She Was A Disciple

She Was A Disciple

Psalm 113

Acts 9: 36 – 43

May 11, 2025

The first church I served as a pastor was founded in 1727 and was located in Westfield, NJ. The church was a beautiful colonial styled building that seated over 1100 people. At one time, in the not-too-distant past, that church had been the largest Presbyterian Church east of the Mississippi. We still had 2200 members and as classically colonial, as typically northeastern as we might have been, our head of staff was a talented southern preacher - drawl and all - from the South.

Many of Jeff’s illustrations were from the deep South and for this relatively young pastor from Southern California, he spoke of a foreign world – a place that I never really understood until Becky and I served in the South ourselves for almost 11 years. I remember one Sunday morning as we were processing into the service, Jeff noticed that I was wearing cowboy boots under my robe – well polished and shiny dress cowboy boots, but cowboy boots, nonetheless. Jeff laughed all the way down that 100-foot aisle telling me that, “you can take the boy out of California, but you can’t take the California out of the boy.” I chose to take that as a compliment. I am not sure if that was Jeff’s intention.

Jeff preached many memorable sermons – he truly was a gifted preacher. But one I have never forgotten was his sermon on balcony people. The notion of balcony people was a small southern town tradition that reserved seats of honor for people of particular prestige in the balconies of those churches. It is not unlike the guests of honor that are recognized from the balcony seats during the State of the Union address.

Whether we are from the South or not, we all have balcony people in our lives. Those men and women who have been particularly loving, particularly influential, and now – perhaps – particularly missed in our lives. I certainly have them: my parents – all three of them, Becky’s parents, men and women who have been important in my lives, pastors – at least three – who were consequential in shaping my spiritual life. Of course, in the most prominent seat of honor would be Becky.

We don’t forget the balcony people in our lives. Their names are forever etched in our hearts and our memories. We may forget the names of others, but not these ones. Balcony people are known, loved beyond measure, ….. and named.

Do you know that there are over 40 specific healing miracles listed just in the Gospels and the book of Acts. The great majority of the recipients of these healings – including being raised from the dead - are unnamed. The focus of the miracle is not on the recipient, but instead on the healing, loving, merciful Lord to which the miracle focuses our attention. Depending on how you count, there are at least 32 of these unnamed recipients.

An additional 6 healed ones are named only in reference to someone else. The servant of the centurion. The mother-in-law of Peter. The daughter of Jairus.

Only the final five or so are named. My personal favorite is Eutychus of Acts 20, who fell asleep during a long sermon of Paul’s. How long you might ask? How about overnight! Eutychus is sitting in a window, falls asleep, drops 3 stories the text tells us, and dies. Paul doesn’t even skip a beat. He runs down, sees the teenager in a heap, raises him back to life, and goes back to continue his sermon. Those of you feeling sleepy – take heed. I claim no ability to bring you back!

Our second lesson describes a miraculous resurrection of one of the named recipients. Tabitha – her Aramaic name, or Dorcas – her Greek name, both names being the Greek and Aramaic words for “Gazelle” has died.

Tabitha is clearly a balcony person – a disciple – amongst the saints at Joppa. We know nothing of her economic status. No husband or family members are named. Tabitha is described as a disciple – the only time in the New Testament the feminine form of that word is used – and is noteworthy how her sense of discipleship led her to be known amongst the believers of that region for her good works and charity.

Tabitha was not known for her words, but for her action. Tabitha is not known for her wealth, social status, or cultural influence. No, none of the societal labels that we so often pursue are seen as suitable to describe who Tabitha is. No, Tabitha was a disciple, a follower of Jesus Christ. That term “disciple” told us all we really need to know about her. We need no recorded words because her life of servanthood spoke loudly.

The text tells us that Tabitha was devoted to her works. That word devoted doesn’t quite catch the intensity of her service. The Greek word that we are translating as “devoted to” – “plērēs” more completely means “abounding in”, or “completely occupied with.” And what kind of works? She was a maker of clothing – outer and inner garments. In fact, the women gathered around the dead Tabitha show Peter the degree to which Tabitha made clothing for people in need.

This was a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Known for her faith. Known for her charity and love. Known for her acts of service. Tabitha was a balcony person of some esteem.

“Tabitha, koum!” Tabitha, get up! We need you as an example of what it means to be a fully devoted disciple of Jesus Christ. Tabitha, get up! We need you as an example of compassion – not just in words – but in action. Tabitha, get up we need you as an exemplar, as a living balcony person who can help spread the good news of Jesus Christ, not in words, but in actions.

Friends, we need more Tabithas in our world today. We need people who are not content to simply offer comforting words and prayers in the face of need but instead are committed to service unapologetically in the name of Jesus Christ. We have any number of civic groups who do good things in the name of compassion and charity, but the needs persist. This is not meant as a slight towards these groups. But the needs are only a symptom of a much deeper spiritual dysfunction that only Jesus can cure.

Verse 41 tells us: “He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and the widows, Peter showed her to be alive. This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.”

Many believed in the Lord. Many believed in the Lord. And what were these believers known for? “Thoughts and prayers?” In other places we are told these first century believers were known for their love for each other….. and the Lord. That love compelled them – like Tabitha – to serve the needs of others, providing not just for their physical needs, but also striving against the social injustice that impoverished others.

As disciples, as followers of Jesus Christ, this is how both social need and injustice get challenged – through the transformative work of Jesus Christ. Oh, let us be a church of saints, a church of disciples, a church of Tabithas consumed with the ministry of expressing the love and justice of Jesus Christ in action.

Who knows, we might just get placed in someone’s balcony. Amen.