Press the arrow to listen to Kari Jobe sing “Revelation Song” as you read today’s journal about thankfulness.

Scripture
Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table. Matthew 28:6-7

Observation
The words “Simon the Leper” should make us take a u-turn in Matthew 26. The story continues on with the familiar account of Mary pouring her alabaster jar of precious perfume over Jesus. But stop and consider where the feast was being held. Jesus was eating in the home of what we must assume was a one-time-now-healed leper named Simon.

For Jesus to be in his house would have made headlines. Jews had phobias, and in addition to dirty hands and Gentiles, lepers topped the list. Who was Simon? As the only other reference in Matthew’s gospel to a leper is the one Jesus touched and healed just after the Sermon on the Mount, we are tempted to think that Simon was that very one.

Whether or not, doesn’t matter. What does matter is that Simon was a grateful man, and with a feast of thanksgiving he hosted Jesus. Little did he know, however, that his one act of thankfulness would set into motion a chain of events that would never be forgotten.

It was in Simon’s house that Mary poured out her perfume worth a year’s wages. That perfume was the only thing that could not be stripped from Jesus as he went to the cross. The worship of its aroma filled his nostrils as he suffered. And the memory of Mary’s gift still is spoken of in pulpits all around the world. All of this happened because Simon was grateful and hosted a meal to show gratitude toward Jesus.

Application
It makes me wonder about the ripples that emanate from any word or deed of thanksgiving. This morning a dear friend sent me a text message of thanks on Thanksgiving Day. Because he thanked me, I am on my way to do the same for others. There is a domino theory with thanksgiving. I must consider all that Christ has done for me and create atmosphere of thanksgiving.

Prayer
Father, today I’m thankful for a saint who is now worshipping before your throne. Before she went home to be with you, Margaret taught me how to make family every holiday, by inviting in those who have no family of their own. She taught me the secret of community. Today our table will be surrounded by those who will enjoy fellowship and food. Make this an outstanding day of gratefulness for them. Create an atmosphere of thanksgiving here that will permeate throughout their lives and beyond. Let the words of thanks ricochet around the world because of what we do at our table today. Amen.