April 26, 2009
Background Scripture: Acts 9:32-43
Devotional Reading: John 14:8-14

In the world of theatrical productions there is an expression I think could be applied to Easter – if a play or musical does well on Broadway, eventually they “take it on the road.” That means the production will be taken across the country to theaters in metropolitan areas where there is a market for good theatre.

I may have previously mentioned that in our house the Christmas decorations are continued into the Epiphany season – on purpose. We think the Incarnation is celebrated too briefly and we try to keep it alive as best we can. Although we don’t have any decorations that are particularly identified with Resurrection, the same is true of Easter. It is not a one-day stand.

The Easter message needs to be sent out of our churches into the community and countryside, because Easter is best celebrated when “taken on the road,” where the spiritual power does more than fuel the usual Easter Sunday service.

Resurrection power

The story of two dramatic healings by Simon Peter is a wonderful example of resurrection power “taken on the road.” Easter caused quite a stir in Jerusalem, but in Lydda there was “a man, Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed” (Acts 9:32-35).

Lydda (Lod) is a town set on the coastal plane of Sharon, about 11 miles southeast of Joppa. Peter apparently stopped there on his way to that busy seaport. We don’t know how Peter learned of the bedridden Aeneas, but in a manner reminiscent of the healings of Jesus, Peter said simply: “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed” (take up your bedroll).

The healing was immediate and won the town for the Christian movement (see Luke 5:18-26 for a similar healing by Jesus). Note that Peter did not say he would do the healing; it was Jesus Christ who would heal.

William Barclay says of this passage: “We think too much of what we can do and too little of what Christ can do through us.” I couldn’t help but think of the many times when I’ve attempted too little for Christ because I felt inadequate. Well, I was quite right: I am inadequate!

But much more often than we realize, it is the power of Jesus working in and through us that can accomplish more than we would ever realize. I don’t think we ask Jesus too much, but too little.
Theodore P. Ferris reminds us that “there is no indication in the N.T. that the early church believed that the power to perform miracles was confined to Jesus.” So, do we really believe the promise of Jesus in John 14:12?

Next stop: Joppa

The next stop on Peter’s road trip is the busy port of Joppa, and the mighty work Peter does here reminds us of Jesus’ miracle of raising from the dead the daughter of Jairus (Luke 8:41,42,49-56), as well as similar miracles by Elijah and Elisha (1 Kings 17:17 and 2 Kings 4:32).

Acts makes a point of emphasizing the Aramaic name of this woman of good works. It is Tabitha, meaning the graceful, swift animal we call “gazelle.” The writer also tells us that in Greek the name is Dorcas. Perhaps he is using it to characterize this once-active woman so “full of good works and acts of charity.”

What a sight awaited Peter when he arrived in Joppa: “All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing coats and garments which Dorcas had made when she was with them.”

And, like his Lord (Mt. 9:25, Mk. 5:40), Peter knew he had to change the spiritual atmosphere that surrounded the dead saint: “But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, ‘Tabitha, rise.’ And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. Then calling the saints and widows he presented her alive” (Acts 9:36-41).

So what happened when Peter took Easter on the road? “And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord” (9:42). Give it a try.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Rev. Althouse may write to him in care of this publication.