Thanksgiving is a holiday that ranks at the top of many of Americans’ list of favorite holidays. The history of the celebration is said to have reached back over 400 years ago after the English settlers were helped by the Native Americans. Some might say they were saved by them. Such a commemoration is observed every year by families and friends, but such an establishment was not the first time the subject of thanksgiving was introduced.
Words such as “thanks,” “thanksgiving,” “thankful,” and “thank” occur 131 times in the Bible. Paul expressed the importance of thanksgiving when he wrote, “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20). He would express to the Thessalonians, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
God has His own thanksgiving table, but it is much different from thanksgiving tables around which people sat on Thanksgiving Day. This meal is called The Lord’s Supper; a supper used to commemorate the death of Jesus. Note the following points about God’s table.
It was Established by Jesus. Matthew wrote, “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:26-28). The first Thanksgiving observance dates back to 1621; God’s “thanksgiving” meal was started by Jesus around 29 A.D. Before His death, Jesus foretold about what would happen to Him, and it was this Last Supper that Paul attributes to being started by the Lord (1 Corinthians 11:23). Unlike Thanksgiving, this commemoration is 1500+ years older and more important.
It is Observed More Frequently. Luke recorded, “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight” (Acts 20:7). This meal must have been important—Paul waited seven days in one city so he could observe it! While Thanksgiving is observed on a Thursday once a year, God’s meal is observed on a weekly basis on Sunday. Every Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:9) where Christians are gathered together, this meal is to be observed. Amazingly, Christians do not have to wait every year for the one day of thanksgiving, they can remember and thank God for Jesus’ sacrifice every Sunday!
Only Certain People Are Welcome at This Table. Thanksgiving tables include parents, grandparents, distant cousins, and even girlfriends that come to visit the family. God’s table is only limited to His children (cf. 1 Timoty 2:8). Only Christians may eat of the food and partake of fruit of the vine that commemorates the Son who died for them. God invites anyone to the table, but they must become a Christian first.
The Food Is Different. Favorite foods on a thanksgiving table include turkey, ham, stuffing, rolls, and pie. God’s table has different food on it. In fact, it cannot be God’s supper without these two elements or with more than these two elements. First, unleavened bread is eaten (Matthew 26:26). Since Jesus and the apostles were observing the Passover (Matthew 26:17) they could have no leaven there (Exodus 12:19). Second, there is the fruit of the vine (grape juice) (Matthew 26:27). The setting of the Passover prohibits alcoholic content because of Israel’s sweeping out of the leaven during this week. Each element is taken for a spiritual purpose. This meal is not common—it is special (1 Corinthians 11:17-29).
The Subjects Discussed Are Limited. People dread Thanksgiving topics—they sometimes end in debates, disagreements, and division. Politics, family drama, and relationships may be topics of discussion, but God’s table centers around one subject—Jesus. Jesus said that this meal was established for a remembrance of His death (1 Corinthians 11:24, 25). Paul said that the purpose of this meal was to, “shew the Lord’s death till he come” (1 Corinthians 11:26). Christians gather to remember and show their thanks to Jesus for His once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 9:28) that washed them of their sins (Hebrews 9:14).
While many people look forward to Thanksgiving, did you look forward to God’s thanksgiving table?
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