Joppa.
P. Ben, September 2016.
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The Gentiles as
unclean - is the thought of the Hebrews, in full agreement of God's ways and
revelation under the law.
The issue at hand, is however the admission of the
Gentiles into the privileges of God and not merely their acceptance by the
Jews. Cornelius was known of the Jews for his righteousness (Acts 10:22), a
remarkable testimony in itself as the Gentiles in the Jewish eye were but
sinners.
The Jews had accepted the righteous Gentiles in
the same way as Simon the tanner in a figure tanned the unclean animals (Gentiles)
into a usable product of beauty (Joppa). His house was by the sea - the
It is not mere tanning of the unclean but eating
the unclean. Peter was commanded to eat the unclean- the figure of incorporating
the Gentile into the body of the Jews - into their standing and full
privileges. This time, it is not upgrading a converted Gentile status in
relation to the Jew (tanning) but looking upon him as the Jew (eating) in full
exercise of privileges and blessings.
At Joppa, there was Tabitha- meaning Dorcas (gazelle). The Jew was the clean beast like the
gazelle as revealed under the Law (Leviticus). But what about
the Gentile? Unclean beasts, they were - quadrupeds and fowls shown to
Peter. But unclean made clean by God. Its not merely
unclean tanned by Jewish admission but unclean made clean by divine power-
'what God has cleansed, do not thou make common'.
At Joppa, the Church (Peter) was permitted not
only to see the clean gazelle but also the unclean quadrupeds and fowls as dear
to God. It is the Church (the 'stone' of Peter's confession) that unites the
Jew and Gentile on common ground of admission into the exalted realm of
heavenly blessings - which is beautiful (Joppa).