In the latter part of Acts 9, two men from Joppa came the 10 miles or so to Lydda to find Peter. They earnestly entreated him to come back with them to Joppa right away. Tabitha, a beloved disciple, had just died.
Step into Peter’s sandals for a moment. If you were Peter, when do you suppose you would have begun to notice the similarities between this event and that time you were with Jesus when He raised Jairus’ twelve-year-old daughter back to life? (Mark 5:22-43)
Consider:
- A beloved daughter had fallen ill and then died. A beloved disciple had fallen ill and then died.
- Someone came to earnestly summon (A) Jesus concerning the young girl, and (B) Peter concerning this lady.
- Both (A) Jesus and (B) Peter agreed right away to go.
- Upon arrival, both (A) Jesus and (B) Peter encountered mourners weeping over the death of the beloved.
- Both (A) Jesus and (B) Peter sent the mourners out of the room.
- Jesus said to the dead girl, “Talitha kum.” Peter said to the dead lady, “Tabitha arise!”
- Jesus took the child by the hand. Peter took Tabitha by the hand.
- Both the little girl and Tabitha were presented alive and given back to those who loved them dearly.
- Astonishment gripped them all.
I think Peter would have beaten Yogi Berra to his famous line, “It’s deja vu all over again.”
More seriously, my sense is that these similarities led Peter to connect the dots and realize the Holy Spirit was prompting him to believe God for a miracle.
What do you think?