Let the Thanks Come Out. #14

The Gospels record only two events on which Jesus "gave thanks." I don't think that is an indicator that He never did on other occasions, but after all, He is God the Son, the One to Whom we should be thankful. What it does do is emphasize those two occasions, and why thanksgiving is mentioned there.  The first is the feeding of the five thousand. Most of you are familiar with the account found in all four Gospels: the crowd was building that followed Jesus; they chased him all the way to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, where He taught them from a hillside. When He looked out on them, He saw they were hungry and tired, asked for whatever food could be found, gave thanks, and miraculously multiplied the food as it was being passed, ending up with more leftovers than He started with. Obviously that got some peoples' attention. John notes in his record:

 

6:22 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 

Notice how John refers to the place Jesus performed this miracle as "the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks." He does not say "the place where Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish", but where He had given thanks.  Why had Jesus given thanks? To be sure, as a good Jew, He was recognizing all things come from God. But there is more: He was giving thanks for all those who were there seeking the Bread of Life: God's word. He was thankful for all those there seeking salvation. Those kinds of things should drive us, and cause us to give thanks. Are we thankful when Christ is blessing others? 

One more thing of note: giving thanks draws people.  Thankful people are a magnet to bring others to God. Jesus gave thanks. Everyone was abuzz rejoicing over what Jesus was saying and doing, and that attracted others to come see for themselves.  Do we attract others to Jesus by our thanksgiving?