May 9, 2021
Pastor John Hering
Acts 9:36-42
Acts 9:36-42
36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”
39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.
Everybody knows what day it is today! It’s….. (wait for someone to say, “Mother’s Day!” Then look surprised and say…..) NO! Today is still Easter! I know we don’t still have Easter Lilies on the altar because they are planted in the entryway flower bed. But, if you go over to the Shepherd’s Shed and look, last year’s Easter Lilies are just about to pop out! It must still be Easter! I know—we do Christmas on Christmas Eve and for most it over by Christmas Day and time to return the sweater we won’t wear and get the tree and decorations down by January 6th. Then there’s Ash Wednesday—a day. Maundy Thursday—a day. Good FriDAY. I know there’s the 4 weeks of the Advent Season, about 6 weeks in the Epiphany Season and 40 days of Lent. But, Easter just keeps on going for 7 weeks! Today is the 6th Sunday in Easter! Why such a long celebration? Today in Acts 9 we get to learn the answer because
Easter Means More
More Living
You can picture the scene when Peter went into the house in Joppa. One old lady stretched out her wrinkled and sun spotted hand to show Peter and beautifully woven shawl she received from Tabitha. Another lady approached from the other side of the room with her robe covering her grey hair and held it close to Peter so he could catch the pattern as she said, “I got this from Tabitha.” One by one these women who had lost their husbands, their families and their source of income—which likely means survival by begging, were standing around with crushed hearts from grief for losing their wonderful friend—Tabitha.
“36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!” 39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.”
Acts 9:36-42
If we had lived there we would have been crying, too.
I really don’t need to ask this question, but I will. Why were they crying? Obviously, they were sad to have lost such a good friend. But, ask it again: Why? And think a little deeper. Their tears were flowing because they were touched by Tabitha’s death, but also because of her life! Think of what Tabitha meant to them while she was still living! So, let me ask again: Why? Surely there were other ladies who knew how to needle shawls and robes they could share with the widows. Surely there were other people who were kind and giving. What was behind her hands and her hand-outs that brought so many people and so many tears from her friends? What would cause the disciples (followers of Jesus) to seek out Peter’s help when they heard he was close by?
Well, let’s compare this scene to the funerals of the rich and famous you’ve seen on TV. There’s usually a eulogy, a son or daughter, co-worker or friend that tells a story or two about the person that was so memorable. Look, I’m not against eulogies in and of themselves, but what I’ve noticed missing from so many of them is “Why?” What was the reason they did what they did? What was their motive behind it all? What was their motive for living? We really don’t know much about Tabitha. I know her name means “gazelle.” Maybe she was graceful and energetic in her youth? Did she run her own clothing shop? Don’t know. What we do know is her motive for living. Luke gives us a peek into Tabitha’s motives with these words, “38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him.” The word disciple refers to someone who learns from and follows a teacher. That teacher was Jesus. They sent word for Peter who was one of the 12 disciples of Jesus.
You can all recall teachers you enjoyed over the years. They were especially interesting or could teach their subject well. But, what about a teacher that knew my hidden faults and fears and could calm those? Or know my deepest hidden thoughts and doesn’t count them against me? Or knows my mountain of sins that I could never pay and pays that debt for me? How about he did all of that by dying and rising from the dead for me? That’s a teacher that lifts my life from eating, breathing, sleeping, working and vacations to more living! A teacher that was dead but is alive again turns my life into real living, yes, more living not just for myself, but for others! A dead teacher won’t have that kind of life-altering impact, but a teacher that came back from the dead sure will! They went to find Peter because they wanted to hear it again! He is risen! He is Risen, indeed!
Today God’s Word gives us a glimpse into the heart of Tabitha so we can look at our own heart. Tabitha’s gifts to the widows in town didn’t just from a caring and generous heart, but from a heart filled with resurrection faith. The widows wept because of her death to be sure, but they must have wept because Tabitha’s heart of faith was evident in her living! That speaks to us! What motivates you to do what you do? Turn to Jesus and learn from his Word, follow his Word, and like Tabitha, let Jesus be the reason you do for others what you do. Remember Jesus’ death and resurrection rescued you. This gives you a reason for more living, more loving, praying, serving and giving. That’s why we say Easter Means More—More Living. And
More Life
Let’s go back to the funeral of the rich and famous. People attending expect a eulogy, a meal after and maybe if they benefit from the will of the diseased, they even put a sticker on the back window of the pick up truck and acknowledges they could buy that truck because of the dead person’s wealth. But, that’s about it. There really aren’t any more expectations from the one who is dead and gone. Most conversations talk about keeping their memories alive. But, what about those people in Joppa? “38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!” What do you think their expectations were? The disciples had already performed some miracles in the early church, but not raising of the dead. I think they expected Peter to bring them words of comfort how Jesus had died and rose again to win eternal life for Tabitha and for them. I don’t think they expected what happened next: “39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room….40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed.” Since the prayer Peter spoke isn’t recorded shall we craft one from what we know from the pages of Scripture? “Dear Lord, Easter means that you have conquered sin and death. Easter means more life. Help your people see that Tabitha still has life, real life, yes, more life! Amen.” “Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive.” Because of the power of Jesus Christ there was more life for Tabitha!
Now, let me talk about your funeral a minute. When you die the family will meet with the funeral home and talk about the casket or the urn for the ashes. You’ll talk about what day and where you’ll be buried. But, at your funeral I won’t talk about that stuff. I will probably preach a personal sermon that includes some of the quirks you have, or phrases you often used. I’ll share some stories of times I shared with you during your life. But, most of all I’ll share what God’s says about more life! I will proclaim the victory Jesus won for you when he died and rose again to give you more life. I will talk about how those who die in faith in Jesus Christ awake in heaven to live with him without any more trouble or sorrow, pain or suffering. I would not be able to preach a sermon like that if there was no more Easter. But, Jesus rose to guarantee that at the moment of your death your soul goes right on living. Then on the Last Day, your bodies will be raised from the ground to enjoy new life, more life, yes, eternal life with Jesus because of Easter Means More. More Living, More Life, and even
More Alive
Luke does not record for us what Tabitha did after she came alive. But, it isn’t difficult for us imagining lots of hugs for all the people who had come to mourn her death, but now celebrated her being made alive. “Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.” Can you imagine what it was like for Tabitha to skip down to the market, or humm along as she swept her doorstep, or grinned from ear to ear on the way to deliver some more clothes to people in need people? They would wave and call out, “Hi Tabitha!” and whisper, “She was dead, but now she is alive! There is no guarantee Peter can do that for me, but Jesus guarantees life with God now and forever. If Tabitha was alive with service to Jesus then, she’s even more alive now! And so am I!”
Where did this confidence come from? It came from Easter! Easter means a perfect relationship with God. Easter means an optimistic future. Easter means smiles on their faces even in the face of persecution, suffering, sickness and death. Easter means they were even more alive for Jesus’ sake.
Everybody knows what today is. You’re right…. It’s Mother’s Day. We give thanks to the Lord for our moms. But, now you know it’s so much more. Today is another Easter Day! Today we remember all Jesus has done for us and we are celebrating from thankful hearts in all the various ways God is using you to proclaim his Easter Joy to others. You get to tell people that Easter Means So Much More! It means we do more living in service to our God because Jesus is alive. It means we have more life in our service because God is using us to bring the Good News of Jesus’ love to more and more people. Easter means we are more alive now and into eternity. So, this week live in the Easter joy! Yes, this Thursday is Ascension Day and next Sunday is the 7th Sunday in Easter, but now you know that Easter never really ends, because Easter Means So Much More! Amen!
