The POWER of Jesus’ Word – May 6, 2024

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!” Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive.
Acts 9:36-41

The POWER of Jesus’ Word

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Tabitha was a wonderful lady. She was always doing good things for people and did her best to care for people in need. She even made clothes to give away to people. What a wonderful lady!

But then, sadly, Tabitha got sick and died. Her friends gathered around and wept. They heard the apostle Peter was in a nearby town, so they sent two messengers to him, asking him to come.

What was Peter supposed to do? He could weep with those who were weeping. He could share the good news of eternal life with Tabitha’s friends and family. But it seems like that was all Peter could do. Doesn’t it? After all, Peter was just a human being like you and me. He didn’t have the power to raise the dead.

But wait! Look at what he did. He went into the room with Tabitha’s body and got down on his knees and prayed, and then he said, “Tabitha, get up!” And she did. Tabitha came back to life. She was raised from the dead.

How is that possible? Did Peter have the power to raise the dead? No, but Jesus did. Even though Jesus had ascended into heaven, he could still hear Peter’s prayer and had the power to raise Tabitha from the dead.

And, he did! How? Through the words that Peter spoke. Peter is the one who said, “Tabitha, get up,” but it was Jesus who gave those words the power to raise the dead.

Jesus still gives his Word the power to raise the dead. All of us were dead—not our bodies, but our souls. When we were born, we were spiritually dead, but Jesus raised us from the dead. At our baptism, he said to us, “Get up! I give you spiritual life!”

But just like in the Bible reading, Jesus didn’t come and say those words himself. He sent his messengers to speak his powerful Word to us. Parents are messengers of God when they tell us God’s Word. Pastors are messengers from God when they preach and teach about Jesus.

If Jesus came and spoke directly to you, would you listen? Of course! Well, Jesus speaks to us through his messengers, so let’s be sure to listen to them as they share Jesus’ powerful Word with us.

Closing Prayer:

Jesus, thank you for raising me from spiritual death to spiritual life through your powerful Word. Teach me to listen to your messengers when they tell me about you. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What was the name of the woman in today’s devotion?
• What did Peter use to raise Tabitha from the dead?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• How did God make you alive to believe in him?
• Think of as many examples as you can of Jesus (or one of Jesus’ messengers) raising people from the dead.

Questions for Middle School and Above

• TRUE or FALSE: All people are spiritually dead by nature. How does that fact prove that we are saved by God’s grace alone?
• Discuss why God allows bad things (like sickness and death) to happen to good people like Tabitha.