The Son’s Gratitude
Can you believe how fast the year has flown by? Already the holidays are upon us on store shelves and in anticipation. Labor Day ushered in falling temperatures, heralded the time change, and moved us towards Thanksgiving and Christmas.
I recently recorded a video Thanksgiving meditation for our Facebook page that you can view here. As I prepared my thoughts, I pondered the idea of gratitude from a different angle from that which I typically gaze.
As Christians we’re called to live perpetually with an attitude of gratitude, pondering God’s grace and mercy extended to us in myriad ways. We are called to contemplate both temporal and eternal blessings along with physical and spiritual blessings, all of which may have touch-points and overlap in various ways.
As the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Yet, one perspective I haven’t much pondered in my Christian life is how, when, and why Jesus gave thanks as recorded in the gospels.
As followers of Jesus, we strive to follow His example. So I did a brief study of Jesus’ expression of gratitude revealed in His Word. Interestingly, we find Jesus giving thanks a handful of times. What God’s Word reveals is that Jesus gave thanks for provision, revelation, relationship, and lastly – to my surprise, He gives thanks amidst a trial unlike any other.
Jesus gives thanks for PROVISION
The Lord will give thanks prior to feeding the 4,000 (Matthew 15, Mark 8) and before feeding the 5,000 in John 6.
For example, we read in Matthew 15:36 “And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude.”
Jesus gives thanks for REVELATION
After Jesus sends out the disciples in Luke 10, He’ll give thanks that the Father for His revelation of God’s power manifested to and through the 70 disciples on their initial mission trip (Luke 10:1-23).
Jesus will say in Luke 10:21, “In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.”
Jesus gives thanks for RELATIONSHIP
Just prior to raising Lazarus from the dead in John 11:41-42, Jesus will give thanks to the Father for hearing His prayer in the people’s midst, that they might believe in Him, “And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.”
Jesus gives thanks amidst an INTENSE TRIAL
The occasion is not surprising; it’s very familiar. Yet what is surprising to me is the perspective and position from which gratitude is expressed by our Lord.
In the synoptic gospels (Matthew 26:26-30, Mark 14:22-26, Luke 22:14-20), when Jesus institutes communion, He’ll gives thanks before sharing in the bread and the wine with the disciples. For example, Luke records, “Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
From our perspective as believers, we take communion, in humble reverence and praise – thanking the Lord for His sacrifice on our behalf. In contrast, what surprises me is the Scripture is silent regarding the expression of His gratitude amidst this occasion. What did He say and how did He say it as He expressed gratitude? What is clear is the occasion of His giving thanks: sharing the Passover Seder with His disciples just prior to being betrayed and suffering on the cross, bearing the sins of humanity. Oh the love and sacrifice of our Lord. Hallelujah!
His pain, our gain. His suffering, our salvation. His sacrifice, our gift. He died that we might live.
In this season, and in all seasons, may we ponder the profundity of our Lord’s sacrifice and rejoice that He has conquered sin and death through His resurrection – thanking Him at all times amidst any and every circumstance.
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” – Psalm 107:1