Text: Acts 9: 36-42
36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who 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 the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.
This is a day when we think of our mothers. For my wife, Karen, and myself, our mothers are gone. The reason I bring that up is that we no longer have an opportunity to tell our mothers what we appreciated. There are many things I would like to say to my mom if I had the chance. You were right mom about that. Thank you for loving me when I hurt, even when I was a jerk. I’m sorry mom for that time I was disrespectful. Thank you for loving me enough to discipline me. Thank you for getting me baptized and helping me to know Jesus.
But of course, Karen and I can’t say those things to our moms now. So my encouragement to you is this. Say those things to your mom. Say them while you can.
Today we turn our attention to a woman named Tabitha in the book of Acts. Luke does not tell us if she was a mother or not. When I read thi,s I picture her as a grandmother. But of course, I could be wrong. The one thing we can say is this: Tabitha was:
A Woman who gave glory to her Risen Savior
I. Her life pointed to Jesus
II. Her death pointed to Jesus
III. Her risen life pointed to Jesus
36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. Joppa was and is a seaport city not far from Jerusalem. Joppa is the place where the prophet Jonah got on a ship to flee the Lord’s command to go and preach to the people of Nineveh. We know how that turned out.
Well much later lived this woman named Tabitha. She was a disciple, a believer in our risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ. Look at how she is described. A lot better than Jonah. Always doing good and helping the poor.
You know, from time to time we get the idea in the church that being a Christian is all about reading our Bibles, coming to worship, giving our offering and sharing the gospel with people who do not know Jesus. It is about that. But then we read about judgment day when we will stand before our risen Savior. What will Jesus say to his people? ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, …35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me… And of course Jesus explains what he meant. Whatever you did for others you did for me.
What do we learn from Jesus words? Not that people gain heaven by doing good things. By grace we are saved through faith. No here’s the point. When saving faith is in our hearts, we will do good things. And one of those good things is this.
Like Tabitha, we will help and care for people in need.
God makes that very clear in his Word. He pushes back against that natural selfishness that lives inside our hearts. Long ago Before God’s people entered the promised land he told them this: 11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land. (Dt15:11) That’s what God expected of his Old Testament people then. That’s what he expects of us, his New Testament people now. That we continue to remember the poor. (Gal 2: 10) And not because we have to. God’s people love, care, and help because Jesus loved, cared and helped us when we were worse than poor. We were dead in our sins. So he died for our sins. And now we live because of him. We will live and not really die.
That was Tabitha. She knew and trusted what Jesus had done for her. It filled her heart with a love that showed itself in generosity to people in need. And in this way her life pointed to Jesus. People knew that from being around her. Her life pointed them to Jesus. But not just her life. Her death also pointed to Jesus.
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.
When people close to us die, we often hear stories about them. When my mother died, my godmother told me some things I never heard before. Pretty special. Well think of this woman. When she died the widows of Joppa came to the apostle Peter who had just arrived. Widows were often very poor. There was no life insurance or social security to fall back on. If there was no family to help you, you went without.
So imagine you were there with Peter as these widows came around. They are wailing. Tears are running down their faces. And one by one they show you the clothes Tabitha made for them. Not to enhance their wardrobe. But for them to have something to wear against the cold. And not made with a sewing machine. But by hand, spending many hours.
What precious words were spoken about Tabitha. What precious tears they shed over losing her. So think about it. Even her death pointed to Jesus. For one thing they could not help recall about this loving woman. She was a disciple, a believer in Jesus, her Savior.
And here is where the story usually ends. Friends, family gather. A funeral, a gravesite, a time of grief. We go back to our lives and deal with that empty chair. But the Lord had something special in mind for this day. People must have starred in amazement and disbelief. Tears of sorrow turned to joy. And here again we see a woman who glorified her risen Savior. God singled her out for a special purpose. For here: Her risen life pointed to Jesus.
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 the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive Why did the Lord raise Tabitha back to life? Think about it. Not for Tabitha’s sake. She was in heaven. We won’t ever want to leave there. The Lord raised Tabitha for everyone else who would see this or hear about it.
Just imagine Peter bringing her before you. She was dead. Some of you had washed her body for burial. But now she stands before you. Now think about it. This is Jesus’ apostle. He had prayed in Jesus’ name. And Tabitha was raised by the power of Jesus’ name. There’s no question. Her risen life pointed to Jesus. For what are we told? 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.
What a powerful picture as I think of some of our moms this morning. Tabitha reminds me that when Karen and I said goodbye to our moms, it was only for a time. Like Tabitha, our moms trusted in a Savior who has conquered death. They trusted in a Savior who will one day give us a happy reunion.
Until then, we live in a world where people suffer from hunger, poverty, disease and injustice. As children of God bought by the blood of God’s own Son, it is our privilege to be there for them. Young or old, rich or poor ourselves, we get to glorify our Savior by helping others. So Paul wrote to the Galatians: Therefore as we have opportunity let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of faith. Amen.