27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
03 Acts 09 32-43 THE MINISTRY OF PETER 15 Acts 09 37-38 The grief of death
📖 Acts 09:32-43
15 – Wed12Jun2024 – *The grief of death* - _Acts 09:32-43_ – THE MINISTRY OF PETER – _John 11:25-26_
_Acts 9:37-38 But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. (38) And since *Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them*._
The disciples heard Peter was at Lydda and sent people to get Peter to come to Joppa immediately.
Death seems like a finality to us. Let us recall once again what happened with Mary and Martha. They had sent word to Jesus when Lazarus was sick. They knew where Jesus was and they knew that Jesus could come as soon as he got the news. The Lord chose not to come. Then Lazarus died and he was laid in a tomb. *The sisters did not inform Jesus of the death of their brother.*
This shows their deep disappointment with Jesus. They knew that Jesus loved all three of them and Lazarus was a precious friend to Him. There were many whom Jesus had healed, which the sisters knew very well. Then, why didn’t He come to them when they needed Him to be there to heal Lazarus? Now Lazarus was dead and nothing could be done.
Lazarus was an anchor in the lives of Mary and Martha. They must have felt that their lives had caved in with Lazarus gone. The Lord knew it all. He wanted the sisters to know that He was the resurrection and the life. *He was their anchor not just a good friend.*
We see another example in the Old Testament. _II Kings 4:27-30 When she came to the man of God at the mountain, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi approached to push her away. But the man of God said, *"Let her alone, for she is in bitter distress; the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me."* (28) Then she said, "Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, Do not mislead me?" (29) He said to Gehazi, "Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your hand, and go. If you meet anyone, give no greeting, and if anyone greets you, do not answer; and lay my staff on the face of the child." (30) Then the mother of the child said, *"As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave without you."* So he rose up and followed her._
Elisha told the Shunammite woman that she would embrace a son. _II Kings 4:16 He said, "At this season, in due time, you shall embrace a son." She replied, "No, my lord, O man of God; do not deceive your servant."_
This boy was now dead and in deep distress this woman came in haste to Elisha. Having a son, which she considered impossible, she had now become a mother and had the joy of having a son. The boy was a big part of her life. Now the boy was dead and she was crushed.
Elisha did what the Lord put in his heart to do. _II Kings 4:34-35 Then he got up on the bed and lay upon the child, putting his mouth upon his mouth, his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands; and while he lay bent over him, the flesh of the child became warm. (35) He got down, walked once to and fro in the room, then got up again and bent over him; the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes._
The child lived again. _II Kings 4:36-37 Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, "Call the Shunammite woman." So he called her. When she came to him, he said, "Take your son." (37) She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground; then she took her son and left._
Just as the son was to the Shunammite woman and Lazarus to Mary and Martha, so was Tabitha to all the widows in Joppa. The Lord knew their pain that Tabitha was no more with them. Peter too understood the sorrow of the people at Joppa and he came immediately.
Our Lord identifies with our pain and sorrow. Coming back to life may not take place, though the Lord is able. What must be strongly rooted in us is that the Lord knows our grief and sorrow and He is one with us. He holds us when we lose a loved one. *He is our anchor.* We must grieve the loss of a loved one, but we must be strengthened that the Lord is our comfort. We must move on in life. The grief of the loss of a beloved one must not cripple us.
The Lord wants us to know He is one with us in our pain and grief but at the same time, *He wants us not to see death as a finality*. We learn from the life of the person who is no more with us and we in His strength, continue to complete what the Lord was doing in the life of the person who is now no more.
The Lord in His great love and concern for the widows of Joppa, sent Peter to them. The love of the Lord for each of us is constant. *Just because we are grieving the loss of a loved one, let us never doubt the love of God for us.*