Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Reflection - The Miracle of Tabitha in the Bible

Source Website: https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/people-in-the-bible/tabitha-in-the-bible/
By Robin Gallaher Branch, professor of Biblical studies at Victory University on 27 April 2017


Alone with the dead body, Peter gets down on his knees, prays, and turns to the dead woman. Speaking to her he says, 'Tabitha, get up' (Acts 9:40). And she does!
PHOTO: Alone with the dead body, Peter gets down on his knees, prays, and turns to the dead woman. Speaking to her he says, "Tabitha, get up" (Acts 9:40). And she does!
Peter knew the promises of God that if we even possess the faith of a mustard seed we could move mountains. Peter knew about the passion of God for his people as a witness to the teachings of Jesus about God’s love and the witness of Jesus’ sacrifice in the name of love. Tabitha is raised to life again because Peter has faith, trust, believe, hope and love in his Lord, Jesus Christ. Peter knew the presence of God in the Spirit was not in some far away heavenly abode but there with him in the power and love of Jesus. [2]
Painting by Sandy Freckleton Gagon - Tabitha Arise (Acts 9:36-42), Peter healing Tabitha
Picture posted by sandyart2015 on 13 February 2015
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhloBU5ydWjLej_OsUoKXJC1eQHpmjLExWU5ViuW1bE3z2-VsQ1fsXrRXhynkLg-xb-U0UTv-OTgBZQL4DdGMnVz0WIvwViNi2Vh-8LxaoITCFz-NgQmTwIAl2nXTrpW3eZhCov8Iti2oQj/s1600/tabitha-arise.jpg
https://sandyfreckletongagonartblog.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/tabitha-arise.jpg
https://sandyfreckletongagonartblog.wordpress.com/2015/02/13/challenges-drive-me-to-paint/
http://veryfatoldman.blogspot.sg/2017/04/reflection-doing-ministry-out-of.html


Acts 9:36-42
Luke records the miracle simply. It seems to happen quickly. Peter clears the upper room, perhaps because he’s distracted by the widows’ noisy grief (Acts 9:40)! Alone with the dead body, he gets down on his knees, prays, and turns to the dead woman. Speaking to her he says, "Tabitha, get up" (Acts 9:40). And she does!

Peter calls in the believers and widows and gives her back to them, alive. One can imagine the plethora of emotions—joy, wonder, amazement, awe, thanksgiving and even doubt—as everybody crowds in the upper room to confirm for themselves that Tabitha really is healed and alive!


Peter calls in the believers and widows and gives Tabitha back to them, alive.
PHOTO: Peter calls in the believers and widows and gives Tabitha back to them, alive. Everybody crowds in the upper room to confirm for themselves that Tabitha really is healed and alive - with joy, wonder, amazement, awe, thanksgiving and even doubt.
Picture is posted by  Baron Eliason for A-J Media  on 12 June 2015 09:15 pm
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVcdk5WjJKU8JNz8wKisNZx78yIcyOUalyDsbWylb6Dn0EBIeq1Ygiwr4FPtUr2zyHW9Gy-8bJVEh5CCQLnhQy_iyUKTUrv4tuG6FAkb-9nQjLH3o-uXuxZMEUPHqtboCokQg07e-ysA/s1600/14474780.jpg
http://lubbockonline.com/sites/default/files/14474780.jpg
http://lubbockonline.com/faith/2015-06-12/ad-peter-raises-tabitha-her-deathbed


Luke concludes Tabitha’s story with more silences, muzzling both Tabitha and Peter. Peter says nothing about the miracle and Tabitha says nothing about what it’s like being dead. Instead, Luke sums up the reactions of all concerned by stating a fact—her return to life became known all over Joppa—and its result—that many people believed in the Lord because of it (Acts 9:42).

As Peter faced Tabitha’s death, the truth about God was what he ultimately relied on that day. Peter knew about the power of God because he had witnessed not only the miracles Jesus had performed but also the resurrection. Peter knew about the passion of God for his people as a witness to the teachings of Jesus about God’s love and the witness of Jesus’ sacrifice in the name of love. Peter knew the promises of God that if we even possess the faith of a mustard seed we could move mountains. And Peter knew the presence of God in the Spirit was not in some far away heavenly abode but there with him in the power and love of Jesus. [2]
 

Peter had witnessed the miracles Jesus had performed, the raising of Jairus' Daughter (Mark 5:35-43)
PHOTO: Peter had witnessed the miracles Jesus had performed, the raising of Jairus' Daughter (Mark 5:35-43) [3]
Painting by Edwin Longsden Long (12 July 1829 – 15 May 1891), an English genre, history, biblical and portrait painter - The Raising of Jairus' Daughter
Picture posted by taringa.net
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBJDx7y4tNWZHvmiyWZcIHIwsAZ5C8HMlFpIEJ4pziQEupxhCeGfKXNO6juTGB6rkzNm6h3hgdB2bWig203Ly3Brcoj3UvJPVHmK2ZViiL4LeF2VieicZr0Syb1e5-oJ42N_YF0aaAAY/s1600/Edwin+Long+%252835%2529.jpg
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZ0gNgw4HV7blgEufzCF_YfgADYoOkXFQCJFZG9d3Bpnv6Is3fYLnM2rmIUiHUcHAfEPNJorQLAXcyx5LhWNs_8UU-IUEPDLNV1mKxwSwYZz6efo_GEiqXNRb4Oxt7KWXkmOVMksmJSX9/s1600/Edwin+Long+(35).jpg
https://www.taringa.net/posts/imagenes/14912267/Del-Pintor-Edwin-Long.html
 

Peter knew about the power of God because he had witnessed also the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Mark 16:1-7).
PHOTO: Peter knew about the power of God because he had witnessed also the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Mark 16:1-7). Peter knew the presence of God in the Spirit was not in some far away heavenly abode but there with him in the power and love of Jesus.
Picture posted by Children's Ministries Faith Formation @ First Church of Simsbury
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3rDHAbcRvKOXto1-TpsMWMS72gQUN5Y60lpKzD6wPUsN7i-Gb9N8DrcbjdVz18i946SbAQPT8IeBMvniByhfMKl9pvdhPOq1NKoW6A5iTWXlxg8zNT9Du4evku5h-Zd4lFeslEghC42A/s1600/17-the-women-at-the-tomb-of-christ_orig.jpg
http://www.firstchurchsimsbury.com/uploads/1/3/0/4/13042848/17-the-women-at-the-tomb-of-christ_orig.jpg
http://www.firstchurchsimsbury.com/easter-jesus-in-jerusalem.html


One of the great lessons of this story is that God is bigger than our problems. This truth extends to everything from the smallest obstacles to death itself. Trusting God with these obstacles is one of the oldest and greatest challenges of faith. Many of these challenges are chronicled in the 11th chapter of Hebrews in the stories of people such as Abraham and Moses. [2]

Facing our own challenges, our belief in this truth is tested. It is one thing to believe in God, and it is another to trust him when everything you see is telling you the situation is hopeless. This is true even personally with challenges like alcoholism, or pornography or budget-busting shopping binges, and a thousand other issues that tear holes in our lives but seem impossible to change. [2]


God is bigger than our problems.
PHOTO: God is bigger than our problems
This truth extends to everything from the smallest obstacles to death itself. Trusting God with these obstacles is one of the oldest and greatest challenges of faith. Facing our own challenges, our belief in this truth is tested. It is one thing to believe in God, and it is another to trust him when everything you see is telling you the situation is hopeless. This is true even personally with challenges like alcoholism, or pornography or budget-busting shopping binges, and a thousand other issues that tear holes in our lives but seem impossible to change.
Posted by kattikko on 28 April 2012, Welcome to Hugs From Above
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-hTDYc3sh5gi8PJZJiuPePHa6fYBVQGWDdoo8P3Hc_DaVV3APJOG_1r34wgLWcqIFpj0euz1BZwiWrZo7bYz9nwdjQLwyKSxsIAO81-mLCoL50i7XrscQgVy77BLGgy1YB5KF5TFkF0/s1600/767008960_7001.jpg
https://hugsfromabovedotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/767008960_7001.jpg
http://hugsfromabove.com/2012/04/28/welcome-to-hugs-from-above/
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.sg/2015/10/reflection-remember-jesus-christ.html
http://veryfatoldman.blogspot.sg/2017/02/reflection-say-yes-to-dress-ezekiel-16.html


Luke then carries on with Peter’s visit to the centurion Cornelius’ home in Caesarea (Acts:10) but remains silent about Tabitha’s life. However, Luke’s silence again compliments her, for it acknowledges the obvious. We already know her character. We know what happens. This remarkable woman simply carries on doing good for the poor and serving her friends, the widows, by making them stylish robes. [1]
 

Tabitha (Dorcas), the remarkable woman simply carries on doing good for the poor and serving her friends, the widows, by making them stylish robes, after raising from her death.
PHOTO: Tabitha (Dorcas), the remarkable woman simply carries on doing good for the poor and serving her friends, the widows, by making them stylish robes, after raising from her death. She makes such a difference in doing all that she was able to do. We each have different talents, gifts, and abilities. May we be like Dorcas. She was full of good works and she did them.
Picture posted by sharonbooth55 on 07 February 2015 - Dorcas: A Woman Full of Good Works
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUe0wU6NR180Cy563nKbOMzek0KUay6uGLv4jXAE9fCLHUpXnC4YKX-QNpjzvEKbiyf8AQ4gRmUA96y4HPGysHA-ZFTKtYEFJZQN7iYcpfjaw5OugVXw-5zx4DvV2lKClJG55c0jtegk/s1600/06500_all_01-03-tabitha.jpg
https://livingonpbj.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/06500_all_01-03-tabitha.jpg
https://livingonpbj.wordpress.com/tag/dorcas/
 

Dear Lord, we pray that we have faith, trust, believe, hope and love in you just like Peter, when we faced obstacles and challenges. Help us to remember that you are bigger than any of our problems.<br>Although we all have different talents, gifts, and abilities, help us to be like Tibatha and make a difference to serve others by doing all that we are able to do. Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that we have faith, trust, believe, hope and love in you just like Peter, when we faced obstacles and challenges. Help us to remember that you are bigger than any of our problems.
Although we all have different talents, gifts, and abilities, help us to be like Tibatha and make a difference to serve others by doing all that we are able to do. Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
Picture posted by Johnny Williams, 7-70 Re
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUD4REsB6pYQdVHnWX0gf5BfW7Uw9lA92zTo_K0hGAcFmi0uhF2hKVLqnW7qKRkyBTWgKFDzesrNDuU4_YN6hUcyTZDZKyFW8t3TqAXISxKOINi6ag9WSO2E9PpuSx_BiTXsradefL3Xs/s1600/stacks-image-e63cf91.jpg
http://ilreentryresources.com/services/services/files/stacks-image-e63cf91.jpg
http://ilreentryresources.com/services/services/johnny.html

By Robin Gallaher Branch, professor of Biblical studies at Victory University on 27 April 2017



Reference
[1] Robin Gallaher Branch, professor of Biblical studies at Victory University, The Miracle of Tabitha in the Bible, posted on 27 April 2017, https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/people-in-the-bible/tabitha-in-the-bible/

[2] Baron Eliason for A-J Media, "A.D.": Peter raises Tabitha from her deathbed, posted on 12 June 2015 09:15 pm, http://lubbockonline.com/faith/2015-06-12/ad-peter-raises-tabitha-her-deathbed

[3] ames Stuart O'Neill, The Raising of Jairus' Daughter, posted on Wednesday, 11 August 2010 at 9:23 AM, http://iconsandimagery.blogspot.sg/2010/08/raising-of-jairus-daughter.html

New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Acts 9:36-42 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+9%3A36-42&version=NIV

Acts 9:40 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+9%3A40&version=NIV

Acts 9:42 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+9%3A42&version=NIV

Acts 10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+10&version=NIV

Mark 5:35-43 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+5%3A35-43&version=NIV

Mark 16:1-7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+16%3A1-7&version=NIV
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