The life of Jesus was marked with prayers of thanksgiving, sometimes at the most difficult of moments. There is one prayer that He would pray twice—once during a difficult moment, and another time during a moment of joy. When the people of Korazin and Bethsaida rejected Jesus and His miracles, He pronounced a curse upon them. Then, amazingly, He offers this prayer, 

“At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure’” (Matthew 11:25-26). 

When the 70 returned from a successful mission, they declared to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name” (Luke 10:17). At that moment He would speak the same prayer that He had spoken in response to those who had rejected Him and His miracles. 

His consistency in life and ministry humbles me. He was able to see a reason to rejoice and even give thanks in any situation. Even in the face of great sorrow or betrayal, we see Jesus giving thanks to His Father. At the tomb of His beloved friend Lazarus, in the midst of many tears, including His own, His heart is filled with thankfulness as He anticipates what His father is about to do: 

 “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me’” (John 11:41). 

Even before the resurrection of Lazarus, Jesus was thankful in prayer. I see in the life of Jesus exactly what Paul was talking about when he said, 

 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). 

 I find this one of the most difficult aspects to include in my daily prayer life—a thankful spirit, no matter the circumstances. The other prayer of thanks that astounds me is the one heard as we prepare for Holy Communion: “On the night when He was betrayed, Jesus took bread and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them . . . . “ In the face of betrayal, Jesus gives thanks. Hours before His arrest, the brutal beating and His death and agony upon the Cross, Jesus gives thanks!  
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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

Rev. Dr. Brent L Parrish