I think it’s time that the Christian church adopts Thanksgiving as an official church holiday. Oh sure, a lot of people think that Thanksgiving Day is uniquely American – remembering the pilgrims and Plymouth Rock and all that stuff. And yes, I suppose that may be where the tradition started, but I think Thanksgiving Day taps into something deep in the souls of God’s people.
As a matter of fact, the Bible tells us that Jesus celebrated thanksgiving feasts a couple times in His life. Do you remember the story of the feeding of the 5,000? If you think you’re going to be busy cooking tomorrow, you’ve got nothing on Jesus. After all, he’s on a mountainside with thousands of people, and He doesn’t want to send them home hungry. After all, Jesus is a gracious host.
So he sat down with what little they had, gave thanks, and gave it to them. And then they passed the food around. 5,000 families ate at that first Thanksgiving feasts – and when they were full, there were 12 basketfuls of leftovers.
There is a lesson to be learned from Jesus here. He didn’t lament to the Father that he had too little to feed everyone, but rather He gave thanks for what He had.
I can share with you that I seldom feel like I have enough. I have a well-cultivated sense of dissatisfaction, because we live in a world where being a good citizen means being an active consumer.
If you aren’t sure what I mean, consider this: tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day – the day when we stop and appreciate everything that God has given us. It should be a day marked with contentment and satisfaction. The day after Thanksgiving is Black Friday – the single biggest day of the year for going acquiring new stuff.
The apostle Paul understood this in a much better way than most of us do. He had some serious highs and lows in his life. He speaks with great credibility when He says, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
Joy is not a product of circumstance. It isn’t about having a privileged life, or having everything you could possibly want. It is about reflecting upon how much God has already given you. Indeed Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be hungry.”
Of course the disciples didn’t understand what that meant when it was said. At that time, I don’t think they could have imagined that at The Lord’s Table, the host is the meal. But that is exactly what happens.
There are many names for the Lord’s Supper, one of which is “Eucharist,” – the Greek word for Thanksgiving. After all, when Jesus gave us this sacrament, He began by taking the bread and giving thanks. Likewise with the cup, before it was given to His disciples, Christ took it in his hands and gave thanks.
The parallel between the Eucharist and the feeding of the 5,000 should not be overlooked. What we hold in our hands and put in our mouths seems to be very modest: a bite of bread and a sip of wine. But by the power of Christ, it is incalculable abundance.
Tomorrow you will probably eat a big meal. You may eat so much that you can hardly move. You may say, “I’m so full, I couldn’t possibly eat anymore…” And then they’ll bring out the pie. And yet, no matter how much you eat (or overeat), you will be hungry again. But when we eat of the bread of life, we are given nourishment that lasts forever.
As we gather around the Lord’s Table, and as we gather around our tables at home, let us pause to remember that if we have Jesus, we have everything we need. That is the greatest gift than can be given, and we receive it with our deepest and humblest thanksgiving.
