Fourth Sunday of Easter

1. Tabitha's Tangible Testimony

There’s something lovely about the story of Tabitha, Dorcas. It’s a bit unusual, as miracle stories go. For one thing, Tabitha is the only woman in the New Testament who’s actually called ‘a disciple.’ It’s unusual in that we’re not told what Peter prays, and the name of Jesus isn’t mentioned. It’s the only one where we’re told about what a good person the one being healed or raised is; not because Tabitha somehow earned or deserved this miracle, but because her church family’s love and gratitude for her overflowed.

We’re told that ‘She was devoted to good works and acts of charity.’ Her discipleship had been one of practical service to those in need, and the one bit of that we see here is in making clothes for widows and others in need. Nothing flashy. No great programme. Just a disciple whose faith and love moved her heart and her hands to help those in need. And it’s important that this is linked to her being ‘a disciple.’ It’s not just that she was a loving and generous person; that’s great in itself, but for Dorcas it was part of following Jesus, sharing his love for those around her in acts of practical care and service.

And she was loved.

Who are the people in this church who are loved because of their goodness? Because of their kindness, generosity, hard work for the good of others? I’m not going to embarrass them by asking you to point to them, but I hope you know who comes to mind.

A church that has people like Tabitha in it is a happier church. And it’s one that begins to make a real difference to its community. And it’s one that will be loved and looked to by that wider community.

But then, tragically, Tabitha died. And her community looked after her in death, laying her out before her funeral. And they heard that Peter, the leader of the church, was not far away, so they sent to ask him to come.

Now we’re not told what they hoped he would do - maybe they were hoping for a miracle, but all we know is that they told him about Dorcas. About who she was; about what she did for God and for them. And how much they grieved her.

2. Peter's Powerful Prayer

So Peter comes from Lydda, and hears about Tabitha, about how much she’s done for those in need, and how much her death has affected her church family. And he goes to the room where she’s been laid out, and prays.

I wonder what, at that moment, he thought he was going to do. I wonder what he prayed. Sometimes, the situations we face are so overwhelming that all we can do is be in the room and pray - often starting with ‘Lord, I don’t know what even to pray.’

Whatever Peter prayed, we know what he did.

He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.

Tabitha was returned to life, and I have no doubt that she returned to her work for others, her care in action for those in need. I have no doubt that she continued to be loved and to inspire others in the church at Joppa. But what we’re told is that her raising to new life had another effect, as many throughout Joppa believed in the Lord because someone they knew and loved had been restored to them by God’s healing work.

3. Jesus' Promise

Of course, not everyone who is loved and mourned is restored to life, even in the time of Jesus and the apostles. Grief is real and lasts. And even for Tabitha, restored to life, death would come again one day, hopefully at the right time and when she was ready.

But while we don’t have the promise of miraculous healing and raising from death, we do have something that is even more powerful; Jesus’ promise of his presence and guidance with us into eternal life. He said,

John 10:27–28 “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.”

Tabitha’s good works and acts of charity were part of her discipleship, which just means ‘following’. She heard the voice of Jesus calling her to those in need, and she responded in practical love. Where is he calling you? To what good acts might following Jesus take you? And are you listening for that voice that takes you there?

It’s often not easy. It’s hard work. It costs time and effort. But you don’t have to do it alone. Perhaps your church together can be Tabitha to this parish; reaching out in what might be small ways but in ways that come from love and discipleship, to meet the needs of those around you in practical care.

Where are you already doing that? And if you’re not sure you are, where might Jesus want you to start? Perhaps you could surprise Jo by putting that on the agenda of the next PCC meeting.

4. Witness in action - fruits in spirit

And as you reach out as disciples in practical service, make sure that you give people the chance to see what God is doing in your lives; the love that he gives you, the care you have for each other, the change that knowing Jesus makes.

That, after all, is part of new life, and you don’t need to die first to have that new life. You just need to die to selfishness and self-reliance; to trust through Jesus in God and each other, to receive the Spirit in your heart and be sent out in his love.

And if you let people see the love of God in practical service, in good works and acts of charity that come from no motive but loving God and loving people; and if you let them see the way that God is making a difference to you and to the life of this church; then don’t be surprised if this becomes known throughout Dawley/Malinslee, and many believe in the Lord.

Amen.