What did Jesus mean by ‘take my yoke’? This book explains

Three life-changing words spoken by Jesus are the focus of Chic Lidstone’s new book.

In Take My Yoke, the church leader and former engineer leans into the imagery of a pilgrimage, guiding readers on a journey into the Father’s embrace as he unpacks Jesus’ invitation.

Spoken in an agrarian culture, Jesus’ words of “take my yoke”, would have been more easily understood by its first hearers. But for the modern-day Christian, the imagery needs some further explanation, which Lidstone offers in great detail.

He begins by sharing his own testimony of taking Jesus’ yoke, an encouraging and moving account that many Christian readers might relate to. He describes the experience of not fully living in the freedom Christ has given, but then having a deep and pivotal revelation of its importance and experiencing his rest.

Lidstone looks at the literal definition of a yoke, explaining what yokes meant to Jewish people in Jesus’ day, exploring appearances of yokes in the Old Testament and what they point to in the New, the role of rest from as early as creation, the importance of the Sabbath, and the implications of all of this for us today.

All of this is interesting and engaging, however it does take a little while for Lidstone to really get into the meat of the book, with some early passages seeming a bit repetitive.

Once Lidstone gets into the subject, every chapter is rich, filled with a lot of wisdom and insight, which feels like the fruit of a life lived at the feet of Jesus.

Much of Take My Yoke addresses the ways in which Christians today haven’t sat at Jesus’ feet or heeded Jesus’ instruction, and have instead fallen into a performance-based religion. 

The flow of the book doesn’t feel so clear initially, not always seeming to follow a narrative or logical journey. There are elements in each chapter that build upon the previous, but overall, it feels as though some chapters could stand alone.

The ideas in the book are well supported, however, with plenty of relevant scripture quoted, as well as citations from contemporary Christian literature and historical references. The language is accessible and easy to understand. Some big concepts are communicated in a straightforward way, such as the Sabbath.

Lidstone’s personal anecdotes and reflections, peppered throughout the book, are tender and vulnerable. At points you feel as though you are sitting across the table from him hearing his stories, listening to the words of a man whose life has truly been transformed by Jesus. These insights give all his other explorations weight, and birth a desire to experience what he has experienced by taking heed of the words he shares.

Each page takes the reader a step closer to understanding what it means to truly rest in Jesus, not as another asset we’ve acquired, but as a way of living that frees us from the need to perform or earn. 

Take My Yoke by Chic Lidstone (Instant Apostle) is out now