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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. Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner. (Acts 9:36-43)
This is yet another resurrection story in the Bible. A person has died, and God intervenes through one of His servants, and the person comes back to life. The person in this story was a loving and caring woman; devoted to doing good for others in various ways, then gets sick and dies. Her body was washed and placed for viewing in an upstairs room. The friends of Tabitha, who happened to be disciples, heard that Peter was in a nearby town and send for me. Peter arrives and immediately is taken to the upstairs room and in typical mourning fashion, her friends begin to show their grief by showing the things Tabitha had made while she was alive; Peter asks them to leave, kneels down and prays, then turns to her body and says, "Tabitha, get up." She opens her eyes, recognizes Peter and sits up. He helps her up and takes her back downstairs and shows her alive. Many came to faith because of this miracle.
From this one death, many eternal deaths were avoided. Those who had wandered in the dark came to light; those who may have been spiritually dead came to life. That is what Easter should be about. One of our churches sent out a massive campaign to its members and in a thumb drive they included videos of testimonies of lives that have been changed through its ministry. One was a drug addict who is now almost two years sober because he knew he was on the wrong path and came to this church seeking life. Praise God he found it, and his eternal death, and a certain physical death was avoided. That is Easter.
Those of us who have new life because of Christ must tell others about it. It's too powerful a message to keep to ourselves. Christ does bring new life, yes, even through us.
PRAYER: Loving God, use me to share the good news of new life. In the name of He who gives it to us, Jesus my Lord, I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
