Thursday, February 09, 2006

The Dead Disiciple (Acts 9)


In youth group we just finished studying Acts 13 this week. So, I want to backtrack just a little and talk about something we looked at a few weeks ago. It happened in Acts 9.

Located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea is Jerusalem’s seaport city Joppa. Not much going on here. A death just took place, a disciple by the name of Tabitha, a woman who enjoyed making clothes, doing good things for others, and helping the poor. Her death saddened those closest to her and a time of mourning was in place. Gloomy times for Joppa. But, a splinter of hope was rising amongst the disciples in Joppa. Word has it that there’s a man nearby with the ability to bring her back to life. Who is it? Long time disciple and follower of Jesus, Peter. (Acts 9:36-38)

The disciples send for this man named Peter. He hears their predicament and eagerness for help. Knowing what it’s like to lose someone, he travels to Joppa. He’s greeted with tears and hugs and taken to the upstairs room where Tabitha laid washed and waiting for burial. Friends, family, and widows have paid their respects. A handful of widows still remain with her in the room weeping. Peter feels the heartache of those around him and asks them to leave the room. Some think he’s just going to pay his respects and pray over her. A few minutes go by and suddenly the door opens, Peter reappears aglow with a smile on his face, Tabitha is standing by his side. She’s been given the breath of life again; she’s alive! (Acts 9:39-43)

Before Pentecost (Event in which disciples were given Holy Spirit. See Acts 2 for the whole story), Peter couldn’t have done something like this. But, after the outpouring of the third Person of the Trinity (Holy Spirit), Peter’s life was changed. He had received the same Spirit flowing eternally back and forth between the first Person of the Trinity (The Father) and second Person (Jesus). The Spirit is life because the Spirit is God. Three distinct Persons (Father, Son, and Spirit) who make up our One great God (think too hard about it and it hurts, at least for me). And Peter, by faith in Jesus Christ was welcomed into the Trinity, not to be made or turned into a god, but to become like God.

I read this short story in Acts 9:36-43 and my curiosity is peaked. To think of Peter bringing someone back from the dead seems absurd! Healing a cripple is plausible, but bringing a dead person back to life? But, why should it surprise me? Those of us who have confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead are given a deposit. Ephesians 1:13 reminds us of what that deposit is: The Holy Spirit. So, I shouldn’t be surprised at God’s ability to work through Peter in the Person of the Holy Spirit to raise the dead. This wasn’t the first time God raised someone from the dead.
- What do you think of this story?
- Do you find it hard to believe? Peter bringing someone back to life?
- Have you ever heard of this happening today?

*Side note: After raising Tabitha from the dead look at what happens in Joppa. The event grabs the attention of many people and they believe in the Lord. (Acts 9:42)

3 comments:

Tim Sheets said...

That is so true! It's amazing what God can do when we allow Him to do it! I believe God still works like this today, using miracles to heal others. We just need eyes to see it.

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JK said...

Hi Tim, my beliefs are different to yours and I was a bit nervous about writing in your blog but I thought you may want to know about this story that reportedly happened to me.

My mum is a strong Catholic - more modern than devout in the traditional sense, but a wonderful, Christian woman. When I was a baby we lived in Africa and had a pool in the garden. One day I 'drowned' in it. My dad is a doctor (and agnostic/athiest) and pulled me out and tried mouth to mouth. The story as I was told it (and obviously I can't remember it) was that I did not 'wake up' until mum had taken me to the church and had been distraught for some time within the church. Apparently it was only once she had calmed down and was sat at the priest's table with a cup of tea that I woke up and asked for a chocolate biscuit. The thing is I've seen photos of our house in Africa (taken from dad's plane) and it is surrounded by miles and miles of nothing - we're not talking popping 5 mins down the road to the church. The fastest way dad could have got there was by plane, but even then we must be talking at least half an hour. So for that long I was in a state that a doctor thought was not breathing.... makes you think huh? I swear it is the truth as I was told when I was a child. There are many stories about young children surving what seemed like death by drowning but these are usually put down to the water being very cold and therefore the body going into a cold induced coma where the heart slows right down but doesn't stop - obviously this theory doesn't hold up in Africa.

Up until about 19 yrs old had a strong faith and believed that this was a true miracle. I find faith a difficult thing now. My mum always said that faith was a gift from god and god hadn't given that gift to my father and that's why he didn't come to church with us each week. He has always supported her, never once undermined her bringing us up as Catholics and when they travel (which they do a lot, especially now we've all grown up) they both always find a church, whichever country they are in and both go. He is a good and honest man, a doctor who spent much of his life working in the third world for not much money. I think he was put off religion by his father who was a Scottish clergyman, very into fire and brimstone (one of his favourite sayings which has stayed with me and become a mantra is 'tell the truth and shame the devil'). Do you think that his and my reaching toward god, even if we find it really hard to truly believe - is enough? Is faith really a gift from god or is it something in our control? I've lost my faith and although I truly want a connection with god (and there is definitely a god) I'm just not sure why Christians are any more right than any other world religion. I think that man instictively needs to know god and reaches toward god and that each religion is man's way of trying to reach god and explain god. They are all different because the cultures that they grew in were all different. I hope this isn't offensive to you (I totally respect and am quite envious of your faith in something more solid) - What do you think? What advice would you give me?

Tim Sheets said...

Hey, thanks for all the discussion. Jk I’m amazed and honored you stopped to read a blog who you have no idea who the writer is. Thanks! Don’t feel troubled about disagreeing w/ me.

Jk, when you were asking about reaching towards God I was a little unsure as to what all you implied by that. Do you mean trying to find Him in different religions? Reaching towards Him by doing different things or what? I was just a little unclear about what you meant. In Christianity we do reach for God, but interestingly enough (and slightly scary), He reaches back! Maybe more than we know too! God did come to us as Jesus. I’m not saying I don’t ever find this all absurd or hard to believe. (It doesn’t make sense philosophically why God did what He did.)

Now if you mean reaching towards God by accepting Jesus Christ as your savior and striving to nourish a relationship with Him, then you have what Christianity offers to the world…a personal relationship with God. And yes, I see our faith in Him as a gift from God (See the book of Romans). I don’t really know what type of advice to give (don’t give advice very often). I guess I would advise you to put yourself in God’s grace. By all means go to church, pray, and read the Holy Scriptures. By doing so, you might discover exactly what it is you desire. And you might discover how close God really is or maybe, it gets better, that He has been pursuing you!

Well, don’t know if that helped at all or if I answered your questions. But again, thanks for your honesty and commenting!