Jesus Gave Thanks

He was God and didn’t have to give thanks for anything, but he often did. Jesus set a remarkable example for us in many ways, but one was in thanksgiving. He was a man who gave praise to the Father in so many ways. 

He gave thanks as he was surrounded by thousands of hungry people and multiplied the food. 

But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!” They *said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” And He said, “Bring them here to Me.” Ordering the people to sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds, and they all ate and were satisfied. They picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve full baskets. – Matthew 14:16-20 NASB1995

He gave thanks to God for hearing his prayer for the raising of Lazarus—before Lazarus rose from the grave. 

So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.” When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus *said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” – John 11:41-44 NASB1995

He knew the cross was before him and gave thanks to the Father as he broke bread and drank the cup with the disciples.

While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”  – Matthew 26:26 NASB1995

We have a perfect example of righteous living from Jesus, and one thing he shows us is the position of praise and thanksgiving. What I find interesting is that all three of these instances were situations we might find tense. The pressure to feed thousands, raise a friend from the grave, and face death on a cross would be overwhelming for any of us. Jesus’ response was never to panic or run to people, but to turn to the Father.

How can you find that position of praise in your life today? What might you do to cultivate a natural response of thanksgiving not just this month, but at all times?