Through the presence, teachings, and examples of Jesus, we can learn how to emulate the biblical witness in having gratitude in our own hearts. The disciples are often accompanying Jesus as we see these examples; what they are taught, we too can be taught in our hearts to remember a thankful posture toward God. Read these lessons as we get closer to Thanksgiving this year — or even print them and read them around the table as you share reasons to give thanks to and for Jesus.
1. The Presence of Jesus Means Worshiping with Thankful Hearts
In Matthew 2:11, the wise men fell to their knees and worshiped Jesus, presenting gifts to show gratitude to God for the God-man who had come into the world.
2. The Ministry of Jesus Compels Thankful Humility
In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist says that he is not worthy to untie the sandals of Jesus; His thankful spirit for Jesus’ coming into the world is displayed through statements and a heart of humility toward Jesus.
3. Serving Jesus Is a Way to Show Thankfulness
Peter’s mother-in-law was healed and began serving Jesus in Matthew 8:14; this is one of a few ways we can see Jesus being thanked for His miracles in the gospels.
4. Giving Glory to God Is a Way to Show Thankfulness
A heart and mouth of praise and glory for God was the reaction of the crowds after Jesus healed the paralytic in Matthew 9:7. We can witness to God through the speech on our lips, giving Him praise and thanks.
5. Having a Giving Heart toward Others Is a Way to Show Thankfulness
When Jesus commissioned the twelve disciples to serve Him through healing and casting out demons, he said that they are to give to others freely, just as they have received freely (Matthew 10:8). So, they are to serve others with thankfulness and giving, having servant hearts, and knowing that they have received just as they give.
6. Jesus Praises the Father for Revealing the Ways of the Kingdom to Infants
In Matthew 11:25, Jesus says that it is God’s good pleasure to reveal Himself not to the sages or religious elites of the days, but to the ordinary people. It is with this prayer that Jesus says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Jesus is thankful that He can give relief to those who were discouraged and downtrodden under the legalistic teaching of the Pharisees. He praises God for this!
7. Jesus Gives Us Reason to Be Thankful That We Have Received the Teachings of the Kingdom
Many people wanted to have seen what we have recorded about Jesus in the gospels and wanted to hear what we have recorded of Jesus’ teaching (Matthew 13:16-17). We can be thankful that we can learn of the once longed-for Messiah through the biblical text.
8. A Thankful Heart Should Have Good Roots Attached
The parable of the sower reminds us that the gospel can be received with joy, but then ultimately abandoned if there are not roots present (Matthew 13:20-21). A thankful heart cannot be alone; we must be on guard against the pressures of life and the delusions of false teaching. We must make sure that the gospel has taken roots in our minds, and that we believe it in hearts — not merely with the surface impulses of our emotions. Then, this genuine belief will produce a lasting gratitude and joy.
9. Jesus Is the One Priceless Pearl to Whom All Thanks Is Due
In the parable of the priceless pearl, the kingdom of heaven is compared to such a treasure — inducing a man to sell all he has and buy it (Matthew 13:46). Our thankfulness simply comes from knowing that the kingdom of God is of greatest value to us in this life — and we are in possession of it!
10. We Thank God for the Food That He Provides Us
In Matthew 14:19, we see Jesus blessing the bread that he uses to feed the five thousand. Jesus also gives thank for the food used to feed the four thousand in Matthew 15:36. In our Master’s way, we too can be thankful for the food that we eat.
11. We Can Thank God When He Clears the Storms in Our Lives
In Matthew 14:33, Jesus is worshiped by the disciples when He cleared the wind and storm, bringing them all to a cease and diverting danger. Can you and I not also think of many times when Jesus cleared the dangerous or distressing circumstances in our lives? Let us thank Him for these acts on our behalf.
12. Jesus Rejoices and Gives Thanks over the Lost Sheep That Is Found
In Matthew 18:13, Jesus discusses His thanksgiving that, after leaving 99 sheep to go after one, the one is found. The heart of Jesus is beautiful; He rejoices in finding the one lost sheep he pursues. I imagine myself as that lost little one whom Jesus pulls back from destruction. And then what is His heart toward me upon rescue? Full of lecturing disappointment? No, He has a heart of joy and gratitude.
13. We Can Be Thankful That with God, Salvation Is Possible
Jesus teaches that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom. The disciples asked: “Who can be saved?” An apt question indeed, for considering ourselves in need of a Savior is the first step toward being saved. And many have difficulty acknowledge this need. Jesus replies with the thanksgiving-inducing statement that with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19: 23-26). He can do this work of salvation in our hearts.
14. Following Jesus Is a Way to Show Our Thanks
In Matthew 20:34, we see that the blind men Jesus heals immediately follow Him. In addition to serving God, glorifying God, and having a giving heart toward others, following Jesus is another way to show our thanks to Him for salvation.
15. We, at All Ages, Can Give Thanks to Jesus because He Is the Messiah
At the triumphal entry, the gospel of Matthew highlights this gratitude and thanks for Jesus, and we see the crowds blessing the Lord with hearts of thanksgiving that He is the Lord, the Son of David — the long-awaited one (Matthew 21:9). In Matthew 21:15, we see children giving him praise, that He has ordained from them (Matthew 21:15). For all He is and has done, many had gratitude in their hearts that they lived in the day of Jesus.
As a season of thankfulness approaches, use this time to walk with the Scriptures in a gratitude journey of your own heart — praising God that He is a miracle-working one who does great things in and for His people.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Wenping-Zheng
Lianna Davis is author of Keeping the Faith: A Study in Jude and Made for a Different Land: Eternal Hope for Baby Loss. She is also a contributor to We Evangelicals and Our Mission with Cascade Books. Lianna is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and a student at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. She lives in Illinois with her husband and daughter. You can learn more about her writing at her website.
