Sermon Tone Analysis

Resurrection in Joppa

(Acts 9:36-43)

March 20, 2022

Read Acts 9:36-43 – The Bible often uses physical events to teach spiritual truth.

So, it’s hard to come to an account of a resurrection and not apply it to the gift of new life in Christ all believers have.

But we did that last week with the account of Aeneas’ healing, so I want to look at this a little differently.

Peter is in Lydda where Aeneas lived.

Twelve miles to the NW is Joppa (modern Jaffa), a harbor where Solomon shipped timber in from Lebanon to build the temple and from which Jonah sailed to escape God.

In Joppa was a Jewish Xn named Tabitha (Aramaic) or Dorcas (Gr), both meaning gazelle – a fitting description for a woman of exemplary grace.

Tabitha got ill and died.

She was washed and laid in an upper room in preparation for burial.

But the disciples there, knowing Peter was close by, sent for him.

A gracious miracle resulted.

God’s power on full display.

But people then, as now, die every day.

So why raise this woman?

Why Tabitha?

Why Joppa?

Who benefited?

Clearly, God benefited.

His glory and power are on display as powerfully as possible in this life – someone raised from the dead.

But who else benefited in this backwater town?

God’s making the point He’s as interested in Joppa as He is in Jerusalem.

But who specifically benefited from this amazing display of His power?

Several did – one, surprisingly – did not.

So, let’s look.

I. Tabitha’s Resurrection Benefited the Widows

How’d you like this description?

“She was full of good works and acts of charity”?

Lovely!

Tabitha modeled all a Xn woman should be.

She’s a living example of Eph 2:10: “For we are his workmanship (masterpiece), created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Tabitha knew we are not saved by good works, but we are saved for good works, and she didn’t want to miss a single loving act God had created for her before time began.

She wanted them all.

A glorious example!

And the main beneficiaries are clear.

When Peter got to her room, 39b) “All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.”

Tabitha had the spiritual gift of sewing – or more precisely – the gift of helps that she used by sewing.

While the carnal Corinthians were focused on the showy gift of tongues for self-edification, Tabitha was quietly exercising her gift of sewing “for the common good” (I Cor 12:7), the intent of all spiritual gifts.

They are not for self and not for show, but for the common good.

Tabitha was at the head of that line.

So who benefited by her resurrection?

Clearly, the widows.

They had no social safety net.

If huz and kids were gone, she was without resource.

Tabitha knew that.

She may have been a widow or unmarried herself.

She modeled Jas 1:27: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction.”

Tabitha was all over that, a prime example that little people and little things are big in God’s eyes when they faithfully serve.

Didn’t Jesus say in Mt 20:16: “So the last will be first, and the first last”?

Then you can be sure Tabitha has a front row seat in Glory.

This urges all of us to find a need and fill it to the glory of God.

Arturo Toscanini was once asked his father’s greatest achievement.

He said, “For him there is no such thing.

Whatever he’s doing at any moment is the biggest undertaking of his life, whether conducting a symphony or peeling an orange.”

That was Tabitha to a tee.

Someone else said, “Everybody wants to save the earth; nobody wants to help with the dishes.”

Tabitha did.

She was great in little things and sent treasure to heaven by helping her widows.

II.

Tabitha’s Resurrection Benefited the Disciples

So, Tabitha has died.

But normal preparations were not followed.

Instead of burying her immediately, as was customary, they laid her in an upper room.

She was washed, but not anointed for burial as normal, like Jesus was.

Then, 38 “Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him.”

Did they want Peter to conduct a funeral?

It’s likely something bigger was in their minds.

38) “Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, ‘Please come to us without delay.’”

They specifically wanted Peter; they wanted him quickly, and that they had not finished burial preparations.

They had something else in mind.

That’s a lot of faith, but it’s not blind faith!

Word of Aeneas resurrection spread like wildfire.

Perhaps they also knew Jesus had given that power to the 12 apostles!

Mt 12:7 He had told them as He sent them out: “And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead.”

We’re never told of the apostles raising dead people prior to this, but surely they had.

This didn’t happen often – we only know of twice – but it was part of the “mighty works” – the “signs of a true apostle” (II Cor 12:12) that authenticated these men and their mission.

With Peter close by, I think these unnamed disciples from Joppa thought resurrection was not out of the question.

At least they were going to ask.

What faith!

And they got one of the great demonstrations in history of the unmatched power of God.

What a powerful incentive to godly living.

What’s next is beautiful.

41 “And [Peter] gave her his hand and raised her up.

Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.”

Peter didn’t take her hand to resurrect her.

She was already alive.

I love how R.C. Sproul describes this: “Peter’s giving her his hand was like a gesture of chivalry, as if to say, ‘Madam, worker of many good deeds, who has made garments for all your friends who are outside weeping, take my hand and let me escort you to them.’

So he did.

He led her from the room, called the saints and the widows, and presented her alive.

This was only a foretaste of heaven, for Tabitha would die again.

But it was a downpayment of the truth that everyone in Christ will be presented to the Bridegroom to live forever with no more tears and no more sin and no more death.”

Imagine the impact on the faith in that community.

They didn’t get a resurrection at every funeral any more than we do – but they got it once; and we got the record of it, to remind us of our legacy in Christ: I Cor 15:20: “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

Thus, the song: “God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus / He came to love, heal and forgive.

/ He bled and died to buy my pardon.

/ An empty grave is there to prove / My Savior lives.

// Because He lives I can face tomorrow.

/ Because He lives all fear is gone.

/ Because I know He hold the future.