Show and Tell

“Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him. And He charged him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest…” Luke 5:13-14

Does anybody remember “Show and Tell” growing up? I remember our teacher would tell us to bring something special to bring to class to show and tell. Well, I wasn’t allowed to bring my dog or my brother, so I would bring a rookie baseball, football, or basketball card…or even this one time, I brought a mini football helmet that I had in my room that I loved. The class didn’t think it was as cool as I did, but nevertheless, it was cool!

I find it fascinating that Jesus tells the man who He healed from leprosy, “Don’t tell…go show!” Doesn’t this blow anyone else’s mind, too? What about our words? Are we to use our words still? How can we preach the Gospel without speaking? Did Jesus even want this person to share the Gospel? YES! Absolutely! In everything we do, should be showing Jesus, Him crucified, and the Gospel!

You see, in today’s society, words are fading things now. You tell someone something, but it might not be completely true, or it might be completely false…same thing, right? Well, now, you can’t tell anyone anything about Jesus. Scripture is fulfilled when Paul said, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

I think what Jesus might be trying to get across to the man who had leprosy, and even to us today, is that our words do have power in them, but we have even greater power in our actions! That man who had leprosy, I can imagine, was probably jumping for joy, because he no longer had an illness. He was healed by Jesus Himself! On the way to the priest, the man was probably showing everyone what had happened to him. Then when he gets to the priest, imagine this, he gets to him and shows him what Jesus did…instead of telling him what Jesus did.

I am not telling you to keep quiet and not tell people about what Jesus did on the Cross for you, but today, what I am challenging us to do is to SHOW what Jesus did and is doing! If they don’t believe, don’t worry. One day, every eye will see, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that He is Lord! One day, when Jesus calls us Home to glory, everything we have lived and worked for, and everything Jesus did in His life – being beaten, taken to the Cross, and killed for your sin, will be proven even more. Just wait. It’s coming. Are you ready? Show people the greatest Miracle that ever walked on Earth. Show people the joy, hope, grace, and salvation of YOUR life. Let’s go, show, and tell!