Tabitha’s (Dorcas) Legacy | Acts 9:36-43

When I think of Barb, I think of Tabitha, whose story is found in the Book of Acts, chapter 9.

This passage teaches three things about Tabitha’s life: Her life of love & service, those impacted by her love & service, and Tabitha’s ultimate hope.

I.Tabitha’s Life of Love & Service:

“She was full of good works and acts of charity.” (Acts 9:36)

Tabitha worked in the background. She wasn’t famous for her speaking skills like the Apostle Peter or Paul. Yet, her life impacted so many people around her through her life of love & service.

Tabitha loved serving people through her hands by making clothing for those less fortunate.

Barb live a life of love & service. You would find her faithfully serving in the background. She would be in the kitchen on a Saturday preparing the elements for communion or watering the plants and flowers around the church.

II. Those Impacted by Tabitha’s Love & Service:

“All the widows stood beside [Peter] weeping and showing tunics and other garments that [Tabitha] made while she was with them.” Acts 9:39

Tabitha impacted the life of many, specially those who were less fortunate. In our passage we see Tabitha helping out the widows.

Widows, particularly in those days, struggled to get by and often had no personal means of income, instead relying on family and friends. These widows have the clothing Tabitha made and are showing the pieces as a memorial to her work—this clothing is likely related to the “good works and acts of charity” mentioned in verse 36, as she probably provided for people with what she was able to create with her hands.

Tabitha gave people dignity through tangible ways.

Barb was the same way. Many of you have stories of “Look at what grandma made for me!”

III. Tabitha’s Ultimate Hope:

“But Peter put them all outside, 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. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.” (Acts 9:40-41)

What a wonderful miracle. Yet, Tabitha eventually experience death.

The miracle of Tabitha being raised from the dead points to the one who has power over death. His name is Jesus.

John 11:25 “25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,”

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 “16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 15:50–58 “50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Death doesn’t have the final word.

Conclusion:

Barb was steadfast in her faith in Jesus. To be steadfast means to be “firm or solid in place.” Barb’s anchor to keep her grounded was the gospel of Jesus: Jesus died, was buried and rose from the dead on the third day.

Because of her steadfast faith in Jesus, Barb was immovable. She knew where she was going.

Barb was always abounding in the work of the Lord. Her life was one of service to her Savior. No doubt the work of the Lord includes sharing her faith with those who don’t know Jesus and also serving those in the church. It also included fulfilling her calling to serve the Lord faithfully as a wife, as a mom, as a grandma, as a sister, as a church member, as a neighbor, etc.

How about you? Have you put your hope in Jesus?