ACTS 9:20–31; 32-43
“SHOW & TELL!”
Last week we read of how an angry Pharisee named Saul, who was not at all fair you see as he was arresting and inprisoning Christians without even a trial, had a life-changing encounter with Jesus in route to Damascus to do more of the same, only to be set straight on Straight Street, where Ananias, a reluctant believer, laid hands on Saul was filled with the Holy Spirit.
So it was that Saul “began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.” Luke tells us that “the Jews living in Damascus were baffled” by Saul's abrupt about face. Apparently some of them didn’t like being baffled because the next thing you know his new friends are having to sneak him out of the city by lowering him in a basket. I guess even his friends thought he was a basket case!
(Acts 9:20, 22)
I'm just saying. Anyway, he winds up in Jerusalem but even the apostles are wary of him, until a mutual friend by the name of Barnabas, who we'll hear from again in the weeks ahead, speaks on Saul's behalf. Before long, Saul again is “speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.” (Acts 9:28) No doubt there in Jerusalem, where the church was born, people will flock to hear such a man speak! Right?
Wrong! In fact when Saul “talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, they tried to kill him.” (Acts 9:29)Again Saul’s new friends come to the rescue and take Saul down to Caesarea, and then on to his hometown in Tarsus. So here’s Saul, on fire for the Lord, and yet unable to convince anyone that Jesus is the real thing. In spite of his powerful preaching the best he can do is leave people baffled.
I can feel Saul's pain. There have been times when I've tried to share my faith or invite someone to Alpha..., who've reacted like I'm a bit of a basket case too, or like those Greek Jews, have gotten a bit defensive, or disant or dismissive. Any one ever experience anything like that?
On the other hand, when I read about the response Saul got in Damascus & Jerusalem, I won-dered, 'Wait a minute! I thought Saul was supposed to be the greatest missionary the world has ever known. Why did Luke make a point of recording Saul’s inability to bring anyone to Christ in these two cities?' Two reasons come to mind. One, because it's what actually happened. 'It's the facts Jack!'
And Two, Luke is trying to teach us something by juxtaposing the two stories of Saul here with the two stories of Peter that follow. Both men have been filled with the Holy Spirit, both proclaim that Jesus is the Messiah, God's Son, and both are seen evangelizing two cities. It's A Tale of Two Cities.
In comparing them we see that their motivation is the same but their approach is like night and day. While Saul tries to convince them by way of debate and proclamation Peter relies more on that of demonstration. Luke paints this contrast for us not because Saul’s approach has no value. In fact in the story of Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch we saw how it was Phillip’s explanation of Old Testament Scripture that resulted in the Eunuch coming to faith - the same approach Saul takes here in Acts 9.
Luke’s point in juxtaposing these stories from Peter and Paul's ministries is not to diminish the value of learning to articulate one’s faith, as we’ll see Saul do repeatedly in later chapters, but rather to emphasize that the Gospel is spread most effectively when there is not only a convincing presentation of the truth but a demonstration of it as well. It’s what you might call a “show and tell” presentation of the Gospel. Y’all remember “Show & Tell”, don’t you?
-2-
('Teacher' walks up and stands in front of the pulpit as I put on a baseball hat, sit & raise my hand)
Teacher: Yes, Calvin?
Calvin: (standing and addressing cong) Hey kids, at tomorrow’s show and tell, I’ll be bringing a big surprise! Will it shock and amaze you or will it disgust and terrify you? Find out tomorrow when I reveal my next show and tell horror! Don’t miss it!
Teacher: Thank you, Calvin, now if we can return to the LESSON…!
Calvin: That’s called a teaser, by the way.
In his healing of Aeneas, Peter offers a bit of a teaser: “Aeneas..., Jesus Christ heals you.” (Acts 9:34) In other words, ‘This is what’s about to happen and Jesus is the one who gets the credit! Are you ready?’ The teaser builds anticipation, and anticipation builds faith.
Calvin's show and tell, however, somehow fails to deliver on his teaser....
Calvin: Today for show and tell, I’ve brought a tiny marvel of nature: a single snowflake. I think
we might all learn a lesson from how this utterly unique and exquisite crystal turns into an ordinary,
boring drop of water when you bring it in the classroom. And now, while the analogy sinks in, I’ll be
leaving you drips and going outside to take an early recess... ….or not!
Teacher: CALVIN! (Cal freezes & cringes for a moment. 'Teacher' returns to her seat.)
That’s one show and tell that didn’t exactly pan out but fact is, kids are natural show and tellers. One comedian tells of his toddler’s first show and tell: “Daddy, Daddy – look at what I made! I made some poo-poo!” “That's nice, son. Why don't you go show your mommy.”
Another boy handed his Dad a picture he’d drawn. “Look Daddy! I drew a picture of God!” “But son, nobody knows exactly what God looks like.” “Now they do! See?!”
When Jesus sent out the 12 disciples and later the 72 he gave them specific training instructions on what their ministry was to look like: “Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’” (Luke 10:9) From the get go, it was to be a show and tell ministry.
It was primarily for this purpose that he promised to fill them with the Holy Spirit. In the Book of Acts we read story after story of his Spirit filled followers helping to expand his kingdom by doing exactly what he did – meeting the needs of those who're hurting and giving God the glory.
When Peter tells Aeneas that Jesus is about to heal him, he's helping him anticipate and open his heart. Then he demonstrates that Jesus is still alive and at work bringing healing & wholeness to God’s people. He demonstrates that the kingdom of God Jesus spoke so much about was on the move.
In fact the purpose for Aeneas’ healing and the raising of Tabitha from the dead is made clear by Luke as he summarizes the impact these demonstrations of Jesus’ power had on their communities. Luke reports, “The news spread through the whole town and many believed in the Lord.” (Acts 9:42)
Likewise the healing of Aeneas brings hope and faith to those who lived nearby: “Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around and they turned to the Lord.” (Acts 9:35)
As followers of Jesus, we seek opportunities to demonstrate the unconditional love of God for those around us in such a way that more and more people are impacted by it.
-3-
Have you ever seen the Disney film, Polyanna? It’s about a young orphan girl who goes to live with her rich aunt in a town full of people living lives far short of their potential. There's an angry old man who's mean to children. There's a hyperchondriac woman who has all but given up on life and detests the light. There's a joyless pastor who's always preaching: “Death comes upexpectedly!”
And there's Polyanna's aunt who compensates for her buried grief by tryin' to control everything and everyone around her. One by one Polyanna wins them over thru an unassuming demonstration of kindness, goodness and forgiveness. She shines the light of God's grace into the dark corners of one life at a time and by the end of the film, that light of love transforms the entire town.
“The Gospel, in its essence, is a message of hope to a world in deep, dark despair. As Jesus’ followers, we are to be God’s voice of hope and light. Those who have known nothing but shame and condemnation can find a new beginning in Jesus Christ. The church, then, should be a place of inspiration about the future. We are to be a voice of hope because we are a people of hope.”
(Erwin McManus)
In his book, Do What Jesus Did, Pastor Robby Dawkins shares an amusing yet amazing story of his early days in ministry “I was a discouraged youth pastor working in a small, dysfunctional church.
I believed God did miracles in theory but resigned myself to not expecting too much.
One day God interupted my routine with a phone call from a woman who explained that she'd found our number in the phone book and needed help. Her father wasn't expected to survive his up coming open heart surgery. 'I didn't know who else to call,' she said. 'I'm not a Christian but I was hoping someone might burn a candle, or rub some beads, or do something else religious to help him.'
'Well, I guess I could pray for him,' I said reluctantly, but what I was thinking was, 'Why would God want to heal him? He's not even a believer. God rarely heals any of his own kids!' But as I prayed I felt God nudge me to go out on a limb. I argued with God in my head about this when out of the blue, Psalm 81 came to mind: “Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.” (Psalm 81:10)
I found myself saying to her, 'I sense that God is about to completely heal your father and give him a brand new heart as well as a pair of new lungs.' Wait – what? That was weird! She hadn't said anything about his lungs! Have you ever heard yourself say something and wish you could instantly retract it? Most married men know exactly what I mean! That's when I panicked and tried to retract it: 'God may or may not....!'; but she resolutely clung to the promise, thanked me and abruptly hung up.
She called back the next day weeping uncontrollably. I knew it! I apologized for my prayer and offered my condolences. She said, 'What are you talking about? He's totally recovered! The doctor said when they opened him up, his heart was in perfect condition! In fact, they said his lungs were too!'
I replied, 'Are you sure? Do you have any documentation!' She shot back, 'Are you sure you're a pastor?' Through this experience her whole family came to faith and began to follow Jesus. Later I prayed, 'Lord, why'd you do that? Now others will expect more of me and I can't do that stuff!' I sensed God reply, 'I'm not looking for powerful people, just those who are willing to be available!'
(from Robby Dawkins' Do What Jesus Did)
God is inviting you to be part of the action, the Holy Spirit in action, simply by being willing to make yourself available to meet people in a world of hurt with the love of God – sometimes with natural resources and other times with the supernatural resources of God. It's show and tell time!