We are approaching the season when we are reminded about the value of giving thanks. At least ideally, the minds of many are led to consider reasons for giving thanks. I hope you are planning to spend some time especially this month in giving thanks to God for His amazing plan of salvation.
When Jesus lived on this earth, what happened when He gave thanks? Of course many of those instances are not recorded, but I would like to briefly review two passages in Mark and one in John that provide some insight into an answer to that question.
In Mark chapter 6, Jesus was sharing the good news with a large crowd of people. More than five thousand were in the congregation. Jesus hadn’t necessarily invited them all over to His place, yet He felt a responsibility to feed the guests. After asking the disciples to have the people sit down, they were ready to eat. Where was the food? Physical nourishment?
Jesus lifted His eyes to heaven and gave thanks (v. 41). He didn’t have any question where the food would come from. He did not give thanks in a general way to some beneficient being out there. He gave thanks to His Father, the Provider of all things, the One who lives in heaven.
After Jesus gave thanks, there was an abundant supply of bread and fish to satisfy all the picnicers. When they had finished, there were even a dozen baskets of leftovers for snacking on the way home.
In Mark 8, not so long after the experience in Mark 6, Jesus again was full of compassion for the people who had spent three days listening to His messages about the kingdom of God. They had used up their provisions and yet were reluctant to get on their way to find their next meal. So He asked the people to sit down. What must they have been thinking? Had some of them been in the crowd in Mark 6? The disciples seem to have forgotten about that incident, but Jesus again gave thanks and a multitude of over four thousand were fed adequately before seven baskets of leftovers were gathered up.
In John 11, Jesus was nearing the close of His earthly ministry. He went with friends to the cemetery at Bethany and asked to have the stone covering the burial chamber moved. He was already exercising faith in His Father’s power to have even requested that the grave be opened. Then He did what He so often did; He lifted up His eyes and gave thanks (v. 41). He expressed faith that His Father had heard His prayer and then invited Lazarus to walk out of the dead chamber. What happened? Lazarus walked out (v. 44). When Jesus gave thanks, mighty events could occur; God could be glorified. What happens when you give thanks? Does it not open the door for God to work in a mighty way? Why not find out this month? This week? Today?