Opened her eyes

Acts 9:36-43
Tabitha’s Resurrection

​https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%209%3A36-43&version=NRSVUE
 
Who was Tabitha? Nuanced details hint at who she was. She was a disciple, first of all, a follower of Jesus who was well-known to Peter, who was called when she became ill and died. Remember, this is after Pentecost, so thousands became believers, but Tabitha was known to Peter who dropped everything and came to her aide. That tells me that Tabitha was more than just a “church lady” in their sewing circle. She was prominent in her role at Joppa.

Joppa was a wealthy, Jewish port. In the Mediterranean world, women of means helped sponsor associations, and there were several wealthy women who gave Jesus and the disciples the means to spread the gospel. Tabitha was probably one of these women, so the loss of Tabitha would also be the loss of their benefactor.

As the writer of Acts tells us directly, Tabitha was “devoted to good works and acts of charity,” particularly to widows, as they were deeply grieving her death (v.36; 39). Jewish women were devoted to charity, specifically caring for widows as the scriptures taught, so this tells us that Tabitha was of the Jewish faith but also a follower of Jesus. The fact that she is known by her Aramaic name and a Greek name, Dorcas, hints that she was of Jewish heritage but ministering to both Jews and Gentiles.

Tabitha was a talented seamstress who made clothing for the widows. They were very proud of the clothing she made them, as they were holding them up in her honor to show how her amazing work touched them. Tabitha’s sewing ministry made a difference in the widow’s lives. They experienced the love of Christ through her care and compassion for the least of these. Tabitha didn’t charge these widows for the clothing, but made them extravagantly to show them human dignity and the extravagant love of Christ.

Tabitha’s ministry made a difference in the widows’ lives and in the Jesus movement. Her witness would be missed upon her death. Perhaps that is why Peter came at once and prayed for her resurrection. Tabitha was the first-person Peter resurrected after Christ’s resurrection, at least the first one recorded. Tabitha is also the only female follower of Jesus that was named a disciple.

Tabitha’s resurrection story is very interesting. Usually, in thinking about resurrection, we stress the importance of death first. In the case of Saul, last week, his old life of “breathing threats and murder against the disciples” (v.1) had to die before he experienced a new life in Christ. Thomas had to let go of doubt and certainty before he experienced Christ’s resurrection. As far as we know from Tabitha, her life was great. She was a model disciple who served the poor. Perhaps the loss of her ministry was the death that others would experience. Sometimes, our resurrection is for the benefit of others. Vere 42 tells us that “many believed in the Lord” because of her resurrection.

However, we do see a resurrection in Tabitha. She “opened her eyes” and after Peter helped her up, “he showed her to be alive” (v.41). Perhaps her acts of charity were not enough to make her feel alive. Perhaps others felt alive through her compassion and goodness, but it often made her feel depleted. We all get so caught up in our ministries in the church that sometimes they become more draining than life-giving. Perhaps she worked her fingers to the bone, focusing on the widows’ care more than her own. Peter helped Tabitha open her eyes and experience for herself what it means to be alive in Christ. Perhaps her resurrection was when Tabitha became a named disciple, and she served with Christ’s strength instead of solely her own.

We don’t hear about Tabitha again after her resurrection. We can assume she continued her work as a devoted disciple of Christ, and we can assume she resumed her acts of charity to the widows in Joppa. But, I like to think she approached her service with renewed hope and energy. Having experienced resurrection personally gave her a new understanding and purpose for her work. When Tabitha sewed new, extravagant tunics for the widows, she now understood that they are more than clothing. They are gifts of grace that offer the widows new life.
 
Reflection Questions:
Where do you serve as a disciple of Christ? Do you see it as providing only tangible items or are they tokens of God’s grace?
Does serving make you feel alive?
How can your ministry receive renewed energy or purpose?
 
Pray: Risen Lord, send someone to help us open our eyes, so we can see. Work through someone who helps us feel alive.
 
Act: Do one act of charity this week in honor of Tabitha’s witness.
 
 
*New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America.