Jesus Thanked the Father for What He Revealed to His Children

What Did Jesus Do?

“I thank you, Father, that you have revealed these things to little children.”
Matthew 11:25

It’s Thanksgiving Day, and, for those who are able to withstand the all but overwhelming cultural current sweeping us towards that most crass and mercantile of all days (That would be Christmas, which has become the one day which we seem to be supposed to spend the other 364 shopping for.), a few moments may be set aside to reflect upon and give thanks to God for the blessings he has graciously given. There will rightfully be many material blessings mentioned by those who will actually offer up sincere prayers of thanks today. But, noting what Jesus thanked the Father for, we might want to be sure to thank the Father most of all for what he’s shown us, rather than for what he’s given us.

The world has always had plenty of people full of wisdom and understanding of worldly ways. In fact, the world loves to reveal itself to those who are anxious to show off just how full of wisdom and understanding they are. And those who are full of wisdom and understanding are not ungrateful; they have been known to offer prayers of thanks for how they are so different from the rest of us (See Luke 18:9-14) But let’s consider a prayer of thanks that Jesus prayed. In his prayer, Jesus thanked the Father for what he kept hidden from those who were full of wisdom and understanding, but chose instead to reveal to little children. Little children is a New Testament term, which John in particular employed, to describe the Church, the body of believers. So, when Jesus offered up thanks to his Father, it was for what the Father had shown to the Church but kept hidden from the world, and the worldly.

The very core of the Father’s revelation to the Church, to the little children, is the knowledge of Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ, the Son of God, who came into the world to bear witness to the truth, and to lay down his life as atonement for our sins. This knowledge will not make us wise and understanding in the world’s eyes. On the contrary, we will come off as fools for believing it. (1 Corinthians 1:18-31) Yet this knowledge, above all else, is what Jesus thanked the Father for revealing to the little children.

God forgive the cynicism in me, but I am afraid there will be few this year who even take the time to offer a prayer of thanksgiving today, what with all the parades, and football games, and, most important of all, the pre-Black Friday sales. But, if you just happen to be one of his little children, may I suggest that you thank the Father most especially for what he has shown you about his Son? I am convinced that if Jesus were to sit down to dinner with us today he would most certainly thank his Father for what he has hidden from the wise but revealed to us.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

S.D.G.

Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4