“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

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.”   (Matt. 11:28-29)

Simon and Garfunkel had a huge hit in the 1960’s with their song, “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” The song obviously struck a responsive chord with the masses. And after all these years, it still remains one of the most popular songs in history. Why is that so? The answer is found in the lyrics, which are about feeling weary and experiencing personal pain—and with a hopeful answer given of a friend being “like a bridge over troubled waters, I will lay me down.”

Everybody needs someone like that!

The good news is that we do have someone like that, it’s Jesus! He literally laid down His life for us!

“For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18)

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) 

Therefore

“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” (1 John 3:16).