JACKSON CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE: WHICH IS THE SWEETEST VERSE IN THE BIBLE?

The Rev. Kenneth Harper, a native of Arkansas, is the pastor of the Jackson Church of the Nazarene. He graduated from Nazarene Bible College in 1975, and from Mid America Nazarene College in 1988. The Jackson church began in October 1991, and the Rev. Harper is the founding pastor.

If you were asked which verse in the Bible was the sweetest one, which one meant the most to you, what would you answer? One persons might say, "I was in trouble and need and I went to the Bible and read the words `The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.' I looked to that shepherd and he led me out of my trouble."

Another one would say, "Sorrow came to me and I could not be comforted. But when I listened to the words of Jesus, `Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me,' my heart was comforted and the darkness fled away."

Another might say, "There was a time when I felt that all the world was against me. My way was hard and rough. Then I felt a hand upon mine and I heard a voice saying, `Lo, I am with you always... I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.' Then my heart was lifted and I found peace."

Still another would say, "I was in the deepest sin. I was on my way to hell. Then the spirit of God convicted me, for I saw one hanging on a cross and I heard him say, `Him that cometh to me I will in no way cast out.' I came to him, and he saved me from all my sin."

But I believe that many of us would say that Matthew 11:28 is the sweetest verse in the Bible. Jesus looked upon the multitude one day and saw their lives filled with trouble and distress. He opened wide his arms and said, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." He says the same thing to us, and, oh, how often we have fled to him for rest. What sweet comfort we have found in these words.

As we read this verse we see a picture of a man toiling under a hot sun. Another man stands over him with a rod, beating him and urging him on. He struggles under the impossible task which is his. Then a big load is placed upon his back and he falls beneath the load. He feels surely that he will die if relief does not come. The afternoon wears away and the shadows of evening fall, but there is still no rest, no food, no drink. Then another man comes, stronger than either of these. He drives off the oppressor, lifts the burden from the poor man's back, heals his wounds and gives him water and food. Then he leads him to a quiet place and bids him to lie down on a soft couch. He gently soothes the man's fevered brow and that man finds peace and rest and comfort.

This is just what Jesus does. He finds Satan driving us; he finds us heavily laden with sin. But he saves us and gives us the best on this earth and the best in heaven. Yes, these are sweet words, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Nineteen hundred years ago Jesus stood before the restless multitudes and said, "Come unto me and I will give you rest." He is still saying that today. Oh, restless heart, come unto him with all of your sins and all of your sorrows and all of your doubts and he will cause the sun to shine in your soul. Christ says, "Come unto me and I will give you rest." That is the sweetest verse in the Bible. That is the greatest invitation of the Lord.