Devotion for St Peter the Apostle, 29 June 2011

Devotion for Wednesday after Trinity Sunday, 29 June 2011
“32 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. 35And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. 39Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. 40But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.43 And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.” (Acts 9:32-43)
After serving a few decades as a minister, and the last as a bishop, I have a confession to make. It is a confession that I now make generally and one which I have shared with my understanding wife: there is another woman in my life! In fact, there are many. My wife has understood completely, for the same ladies are in her life as well. The particular woman in my life to whom I refer today is the disciple, Tabitha! I love Tabitha and, I believe, if she could know me today, she would love me, too. Tabitha loved all the Christian people of her community and, especially, the widows. So Tabitha, when I read of her, I know her heart and I love what I see inside. The same is true of Ruth, Rachel, the Mary’s, Elizabeth (mother of John the Baptist and also the Elizabeth who is our secretary), and Debbie my own loving wife. But I venture too far ahead. Let us go to the whole text for today in Acts 9:32-43.
“And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.” When God says, “and it came to pass”, he generally has a surprise for us and this time is no exception. We are continually surprised at the grace and foreknowledge of God and in His providential guiding hand in leading His ministers where He wants them to go. Now comes Peter who had just been fleeing persecution but who now comes in the power of the Holy Ghost to Lydda, a town about five miles east of Joppa. He avoided no quarter due to danger, but passed through all quarters preaching and visiting the saints. When we are in discouragement or loneliness, God will send a means to cheer us on and to advance our Army’s colors. “And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.” I so much adore the casual description of God’s Word. It seems that Peter ‘just happens’ to come to Lydda and ‘just happens’ to find Aeneas who ‘just happens’ to have had palsy and restricted to his bed for eight years. It is so very commonplace in its narrative, but we know, deep in our hearts, that God is about to do something wonderful! Does He ever pass up one who is so stricken? Do His ministers?
And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.” Please observe that Peter did not await satellite hookup for a national tv broadcast, or assemble a crowd (though one was apparently gathering of its own accord). He did not advertise the event before it occurred. He did not pound the man on the head and demand that God heal him. No, Peter simply pronounced what he knew to be the will and authority of Christ. Peter wanted no credit. He knew he deserved none. It is always Christ that heals. He can heal alone in the desert, or he may use his apostles to proclaim the healing! Once healed, there is no longer any comfort in lying flat of one’s back, so Aeneas arose immediately. When Christ calls you, may you also arise immediately! “And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.” Do we need such a miracle to believe? No, but it certainly opened the eyes of these in Lydda and Saron. Even if they already believed, they believed more and turned to the Lord whom they may have neglected in their faith.
Now here is the account I have desired to write about for a while of a woman whom I have loved from the day my first grade teacher read me the story: “Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.” This woman is beautiful though I do not know her countenance. She reminds me of the beautiful gazelles which bounded the rocky slopes of the Persian mountains with grace and exotic poise when I lived there. There is good reason to so consider Tabitha, for her name in the Syro-Chaldaic, and the Greek (Dorcas), means just that – gazelle. In my flight missions over Iran, in the mist of my memory, I never saw this elegant creature in the valleys or on the plains. She was always in the rocky heights of the mountains. She could leap with great speed from slope to slope. I believe God’s people are likewise equipped to bound the mountaintops in their joy of living for Him. This woman (Tabitha) was “full of good works and almsdeeds which she did!” May the Lord be praised for sending such feminine heroes whose hands hold the distaff and who labor so unselfishly for others.
“And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.” Ah, yes, here we find another of those casual “and it came to pass” clues from God that something very marvelous will happen. Tabitha was sick, in fact, she died! According to custom, the hands whose bodies she had fed and clothed, now respectfully bathed her own body for the expected burial and laid her in the place of respect – the Upper Chamber. Truly, Tabitha was destined for the Upper Chamber, but not just yet. God would use her generous hands longer yet in the land where He had placed her.
“And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.” Now God, of course, could have sent Peter, without appeal, to Tabitha. But God also treasures our prayers and is joyful when they are prayers that He will love to answer. The prayers of the disciples had four feet in the two men they sent to Peter to beg his coming. “Then Peter arose and went with them.” We absolutely MUST love Peter! He was so very impulsive to serve and to come to Christ. He outran John to the Garden Tomb. He was first in the water to meet the risen Christ on the Shores of Galilee. Now, without delay, he arises immediately to follow these disciples to the lady who has been such a comfort to all in Christ.
“When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.” If you can read this passage without weeping for joy and pity, you are a more battle-hardened veteran than I! The widows whom Tabitha (Dorcas) had visited in love and the charity of her treasures and manual labors stood about perhaps the only soul in all the land who made them know that they were loved by at least ONE! She had purchased fabrics and made, with her own refined hands, coats and garments for these women whom the world valued little. She did it while she was WITH them. How many widows and orphans have YOU been WITH? They loved her, and so do I.
“But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.” The company of widows were focused on death, but Peter was focused on LIFE. He did not feel their presence expedient for the miracle that he would call upon the Lord to grant. He asked them to stand without. Peter kneeled (the most respectful pose for prayer and reverence) and prayed. He then turned to Tabitha and said, “Arise!” Immediately, answering to a voice that echoed down the chambered glory of heaven, Tabitha opened her eyes. She not only opened her eyes, but she also saw! How many of us have eyes to see but see not. When she saw Peter, she sat up. What a delightful dream and sleep she perhaps thought. But now she thinks, I must sit up and prepare to serve those humble souls to whom God has sent me. “And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.” Not only were the widows in mourning, but all the saints of the region as well. Peter gave her his hand, lifted her up, and presented her alive to all about. When one of our sisters or brothers has returned from some great event, we, too, should give them our hand and lift them up. My Lord raised Tabitha! How precious she was to Him, but He lent her presence to us for a while longer to soften our sorrow and give us joy. What a great comfort and astonishment was the risen Tabitha to those widows whom she loved!
“And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord. And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.” Many believed in Joppa because of this miracle. Their faith must have been doubly evoked because of the person who was raised. Had it been an evil and cunning man, they would not have thought well to believe. But in the raising of such a gentle and kind woman as Tabitha, they believed in the God of all goodness. Peter’s continued presence was needed for a bit longer in Joppa to consolidate the move of faith that had occurred during his visit.
Many believed when they witnessed the Moving Hand of God in Joppa. Now, we all know the story and have read it together of Aeneas and Tabitha. Has this made us believe as surely as those in Joppa? If we had faith, has it been increased in this account? If not, why not?