As part of our series on the prayers of Jesus, we come to a prayer that is the kind of prayer which is familiar to many us. It’s a prayer of thanksgiving. Even if you don’t pray often, you probably have prayed this kind of prayer: Thank you God for this food…Thank you God for helping me pass the test…Thank you God it’s Friday. Prior to this prayer of thanksgiving, we’ve heard Jesus pray in ways that may have been seemed challenging: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. But now we move into what seems to be easy-going territory: Thank you.
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. 27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:25-30 TNIV).
With the Summer Olympics upon us, you may remember this story from Olympic archives. The year was 1992. The place was Barcelona, Spain. Derek Redmond was about to run the 400 meters.He had previously broken the British record at this distance. The gun sounded and Redmond was off. It was a strong start. He was in line to win a medal. But about 15 seconds into the race, Redmond stumbled and stopped. He had pulled a hamstring. Every runner sprinted past him. He finished dead last.
It was one of the most shocking moments of the 1992 Summer Olympics. But it is a classic example of a strong start, a stumble, and then a stop.
By Matt. 11 we find Jesus in a similar situation. Strong start. Stumble. Stop. But let’s go back to the starting blocks. In Matt. 5-7 Jesus gives a sermon that leaves people astonished. We know it as the Sermon on the Mount. Its content and form were so astounding that it’s still known as the greatest sermon ever preached. Here’s how the crowds responded to it: When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching… (Matt. 7:28 TNIV). Strong start.
Then in Matt. 8-9 Jesus launches a tour of miracles and healing. There are ten of them in these two chapters:
1. Man with leprosy-made clean.
2. Paralyzed servant-healed.
3. Mother with a fever-made well.
4. Storm on the lake-stilled.
5. Two men filled with demons-freed.
6. Paralyzed man-walks.
7. Woman who’s bled for twelve years-cured.
8. Little girl who’s died-raised to life.
9. Blind men-sight restored.
10. Mute man-now speaks.
It was a strong start for Jesus’ ministry.
But in Matt. 11 Jesus hits the back stretch and seems to stumble. The first sign of trouble comes in an interaction with his greatest supporter, a man named John: 2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” 4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” (Matt. 11:2-6 TNIV). John’s in jail-thrown in there for public remarks he made about a politician’s love life. When Jesus’ ministry began, John the Baptist was the first one out in front, applauding Jesus and telling others about Jesus: 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Matt. 3:11 TNIV). No one believed in Jesus more than John. But now, doubt appears: Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else? Some scholars are so alarmed that John would ask this question that they suggest he was only pretending. He didn’t doubt. He was asking for some of his followers who doubted.[1]
But make no mistake-John doubts. John predicted that Jesus was coming to clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire. (Matt. 3:12 TNIV). John predicted that Jesus would come with the fire of judgment. He would burn up all this chaff in the religious and political world. But now, here’s John in prison by the same political establishment he expected Jesus to burn away. Jesus hasn’t unseated or punished any one in political power or religious power. All he’s done is help some nobodies-a fact that Jesus affirms. Jesus doesn’t say: Go back and report to John what you hear and see: the Son of Man sits on the throne in Jerusalem; Rome has fallen; the Pharisees have been run out of town. Instead, Jesus says, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed… Jesus has helped some needy individuals at the margin of society, but he’s done nothing to address the larger political and religious institutions which are the cause of so much suffering. Thus John, once Jesus’ closest ally, has become “undecided.” Strong start. But now, a stumble.
And another. In Matt. 11:16-19 Jesus reveals how the crowds are responding to him now: 16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: 17 ” ‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.” (Matt. 11:16-19 TNIV). Jesus pictures children sitting in the marketplace. They are complaining because one group won’t do what the other group wants.[3]
We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance. Some wanted a happy and positive spiritual leader but found John too stern and serious-why, he wouldn’t even eat or drink! We sang a dirge, and you did not mourn. Some wanted a serious and stern religious leader but found Jesus too happy and positive-why, all he does is eat and drink! At one time the crowds were astonished at Jesus’ teaching. Now, they complain because Jesus doesn’t meet their expectations. Strong start. But now, stumble.
And finally, the race seems to stop altogether: 20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” (Matt. 11:20-24 TNIV). It’s as if the board has gathered and it’s time for an update. On the positive side, Jesus’ ministry has held major campaigns in three Jewish cities: Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. We’re told in vs. 20 that Jesus performed a significant number of miracles in these three cities. But here’s the bad news: the campaign was a failure in all three cities. It’s like Billy Graham came to town and the stadium had three people in it. It’s like Beth Moore held a workshop in the city and five women showed up. City after city: Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. And Jesus didn’t simply find indifference in these cities. He found outright rejection. These folks treated Jesus and his volunteers so badly Jesus says those Jewish cities will be worse off on judgment day than three pagan cities: Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom. Strong start. But now, stumble. And stop.
Doesn’t that describe life for a lot of us? Strong start. Stumble. Stop. In 2005 Daniel Powter released the first single from his debut album. It reached number one on the Canadian Singles Chart. It reached number two on the United Kingdom Singles Chart. It was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. And what was this chart-topping song about? The song was called “Bad Day.” Here are some of the lyrics:
Where is the moment we needed the most
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
You tell me your blue skies fade to grey
You tell me your passion’s gone away
And I don’t need no carryin’ on
You stand in the line just to hit a new low
You’re faking a smile with the coffee to go
You tell me your life’s been way off line
You’re falling to pieces everytime
And I don’t need no carryin’ on
Because you had a bad day
You’re taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don’t know
You tell me don’t lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don’t lie
You’re coming back down and you really don’t mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day (“Bad Day” Daniel Powter).
The song gained enormous popularity because it connects with something we all know-a bad day. A day on which we may start strong, stumble, and then stop.
But notice how Jesus prays in the midst of his bad day: 25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. (Matt. 11:25-26 TNIV) Don’t those words seem out of place-I praise you Father? His greatest supporter doubts his very identity. The crowds are acting like children. And the cities where he’s held his largest campaigns have run him out of town. And Jesus prays-I praise you Father? What makes it possible for Jesus to pray with thanks on such a bad day?
First, notice how Jesus addresses God in this prayer: Lord of heaven and earth. Jesus envisions the one to whom he prays as the Lord, the King, the President, the CEO of everything in heaven and on earth. Prayer is what enables Jesus to remember that the Father is in control in heaven and earth. External circumstances like John doubting, crowds being childish, and cities not responding may seem evidence that God is not in control. But prayer is how Jesus grounded himself in this fundamental fact-God is still in charge. God is still lord of heaven and earth. And because of this fact, Jesus can still pray, “I praise you.” Even on a very bad day, Jesus can still pray “I praise you.” He can pray “Thank you” simply because he recognizes who God is-Lord of heaven and earth.
But Jesus praises God not simply for who God is but also for what God is doing. Based on the events of the day, it may seem that God is doing nothing. But through prayer, Jesus recognizes that God is still at work. I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Through prayer, Jesus is able to view the events of the bad day through a special lens. This lens allows him to see things in a new way. Through prayer, he remembers that God generally doesn’t work in a way that is high profile and that persuades the sophisticated and those who think they are really something. That explains the poor responses from John, the crowds, and the cities. But through prayer Jesus remembers that God does work in humble ways, unseen ways, ways that impact and persuade the lowly and unsophisticated. He may not be able to see much fruit being borne among the notable and noteworthy. But God’s doing a great deal through Jesus among the nobodies. Jesus is able to recognize that God was still at work this day. And for this, Jesus could say, I praise you Father. Even on bad day, Jesus teaches us to pray with thanksgiving, because God is still in control and God is still working.
A few weeks ago I asked you to raise your hand if you have ever prayed for God to do something only to have God not do it. Most of us raised our hand. The Turmans, one of our families, were talking about this later that day. They talked about how they had all prayed for Ethan Powell to live, but Ethan died. The Turman’s young son, however, refused to allow that event to be cause for despair. Instead, he looked up and said this: Yes, but God tried as hard as he could. I don’t take that to mean “God tried to do something but failed.” I take that to mean, “Even though the result was not what we wanted, God was still at work.” God was working in humble and hidden ways. That’s what Jesus saw. Prayer allowed Jesus to recognize that God usually is not at work in the world in a way that is easily recognized and accepted by the educated, adult, and grown up people. Instead, he is at work in the world in a way that is often only recognized by the child-like. But he is nonetheless at work. And for this, we can pray “Thank you.”
Jesus teaches us that prayer is an opportunity to say, “I praise you God for who you are and what you are doing”-even on bad days. Larry McKenzie is a long time minister at Highland. Some of you will know the answer to this question about Larry: if you ask Larry how he’s doing, what does he say? He says, “I’m grateful.” It doesn’t matter what’s going on. It could be raining and blowing 70 miles an hour. “Larry, how are you today?” “I’m grateful.” Larry may have just finished one of the most difficult funerals he’s ever conducted. “Larry, how are you?” “I’m grateful.” Is Larry blind? Does Larry not see the bad things going on? Of course he sees. He’s seen more bad days than most of us due to the nature of his ministry. But Larry also sees something else. He sees a God who is still Lord of heaven and earth. And he sees a God who is working in humble and hidden ways. As a result, he’s able to say every day, Father, I praise you. I’m grateful.
Michel Quoist was a priest and a French writer. In his 30’s he wrote a book simply entitled Prayers.[5] The book was a collection of his prayers. One of the prayers, entitled, “Thank You,” stands as a compelling example of what prayer can be when inspired by this prayer of Jesus. As we read his prayer, we follow Quoist through his entire day. And all day long, Quoist finds reasons for thanks. As he wakes he thanks: Thank you for the water that woke me up, the soap that smells good, the toothpaste that refreshes. Thank you for the clothes that protect me, for their color and their cut. As he works, he thanks: Thank you for the metal in my hands, for the whine of the steel biting into it, for the satisfied look of the supervisor and the load of finished pieces. As he walks home he thanks: Thank you for the boy I watched playing on the sidewalk opposite. As he eats dinner and relaxes he thanks: Thank you for the roof that shelters me, for the lamp that lights me, for the radio that plays, for the news, for music and singing. Thank you for the bunch of flowers, so pretty on my table. And as he falls asleep he thanks: Thank you for the tranquil night. Thank you for the stars. Thank you for the silence. Jesus teaches us that prayer is always an occasion for thanks.
In 1994, Mother Theresa spoke at a National Prayer Breakfast. She said, One evening we went out, and we picked up four people from the street. And one of them was in a most terrible condition. I told the sisters, “You take care of the other three; I will take care of the one who looks worst.” So I did for her all that my love could do. I put her in bed and there was such a beautiful smile on her face. She took hold of my hand as she said two words only: “Thank you.” Then she died. This poor woman had many reasons to despair. She was homeless. She was dying. She was abandoned. But her final breath was “Thank you.” This is what Jesus teaches us to do in prayer. Jesus teaches us that even on the very worst day, we can say “Thank you.” God is still Lord of heaven and earth. God is still working, though in unseen and humble ways. And for this, every day, we must pray: Thank you.
[1] Leon Morris The Gospel According to Matthew (Eerdmans, 1992), 274-275.
[2] Frederick Dale Bruner Matthew Volume 1: The Christbook Matthew 1-12 (Word, 1987), 408ff.
[3] Morris, 284-285.
[4] “Bad Day” www.wikepedia.com.
[5] Michel Quoist Prayers Translated by Agnes M. Forsyth and Anne Marie de Commaille (Sheed and Ward, 1963).
[6] Ibid., 61-63.
