Since time and Thanksgiving dinner wait for no man—or woman, or child—I will try to be brief in my words today. I want you to be thankful that you took time to read this post. Hopefully, you’ll find some good thoughts to chew on during your family feasting.
There are so many tasty thanksgiving scriptures to choose from for a Thanksgiving post. Far too many, in fact—Psalm 100, Philippians 4, Colossians 3, 1 Thessalonians 5, and many others. At first I was overwhelmed, until I asked the ultimate and clarifying Thanksgiving WWJBTF question: “What would Jesus be thankful for?”
A quick concordance study revealed that Jesus wasn’t really all that thankful. At least not that often in his public words recorded in the gospels. I was surprised to find only two primary occasions, which just happened to be when Jesus is recorded giving thanks for food about to be received: at the feeding of the multitudes, and at the last supper. Granted, he also thanks the Father for hearing his prayer about Lazarus, but that doesn’t count the same way. Let’s look at the two food incidents.
When Jesus fed the multitudes, Scripture says he took the few loaves and fishes the disciples could find, gave thanks for them, and then had his disciples distribute them. What happened next was a miracle. Those few loaves and fishes fed thousands, so much that one passage says the people ate “as much as they wanted” and all were “filled.” It was not just enough food to get by, but a bountiful feast in the hills of Galilee.
When Jesus brought his disciples into the upper room for their last Passover meal together, Scripture says that during the meal he gave thanks for the bread and the wine. Then he explained that the bread symbolized his body, about to be broken for them, and the wine his blood, about to be shed for forgiveness of sins. He gave thanks for the food, but even more for the spiritual realities the food represented.
That’s pretty much it. Jesus gave thanks those two times. But think about it for a moment. With the multitudes in Galilee, Jesus gives thanks for God’s provision of physical food. With the disciples in the upper room, Jesus gives thanks for God’s provision of spiritual food. Each offering of thanks was about food. About God’s provision. And then it struck me.
The Pilgrims of Plymouth Plantation celebrated their first feast of thanksgiving, a harvest festival, for two big reasons: first, to thank God for providing the food they needed in a bountiful fall harvest; and second, to thank God for His goodness and mercy in bringing them through their first winter. They gave thanks to God for physical food, and for spiritual food. Just like Jesus did. And just like we should.
I’ve noticed a kind of de facto tradition over the years, no matter where or with whom we’ve celebrated Thanksgiving. Before the eating begins, the question is posed that each person at the table is expected to answer: “What is one thing that you are thankful for this year?” Older eaters know the easy answers like family, health, and “blessings” that will keep the relay moving the fastest. Younger eaters often fall into one of two groups. Either they will hem and haw and shrug their shoulders, or they will loudly blurt out whatever is first on their minds, whether friends, toys, trips, pets, or candy.
I know I’m meddling now, but this year why not try asking a new, two-part question: “What physical food from God on this table are you most thankful for, and what spiritual food from God are you most thankful for this year?” Every kid will love the first part of the question and probably punt a little on the second, and every grown up will have to ditch their default answers and think just a little harder about that second part of the question. But that’s good, and the dinner won’t get cold. And if there’s any push-back, just say, “We’re following the example of Jesus this year. Don’t you think that’s a great idea?”
So, have a joyful, hearty, and good Thanksgiving with your family. Be thankful for the bountiful provision of the physical food he has given us to enjoy, and for the promised provision of spiritual food that fills us with gratitude and praise. Now … please pass the turkey.
(Adapted from a post for FortheFamily.org, Nov 28, 2013)