Honour and blessing and praise…

First of all, please read this excellent post, “You have more than you know”, from Lisa Great… Highly recommended! 😊

“YOU HAVE MORE THAN YOU KNOW”, says the Lord. (Selah) The Lord has led me to read 1 Kings 17 this morning because of something that was said by Ranger Juno yesterday while we were at the Mammoth State Park in Waco, TX. She said, “What looks like a walking path, is actually a dry […]

You Have More Than You Know

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What struck me about this post was that, in speaking about having more than we know, no matter how little it may seem to us, the factor that multiplies is gratitude. When we are thankful, we see what we have, not what we lack!

The story of Jesus feeding the 5000 came to mind… I generally use the New King James Bible, and this account appears in all four gospels. What is interesting is that in Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus BLESSED the food, whilst in John, he GAVE THANKS. A small difference you may think, and yes, the implication is the same…

However, in the first three gospels, in Strongs Concordance, the word for blessed is G2127.

But, in John’s gospel, the word is G2168…

The first reference is obviously where we get the word “eulogy” from. Speaking well of someone at their funeral, giving thanks for their life. But it does also generally mean to thank, to bless, to praise.

The second reference, however, seems far more relevant. To say grace at a meal, to give thanks, be thankful. Plus, of course, it makes the obvious connection with “the eucharist” or Holy Communion, the sharing of the bread and wine, as per Jesus’ final passover seder.

Whenever we eat the bread and drink the wine, we remember what Jesus’ crucifixion and death at Calvary bought for us!

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 NKJV
For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; [24] and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” [25] In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” [26] For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

I wonder why the Gospel of John is different. Not THAT different, but subtly so… Could it be because John was “the disciple whom Jesus loved”?

This phrase is only found in John’s Gospel. He KNEW how loved he was! Not favoured by Jesus any more than the other disciples, but simply KNOWING more deeply how much he was loved and wanting to express it! I’m sure it’s a coincidence, but when I looked that phrase up, it appears in the bible five times – five is the number of grace…

The book of John is already written in a much more personal way than the other three gospels, which are more of a narrative. So, perhaps in using eucharisteo, John was emphasising that overflowing feeling of gratitude and appreciation, which came from knowing how loved he was, and remembering the many times that Jesus would have broken bread with them, and the miracles and blessings that followed.

He is actually expressing the most important remembrance of Jesus in this miraculous story of provision for 5000 men, PLUS women and children!

Matthew 14:21 NKJV
Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

We are to partake of the bread and wine in remembrance of Jesus. The “last supper”  was the Passover seder, which re-told the story of the Israelites’ miraculous escape from Egypt and God’s personal protection for those who applied the blood of the lamb to the lintel and doorposts of their house.

We symbolically take the blood of our Passover lamb (Jesus) and apply it to our bodies and lives as we drink the wine. The punishment is escaped because we are supernaturally protected.

Exodus 12:13 NKJV
Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

Knowing this should elicit the greatest feeling of thankfulness, gratitude, praise and worship. Having our hearts full of praise puts our full attention on the one who is worthy, Jesus, and takes our eyes off our worries and problems. As he increases, the problems decrease.

I remember a well-known praise song called “Jesus, We Celebrate Your Victory!” from my early days as a Christian in the 1990s. I heard many a person grumble about the line that said, “And in his presence, our problems disappear.” But, I would say that spiritually speaking, it’s absolutely true!

There is no problem, not a single one, that Jesus has not defeated at the cross Are we prepared to worship him with our whole heart, even when things look bad? Even on the very worst day of our life?

Keep praising! Keep lifting him up! He is faithful! His love never fails! He can rescue, and restore, like no other! He is the God of miracles, the God who made himself as nothing and took our place, to be tortured and punished, to be our Passover lamb, so that we can be free!

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Jesus, We Celebrate Your Victory

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And finally,  in case you’re wondering where my title came from, the words honour and blessing and praise are all synonyms for gratitude! 🤗