Tabitha

Revisiting Acts 9:36-41 ... (Amp. version, edited)

Now there was at Joppa a disciple, a woman named Tabitha.  She was known for her good deeds and acts of charity.  But she fell sick and died.  When they had cleansed her for burial, they laid her in an upper room.

The disciples, hearing that Peter was close by at Lydda, sent two of their men begging him ... “Do come to us without delay.”  So Peter immediately rose and accompanied them.  

When he arrived, they took him to the upper room.  Many of the widows stood around Peter, crying and displaying the tunics and other garments such as Tabitha was accustomed to make while she was with them.

Because of the noise associated with a Jewish vigil or wake, held literally beside someone who has died, and many times even accompanied by paid mourners, who would wail a high-pitched cry of grief like pain.  This certainly could have been the atmosphere Peter found himself in. 

But Peter put them all out of the room just as he watched Jesus do before.  He needed to get alone with the Lord in a quiet and peaceful place to know just what his assignment was going to be.  About what he sought the Lord for, we can not be sure.  

What would you or I do?  How about, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”  So he closed the door and knelt down and prayed.  How long did Peter pray?  Two, maybe three minutes?  Whatever it was, it was enough.

In my mind, I see Peter dropping to his knees right in front of the door he had just closed.  He shut the world and the noise outside.  Now he’s alone with Jesus.  

The conversation with Jesus had begun.  I’ve been there.  Not praying for a dead woman.  But that’s also how I pray.  It’s more like a conversation then prayer.  I leave space for the Lord to share His thoughts as well.  We know each other.  Jesus may be my Lord, but He’s also my friend.  Friend’s talk.

**I need to pause right here.**

When I was reading this account about Tabitha in Acts  9:40 ... the Lord stopped me right here, at this very phrase,  “... then turning to the body ...” 

Peter was not ... looking at the problem ... while he was praying about what the Lord wanted him to do.  The problem was, there was a dead woman behind him.  I believe he was facing away from the body of Tabitha.  Otherwise, why does the Scripture say of Peter ...  then turning to the body. 

I now see Peter standing up, then turning to the body; taking a deep breath as he walked 4 or 5 steps over to the side of the bed where the other disciples had carefully laid her.  Then without hesitation, Peter says ... “ Tabitha, get up!” 

Then she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she raised herself and sat upright.  Peter was probably the first thing she saw since he was standing right by her side.  You just know he had a great big smile on his face.  She didn’t even have to raise her head to look around.  When she saw him, she raised herself and sat upright. 

Peter gave her his hand and lifted her up.  Then, calling back in God's people and the widows, he presented her to them ... alive.

Praise the Lord.  What an ending to this story!

There’s an important lesson here.  If we spend more time looking at the problem than we do looking to Jesus, the results may be different.  

Our faith may fail. 

The following statement is one I believe and read often.  I believe it fits somewhere in this story of Jesus, Peter and Tabitha.

“Faith does not deny a 

problem’s existence; it denies 

it a place of influence.”

                                                ... Bill Johnson