When do you celebrate Thanksgiving? The obvious answer is the fourth Thursday in November, right? It has been a national holiday since 1863. It is a day that we in the United States gather around the dining room table (for those who still have a ‘dining room’) in our homes and give thanks to God for what we have.
But I am not referring to that Thanksgiving. I’m thinking of one that is more universal, international in scope and is also held once a year on the first Sunday in October. The fixings are not as elaborate as the American Thanksgiving, just bread and wine; but they are a lot more significant to those who are partaking.
Yes, I am referring to World Communion Sunday on October 5th. So, how is this a “Thanksgiving Meal?” The Latin word eucharist comes from the Koine Greek word, εὐχαριστία which literally means “thanksgiving”. It is the word the Apostle Paul used in his first letter to the Corinthians when he wrote:
“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks (εὐχαριστήσας), he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Cor. 11:23-24).
Therefore, the early church for the first two centuries referred to this sacrament as the “Eucharist Meal”. After the Reformation, many in the church used terms like “Communion”, or “the Lord’s Supper”. Regardless of what term you use, it is a time of thanksgiving of what Christ has done for us. In fact, in that same letter, Paul tells us that “whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (v. 26).
So, what exactly are we thankful for? What does Christ’s death accomplish for us? Jesus himself answers this for us. On the night before He was crucified at the Passover Meal in the Upper Room, Matthew tells us- “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then He took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.’ ” (Mt. 26:26-29, NIV).
Jesus is telling us that His death upon the cross is the sacrificial death of “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). He paid the price for our disobedience to God. We now owe God nothing, because we owe Jesus everything! This is certainly something to be thankful for!
This October, I invite you to come to the table, the “Thanksgiving table,” and join believers from around the world giving thanks to Him who died for us so that we, too may die to sin and live for Him! As the Apostle Paul told the church in Rome, “The death Jesus died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:10-11).
