Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

Matthew begins chapter eleven with, “And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.”

Imagine the people listening to the words of Jesus. All seeking a better way. The man searching for answers. A woman in need of hope. A child craving parental love. The outcast. The sick. The dying. The possessed. The physically and spiritually hungry. Lost souls longing for a way out of difficult circumstances.

In their midst was One Who cared enough to share the truth and supply their needs. Without hesitation, Jesus issued an invitation to the tired and weary.

“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).

Rest begins when we repent of our sins and choose His will over self-will. Thankfully, it doesn’t stop there. Jesus is concerned about our day-to-day lives. He is amid our everyday troubles, inviting us to come, and answering when we call.  

Today, people are still looking for a better way. Do you feel burned out? Disappointed? Distressed? Business concerns? Mounting debt? Oppressed? Depressed? Jesus’ invitation still stands. “Come unto Me.”

The Author

Charles Price Jones Sr. was born in Floyd County, near Rome, Georgia. He attended the Baptist College in Arkansas and pastored several Baptist churches. Later, he left the Baptist denomination and organized The Christ Temple Church of Christ (Holiness) in Los Angeles, California. He is the author of more than 1000 hymns. The following is still sung in congregations today.

It’s also one of my favorites. As you read the words, see if you can find a phrase that describes your need. And remember, there is nothing too great or small for our God.

The Song

1-Hear the blessed Savior calling the oppressed, “O ye heavy laden, come to Me and rest; Come no longer tarry, I your load will bear, Bring Me ev’ry burden, bring Me ev’ry care”.

Refrain-Come unto Me, I will give you rest; Take my yoke upon you, Hear Me and be blest; I am meek and lowly, Come and trust My might; Come, My yoke is easy, And My burden’s light.

2-Are you disappointed, wand’ring here and there, Dragging chains of doubt and loaded down with care? Do unholy feelings struggle in your breast? Bring your case to Jesus, He will give you rest.

3-Stumbling on the mountains dark with sin and shame, Stumbling tow’rd the pit of hell’s consuming flame, By the pow’r of sin deluded and oppressed? Hear the tender Shepherd, “Come to Me and rest’.

4-Have you by temptation often conquered been, Has a sense of weakness brought distress within? Christ will sanctify you, if you’ll claim His best, In the Holy Spirit He will give you rest.

Public Domain

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name;
worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness (Psalm 29:2 KJV). 

I’ve never played or sang this hymn in front of anyone, but I have heard it performed several times. So, I wasn’t too surprised when the words leaped inside my head as I watched the sunrise.

Curious, I opened my hymn book and found three different versions. Between Coronation, Miles Lane, and Diadem, my favorite is Coronation because it sounds exactly like the title. A coronation. And just the thought of that glorious coronation should stir our souls to worship.

In fact, Perronet’s lyrics are a call to worship. They are also reminders of Who and why we worship. Facts easily forgotten in a world that only sees Him as a God of love. True, He is love. But He is also King!

May we reverence Him as Lord and King!

All Hail the Power of Jesus’ name!

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:6-11 KJV).

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works (Titus 2:14 KJV).

And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 

And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 

And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 

And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 

And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 

Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 

And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 

And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever (Revelations 5:3-14 KJV).

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 

And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 

The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created (Revelations 4:8-11 KJV). 

Words: Edward Perronet, 1779

Music: Coronation, Oliver Holden, 1793