gmt":"2024-09-22T06:08:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/wp3\/?p=53934"},"modified":"2025-12-06T21:27:57","modified_gmt":"2025-12-06T21:27:57","slug":"rest-for-your-soul-tethered-to-jesus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/wp3\/believe\/rest-for-your-soul-tethered-to-jesus","title":{"rendered":"Find Rest for Your Soul Tethered to Jesus"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

by Steven Gledhill<\/em><\/span> for FREEdom from MEdom Project<\/span><\/p>\n

Are you feeling a sense of unrest burdened by hardship? Are you tangled up in circumstances and relationships where you’re doing all of the heavy lifting? Do you feel you are going it alone, isolated in your struggle? Is the weight of it all too much to bear?<\/p>\n

The Bible includes you in the group that are heavy laden; laden meaning burdened. Jesus promised that all who are heavy laden, when tethered—intricately linked—to him can experience rest for their souls as he lightens the burden. All it entails is a relationship with Jesus that he would love to have with you since he loves you so much that he would lay down his life for you.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Lord<\/span> is close to the brokenhearted; <\/span>he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.<\/span> Psalm 34:18 (NLT)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What if it didn’t have to be like that, crushed under the weight of a broken heart? What if there is help for the helpless and hope for the hopeless?<\/p>\n

What if the sovereign authority over all things in the universe, globally upon the earth, and among the lives of all people, could (and would) lighten the weight of the burden of the hardship you carry, and restore you to hope having empowered you beyond anything you are capable of?<\/p>\n

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. <\/span>Though he was God, <\/span>he did not think of equality with God <\/span><\/span>as something to cling to. <\/span><\/span>Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; <\/span>he took the humble position of a slave<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and was born as a human being. <\/span><\/span>When he appeared in human form, <\/span>he humbled himself in obedience to God <\/span><\/span>and died a criminal\u2019s death on a cross.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor <\/span>and gave him the name above all other names, <\/span><\/span>that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, <\/span>in heaven and on earth and under the earth, <\/span><\/span>and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, <\/span><\/span>to the glory of God the Father.<\/span> Philippians 2:5-11 (NLT)\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The New Testament speaks to the reality that Jesus, as God, humbled himself to the point of becoming fully human, entirely vulnerable to the plight of the human condition. Jesus was subject to all of the temptation common to the human experience, yet because he depended entirely on his father in heaven, whom he publicly referred to as God, he experienced everything one can experience, including all elements of temptation, without sinning. I will attempt to explain how he did that since it is that same dependence on Jesus that empowers us in our daily experience.<\/p>\n

Jesus would eventually be executed to death on a cross. He would experience hell for all mankind for three days and nights (the experience would be eternal until being brought out), and then be raised by God back to life (commonly known as the resurrection), fully restored as a human being with extraordinary ability and empowerment.<\/p>\n

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.<\/span> This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.<\/span> <\/span>So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.<\/span> Hebrews 4:4-16 (NLT)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus, the Bible says, would be elevated to the throne he once occupied, now fully God while fully man. It is known to be the throne of grace, the unearned favor of God. Jesus, in a place of sovereign authority over everything and everyone still recognizes the totality of the human condition. He knows us and understands our experience, including the full weight of pain and suffering that leads to overwhelming struggle. We have been told that we can confidently approach Jesus experience<\/em> God’s favor when we need it most.<\/p>\n

While this may not be simple to comprehend, it is the setting and context for everything written here. So, let’s back up a bit.<\/p>\n

The Burden Jesus Carried Alone<\/span><\/p>\n

While on earth in the flesh as a human being, Jesus was about to be arrested for charges related to his claim that he was the son of God, the one chosen to reconcile people into relationship with God as their chosen Savior and ultimately gracious king. We know and understand today that Jesus was speaking from an eternal perspective. However, from critics to those closest to him, the context of the words and sayings of Jesus were lost on them.<\/p>\n

Judas, a devout follower of Jesus, may have betrayed Jesus for the purpose of catalyzing a military revolution that would advance Jesus overthrowing the authority of the Roman empire. Judas seemed to believe that his action of coercing a confrontation between Jesus and Roman soldiers would result in a successful coup. Jesus would have divine power over the Roman army in the way he had the power to overcome wind with words to calm a storm, to walk on water, to restore sight to the blind, to heal the lame, and raise the dead to life. Judas, it would seem, hoped that Jesus would then rule as the king of the Jewish people, and everyone else for that matter. Jesus would be a righteous king installing a system of justice that is “fair” while partial to the cause of Jews, establishing the stately rule of Israel having been restored as a nation. It is my opinion as to why Judas betrayed his friend and teacher.<\/p>\n

But that is not all what Jesus had in mind.<\/p>\n

Jesus would surrender to the Jewish authority sanctioned by the Roman Empire, then be charged with blasphemy, and perhaps more than that, conspiring to overthrow the government. There was no evidence for any of it, and Jesus, an innocent man, was convicted and sentenced by a mob, and then executed by crucifixion. He was publicly ridiculed and scorned, suffering horrific torturous beatings before being nailed to a cross to die. Jesus, entirely innocent of sin, would take upon himself the full weight of sin for all humankind. It would be an unimaginable experience of suffering. Knowing what was coming, Jesus said to his closest friends:<\/p>\n

<\/span>Jesus told them, \u201cMy soul is crushed with grief to the point of death.” <\/span>Matthew 26:38 (NLT)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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When attempting to convey to his closest followers, his friends, what his death experience would resemble, Jesus said to them…<\/p>\n

“For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.”<\/span> Matthew 12:40 (NLT)<\/span><\/p>\n

There may be debate about what Jesus meant, saying that he would experience being in the heart of the earth, but whatever he meant, I believe Jesus experienced overwhelming dread beyond crucifixion. Jesus had been beaten and hung nailed to a cross for a number of hours before feeling utter separation from his Father, God. It seems that Jesus anticipated that suffering condemnation for sin would be his most godless experience. His lowest point.<\/p>\n

Jesus pleaded with God that there might be another way.<\/p>\n

He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying,\u00a0<\/span>\u201cMy Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.\u201d<\/span> Matthew 26:39 (NLT)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed,\u00a0<\/span>\u201cMy Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.\u201d<\/span> Matthew 26:42 (NLT)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again.<\/span> Matthew 26:44 (NLT)<\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus experienced in his body, mind, and spirit, what it meant to be heavy laden. There was no<\/em> rest for his<\/em> soul, not even in death. Jesus experienced immeasurable suffering for the sin of everyone who has ever lived beyond the beatings, ridicule, and crucifixion. I do think that for three days, Jesus experienced hell for each one of us. I think that Jesus experienced in his body, soul, spirit, and mind, the guilt, shame, and condemnation, for even the worst of sinners. Jesus could have even suffered emotionally the regret and remorse for the even worst of sinners, which would have been spiritual and psychological torture as his body lay still in the tomb. In other words, in Jesus, our sin was condemned to hell.<\/p>\n

(Note: this may not be popular among theologians in attempting to comprehend the insufferable burden Jesus carried as his physical body laid in the tomb, but I don’t care. It’s what I believe more than not.)<\/span><\/p>\n

After three days, Jesus would be resurrected by God from death into new life. Today, we have access to relationship with Jesus, the Son of God, our sovereign king. It is in relationship with Jesus that we may experience overwhelmingly powerful support from the one who knows what it means to be isolated by the burden of the ultimate hardship, having to carry the weight of it all. Jesus, however, prevailed over everything thrown at him. Only because God is sovereign, and the plan of victory through humility and surrender to the plan and purpose of God was achieved.<\/p>\n

Jesus did what he did to save us all from the fate of hell, whatever hell may be here on earth, and eternally speaking, by condemning sin to eternal hell and setting us free from it. The only condition is relationship with Jesus. A life with Jesus is the bright light at the end of the tunnel. The issue for you and me is that we are still making our way through the tunnel of life, which can feel quite dark and isolating at times. Heaven may the light at the end of the tunnel, but what about between now and then, here and there?<\/p>\n

Why is Jesus central to freedom from all that produces discomfort? Why is relationship with Jesus the only way to access to God?<\/p>\n

Jesus was asked by one of his followers, (I am paraphrasing) \u201cWe have no idea where God is,. so how can we know the way?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jesus told him, \u201cI am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father (God) except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who God is.\u00a0From now on, you do know him and have seen him!\u201d”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Philip said, \u201cLord, show us the Father (God), and we will be satisfied.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus replied,\u00a0\u201cHave I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don\u2019t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen God!”<\/span> <\/span>John 14:6-9 (NLT)<\/span><\/p>\n

Those are bold words from Jesus. The kind of words that got him in trouble in a deeply religious culture with those in authority with the power to arrest and charge Jesus as being a false prophet. The Jewish community was desperate for the coming of their prophesied Messiah (chosen leader) who would deliver them from the oppression of the ruling Roman Empire. Until that happened, they did not want anyone upsetting the life they had by making it worse. Being burdened by misery was familiar; comfortable in a way.<\/p>\n

Jesus arrived on the scene declaring that he is the prophesied Messiah. While very few believed initially, Jesus was doing things that could not be explained away as witchcraft or sorcery. People were being healed repeatedly. Their experiences were genuine and life-changing.<\/p>\n

The number of people that believed Jesus to be special was accelerating. Belief in Jesus as being sent by God, the chosen Messiah, was growing at a rapid pace. However, when Jesus declares, “When you have seen me, you have seen God,” and, “No one comes to God except through me,” he is not laying out a condition, or an ultimatum, Jesus is granting us a gracious invitation to gain access to God through relationship with him<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Come to Me and You Will Find Rest<\/span><\/p>\n

What if you could be assured that you have a connection to God while navigating your way through the tunnel? What if in relationship with Jesus you had an advocate with full access to God through the darkest times and places in your life? What if Jesus has willfully engaged in the struggle with you, connected to you in a way that helps you while carrying the load that burdens you? What if relationship with Jesus is not only your best<\/em> option, it is your only<\/em> option?<\/p>\n

“Come to<\/span>\u00a0Me, all\u00a0you<\/i> who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. <\/span><\/span>Take My yoke upon you<\/span>\u00a0and learn from Me, for I am<\/span> gentle and<\/span>\u00a0lowly in heart,<\/span>\u00a0and you will find rest for your souls.<\/span> <\/span><\/span>For My yoke\u00a0is<\/i> easy and My burden is light.\u201d <\/span>Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus was God made flesh as a human being during a time when those with whom he lived among were burdened under the oppression of the Roman Empire. The Jewish people were a nation without statehood. They dwelled in a land that today is Israel, laden by the yoke of Roman oppression that for generations was simply too much to bear.<\/p>\n

There are so many people today in the world under intense oppression. Whether it be from governing authorities, disabled by disease, suffering with mental illness, persevering through trauma, enduring relationship dysfunction, overcome by regret and shame, surviving loss and grief, and\/or overwhelmed by anxiety, stress, and fear. It is all too much to bear. To be yoked<\/em> with the burden of oppressive circumstances is having to carry the full weight of it all. When discouraged, helpless, and hopeless, what chance do you have?<\/p>\n

Speaking to a crowd of Jews and Gentiles alike, Jesus addressed the very purpose of his ministry, revealing the mysteries of God beyond their understanding. Jesus came to give hope to the hopeless. Some recognized Jesus as the Messiah, meaning the one<\/em> chosen to save them. Jesus issued the invitation, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you… You will find rest for your souls.”<\/p>\n