How can we turn an otherwise secular Thanksgiving Day into a Christian family day of thanks? Easy. We just ask the question: “What would Jesus give thanks for?”
However, a quick concordance check shows that Jesus didn’t really “give thanks” all that often. But the three specific times when he does are for food—at the feeding of the multitudes, at the Last Supper, and at the inn of Emmaus. And it’s from those times that we can find an answer to the question.
When Jesus fed the multitudes, 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—a few loaves and fishes feeding thousands. 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 and his disciples were in the upper room for their last Passover meal together, he “gave thanks” for the bread and the wine. Then he told the twelve that the bread symbolized his body, about to be broken for them, and the wine his blood, about to be poured out for forgiveness of sins. He gave thanks for the food, but even more for the spiritual realities the food represented.
At the inn of Emmaus, Jesus sat at table with two disciples he met along the road from Jerusalem. Though he had explained the Scriptures to them, they did not recognize him then as Jesus, the one of whom they spoke. But when Jesus took the bread, “gave thanks,” and gave it to them, their eyes were opened supernaturally. Though he disappeared from their sight, they had seen the risen Savior.
Think about those thanks-giving scenes for a moment. With the multitudes in Galilee, Jesus gave thanks for God’s provision of physical food. With the disciples in the upper room, he gave thanks for God’s provision of spiritual food. With the disciples at the inn of Emmaus, he gave thanks for God’s provision of supernatural food. And in all three he “blessed” what he gave to them. And then it struck me.
The Pilgrims of Plymouth Plantation celebrated their first harvest feast to give thanks to God for his goodness in a bountiful fall harvest, for His mercy in bringing them through their first winter, and for his presence and power in their lives. They gave thanks to God just as Jesus did. And just like we should do.
Perhaps we can rethink the de facto Thanksgiving tradition of answering the “one thing” question: “What is one thing that you are thankful for this year?” Older eaters know the easy answers like family, health, and “blessings” to keep the relay moving. Younger eaters might bashfully shrug their shoulders or loudly blurt out whatever is first on their minds (toy, pet, family).
This year, why not try asking three new questions at your Thanksgiving table: What physical blessing from God are you thankful for? What spiritual blessing in Christ are you thankful for? What supernatural blessing of the Spirit are you thankful for? Don’t try to squeeze it all in before eating, but allow extra time to ponder and wait to respond until you are all sitting at table together and eating.
And did you notice that the three questions are nicely trinitarian—blessings of the Father, Son, and Spirit. It all reminds me of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians: “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”
WWJGTF? Maybe just that we who believe take time on this Thanksgiving Day to open the eyes of our hearts and give thanks for what we know we have in Christ.
So, have a joyful, hearty, and good “Christian” Thanksgiving with your family. Be thankful for the physical, spiritual, and supernatural “food” from God that fills our hearts with joy, praise, and mostly, gratitude. And finally … Please pass the turkey and dressing, thank you.
Multitudes: Matthew 15:35; Mark 8:6; John 6:11
Last Supper: Matthew 26:27; Mark 14:23; Luke 22:14f
Emmaus: Luke 24:28f
Paul’s prayer: Ephesians 1:18-19a