"Show and Tell"

A sermon preached by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) based on Deuteronomy 18:15-20 and Mark 1:21-28.

Anyone who has ever been around small children for any length of time knows that whatever they see or hear will inevitably get repeated. Those of you who are parents know exactly what I’m talking about. I can think of several occasions in which Miriam repeated things that we didn’t necessarily want repeated.
Perhaps you can relate to the father who was driving his five year son to a friend’s house when another car cuts them off and nearly causes them to wreck. The father yells, “You idiot!” A moment later he realizes what he said and quickly pulls the car over. He turns to face his son and says, “Now son, your father just said a not-so-nice word and I know that I shouldn’t have, but I was angry at that driver. Still, there’s no excuse for what I said. It was wrong. But just because I said it, doesn’t make it right, and I don’t want to hear you saying it. Do you understand?” His son looks at him and says, “Whatever you say, you idiot!”
Maybe, that’s one of the reasons why “show and tell” is such a sacred time among kindergarten and first grade classes, because every teacher knows that there’s no way to prevent their students from telling everything they know. And so, teachers try to structure it in such a way that it becomes a learning experience.
For starters, “show and tell” gives children experience in public speaking. It is also a great method in teaching children the connection between seeing and hearing, and verbally relating what they see to others. I can recall, as a child, being excited about “show and tell,” because I was eager to share something that was important to me with my friends and classmates.
Miriam always enjoys “show and tell” day at her preschool. She takes great pride in picking out what she is going to show and rehearses what she will tell about it.
I heard of a kindergarten teacher who always made a bargain with the parents of her students at the beginning of every school year. She would say, “If you don’t believe everything you hear about what happens in class, then I won’t believe everything I hear about what happens at home.”
As many of you know, Shel Silverstein is my favorite children’s poets. I remember reading such books of his as, Where the Sidewalk Ends and Falling Up as child. To this day, Amber and I will occasionally read his poetry as a way of getting in touch with our inner child. He has written a poem entitled, "Show and Smell" which reads:

“I found a flounder and I thought, ‘Swell,
I’ll take it to school for show and tell.’
But I forgot, for quite a spell,
To take it to school for show and tell,
And now it’s two weeks later… Well…
I’ll take it to school for show and smell.”

In our Gospel Lesson this morning, and really the entire first chapter of Mark’s gospel, is full of “show and tell.” Jesus was beginning his ministry at a synagogue in Capernaum. And I think it is important to note that Capernaum was really the “headquarters” of Christ ministry. In fact, it is mentioned twenty-two times in the Gospels. And the ruins of a synagogue at Capernaum can still be seen to this day, dating back to the second to fourth century C.E.
This chapter depicts Jesus speaking four times. First, he said; “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel.” His next words were to Simon and Andrew: “Follow me,” says Jesus, “and I will make you fishers of people.” Third, he taught those gathered for worship, and the people were amazed because he taught with authority. And finally, he rebuked the unclean spirit that was tormenting a man in the synagogue, by saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And not only did Jesus’ words tell who he was, but his actions showed it.
But this “show and tell” isn’t limited to Jesus in the first chapter of Mark’s gospel. In fact, we see that other characters are quick to “show and tell” the reader who Jesus is. In fact, the gospel writer begins his book in chapter 1 by proclaiming, “the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” And then John the Baptist describes Jesus as one who is “mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie,” who will “baptize with the Holy Spirit.” And then the Spirit is shown descending like a dove at Jesus’ baptism, and a voice from heaven announces, “You are my beloved Son; in whom I am well pleased.” And then the unclean spirit confesses that Jesus is “the Holy One of God,” and finally the crowd at the synagogue is astonished by Jesus’ power and the authority in which he speaks.
Those of you who are interested in astrology, know that tomorrow is a significant day, it is what is considered a cross-quarter day. February the 2nd is the mid-point between a solstice and an equinox. It means that we are nearly halfway through winter. And you thought that tomorrow was just Groundhog Day. But the cross-quarter day means, in effect, the gradual return of light and warmth; and in ancient times, this was worth celebrating. Many of you can remember when we use to have a winter. When the ground would literally freeze, and be snow covered all winter long. When snow would be measured not in inches but in feet. Some of you can remember having to venture out in this winter weather to draw water, feed animals, and do many of the other daily chores. Many of you can remember not having the luxury of turning on the heat, you had to cut wood, build fires, and do whatever possible to stay warm. Pagan and Celtic cultures marked this cross-quarter day with a festival and with great bonfires as a way to welcome back the sun from its winter sabbatical. People could once again start thinking about spring planting and summer growth.
The Church, as it began to spread throughout the world and encountered these pagan cultures and rituals, often played off their traditions and gave them religious and spiritual meaning. And so, the Church, without missing a beat, appropriated the concept and designated the winter cross-quarter day as the day to celebrate the gradual return of the sun’s light by blessing and lighting candles. It became known as the Feast of Candlemas, and was and is a reminder that Christ is the light who brings salvation and who brings the warmth of God’s love.
And, while few of us give little thought to this cross-quarter day, other than looking to a groundhog to predict the forecast for the remainder of winter, still, the gradual shift from winter to spring provides an wonderful metaphor for our own spiritual journey, and certainly it is a beautiful reminder of what was going on in our First Reading from the Book of Deuteronomy. Here, we also see a journey and transformation. The Book of Deuteronomy addresses the distance between the exile in Egypt and life in the Promised Land. And so, in chapter 18 they are passing through Moab on virtually the last leg of their long and strenuous journey - they were almost there. And like the people of old, who were desperately waiting for spring, so the people of Israel had become tired and were ready to settle down. And so they said as one, “If I hear the voice of the Lord my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.”
That “great fire,” of course, was not the fire of our pagan ancestors, in which they lit to ward off the evil spirits, but it was the fire of God’s Presence, that dwelt with them in the wilderness. Like a beacon in the night, that fire was a sign and a reassurance to the people that God was with them through their wilderness wandering. But now that time of journey and exile was coming to an end. Change was at hand. As the people were about to enter the land given to them, God promised a prophet who would speak the word of the Lord with authority and authenticity after Moses was gone. ‘I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet who shall speak … everything that I command,’ said the Lord.” And, of course, God would raise up many who would fulfill this prophecy throughout Israel’s history, beginning with Joshua who would succeed Moses. But it was Christ who was the ultimate fulfillment of that prophecy. Christ is for us the prophet who now speaks “with authority.” He brings light and life to our cold world. As the Israelites in the wilderness longed to settle in the Promised Land, so we long for the full manifestation of God’s kingdom.
For Christians, transformation must become a way of life. Christ has changed everything. He has brought reconciliation and hope to a world darkened by the consequences of sin and death.
For it is in the cross of Christ that this new life is possible. And certainly this gives a whole new meaning and understanding to the term “cross-quarter day.” Like all living things, we turn to the Light – to Christ for life. The tradition in the Church of blessing and lighting candles may not be as popular today as it was centuries ago, yet it was and is a reminder that we are those candles and we are go forth to show and tell the world about the Light of Christ.
Our Gospel Lesson shows and tells us that no one who encountered Jesus was unaffected. There was always a reaction. Lives were changed and people showed it both by their reaction and by telling others.
An old gospel song expresses well a Christian’s aspiration to show and tell others who Jesus is:

“Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.
All his wonderful passion and purity.
O, Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.
Let the fruit of the Spirit be seen in me;
Grant me grace all sufficient that I may be
True and faithful every day, every step of the way,
Pointing souls to the Savior on Calvary.”

And so, may this song be true of our lives as we revert back to our childhood and “show and tell” others of Christ.