The word 욕 (Yoke) in Korean means "curse word" or "foul language". It is a curse to take the cross but everybody has a cross and everybody has a yoke to take up.
We give ourselves a yoke, society gives us a yoke and we get burdened by the yoke of responsibility. Mostly we are tied up with the yoke of sin. The yoke of our own pride is embarrassing and heavy. As years go by, this yoke becomes more of a burden. We can't take it up alone.
Jesus invites us saying, "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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matt 11:29-30)” We throw off the yoke of sin and we put on the yoke of learning from Jesus. That is learning his humble heart and find rest for the soul.
The yoke of learning from Jesus includes the yoke of the cross. The cross is known as a curse and was the most horrible form of punishment. This yoke would crush us if we carried it alone, but he is carrying it with us.
Every day I face my limit and I fall down many times at work and with students I become a dumb mute trying to teach English. At home my own kid says "I hate you daddy" when he doesn't get what he wants. I don't have the compassion or patience to deal with special students let alone live with one.
I fall to the ground again and realize it is not at all about me, but it is all about him. If that is the yoke I have been given then there is no use running from it. For when we take it together it is light and there is strength in him through me to overcome myself, to overcome my anger and pride and welcome little children in Jesus' name.
The cross I carry is heavy but there is grace enough for me to carry it or it wouldn't have been given me. There is no use comparing myself to others. It's as simple as the lion in Narnia said:
“Child,' said the Lion, 'I am telling you your story, not hers. No one is told any story but their own.”
Or as Jesus said to Peter:
“If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me. (John 21:22)”
