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Someone To Take the Place
12-13 The Mount of Olives was about a kilometer from Jerusalem. The apostles who had gone there were Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon, known as the Eager One, and Judas the son of James.
After the apostles returned to the city, they went upstairs to the room where they had been staying.
14The apostles often met together and prayed with a single purpose in mind. The women and Mary the mother of Jesus would meet with them, and so would his brothers. 15One day there were about 120 of the Lord's followers meeting together, and Peter stood up to speak to them. 16-17He said:
My friends, long ago by the power of the Holy Spirit, David said something about Judas, and what he said has now happened. Judas was one of us and had worked with us, but he brought the mob to arrest Jesus. 18 Then Judas bought some land with the money he was given for doing that evil thing. He fell headfirst into the field. His body burst open, and all his insides came out. 19When the people of Jerusalem found out about this, they called the place Akeldama, which in the local language means “Field of Blood.”
20 In the book of Psalms it says,
“Leave his house empty,
and don't let anyone
live there.”
It also says,
“Let someone else
have his job.”
21-22 So we need someone else to help us tell others that Jesus has been raised from death. He must also be one of the men who was with us from the very beginning. He must have been with us from the time the Lord Jesus was baptized by John until the day he was taken to heaven.
23Two men were suggested: One of them was Joseph Barsabbas, known as Justus, and the other was Matthias. 24Then they all prayed, “Lord, you know what everyone is like! Show us the one you have chosen 25to be an apostle and to serve in place of Judas, who got what he deserved.” 26They drew names, and Matthias was chosen to join the group of the eleven apostles.
Reflect
Years ago, when I was working as a Campus Minister in Berkeley, California, my team faced a dilemma. We needed a leader for a small group of students and a young man’s name was proposed who did not seem experienced enough for the task.
My team prayed over this dilemma and, one by one, each came to the same decision: we needed to invite this young man to a task that was beyond his experience and skills level. It was a risk, but we needed to take it.
Twenty years later, that young man has become a key leader in urban ministry. When asked what started him on his journey, he points to that early task of leadership, the one that seemed beyond his capabilities, but was not beyond God’s guidance.
In this Scripture passage, the disciples are facing a dilemma. They have lost Judas, one of the original members of their team. They are trying to move forward in obedience to the tasks Jesus set before them before he ascended into heaven. Should they welcome a new member into their circle?
The picture that Luke, the author of Acts, sketches of the early disciples is a beautiful one. They were often together in one place, he tells us, and they prayed with singleness of mind.
Spending time together and praying in unity are the hallmarks of a vibrant Christian community. When we practise this kind of lifestyle, we will be able to move through difficult decisions and find our way forward.
When we live this way, dilemmas turn to opportunities. People step forward, take up challenges and engage risk, all for the sake of obedience to the call of Jesus to take his message into the world.
Respond
Jesus, help us to be faithful members of a community of faith. Help us to work through difficult dilemmas by praying together with singleness of purpose. Grant us peace in our decision-making and help us keep moving your gospel into the whole world.
Amen.
Geri Rodman
Under Geri’s leadership, Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship Canada is focused on a 10-year goal of Launching 20,000 Extraordinary Kingdom Leaders by 2020. "We believe God will launch youth and students as Kingdom Leaders who are so transformed by Jesus that nothing will stop their enormous zeal for the things of God." Geri was appointed president of Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship Canada in 2002, after spending 23 years leading the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA ministry in Northern California and Hawaii. Educated at the University of Toronto and Wheaton College, Geri is currently enrolled in a Doctor of Ministry program at Gordon-Conwell. She serves on the boards of, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and Water Ambassadors Canada.