“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

I dare say, when Jesus cries out to the weary and heavy burdened, as some translation renders it, is He not calling everyone you know? It matters not which corner of the earth you inhabit, you are either physically tired, emotionally tired, mentally tired or tired in every possible way. Is it related to COVID? Is it from the financial strain from sky-rocketing costs of even basic needs? Are the news of political upheaval and conflict abroad and right here in the US creating anxiety and despair? How about crime and violence in our own neighborhoods reaching our very own welcome mats? And the sadness and sense of emptiness and powerlessness invading the hearts of the generation growing up knowing life as we knew it cancelled. So, would you have to agree that Jesus is calling everyone you know especially YOU?

How can Jesus give rest to the weary and burdened? How can He give rest to any of us? We haven’t been able to give ourselves any rest even as we try so how can Jesus? Perhaps that is just it. We are not able to give ourselves rest as most of the unrest we feel comes from ourselves. Are we not our own worst enemies? The burdens we carry have zero positive impact on our own lives. Worry and stress does nothing about the outcome of the very situation we worry and stress about, but we fret, we worry, we stress as if our lives depend on it. How many ailments we suffer in our bodies have their source in stress? A lot more than we realize. World-wide, there has been a rise in autoimmune disorders, that is when the immune system goes haywire and attacks the body’s own healthy cells as if these targeted cells were some foreign micro-organisms needing to be destroyed. We are truly our own worst enemies. That theme invades our lives physically, mentally, and psychologically.

Then there is guilt. How can I come to a Holy God? Jesus is righteous and Holy and I am as far from righteous and holy as one gets. That is the truth. That is an inescapable fact. But you see, Jesus was not calling the holy and righteous, but sinners. In the gospel of Mark, the Lord Jesus was criticized by the religious leaders for eating a meal with whom these leaders considered to be sinners, and this was Jesus’ response, (2:17) And hearing this, Jesus *said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” So, it was the very self-righteous religious leaders that missed out on the invitation. Jesus is calling us just as we are. And if these religious leaders truly examined themselves in light of a perfect and holy God, they would have also responded to Jesus’ call. In fact, there is none righteous in light of a perfect and holy God, so, truly, the way is opened for everyone to come to Jesus.

Charlotte Elliot lived during the turn of the century from 1789 to 1871. She had very poor health and lived bedridden for most of her life. She wanted to do great things for God but her suffering and pain and poor health only made her quite depressed and miserable. And when an evangelist had spoken a word that rang in heart, she was led to come to Christ but felt that she had to clean her life up before becoming a Christian. The evangelist told her to “Come to Him, just as you are.” And that is what our Lord Jesus is still calling us to do. Come, all of you, come. Come in your weariness and burden of sin. I will give your rest from your vain efforts. So, out of all her experiences of suffering, this song was born. And in all the years, decades, centuries since this song was born in her heart, the call of Jesus to come to Him has also reached our hearts.

Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He alone can remove the burden of sin and guilt from our hearts. He alone can take us from the unending running in place at the hamster wheel and give us meaning and purpose to our existence. Is this not true rest, true rest of our being when we let God love us, just as we are, and let Him fulfill His great intention and purpose for our lives. Charlotte Elliot came in her struggles and bedridden state, just as she was. The Lamb of God used her in all her miserable suffering just as she was and gave her this hymn to give to the weary and heavy burdened world. This hymn has travelled across the globe more than she would have if she could have, and it endures over the centuries well beyond her 82 years on earth, and has reached the hearts of an unfathomable number of hurting people as she demonstrates coming to Jesus just as she was.  

Shall I not also come to the Lamb of God, just as I am? Jesus I COME, I COME!

Just as I am – without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee,
-O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am – and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
-O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am – though toss’d about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
-O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am – poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need, in Thee to find,
-O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am – Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
-O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am – Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down;
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
-O Lamb of God, I come, I come!     ~ Charlotte Elliot