BY: Sir Godfrey Gregg

Day Five: The Example of Jesus

Scripture: Luke 22:14–20

“And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.'”

Reflection:

It was the night before His death. Jesus knew exactly what lay ahead—the betrayal by Judas, the denial by Peter, the abandonment by all His disciples. He knew about the soldiers who would arrest Him, the crowds who would mock Him, the Roman officials who would condemn Him. He knew about the scourging, the thorns, the nails, the cross. He knew about the weight of the world’s sin that would soon crush His soul.

And in that moment, with full knowledge of everything that was coming, He gave thanks.

This is one of the most remarkable acts of gratitude in all of Scripture. Jesus did not give thanks in ignorance of what was ahead. He did not give thanks because circumstances were favorable. He gave thanks because He trusted the Father completely, even when the path led through the valley of the shadow of death.

What did Jesus thank the Father for on that night? The text does not tell us explicitly, but we can infer from the context. He gave thanks for the bread and the cup—the symbols of His body and blood, the tokens of the new covenant. He gave thanks for the opportunity to offer Himself as a sacrifice for sin. He gave thanks for the redemption that would flow from His suffering.

Think about this. Jesus thanked God for the very thing that would cause Him the greatest pain—because He saw beyond the pain to the purpose. He saw beyond the cross to the empty tomb. He saw beyond the suffering to the salvation. He saw beyond His death to our life.

This is the gratitude to which we are called. Not a gratitude that denies the reality of suffering but a gratitude that sees beyond it to what God is accomplishing. Not a gratitude that pretends everything is fine but a gratitude that trusts the One who works all things together for good.

Consider how this perspective changes the way you face your own trials. What if you could thank God not for the trial itself but for what He is accomplishing through it? What if you could see beyond the pain to the purpose? What if you could trust that God is using even the hardest things to shape you, refine you, and draw you closer to Himself?

This is not easy. It requires eyes of faith that see what is invisible to the natural eye. But it is possible—because the One who gave thanks on the night of His betrayal is with us, strengthening us, enabling us to do the same.

Journal: How might Jesus’ example of giving thanks on the night of His betrayal shape your own practice of thanksgiving? What trial in your life might God be using for a purpose you cannot yet see?

Practice: Before your next meal, pause to give thanks with particular awareness of Christ’s presence. Thank Him not just for the food but for His body given for you and His blood shed for you.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am amazed by Your gratitude on the night of Your betrayal. You saw beyond the cross to the resurrection, beyond the suffering to the salvation. Give me that same vision. Help me to give thanks not because circumstances are easy but because You are faithful. And let my gratitude rise to You, even in the darkest moments. In Your name, Amen.