The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” (Luke 23:35-39)
There were all sorts of people who saw Jesus as he hung on the cross that day, but their reactions were all basically the same. No one lifted a finger to help or support him. Instead they ridiculed and mocked him. The leaders did. The soldiers did. Even a fellow criminal did.
A day like Thanksgiving Day offers a sharp contrast and a reminder. All who were there that day should have been thanking Jesus for the work that he was doing for them! We should be thanking Jesus for all that he has done for us!
The psalmist too offers a reminder: “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever” (Psalm 118:1). Jesus on the cross displays the love that endures forever. He is there because of his great love for you, for me, and indeed for the whole world. He is our Savior-King, and he deserves our thanks and praise.
For one day many of us pause to think about the great many blessings that God has lavished on us. We count the ways that he has been good to us. Let’s not forget or overlook that the greatest blessings are the spiritual ones, the ones that Jesus won for us by his death on the cross and now gives to us in the gospel: forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
And let’s give thanks, not just for one day but also with our entire lives. By sharing Christ with others, by giving offerings out of the wealth he has entrusted to us, and by serving others in love, we show our thanks. By singing our praises and listening intently to his Word, we also give thanks to our King.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, make our lives a continual offering of thanks to you. We praise you for all that you have given to us and for all that you have done for us. Amen.
From Meditations: Vol. 59, No. 4, Edited by Curtis A. Jahn © 2016 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved.
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