SUBJ: The example of Jesus in
thanksgiving and the things for which He gave thanks as opposed to the
superficial thanksgiving of the world.
AIM: That we might rejoice in that for
our Praised and gave thanks as we look to the essence of our salvation.
INTR: Typical thoughts of thanksgiving
with many are confined to a holiday (which we do well to observe) and
tend toward thoughts of material things. We would look to spiritual
things.
1. Common to all is a perceived state of blessedness in which
we might apply many definitions of thanksgiving - anything from feeling
better than others to acknowledging the true source.
2. The Lord's
people will be led to think on the mercies of God and the grace given
them whereby they may serve.
3. We would see, in Jesus, attention
being drawn to that which glorifies God above all else as a reason for
praise and thanksgiving.
THESIS:
We may be thankful for all that we have, for all we know, and for the
hope that is within us. But it is especially blessed to be able to
joyously acknowledge the wisdom of God in salvation.
I. The
occasions of Jesus' thanksgiving.
1. At the feeding of the
multitudes, He took the elements and gave thanks, and they were
multiplied.
1) Displaying His subservience to the Father and
2)
Acting as the man Christ Jesus.
2. At the raising of Lazarus: Then
they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. 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)
1) The audible testimony to His Sonship
3. At the Last Supper - He gave thanks for each element.
1) The bread
- for the element, to be sure, but looking to what it symbolized as well
2) The wine - again, for the element and looking to the fact that His
blood would be shed.
II. At the return of the seventy (vv. 17-20)
1. We consider the excitement of those returning having been sent with
power.
2. What they had seen - the devils subject to them
3. What
He had seen - Satan falling and the defeat that was to occur with him.
4. The real reason for them to be thankful - names written in heaven.
5. The effect on Jesus at this report is soon evident. HE REJOICED.
III. The praise and thanksgiving of Jesus (v. 21)
1. The word
used here is not the same as that used in the other instances cited (the
other is of gratitude); here the thought looks to acknowledgement that
is openly and joyfully rendered; it is to celebrate and give praise. It
is evident that more than mere appreciation is in view here.
2. We
note both submission and acknowledgment of the Father.
3. The
declaration of who the Father is - a declaration of sovereignty
4.
That for which He praised and gave thanks:
1) Withheld from the wise,
the self-sufficient, those thinking themselves wise, the presumptuous -
knowing what they would do.
2) Rather, He was revealing it unto those
who knew of their dependence on Him.
5. It was good in His sight:
1) We defer to the wisdom of God in any event and
2) We rejoice in
the knowledge that all that He does is good and
3) That we are able
in a measure to understand the why of this.
IV. The sovereignty
of the Son as given Him by the Father: (vv. 22-24)
1. The Father
alone knows the Son and
2. The Son the Father and
3. A matter of
revelation
4. The blessedness of being able to see what they saw and
we consider how much more is revealed even now.
5. The desire of the
prophets and kings
6. It is a message of hope in this desolate age -
we give thanks and praise as did our Lord.
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