June 14: Resurrecting God

Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, "Please come to us without delay." So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, "Tabitha, get up." Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. (Act 9:36-42)

There are many little tidbits that are interesting about this text:

With the story of the healing the lame man right before it we have two more healing events done by Peter. And it appears that Peter’s charisma, reputation and apostolic calling continues to grow even beyond Jerusalem.

The word disciple here is the only female use of the word in the New Testament which grants a great deal of respect to Tabitha and the work she is doing – especially important given her community of widows would have normally been a group without status.

This story makes notable mention of Joppa which takes us back to Jonah. Just as it is from Joppa that Jonah will be given a mission to the gentiles (Assyrians in Nineveh) so too does this story mark a transition of a mission to the Jews being opened up to a mission of spreading the good news to the gentiles – to the whole world!

All of these are interesting points – they are what you will find interests commentators about this passage. But my attention is drawn elsewhere… mainly it was to the name Tabitha. Why? Why is that what interests me, a single name – especially since she has two of them? I think it’s interesting because as soon as Peter says, “Tabitha, get up” I have déjà vu!

Compare these two stories:

“Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, "Tabitha, get up." Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up.”

“Then Jesus put them all outside, and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha cum," which means, "Little girl, get up!" And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement.” (Mar 5:39-43)

Tabitha, get up - - Talitha, cum (Little girl, get up!)

Discipleship is about walking in the way of Jesus. When Jesus calls us as disciples it is with the intention that we are formed by Jesus to the point that we live, breath, eat and sleep in the same way Jesus does. There is no division between what Jesus does, and what those who followed him do. Jesus ministry continues without a hiccup after his ascension into heaven because his disciples do the very things that they saw him doing. Everything that he had done – they now do. Surely they do it in his name – and clearly they recognize that they do these things through Jesus power and not by their own. But to stress that much at all seems to miss the point. What Acts continually reminds us is that there is nothing to Jesus ministry that is beyond our ability. Jesus life is to show us what our lives are meant to be. We too are to heal the world.

What are we to make about the lack of miracles in our world today? I’ve heard some say it is that there was an age of miracles – and Acts sits squarely in it, but it ended and now we cannot do those kinds of things.

I think that sounds horrible to my ears and kills my heart.

I wonder if maybe it isn’t that we have passed beyond an age of miracles – but that we have passed beyond an age of imagination and hope. It isn’t that the miraculous isn’t possible – but that can’t imagine it – and so we cannot see it. Our hope has passed beyond the work of Christ in the world and become placed in science and economics and engineering… as if these things have nothing to do with Christ.

I wonder if now what lies in the bed dressed and anointed in death is our trust in the creative and imaginative power of Christ to transform the world. And if so then what God is doing now is standing over it – over us – and saying: Talitha, cum! God is resurrecting our imagination. Tabitha get up! God’s healing power is restoring hope to the world. My child, my disciple – trust and live the gospel!

Who has called to you for help?
Do you see with hope and imagination God’s wonders at work in the world?
Are you a part of – or apart from – that work?

Resurrecting God,
You have called us to get up! Let us see with your eyes a world filled with hope, opportunity, imagination and abundant grace. Work through us to help others to rise from death to life.
Amen.