"The LORD Jesus in the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you. . . . after the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood" (I Corinthians 11:24,25).
"In everything give thanks" (I Thessalonians 5:18) should be the daily practice of every believer. It is a privilege not to be neglected. "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:20). There are many things mentioned in Scripture for which all should be thankful. But what about our Lord, for what was He thankful?
- Our Lord was thankful for the Father's spiritual enlightenment given to newborn ones in the family of God. "In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I THANK thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and has revealed them unto babes" (Luke 10:21).
- Our Lord was thankful that His Father's ear was always open unto His prayer. "And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I THANK thee that thou hast heard me, and I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me" (John 11:41,42).
- Our Lord was thankful that soon His body would be broken and His blood shed for a world of lost sinners. The bread and the cup, mentioned in the above text, symbolized His coming sacrificial death. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).
Every believer should be thankful in the same three areas as our Lord: conversion of souls, prayerful access to the Father and for Christ's, once and for all, sacrifice. NPS
