A Lady Too Wonderful to Lose

FCF: Our works show who we are inside to unbelievers.

Intro: Many feminists today blame Christianity for the plight of women in the world. They point to Biblical passage that seem to limit women in leadership roles and consider it evidence of Christianity’s guilt in holding down women. This is historical revisionism. No other religious system in history has elevated women in society like Christianity has. Consider the plight of women in the eastern religions and Islam, the worst of all.

It was Christians who stopped the horrid practice of foot binding in China, where a young girl’s feet would be bound tightly and painfully so that it would not grow properly and always look like a lotus blossom. It was missionaries who stopped the practice of widow burning in India. Under Islam, women are not taught to read or write. If a woman is raped, her family may kill her under the name “honor.”

But Paul praised women in his ministry. Phoebe (Rom. 16:2) Euodia and Syntyche (Phil. 4:3) Consider Jesus’ relationships with women. Respect…equality. It was women who ministered to Him during His life. Women stayed to watch the crucifixion…women came to the tomb to anoint the body of Christ, and by that were the first witnesses of the resurrection. Jesus recognized the worth of women, appreciated their efforts, and received their following.

Mothers today have great responsibilities. They have to keep a house, prepare food, go shopping, stay in budget, and take care of children. This means extra laundry as they get out in the dirt. Women have a lot to do.

Our passage today speaks of a great woman. A woman so great in her community that her fellow believers could not bear to lose her to death. From this passage we will see the importance of our Christian labors in life and in eternity. We are known by what we do. Whatever we are on the inside, will show up on the outside. “For as he thinks within himself, so is he” (Prov 23:7). Tabitha was a great Christian. We can be, too.

I. The Sister’s Devotion v. 36-37

1. Her Description

Both names, Dorcas and Tabitha, mean “female gazelle.” This denotes her physical beauty. Today we compare woman’s beauty to a flower, etc –not animals. (See Song of Solomon for examples) A gazelle is one of the most graceful creatures on God’s planet and that is why it was deemed beautiful. She was called beautiful for her features, but it was her actions that showed her true beauty. Whatever we think comes out in our actions. Our true character is shown in our actions. Since her name is given in Hebrew, we know she was a Jewess. Had she been Greek-born, she would only have been listed as Dorcas.

She lived in Joppa, which also means “beautiful.” This is the seaport town that Jonah tried to avoid his calling from.

2. Her Deeds

“full of good works” thoroughly permeated, covered in every part. Many are full of good words but never follow through on them. Full of words but empty in works. We have to be careful these days. As protestants, we emphasize salvation by faith not of works lest any should boast. Luther railed against the Catholic Church for preaching works without faith. We have gone to the opposite extreme. We now preach faith without works. The Bible tells us that works are a part of faith. Tabitha knew that works were part of faith. It isn’t that good works make salvation but that salvation brings good works.

“almsdeeds” merciful pity, giving of oneself for the benefit of the less fortunate. Giving money to the poor was one of the three pillars of active faith in Judaism in her day. The other two were Torah study and worship. If one did not have money to give to the poor, they could do volunteer work for the poor. That was called an almsdeed and counted as if they had given the money to the poor.

Whatever she looks like, her deeds made her beautiful. Today, we don’t make good deeds a priority. We are more concerned with correct doctrine and showing ourselves to live according to prescribed rules. I don’t smoke or drink or go with girls who do. I knew teens who said this completely seriously.

To often we are concerned about physical beauty when it is the inside that matters. How different do Christian singers look than the secular ones? If we truly mean what we say about Christianity being a matter of the inside, then why are so many Christian singers made up fancy on their album covers? Are they showing off or are they showing Christ?

3. Her Death

“…she was sick and died.” The good works ceased. The charities… the labors…. She was no longer there for the people. Maybe this was a sudden sickness or maybe they expected her to get better. Either way, we can be sure they prayed for her healing. They wanted her to stay with them and keep showing Christ’s love.

“..whom when they had washed her,” the Torah describes washing a dead body in warm water so that if the person is merely very ill, the water will revive them. Jews had very complex burial rituals for preparation and burial.

“they laid her in an upper chamber.” upper chamber was place of prayer, supplication. In most houses, the upper room was the women’s chamber. However, it was also the place of meeting and this particular upper room was quite likely the meeting place for all Christians in the town. These rooms were also often used for funeral visitations.

II. The Saints’ Desire v. 38-39

1. Their Hope

They knew Peter was nearby. Maybe God would use him to restore her to them!
What faith! Where did they get this idea? Peter had raised others…. Just recently, he had raised Eneas from a sick bed. But what about from death? He had never done that. No apostle had done that. Was that just something Christ had been able to do or would His Apostles have that power? The disciples of Joppa were going to find out.

They were willing to go to any length to get her back. She was too wonderful to lose! They called for him to come. Not for a funeral, but to prevent it. It was too late for a doctor, but it is never too late for an apostle!

ILL: Some people fall in love…..never get over that love! Some people have great things to happen in life, then it’s over. Never get over it. Alexander the Great wept because there were no more nations to conquer. Bill Clinton is said to brood because he is no longer in power as president. Some people can never get over past experiences in life. These people could not get over Tabitha. Can you imagine the effect that this woman had on her fellow believers?

2. Their Heartaches

“weeping” to mourn, to lament, to bewail. This is completely understandable. They didn’t know what was going to happen. Certainly, they had hope that Peter could raise her. He had been with Jesus, and Jesus had raised several people from the dead. Not just back from the brink of death, but from death itself. Lazarus, the widow’s son at Nain, Jairus’ daughter. Yet, Jesus wept at Lazarus’ death. If Jesus, knowing that He would raise Lazarus wept over his death, can’t we weep over a death?

3. Their Heritage

“…shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.”

What a beautiful picture. They put her godly works on display! They were saying, “This was her! This shows you her love, her labors!” It was better than any eulogy of flowery words. James challenges his critics, “Show me your faith without works and I will show you my faith by my works.” Tabitha’s deeds showed the deep faith she had. It wasn’t enough for her to say she had faith. Whatever her sins before Jesus, she was certainly showing her love for Him afterwards. I wonder how many people she brought to Christ because of these actions, because she used her talents for him.

How much it meant to the widows. They couldn’t pay Tabitha back. They relied on charity. Tabitha apparently gave them very good items, not just rags and old clothes. She did this for those who could never pay her back. She could have given such to young women who might decide to press a coin into her palm in exchange. She could have done so saying to herself that these women might come to faith and give to others. She would be multiplying the faith. But she didn’t say that. She said, “Who needs these clothes the most?” It is not the well who need a physician but the sick. She gave to those in need.

Tabitha had done it for the least of these as Jesus says. She clothed the needy. Before that, Isaiah had said, “If you see the naked, cover them” (Isa 58:7). The widows were not ashamed to let people know that Tabitha had given them the clothes. Those who receive are not obliged to keep it a secret as are those who give.

This is one of the themes of Luke and Acts. God reaches out to the widows and outsiders. Those whom society has cast out are part of God’s kingdom. Tabitha reached out.

III. The Servant’s Difference v. 40-41

1. Peter’s Example of Service

He requested privacy, (did not make a spectacle). Though she was laid in the room they all met in, Peter turned everyone out so that he could pray for Tabitha alone. When Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter, he sent everyone out of the room. Peter is following His example. Jesus had warned that they should pray in private to not look like they were showing off. Peter was taking everything the Lord said to heart. They all wanted to see, but Peter did not want to be seen. He refused anything that looked to exalt himself.

He engaged in prayer, (no labor is complete without prayer). Jesus did not pray before raising Jairus’ daughter, but then, He was and is God the Son. Peter needs to seek God. Notice how first Peter prays kneeling. We may assume he is asking for God’s direction and for God to raise her. After he is told his prayer will be answered in the affirmative, he speaks to her. “Tabitha, arise!” God’s power went along with his word, and she rose up, opening the eyes closed in death. Through this all, he has acted like Jesus. Almost the very same words are used in Mark when Jesus raises the daughter. Jesus says, “Talitha qumi.” Peter says, “Tabitha qumi.”

He presented Tabitha to the people. (the fruit of our labor is apparent to all). He did not do this to boast, but because it was what they had called him for. Christ’s power had raised her and returned her to him. The people needed to see that their wants and needs were important to God. They had need of her to continue her ministry to the widows. They had been mourning right up until now. Their tears of sorrow turned to laughter and joy. Not only would the widows still be served by Tabitha but the testimony of Christ’s power over death would spread. Christ had risen from the dead, Christ had raised others from the dead, and now it would be known in Joppa and the world that Christ would still work through the Apostles to raise the dead.

Something to notice here. Peter is following the example of Christ and the prophets. When Christ raised the widow’s son in Nain, he presented him to her (Luk 7:15). When Elijah raised the widow’s son, he presented him to her (1 Kings 17:23). When Elisha raised the reaper’s son from death, he presented the boy to his mother (2 Kings 4:36). The greatest joys in life are expressed by those who are closest to the answered prayer. In those cases, it was the mothers. Here, it was the widows who needed Tabitha.

2. Tabitha Example of Service

• Her Opening “…opened her eyes…” (Have we opened to the possibilities of service?) When we bring people into the fellowship of believers, the first thing that opens are the eyes of their spirit. Then they see things in a whole new light. It isn’t that our chairs are more comfortable than those of the outside world, but they are used to glorify God.

• Her Obedience (She had always obeyed in life…now obeys even in death). Just as she had obeyed the words of Jesus in her service to the community, she now obeyed the voice of His apostle. God still had work for her to do.
• Her Opportunity “…saw Peter…sat up…” She had made a difference in her life and would have the opportunity to do so again.

IV. The Sovereign’s Design v. 42-43

1. Publicity

“And it was known throughout all Joppa…” God’s work publicizes itself! No need for modern means, worldly means. If God shows up, people will hear about it! Joppa was a port town. It sent and received ships from all over the Mediterranean sea. And now, this great miracle has been done there. The sailors will hear of it and spread the message that God whom Peter preaches has raised the dead. This is the purpose of miracles—to confirm a divine revelation. It isn’t just to make you feel better. It is to show the power of God in the life of those who believe.

2. Perception

“…and many believed in the Lord.” Good deeds lead to others being saved! Tabitha’s testimony of works in life was now to become a testimony of returning to life.

3. Providence

“…he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.” Peter did not stay in Tabitha’s house even though she was wealthy. He was not going to glorify himself even now. He did not raise her so that he could have a comfortable bed. He raised her that the power of God might be seen and so that she could continue in her ministry. Instead he stayed with an ordinary tradesman named Simon. A tanner, a man who turned hide into leather. It was hard work. It was also unclean work. Peter, who Luke tells us had been very careful not to touch Tabitha until she was raised stays with a man whose profession renders him unclean. God provided this place for Peter to stay to challenge his views on cleanness. God was stretching Peter’s comfort zone.

This is the place that Peter had the vision about opening the gospel to the Gentiles. Good works are an ever expanding wave. Peter had shown his faith with Tabitha and now would be rewarded with taking the message to the gentiles. I am sure that the widows who called for Peter did not realize that once their prayers were answered the good news would go out to the gentiles. They did not realize that their seemingly small request was going to open the church to a whole new world. The town of Joppa had a large percentage of gentiles living in it. It was the perfect place for the ministry to expand.

Conclusion: Tabitha was a river of good deeds, a fountain of blessings. No good deed goes unrewarded! May be unrecognized by some on earth, but God sees. Everyone saw Tabitha’s good works. She was honored by her fellow believers on earth, and by God Himself by raising her from the dead. God says he will reward as little as “a cup of cold water.” Let us focus more on being like Tabitha, doing good works for the sake of the gospel and in Christ’s name.

Tabitha’s obedience indirectly led to a great missions movement. What can your obedience do?