Rising Up

…As Peter was passing through every region, he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed.” He got up at once. And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. 

Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated is Dorcas). She was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving. Now during those days she fell sick and died, so after washing her, they laid her out in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing 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. When he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs where all the widows came to him weeping and showing him the tunics and cloaks that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed. 

Then he turned to her body and said, “Tabitha, rise up.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. He gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord.  (Acts 9:31-42)

Once again Acts has remembrances of miraculous events.  Aeneas is no longer paralyzed; he got up.  Tabitha died, but rose up at Peter’s command.  As a result, all the inhabitants of Lydda, Sharon, and Joppa turned to the Lord and believed.  Peter continues to be a miracle worker like Jesus, and Peter’s status (as one of the Apostles) is highlighted in the Gospel.  As followers of Jesus, we’d all like these Peter-like powers.  If only it was so, but we’re more like Jesus’ disciples as described by John.

According to John (6:60-69), we read, “As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

In a way, Jesus turns to all of us and asks, “Do you want to leave?”  Many people who have left the Church have said “yes.”  However, for most of us we still believe and understand his words of eternal life.  And, to whom else would we go?   All other options are foreclosed to us because they lead to falling down – not rising up to be with our Master, the Christ.

Deacon David Pierce