The Sovereign Savior: Rest for the Weary

This message was presented at a special Gospel Preaching Service at Gospel of Grace Ministries, Okeana, Ohio.

---

In Matthew 11:25–30, we hear one of the most gracious and comforting invitations in all of Scripture. Jesus calls out to the weary and burdened, saying, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” These words are the very heart of the Gospel call! Within them lies the full revelation of God’s sovereignty in salvation and the deep assurance that true rest is found only in Christ.

The Sovereign Grace of the Father

At the heart of Jesus’ prayer in this passage is a declaration of divine sovereignty. “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.” (Matthew 11:25) The Lord rejoices in the Father’s will—His sovereign choice to reveal saving truth not to the proud or self-reliant, but to the humble and dependent, the elect who have been convicted by the Holy Spirit.

The wisdom of this world cannot uncover the mystery of salvation. It is God who must reveal it. As Jesus says elsewhere, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” (John 6:44) From our perspective, salvation of a sinner begins with the gracious act of divine revelation. The Father hides and reveals according to His perfect will, and in this we see the foundation of all grace: God’s sovereign pleasure.

The Perfect Knowledge of the Son

Jesus continues, “All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” (Matthew 11:27)

Here, Christ claims absolute authority in salvation. The Son has perfect fellowship with the Father, and He possesses the authority to make the Father known. Salvation is a divine revelation granted through Christ to whom He wills.

This truth magnifies both the sovereignty and the grace of our Savior. He does not leave our salvation in our own weak hands but secures it by His own power and purpose. He reveals the Father to those given to Him before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4–5). Our rest in Christ is therefore not uncertain. No! It is anchored in God’s eternal plan and Christ’s finished work.

The Gentle Invitation of Christ

Then comes the sweet, tender, and effectual call: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Christ doe not call the self-sufficient, but the weary. He invites all who have been crushed by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit under the weight of sin and self-effort to come and rest. The rest Jesus provides is the end of trying to earn what Christ alone freely gives His people!

To take His yoke is to repent of the dead works we falsely assumed commended us to God, trusting Christ to “carry the load,” to put away all sin, to satisfy the righteous requirements of the law on our behalf. The yoke of Christ is redemptive! In Him, we find peace, for He is “gentle and lowly in heart.” He does not cast out the sinner who comes in faith; He welcomes and restores (John 6:37) all who are given to Him by the Father!

Resting in the Sovereign Savior

As we stand beneath the truth of this passage, we see the beauty of salvation shining in full splendor. What comfort belongs to those who know that salvation is the firm decree of Almighty God for His children in Christ!

From eternity past, the Father purposed to save a people for Himself. In time, the Son accomplished that salvation by His perfect life, atoning death, and triumphant resurrection. Even now, the Spirit effectually calls, regenerates, and keeps those whom the Father has chosen and the Son has redeemed. What God begins, He will surely complete (Philippians 1:6).

This is why the weary can rest. We rest because the work is finished. We rest because the Savior is faithful. We rest because the grace that called us will never let us go.

Believer, your rest is not found in striving or self-reliance. It is found in Christ alone. Lay down every anxious toil, every self-imposed burden, and every fear of falling short. Look to the gentle and lowly Savior who delights to give rest to weary souls.

And if today you hear His voice calling through the Gospel, do not turn away. Come to Christ. Rest in Christ. Rejoice in His sovereign grace. For in His will, His redemption, and His steadfast love, you will find rest for your soul—now and forevermore.

“To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood… to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 1:5–6)

---

Jason Boothe is a Pastor at Redeemer Church of Piketon, Ohio.