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Resurrection Sightings
Acts 9:36-43
The story of Tabitha is an Easter story with a twist.
This week, the Church celebrates the feast of Tabitha of Joppa, whose story is told in Acts 9:36-43. However, we’re most used to encountering her story during Eastertide, specifically on the fourth Sunday of Easter, which we call “Good Shepherd Sunday.”
On Easter Day and the following Sundays, we read a series of post-resurrection sightings. There are sightings of the risen Jesus in a garden, in a locked house, in a locked house again, and on a beach. He appears to people who are grieving, afraid, doubting, and who, after a life-changing loss, are faced with the cruelty of having to return to normal, everyday life. It’s here that Jesus appears and offers a glimpse of life to those walking through the shadow of death.
And then on the fourth Sunday of Easter, we get another resurrection sighting, but this time with a twist: instead of an appearance of the resurrected Jesus, we get the resurrection of Tabitha.
Tabitha (also called Dorcas) was a disciple of Jesus in the city of Joppa. At some point in her life, she heard the Good Shepherd’s voice saying, “Take up your cross and follow me,” and “Whatever you do to the least of these, you do to me.” She followed the Good Shepherd as He led her to devote her life to service, making clothing for the poorest in her community, until she fell ill and died. At this, the church in Joppa sends for Peter, who, when he arrives, is greeted by the widows Tabitha had devoted her life to, and they show him the clothes she had made for them, all they had to remember her by. Peter then sends everyone out of the room, kneels down and prays, and then turns to the body and says, “Tabitha, get up.” In Peter’s words, Tabitha surely heard the voice of the Good Shepherd, calling her name, beckoning her to follow Him. Tabitha opened her eyes and sat up, and Peter showed her to the others, alive. Even in the shadow of death, no one could snatch Tabitha from the Shepherd’s hand.
Like Tabitha, Christians are those who hear the voice of the Good Shepherd calling to them, follow Him through the shadow of death and are raised with Him to eternal life. Surely, you have heard the voice of the Good Shepherd beckoning to you. The invitation is to follow Him through the shadow of death, both spiritually, in dying to our own sins, and quite literally in the ways God, calls us to serve those in our community who are well-acquainted with suffering and death. The promise is eternal life, and the assurance that no one can snatch you from Christ’s hand. Christ is raised from the dead, but He isn’t going alone. Because, of course, He’s the Good Shepherd: He’s bringing us along with Him.
Further Reading: “Dorcas” by George MacDonald
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