Isaiah 55 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.

2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

3 Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.

The Invitation Isaiah 53 & 55 / Matthew 11:29-30 Studying the book of Isaiah Foretells of God’s plan to send a Messiah An absurd plan: God to earth in the flesh A child is born (ch. 9) to become a Suffering Servant (ch. 53)

Isaiah 55 includes an invitation to “come” May seem like an invitation to dinner Thirst / Hunger But it is an invitation to satisfy more than physical needs It is an invitation to satisfy the desires of our soul

Isaiah 55 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.

2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

3 Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.

God offers the invitation to the Messiah through Isaiah’s prophecy, And Jesus used the same word: “Come…” extending an invitation to us

Matthew “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

When we allow Jesus into our lives, He will satisfy the longing of our souls and help us with the burdens of life He offers us his “yoke”

What is a yoke? It can be a symbol of oppression It is both a device and symbol of being linked, joined, united It can be something that helps make the load lighter

Matthew “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

While some yokes are heavy and burdensome, the yoke of Christ lightens the load Whether your load is heavy or light, we all have issues that we carry Over time, they wear on us

He forgives our sin Restores relationships Paints a worldview Gives us purpose Helps deal with life’s “stuff” Heals our illnesses and pain Helps us bear the load when it can’t be taken away

It all began when Christ took the weight of our sins upon Himself He came as a tiny babe, marked for a purpose

Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born… …to us a son is given.

Isaiah 53 “The Suffering Servant” 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He has taken our sins And carries our burdens Our punishment was placed on Him So that our burden could be lightened

Jesus invites us to be yoked with Him… “Come” When we respond to Christ’s invitation, He is at the center – we are yoked with Him! OXO