"The Other Fruits"

A sermon by Debbie Feagin for EPC, Sunday, April 25th, 2010

On this fourth Sunday of Easter, I find that all of our texts speak of resurrection. Certainly on the first Sunday of Easter, we focus on the resurrection of Jesus, the Christ, the hope for our own resurrection. As we are told in 1 Corinthians 15:20, “Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.” Believing in this first resurrection, what does that mean in regard to other fruits, other resurrections? I believe that as we explore today’s texts, we may find some answers, or at least some possibilities.

Our exploration of resurrection begins with the story of Tabitha, a woman “devoted to good works and acts of charity.” Unfortunately to the community of widows who have grown to love her and for whom she has provided clothing, Tabitha has died. But, it seems, Tabitha has made such an impression—even on the disciples—that they send two men to Peter, who they know is not too far away. Peter comes, asks to be left alone with Tabitha, kneels and prays, then tells Tabitha to get up, which, when he offers her his hand, she does. He calls the saints and widows and shows them that she is alive. Word of this resurrection travels throughout the country, and many are thus led to believe in the Lord.

What, then, can we learn about resurrection from this story, and what does it say about “other fruits”? Is the point of the story that Tabitha is resurrected because of her good works? I don’t think so. Surely, it is Tabitha’s faithful response to God that leads her to good works, and perhaps it is even her notoriety for good works that causes the disciples to seek out Peter, but our reformed theology will not let us claim that it is her good works that leads to her resurrection. Rather, it is God’s love. Are you confused? Then let’s look for other stories of resurrection in this story.

What about Peter? This same Peter who denies knowing Jesus three times on the night of Jesus’ arrest, is he not resurrected by Jesus’ love and the power of the Holy Spirit to be able to perform this Christ-like deed of resurrection? Is Peter resurrected because of his good works? Or does Peter respond to Jesus’ love for him despite his denials by dedicating his life to sharing the good news of God’s love with others, obeying the resurrected Jesus’ words to “feed my sheep.”

And what about the widows whom Tabitha has clothed? Are they not resurrected by her love for them, not because they are worthy, but because they are needy? They also seem to receive new lives in this story, lives eager to share the word of this miracle with others, seeing to it that this good news is “known throughout Joppa.”

So, while Jesus is the “first fruits” of resurrection, are not Tabitha and Peter and the widows and others in the community of Joppa “other fruits.” And what about us today? I assure you, I have known Tabitha’s in every faithful congregation of which I have been a part—those who make it their business to seek out and meet the needs of others. I’m sure many of you can name “Tabithas” sitting in the pews near you. How very grateful I am for these “other fruits” of the resurrection!

For those of you who may be having difficulty with the whole idea of resurrection—perhaps of Jesus, and certainly of Tabitha—have you ever known anyone in modern times declared clinically “dead,” but resuscitated—brought back to life? Perhaps even some of you sitting here today have experienced this phenomenon. Is it not, indeed, possible, in the very most literal, scientific sense, for the dead to be raised?

Turning , now, to the 23rd Psalm, what can we learn about resurrection? This “psalm of David” was surely created and recorded long before Jesus, the “first fruits” of resurrection, was born in Bethlehem, baptized in the Jordan, gathered disciples, taught, and was crucified and buried, only to rise from the grave. But God’s time is not like our time, so that David, long before the birth of Jesus, could reflect on the restoration of souls—the beauty of green pastures, the soothing of still waters, the assurance of God’s guidance providing comfort even in the darkest of valleys. Is this not a sort of resurrection, as well?

How many of you have experienced refreshment and renewal, simply at the hearing or repeating of this psalm at some time in your lives? How many of you have gone to bed at night distressed, weary, and exhausted with worry, only to discover refreshment, new energy, and hope with the dawning of a new day? How many of you have experienced renewal through a hike by a mountain stream or a walk on the beach? Are these not forms of resurrection, of “new life,” as well?

What about David’s vision of a table prepared “before me in the presence of my enemies”? Surely we know from scripture that David had many enemies, and yet, with God’s help, he was able to unite an amazing kingdom, centered by the city that bore his name. How might that speak to us of resurrection today? Have you ever had the experience of having someone whom you didn’t much care for at first turn into a dear friend as you came better acquainted? Historically, nations who have been enemies have, on occasion, become allies. Even in the history of our Presbyterian denomination some of the factions that have separated from one another have later re-united. Are these not “other fruits” of resurrection?

Certainly, life is not always rosy. We suffer disappointments and defeat, accidents and injury and poor health, broken relationships and the death of loved ones. And yet, if we stop to reflect upon scripture and upon the days of our lives, can we not find enough glimpses of new life to believe in at least the possibility of resurrection?

Revelation describes it this way: “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands.” We soon discover that “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal.” Life has not been easy. Disappointments and defeat, accidents and injury and poor health, broken relationships and the death of loved ones—and perhaps even worse—have been suffered by these who are now robed in white. But God has loved them sacrificially, and now “they will hunger . . . and thirst no more ; . . . . their shepherd . . . will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Have we grieved and seen a new dawn often enough in this life to believe that God’s love is greater than death? Surely we have experienced new birth in this congregation—seven times during the past year! Have we also experienced new birth in our own lives? In this community of faith?

In our John text this morning, Jesus is asked to, “If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Don’t we sometimes want to say the same thing? Don’t we want some special sign, some miracle occurrence, to assure us once and for all, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that Jesus really is the Messiah, that God really does love us, now and forever, no matter what?

Jesus responds that he has told us, by the works that he does in his Father’s name. Believing what Jesus says, Peter and Tabitha and the widows and David and oh so many others discover that they also are able to do good works in Jesus’ name. We need only to hear the shepherd’s voice and to follow. “I give eternal life,” Jesus says. “They will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.”

Jesus is the “first fruits.” We are the “other fruits.” Trusting that nothing can separate us from the love of God, may we live our lives in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. May we, with the power of the Holy Spirit, be fruitful, following the Shepherd’s lead. Amen.