‘Show and Tell’ about the power of Jesus

By Deacon Timothy Siburg

Revised Common Lectionary reflection for Proper 7, Lectionary 12, Year C
June 22, 2025

Key Verse: “Return to your home and declare how much God has done for you.” -Luke 8:39

What memories do you have of elementary or grade school? I remember vividly “Show and Tell” – a time to share a story about something meaningful, or to share pictures and stories about trips where I learned about history, geography or science. I am thinking about this because I now have school-age kids of my own who have “Show and Tell” in class. But I am also thinking about this because Jesus invites a newly healed man to go, show, and tell.

Our reading from Luke describes a man who had been cast aside, ostracized by his community and filled with demons, but then was healed by Jesus. On the one hand, there’s nothing surprising about this. Jesus heals and saves. On the other hand, there is a surprise. When the man says he wants to go with Jesus, and we might assume follow him as a disciple, Jesus has another plan. Jesus says, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you” (Luke 8:39). And so, the man does. He goes away, “proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him” (8:39). Jesus was his “Show and Tell” subject, pointing to God’s love and promise as a disciple and telling the story of what God has done as a steward of God’s love.

In the spirit of “Show and Tell,” there are more examples of this in this week’s lessons. On this side of Pentecost, where the Spirit is blowing and God’s people are growing in their faith, we hear stories of grace, promise, inclusion, healing and new life:

• Isaiah 65:1-9: God’s people mess up and let God down. This is an undercurrent throughout history. Even so, God will provide and will not destroy everyone or everything (65:8). God declares, “I will bring forth descendants from Jacob and from Judah inheritors of my mountains; my chosen shall inherit it, and my servants shall settle there” (65:9). God provides grace and hope, even though we do not deserve it. There’s a gift and promise here, one to which we are invited to respond. Perhaps in the “Show and Tell” spirit, this is where we might begin, “Hi. I’m a sinner. I have messed up. But God loves me.…”
• Psalm 22:19-28: Psalm 22 is often heard on Good Friday because it begins with the question that Jesus speaks on the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (22:1). But in this week’s portion we hear a commitment to praise God for what God has done and will do. “The poor shall eat and be satisfied” (22:26). And “All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before him” (22:27). With the psalmist, we will praise God, telling the story of God’s love made real and declaring what God has done for us.
• Galatians 3:23-29: Paul explains what it means to be clothed with Christ through baptism and what this looks like as God’s people together. “For in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith” (3:26). This identity as Child of God, is a new one, one through which God claims us as God’s own. Paul explains further, “There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus” (3:28). We are unified as Children of God, and yet, beautiful diversity among us. Together we are “heirs according to the promise” (3:29). For “Show and Tell,” imagine splashing in the waters of the baptismal font, and then seeing what might emerge in conversation.
• Luke 8:26-39: Jesus is greeted by the demon-possessed man. After he is healed, Jesus declines the man’s request to follow him. Instead, Jesus sends this newly healed man to “show and tell.” To “declare how much God has done for you” (Luke 8:39). This is a stewardship act- to tell the story of God’s love made real.

If Jesus were to say today to you, “Declare how much God has done for you,” what might you show? What might you tell? What might you share? The possibilities are many. The stories are likely to be great. But under, in, or behind all of them, is the promise of God’s love. A love that heals, brings life, and saves. A love that is for you and for me. So, join in with the newly healed man and show and tell that God’s love is real.

In Worship and Congregational Life

In thinking about this familiar gospel story, a hymn often comes to mind – “Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness.” It’s set to a familiar tune “Nettleton,” which most people recognize as the melody of “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” Rusty Edwards has taken this familiar tune by J. Wyeth from the 1800s, and woven images of story after story, including today’s gospel lesson. We sing, “Praise the One who preached the gospel, healing every dread disease, calming storms and feeding thousands with the very bread of peace. Praise the One who blessed the children with a strong yet gentle word; praise the One who drove out demons with a piercing, two-edged-sword… Let us sing for joy and gladness, seeing what our God has done. Praise the one redeeming glory; praise the One who makes us one.” Look at the hymn text, and if you’re like me, it will be one that gets stuck in your imagination with the stories we read again this week.[1]

Worship with Youth and Children

“Show and Tell” could inspire a perfect children or youth message or activity. You might “Show and Tell” about something in the sanctuary. Or invite a youth or child (or several) in advance to bring something in advance to share about it. Either way, this could be a great opportunity to promote storytelling in the congregation, a way to lift up the whole Body of Christ, but also a way to connect the dots between faith and daily life too. What might it look like to “Show and Tell” in your faith community? What can you “Show and Tell” about the power of Jesus?

Previous reflections for Proper 7, Year C:
2019 – The price of freedom and cost of change
2016 – Stewards of faith in troubled times
2013 – Many are the demons
2010 – What are you doing here (insert your name)

[1] As can be found in Evangelical Lutheran Worship, (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 2006), 843.