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Uncle Theology · Barn Dance · Track 5

Come to Me

Barn DanceTrack 5 of 6
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About this songHoratius Bonar’s “I heard the voice of Jesus say” as a jazz duet — rest, living water, and light — answered by Christ’s own invitation: “Come to Me.”
SourceThe verses are Horatius Bonar’s 1846 hymn “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say” (public domain); the “Come to Me” chorus draws on Jesus’ words in Matthew 11.
About Horatius Bonar →
Big ideaHoratius Bonar’s three invitations — rest, living water, light — answered by Christ’s own “Come to Me”: the weary lay down their burden and find a yoke that’s kind.
Doctrine
Rest in Christ · Grace
Anchor text
Matthew 11:28–30
Form
Jazz duet
Voices
Horatius Bonar
Verse 1 — female jazz singer

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Come unto Me and rest;
lay down, thou weary one, lay down
thy head upon My breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was,
weary and worn and sad;
I found in Him a resting-place,
and He has made me glad.

Chorus — male singer

Come to Me, you weary souls,
lay down the weight you bear;
My yoke is kind, My burden light,
and rest is waiting there.

Verse 2 — female jazz singer

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Behold, I freely give
the living water; thirsty one,
stoop down, and drink, and live.”
I came to Jesus, and I drank
of that life-giving stream;
my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
and now I live in Him.

Chorus — male singer

Come to Me, you weary souls,
lay down the weight you bear;
My yoke is kind, My burden light,
and rest is waiting there.

Verse 3 — female jazz singer

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“I am this dark world’s light;
look unto Me, thy morn shall rise,
and all thy day be bright.”
I looked to Jesus, and I found
in Him my star, my sun;
and in that light of life I’ll walk
till traveling days are done.

Chorus — male singer

Come to Me, you weary souls,
lay down the weight you bear;
My yoke is kind, My burden light,
and rest is waiting there.

Scripture References

  1. Matthew 11:28-30
  2. John 4:13-14
  3. John 8:12

Study this song

Teaching aids drawn from the song — for personal study or group discussion.

How the song moves

1
Come and rest
“I heard the voice of Jesus say, come unto Me and rest”; the weary and worn find a resting-place (Matthew 11:28).
2
Come and drink
The living water freely given to the thirsty; the soul revived (John 4:13–14; 7:37).
3
Come to the light
“I am this dark world’s light”; look to Him and the whole day grows bright (John 8:12).
4
The kind yoke
The chorus: My yoke is kind, My burden light, and rest is waiting there (Matthew 11:29–30).

Key terms & allusions

  • Horatius Bonar — Scottish minister (1808–1889), the “prince of Scottish hymn-writers,” who wrote “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say” (1846).
  • three invitations — Bonar built the hymn on Christ’s threefold “come” — for rest, for living water, and for light — each met by the singer’s response.
  • living water — John 4:13–14 (the woman at the well) and John 7:37, “if anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.”
  • “this dark world’s light” — John 8:12 — “I am the light of the world.”
  • “My yoke is kind, My burden light” — Matthew 11:30; the song renders Jesus’ “easy” yoke as “kind.”

Discussion questions

  1. Bonar pairs each invitation with a response (“I came… I drank… I looked”). Why does the song insist on our response, not just Christ’s offer?
  2. Jesus offers a “yoke” as rest. How is taking on a yoke restful rather than burdensome?
  3. Where do weary people today look for rest, water, and light instead of Christ?

For contemplation

  1. Which of the three do you need most right now — rest, water, or light?
  2. What weight are you carrying that He’s inviting you to lay down?
  3. Have you “come,” or are you still admiring the invitation from a distance?