Let the Thanks Come out#15

As I mentioned yesterday, there are only two occasions on which the Gospels record Jesus gave thanks, but that doesn't mean He only did so then, but that the giving of thanks at those two events was empasized for some reason. The second event was in the upper room. Luke 22 says:

14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 

The Passover celebration included multiple cups, including the cup of blessing, over the whole event. The importance of Jesus giving thanks here is the new meaning He attaches to the unleavened bread and the cup they shared: they represented His upcoming sacrifice for sin. In other words, now that Christ has given His life for us and our sins, we have even more reason to be thankful than the Jews did for their deliverance, and the Lord's Supper has become for us a thanksgiving celebration.  But what about Jesus? In one sense, as He gave thanks, it had to be difficult, knowing what lie before him in the next 24 hours. But He was also able to look beyond that, to His coming kingdom. So too, we can remain thankful by looking beyond any present or coming struggle and pain, and looking forward to His covenant promise.