Thankfulness of Jesus
Jesus Giving Thanks (A Thanksgiving Sermon)
Luke 10:21
The Bible abounds with examples of thanksgiving.
The word “thanks” occurs 139 times. There are over 300 references to the word “praise” which is another form of giving thanks.
As we read the four gospels, we find the Lord Jesus Christ giving thanks. This is somewhat remarkable since He is God! Everything came from Him anyway, so why be thankful?
One reason was to give us an example. Peter said Jesus left “us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1 Pet. 2:21). 1 John 2:6 says we ought “to walk, even as he walked.”
Jesus is our example in our walk… our witnessing… our giving… our praying… and in giving thanks. We should give thanks for the same things He was thankful for. We must not only be thankful FOR Him, but also LIKE Him.
In this message I want to examine four occasions where Jesus gave thanks and note what He was being thankful for.
First, we see Jesus was thankful for…
I. The PERCEPTION of spiritual truth by child-like faith (Luke 10:21; Mt. 11:25).
- This prayer is the first recorded prayer of Jesus in the Bible.
- This is the only reference in the Bible of Jesus rejoicing.
A. God reveals spiritual truth to those who recognize who He is:
1. “O Father… ”Do you have a family relationship with your heavenly Father?
2. “Lord of heaven and earth… ”Do you recognize Him as the Ruler of the universe?
B. God reveals His truth to those with child-like faith. I’m thankful you don’t have to be in “Who’s Who” to know what’s what!
Acts 4:13—When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men... But they were smart enough to put their faith in Jesus!
1 Corinthians 1:19-2—It is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe…
God hides the simple truth of the Gospel from those who are wise in their own conceits, so anyone who wants to be saved must believe with child-like faith. No one goes to heaven head first, them must g heart first (Rom 10:9).
What kind of people did Jesus spend most of His time with? It was not the intelligentsia of His day.
C. God is not against education. However, if a person is not careful education has a way of making a person “puffed up” (1 Cor. 8:1).
1. That is why we are warned to avoid “oppositions of science falsely so called” (1 Tim. 6:20). Again, Colossians 2:8 says, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
Geologists know all about rocks without knowing THE ROCK of ages.
Botanists know all about flowers without knowing the ROSE OF SHARON or the LILY OF THE VALLEYS.
Astronomers know all about stars but don’t know Christ, “the bright and morning star.”
2. Thank God He works though men like ordinary men like fishermen, carpenters, tax collectors, shepherds, farmers, and common labors. That means God can use any of us.
Not everyone can have a college degree… Not everyone can be intellectually brilliant… Not everyone understand physics,chemistry, or advanced medical procedures. But everyone can believe on Christ in simple child-like faith (unless they are educated beyond their intelligence.)
Next, we see Jesus was thankful for…
II. The PROVISION of food to eat (John 6:5-11; Mk. 8:6).
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2 Replies to “Thankfulness of Jesus”
12 attending, good food and fellowship. Thankful for all of it.
14 in attendance. Lots of thanksgiving testimony, great fellowship and food!