1 Corinthians 1:4: “I always thank my God for you because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus.”
Thanksgiving dates to 1620 (403 years ago) to the Pilgrims. They were “separatists” – a set of Protestants who separated from the Church of England to form their own church. On September 6, 1620, they set sail on the Mayflower to America to take possession of land granted to them in Virgina. But they miscalculated.
They came ashore in wintertime on November 11, 1620, at Plymouth Rock in what became Massachusetts, 200 miles north of Virginia. Without any shelter, 50 of the 100 pilgrims died before Spring.
As the winter ended, two Indians named Samoset and Squanto taught the Pilgrims how to survive in their new land and then forge a peace treaty with the Wampanoag Indians. That summer, with the guidance of the Indians, the Pilgrims declared a 3-day feast in December 1621 with 90 Wampanoag Indians for their prosperity to thank God and to celebrate with their Indian friends. This was our first Thanksgiving.
Here was their prayer at the first Thanksgiving: “Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.”
Fast forward to 1775, 155 years later. The American Revolution has begun. One of our major heroes of America’s founding was John Hancock. England viewed Hancock as one of the two most vilified leaders of the American Revolution. An original signer of the Declaration of Independence, he was also President of the Continental Congress and later, after the birth of the Unites States, he was Governor of Massachusetts.
It was the evening of April 18, 1775, when Paul Revere arrived at Reverend Jonas Clarke’s home. Staying with Reverend Clarke that evening were the 2 most wanted men in the rebellion: John Adams and John Hancock. This was Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride when he announced, “The Redcoats are coming.”
British General Thomas Gage had promised the colonists that if they would lay down their arms, all would be forgiven, except for Samuel Adams and John Hancock, who were singled out as the instigators.
The very next morning British Major Pitcairn shouted to an assembled regiment of Minutemen; “Disperse, ye villains, lay down your arms in the name of George the Sovereign King of England.” Reverend Clarke responded with what is known as the Battle Cry of the American Revolution: “We recognize no Sovereign but God and no King but Jesus.” Reverend Clarke became the leader of the militia in Lexington.
On September 3, 1783, the American Revolution ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. A year later, on October 28, 1784, Governor John Hancock proclaimed a Day of Thanksgiving in Massachusetts:
“I hereby appoint Thursday the 25th day of November, to be religiously observed as a Day of Thanksgiving throughout this Commonwealth. I hereby call upon people of all denominations to unite with grateful hearts in celebrating the praises of Almighty God, of His great goodness given to a sinful and unworthy people.
Particularly for continuing to us the light of the blessed Gospel and securing to us our religious and civil liberties… that so we may be that happy people, whose God is the Lord, and that all nations may bow to the scepter of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and that the whole Earth may be filled with His Glory.
Given at the Council-Chamber in Boston, the 28th day of October, in the Year of our Lord, one Thousand seven hundred and eighty-four, and in the 9th year of the Independence of the United Sates of America.”
The first 164 years of American history began with a colony of separatists celebrating Thanksgiving in 1620 to declaring Thanksgiving in the United States of America in 1784 by Massachusetts Governor Hancock.
Notice the first 164 years of America has a focused theme we must bring back to America today – it follows this week’s verse. We should thank God for His grace in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
“The Evidence of Faith’s Substance” _ Article #580
FSE University 