“Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did. And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, ‘Do not delay in coming to us.’ So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room, and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, ‘Tabitha, arise.’ And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. And Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.” Acts 9:36-43
As the waves of the Mediterranean sloshed against the wooden docks that made up the wharf at the port city of Joppa, there was a melancholy echo in their song today.
Joppa was a Gentile city, a part of the Assyrian empire. Although it was a pagan town, the Lord’s people were there too. On this day, they had lost a dear sister, a disciple named Tabitha. She was always doing good and helping the poor and had a kind word for everybody. You can imagine the grief of the Christian community when she became sick and died. They washed her body and placed her in an upstairs room so that the community could come and pay their last respects to Tabitha.
Now Peter was in Lydda, 10 miles southeast of Joppa, where the Lord had used him to heal a paralyzed man named Aeneas. All those who lived in Lydda saw him and turned to the Lord.
So when the disciples in Joppa heard that Peter was that close to them, they dispatched two men with the message: “Please come at once!”
As Peter went with them, they explained the recent death of Tabitha as they walked the dusty road to Joppa. I am sure he thought, “Lord, what do You want me to do? None of us who are apostles has raised a person from the dead by themselves! I remember when You allowed me, James and John to accompany You as You raised the daughter of the synagogue official back in Jerusalem. (Mark 5:35-43) You put out those who laughed at you. You allowed only the child’s parents and us, and entered the room where the child was. Then You took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha Kum!” ( “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately, the girl got up and began to walk.
As Peter reflected while he walked, the Holy Spirit caused him to remember what Jesus said: “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing….For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing…”
John 5:19-20
When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room. The widows were weeping and preoccupied with memories of Tabitha when she was alive. Peter sent them all out. Then he knelt down and prayed. “The Son can do nothing of Himself ….” And turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, rise.”
At the moment of the command, every cell, every DNA molecule, every mitochondrion…recognized the voice of their Master:
“The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”
Job 33:4
“And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.”
Peter walked down to the wharf where the Mediterranean Sea timelessly rolled its waves. He quietly thanked God for His faithfulness and for the Word of Life. He thought he could even hear the waves rejoicing.
Questions To Think About:
It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. And Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.” Acts 9:36-43
As the waves of the Mediterranean sloshed against the wooden docks that made up the wharf at the port city of Joppa, there was a melancholy echo in their song today.
Joppa was a Gentile city, a part of the Assyrian empire. Although it was a pagan town, the Lord’s people were there too. On this day, they had lost a dear sister, a disciple named Tabitha. She was always doing good and helping the poor and had a kind word for everybody. You can imagine the grief of the Christian community when she became sick and died. They washed her body and placed her in an upstairs room so that the community could come and pay their last respects to Tabitha.
Now Peter was in Lydda, 10 miles southeast of Joppa, where the Lord had used him to heal a paralyzed man named Aeneas. All those who lived in Lydda saw him and turned to the Lord.
So when the disciples in Joppa heard that Peter was that close to them, they dispatched two men with the message: “Please come at once!”
As Peter went with them, they explained the recent death of Tabitha as they walked the dusty road to Joppa. I am sure he thought, “Lord, what do You want me to do? None of us who are apostles has raised a person from the dead by themselves! I remember when You allowed me, James and John to accompany You as You raised the daughter of the synagogue official back in Jerusalem. (Mark 5:35-43) You put out those who laughed at you. You allowed only the child’s parents and us, and entered the room where the child was. Then You took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha Kum!” ( “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately, the girl got up and began to walk.
As Peter reflected while he walked, the Holy Spirit caused him to remember what Jesus said: “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing….For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing…”
John 5:19-20
When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room. The widows were weeping and preoccupied with memories of Tabitha when she was alive. Peter sent them all out. Then he knelt down and prayed. “The Son can do nothing of Himself ….” And turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, rise.”
At the moment of the command, every cell, every DNA molecule, every mitochondrion…recognized the voice of their Master:
“The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”
Job 33:4
“And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.”
Peter walked down to the wharf where the Mediterranean Sea timelessly rolled its waves. He quietly thanked God for His faithfulness and for the Word of Life. He thought he could even hear the waves rejoicing.
Questions To Think About:
- Tabitha served faithfully in Joppa, a pagan, Gentile city. How can you shine God’s light in environments that do not share your faith?
- On the dusty road to Joppa, Peter remembered how Jesus raised Jairus’s daughter. How does recalling God’s past miracles help you face current, seemingly impossible situations ?
- Peter had to rely entirely on what he saw the Father doing rather than his own power. In what areas of your life do you need to stop striving and start surrendering control to God?
- Why do you think Peter sent everyone out of the upper room before he prayed? How does pulling away from noise and grief help focus our prayers?
Posted in The Word of Life