~ The Double Testimony ~
Those of us
who are parents are familiar with elementary school “show and tell,” when the
student brings something visible to show
to their fellow students and then tells
about the object. The Scripture also provides many show and tells.
Tell—Use
Your Lips ~ “And when He got into the boat, he who had
been demon-possessed begged Him [Jesus] that he might be with Him. However,
Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, ‘Go home to your friends, and tell
them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion
on you.’ And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that
Jesus had done for him; and all marveled” (Mark 5:18-20,
emphasis added).
Luke
emphasizes the telling even more, “Now the man from whom the demons had
departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying,
‘Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.’
And he went his way and proclaimed
throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him” (Luke 8:38-39,emphasis added).
For those of you not familiar with this passage (Matthew
8:28-9:1, Mark 5:1-20, Luke 8:26-39), it includes the first recorded incident
of “deviled ham.”
Show—Physically
Demonstrate ~ It
is clear from the above accounts that telling was effective because of what the
hearers saw—a new cleansed and normal man! Seeing is often very important.
Think of Thomas who would not believe unless he saw for himself. Think of Jesus
Christ and the miracles He performed—visual evidences of His reality.
“Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not
with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, ‘We have
seen the Lord.’ So he said to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the print of the
nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His
side, I will not believe.’
“And
after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus
came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace to you!’
Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and
reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.’
And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’
“Jesus
said to him, ‘Thomas, because you
have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet
have believed.’
“And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His
disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you
may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you
may have life in His name” (John 20:24-31).
Do you have
a personal story you can show and tell?
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
