Show and Tell

Read at beginning of service:

Mark 16:1-8 (NIV)

1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” 8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

INTRODUCTION

(Read Matthew 28:1-20)

I remember when I was a little boy in Kindergarten that one of my favorite activities was “Show and Tell”. This was “the great event” of the day where I got to experience some of the cool things my classmates had discovered in life and also had the opportunity to tell them about my own awesome “stuff”. Of course, me and my friends would invariably argue during recess about who had the coolest item for show and tell day! I remember that for one of the times that my turn came to bring something to show and tell day I decided to “show” my hearing aids and “tell” my class about my hearing impairment. I was filled with so much anticipation for that day. I planned on showing my classmates how I could make my aids squeal (feedback) and how useful they were for those times when I didn?t want to hear somebody (turn them off). But I also told them about how if I didn?t have the hearing-aids I probably wouldn?t be in that class with them as I wouldn?t be able to hear.

AS I think back to that time in my life I can?t help but wonder if the whole account of Jesus isn?t a little bit like show and tell? Jesus was and is God?s great cosmic show and tell for Jesus reveals who God is. Jesus said very clearly in John 10:30,

John 10:30 (NIV)

30 I and the Father are one.

John 10:38c (NIV)

?the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”

John 14:5-14 (NIV)

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

There are certain climatic points in which God particularly sets His son out for show and tell?

One of them is/another of them is?

the birth of Christ ? Mary & Joseph/Angels and Shepherd/Star and Magi/Simon and Prophetess Anna in the temple courts.

As a boy ? startled and astonished the teachers of the law in the temple with His wisdom and knowledge of God?s word.

Baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River ? God says, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17)

As Jesus began to preach and heal the sick and forgive people their sins ? miracles.

To the disciples ? walking on water, calming the storm, feeding 5000, casting out demons, the Last Supper

The transfiguration ? Jesus appeared in all His glory with Moses and Elijah on a high mountain and three of his disciples (Peter, James and John) witnessed it. God spoke during this moment and said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5)

In the Garden of Gethsemene ? where Jesus was betrayed and yet when the soldiers asked if He was Jesus, Jesus replied, “I AM he” and all those there fell down with the force and authority of His words.

Yes even before the Sanhedrin and before Pilate?s court Jesus was set out for Show and Tell ? which ultimately led Him to the cross. Here is one of the most poignant moments where one of two thieves receives the promise of paradise on the cross and at the moment of Jesus death a Roman Centurion and those guarding Jesus with him cry out “Surely he was the Son of God!”

The Ascension ? Jesus ascends into heaven before the Disciples and as they stand there looking into the sky two angels appear beside them and say, “Men of Galilee,?why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)

Paul on the road to Damascus

The return of Christ in the last days.

?but today I want to focus on what I believe is the chief climatic point of God?s cosmic show and tell and that is Jesus? resurrection on what we now call Easter morning. Jesus? Resurrection is chief among the climatic moments in God?s plan because?

From God?s perspective Easter Reveals?

The cross was necessary in order for the wages of sin to be paid and Jesus endured the full humility and suffering of being separated from the Father on that tree BUT through His resurrection Jesus declares His victory over death and sin which transfers to all those who believe in Him. By His death and resurrection we are saved.

Titus 3:3-8 (NIV)

3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

The story of the reinstatement of Peter is a wonderful illustration of Easter revealing Jesus as the Savior.

Jesus as our Friend?

The Resurrection reveals in a powerful way the compassion and love of Christ

Notice that when the two Mary?s first encounter the empty tomb in Matthew they are greeted by an angel who tells them Jesus has risen from the dead and to not be afraid. Yet in verse 8 we learn that as they hurried away from the tomb they were filled with joy but still afraid. Then Jesus suddenly appears to them and compassionately begins with the words, “Don?t be afraid”

The two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-33).

?

Luke 24:31-32 (NIV)

31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

In the many times Jesus appeared to his disciples He reveals Himself as their friend, comforting them and convincing them of His resurrection.

John 21:4-5 (NIV)

4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered.

Jesus as our Lord?

Of course the most obvious indication that Jesus is Lord is the fact that He rose from the dead! But notice also the incredible power God “shows off” in this terrific moment in time. A violent earthquake happens and an angel from heaven angel appear in such a way that seasoned Roman soldiers become, “so afraid that they shook and became like dead men.” (Matthews 28:4)

(Aside) Could you imagine the scene playing out in heaven on Easter morning when the angels assemble in heaven waiting to be picked to be the one to go down and “show and tell” Jesus? resurrection?

Later, the disciples acknowledge Jesus as their Lord when He appears to them by the Sea of Tiberias. Apparently some of the disciples had decided to go back to fishing?

John 21:12 (NIV)

12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.

Finally, the Lordship of Christ is declared by Jesus Himself when He and His disciples are gathered on the mountain before His ascension and He declares, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18). Everything in earth and heaven is under the authority of Christ. He is Lord.

As Lord Jesus proceeds to give His disciples the Great Commission?

Transition:

Folks, the resurrection account of Christ (what we celebrate as Easter) is unbreakably linked to the Great Commission. “Go and tell” are the fundamental instructions Jesus gives to every Christian. And the telling is to be based on the showing that God has done in and through your life. As Christians we should approach every aspect of our life as an opportunity to show and tell the good news of Jesus Christ. So often Christians tend to focus on the telling aspect of the Great Commission but we must not neglect the showing. People need to see what a difference Christ has made in our life before they will ever gain a desire for the difference He can make in theirs.

From our perspective Easter compels you to?

Matthew 28:19 (NIV)

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

?

Mark 16:16 (NIV)

16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

?

2 Timothy 1:8-12 (NIV)

8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life–not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

Show and tell Jesus as your Friend?

Matthew 28:20b (NIV)

20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Show and tell Jesus as your Lord?

Matthew 28:20a (NIV)

20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Romans 6:16 (NIV)

16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey–whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

2 Corinthians 9:13 (NIV)

13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

1 Peter 1:13-15 (NIV)

13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;

2 John 1:6 (NIV)

6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

CONCLUSION

Notice what happened to the guards that resurrection morning when they recovered from their fright induced stupor?

Matthew 28:11-15 (NIV)

11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

The sad thing is that there are many people today who react to the reality of Jesus the same way today. Maybe even some of you are in this room right now.

To believers?

I showed my classmates that without my hearing-aids I could not hear ? as Christians, we need to show the world is that without Jesus we could not live.

I showed my classmates all the fun stuff I could do with my hearing-aids. As Christians we need to show the world all the joy Christ brings.

The funny thing is, when I finished my show and tell demonstration that day in Kindergarten, a lot of my classmates came to me after and said “Gee, I never knew having hearing-aids was so neat, I wish I could have them!”. As Christians, we should “show and tell” Jesus so that people will come to us and say, “Gee, I wish I could have Jesus?” And then you say?