| Jesus Gave Thanks |
The Lord Jesus, living the life of the perfect man, walked on earth in
perfect holiness and perfect obedience. He also manifested the spirit of
praise and worship. This was a part of the humiliation of the Son of God.
He is Jehovah-God. As such He is the object of praise, of adoration and
worship. Angels praise and worship Him. The Seraphim veil their faces in
His presence and cry one to another: "Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah Zebaoth;
the whole earth is full of His glory." The angelic hosts, in existence long
before man, praised and worshipped Him as the Creator-God, the Only
Begotten, the Son of His love. When our Lord says in John 5:22, that He
should be honored as the Father is honored, He looked forward to His
glorification after His finished work. The glorified Man in glory, at the right
hand of God, is worthy of all honor, praise and worship.
But on earth, as the servant, He was taking His place under God, having
come to be obedient unto death, the death of the cross; He gave thanks
unto Him, He praised and worshipped as He alone could praise and
worship. We know nothing about the prayers offered by Him when He
was alone in a desert place, or in the garden on Olivet, or when He spent
nights in prayer. Besides the prayer of intercession, He must have praised
and worshipped Him who sent Him into the world to glorify His name in
the mighty work of redemption. The book of Psalms contains not only the
prayers He prayed, the emotions of His holy soul, but also His praise is
there, pre-written by His own Spirit.
The first time we read of Him giving thanks in His blessed life down here
is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew.
"At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of
heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and
prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it
seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father:
and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man
the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly
in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and
my burden is light." (Matt 11:25-30)
Another time recorded, He gave thanks before raising Lazarus from the
dead:
They took away, therefore, the stone where the dead was laid, and Jesus
lifted his eyes upwards, and said, `Father, I thank Thee, that Thou didst
hear me; and I knew that Thou always dost hear me, but, because of the
multitude that is standing by, I said it , that they may believe that Thou
didst send me.' And these things saying, with a loud voice he cried out,
`Lazarus, come forth;' and he who died came forth, being bound feet and
hands with grave-clothes, and his visage with a napkin was bound about;
Jesus saith to them, `Loose him, and suffer to go.' (John 11:41-44)
Written by A.C. Gaebelein
Our Hope Magazine
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CRM Additional Note:
Seeing that the Lord Jesus gave thanks to the Heavenly Father, how much
more should we give thanks unto God for all the things He has given us or
has done for us or will do for us? To God belongs all the praise. Let us
give thanks with a grateful heart and trust Him always.
©2007 Cobblestone Road Ministries
All Rights Reserved
----------------------------------------------------
Further Reading:
"HELP, LORD" - The Prayer of Every Christian
Do You Have Time For The Lord?
Giving Thanks To The Lord Bible Study
perfect holiness and perfect obedience. He also manifested the spirit of
praise and worship. This was a part of the humiliation of the Son of God.
He is Jehovah-God. As such He is the object of praise, of adoration and
worship. Angels praise and worship Him. The Seraphim veil their faces in
His presence and cry one to another: "Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah Zebaoth;
the whole earth is full of His glory." The angelic hosts, in existence long
before man, praised and worshipped Him as the Creator-God, the Only
Begotten, the Son of His love. When our Lord says in John 5:22, that He
should be honored as the Father is honored, He looked forward to His
glorification after His finished work. The glorified Man in glory, at the right
hand of God, is worthy of all honor, praise and worship.
But on earth, as the servant, He was taking His place under God, having
come to be obedient unto death, the death of the cross; He gave thanks
unto Him, He praised and worshipped as He alone could praise and
worship. We know nothing about the prayers offered by Him when He
was alone in a desert place, or in the garden on Olivet, or when He spent
nights in prayer. Besides the prayer of intercession, He must have praised
and worshipped Him who sent Him into the world to glorify His name in
the mighty work of redemption. The book of Psalms contains not only the
prayers He prayed, the emotions of His holy soul, but also His praise is
there, pre-written by His own Spirit.
The first time we read of Him giving thanks in His blessed life down here
is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew.
"At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of
heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and
prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it
seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father:
and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man
the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly
in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and
my burden is light." (Matt 11:25-30)
Another time recorded, He gave thanks before raising Lazarus from the
dead:
They took away, therefore, the stone where the dead was laid, and Jesus
lifted his eyes upwards, and said, `Father, I thank Thee, that Thou didst
hear me; and I knew that Thou always dost hear me, but, because of the
multitude that is standing by, I said it , that they may believe that Thou
didst send me.' And these things saying, with a loud voice he cried out,
`Lazarus, come forth;' and he who died came forth, being bound feet and
hands with grave-clothes, and his visage with a napkin was bound about;
Jesus saith to them, `Loose him, and suffer to go.' (John 11:41-44)
Written by A.C. Gaebelein
Our Hope Magazine
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CRM Additional Note:
Seeing that the Lord Jesus gave thanks to the Heavenly Father, how much
more should we give thanks unto God for all the things He has given us or
has done for us or will do for us? To God belongs all the praise. Let us
give thanks with a grateful heart and trust Him always.
©2007 Cobblestone Road Ministries
All Rights Reserved
----------------------------------------------------
Further Reading:
"HELP, LORD" - The Prayer of Every Christian
Do You Have Time For The Lord?
Giving Thanks To The Lord Bible Study
