Arise!
Notes
Transcript
And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. But Peter put 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. Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner.
Arise
IN OUR TEXT, THIS MORNING, WE FIND A FEMALE DISCIPLE WHOSE GREEK NAME IS DORCAS; BUT HER HEBREW NAME IS TABITHA, WHICH IS ARAMAIC FOR “GAZELLE” OR DEER EVERYDAY. MANY THEOLOGIANS BELIEVE THAT TABITHA BEFRIENDED POOR WIDOWS WHO LIVED IN THE CITY OF JOPPA – THE SAME PLACE FROM WHICH JONAH FLED AS HE TRIED TO AVOID THE LORD’S COMMAND TO GO TO NINEVEH.
MANY BELIEVE THAT SHE WAS WEALTHY AND WELL-EDUCATED. BUT HER REAL RICHES WERE HER GOOD DEEDS.
SHE WAS FULL OF GOOD DEEDS AND CONSTANTLY ENRICHED THE LIVES OF OTHERS THROUGH HER ACTS OF CHARITY TO THE LESS FORTUNATE.
LIKE THE PROVERBS’ 31 WOMAN (IN PROVERBS 31:19-20); TABITHA WAS AN INDUSTRIOUS WOMAN WHO PUTS HER HANDS TO THE CLOTH-WORKING ROD, …WHILE HER FINGERS TOOK THE WHEEL….(BIBLE IN BASIC ENGLISH)
NEVERTHELESS, ACCORDING TO OUR TEXT, WHILE PETER WAS NEARBY (10 MILES AWAY IN LYDDA), TABITHA BECAME SICK AND DIED.
MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTERS, THE BIBLE DOESN’T STATE THE CAUSE OF HER ILLNESS;
ALL WE KNOW IS THAT IT SEEMS LIKE TABITHA RAPIDLY BECAME WORSE … AND HER DEATH WAS AN UNEXPECTED SHOCK TO HER FRIENDS AND THE ENTIRE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY.
SO, THE BELIEVERS DID THE ONLY THING THEY KNEW THEY COULD DO … THEY SENT FOR PETER – THE MAN OF GOD.
FOR MOST OF US, GETTING UP EVERY MORNING IS A BLESSING. IT MEANS WE GOT TO LEAVE BEHIND ALL THAT WAS TERRIBLE YESTERDAY, GIVE OUR MINDS AND OUR BODIES SOME REST, AND THEN BEGIN THE DAY FRESH, WITH NEW AND PROMISING ENERGY. A NEW MORNING OF NEW MERCIES…….AND WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS OF GETTING UP.
• SOME OF US MIGHT SPRING OUT OF BED AT 6 AM, WORKOUT, EAT BREAKFAST, AND MOVE HEADFIRST INTO THE DAY, BRIGHT-EYED AND BUSHY-TAILED
• OTHERS OF US MIGHT HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON ONE TOO MANY TIMES …..GRAB A CUP OF COFFEE BEFORE DRIVING TO WORK, BLEARY-EYED AND DRAGGING
• SOME OF US FEEL GREAT IN THE MORNING AND OTHERS MIGHT HEAR THE POPPING AND CRACKING OF JOINTS AS WE GROAN WITH EVERY MOVEMENT
• BUT WE ALL EVENTUALLY HAVE TO ARISE AND GET MOVING INTO THE DAY THAT GOD HAS PROVIDED
THERE ARE SO MANY INTERESTING THINGS IN THIS TEXT. DO YOU REMEMBER IN THE GOSPEL OF MARK WHEN JESUS SAYS TO THE LEADER OF THE SYNAGOGUE THAT HIS DAUGHTER WAS HEALED? THE MAN DIDN’T BELIEVE IT, SO JESUS TOOK PETER, JAMES, AND JOHN AND WENT TO THE HOUSE WHERE THE GIRL HAD DIED.
JESUS REACHED OUT HIS HAND AND SAID, “TALITHA CUM.” OR “LITTLE GIRL, ARISE!” ARISE! AND WE GET A SIMILAR PHRASE HERE IN ACTS.
PETER SAYS TO THE RECENTLY DECEASED DORCAS, “TABITHA, ARISE!” I THINK WE ARE MEANT TO SEE THAT JESUS AND PETER BOTH DESIRE THAT THE PEOPLE OF GOD, THOSE WHO ARE DESPERATE, SICK, AND EVEN DEAD, AND IN THIS CASE, ESPECIALLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN, NEED TO ARISE, TO ARISE AND CONTINUE THEIR GOOD AND PURPOSEFUL WORK IN THE WORLD.
HERE IN OUR TEXT, A GREAT WOMAN OF GOD IS LAYING DOWN IN HER BED.
• LIFELESS - BUT FILLED WITH LOVE FROM THE PEOPLE AROUND HER
• DEAD - BUT ALIVE IN THE MEMORIES OF HER LOVED ONES
• GREAT CRIES AND SIGHS FILLED THE ROOM AS PEOPLE BITTERLY GRIEVED HER DEATH
• YOU CAN TELL BY THE EMOTIONS OF THESE PEOPLE HOW THIS LADY TOUCHED THEIR LIVES IN A SPECIAL WAY
• YES, YES, HER NAME IS TABITHA
HER GOOD WORKS WERE TOO DIFFICULT TO IGNORE TO THE POINT THAT HER GOOD WORKS WERE RECORDED IN THE BIBLE. REMEMBER AFTER ALL REVELATION 14:13 “YEA, SAITH THE SPIRIT, THAT THEY MAY REST FROM THEIR LABOURS; AND THEIR WORKS DO FOLLOW THEM.”
• THOUGH SHE DIED, HER LEGACY OF ZEAL AND PASSION FOR GOD’S WORK LIVES ON THROUGH THE PAGES OF THE HOLY BOOK
• THUS, I STRONGLY BELIEVED THAT WE, AS CHRISTIANS, TODAY WOULD LEARN A LOT OF BEAUTIFUL LESSONS FROM THIS AMAZING LADY
• SO, LET US TAKE A DEEPER LOOK AT TABITHA’S LIFE AND SEE WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM HOW SHE LIVED HER LIFE
TABITHA IS THAT WOMAN YOU KNOW, WHO IS A CANCER SURVIVOR WHO ALSO KNITS HATS FOR THE CHEMO ROOM. SHE KNOWS FROM EXPERIENCE HOW COLD IT GETS WHEN YOU'RE IN TREATMENT. SHE KNOWS THAT IT IS EASY TO FEEL LONESOME WHEN YOU'RE ON ISOLATION. SO, SHE KNITS, OR MAYBE CROCHETS, LITTLE WARM REMINDERS THAT SHE IS THINKING OF YOU AS YOU WORK TO GET WELL AND TO REMIND YOU THAT GOD IS WITH YOU WHILE YOU SIT THERE WITH THE NEEDLE IN YOUR ARM.
YES, TABITHA, WHO IS ALSO KNOWN AS DORCAS, WHOSE NAME MEANS GAZELLE, WAS THE FIRST WOMAN EXPLICITLY CALLED A DISCIPLE IN THE BOOK OF ACTS. WHAT DID SHE DO THAT MERITED BEING CALLED A DISCIPLE?
• SHE SAW PEOPLE IN NEED, AND SHE HELPED THEM
• SHE WRAPPED PEOPLE IN LOVE, THE LOVE THAT SHE HAD COME TO KNOW THROUGH HER FAITH IN CHRIST
• TABITHA DID EVERYTHING SHE COULD POSSIBLY DO TO LOVE AND HELP OTHERS
TABITHA UNDERSTOOD WHAT IT MEANT TO USE HER PRIVILEGE IN THE SERVICE OF THE NEEDY.
TRUTH BE TOLD SAINTS……ISN’T THIS, AFTER ALL, THE MANDATE OF THE CHURCH.
TO HELP THOSE THAT ARE IN NEED AND LESS PRIVILEGED.
TABITHA BORE THE BURDENS OF BEING THE FIRST WOMAN NAMED AS A DISCIPLE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.
AND IN THOSE DAYS, WOMEN WERE SELDOM SEEN AS SPIRITUAL LEADERS.
FOR INSTANCE, TABITHA WAS NOT SAID TO HAVE BEEN FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AS THAT, DURING THAT TIME, WAS JUST RESERVED FOR MEN.
BUT IT SAYS SHE DID GOOD WORKS AND LOVED OTHERS. THAT WAS HER PASSION AND HER CALLING.
AND I THINK THAT MADE HER FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, MAYBE EVEN MORE SO THAN THE MEN.
I WONDER IF WE ALL NEED TO LOOK TOWARD TABITHA AS WHAT A DISCIPLE OF JESUS SHOULD BE, TO BE FULL OF “GOOD WORKS” JUST AS MUCH AS THOSE WHO WERE FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
SHE SPENT ALL OF HER TIME AND ENERGY TO BENEFIT OTHERS AND TO HELP THEM ARISE. SO, AS SHE GREW SICK AND NEAR DEATH, PETER WENT TO HER BEDSIDE IN ORDER TO HELP HER ARISE, ONCE MORE.
THE AUTHOR OF ACTS, WHOM WE KNOW TO BE LUKE, SAYS SHE WAS A PARTICULARLY GOOD DISCIPLE BECAUSE, AS ONE TRANSLATION SAYS, “HER LIFE OVERFLOWED WITH GOOD WORKS AND COMPASSIONATE ACTS ON BEHALF OF THOSE IN NEED.”
AND THOSE POOR WIDOWS WHOM TABITHA HELPED AND SUPPORTED, WIDOWS WHOM TABITHA MADE CLOTHES FOR, WERE RIGHT THERE WITH HER AT HER BEDSIDE, WEEPING, AFTER SHE DIED.
• THEIR HERO, THEIR HELPER WAS DEAD
PETER ENTERED THE SCENE TO RESTORE THIS DISCIPLE TO LIFE.
HE TOLD HER TO ARISE.
PETER IS THE AGENT OF RESURRECTION, BUT THE NARRATIVE CLEARLY FOCUSES ON THE DISCIPLE, TABITHA, AND HER GOOD WORKS.
BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD WAS A GREAT MIRACLE, THE TRUE MIRACLE WAS THAT TABITHA BROUGHT RESURRECTION TO THE WIDOWS AND ORPHANS AND POOR AND OUTCASTS WHERE A FORM OF DEATH HAD STOLEN THEIR LIVES.
THERE IS MORE AT STAKE IN TABITHA’S RESTORATION BECAUSE SHE HAS A GREAT REPUTATION FOR ALL HER GOOD WORKS AND CHARITY.
TABITHA’S ABSENCE WOULD LEAVE A BIG HOLE. THE WIDOWS OF HER CONGREGATION CRY OUT TO PETER WHEN HE ARRIVES SHOWING HIM THE CLOTHES SHE HAD MADE FOR THEM.
IT’S HARD FOR FAITH COMMUNITIES TO LOSE KEY LEADERS, IN TABITHA’S CASE, ONE WHO HELPED THE CHURCH FULFILL ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO CARE FOR ITS NEEDY WIDOWS.
THERE’S NO INDICATION IN THIS NARRATIVE OF TABITHA’S MARITAL STATUS, THERE IS NO MENTION OF HER BEING MARRIED, IF SHE HAD A HUSBAND OR NOT.
WHEN THIS CROWD OF MOURNERS HEARD THAT PETER WAS IN LYDDA ABOUT A 10 MILE JOURNEY THEY SENT FOR HIM. WORD HAD GOTTEN AROUND OF PETER’S GREAT HEALINGS.
• IN THOSE DAYS THEY BURIED A PERSON ON THE SAME DAY
• SO THERE WAS A BIT OF A RUSH FOR PETER TO ARRIVE
• WE DON'T KNOW WHY THEY CALLED PETER
• PERHAPS, THEY WANTED HIM TO COMFORT THEM
• PERHAPS THEY WANTED HIM TO DELIVER THE EULOGY
WHEN HE ARRIVED THE WOMEN ARE WEEPING AND SHOWING HIM THE THINGS THAT SHE HAD MADE FOR THEM, AND THE OTHERS WHO WERE POOR.
• THEY HAD GREAT RESPECT FOR HER
• THEY HONORED HER FOR THE GREAT THINGS, THE LABORS SHE HAD DONE ON THEIR BEHALF
PETER IS SUMMONED AND HE IS EMPATHETIC AND DIRECT – HE HEARS THEIR CRIES AND HE SENDS THEM OUTSIDE “AND THEN HE KNELT DOWN AND PRAYED.”
IT IS REALLY EASY TO READ PAST THOSE FEW WORDS “AND THEN HE KNELT DOWN AND PRAYED.” PETER UNDERSTOOD TABITHA, AS BOTH WERE PEOPLE OF GREAT FAITH.
• TABITHA STEPPED OUT IN FAITH BY PUTTING HER TIME, RESOURCES AND ENERGY INTO HELPING THOSE WHO NEEDED IT THE MOST
• SHE WAS AN INSTRUMENT OF GOD’S LOVE AND CARE FOR WIDOWS AND SHE GAVE OF HERSELF, HER TIME, SKILL AND MONEY IN SUCH A GENEROUS WAY THAT SHE WAS LOVED AND RESPECTED
SHE “WAS DEVOTED TO GOOD WORKS AND ACTS OF CHARITY.” AS FOLLOWERS OF JESUS WE’RE CALLED TO DO THE SAME TO BE “DEVOTED TO GOOD WORKS AND ACTS OF CHARITY.”
• CHARITY IS NOT JUST GIVING A SMALL DONATION TO A CAUSE, BUT IN CHRISTIAN TERMS IT INVOLVES ESTEEM, AFFECTION, AND CARING THAT REFLECT GOD’S AGAPE (SELF-GIVING) LOVE
• CLEARLY THE IMPACT OF TABITHA’S KINDNESS WAS THAT OTHER PEOPLE WERE HELPED, SHE FELT GOOD KNOWING SHE WAS MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD GREW AS A RESULT
• GOOD WORKS AND CHARITY AREN’T DONE ONLY WITH MONEY – IT CAN BE WITH OUR WORDS, OUR TIME, AND OUR HELP TO OUR FAMILY OR NEIGHBORS
• TABITHA STEPPED OUT IN FAITH AND IMPACTED A WHOLE COMMUNITY
PETER HAD TO STEP OUT IN FAITH – AS FAR AS I CAN RECALL, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME HE HAS BEEN ASKED TO PRAY FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS DIED TO BE RESUSCITATED TO LIFE.
I’M SURE WE ALL HAVE LOTS OF PEOPLE AND SITUATIONS WE MAY BE PRAYING FOR, BUT THIS IS A TALL ORDER WITH LOTS OF HIGH EXPECTATIONS.
• ON THE ONE HAND, SHE’S ALREADY DEAD SO HOW MUCH WORSE CAN IT GET?
• ON THE OTHER HAND, HOW DO YOU PRAY FOR SOMETHING THAT SEEMS SO DIFFICULT, UNLIKELY, AND OVERWHELMING?
TAKE A MOMENT AND THINK ABOUT THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE OR PROBLEM OR THE MOST STRESSFUL SITUATION IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW. THINK ABOUT IT AND GET IT IN YOUR MIND. ARE YOU LIKE PETER LIFTING THAT BIGGEST CHALLENGE TO GOD IN PRAYER?
• IT CAN BE HARD FOR US BECAUSE MANY OF US HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR PEOPLE AND SITUATIONS AND THEY DON’T RESOLVE IMMEDIATELY
• OUR LOVED ONE DOESN’T RISE UP HEALED AND RESTORED
• YET, WE’RE CALLED TO STEP OUT IN FAITH WHEN WE’RE FACED WITH SITUATIONS THAT SEEM TOO BIG FOR US AND WE’RE TO SEEK GOD’S HELP
I THINK IT’S SIGNIFICANT THAT WE’RE TOLD PETER “KNELT DOWN AND PRAYED.”
• KNEELING IS AN ACT OF HUMILITY
• WE KNEEL BEFORE SITUATIONS THAT SEEM TOO TOUGH FOR US TO HANDLE OURSELVES
• YET IN KNEELING WE TAP INTO THE POWER OF GOD
HE PUT EVERYONE OUT OF THE ROOM. YOU CAN’T PRAY WITH EVERYBODY.
• ST. MATTHEW 9:25 -- JESUS ENTERED RULERS HOUSE – PUT THEM OUT’
• ST. MARK 5:40 JESUS ENTERED THE HOUSE OF THE RULER OF THE SYNAGOUGE – PUT THEM OUT
• YOU CAN’T PRAY IN FRONT OF EVERYONE
• SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO PUT THEM OUT AND THEN ‘KNEEL DOWN AND PRAY’
AFTER HE HAS PRAYED THEN PETER LOOKS AT THE BODY AND SAYS “TABITHA, ARISE” WHICH REMINDS US OF JESUS RAISING THE LITTLE GIRL AS WELL AS LAZARUS IN ST. JOHN 11 AND OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS HIMSELF. PETER’S POWER TO HEAL IS NOT TO BE SEEN AS MAGIC BUT A FUNCTION OF HIS CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST WHO IS RISEN IN POWER AND GLORY. PETER RETURNS TABITHA TO THE SAINTS AND WIDOWS AND PRESENTING HER TO THEM ALIVE - PEOPLE COME TO BELIEVE IN THE LORD AS ALMOST ALWAYS HAPPENS IN ACTS WHEN GOD’S POWER IS DISPLAYED.
PETER CALLED TABITHA INTO NEW LIFE WITH THE SIMPLE WORDS, “ARISE.” WHAT ARE THE WORDS THAT WILL CALL US TO NEW LIFE? THERE MUST BE SOMETHING THAT WILL CALL US ALL INTO NEW LIFE.
• TABITHA WAS QUITE A WORKER IN THE EARLY CHURCH FROM WHAT WE CAN GATHER
• SHE ENGAGED THE WORK OF CARING FOR THE COMMUNITY AND OTHER THINGS SUCH AS NEEDLEWORK
• SHE WAS BELOVED
• YET, SHE BECAME TIRED OUT AND ILL TO THE POINT TO OF DEATH
• SHE WAS CLEANED UP AND LAID TO REST WHILE THOSE WHO KNEW HER MOURNED
• WHAT WOULD BRING NEW LIFE TO MORE THAN CHURCH?
• WHAT WORD DO WE NEED TO HEAR?
--PERSONALLY, I HEAR “ARISE! AND BE OF SERVICE”
--ARISE AND BE OF SERVICE TO THOSE WHO HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN CONDEMNED, OVERLOOKED, OR PURPOSELY PUSHED OUT
--WHAT WORD DO YOU HEAR?
--IS THERE LIFE IN IT?
--IF THERE IS NO LIFE IN IT, THEN IT IS ECHOES FROM THE PAST OR OF OUR OWN FEARS
--IF THERE IS LIFE AND LOVE IN IT, THEN IT IS COMING FROM GOD
--THE KEY TO THE NARRATIVE IS TABITHA
--WE MAY THINK IT IS PETER
--YET, WHAT GOOD WOULD PETER’S WORDS HAVE DONE IF TABITHA HAD NOT RESPONDED?
--CHURCH HAS SPENT ENOUGH TIME LOOKING BACK TO WHAT WAS AND LAMENTING THE LOSS OF IT
--ISN’T IT TIME WE ARISE AND ENTER INTO NEW LIFE?
--IT WON’T BE EASY – IT’S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE
--IT’S TIME TO ARISE
--ARISE AND WORK FOR THE LORD
--ARISE AND PRESS THROUGH YOUR ACHES AND PAINS
--ARISE – SOMEBODY NEEDS TO HEAR A WORD
--ARISE AND STOP LIVING IN THE PAST
--ARISE AND WALK INTO YOUR DESTINY AND PURPOSE
--ARISE FROM YOUR PITY PARTY
--ARISE AND SHOUT FOR THE LORD
--ARISE AND DANCE FOR THE LORD
--ARISE, THERE’S A NEW DAY DAWNING
--ARISE, WALK IN YOUR DESTINY
--ARISE AND WALK IN VICTORY
--ARISE IT’S YOUR SEASON